JP2002197091A - Merchandise retrieval server, merchandise retrieval/ sale system and merchandise information providing method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a merchandise retrieval/sale system to enable a purchaser of merchandise to transmit purchase conditions of merchandise desired to be purchased by using a telephone. SOLUTION: In the merchandise retrieval/sale system constructed on a computer, the purchaser 200 of the merchandise ambiguously transmits the purchase conditions such as a providing origin, a price, a delivery data about the merchandise desired to be purchased by voice by using the telephone set 201. A voice recognizing part 12 recognizes the contents inputted by the voice by voice, a retrieval condition extracting part 14 extracts merchandise retrieval conditions from a result of voice recognition, a merchandise retrieving part 15 retrieves, detects the merchandise to conform to the extracted merchandise retrieval conditions most from a merchandise data base 30, transmits information about the detected merchandise to the purchaser of the merchandise and enables the purchaser of the merchandise to purchase the merchandise on the computer 10 provided in a center 100.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a merchandise search server, a merchandise search / sales system, and a merchandise information providing method using a fuzzy search using voice recognition.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, consumers search for and purchase retailers themselves for products that they want to purchase, using advertisements, etc., but are unable to find retailers. There were problems such as finding. At present, with the widespread use of the Internet, it is possible to access a Web server from an application (Web browser or the like) on an information processing terminal (such as a computer) via the Internet and search and purchase a desired product. However, for example, in places where there is no information processing terminal or an application operating on the information processing terminal, such as when going out, search and purchase of a desired product cannot be performed. Even indoors, if there is no information processing terminal and no application on the information processing terminal, the desired product cannot be searched and purchased similarly.

There is a menu system in a system using a telephone. In the menu method, a menu is introduced by voice, and a user receives a service by selecting a menu introduced by voice. There is also a method of realizing this menu method using the function of a push button. However, these methods are complicated for the user to operate.

[0004]

In a commodity trading system constructed on a computer, a special application such as a Web browser is not required, and a consumer can use a popular telephone by using a popular telephone. It is an object of the present invention to provide a system that allows a product purchaser to purchase the product by transmitting the details of the desired product by voice.

[0005]

A merchandise search server according to the present invention receives merchandise information desired by a user to purchase and provides merchandise information matching the received desired merchandise information. In the server, an input / output unit for receiving voice information of the desired product input by voice, and voice information of the desired product received by the input / output unit, and voice-recognizing the input voice information of the desired product. A voice recognition unit that outputs a voice recognition result obtained by voice recognition, and a search condition extraction that inputs a voice recognition result output by the voice recognition unit and extracts a product search condition for searching for a desired product to be purchased from the input voice recognition result. Based on the product search condition extracted by the search condition extraction unit, A product search unit that searches the product database to detect product information that satisfies the product search conditions, outputs the detected product information, and inputs the product information output from the product search unit. And a control unit for notifying the user of the product information input through the control unit.

The control section synthesizes a voice based on the input product information, and notifies the user of the product information by the synthesized voice.

[0007] The control unit is characterized in that it prompts the user to input the propriety of the product purchase by voice, and acquires the propriety of the product purchase input by the user by voice.

[0008] The input speech information of a desired product for purchase includes predetermined types of predetermined items, and the voice recognition unit includes a voice dictionary corresponding to the predetermined types of items. I do.

[0009] The voice information of the desired product to be inputted includes a search date for searching for the product, and the control unit sends the product to the product search unit on the search date based on the voice information of the desired product. Instructing to search, the product search unit searches for a product based on the instruction from the control unit and outputs product information, and the control unit outputs the product information output by the product search unit to the product The product information is notified to the user who has input the voice information of the product desired to be purchased.

[0010] The product search server is connected to a communication terminal that communicates by voice via a communication network, and the input / output unit communicates with the communication terminal by voice.

[0011] A product search and sales system according to the present invention comprises:
A product search server that receives voice information of a desired product input by a user, provides product information matching the received voice information of the desired product, and mediates sales of the product; A communication terminal connected to a search server, wherein the user inputs voice information of the desired product by voice, and transmits the input voice information of the desired product to the product search server; An input / output unit for receiving voice information of a desired product transmitted from the communication terminal, and inputting voice information of the desired product received by the input / output unit, and performing voice recognition of the input voice information of the desired product. A voice recognition unit that outputs a voice recognition result obtained by voice recognition, and a product that inputs a voice recognition result output by the voice recognition unit and searches for a desired product for purchase from the input voice recognition result. A search condition extraction unit that extracts search conditions; a product database that stores product information on products including sales conditions in advance; and a product database that is searched based on the product search conditions extracted by the search condition extraction unit. Detects product information that meets the above product search conditions,
A product search unit that outputs the detected product information, and a control unit that inputs the product information output from the product search unit and transmits the product information to the communication terminal via the input / output unit. Features.

