Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
13118~3
COMMODIT~ INFORMATION RETRIE-AL S~STEM
BAC~GRO~lND OF THE INVENTION
(1) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a commodity
6 information retrieval system for transmittillg informa-
tion regarding a plurality of commodities from a host
station to user stations through a repeater mounted on
a communications satellite, for the consumer to find
desired commodities by referring to such commoditv
information.
(2) Description of the Prior Art
Conventionally, the following means are available
for providing prospective customers with commodity
information and enabling the customers to select
1~ desired commodities by referring to such information:
(1) One of the conventional means is what is
known as catalog sales. In this method, each commodi-
t~ supplier provides the consumer with a catalog of
its products. The consumer selects desired commodity
information from the catalog, and obtains a commodit~
b~ notifying the brandname or code to the supplier by
telephone or post.
~ 2) What is known as TV shopping is also widely
practiced, in which commodity information is provided
- 1 -
13118~3
through television broadcasts. In this method, the
supplier communicates information (character
information and pictorial information) concerning
several types of commodities to individual llouseholds.
The consumer desiring to buy one or more of the
commodities obtains such commodity or commodities by
notifying the brandname(s) or commodit- codels) to the
supplier by telephone or post.
(3) Further, commodity retrieval apparatus using
optical disks have been proposed recently. In this
system, a center or host station and a pluralit~ of
user stations are interconnected through cable
circuits, and each user station is equipped with a
commodity retrieval apparatus. The retrieval appara-
tus contains optical disks storing data necessary for
commodity retrie-al and video data of various commodi-
ties. By operatin~ the retrieval apparatus, the user
can retrieve information on desired commodities, and
look at commodity images on a display screen.
Such known e~amples, however, have the following
disadvantages:
(1) In providin~ commodity information by means
of catalogs, it is necessar~ to distribute catalogs
carrring various commodit~ information to a large
number of prospective customers. The supplier must,
1311~3
therefore, make enormous investments for preparation
of the catalogs. Consequently, the supplier car.r~ot
help limiting catalog-receivers to a certain number
Ito good customers, for example), so that the commodi-
ty information is made a~ailable to a limited numberof consumers. Further, since the catalogs cannot be
re-made frequently for reasons of cost, it is diffi-
cult to provide the consumer with information on new
products such as seasonable or fashionable goods in a
timelv mar.ner.
On the part of the consumer, it is time-cor-suming
and cumbersome to retrieve information on desired
commodities from catalogs provided by many suppliers.
After all, those catalogs are often dismissed ~ithout
being used to the full extent. Also it is generally
difficult for individual consumers to keep a multi-
plicity of catalogs in their custody.
(2) TV shopping has the advantage over catalog
sales of being able to provide the consumer with
commodit~ information quickly. Howe-er, there are
limits to the number of commodities for which informa-
tion is pro~-ided and to the amount of information on
each commodit~- since the commodity information must be
telecast within a short time. Consequently, it often
is the case that information on the commodity the
1311~43
consumer actuall~ wislles to purchase is not telecast.
T~- shopping has the further disad-antage of not allow-
ing the consumer to compare a plurality of commodi-
ties.
(3~ The system of selecting a desired commodity
by retrieving commodit~ data and video data stored in
optical disks has the advantage over the other two
methods noted above in that the desired commodit~ can
be found in a short time. With this type of system,
however, the video data increases to a great amount
for accommodating a large number of commodities in
optical disks. It is therefore necessary to install a
large number of optical disks at many individual user
stations, which results in large and expensive re-
trieval apparatus installed at the user stations.
Conventionall~, this type of apparatus must, there-
fore, be limited to retrieval of information on
limited t~pes of commodities ~such as for gifts).
Further, whenever the commodity data or video
data are renewed with this s~stem, it is necessary to
change the optical disks mounted in the retrieval
apparatus at the multiplicit~ of user stations. ~he
renewal operation is thus troublesome, and changing of
the optical disks involves large expenses.
1311~3
S~ AR~ OF THE I~VENTIO~-
The present invention has been made having re~ard
to the state of the art noted above. A primary object
of the present invention, therefore, is to provide a
commodit information retrieval system capable of
providing a large number of consumers with information
on a large number of commodities in a speedy marner,
enabling the consumer to compare a plurality of
commodities and select a favorite commodity; and
renewing the commodity information easilv and quic~ly.
This object is achieved, according to the present
invention, by a commodity information retrieval system
comprising at least one host station and a plurality
of user stations, the host station transmitting
commodit~v data to the user stations by wa~ of a
repeater mounted on a communications satellite. The
commodity data are stored in each user station where
desired commodity data are retrieved from the stored
commodity data. The user station transmits a video
data request to the host station concerning commodi-
ties selected throu~h the retrieval. The host station
reads video data requested by the user station, out of
stored video data. This video data is transmitted
through the repeater to the user station from hhich
2~ the image request has originated. Images of the
131~8~3
73454-3
selected commodities are displayed at the user station in
accordance with the video data received from the host station.
Thus, according to the present invention, a large number
of consumers may be provided with information on a large number of
commodities in a speedy manner. Further, necessary video data are
transmitted from the host station to the user station upon request
from the latter. It is, therefore, unnecessary for the user
station to keep a large capacity video database, which realizes a
simplified commodity information retrieval system.
In accordance with a broad aspect of the invention there
is provided a commodity information retrieval system comprising at
least one host station and a plurality of user stations
interconnected through telecommunication lines by way of a
repeater mounted on a communications satellite;
wherein said host station includes
central commodity data storage means for storing commodity
data for use in commodity searches,
central video data storage means for storing video data of
commodities,
video data reading means for reading the video data from said
central video data storage means upon request from said user
stations, and
data transmitter-receiver means for at least transmittlng the
commodity data and video data to said user stations and receiving
a video request from said user stations through said repeater; and
wherein each of said user stations includes
terminal commodity data storage means for storing the
~.~
131~
73454-3
commodity data received from said host station,
commodity data retrieval means for searching desired
commodities by utilizing the commodity data stored in said
terminal commodity data storage means,
video request creator means for creating a video request with
respect to commodities narrowed down through the retrieval, for
transmission to said host station,
terminal video data storage means for storing the video data
transmitted from the host station in response to the video
0 request,
video display means for receiving the video data from said
terminal video data storage means and displaying images of the
commodities narrowed down through the retrieval, and
data transmitter-receiver means for at least transmitting the
video request to said host station and receiving the commodity
data and video data from said host station through said repeater.
Other objects and advantages of the present invention
will be apparent from the detailed description of the preferred
embodiments to follow.
8RIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Fig. 1 is a block diagram illustrating functions of
various components of a commodity information retrieval system
according to one embodiment of the present invention,
Fig. 2 is a schematic view of the entire system,
Fig. 3 is a schematic view of a host station,
Fig. 4 is a schematic view of a user station,
Fig. 5 is a schematic perspective view of a
6a
~,~
131~ 8~3
retrieving device installed at the user station,
Fig. 6 is a schematic view of a s~lpplier station,
Fig. 7 is a schematic view of a video data
creator station,
Fig. 8 is an explanatory ~iew of trarlsmission
data format,
Fig. 9 is a flow chart of a system operation,
Fig. 10 is an e~planatory vieh of commodity data
for retrieval,
Figs. 11-1 through 11-3 are flow charts illus-
trating a first e~ample of commodity retrie--al,
Fig. 12 is a flow chart illustrating a second
example of commodity retrie~al,
Fig. 13 is a flow chart illustrating a third
e~ample of commodit~ retrie~al,
Figs. 14-1 through 1~-10 are illustrations of
displays made on a touch screen in the course of
information retrie~al,
Figs. 15-1 through 15-3 are flow charts illus-
trating an overall operation according to another
preferred embodiment of the invention,
Figs. 16-1 and 16-2 are flow charts illustrating
switching of icon highlight,
Figs. 17-1 through 17-5 are illustrations of
displays on the touch screen,
131~ ~3
Fig. 18 is a view illustrating displa~-s made on a
multi-scan monitor,
Figs. 19-1 through 19-4 are flow charts illus-
trating an image displa~ operation for commodities
retrie-ed,
Figs. 20-1, 20-2 and 21 are views illustratir
image displays made by the operation of Figs. 19-1
through 19-4,
Figs. 22-1 through 22-3 are flow charts illus-
trating retrie~al histor,v data collecting and trans-
mitting operations,
Fig. 23 is an explanatory view of a monitor
switch and digital switches, and
Fig. 24-1 through 24-3 are explanatory views
showing file structures of retrieval history data.
DETAILED DESGRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODI~lENTS
First, a preferred embodiment of the present
invention will be described centering on functions of
its components with reference to Fig. 1.
The illustrated commodit~- information retrieval
system comprises at least one host station 100, a
plurality of user stations 200 ~only one of which is
shown in Fig. 1), a repeater 300 mounted on a communi-
cations satellite, a commodity supplier station 400
1~118~3
and a video data creator station ~00.
The host station 100 includes a central commodity
data storage lA for storing retrieval commodity data
to be transmitted to the user stations 200, a central
5 video data storage lB for storing video data of a
multiplicity of commodities, a video data reader lC
for reading video data requested by the user station
200 from the central video data storage lB, a data
input/output port lD for transmitting the commodity
data stored in the central commodity data storage 1A
and the video data read out by the ~ideo data reader
lC to the user stations 200 through the repeater 300
and for receiving image reguests and other signals
from the user stations 200, and a demand data control
lE for analyzing and recording data regarding order
frequency of each commodity (demand data) based on
commodity order information received from the user
stations 200. The central video data storage lB
consists of a plurality of optical disks on ~-hich the
video data are stored at random.
Each user station 200 includes a terminal commod-
ity data storage 2A for storing commodity data re-
ceived from the host station 100, a commodity data
retriever 2B for retrieving desired commodity data
from the data stored in the terminal commodity data
1~118~3
storage 2.~, a video data request creator 2C for creat-
ir,g an image request on commodities selected through
data retrieval, a terminal video data storage 2D for
storing video data corresponding to a predetermined
number of images received from the host station 100, a
video display 2E for displaying commodity images, a
data input/output port 2F for transmitting the image
request to the host station 100 through the repeater
300 and for receiving the commodity data and video
da~ta from the host station 100 through the repeater
300, an order information creator 2G for transmitting
order information on the commodity or commodities that
the user has decided to purchase to the host station
100 through the repeater 300, and a demand data
storage 2H for storing the demand data received from
the host station 100 through the repeater 300.
