Server device, information processing method, and program

Abstract

To make it easier for each store to introduce products in a paper catalogue or via a network. [Solution] The server device 1 is equipped with a memory unit 11 that stores a store identifier that identifies a store corresponding to a store code displayed in a store column of a paper catalog having a product column that displays information about the same product for multiple stores and a store column that displays information about each store for each store, and multiple product correspondence information that associates one or more product information that is information about products sold at the store identified by the store identifier, a transmission request receiving unit 12 that receives a transmission request from a user terminal device including a store identifier that corresponds to the code displayed in the catalog, and a product information transmitting unit 13 that transmits one or more product information that is associated with the store identifier included in the received transmission request to the user terminal device.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a server device or the like that transmits information about a product. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, information about products featured in paper flyers or catalogs has been provided to users via a network using codes displayed on the flyers or catalogs (see, for example, Patent Document 1). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2022-153031 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] By issuing catalogs that display the code, large retailers can use the code to direct customers from the paper catalog to information provided via the network, and promote product sales by introducing products through both the paper flyer and information provided via the network.On the other hand, for small stores such as privately owned shops, it may not be easy to issue their own paper catalogs or provide their own information via the network.

[0005] The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and aims to provide a server device etc. that enables each store to more easily introduce products using a paper catalog and via a network. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In order to achieve the above object, a server device according to one embodiment of the present invention comprises: a memory unit that stores a store identifier that identifies a store corresponding to a store code displayed in a store column of a paper catalog having a product column that displays information about the same product for multiple stores and a store column that displays information about each store for each store; a transmission request receiving unit that receives a transmission request from a user terminal device, the transmission request including the store identifier that corresponds to the code displayed in the catalog; and a product information transmitting unit that, when the transmission request is received by the transmission request receiving unit, transmits to the user terminal device one or more pieces of product information that are associated with the store identifier included in the transmission request. With this configuration, each store can more easily introduce products through a general-purpose paper catalog that displays store-related information in the store section, and through the network using the code displayed in the store section.By introducing products through the catalog and through the network, each store can promote product sales.

[0007] In addition, a server device according to one aspect of the present invention may further include a change request receiving unit that receives a change request including a store identifier and change information that is information regarding changes to product information corresponding to the store identifier, and a change unit that changes the product information associated with the store identifier included in the change request received by the change request receiving unit using the change information included in the change request. With this configuration, each store can freely change the information about the products that are introduced via the network.

[0008] In addition, in a server device according to one aspect of the present invention, the memory unit also stores multiple pieces of sales performance correspondence information that associate a store identifier with sales performance information about products sold at a store identified by the store identifier, and the server device may further include a modification unit that modifies, for each store, the product information associated with the store identifier that identifies the store using the sales performance information associated with the store identifier. With this configuration, the information on products introduced via the network is automatically changed using sales performance information for each store, and each store does not necessarily have to change the product information manually.

[0009] Furthermore, in a server device according to one aspect of the present invention, the change unit may calculate the sales composition ratio of products for each store using sales performance information, and store in the storage unit product correspondence information that associates, for each store, a store identifier that identifies the store with product information that is information about products that have a higher sales composition ratio for the store compared to other stores. With this configuration, it is possible to introduce products that are considered to be distinctive in each store via the network.

[0010] In addition, in a server device according to one aspect of the present invention, the memory unit also stores common information including one or more pieces of product information, and the product information transmission unit may transmit to the user terminal device one or more pieces of product information associated with the store identifier included in the received transmission request and one or more pieces of product information included in the common information. With this configuration, for example, products promoted by the company operating the server device 1 can be included in the products that each store introduces via the network.

[0011] In addition, an information processing method according to one aspect of the present invention is an information processing method processed using a memory unit that stores a store identifier that identifies a store corresponding to a store code displayed in a store column in a paper catalog having a product column that displays information about the same product for multiple stores and a store column that displays information about each store, a transmission request receiving unit, and a product information transmitting unit, and includes the steps of: the transmission request receiving unit receiving a transmission request including a store identifier corresponding to the code displayed in the catalog from a user's terminal device; and the product information transmitting unit transmitting, when the transmission request is received, one or more product information associated with the store identifier included in the transmission request to the user terminal device. [Effects of the Invention]

[0012] According to a server device or the like according to one aspect of the present invention, it becomes easier for each store to introduce products through a general-purpose paper catalog that displays information about each store in the store column, and to introduce products via a network using the code displayed in the store column. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0013] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a configuration of an information communication system according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a server device according to the embodiment. [Figure 3] A flowchart showing the operation of the server device according to the embodiment. [Figure 4A] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of product correspondence information in the embodiment; [Figure 4B] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of product correspondence information in the embodiment; [Figure 5] FIG. 10 shows an example of a display on a user terminal device according to the embodiment. [Figure 6] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of sales performance information in the embodiment; [Figure 7] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of product correspondence information in the embodiment; [Figure 8] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing an example of the appearance of a computer system according to the embodiment; [Figure 9] FIG. 2 shows an example of the configuration of a computer system according to the embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0014] The server device and the like according to the present invention will be described below using an embodiment. In the following embodiments, components and steps denoted by the same reference numerals are the same or equivalent, and repeated description may be omitted. The server device according to this embodiment provides users with product information for each store via a network, using codes included in a store column that displays information for each store in a general-purpose paper catalog.