The control unit synthesizes voice based on the input product information, transmits the synthesized product information to the communication terminal, and the communication terminal receives the voice product information. And

[0013] The communication terminal is a telephone.

[0014] A product information providing method according to the present invention receives information on a desired product that a user desires to purchase, and obtains product information that matches the received desired product information in advance with respect to a product including sales conditions. In a product information providing method of searching and providing from a product database storing product information, voice information of a desired product to be purchased, which is input by voice, is received, and the received voice information of the desired product is voice-recognized. A product search condition for searching for a desired product to be purchased is extracted from the speech recognition result. Based on the extracted product search condition, the product database is searched to detect product information that satisfies the product search condition. Is notified to the user.

[0015]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Embodiment 1 FIG. 1 shows an example of a system configuration of a product search and sale system of the present invention. In the example of FIG. 1, a center (product search server) 100, a product purchaser 200, and a product provider 300
And a configuration including: In addition, the product purchaser 200
Uses the telephone 201 as an example of a communication terminal.
However, the communication terminal is not limited to the telephone 201, and may be any communication terminal that can communicate by voice. In addition, the product purchaser 200 and the product provider 300
Each is connected to the center 100 by a public telephone network 400 as an example of a communication network. Public telephone network 400
May be wired or wireless. However, Center 1
The communication network connecting between the product purchaser 200 and the product purchaser 200 is not limited to the public telephone network 400, and at least a communication terminal owned by the product purchaser 200, for example, the telephone 20
It is only necessary that communication can be performed with the center 100 using No. 1.

The center 100 constructs a product search and sale system on a computer. Product buyer 200
Are those who want to purchase a product. The product purchaser 200 can use the telephone 201 to transmit the desired purchase product (purchase conditions) to the center 100. In particular, the information on the desired product transmitted by voice is also referred to as voice information on the desired product. Product provider 3
00 provides a product that the user wants to sell, and indicates a manufacturer, a wholesaler, an intermediary company, or the like. The product provider 300 can use the information processing terminal 301 and the telephone 302 to input the sales conditions of the product desired to be sold to the center 100. When the product provider 300 registers the sales conditions using the telephone 302 or the like, the sales conditions can be registered in the product database 30 by voice recognition of the voice data.

The center 100 includes a computer 10 and
Temporary storage database 20 and product database 30
And a customer database 40. The computer 10 includes an input / output unit 11, a voice recognition unit 12, a control unit 13, a search condition extraction unit 14, and a product search unit 15. The temporary storage database 20 is a database for temporarily storing data. It is managed by the control unit 13 described later. Product database 30
Is a database that stores sales conditions (details of products to be sold) provided by the product provider 300. The sales conditions are provided in advance from the product provider 300 and registered. FIG. 2 shows an example of sales conditions registered in the product database 30. The price may be set in consideration of a profit for the manager who operates the center 100. The customer database 40 is a database for registering a member number, a password, a shipping address, a telephone number, and the like for each of the product buyers 200 as information (member information) of the product buyers 200 using the product search and sale system. . FIG. 3 shows an example of member information registered in the customer database 40.

Next, the configuration of the computer 10 will be described. The input / output unit 11 controls communication with the public telephone network 400. The voice recognition unit 12 recognizes voice data input via the input / output unit 11, and outputs a recognized voice recognition result to the control unit 13. The control unit 13 controls the computer 1
The processing is controlled by each component in 0, and the transfer of data between the components is controlled. The control unit 13
Transmits and receives voice data to and from the product purchaser 200 via the input / output unit 11. The search condition extraction unit 14 inputs the speech recognition result output by the speech recognition unit 12, and extracts a search condition (product search condition) for searching for a product from the input speech recognition result. The product search unit 15 searches the sales conditions stored in the customer database 40 using the search conditions extracted by the search condition extraction unit 14, and matches the purchase desired product audio information transmitted by the product purchaser 200. Detect product information. The information of the detected product is sent to the control unit 1
3 is transmitted to the product purchaser 200.