The number of commodities retrieved through the
commodity data retriever 2B may exceed a ma~imum
number of images storable in the terminal video data
storage 2D. In such a case, the video data request
creator 2C refers to the demand data stored in the
demand data storage 2H, selects the frequentl~ ordered
commodities corresponding in number to the maximum
number of images, and requests video data for the
selected commodities from the host station 100.
-- 10 --
131~43
The commodit~: supplier station 400 can communi-
cate with the host station 100 through the repeater
300, and includes an order information storage 4A for
storing commodity order information, and a data
input/output port 4B for communicating data with the
host station 100.
The video data creator station 500 can also
communicate with the host station 100 through the
repeater, and includes a video input device 5A for
creating the commodit.v video data, a video data
storage 5B for storing the video data created through
the video data input device 5A, and a data input/
output port 5C for receiving a video data request and,
in response to this request, transmitting the video
data stored in the video data storage 5B to the host
station 100.
An outline of the system operation is as follows:
The commodit~ data stored in the central commodi-
ty data storage lA are transmitted to the user sta-
tions 200 throu~h the data input/output port lD andrepeater 300. Each user station 200 stores the trans-
mitted commodit~ data in the terminal commodit~ data
storage 2A. The user at the user station 200 operates
the commodit~ data retriever 2B to retrieve desired
data from the commodit~- data stored in the terminal
13111 ~
commodity data storage 2A. ~'hen the user has selected
a certain number of commodities and wishes to look at
their images, he or she operates the video data
request creator 2C. The video data request creator 2C
a then creates a video request and transmits it to the
host station 100 through the data input/output port 2F
and repeater 300.
In response to this video request, the video data
reader lC of the host station 100 reads the video data
of the selected commodities from the central ~-ideo
data storage lB. The video data of commodities are
stored at random regardless of commodity classifica-
tion or the like in the plurality of optical disks
constituting the central video data storage lB.
Therefore, when the video data are read out in respect
of a plurality of commodities, these data are read
from the optical disks in parallel. The video data
thus read out are transmitted through the data input/
output port lD and repeater 300 to the user station
200 from which the video request has ori~inated.
The video data transmitted to the user station
200 are temporarily stored in the terminal video data
storage 2D. Then the images are displa,~ed on the
~ideo display 2E.
2~ The user at the user station 200 looks at the
- 12 -
13118~3
images of the commodities appearing on the video
display 2E, and select a favorite commodity or commod-
ities from the retrieved commodities.
When ordering the selected commodity or commodi-
ties, the order information creator 2G is operated to
transmit order information on the selected commoditv
or commodities to the host station 100. Then the
demand data control lE of the host station 100 ana-
lyæes and records demand data of each commodity ~-ith
respect to its order frequency.
The demand data created at the host station 100
is transmitted to each user station 200 and stored in
the demand data storage 2H. On the other hand, if the
number of commodities retrieved at the user station
200 exceeds the maximum number of images storable in
the terminal video data storage 2D, the data storage
2D cannot accept the video data of all the retrieved
commodities. In this case, reference is made to the
demand data stored in the demand data Qtorage 2H for
selecting the number of frequentl~ ordered commodities
equal to the ma~imum number of images. The video data
for these commodities are requested from the host
station 100.
The order information transmitted from user sta-
tion 200 to host station 100 is transferred to the
- 13 -
1311~3
supplier station ~00 to be stored in the order infor-
mation storage 4A. On the basis of this informatioll,
the commodity or commodities are arranged for
delivery.
At the video data creator station 500, the
original image of each commodity received from the
commodity supplier or other source is con-erted into
video data by the video input de~ice 6A for storage in
the video data storage 5B. In response to the video
data request received from the host station 100, the
video data stored in the storage 6B is transmitted to
the host station 100 to be stored in the central video
data storage lB.
Structural details of the commodity information
retrieval system will be described next.
Fig. 2 shows the host station 100. user stations
200, commodity supplier stations 400 and video data
creator station 500 which communicate data through the
repeater 300 mounted on a communications satellite,
and telecommunication lines interconnecting the host
station 100 and other stations.
The host station 100 controls various commodity
data and video data used in the commodity retrieval at
the user stations 200, and communicates the data with
the various stations as necessar~. One host station
131~
100 is included in this embodiment, but a plurality of
host stations 100 may be provided. ~here a plurality
of host stations 100 are provided, one host station
may be used as a backup when another is disabled of
communication for some reason.
The user stations 200 are for users to search and
select desired commodities from the commodity data
filed therein, and transmit commodity orders to the
host station 100. The user stations 200 should desir-
ably be installed in coffee houses, beauty parlors,hospitals and the like where man~ people stay for
certain periods of time. The user stations 200 are
installed in a greater number than the other stations,
and their number is not limited.
1~ The commodity supplier stations 400 receive
commodity order information through the host station
100, and arrange delivery of the ordered commodities.
The number of supplier stations 400 is not limited.
The video data creator stations 500 create
commodity data and descriptions on behalf of the host
station 100, for transmitting such data to the host
station 100 to be stored therein. The number of
creator stations is not limited.
The repeater 300 relays the data transmission
2~ between the host station 100 and other stations, and
-- 1~ --
131~8~3
includes a video circuit repeater 3~ and a data
circuit repeater 3B. The number of repeaters is not
limited, and one circuit may be used for transmitting
the video and other data. By mounting the repeater
300 on a communications satellite, the various sta-
tions may be installed over a wide range. This
facilitates construction of this system, and secures
"broadcasting" or simultaneous data transmission from
the host station to many other stations.
A video circuit ~C shown in solid lines in Fig. 2
is a video data transmission circuit interconnecting
the host station 100 and user station 200. The
circuit VC transmits the data one way from host
station 100 to user station 200.
Data circuits DC shown in boken lines transmit
~arious data bidirectionally between host station 100
and other stations.
The data transmission is on-line or batch
processed depending on the ~ind. The on-line
processing is used for information transmission made
by any non-host station when an immediate response
from the host station 100 is required. The batch
processing is used for transmission of a group of
data, in which the host station 100 polls another
station for promptin~ transmission of a group of
necessary data, if any, to the host station 100.
Ne~t, constructions of the respecti~e stations
will particularly be described with reference to Figs.
3 through 7.
A specific construction of the host station 100
will be described first with reference to Fig. 3.
The host station 100, broadly, includes the
following four data control sections.
The first section is a commodity data control
section 110 for controlling a multiplicit~ of commodi-
ty data to be transmitted to the user stations 200 for
commodity retrieval. The commodity data control sec-
tion 110 includes a commodity data file 111 for stor-
ing the commodity data, a commodity data controlling
computer 113 for controlling accumulation, renewal and
deletion of the commodity data, and a plurality of
terminal units 114 for inputting commodity data. The
commodity data file 111 corresponds to the central
commodity data storage lA shown in Fig. 1.
The second section is a video data control
section 120 for controlling the video data and
description data of commodities transmitted to the
user stations 200 upon request. The video data
control section 120 includes an video file 121 corre-
sponding to the central video data storage lB shown in
-- 1 1 --
13i31 ~
Fig. 1, and a video data controlling computer 122
corresponding to the video data reader lC. In this
embodiment, the video file 121 is made up of a
plurality of optical disks. The video file 121 may of
course be made up of magnetic disks or the li~e.
The digital video data transmitted from the video
data creator station 500 are once stored in the video
data file 123. These data are converted by a digital-
to-analog converter 124 into a frequency-modulated
analog signal, which is stored at random in the video
file 121 under control of an optical disk recording
console 12~.
The rar.dom storage of the video data means that
video data of commodities highly likely to be request-
ed simultaneously by the user stations 200 are storedin different optical disks. Normally, about one
second is required for reading out video data corre-
sponding to one image from the optical disks. Assume
that a user station 200 requests video data of each of
five articles of ladies' wear. If the video data of
ladies' wear were all stored in the same optical disk,
there would occur a five-second waiting time for read-
out the video data of the five commodities, resulting
in a slow video data transmission to the user station
200. Where the video data are stored at random in the
- 18 -
131~ ~43
optical disks as above, the video data may be read in
parallel from different optical disks, thereby achie~-
ing a reduced read-out time.
The data indicating storage locations of the
commoditv video data are stored in a video data clas-
sification data file 126 associated with the optical
dis~ recording console 125. The video data control-
ling computer 122 reads the commodity classification
data from the video data classification data file 126
in response to commodity codes received from the video
data requesting host station 100, and reads necessary
video data from the video file 121 b~- referring to the
classification data.
The video data control section 120 further
1~ includes a video transmission buffer 127 having a
plurality of frame memories corresponding to the
optical disks of video file 121, respectively. The
video data read out of the optical disks under control
of the video data controlling computer 122 are once
stored in the frame memories corresponding to the
optical disks, and are sequentially output from the
video transmission buffer 127.
The video data control section also includes a
commodity description data file 128 for storing
description data transmitted from the video data
-- 19 --
13~ 843
creator station 500. As are the video data, these
description data are stored as associated with the
commodity codes. Upon receipt of a video data request
from the user station 200, the video data are read out
5 and the description data are read out of the descrip-
tion data file 128.
The third section is a demand data control
section 130 corresponding to the demand data control
lE shown in Fig. 1. The demand data controi section
130 includes a demand data controlling computer 131
for analyzing and taking the statistics of commodity
order frequencies based on the commodity order infor-
mation received from the user stations 200, and a
demand data file 132 for storing the analyzed demand
data.
The commodit~ demand data are analyzed according
to various aspects such as demands from the respective
user stations 200, demands for different commodity
trends, demands varying from region to region, demands
varying from one age bracket to another, and so on.
The demand data here means the data indicating commod-
ity order frequencies for each of small commodity
classification ~including about 4,000 to 5,000 groups,
for e~ample) used at the user stations 200 when
req~lesting the commodity video data as described
- 20 -
~3118~
later.
The fourth section is an order receiving and
transmitting control section 140. This sectiorl 1~0
includes a data input terminal 141 for re-inputting
commodity order receiving data based on order forms
image-transferred from the user stations 200, data
files 142 which include an order transmitting file for
temporarily storing the data image-transferred from
the user stations 200 and an order receiving file for
storing the order receiving data re-input by the data
input terminal 141, and a data file controlling com-
puter 143 for writing data in and reading data from
the data files 142.
Fig. 3 also shows a retrieval history data
control section 180, which is not described here since
it is a section added to a different embodiment
described later.
The foregoing control sections llO, 120, 130 and
140 are connected to a data communicating front end
computer 150. This computer 150 analyzes the data
received from the various stations and assigns these
data to appropriate control stations.
Specifically, as shown in Fig. 8(a), the host
station 100 receives a data format transmitted from
the various stations, which format is made up of a
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1311843
head region H for data identification, and a te~t
region T containing a data te~t. As shown in Fig.