[0015] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of an information communication system 100 according to this embodiment, and FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a server device 1 according to this embodiment. The information communication system 100 according to this embodiment includes a server device 1, a plurality of user terminal devices 2, and a plurality of store terminal devices 3. The server device 1, the user terminal devices 2, and the store terminal devices 3 are connected by a wired or wireless communication line 500. The communication line 500 may be, for example, the Internet, an intranet, a public telephone network, or the like. The communication line used for communication between the server device 1 and the user terminal device 2 and the communication line used for communication between the server device 1 and the store terminal device 3 may be the same or different.

[0016] The user terminal device 2 is a terminal used by a user who has viewed the paper catalog 5, and may be, for example, a smartphone, a tablet terminal, a personal computer, or the like. It is generally preferable that the user terminal device 2 be a portable terminal, but this is not required. The user terminal device 2 may be a desktop computer, for example. It is generally preferable that the user terminal device 2 has a camera for photographing the code, but this is not required. If the user terminal device 2 does not have a camera, the user terminal device 2 may receive an image of the code photographed by an external camera.

[0017] The store terminal device 3 is a terminal used by employees of a store that sells products. The store terminal device 3 may or may not be a portable terminal. The store terminal device 3 may be, for example, a smartphone, a tablet terminal, a personal computer, or the like.

[0018] As shown in FIG. 2, the server device 1 includes a memory unit 11, a transmission request receiving unit 12, and a product information transmitting unit 13, and may further include a change request receiving unit 14, a change unit 15, and a sales performance receiving unit 16, as necessary.

[0019] The memory unit 11 stores a plurality of pieces of product correspondence information. The product correspondence information is information that associates a store identifier that identifies a store corresponding to the store code 5c displayed in the store column 5b of the paper catalog 5 with one or more pieces of product information that are information on products sold at the store identified by the store identifier. As described below, the product correspondence information may be created manually by a store employee, or may be automatically generated based on sales performance information. One piece of product information may be information on one product sold at the store. The product may be, for example, food, daily necessities, home appliances, or other products. The product is usually a product that is available for sale at the store. In this embodiment, the case where the product is food will be mainly described. The product information associated with the store identifier may or may not include product information on products introduced in the product column 5a of the catalog 5.

[0020] The product information may include, for example, a product identifier for identifying the product, a product image, and detailed product information including product attributes such as the product name and price. The detailed product information may include, for example, the product volume, product weight, product production location, and product manufacturer name. The product identifier may be, for example, the product name, a symbol or character string for identifying the product (e.g., JAN code, EAN code, etc.), or other information capable of identifying the product. Furthermore, the product identifier may be replaced as appropriate during processing. Specifically, the product identifier included in the product correspondence information is a JAN code, and when the product identifier is transmitted to the user terminal device 2, the JAN code may be converted into a product name before being transmitted. In this case, information associating the product identifier, which is a JAN code, with the product identifier, which is a product name, is stored in the storage unit 11, and the product identifier may be replaced as appropriate using this information. In this embodiment, the case where the product identifier is a product name will be mainly described.

[0021] The paper catalog 5 introduces products for promotional purposes and may be, for example, composed of a single sheet of paper or a booklet-like form composed of multiple sheets of paper. The catalog 5 may be, for example, a leaflet, flyer, pamphlet, or the like. The catalog 5 has a product section 5a that displays information about the same product for multiple stores and a store section 5b that displays information about each store. The product section 5a may display information about one or more products, for example. The store section 5b typically displays information about a single store. Thus, the catalog 5 is a general-purpose product catalog common to multiple stores, except for the store section 5b. The catalog 5 may be created, for example, by a manufacturer that manufactures the products, a trading company that mediates product transactions, or a wholesaler that purchases products from the manufacturer and sells them to retailers such as stores. The product section 5a may display products that the creator of the catalog 5 wants to promote. Furthermore, the products displayed in the product section 5a may vary by region, for example. For example, the product column 5a of a catalog 5 distributed in a warm region may display products sold in the warm region, and the product column 5a of a catalog 5 distributed in a cold region may display products sold in the cold region. Also, for example, the server device 1 may be operated by the creator of the catalog 5.

[0022] The product column 5a of the catalog 5 may include, for example, the product name, a product photo, and a description of the product for each product. The product column 5a of the catalog 5 may or may not include the price for each product. Because the catalog 5 is a general-purpose catalog common to multiple stores, even if the price of a product is listed in the product column 5a, the price may be the list price or the suggested retail price.

[0023] The store-related information displayed in the store section 5b of the catalog 5 includes at least the store code 5c and may include other store-related information as needed. The store-related information other than the code 5c may include, for example, at least one of the store name, store address, store map, store phone number, and store opening hours.

[0024] The code 5c may be, for example, a one-dimensional code such as a barcode, a two-dimensional code such as a QR code (registered trademark), or other codes. In this embodiment, a case where the code is a QR code will be mainly described. A store identifier that identifies a store is associated with the code 5c. The store identifier may be, for example, the information obtained by decoded the code 5c itself, a part of the information obtained by decoded the code 5c, or other information corresponding to the code 5c. When the store identifier is a part of the information obtained by decoded the code 5c, for example, the information obtained by decoded the code 5c may be a URL (Uniform Resource Locator), the domain part of the URL may indicate the address of the server device 1, and the part related to the directory structure other than the domain part (the part of the path name) may indicate the store identifier. In this embodiment, this case will be mainly described.