Next, the operation will be described. According to FIG. 4, an outline until a product purchaser purchases a desired product is shown. First, when the product purchaser 200 calls the center 100 (A01), the system in the center 100 responds (B01). The center 100 performs the following operation. First, the control unit 13 performs authentication of the product purchaser 200 (S01). If the authentication is successful, the product purchaser 200 gives details of the product desired to be purchased to the center 10 by voice data.
0 (S02). The details of the desired product to be notified in this manner become the voice information of the desired product. In the center 100, the voice recognition unit 12 voice-recognizes the details of the purchase desired product (voice information of the purchase desired product) input by the voice (S03). The voice recognition unit 12 outputs the recognized voice recognition result to the control unit 13. The search condition extraction unit 14 inputs the above-described speech recognition result together with an instruction to extract the search condition from the control unit 13, and extracts the search condition from the input speech recognition result. The extracted search conditions are output to the control unit 13.

Next, the product search unit 15 receives the instruction from the control unit 13, inputs the above search conditions, searches the product database 30, and searches for products that match the search conditions (S04). The product searched in this way is a product suitable for the product desired to be purchased. As a result of the search, product information matching the search condition is output to the control unit 13. Next, the control unit 13 uses the product information to
The product information (outline of the product) is notified to the product purchaser 200 by using the synthesized voice data and the synthesized voice data (B0
2). When purchasing, the product purchaser 200 notifies the user of the purchase by voice (A02). The call is now disconnected.

At this time, if the telephone of the product purchaser is a videophone capable of displaying an image, the control unit 13 may transmit the search result and display the product at the same time. As a result, the product purchaser can view the product of the search result by the image, and assists in the decision of whether or not to purchase. In the computer 10 provided in the center 100, W
An application such as an web server may cooperate.
Thereby, for example, in the center 100, it is possible to construct a system that sells products from a telephone and a Web browser in cooperation with a Web server.

When the product purchaser 200 informs the purchase, the product purchaser 200 pays a fee to the center 100 (A03). In the center 100, when the fee is paid from the product purchaser 200, the fee is paid to the product provider 300 and, at the same time, the product is requested to be shipped (B0).
3). Upon receiving the request, the product provider 300 sends the product to the product purchaser (C01). The process from the payment of the fee by the product buyer 200 to the shipment of the product by the product provider 300 is not limited to the above-described procedure.
A procedure other than the above may be used. For example, product purchaser 2
00 may be a method of directly paying a fee to the product provider 300. If the product is not purchased, the call is terminated by terminating the call. Alternatively, it is also possible to give a notice not to purchase a product and to give a voice notification of the details of the next product to be purchased.

Next, authentication of the user (S01), notification of the product desired to be purchased (S02), voice recognition of the product desired to be purchased (S0).
3), extraction of search conditions (S04), and search for a desired product for purchase (S05) will be described. First, the user authentication will be described with reference to FIG. When the center 100 answers the telephone from the product purchaser 200, first, the control unit 13
Outputs a message requesting the input of a member number (B
11). The product purchaser 200 inputs the member number according to the message (A11). Next, the control unit 13 outputs a message requesting the input of a password (B12), and the product purchaser 200 similarly inputs the password (A1).
2). The control unit 13 in the center 100 authenticates the user based on the member information registered in the customer database 40 based on the input member number and password (B
13). When the authentication of the user is successful, the process proceeds to the notification of the next purchase desired product (S02). If the authentication fails, the process may return to the input of the member number (B11), and the authentication may be performed again or the telephone may be disconnected.

Next, according to FIG. 6 and FIG. 4, notification of the product desired to be purchased (S02), speech recognition of the product desired to be purchased (S03),
Extraction of search conditions (S04), search for desired products (S0
5) will be described. When the user is successfully authenticated, the control unit 13 outputs a message for requesting the purchase desired product (B21). The product buyer 200 follows the message,
The details of the product desired to be purchased are transmitted by voice (A21).
For example, it is assumed that a product purchaser has given a voice message as follows. "The memory of 32 Mbytes is less than 10,000 yen."
Recognize te, 10,000 yen.

The way of communicating the desired product may be ambiguous according to the request of the purchaser. Also, the purpose of speech recognition,
By maintaining a recognition dictionary according to the application, the accuracy of speech recognition can be improved. In addition, determining the type of item for specifying a desired product for purchase also improves the accuracy of voice recognition. Further, in order to improve the accuracy of voice recognition, it is also effective to determine in advance the order of the items specifying the desired products to be transmitted from the product purchaser 200. For example, the order of the product name, quantity, price,... Is determined. Further, a message notifying the order of the items specifying the desired product for purchase is sent from the control unit 13 to the product purchaser 2.
It is also effective to notify 00.