8(b) the header region H includes a receiver code RT
for identifying the station transmitting the data, a
6 processing section code S for identifying the control
section of the host station 100 which processes the
data, a processing code C for indicating the nature of
data processing, and the number of text bites TB for
indicating a data amount of the text transmitted.
The front end computer 150 ascertains the proc-
essing section code S in the header region H, and
assigns the data to an appropriate control section.
The controlling computer in each section carries out
processing corresponding to the processing code C in
- 15 the assigned data.
Further, the front end computer 150 produces a
format similar to that shown in Fig. 8, for the data
(such as commodity data and description data) to be
transmitted to a non-host station, and transmits the
format to the non-host station with the code of that
station. In the case of data transmission based on a
request, such as the video data request, from a parti-
cular user station, the front end computer 150 memo-
rizes the receiver code RT contained in the header
region H, and adds this code to the data transmitted
131~8~3
to that user station.
The video data read out at the video data control
section 120 and the commodity description data format-
ted bv the front end computer 160 are multiplexed,
modulated snd scrambled by a data multiplexer-
modulator 160 for application to a data transmitter-
receiver 170.
The data transmitter-receiver 170 communicates
data with the non-host stations, and corresponds to
the data input/output port lD shown in Fig. 1.
The user station 200 will be described next with
reference to Figs. 4 and 5.
Fig. 4 is a block diagram of the user station
200, and Fig. 5 is a schematic perspective view of a
retrieving device installed at the user station 200.
The user station 200 includes commodity data file
210 for storing the commodity data transmitted from
the host station 100, and a demand data file 211 for
storing the demand data. The commodity data file 210
corresponds to the terminal commodity data storage 2A
shown in Fig. 1, while the demand data file 211 corre-
sponds to the demand data storage 2H shown in Fig. 1.
A retrieval terminal 212 is provided as associat-
ed with the data files 210 and 211 for carrying out
commodity retrieval and image request. As shown in
- 23 -
1311~43
Fig. 5, the retrieval terminal 212 includes a touch
screen 213 for use in the commodity retrieval. The
retrieval terminal 212 corresponds to the commodity
data retriever 2B and video data request creator 2C
shown in Fig. 1.
Number 214 indicates a printer 214 for printing
out the brandnames, numbers and the like of commodi-
ties selected by a user. The printout is rewritten
into a suitable order slip which is converted by an
image scanner 216 into image data for transmission to
the host station 100. This image scanner 216 corre-
sponds to the order information creator 2G shown in
Fig. 1. The order information creator 2G may allow
the user to operate the retrieval terminal 212 for
creating the order information and directly transmit-
ting it to the host station 100. In this embodiment,
however, a staffmember at the user station 200 trans-
mits the image of order information in order to avoid
ordering errors and pranks.
A front end computer 218 formats the data trans-
mitted to the host station 100 (see Fig. 8), and
distributes the data received from the host station
100 to various parts of the user station 200.
A data decoder 222 decodes the video data and
description data received by a data transmitter-
- 2~ -
13~8~3
recei~-er 220. The video data and the like transmitted
as scrambled from the host station 100 can be decoded
correctly only at the user station 200 answering the
receiver code transmitted with the data. Decoded
video data and description data are stored in a ~ideo
buffer memory 226 controlled by a video controller
224. The video buffer memory 226 includes a frame
memory 228 capable of storing video data corresponding
to a maximum of 32 frames, and a frame memory 230 for
storing description data corresponding to the video
data. The maximum number of frames storable is of
course not limited to 32, but may be set as desired.
This video buffer memory 226 corresponds to the
terminal video data storage 2D shown in Fig. 1.
The video buffer memory 226 is connected to a
display buffer memory 236 which includes a video frame
memory 238 for storing video data for four frames
transferred from the video buffer memory 2261 and a
description frame memory 240 corresponding to the four
frames corresponding to the above video data.
The video data and description data are trans-
mitted from the host station 100 along with commodity
codes. The front end computer 218 memorizes the
respective commodity codes as associated with storage
locations of the video data in the video buffer memory
- 25 -
1311~43
226. Upon receipt of a video display command for a
selected commodity from the retrieval terminal 212,
the front end computer 218 referred to the commodity
codes and designates the storage location of the
S corresponding data to the video controller 224. The
video controller 22~ reads the video data and descrip-
tion data of that commodity from the designated
storage location in the video buffer memory 226, and
outputs these data through the display buffer memory
236 to a multi-scan monitor 232.
The multi-scan monitor 232 is capable of a
quarter split display mode for displaying four commod-
ity images on one screen under control of the video
controller 224. This mode allows the user to compare
the four commodity images for selecting a favorite
commodity or commodities. If desired, one enlarged
commodity image may be displayed on the entire monitor
screen. This multi-scan monitor 232 corresponds to
the video display 2E in Fig. 1.
Fig. 4 also shows an icon storage file 215, an
icon displa~ attribute file 219, an icon highlight
display file 217 and a retrieval history data file
242, which are not described here since the~ are added
to the different embodiment described later.
Next, the commodity supplier station 400 will be
- 26 -
13118~3
described with reference to Fig. 6.
The supplier station ~00 includes data files 410
consisting of an order receiving file and a commodity
recording file, a computer 412 for controlling the
data files 410, a front end computer 414 for distrib-
uting received data and formatting data to be sent
out, and a data transmitter-receiver 416. The data
files 410 correspond to the order information storage
4A shown in Fig. 1.
Next, the video data creator station 500 will be
described with reference to Fig. 7.
The video data creator station 500 includes a
video input device 510 for photographing, with a
camera, original images of commodities mailed from
16 suppliers, for example, and converting the images into
video data, and a description data input device 512
for inputting descriptions of the commodities. The
video input device 510 corresponds to the video input
device 5A in Fig. 1.
The video data produced by the video input device
510 are stored in a video data file 514, while the
description data input through the description data
input device 512 are stored in a description data file
516. The video data file 514 corresponds to the video
data storage 5B in Fig. 1.
- 27 -
131~L8~3
The video data creator station 500 further
includes a file controlliny computer 518 for control-
ling writing of the video data and description data
into the files, a front end computer 520 for format-
ting the data to be sent out, &nd a data transmitter-
receiver 522.
The video data creator station 500 need not be
provided as an independent non-host station. For
example, the commodity supplier station 400~may
include a video input device and a description data
input terminal for transmitting video and other data
to the host station 100.
How the system according to this embodiment
operates will be described next.
[A] An operation of the retrieval terminal 212 in
the user station 200 and relating operation of the
host station 100 will be described referring to Figs.
9-1 and 9-2.
As shown in Fig. 14-l(a), the touch screen 213 of
the retrieval terminal 212 in the user station 200
displays an initial screen including three menus, (1)
message, ~2) guide, and (3) shopping. The "message"
is used for communications between users. Specifical-
ly, one user hand-writes characters on the touch
screen 213, whereupon the characters are memorized
- 28 -
131~8~3
inside the retrieval terminal 212 for retrieval by
another user. The "guide" is used for advertising the
shop or other establishments where the user station
200 is installed. When the "message" or "guide" is
selected, the corresponding process is executed (steps
S101 to S106).
~'hen the "shopping" is selected, the program
moves from step S107 to step S108 for commodity
retrieval processing. In the commodity ret~ieval
processing, one or more commodities meeting the condi-
tions set by the user is/ore retrieved from the multi-
plicity of commodity data stored in the commodity data
file 210 of the user station 200. This commodity
retrieval processing will be described in detail
later.
If step S109 confirms completion of the retriev-
al, step S110 checks if the number of retrieved
commodities is up to the maximum number of video
frames storable in the video buffer memory 226 (32
frames in this embodiment). If over 32 commodities
have been retrieved, 32 most frequently ordered
commodities are selected from the retrieved commodi-
ties by referring to the demand data stored in the
demand data file 211 ~step S111).
If the number of retrieved commodities is up to
- 29 -
131~3
32, or after the 32 commodities are selected at step
S111, the program moves to step S112 for communicating
the codes of these commodities to the front end
computer 218.
At step S201, the front end computer 218 checks
from the commodity codes stored in the video buffer
memory 226 as associated with the video data whether
or not the video data and description data of the
commodities notified are stored in the video buffer
memory 226.
If the video and other data of these commodities
are not stored in the video buffer memory 226, the
program moves to step S202 for requesting such data
from the host station 100, the request being trans-
mitted on-line to the host station 100. More parti-
cularly, as described with reference to Fig. 8, the
code number of the user station 200, the code of the
relevant processing section of the host station 100
(the video data control section 120 in this case), the
~-rocessing code for requesting video output process-
ing, and the number of bites of the text are set to
the header region H of the data transmitted to the
host station 100, with the codes of the commodities
whose images are requested being set to the te~t
region T.
- 30 -
1311~
~lpon receipt of the video request, the host
station 100 assigns the video request data to the
video data control section 120. At step S301, the
video data controlling computer 122 of the video data
control section 120 checks whether the requested video
data are stored in the video transmission buffer 127
or not. If the video data are found, the computer 122
reads the description data of the requested commodi-
ties from the description data file 128 at steP S303.
At step S30~, transmission processing is carried out
for the requested video data in the video transmission
buffer 127 and the corresponding description data, and
these data are transmitted to the user station 200
from which the video request has originated. If the
video data are not stored in the video transmission
buffer 127, a high-speed search is made through the
video file 121 for the necessary video data by refer-
ring to the video data classification data file 126,
and these data are set to the video transmission
buffer 127 (step S302). Then the program moves to
steps S303 and S304 for transmitting the video and
other data.
~'hen the video data and description data are
transmitted to the user station 200 having made the
video request, these data are stored in the respective
- 31 -
1311~3
frame memories 228 and 230 of the video buffer memory
226 (step S203).
If step S201 finds the video data of the selected
commodities in the video buffer memory 226 of the user
station 200, or when the necessary data transmitted
from the host station 100 are set to the the video
buffer memory 226, the program moves to step S113 for
reading the video data and description data of the
selected commodities from the video buffer memory 226.
The video data read out are sequentially displayed in
fours on the multi-scan monitor 232 (step S114).
At step S115, the user makes a commodity selec-
tion while looking at the commodity images appearing
on the multi-scan monitor 232. The commodity selec-
tion processing carried out at step S115 will be
described later. Step S116 judges whether the commod-
ity selection is completed or not. The commodity
images are displayed in seguence until the commodity
selection is completed.
~hen the commodity selection is completed, step
S117 checks whether a commodity or commodities are
ordered or not. If the commodity or commodities are
ordered, the printer 214 prints out an order slip
carrying the commodity number~s) and brandname(s)
(step S118). When the order slip has been printed or
- 32 -
1311~3
when none of the selected commodities are ordered
~quitting shopping), the program returns to step S101.