[0025] When the user terminal device 2 acquires a URL corresponding to the code 5c displayed in the store column 5b of the catalog 5 and accesses the server device 1, the processing in the user terminal device 2 can be executed, for example, by a web browser or a web application. Therefore, the user terminal device 2 may execute the processing of accessing the server device 1 and acquiring product information via a network, for example, by a web browser or a web application, or by a native application. In the latter case, the decoded result of the code 5c may be the store identifier itself. In this case, the user terminal device 2 may access the server device 1, the address of which is set in advance, for example, by a native application. Note that this embodiment will mainly describe a case where the user terminal device 2 accesses the server device 1 via a web browser.

[0026] The storage unit 11 may also store multiple pieces of sales performance correspondence information that associate a store identifier with one or more pieces of sales performance information related to products sold at the store identified by the store identifier. In this case, for example, the sales performance correspondence information transmitted from the store terminal device 3 may be received by the sales performance receiving unit 16 and stored in the storage unit 11. The sales performance information may include, for example, a product identifier that identifies the sold product, the time of sale of the product, the number of units sold of the product, and the price per unit of the product. The time of sale may be, for example, the date of sale and may also include the time of day. Furthermore, if price is not used in calculating the sales composition ratio described below, the sales performance information does not need to include price. The price per unit of the product may be the so-called unit price. The sales performance information may be used, for example, to generate product correspondence information, as described below.

[0027] The storage unit 11 may also store a plurality of pieces of store correspondence information that associate a store identifier with store information, which is information about the store identified by the store identifier. The store information may include, for example, at least one of the store name, store address, store map, store telephone number, store business hours, and other information about the store. The other information about the store may include, for example, information about point-up periods and sale information. As an example, the product correspondence information may be information that associates a store identifier, store information, and one or more pieces of product information. In this case, the product correspondence information may be considered to include the store correspondence information. This case will be mainly described in this embodiment.

[0028] Other information may also be stored in the storage unit 11. For example, the storage unit 11 may store product standard information and price correspondence information, which will be described later. The process by which information is stored in the storage unit 11 is not important. For example, information received by the server device 1 via a recording medium, a communication line, or an input device may be stored in the storage unit 11, or information generated by the server device 1 may be stored in the storage unit 11. The storage unit 11 is preferably realized by a non-volatile recording medium, but may also be realized by a volatile recording medium. The recording medium may be, for example, a semiconductor memory or a magnetic disk.

[0029] The transmission request receiving unit 12 receives from the user terminal device 2 a transmission request including a store identifier corresponding to the code 5c displayed in the catalog 5. The code 5c is the code displayed in the store column 5b of the catalog 5. As described above, the transmission request receiving unit 12 may receive a transmission request including a store identifier corresponding to the portion related to the directory structure other than the domain portion in the URL that is the decoded result of the code 5c.

[0030] The transmission request receiving unit 12 may or may not include a wired or wireless receiving device (e.g., a modem or a network card) for receiving. The transmission request receiving unit 12 may be realized by hardware, or by software such as a driver that drives the receiving device. The same applies to the change request receiving unit 14 and the sales performance receiving unit 16, which will be described later.

[0031] When the transmission request receiving unit 12 receives a transmission request, the product information transmitting unit 13 transmits one or more pieces of product information associated with the store identifier included in the transmission request to the user terminal device 2. The user terminal device 2 to which the transmission information is to be transmitted is the user terminal device 2 that transmitted the transmission request. Therefore, when the transmission request receiving unit 12 receives a transmission request, the product information transmitting unit 13 may read, from the storage unit 11, product information associated with the store identifier included in the transmission request by the product association information, and transmit the read product information to the user terminal device 2 that transmitted the received transmission request. For example, the product information transmitting unit 13 may transmit all of the product information associated with the store identifier included in the received transmission request, or may transmit only some of the product information. In the latter case, multiple pieces of product information may be transmitted in order depending on the browsing status of the product information on the user terminal device 2.

[0032] Furthermore, the product information transmitting unit 13 may transmit, together with the product information associated with the store identifier included in the received transmission request by the product correspondence information, the store information associated with the store identifier by the store correspondence information. As an example, transmitting the product information and store information to the user terminal device 2 may mean transmitting page information for displaying the information. As an example, the page information may be information written in a markup language such as HTML or XML, and may include the product information, store information, etc.

[0033] Furthermore, the product information transmitting unit 13 may transmit the product information in stages. For example, the product information transmitting unit 13 may first transmit information on a list of product information (for example, information on a list of product names and product images), and after a specific product is selected from the list in the user terminal device 2, transmit detailed product information on the selected product.

[0034] The product information transmission unit 13 may or may not include a wired or wireless transmission device (e.g., a modem or a network card) for transmission. The product information transmission unit 13 may be realized by hardware, or may be realized by software such as a driver that drives the transmission device.

[0035] The change request receiving unit 14 may receive a change request including a store identifier and change information that is information regarding a change to the product information corresponding to the store identifier. Changes to the product information may include, for example, adding product information, changing the content of the product information, or deleting product information. Change information for adding product information may include the product information to be added. Change information for changing the content of the product information may include information for identifying the product information (e.g., a product identifier), information for identifying the information to be changed in the product information (e.g., information indicating an attribute name such as "price"), and information after the change (e.g., the price after the change). Change information for deleting product information may include information for identifying the product information to be deleted.