The following is another example of the details of the product desired to be purchased. For example, there may be a case where it is desired to specify a provider (manufacturer) or a delivery date. In such a case, it can be communicated as follows. “Memory 32 Mbytes of Company M” “Memory 32 Mbytes is delivered on August 31” Further, the above examples may be combined and transmitted as follows, for example. "M company's memory 32 Mbytes will be delivered 10 days on August 31
Set ”In this case, the voice recognition unit 12 uses the memory, 32 MByte
e. Recognize 10 companies and 10 delivery dates on August 31.

The search condition extracting unit 14 extracts a search condition based on the result of the speech recognition (S04). The search condition extraction unit 14 extracts, for example, a product name, a specification, a price, a quantity, a delivery date, and the like from a speech recognition result as search conditions.
As an example, in the above description, “Product name is memory, specification is 32
MByte, price is 10,000 yen "or" Product name is memory, specification is 32 MByte, provider is M company, number is 1
0, delivery date August 31 "is extracted as a search condition. The extracted search conditions are notified to the product purchaser 200, and if there is an error, the product purchaser 200 is again notified of all or part of the details of the product desired to be purchased. Again, the notified voice data is similarly voice-recognized to extract a search condition. In this way, errors are prevented. Product search unit 15
Searches for sales conditions in the product database 30 using the above search conditions, and detects product information that meets the search conditions (S05).

In this manner, a product conforming to the product desired by the product purchaser 200 is detected, and the product information of the product is provided.

Embodiment 2 In the merchandise sales system described in the first embodiment, it is also possible to specify a search date for performing a search in detail of a desired purchased merchandise. Hereinafter, the operation of this embodiment will be described. When the search date is not included in the details of the desired purchase product, the search for the desired product is performed (S4) and the outline of the matching product is notified (B) using the same call as shown in FIG.
2) Process the purchase decision of the product purchaser until notification (A2). If the search date is included, the call is disconnected once when the search for the desired product (S04) is completed. The processing at that time will be described with reference to FIGS. 7, 8, and 9. As shown in FIG. 7, after authentication of the product purchaser 200 (S0
1) The product purchaser 200 notifies the details of the product desired to be purchased (S02), and performs voice recognition by the voice recognition unit 12 (S0).
3) The search condition is extracted by the search condition extracting unit 14. The control unit 13 determines whether the search condition extracted by the search condition extraction unit 14 includes a due date (S06).
If the due date is included, disconnect the call once. The control unit 13 stores the search conditions in the temporary storage database 20 (S07). FIG. 8 shows an example of contents stored in the product database 30 in such a case. In the example of FIG. 8, the product purchaser 200 indicates that “M company memory 32 Mb
The control unit 13 sends the temporary storage database 20
2 shows an example of search conditions to be saved in the search condition. The customer name and telephone number are obtained from the customer database 40 by the control unit 13 based on the member number and the password input at the time of user authentication (S01).

In the center 100, the control unit 13 periodically checks whether or not the date corresponds to the date included in the search condition. Next, as shown in FIG. 9, when the specified search date comes (S08), the center 100 searches the product database 30 based on the search conditions stored in the temporary storage database 20 and sets the search conditions. A suitable purchase desired product is detected (S0
5) Output the product information to the control unit 13. Control unit 13
Is a product purchaser 200 for notifying the information of the product.
Is automatically called (B31). When the product purchaser 200 answers the telephone (A31), the product purchaser 200 notifies the product information. Hereinafter, the flow is the same as that in FIG.

As described above, by designating the search date, it is possible to make a reservation so that the product information is provided in advance on the date on which the user wants to purchase the product.

Embodiment 3 FIG. The content of the information of the desired purchase product input by the product purchaser 200 by voice is not limited to that described in the first embodiment or the second embodiment. Contents other than those described above may be included. Further, in the above-described embodiment, the case where the product search providing system is implemented using only voice communication has been described. However, the center 100
Receiving voice and information other than voice, the product purchaser 200
However, if the user has a communication terminal capable of inputting voice and information other than voice, it is also possible to use a combination of input of information other than voice in addition to voice.

As information other than voice, a number inputted from a button of a telephone is exemplified. When a function capable of inputting voice is added to the information processing terminal, information can be input using the voice and a keyboard. The information processing terminal is a personal computer, a mobile terminal, a telephone and an input device connected to the telephone (a device such as a keyboard that can be used by connecting to the telephone)
Etc. are included. In addition, the information processing terminal is the center 10
It can be used as long as it has a function of communicating with 0 using voice.