[B] Order Placement Processing
The commodities selected at each user station 200
are ordered as follows:
When the order slip is printed out as described
above, the user takes the slip to an appointed place
(such as the cashier's counter) in the shop where the
user station 200 is installed, and fills in a pre-
scribed form. Then a staffmember of the shop operatesthe image scanner 216 to read the form. The resulting
image data are stored in an order data file of the
commodity data file 210.
[C] Order Data Collection
The order data stored at the user station 200 are
collected by the host station 100 as follows:
If, for example, users are allowed to make
commodity retrievals during business hours from 10
a.m. to 10 p.m., the host station 100 successively
polls the user stations 200 during non-business hours
from 10 p.m. to 10 a.m. the following morning, to find
out if order data are stored at the user stations 200.
If order data are stored, the user stationa 200
take the order data out of the order data file of the
data files 210, carry out transmission processing and
- 33 -
~31~43
transmit the data in a batch (batch processing).
Upon receipt of the order data, the host station
100 successively stores in the order file of the data
files 142 in the order data control sections 140.
[Dl Order Processing for Commodity Supplier
Station 400
The order data stored in the order file of the
host station 100 are transferred to the commodity
supplier station 400 after being processed as follows:
The order data stored in the order file are bit
image data. These data are displayed on a CRT of the
input terminal 141. An operator looks at the displa~-
ed data, and operates keys on the input terminal 141
to re-input necessary items as character data.
The re-input order data are stored in the order
file of the data files 142, and forwarded to the
demand data control section 130. The data are
analyzed as appropriate at the control section 130 and
resulting demand data are stored in the data file 132.
The data stored in the order file are transmitted
in a batch to an appropriate commodity supplier
station 400 along with the corresponding commodity
codes.
Upon receipt of the order data from the host
station 100, the supplier station 400 stores the data
- 34 -
1311~43
in the data file 410.
[E] Demand Data Processing
The demand data stored in the data file 132 of
- the host station 100 are transmitted to each user
station 200 as follows:
The host station 100 reads the demand data from
the data file 132 of the demand data control section
130, and transmits the demand data all at once to the
user stations 200 during the non-business hours of the
latter.
The demand data received at each user station 200
are stored in the data file 211 thereof for use in the
described video request made during the commodity
retrieval.
[G] Commodity Data Renewal Processing
The commodity data are renewed as follows:
The host station 100 polls the commodity supplier
stations 400 to find out if each supplier station 400
has commodity data to be renewed ~such as commodity
data to be added or deleted).
If there are commodity data for renewal, the
supplier station 400 takes these data out of the data
file 410 and transmits them in a batch to the host
station 100. The host station 100 sends these commod-
ity data to the commodity data control section 110 for
i3i~8~
adding new commodity data to the commodity data file111 or deleting commodit~r data made redundant.
The renewed commodity data are transmitted from
the host ststion 100 to the user stations 200 all at
once during the non-business hours of the latter.
Upon receipt of these commodity data, each user
station 200 adds new commodity data to the data file
210 or delete redundant commodity data.
By thus renewing the commodity data stored in the
user stations 200 all at once, information on new
commodities is made available to users promptly.
Since the commodity data renewal is effected during
the non-business hours of the user stations 20Q when
the communication circuits are relatively free, the
commodity data renewal processing is carried out
smoothl~-.
~ 'here the commodity supplier station 400 has a
video input device of its own, the commodity renewal
data are transmitted to the host station 100 as
accompanied by the video data and description data of
the commodities to be renewed. The host station 100
renews the contents of the video data file 121 and
description data file 128 of the video data control
section 120 with such video and other data.
1 3 ~ 3
lH] ~ideo and Description Data Transmission
Processing
The video data and description data created at the
video data creator station 500 are transmitted to the
host station 100 as follows:
The host station 100 polls the video data creator
station 500 to find out if there are new video and/or
description data.
If there are new data, the video data creator
station 500 reads the video data and description data
from the video data file 514 and description data file
516, respectively, and transmits them in a batch to
the host station 100 after transmission processing.
The data thus transmitted are forwarded to the video
data control section 120 where the video data are
stored in the video data file 123 and to the descrip-
tion data in the description data file 128. The video
data stored in the video data file 123 are stored in
the video file 121 after being converted into the
analog signal. Similar processing is carried out
where the video and description data are transmitted
directly from the commodity supplier station 400.
[I~ Commodity Retrieval Processing
E~ample of commodity retrieval processing by the
commodity information retrieval system according to
1 3 1 ~ 3
this embodiment will be described next.
Prior to description of specific examples of
retrieval processing, the commodity data set to each
commodity for commodity retrieval will be described.
Referring to Fig. lO, the commodity data include
commodity codes as shown at (a) of Fig. 10, attribute
key codes as at (b), and free key codes as at (c).
The commodity codes include large classification
codes for broadly classifying the commodities for
retrieval into about 20 large groups, medial classifi-
cation codes for classifying each large group into
about 20 intermediate groups, small classification
codes for classifying each intermediate group into
about 20 soall groups, and individual commodity codes
for identifying individual commodities belonging to
each small group. The number of groups resulting from
each classification is not limited to the above
example but may be selected as desired.
The attribute key codes are determined according
to commodity attributes such as commodit~r sizes,
colors, materials and prices.
The free key codes are provided for allowing
users to retrieve commodities according to their
sense, taste or purpose of purchase, thereby retriev-
ing desired commodities promptly and accurately. The
- 38 -
~31~ 8~3
free ke~ codes are used in the commodity retrieval
independently of or in combination with the commodity
codes. In this embodiment, the free codes, broadly,
are assigned to the contents set forth hereunder. The
following free key codes may be set in a plural number
to each commodity. The followin~ settin~ is only one
example, and assignment of the free key codes may be
varied as desired.
tl) A Codes: Select from Special Plans.
These are codes set to commodities forming the
subjects of special plans offered by the commodity
suppliers or the like. Specifically, these codes are
assigned to features as set out in Table 1.
Table 1
A Codes Select from SPecial Plans
A01 Special Products of Hokkaido
A02 Spring Relea~e of New Cars
A03 Spring Release of Ladies' Garments
A04 Sale of Children's Wear
... .............
(2) B Codes: Have Favorite Senses
These are codes for classifying commodities
according to the favorite senses of users.
- 3g -
131~8~3
Specifically, these codes are assiYned to senses as
set out in Table 2.
Table 2
B Codes Ha~e Fa~orite Senses
B01 High Technology
B02 High Touch
B03 Cheap Chic
B04 High Grade
B05 Romantic
B06 Retrospective
B07 Traditional
B08 Natural
B09 Sporty
B10 Simple
... .......
(3) C Codes: Scrupulous about Age
These are codes for classifying commodities
according to the age brackets to which users belong.
Specifically, these codes are assigned to age brackets
as set out in Table 3.
- 40 -
131~8~3
Table 3-1
C Codes ScruPulous about A~e
C01 Male: 0 to 5 years
C02 Male: 6 to 11 years
C03 Male: 12 to 17 years
C0~ Male: 18 to 26 years
C05 Male: 26 to 35 years
C06 Male: 36 to 50 years
C07 Male: 51 to 70 years
C08 Male: 71 years and above
Table 3-2
C Codes ScruPulous about A~e
C09 Female: 0 to 6 years
C10 Female: 6 to 11 yearQ
C11 Female: 12 to 17 years
C12 Female: 18 to 25 years
C13 Female: 26 to 36 years
C14 Female: 36 to 50 years
C15 Female: 36 to 60 years
C16 Female: 36 to 50 Years
C17 Female: 61 to 70 years
C18 Female: 71 years and above
- 41 -
1311843
(4) D Codes: Have Fixed Gift Purpose
These are codes for classifying commodities
according to the gift purpose. Specifically, these
codes are assigned to purposes as set out in Table 4.
Table 4
D Codes Have Fixed Gift PurPose
D01 Wedding
D02 Congratulatory on Birth
D03 Seasonal Festival
D04 School Entrance
D05 School Graduation
D06 Employment
D07 Wedding Commemoration
D08 Longevity
D09 Return Gift
D10 Memorial Service
... .......
(5) E Codes: Have Fixed Gift Purpose
These are codes for classifying commodities
according to the trends relating to commodities.
Specifically, these codes are assigned to trends as
set out in Table 5.
- 42 -
13111 ~3
Table 5
E Codes Trend-Conscious
E01 eat simple foods
E02 eat alone
E03 glut
E04 eat little
E05 play alone
E06 informatize
E07 for 24 hours a day
E08 systematize
E09 for light weight and smallness
E10 globalize
... .......
~6) F Codes: Image from Relevant Places
These are codes for classifying commodities
according to the the places with which the commodities
are associated. Specifically, these codes are
assigned to places as set out in Table 6.
Table 6
F Codes ImaYe from Relevant Places
F01 Living-Room
F02 Dining-Room
F03 ~itchen
- 43 -
13118~3
F04 Bathroom
F05 Toilet
F06 Closet or Shed
F07 Bedroom
F08 Study
F09 Japanese Tatami-Room
F10 Children's Room
... .......
~7) G Codes: ~ant ~arious Functions
These are codes for classifying commodities
according to the various functions of the commodities.
Specifically, these codes are assigned to functions as
set out in Table 7.
Table 7
G Codes ~'ant ~arious ~unctions
G01 GreatlY Improved Safety
G02 GreatlY Improved Delicacy
G03 Greatly Improved Live Reproducibilit~
G04 Greatly Improved Utility
G0~ Greatly Improved Surprising Effect
G06 GreatlY Improved Recreation
G07 Greatly Improved Comfort
- 44 -
131~ ~3
G08 Greatly Improved Economy
G0g Greatly Improved Operability
G10 Greatly Improved Durability
... .......
S Examples of commodity retrieval will be described
ne~t. Since the commodity retrieval has many diver-
gent sequences, three typical examples will be de-
scribed hereinafter.
First ExamPle
In the first example, the user searches commodi-
ties in the order of the large, medial and small
commodity classifications and commodity attributes,
observes selected commodities on the monitor, and
selects which commodity or commodities to purchase in
the end.
The description will be made referrinB to Figs.
11-1 through 11-3 showing a flow chart of commodity
retrieval and to Figs. 14-1 through 14-10 showing
displays given on the touch screen as various steps of
the retrie~al are executed. The fin~er marks in Figs.
1~-1 through 14-10 indicate positions on the touch
screen touched by a finger of the user (i.e. choices
made), and are not part of the displays made on the
- 45 -
~31~ ~3
screen. The numerals in the finger marks indicate the
sequence of operation.