[0036] The change unit 15 may change the product information associated with the store identifier using the product correspondence information stored in the memory unit 11. The change of the product information may be, for example, adding product information, changing the content of the product information, or deleting product information. As one example, the change unit 15 may change the product information associated with the store identifier included in the change request received by the change request receiving unit 14 using the change information included in the change request. As another example, the change unit 15 may change, for each store, the product information associated with the store identifier that identifies the store using sales performance information associated with the store identifier.

[0037] When adding product information in response to receiving a change request, the change unit 15 may, for example, store product information included in the change information of the change request in the storage unit 11 in association with a store identifier included in the received change request. When changing the content of the product information in response to receiving a change request, the change unit 15 may, for example, identify product information associated with the store identifier included in the received change request, which is identified using information for identifying the product information to be changed that is included in the change information of the change request, identify information included in the identified product information, which is identified using information for identifying the information to be changed that is included in the change information, and replace the identified information with the changed information included in the change information. When deleting product information in response to receiving a change request, the change unit 15 may, for example, delete product information associated with the store identifier included in the received change request, which is identified using information for identifying the product information to be deleted that is included in the change information of the change request.

[0038] When changing product information using sales performance information, the change unit 15 may, for example, generate product information for a certain store using sales performance information associated with a store identifier that identifies the store, and store the generated product information in the storage unit 11 in association with the store identifier. When storing the product information generated for a certain store identifier, the change unit 15 may, for example, delete product information already stored in the storage unit 11 in association with the store identifier. That is, the change unit 15 may replace all product information stored in the storage unit 11 in association with the store identifier with new product information. For example, if the product information associated with the store identifier in the storage unit 11 by the product association information includes product information that has been added or changed in response to a received change request and product information generated using the sales performance information, when the change unit 15 stores the product information generated using the sales performance information, only the product information generated using the sales performance information may be deleted from the existing product information, and the product information that has been added or changed in response to the change request may not be deleted.

[0039] As an example, the change unit 15 may calculate the sales composition ratio of each product for each store using the sales performance information, and store the product correspondence information in the storage unit 11, which associates a store identifier that identifies the store with product information that is information about products that have a higher sales composition ratio for that store compared to other stores. The sales composition ratio may be, for example, a value indicating the proportion of the sales amount for each product, or a value indicating the proportion of the number of units sold for each product. In this embodiment, the former case will be mainly described.

[0040] For example, when calculating the sales composition ratio of a product using sales performance information of a certain store, the change unit 15 may calculate the sales composition ratio of the product using sales performance information associated with the store identifier of the store, the sales performance information corresponding to a predetermined period. The predetermined period may be, for example, one week, one month, one year, or the like. The period may be, for example, a period from a point in time a predetermined period before the calculation of the sales composition ratio using the sales performance information to the calculation time, or may be a period according to a calendar, such as one month such as April or May, or one week from Sunday to Saturday.

[0041] Specifically, the change unit 15 may read from the storage unit 11 sales performance information associated with the store identifier of a certain store, the sales performance information corresponding to the period used to calculate the sales composition ratio, and use the read sales performance information to calculate the sum of the results of multiplying the number of units sold by the price for each product, i.e., for each product identifier. The sum of the results of multiplying the number of units sold by the price for each product becomes the sales amount for each product. The change unit 15 may also calculate the sales composition ratio for each product by calculating the sum of the sales amounts for each product and dividing the sales amount for each product by the sum of the sales amounts. Alternatively, the change unit 15 may calculate the sales composition ratio indicating the proportion of the number of units sold for each product by using the sum of the number of units sold for each product instead of the sum of the results of multiplying the number of units sold by the price for each product. The change unit 15 may perform this processing for each store to calculate the sales composition ratio for each product for each store.

[0042] Furthermore, the change unit 15 may, for example, use the sales composition ratio of the product calculated for each store to calculate a representative value of the sales composition ratio for multiple stores for each product. The representative value may be, for example, an average value or a median. Then, for each product, the change unit 15 may compare the sales composition ratio of a certain store (here, "Store A") with the representative value of the sales composition ratio, and identify a product whose sales composition ratio is higher than the representative value of the sales composition ratio as a product having a higher sales composition ratio compared to other stores. This product identification may be, for example, identification of a product identifier. Then, the change unit 15 may acquire product information of the identified product and store the acquired product information in the storage unit 11 in association with the store identifier of Store A. The change unit 15 may perform such processing for each store. Note that the representative value of the sales composition ratio to be compared with the sales composition ratio of Store A may, for example, be a representative value of the sales composition ratios of multiple stores including Store A, or may be a representative value of the sales composition ratios of multiple stores other than Store A. Also, although the case where the sales composition ratio of store A is compared with the representative value of the sales composition ratio for each product has been described above, this is not the only option. For example, instead of the representative value of the sales composition ratio, the same processing as above may be performed using the result obtained by multiplying the representative value of the sales composition ratio by a predetermined value close to 1 (for example, 0.9 or 1.1).

[0043] Here, a method for acquiring product information of a certain product will be described. For example, if the storage unit 11 stores multiple pieces of product standard information, which are product information other than price, and multiple pieces of price correspondence information that associate a store identifier, a product identifier that identifies a product sold at a store identified by the store identifier, and the price of the product, the change unit 15 may use this information to identify product standard information including the product identifier of a specified product for a certain store, and also identify the store identifier of the store and the price corresponding to the product identifier of the specified product, and acquire product information including the identified product standard information and price. Note that the product standard information preferably includes the product identifier.