[0034]

As described above, the product purchaser can save the trouble of finding the desired product from the advertisement or the like by himself / herself, and can purchase the desired product only by telling the center the desired product by voice over the telephone. . Also, when a system is constructed with a Web server, a Web browser is required, but purchase can be performed only by a generally used telephone. In this way, the number of product purchasers 200 accessing the center 100 can be increased. The agency that runs the center can make a profit added to the price, and the computer can respond to inquiries from product buyers, which can reduce labor costs.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration example of a product search and sale system according to an embodiment;

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of sales conditions registered in a product database 30.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of member information registered in a customer database 40.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of an operation flow up to product purchase of the embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of a flow of an operation of user authentication.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of an operation flow of notification of product information.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of an operation flow of notification of a desired product to be purchased when product information notification is specified.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of the content of a speech recognition result stored in the computer 10.

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an example of an operation flow of notification of product information when designation of product information notification is performed.

[Explanation of symbols]

Reference Signs List 10 computer, 11 input / output unit, 12 voice recognition unit, 13 control unit, 14 search condition extraction unit, 15 product search unit, 20 primary storage database, 30 product database, 40 customer database, 100 center,
200 product buyers, 300 product providers, 400 public telephone network.

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Claims (10)

[Claims] Claims: 1. A product search server that receives information on a desired product that a user wants to purchase and provides product information matching the received desired product information. An input / output unit for receiving information; inputting voice information of a desired product received by the input / output unit; performing voice recognition of the input voice information of the desired product;
A voice recognition unit that outputs a voice recognition result obtained by voice recognition; a search condition extraction unit that inputs the voice recognition result output by the voice recognition unit and extracts a product search condition for searching for a desired product to be purchased from the input voice recognition result. A product database storing product information on products including sales conditions in advance; and product information matching the product search conditions by searching the product database based on the product search conditions extracted by the search condition extraction unit. A product search unit that detects and outputs the detected product information, and a control unit that inputs the product information output from the product search unit and notifies the user of the product information input via the input / output unit. A product search server comprising: 2. The product search server according to claim 1, wherein the control unit synthesizes a voice based on the input product information, and notifies the user of the product information by the synthesized voice. 3. The control unit according to claim 1, wherein the control unit urges a user to input whether or not to purchase the product by voice, and obtains whether or not the product has been input by the user by voice. Item 2 search server. 4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the input speech information of the desired product includes predetermined types of predetermined items, and the voice recognition unit includes a voice dictionary corresponding to the predetermined types of items. The product search server according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein: 5. The input voice information of a desired product to be purchased includes a search date for searching for a product, and the control unit causes the product search unit to perform a search based on the voice information of the desired product for purchase on the search date. Instructs to search for a product, and the product search unit, based on an instruction from the control unit,
The control unit notifies the user who has input the voice information of the product desired to be purchased, the product information output by the product search unit, and outputs the product information. Item 4. The product search server according to any one of Items 1 to 4. 6. The product search server is connected to a communication terminal that communicates by voice via a communication network, and the input / output unit communicates with the communication terminal by voice. Product search server described in any of them. 7. A product search server which receives voice information of a desired product input by a user, provides product information matching the received voice information of the desired product, and mediates sales of the product, and a communication network. A communication terminal that connects to the product search server via the PC, the user inputs voice information of the desired product by voice, and transmits the input voice information of the desired product to the product search server; The product search server is an input / output unit that receives the voice information of the desired product transmitted from the communication terminal, and inputs the voice information of the desired product received by the input / output unit, and inputs the voice of the desired product. A voice recognition unit that performs voice recognition of information and outputs a voice recognition result obtained by voice recognition; and a voice recognition result output by the voice recognition unit. A search condition extraction unit for extracting a product search condition for searching for a product; a product database for storing product information on products including sales conditions in advance; and the product database based on the product search conditions extracted by the search condition extraction unit. And a product search unit that detects product information that satisfies the product search conditions and outputs the detected product information; and inputs product information output from the product search unit, via the input / output unit. A control unit for transmitting the product information to the communication terminal. 8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the control unit synthesizes a voice based on the input product information, transmits the synthesized product information to the communication terminal, and the communication terminal receives the voice product information. The product search / sales system according to claim 7, wherein: 9. The product search and sale system according to claim 7, wherein the communication terminal is a telephone. 10. A user receives information on a desired product that the user wishes to purchase, and obtains product information matching the received information on the desired product from a product database storing product information on the product including sales conditions in advance. In the method for providing product information to be searched and provided, voice information of a desired product to be purchased, which is input by voice, is received, voice information of the received desired product is recognized by voice, and a desired product is determined from a voice recognition result obtained by voice recognition. Extracting the product search conditions to be searched, searching the product database based on the extracted product search conditions, detecting product information matching the product search conditions, and notifying the user of the detected product information. Characteristic product information provision method.