In carrying out the commodity retrieval at step
S108 of Fig. 9-1, the initial screen (a) of Fig. 14-1
is displayed on the touch screen 213 at step N101.
The initial screen (a) prompts the user to select ~1)
shoppin~, 12) guide from the shop, or ~3) message at
step N102.
If the "message" is selected, a "message" screen
(not shown~ is displayed at step N103. If the "guide
from the shop" is selected, a "guide" screen (not
shown) is displayed at step N104.
If the "shopping" is selected, a "commodity
selecting methods" screen (b) is displayed at step
N105. This screen (b) prompts the user to designate
one of the commodity selecting methods by means of
choices (1)-(9) at step N106.
Choice (1) is designated by a user who already
knows the code of the commodity he or she wants to
purchase. Choice (2) is designated when a commodity
to be purchased is retrieved through the commodity
classificstion. Choices (3) to (9) are selected when
commodities are retrieved according to senses, tastes
and the like of the user.
In this example, choice (2) is designated for
- 46 -
131~ ~3
retrieving commodities by the commodity classifica-
tion. For designating choice ~2), the user touches
the choice ~2) key (finger mark (1)) and then touches
a "confirm" key at the top of the righthand side of
the screen (finger mark ~2)).
The "confirm" key acts as a control key for
ad~ancing the screen to the next stage or, if there is
no next stage, reinstating the initial screen (a).
The "help" key is for use when the user does not know
how to operate the touch screen. When this key is
touched, detailed explanations of the operation are
displayed on the touch screen. The "selections" key
is used for displaying the selections the user has
made in his or her commodity retrieval. The "correct"
key is used for correcting wrong selections. The
"stop shopping" key is used for discontinuing the
commodity retrieval and other operations. When this
key is touched, the touch screen returns to the
initial screen (a).
When choice (2) is designated for carrying out
the retrieval by the commodity classification, a
"large classification" screen (c) appears on the touch
screen at step N107. This screen ~c) prompts the user
to select one of the large groups at step N108. The
indication "There is next page" on the screen (c)
- 47 -
131~3
means that this classification is shown on a plurality
of screens. If the user touches a "next page" ~e~- on
the righthand side, a second "large classification"
screen is displayed. If the user touches a "pre~ious
page" key, a pre~-ious screen is displayed.
If, for e~ample, choice (2) (men's wear~ and the
"confirm" key are touched, a medial classification
screen ~d) for men's wear appears on the touch screen
at step N109. This screen (d~ prompts the user to
select a medial group at step N110. The "pre-~ious
classification" key at the bottom on the righthand
side of the screen td) is a control key for returning
to a previous classification screen ~the large classi-
fication in this case). This key is touched when a
wrong selection has been made from the large classifi-
cation, so that the user may select a right group by
returning to the large classification screen.
If, for example, choice (5~ (jackets) and the
"confirm" key are touched, a small classification
screen (e) for jackets appears on the touch screen at
step N111. This screen (e) prompts the user to select
a small group at step N112.
~ hen one of the choices is selected from the
small classification screen (e) and then the "confirm"
2~ key is touched, an operation select screen (f) is
- 48 -
131~3
displayed at step N113. This screen ~f) prompts the
user to select one of three choices at step N114.
Choice (1) is selected when the user wants to
select a commodity while watching the monitor 232
shown in Figs. 4 and 5. Choice (2l is selected when
the user wants to narrow down the commodities in one
of the small groups by designating commodity attrib-
utes such as sizes and colors. Choice ~3l is selected
when the user wants to add or vary commodity selecting
methods.
If, for example, choice (2l is selected, a
commodity attribute screen (g) for the "tailored"
selected from the small classification is displayed at
step N115. This screen (g) asks the user what condi-
tions he or she wishes to set to (1~ size, ~2~ color,
(3) material, and (4~ price (step N116).
These commodity attributes (1)-~4) are displayed
on an upper half of the screen, with the lower half
displaying conditions to be designated for each
attribute. In the illustrated example, the screen (gl
is in the state for designating conditions for the
"material". The conditions include (1) 100% wool, (2)
100% silk, (3) wool-silk mixture, ~4) polyester mixed,
and (5) others. If, for example, (1~ 100% wool is
selected, "(11 100~ wool" is displayed at the right-
- 49 -
~31~ 8~L3
hand side of "(3) material" on the upper half of the
screen (g). In the illustrated example, l9) 6-AB has
already been selected for the "size" and gray colors
for the "color", and accordingly these designations
are also shown on the upper half of the screen (g).
'~'hen "(4) price" is touched as the ne~t commodity
attribute, the lower half of the screen (g) changes
and a screen (h) appears. The user sets a desired
range of commodity prices by touching numeric keys
included in the lower half of the screen (h). Then
the user touches a "decide" key under the numeric
keys, whereupon the desired range of prices as input
appears at the righthand side of the "price" on the
upper half of the screen (h). When the user touches
1~ the "confirm" key at the righthand top, the screen (h)
switches to an operation selecting screen (i) prompt-
in~ the user to select a next operation (step h'118).
Assume here that choice (1) is designated for
selecting a commodity from the monitor screen ~step
N119). Once choice (1) is designated, the commodity
retrieval conditions are established.
In this example, selections from the large,
medial and small commodity classifications and the
commodity attributes have been made, which determine
the large, medial and small classification codes and
- 50 -
1311~43
the attribute ke~ codes. Then a group of commodities
having these codes are read out of the commodity data
file 210 shown in Fig. 4, and displayed on a screen
(j) (step N119). This screen (j~ prompts the user to
select eligible commodities (step N121).
The number of retrieved commodities is given on
top of this screen (j) (32 commodities in this
e~ample). ~'here the pertinent commodities exceed 32,
the commodities are automatically restricted to 32
most frequentl~ ordered commodities by referring to
the demand data as described hereinbefore.
Screen (j) shows the names of 12 commodities out
of the 32, and the remaining 20 commodities are
included in the next page and the third page.
~'hen the commodity retrieval is completed, the
video request processing is carried out as described
with reference to Fig. 9-2. As a result, the video
data and description data of these commodities are set
to the video buffer memory 226.
When the user touches the "monitor" key on the
screen (j), the video data of commodities Nos. 1
through 4 are read out of the video buffer memor~ 226,
and their images are displayed in the split mode on
the monitor 232. ~'hen the user touches the "monitor"
key again, images of commodities Nos. ~ through 8
- 51 -
1311~
appear on the monitor 232. Thus, by repeatedly touch-
ing the "monitor" ke~, the user may select commodities
while watching the commodity images.
The monitor No. keys included in the screen (j)
are for the user to select one of the four commodities
displayed on the monitor 232.
The "magnify" key is for use when one of the four
commodity images is enlarged to fill the entire
monitor 232. ~hen the user touches the "maonify" key
and then a "monitor No. key" ("2" for example, the
image of the designated number (in this example, the
image shown on the upper right frame of monitor 232)
is enlarged.
The "commodity description" key is used when the
- 15 user wants to look at the description of a commodity
displayed on the monitor 232. ~'hen the user touches
the "commodity description" key and then one "monitor
No. key", the description data of the correspondin~
commodity is read out of the video buffer memory 226.
At this time, the image display alongside the image
designated by this "monitor No. key" (for example, the
image of monitor No. 2 if monitor No. 1 is touched)
disappears and the commodity description is displayed
instead. The user obtains commodity information in
greater detail by referring to this description.
- 52 -
131~ ~3
The "select eligible" key is used for designatillg
the commodities to the user's liking (eligible commod-
ities) from among the retrieved commodities. Ihe user
touches the "select eligible" key and a "monitor No.
ke~" when one of the four commodities displayed on the
monitor 232 is selected as eligible for purchase. An
asterisk or star (*) is displayed at the lefthand side
of the name of each commodity selected as eligible
(see screen (k)).
This embodiment allows the eligibility selection
up to four times for narrowing down a pluralit~ of
eligible commodities. When the first eligibility
selection is over and the user touches a "next eligi-
ble" key on the righthand side of screen (k), the
touch screen changes to screen (l). This screen (l)
shows 12 commodities selected in the first eligibility
selection. If a "previous eligible" ke~ is touched in
this state, the screen ~k) is reinstated for making
the first eligibility selection all over again.
When the user touches the "monitor" key on the
screen (l), the monitor 232 displays the first four,
Nos. 1, 3, 5 and 6, of the 12 commodities emerging
from the first eligibility selection. When the user
touches the "monitor" key again, the next four commod-
ities, ~os. 7, 10, 12 and 15, are displayed. If the
- 53 -
1 3 1 ~ 3
user wants to select the commodity of monitor No. 1
(i.e. commodity No. 7) a second time, the user may
just touch the "select eligible" key and "monitor ~o.
1" as for the first eligibility selection. As a
5 result, a star (*) is added in the eligibility column
against commodity No. 7 on the screen (l) (step N122).
The user touches the "confirm" key at the top
right of the screen (l) if he or she has decided on
the commodity to purchase (commodity No. 7 in this
example) through the second eligibility selection.
Then the screen changes to a screen (m) displaying the
commodity number and brandname of the selected commod-
ity (step N123). If there are a plurality of commodi-
ty affixed with two stars (**), their commodity
numbers and brandnames are displayed.
~ hen the screen (m) appears, the user decides
whether to buy the commodity or not (step ~124). If
the user decides to buy the commodity, he or she
touches the "confirm" key at the top right of the
screen. Then the sequence moves to step N129 (corre-
sponding to step S118 in Fig. 9-1) for printing an
order slip. If the "stop shopping" key at the right-
hand side of the screen (m) is touched at step N124,
the touch screen returns to the initial screen (a).
- 54 -
~ 311~3
Second ExamPle
In the First Example, the selection of a small
group on the screen te) was followed by the selection
of choice t2) on the screen ~f) (step N11~) to desig-
nate commodity attributes. In the Second Example, thecommodity group selection is followed by selection of
choice (3) on the screen (f~ for adding or varying
commodity selecting methods. This sequence will be
described hereinafter.
Fig. 12 shows a flow chart of the commodity
retrieval carried out in the Second Example. The
parts overlapping the First Example are omitted from
the flow chart, and like steps are labeled with like
numerals with respect to Figs. 11-1 through 11-3.
If the operation to add or vary commodity select-
ing methods is selected at step N114 of the First
Example, the program returns to step N105 to display
the "commodity selecting methods" screen IbJ shown in
Fig. 14-1. Assume here that choice (4) (Have Favorite
Senses) is selected. Then the touch screen displays a
"senses" screen (n) at step N201. This screen (n)
prompts the user to select a desired sense at step
N202.