[0044] Note that, although the above description has mainly been made on the case where the change unit 15 stores product information in the storage unit 11 by comparing the sales composition ratio of a certain store with the sales composition ratio of another store, this is not the only option. For example, the change unit 15 may identify a predetermined number of products in descending order of the sales composition ratio of a certain store based on the sales composition ratio of that store, and store the product information of the identified products in the storage unit 11 in association with the store identifier of that store.

[0045] The sales performance receiving unit 16 may receive one or more pieces of sales performance corresponding information and store the received sales performance corresponding information in the storage unit 11. The sales performance corresponding information received by the sales performance receiving unit 16 may be information transmitted from the store terminal device 3, for example.

[0046] Next, the operation of the server device 1 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. (Step S101) The transmission request receiving unit 12 determines whether or not a transmission request has been received from the user terminal device 2. If a transmission request has been received, the process proceeds to step S102, and if not, the process proceeds to step S103.

[0047] (Step S102) The product information transmitting unit 13 transmits the product information associated with the store identifier included in the received transmission request to the user terminal device 2 that transmitted the transmission request, and then returns to step S101.

[0048] (Step S103) The change request receiving unit 14 determines whether or not a change request has been received. If a change request has been received, the process proceeds to step S104, and if not, the process proceeds to step S105.

[0049] (Step S104) The change unit 15 changes the product information in accordance with the received change request, and then returns to step S101.

[0050] (Step S105) The sales performance receiving unit 16 determines whether or not the sales performance corresponding information has been received. If the sales performance corresponding information has been received, the process proceeds to step S106, and if not, the process proceeds to step S107.

[0051] (Step S106) The sales performance receiving unit 16 stores the received sales performance corresponding information in the storage unit 11. Then, the process returns to step S101.

[0052] (Step S107) The change unit 15 determines whether to change the product information based on the sales performance information. If the product information is to be changed, the process proceeds to step S108; if not, the process returns to step S101. Note that the change unit 15 may periodically determine to change the product information based on the sales performance information, for example.

[0053] (Step S108) The change unit 15 uses the sales performance information stored in the storage unit 11 to calculate the sales composition ratio of the product for each store.

[0054] (Step S109) The change unit 15 identifies, for each store, products with a higher sales composition ratio compared to other stores.

[0055] (Step S110) The change unit 15 stores, for each store, product correspondence information that associates the store identifier of the store with the product information of the product identified in step S109 in the storage unit 11. Then, the process returns to step S101. Note that, for example, when storing new product correspondence information for a certain store, the change unit 15 may delete the product correspondence information for that store that has been stored in the storage unit 11 up to that point.

[0056] In the flowchart of FIG. 3, the case where the sales composition ratio is calculated using sales performance information and the calculated sales composition ratio is compared between stores to store and product correspondence information is accumulated has been mainly described, but this is not necessarily the case. It is also possible to identify products with a high sales composition ratio for each store without comparing sales composition ratios between stores, and accumulate product correspondence information in the storage unit 11 that associates the store identifier of the store with the product information of the identified product for that store. The order of processing in the flowchart of FIG. 3 is merely an example, and the order of each step may be changed as long as the same results are obtained. In the flowchart of FIG. 3, processing may be terminated by a power-off or an interrupt to terminate processing.

[0057] Next, the operation of the server device 1 according to this embodiment will be described using a specific example. In this specific example, it is assumed that the product is wine. Also, it is assumed that a wine trading company has created a general-purpose paper wine catalog 5 with the store column 5b blank and distributed it to each of its business partners' stores. Each store prints its own store information in the store column 5b of the received catalog 5 using a printer or the like and distributes it to customers. It is assumed that the store column 5b contains a code 5c for each store, as shown in FIG. 1.

[0058] In this specific example, it is assumed that a plurality of pieces of product correspondence information shown in Fig. 4A are stored in the memory unit 11. The product correspondence information shown in Fig. 4A is information including a store identifier that identifies a store, store information that is information about the store, and a plurality of pieces of product information that is information about products sold at the store. In this specific example, it is assumed that the store information is the name of the store, and the product information includes a product identifier that is the name of the product, a product image, and detailed product information including the price, content volume, and country of origin.

[0059] First, suppose a user photographs code 5c of a catalog 5, in which the name and code 5c of a store "ABC Liquor Shop" are displayed in store column 5b, with a smartphone, user terminal device 2. Then, the user terminal device 2 acquires a URL corresponding to code 5c, and transmits a transmission request including the store identifier "ABC", which is the portion of the URL other than the domain portion, to the address of server device 1 corresponding to the domain portion of the URL.

[0060] The transmission request transmitted from the user terminal device 2 is received by the transmission request receiving unit 12 of the server device 1, and the address of the sender of the transmission request and the store identifier included in the transmission request are passed to the product information transmitting unit 13 (step S101). Upon receiving the store identifier and the like, the product information transmitting unit 13 searches for the multiple pieces of product correspondence information shown in Fig. 4A stored in the storage unit 11 using the received store identifier as a search key, reads out the store information and product information included in the found product correspondence information, and transmits them to the received address (step S102).

[0061] The store information and product information sent from the server device 1 are received by the user terminal device 2 and displayed as shown in Figure 5. By viewing this display, the user can learn about the products sold at the store "ABC Liquor Shop." In this way, the store "ABC Liquor Shop" can introduce products to users using a paper catalog 5 and also introduce the store's own products via the network.

[0062] Next, we will explain how to change the product information included in the product correspondence information. Assume that an employee of the store "ABC Liquor Shop" operates the store terminal device 3 to send a change request to the server device 1, which includes the store identifier "ABC," the product information to be added, and change information including a product identifier for identifying the product information to be deleted. In this specific example, it is assumed that the product identifier included in the product information to be added is "AAA Wine," and the product identifier for identifying the product information to be deleted is "CCC Wine."

[0063] The change request transmitted from the store terminal device 3 is received by the change request receiving unit 14 of the server device 1 and passed to the change unit 15 (step S103). Upon receiving the change request, the change unit 15 searches for multiple pieces of product correspondence information stored in the storage unit 11 using the store identifier included in the change request as a search key, and stores the product information to be added included in the change information in association with the hit store identifier in the storage unit 11. The change unit 15 also searches the product information associated with the hit store identifier using a product identifier included in the change information for identifying the product information to be deleted as a search key, and deletes the product information including the hit product identifier (step S104). In this way, the product correspondence information for the store "ABC Liquor Shop" is updated as shown in FIG. 4B. In FIG. 4B, in the product information associated with the store identifier "ABC," product information including the product identifier "CCC Wine" has been deleted, and product information including the product identifier "AAA Wine" has been added.

[0064] Next, we will explain the transmission of sales performance information from the store terminal device 3 to the server device 1. After the sales at store "XYZ Liquor Store" on April 2, 2025, the store terminal device 3 of the store transmits sales performance information including the store's store identifier "XYZ" and the latest multiple pieces of sales performance information to the server device 1.

[0065] The sales record corresponding information transmitted from the store terminal device 3 is received by the sales record receiving unit 16 of the server device 1 and stored in the storage unit 11 (steps S105 and S106). As an example, the sales record receiving unit 16 may search the sales record corresponding information stored in the storage unit 11 using the store identifier included in the received sales record corresponding information as a search key, and store multiple pieces of sales record information included in the received sales record corresponding information in association with the hit store identifier. Furthermore, if the store identifier is not hit by the search, the sales record receiving unit 16 may store the received sales record corresponding information as is in the storage unit 11.

[0066] Fig. 6 is a diagram showing an example of sales performance correspondence information stored in storage unit 11. As shown in Fig. 6, the sales performance correspondence information may include a store identifier and one or more pieces of sales performance information for the store identified by the store identifier. The sales performance information may also include a product identifier that identifies the product sold, a sales time indicating the date of sale of the product, the number of units sold of the product, and a price that is the unit price of the product.

[0067] Next, a description will be given of a change of product information in the product correspondence information using sales performance information. When it is time to change the product information based on the sales performance information, the change unit 15 calculates the sales composition ratio of each product for each store using the sales performance information for the most recent week stored in the storage unit 11 (steps S107 and S108). That is, the calculation of the sales composition ratio for all products sold at a certain store is performed for each store. The change unit 15 also identifies, for each store, products having a higher sales composition ratio than those of other stores (step S109). For example, a representative value of the sales composition ratio for each product may be calculated, and for each product sold at a certain store, the sales composition ratio of the store may be compared with the representative value of the sales composition ratio to identify products having a sales composition ratio for the store that is higher than the representative value of the sales composition ratio. Furthermore, such processing may be performed for all stores. In this way, products having a higher sales composition ratio than those of other stores may be identified for each store.

[0068] Thereafter, the change unit 15 accumulates, for each store, product correspondence information that associates the store identifier of the store with the product information of the product identified for that store in the storage unit 11 (step S110). For example, the change unit 15 acquires product information of the product identified for a certain store. The change unit 15 may search for multiple pieces of product standard information stored in the storage unit 11 using the product identifier of the identified product as a search key and read out the hit product standard information, thereby acquiring information other than the price from the product information. Alternatively, the change unit 15 may search for multiple pieces of price correspondence information stored in the storage unit 11 using the store identifier of the store and the product identifier of the identified product as search keys and read out the price included in the hit price correspondence information, thereby acquiring the price from the product information. In this way, the change unit 15 can acquire product information including the price of the identified product. The change unit 15 may then search for multiple pieces of product association information stored in the storage unit 11 for a certain store using the store identifier of the store as a search key, and store product information for the identified product for the store in association with the found store identifier. As an example, when storing product information associated with a certain store identifier, the change unit 15 may delete all product information previously associated with the store identifier and store new product information. This process may also be performed for all stores. The process of storing product information using sales performance information may be performed only for stores for which sales performance information is stored in the storage unit 11. For example, if the storage unit 11 stores sales performance information that associates a store identifier "XYZ" with sales performance information but does not store sales performance information that associates a store identifier "ABC" with sales performance information, the product information associated with the store identifier "XYZ" is changed based on the sales performance information, but the product information associated with the store identifier "ABC" may not be changed based on the sales performance information. The product information associated with the store identifier "XYZ" may be changed as shown in FIG. 7 based on the sales performance information shown in FIG.

[0069] As described above, the server device 1 according to this embodiment can receive a transmission request including a store identifier transmitted from the user terminal device 2 using the code 5c displayed in the store column 5b of the paper catalog 5, and transmit product information associated with the store identifier included in the transmission request to the user terminal device 2. Therefore, by using the paper catalog 5, each store can introduce products selected by, for example, product manufacturers, trading companies, wholesalers, etc. to users, and can also introduce products selected by each store via the network. In this way, general advertising and individual advertising can be conducted via two channels, thereby enhancing the effectiveness of advertising. Furthermore, since multiple stores can introduce products via the network through the server device 1, each store does not need to build its own web server, and can more easily introduce products via the network.