The user is allowed to select a plurality of
senses (1) to (10) displayed on the "senses" screen
1 3 1 ~ 3
(n). The user can select between an AND process for
selecting commodities haviny all the selected senses,
and an OR process for selecting commodities having at
least one of the selected senses. When selecting the
AND process, the user touches an AND ke~ at the right
side of screen ~n), a plurality of desired choices,
and then the "confirm" ~e~. When selecting the OR
process, the user touches an OR key at the right side
of screen (n), a plurality of desired choices, and
then the "confirm" key. If neither the AND process
nor the OR process is selected, the commodity retrie~--
al is automatically carried out by the AND process.
It is assumed that choice ~10) (Simple) is
selected. Then, at step N113, the operation select
screen (f) is displayed again on the touch screen for
confirmation purposes, prompting the user to select an
operation Istep N114).
At this time the user touches the choice (3) ~ey
on the screen (f~ if he or she wants further commodity
selecting methods. The touch screen then returns once
again to the commodity selecting methods screen (b) at
step N10~, and prompts the user to select a commodity
selecting method at step N106.
If choice (9) (Want Various Functions) is select-
ed from the screen (b), the program mo~es to step N203
- 56 -
131~8~3
to display a function (o), which prompts the user to
select particularly desirable functions at step .~20~.
In this example, the user is selecting two functions,
choice (7) (greatly improved comfort) and choice (10)
(greatly improved durability), by the AND process.
~'hen the additional designation of a commodit~-
function is completed and the "confirm" key is
touched, the touch screen again displays the operation
select screen (f) at step N113, which prompts the user
to select an operation at step N11~.
If choice ~2) (designation of commodity attrib-
utes) is selected then, the commodity attribute
screens (g) and (h) are displayed at step N115 as in
the First Example, prompting the user to set desired
conditions. After the commodity attribute designa-
tion, the screen (i) is displayed as in the First
Example. If choice (1~ (Select Commodities from
Monitor) is selected, the screen (j) is displayed for
the commodit~ retrieval as in the First E~ample.
In the Second E~ample, the favorite senses (B
codes) and commodity functions (G codes) are desig-
nated besides the large, medial and small commodity
groups and the commodity attributes. Consequentl~,
the commodities having these codes are retrieved from
the commodit~ data file 210 shown in Fig. ~.
13118~3
In this example, the names of the retrieved
commodities are displayed as on a screen (p), for
example. When the "selections" key at the rightl-and
side of the screen (p) is touched at this time, a
"selections" screen (q) is displayed. From this
screen tq) the user can confirm the selections having
been made. If the user touches a "previous screen"
kev, the touch screen returns to the screen tp) for
the user to select desired commodity or commodities.
The operation for selecting commodities is the same as
in the First Example, and its description is omitted
here.
Third Example
In the First and Second Examples, the commodity
selection was based on the retrieval through the
commodity classifications. In the Third Example,
desired commodities are retrieved and selected by the
functions from the beginning without going through the
commodity classifications.
Fig. 13 shows a flow chart of the commodity
retrieval carried out in the Third Example. The parts
overlapping the First Example are omitted from the
flow chart, and like steps are labeled with like
numerals with respect to Figs. 11-1 through 11-3.
If choice t6) (Have Fixed Gift Purpose) is
- 58 -
selected from the selecting methods screen (b), a gift
purpose screen (r) is displayed at step N301, hhich
prompts the user to select a gift purpose at step
N302.
If choice (6) (Congratulatory on Employment) is
designated, for e~ample, the operation select screen
li) is displayed at step N303, which prompts the user
to select an operation at step N304. The choices for
designating the commodity attributes are not displayed
at this stage since the attribute designation presumes
selection of a small group of commodities.
If choice (2) (Add or ~ary Commodity Selecting
Methods) is selected from the screen (i), the commodi-
ty selecting methods screen (b) is displayed again.
If choice (7) (Trend-Conscious) is selected at this
time, a "trend" screen (s) is displayed at step N305,
which prompts the user to select a desired trend at
step N306.
The commodity trends may also be selected by the
AND process or OR process. In the illustrated
example, choice (5) (Play Alone) and choice (6)
(Informatize) are selected from the screen ls) for the
OR process. If choice ~5) is touched by mistake, the
user may touch a "correct" key on the righthand side
as shown on a screen (t) and then the choice (5) key,
- 59 -
1 3~18~3
thereby canceling the selection of choice (5). There-
afteI the user touches a desired choice ~ey (choice
(8) ISystematize). for example) and then the "confirm
key to establish the desired commodity trends (step
N307).
Once the desired commodity trends are estab-
lished, the operation select screen (i) is displayed
at step N303. If choice (1) (Select Commodities from
Monitor) is selected from the screen (i~, retrieval is
made from the commodity data file 210, based on the
selections made by the user, of commodi~ies having D06
code (gifts suited for employment) or ~08 code
Icommodities having the systematization trend).
Thereafter the commodity selection is made as in the
First Example.
As described above, when retrieving desired
commodities according to the present invention, the
commodity retrieval may be made having regard to the
users' senses, tastes and purposes of purchase in
addition to designation of the large, medial and small
commodit~ classifications and the commodity attrib-
utes. This system allows the users to retrieve
desired commodities quickly and reliably.
Another preferred embodiment of the present
in~ention ~ill be described next. The commoditv
- 60 -
131~ 8~3
information retrieval system according to this embodi-
ment has the following features:
~1) Each user station 200 maintains retrieval
history data as to the processes through which the
users have jelected the desired commodities and the
time periods the users have consumed at each retrie-al
step. The host station lO0 collects such retrieval
historv data from the user stations 200 and analyzes
these data for grasping market trends and improving
the retrieval system.
(2) The retriever touch screen 213 at each user
station 200 has an impro~ed display mode to facilitate
operations by the users.
(3) The multi-scan monitor 232 at each user
station 200 displays commodity images such that a
selected commodity image is fixed to one of the split
screen sections, with remaining commodity images shown
on the other screen sections by scrolling. This
facilitates comparison between the commodity images.
As in the foregoing embodiment, this embodiment
comprises a host station 100, user stations 200, a
repeater 300, a commodity supplier station or stations
400, and a ~ideo data creator station 500.
The host station 100 includes a retrieval history
data control section 180 (Fig. 3) in addition to the
- 61 -
~31~8~3
sections noted in the foregoing embodiment.
~ he retrieval history data control section 180
includes a history data collecting computer 182, a
history data storage file 184, and a history data
analyzer terminal 186. The history data collecting
computer 182 transmits a retrieval history data
collect command to the user stations 200 for trans-
mission of collected retrieval history data therefrom,
transmits a data reception complete signal to the user
stations 200 when the retrieval history data have been
received and stored in the retrieval histor~- data file
184, transmits a history data collection cancel
command to the user stations 200 for canceling the
retrieval history data collect command transmitted
before, and transmits a delete command to the user
stations 200 for deletion of the collected retrieval
history data stored at the user stations 200.
As shown in Fig. 4, each user station 200 in this
embodiment includes, in addition to the components
included in the foregoing embodiment, an icon storage
file 215, an icon display attribute file 219, an icon
highlight file 217 and a retrieval history data file
2~2.
The icon storage file 215 is a file for storing,
as decoded, icons transmitted from the host station
13~
100 .
The icon display attribute file 219 is a file for
storing data of icon display attributes indicating the
number of icons to be displayed and their arrangement
on the touch screen 213 at each retrieval stage.
The icon highlight file 217 is a file for storing
icon highlight attributes indicating the manner of
highlighting when highlighting one of the icons
simultaneously displayed on the touch screen 213.
The retrieval history data file 242 is a file for
storing retrieval history data including a series of
retrieval items selected through a plurality of stages
sequentially selected from the touch screen 213 and
time periods consumed by the user in making these
selections.
The touch screen 213 in this embodiment displays,
in icon form, the retrieval choice items, function
keys and the like necessary for retrieving a plurality
of commodities. The icons include those showing the
retrieval choice items and function keys only in
pictorial patterns, and those showing them in pictori-
al patterns and characters. However, both types of
icons comprise image data. The icon storage file 215
stores, along with the icons, explanations of the
operations as character data. For expediency, the
- 63 -
1 3 ~ 3
term "icon" is used in certain sections of the
description to follow for embracing both the icons as
pictorial data and the character data.
Icon highlighting means the display of an icon in
a manner distinct from other icons. This may be
achieved in various ways such as by changing the color
of edges, changing the color of an icon per se, high-
lighting the icon only, or by highlighting only the
characters represented by character data.
The icon data, icon display attribute data, and
icon highlight data are created at the video data
creator station 500, and transmitted through the
repeater 300 to the host station 100 for storage in
the video file 121. These data are transmitted
through the repeater 300 to each user station 200 to
be stored in the respective files 215, 219 and 217
through the front end computer 218.
The retrieval terminal 212 has its own retrieval
control software basically independently of the front
end computer 218. Its touch screen 213 gives displays
based on the icon data, icon displa~- attribute data,
and icon highlight data read out of the files 21~, 219
and 217 by the front end computer 218. In addition,
the retrieval terminal 212 has various functions: a
function to actuate the video controller 22~ for read-
- 64 -
~31~ 8~3
ing the video data and description data from the video
buffer memory 226 and transferring these data to the
display buffer memory 236, functions to read out the
images of retrieved commodities for display in the
four split screen mode on the touch screen 213, and to
switch one image after another for scroll display, a
freeze processing function to stop the image desig-
nated by the user from scrolling, a function to
display the commodity description relating to the
frozen image, a magnifying function to display one
image over the entire screen, and functions to set and
renew a history data collecting mode transmitted from
the host station 100, and to control as to whether the
retrieval history data should be transmitted to the
host station 100 or the data should be deleted from
the retrieval history data file 242.
As in the foregoing embodiment, each commodity is
affixed with the commodity codes, attribute key codes
and free key codes for enabling the commodity retriev-
al. The retrieval by the free key codes is herein-
after referred to as the free group retrieval.
Further, each retrieval choice item is affixed
with codes for enabling the retrieval history data
collection. Generally, these codes comprise a code
number, and parameters indicating time consumed in
1 3 ~ 3
selecting the retrieval choice item and the selections
made.
How the s~stem according to this embodiment
operates will be described next with reference to
Figs. 16-1 through 16-2 showing flow charts and Figs.
17-1 through 17-5 showing touch screen displays.
[A] Selection of Retrieval Choice Items
When power is supplied or when a previous
retrieval operation is finished, the touch screen 213
of the retrieval terminal 212 displays an initial
screen at step S2, including three menus, (1) messa~e,
(2) guide, and (3) shopping. Previous retrieval data
are cleared at step S~. Assume here that the "shop-
ping" is selected (YES at step S6).