[0070] Furthermore, each store can appropriately change the product information of the products introduced via the network by transmitting a change request to the server device 1. Furthermore, if sales performance information of each store is stored in the server device 1, the product information of the products introduced via the network can also be changed based on that sales performance information. In this case, there is no need to change the product information manually, and the workload of store employees can be reduced. Furthermore, by using the sales performance information, for example, products that have a higher sales ratio compared to other stores can be introduced via the network, and characteristic products that sell well at each store can also be introduced via the network.

[0071] In the present embodiment, the products introduced via the network are mainly products selected at each store or products identified based on sales performance information of each store, i.e., products specific to each store. However, the products introduced via the network may also include products that are common to multiple stores. In this case, for example, common information including one or more pieces of product information may also be stored in the storage unit 11. This common information may be set, for example, by the company operating the server device 1 or the company issuing the paper catalog 5. Furthermore, the entity that sets the common information may be, for example, a product manufacturer, a trading company, a wholesaler, or the like.

[0072] In this case, the product information transmission unit 13 may transmit to the user terminal device 2 one or more pieces of product information associated with the store identifier included in the received transmission request and one or more pieces of product information included in the common information stored in the storage unit 11. By transmitting such product information, for example, products from each store are introduced to the user via a network, and products that the entity that set the common information wants to introduce are also introduced to the user. In this way, the entity that set the common information can introduce products via a network, for example, through channels of multiple stores.

[0073] In addition, in the present embodiment, the case where the product information is changed using the sales performance information has been mainly described, but this is not necessarily the case. In the case where the product information is not changed using the sales performance information, the server device 1 does not need to be provided with the sales performance receiving unit 16.

[0074] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the case where product information is changed in response to a received change request has been mainly described, but this is not necessarily the case. If product information is not changed in response to a change request, the server device 1 may not be provided with the change request receiving unit 14. Furthermore, if sales performance information or product information is not changed in response to a change request, the server device 1 may not be provided with the change unit 15.

[0075] Furthermore, in the above embodiments, each process or function may be realized by centralized processing by a single device or a single system, or may be realized by distributed processing by multiple devices or multiple systems.

[0076] Furthermore, in the above embodiments, the transfer of information between components may be performed, for example, by one component outputting information and the other component receiving information if the two components transferring the information are physically different, or by moving from a processing phase corresponding to one component to a processing phase corresponding to the other component if the two components transferring the information are physically the same.

[0077] Furthermore, in the above-described embodiments, information related to the processing performed by each component, such as information accepted, acquired, selected, generated, transmitted, or received by each component, and information such as thresholds, formulas, and addresses used in processing by each component, may be temporarily or long-term stored in a recording medium (not shown), even if not explicitly stated in the above description. Furthermore, the storage of information in the recording medium (not shown) may be performed by each component or a storage unit (not shown). Furthermore, the reading of information from the recording medium (not shown) may be performed by each component or a reading unit (not shown).

[0078] Furthermore, in the above-described embodiments, if the information used by each component, such as thresholds, addresses, and various setting values ​​used by each component in processing, may be changed by the user, the user may or may not be able to change the information as appropriate, even if not explicitly stated in the above description. If the information is changeable by the user, the change may be realized, for example, by a receiving unit (not shown) that receives a change instruction from the user and a changing unit (not shown) that changes the information in accordance with the change instruction. The change instruction may be received by the receiving unit (not shown), for example, from an input device, by receiving information transmitted via a communication line, or by receiving information read from a predetermined recording medium.

[0079] Furthermore, in the above embodiment, when two or more components included in the server device 1 have a communication device, an input device, or the like, the two or more components may physically comprise a single device, or may comprise separate devices. For example, at least two or more of the transmission request receiving unit 12, the product information transmitting unit 13, the change request receiving unit 14, and the sales record receiving unit 16 may be configured as a single communication device.

[0080] Furthermore, in the above-described embodiments, each component may be configured by dedicated hardware, or, for components that can be realized by software, may be realized by executing a program. For example, each component may be realized by a program execution unit such as a CPU reading and executing a software program recorded on a recording medium such as a hard disk or semiconductor memory. During execution, the program execution unit may execute the program while accessing a storage unit or recording medium. The software for realizing the server device 1 in the above-described embodiments is the following program. That is, this program may cause a computer that can access a storage unit that stores multiple pieces of product correspondence information that associates store identifiers that identify stores corresponding to store codes displayed in a store section of a paper catalog having a product section that displays information about the same product for multiple stores and a store section that displays information about each store for each store, to function as a transmission request receiving unit that receives a transmission request including a store identifier corresponding to a code displayed in the catalog from a user's terminal device, and a product information transmitting unit that, when the transmission request receiving unit receives the transmission request, transmits one or more pieces of product information associated with the store identifier included in the transmission request to the user terminal device.

[0081] It should be noted that the functions realized by the program do not include functions that can only be realized by hardware, such as a modem or interface card in a receiving unit that receives information or a transmitting unit that transmits information.

[0082] This program may be executed by being downloaded from a server or the like, or by being read from a predetermined recording medium (for example, an optical disk such as a CD-ROM, a magnetic disk, or a semiconductor memory). This program may also be used as a program constituting a program product.

[0083] Furthermore, the computer that executes this program may be a single computer or multiple computers, and may perform centralized processing or distributed processing.

[0084] 8 is a schematic diagram showing an example of the appearance of a computer that executes the above program to realize the server device 1 according to the above embodiment. The above embodiment can be realized by computer hardware and a computer program executed thereon.

[0085] In FIG. 8, computer system 900 comprises a computer 901 including a CD-ROM drive 905 , a keyboard 902 , a mouse 903 , and a monitor 904 .

[0086] 9 is a diagram showing the internal configuration of a computer system 900. In Fig. 9, the computer 901 includes, in addition to a CD-ROM drive 905, an MPU (Micro Processing Unit) 911, a ROM 912 for storing programs such as a boot-up program, a RAM 913 connected to the MPU 911 for temporarily storing instructions for application programs and providing temporary storage space, a hard disk 914 for storing application programs, system programs, and data, and a bus 915 for interconnecting the MPU 911, ROM 912, etc. Note that the computer 901 may also include a network card (not shown) for providing connection to a LAN, WAN, etc.

[0087] A program that causes computer system 900 to execute the functions of server device 1 according to the above embodiment may be stored on CD-ROM 921, inserted into CD-ROM drive 905, and transferred to hard disk 914. Alternatively, the program may be transmitted to computer 901 via a network (not shown) and stored on hard disk 914. The program is loaded into RAM 913 when executed. The program may be loaded directly from CD-ROM 921 or the network. The program may also be read into computer system 900 via another recording medium (e.g., a DVD) instead of CD-ROM 921.

[0088] The program does not necessarily include an operating system (OS) or a third-party program that causes the computer 901 to execute the functions of the server device 1 according to the above embodiment. The program may include only instructions that call appropriate functions or modules in a controlled manner to achieve the desired results. How the computer system 900 operates is well known, and a detailed description thereof will be omitted.

[0089] Furthermore, the above-described embodiments are merely examples for specifically implementing the present invention, and are not intended to limit the technical scope of the present invention. The technical scope of the present invention is defined by the claims, not by the description of the embodiments, and is intended to include modifications within the literal scope of the claims and within the scope of equivalent meanings. [Explanation of symbols]

[0090] 1. Server device 5 Catalog 11 Storage section 12 Transmission request receiver 13 Product Information Transmission Department 14 Change Request Receiving Unit 15 Changes 16 Sales Results Receiving Department

Claims

1. a storage unit that stores a plurality of pieces of product correspondence information that associates a store identifier that identifies a store corresponding to a store code displayed in a store column in a paper catalog having a product column that displays information about the same product for a plurality of stores and a store column that displays information about each store, with one or more pieces of product information that is information about products sold at the store identified by the store identifier; a transmission request receiving unit that receives a transmission request including a store identifier corresponding to a code displayed in a catalog from a user terminal device; A server device comprising: a product information sending unit that, when a transmission request is received by the transmission request receiving unit, sends one or more product information items associated with the store identifier included in the transmission request to the user terminal device.

2. a change request receiving unit that receives a change request including a store identifier and change information that is information related to a change to product information corresponding to the store identifier; The server device of claim 1 further comprising a change unit that changes product information associated with the store identifier included in the change request received by the change request receiving unit using the change information included in the change request.

3. The storage unit also stores a plurality of pieces of sales performance correspondence information that associate store identifiers with sales performance information on products sold at stores identified by the store identifiers, 2. The server device according to claim 1, further comprising a change unit that changes, for each store, product information associated with a store identifier that identifies the store, using sales performance information associated with the store identifier.

4. The server device according to claim 3, wherein the change unit calculates the sales composition ratio of products for each store using sales performance information, and stores in the storage unit product correspondence information that associates, for each store, a store identifier that identifies the store with product information that is information about products that have a higher sales composition ratio for that store compared to other stores.

5. The storage unit also stores common information including one or more pieces of product information, A server device described in any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the product information sending unit sends one or more product information items associated with the store identifier included in the received transmission request and one or more product information items included in the common information to the user terminal device.

6. An information processing method using a storage unit that stores a plurality of product correspondence information that associates a store identifier that identifies a store corresponding to a store code displayed in a store column in a paper catalog having a product column that displays information about the same product for a plurality of stores and a store column that displays information about the store for each store, with one or more pieces of product information that is information about products sold at the store identified by the store identifier, a transmission request receiving unit, and a product information transmitting unit, a step in which the transmission request receiving unit receives, from a user terminal device, a transmission request including a store identifier corresponding to a code displayed in a catalog; An information processing method including a step in which, when a transmission request is received, the product information transmission unit transmits one or more product information items associated with the store identifier included in the transmission request to the user terminal device.

7. A computer that can access a storage unit that stores a plurality of pieces of product correspondence information that associates a store identifier that identifies a store corresponding to a store code displayed in a store column in a paper catalog having a product column that displays information about the same product for a plurality of stores and a store column that displays information about the store for each store, with one or more pieces of product information that is information about products sold at the store identified by the store identifier, a transmission request receiving unit that receives a transmission request including a store identifier corresponding to a code displayed in the catalog from a user terminal device; A program for functioning as a product information sending unit that, when a transmission request is received by the transmission request receiving unit, sends one or more product information items associated with the store identifier included in the transmission request to the user terminal device.

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