Then the touch screen 213 displays an initial
shopping screen (a) as shown in Fig. 17-1. This
screen (a) includes (1~ "look at recommended commodi-
ties", (2) "search free group", and ~3) "search
commodity classification" (step S8).
The user touches choice (1) when he or she wants
to look at recommended commodities (demonstration)
transmitted from the host station 100. Choice (2) is
touched when the user wants to make the free group
retrieval, i.e. retrieval of commodities according to
the taste or sense of the user. Choice (3) is touched
- 66 -
13~8~
hhen the user wants to search a desired commodit~- or
co~modities by the commodity classification. This
screen (a) further includes an "exit" ~ey which is
touched for reinstating the initial screen.
The following description assumes the case where
the user touches choice (3) key for retrieval b~ the
commodity classification. In this retrieval, the user
searches commodities in the order of the large, medial
and small commodity classifications, commodity attrib-
utes, tfree group retrieval), and price setting. Then
the user observes selected commodities on the multi-
scan monitor 232, and selects which commodity or
commodities to purchase in the end.
~hen the user touches choice (3) on the initial
shopping screen displayed on the touch screen 213,
choice (3) is highlighted with a beep. In Fig. 17-1,
the highlight is shown by shading. Referring to the
flow chart of Fig. 15-1, YES is the answer to step S10
"Retrieval?" and YES to step S12 "Classification
Retrieval?".
Then a "large classification" screen (b) as shown
in Fig. 17-1 sppears on the touch screen 213 at step
S14. This large classification screen (b) includes a
plurality of icons Il, I2, etc. for large commodity
groups to be selected from, such as of men's wear,
- 67 -
13~8~3
ladies' wear, sundries and accessories, babies' and
children's wear, upholstery and bedding, furniture and
household facilities, electric and gas appliances,
audio-visual and information equipment, publications
and audio-visual software, stationery and religious
equipment, and so on. This screen Ib) further
includes five audio switch type function keys, an
entry key and an exit key. The function keys consist
of a forward key, a fast forward key, a reverse key, a
fast reverse key and a stop key. Each icon Ij
includes a pictorial pattern and characters represent-
ing the features of the commodities to which the icon
corresponds. The highlighting thereof comprises three
modes, i.e. highlighting of the pattern only, high-
lighting of the characters only, and highlighting ofboth the pattern and characters.
Selection of the choice items from this retrieval
screen will be described in detail with reference to
the flow charts of Figs. 16-1 and 16-2, and so it will
be described onl~ briefly here.
The p~urality of icons Ij are all displayed as
choice items until a ne~t screen appears. However,
onl~- one icon is highlighted at one point of time.
With progress of time, the highlight shifts in sequen-
tial scroll in the direction in which the icons are
- 68 -
13~18~3
arranged, e.g. from icon Il to icon I2, then to icon
I3 and so on.
The user touches the stop key when the icon of
the choice the user desires is highlighted. Then the
highlighting scroll stops, maintaining this icon in
highlight, and a finger mar~ m appears adjacent the
highlighted icon for prompting the user to touch this
icon. When the user touches the highlighted icon,
this icon is established as the selected choice item
(step S16).
~ 'hen the entry key is touched, the program
returns to step S8 for displaying the initial shopping
screen. When the exit key is touched, the program
returns to step S2 for displaying the initial screen.
It is assumed here that "men's wear" has been
selected.
After the choice has been made from the large
classification screen, a medial classification screen
(not shown) appears on the touch screen 213 at step
S18. This screen is the same as the large classifica-
tion screen excepting that here a plurality of icons
are displa~-ed as choices for commodities belonging to
medial groups.
Where "men's wear" is selected from the large
classification, the medial groups given as choice
- 69 -
~31~ ~13
icons include, for example, suits, formal wear,
slacks, o~ercoats, jackets, sweaters and cardigans,
shirts, nightwear, underwear, and socks.
The selecting operation carried out on the medial
clsssification screen is the same as on the large
classification screen, and is therefore not described
again.
Assume here that the user touches the "jackets"
icon while in highlight with the scrolling stopped.
Then the "jackets" group is established as the select-
ed item (step S20).
After the choice has been made from the medial
classification screen, a small classification screen
(not shown) appears on the touch screen 213 at step
S22. This screen is the same as the large classifica-
tion screen excepting that here a plurality of choices
are displa~ed for commodities belonging to small
groups.
~here the group "jackets" is selected from the
medial classification, the small groups given as
choices include, for example, tailored, flight,
safari, down, blazers, blouson, jumpers and so on,
which are displayed in characters.
The choices from the small classification are not
displa~-ed in icon form because there is a great number
-- ~ O
131~ ~3
of choices which would require the icon storage file
215 to ha~e a very large capacit~. The selecting
operation carried out on the small classification
screen is al~o the same as on the large classification
screen, and is therefore not described again.
~ssume here that the user touches the "tailored"
while in highlight with the scrolling stopped. Then
the "tailored" group is established as the selected
item (step S2~).
In accordance with the choices "men's wear",
"jackets" and "tailored" selected from the large,
medial and small classifications, respectively, the
corresponding data are retrieved from the commodity
data file 210 and set as retrieval data (step S26).
Next, an attribute selecting screen ~c) as shown
in Fig. 17-1 appears on the touch screen 213, with a
message "Select attributes?", an "O" key (~-ES ke~-) and
an "X" key ~NO key), prompting the user to make a
selection (step S28).
If the user touches the "~" key, a complex
retrieval select screen ~f) as shown in Fig. 17-2
appears. If the user touches the "O" key, an attrib-
ute select screen (d) as shown in Fig. 17-2 appears.
This screen includes icons indicating attributes such
as color, size, material and weight, an "O" key, an
.....
13~ ~ g~3
"~" key, a stop key, a forwsrd key, a fast forward
key, a re~-erse key, a reverse key, a fast reverse key,
an entry key and an e~it key.
A desired attribute is selected as when selectin~
a choice item from the large classification screen.
It is assumed here that the user touches the stop key
when the "color" is highlighted in scrolling, the
finger mark m is displayed adjacent the "color', and
the user touches the "color" in highlight.
10Then a "color" selecting screen (e) as shown in
Fig. 17-2 appears on the touch screen 213. ~his
- screen (e) displays "black", "white", "red", "blue",
"yellow", "green", "purple" and "dark blue" as
choices.
1~It is assumed here that the user touches the stop
key when the "blue" is hi~hlighted in scrollin~, the
finger mark m is displayed adjacent the "blue", and
the user touches the "blue" in highli~ht. As a
result, "blue" is established as the selected choice
~step S32).
~ hen "bl~le" is touched, the attribute select
screen ~d) as shown in Fi~. 17-2 is reinstated for
allowing the user to select a plurality of attributes.
The user touches the "O" key when a desired number of
attributes are selected. Then the commodity data
1311843
agreeing with the attribute "blue" are retrieved from
the commodit~ data set as a result of retrieval
carried out at step S26, and are set as retrieval data
(step S34).
Thereafter, the complex retrieval select screen
~f1 as shown in Fig. 17-2 appears on the touch screen
213. This screen (f) as~s the user whether or not to
add the free group retrieval after completing the
retrieval by the classification and attribute (step
S36).
If the user touches the "X" key, the program
moves to the next stage for a price setting screen.
If the user touches the "O" key, a large classifica-
tion for the free group retrieval screen (g) as shown
in Fig. 17-3 appears on the touch screen 213 ~step
S38).
This screen (g) gives, for example, "select from
special plans", "have favorite senses", "scrupulous
about age", "have fixed gift purpose", "trend-
conscious", "image from relevant places" and "want
various functions" as choices for the free group
retrieval.
If the user touches the stop ke~- when the charac-
ter display "have favorite senses" is highlighted in
scrolling, the finger mar~ m appears adjacent this
- 73 -
13118~3
character display. Then if the user touches this
character display, "have favorite senses" is estab-
lished as the selected choice (step S~0).
Thereafter, a small classification for the free
group retrieval screen (not shown: similar to the
screen (g) shown in Fig. 17-3) appears ~step S38).
This screen gives "high technology", "high touch",
"cheap chic", "high grade", "romantic", "retrospec-
tive", "traditional", "natural", "sporty" and "simple"
in characters as choices belonging to the favorite
senses.
Here the user is allowed to select a plurality of
the sense choices. The user touches an AND key for
searching commodities having all of the selected
16 senses, or an OR key if the user is satisfied with
commodities having at least one of the selected
senses. If the user touches neither key, the AND
processing is automatically carried out.
If, for example, the user wants to select only
one choice "simple", he or she touches the stop key
when the "simple" is highlighted in scrolling. Then,
in accordance with the finger mark m appearing
adjacent this character display, the user touches this
character display, whereby only the "simple" is estab-
lished as the selected choice (step S~4). As a
131~8~3
result, the commodity data agreeing with "simple" are
retrieved and set as retrieval data tstep S46).
If, for e~ample, the user wants to select two
choices "simple" and "romantic", he or she first
touches the AND key and then touches the stop key when
the "romantic" is highlighted in scrolling. Then, in
accordance with the finger mark m appearing adjacent
"romantic", the user touches this character display.
Ne~t, the user touches the forward key or the fast
forward key to resume the scroll. 'when the "simple"
is highlighted, the user touches the stop key. Then,
in accordance with the finger mark m, the user touches
the "simple" display.
In this way, the "romantic" and "simple" are
established as the selected choices (step 544). As a
result, the commodity data agreeing with "romantic"
and "simple" are retrieved and set as retrieval data
~step S46~. Then the large classification for the
free group retrieval screen (g) is reinstated.
Assume the user touches the "want various func-
tions" choice on this screen. Then a "functions"
screen appears on the touch screen 213, showing as
choice items "greatly improved safety", "greatly
improved delicacy", "greatly improved live reproduci-
bility", "greatl~ improved utility", "greatly improved
- 75 -
131~ ~3
surprisin~ effect", "greatly improved recreation",
"greatly improved comfort", "greatly improved
economy", "greatly improved operability" and "greatly
improved durability". Here the user selects one or
more functions.
If, for e~ample, "greatly improved comfort" and
"greatly improved durability" are selected ~step S4~),
the commodity data agreeing with these two functions
are retrieved and set as retrieval data (step S46).
Thereafter, the large classification for the free
group retrieval screen (g) is reinstated. If the user
touches the "O" ~ey on this screen (step S48), a price
setting screen (h) as shown in Fig. 17-3 appears ~step
S50).
This screen includes "over ... ?", "between
and ...?" and "under ...?" for designating a price
range, 0 to 9 numeric keys for setting numeric values,
a clear key, a numeric value decide key "=", an upper
limit indicator Dl and a lower limit indicator D2. On
this screen, scrolling is effected only for "over
...?", "between ... and ...?" and "under ...?".
If the user wants to set a price range from
~30,000 to ~60,000, for e~ample, he or she touches the
stop key when "between ... and ...?" is highlighted in
scrolling, and then inputs 3, 0, 0, 0, 0 by touching
- 76 -
~31~
the numeric keys, whereby the lower limit indicator Dl
displays 30,000. After confirming this, the user
touches the numeric value decide key '=", and there-
after inputs 5, 0, 0, 0, 0 by touching the numeric
keys, whereby the upper limit indicator D2 displays
50,000. After confirming this, the user touches the
numeric value decide key "= .
As a result, the commodity data falling within
this price range are retrieved and set as retrieval
data (step S5~).
Thus, desired commodity data have been narrowed
down successively through [commodity classification]
large classification (men's wear), medial classifica-
tion (jackets) and small classification (tailored);
[commodity attributesl color (blue); [free group
retrieval] large classification (favorite senses),
small classification (romantic ~ simple), large
classification (want functions) and small classifica-
tion (greatly improved comfort & durability); and
lPricel range (~30,000-50,000) (step S54).
~ext, at step S56, checking is made whether the
number of commodities retrieved exceeds 32 (the number
of frames in the video buffer memory 226) or not. If
the number exceeds 32, 32 most frequently ordered
commodities are selected from the retrieved commodi-
~31~ ~3
ties by referring to the demand data stored in the
demand data storage file 211 (step S58).
The 32 most frequently ordered commodities may be
selected at step S58 b~ transmitting all the retrieved
commodity data to the host station 100 and referring
to the demand data stored at the host station 100.
Where the demand data stored at the host station 100
are used directly, the demand data storage file 211
may be omitted from the user station 200.
The operation moves to step S60 next. An alter-
native sequence leading to this step is (a) free group
retrieval ~with the large and small classifications),
commodity classification (only the large classifica-
tion) and then price selection.
In the sequence (a), steps S68 to S78 are similar
to steps 538 to S~8. At step S80, a complex retrieval
select screen similar to the screen (f) shown in Fig.
17-2 is displayed, but with a message "Add large
classification retrieval?". If the user touches the
"X" key, steps S60 et seq. are executed for price
setting. If the user touches the "O" ~ey, the
sequence moves to step S50 for price setting after
executing steps S82 to S86 for selecting a choice by
the large classification only, and for setting the
commodity data agreeing with the selected choice as
- 78 -
~3~ 8~3
retrieval data.
After step S58, the commodity codes of 32 or less
retrieved commodities are notified to the front end
computer 218 (step S60). The front end computer 218
checks whether the video data and description data of
the notified commodities are stored in the ~-ideo
buffer memorv 226 of the user station 200 b~ referring
to the commodity codes corresponding to these commodi-
ties, respectively. ~step S62).
If the video data of these commodities are not
stored in the video buffer memory 226, a video request
to be sent to the host station 100 is created at step
S6~, which is transmitted on-line to the host station
100 .
Upon receipt of the video request, the host
station 100 assigns the video request data to the
video data control section 120. The video data con-
trolling computer 122 of the video data control sec-
tion 120 checks if the requested video data are stored
in the video transmission buffer 127 ~step T2).
If the video data are found, the requested
description data are read out of the description data
file 128 ~step T6). The appropriste video data found
in the video transmission buffer 127 and the corre-
sponding description data are put to transmission
- 79 -
131~g~3
processing (step T8), and are transmitted to the user
station 200 from which the video request has originat-
ed.
If the requested video data are not found in the
6 video transmission buffer 127, a high-speed search is
made to retrieve the requested video data from the
video file 121 by referring to the video data classi-
fication data file 126, and these video data are set
to the video transmission buffer 127 (step T4). Then
the program moves to steps T6 and T8 for transmitting
the video and description data.
When the user station 200 having made the video
request receives the video and description data, these
data are stored in the video frame memory 228 and
description frame memory 230 in the video buffer
memory 226, respectively (step S66).
The sequence moves to step S90 next. An alterna-
tive sequence leading to this step is (b) demonstra-
tion (look at the recommended commodities from the
host station).
In the sequence (b), the initial shopping screen
(a) switches to a "look at recommended commodities"
screen ~i) as shown in Fig. 17-3, and demonstration
video data and corresponding description data are
26 requested from the host station 100. Upon receipt of
- 80 -
131~3
these data, the sequence moves to step S66.
~B] Selection of Desired Commodit~ from
Retrieved Commodities
Next, a commodity selecting operation is executed
at step S90. In the commodity selecting operation,
the user decides on a desired commodity or commodities
to purchase by looking at commodity images on the
multi-scan monitor 232. This operation will be
described in detail later with reference to Figs. 20-1
through 22-3, and so it is described only briefly
here.
First, a "look at all commodities" screen (j) as
shown in Fig. 17-4 appears on the touch screen 213.
If the user touches the "O" key on this screen, a
"commodity selection" screen (k) as shown in Fig. 17-4
appears on the touch screen 213. This screen (k)
includes icons of "stop commands" SA, SB, SC and SD
arranged to correspond to the four sub-frames on the
multi-scan monitor 232. These icons are not scrolled.
The first four images P1-P4 of the retrieved
commodities are displayed in the sub-frames A-D on the
multi-scan monitor 232 as shown in Fig. 18 (a). At
the next stage, a Z-flow scroll is effected as shown
in Fig. 18 (b). When the user touches the "stop
command" SA on the touch screen 213, the image P2 is
- 81 -
131~8~3
stopped scrolling and frozen (fixed) in the sub-frame
A as shown in Fig. 18 (c). The other images P3-P5 are
eliminated, and the commodity description correspond-
ing to the frozen image P2 is displayed in the ne~t
sub-frame B.
In this state, a "description of commodity"
screen tl) as shown in Fig. 17-4 appears on the touch
screen 213. If the user touches a "magnify" icon, the
frozen image P2 is enlarged to the entire screen 8S
shown in Fig. 18 (d), and a "magnifying" screen ~m) as
shown in Fig. 17-5 appears on the touch screen 213.
If the user touches the forward key on the screen
(l) or (m), the touch screen 213 returns to the screen
~k), and the multi-scan monitor 232 starts scrolling
the images other than the image P2 which is maintained
frozen as shown in Fig. 18 (e). If the user touches
the "O" key on the screen (k), the frozen image P2 is
established as eligible, and a "select commodity"
screen (n) as shown in Fig. 17-5 appears on the touch
screen 213.
This screen includes icons of "heart-shaped
purchase marks" HA, HB, HC and HD arranged to corre-
spond to the four sub-frames on the multi-scan monitor
232. These icons are not scrolled. In the four sub-
frames A-B on the multi-scan monitor 232, the images
- 82 -
1 3 ~
of eligible commodities are scrolled in the manner
described above.
If the user finds a commodity to his or her
liking, he or she touches the corresponding "purchase
mark" on the touch screen 213 (step S92). Then this
commodity is established 8S a final eligible, and the
corresponding commodity code is recorded as an order
data (step S9~). A plurality of commodities may be
selected as final eligibles.
If the user touches the "O" key, a commodity
confirm screen (o) as shown in Fig. 1~-5 appears on
the touch screen 213 (step S96). The screen displays
the commodity codes, numbers and prices of the commod-
ities selected as final eligibles, with the multi-scan
monitor 232 displaying the images of these commodi-
ties. If the user wants to buy the commodities, he or
she touches the "O" key ~step S98). Then the sequence
moves to a next order processing operation (step
S100).
If the user wants to make a selection all over
again at each stage, he or she touches the "entry"
key. Then the initial shopping screen (a) is rein-
stated (step S8). In this case, the operational and
retrieval data input up to that stage are retained.
If the user wants to quit shopping, the "exit" key is
- 83 -
131~ g~3
touched. Then the initial screen is reinstated (step
S2). In this case, the operational and retrieval data
input up to that stage are all erased.
After the commodities to be purchased are deter-
mined, their commodity codes are stored as order datain the order data file of the commodity data file 210,
and an order slip carrying the commodity numbers,
brandnames and the like is output from the printer
214. The order slip printout is kept in custody at
10 the shop where the user station 200 is installed, with
a copy thereof given to the user.
As in the foregoing embodiment, the order slip as
printed out may be transmitted to the host station 100
through the image scanner installed at the user sta-
tion 200. In this embodiment, the order data are
collected at the host station 100 in a different way
as follows:
The host station 100 successively polls the user
stations 200 during non-business hours of the latter,
to check if order data are stored at each user station
200. The user station 200 takes the order data out of
the order data file of the data file 210 for trans-
mission processing, and transmits them in a batch to
the host station 100.
Upon receipt of these data, the host station 100
- 84 -
131~3
carries out data processing including storage of the
data in the order data file, analysis of demand data
and transmission of the order data to the commodit--
supplier station ~00. This data processing is the
same as in the foregoing embodiment, and is not
described here again.
Icon Scroll Ol~eration
An operation to switch highlighting of the icons
Ij will be described in detail with reference to the
flow charts of Figs. 16-1 and 16-2.
For display at each stage on the touch screen
213, a plurality of icons Ij are read out of the icon
storage file 21B, corresponding display attributes out
of the icon attribute file 219, and corresponding icon
highlight attributes out of the icon highlight file
217. The icons Ij are displayed in a prescribed
sequence and in prescribed positions on the touch
screen 213 (step N2).
Next, the icon feed mode is automatically set
(initial setting) to a forward mode with a "long wait-
ing time", and the waiting time is cleared ~step N~).
Then the first icon I1 is highlighted in accordance
with the corresponding highlight attribute ~step N6).
At step N8, checking is made whether a touch
input has been made on the touch screen 213 or not.
- 85 -
`- ~311~
In the absence of a touch input, the program waits at
step N10 for lapse of a waiting time corresponding to
the icon feed mode ~the forward mode with a "long
waiting time" first).
If no touch input occurs during the waitin~ time,
checking is made at step N12 whether or not the
currently highlighted icon Ij is set as a choice item
already selected. If not, the current highlighting is
canceled for highlight scrolling (step Nl4).
If the highlighted icon Ij is already set, it
means that a plurality of choice items are selected.
To make this clear, the current highlighting is left
as it is. This is convenient to the AND processing
and OR processing described hereinbefore.
Step N16 checks whether the current icon feed
mode is the forward mode or not. If it is, a next
icon is highlighted at step N18. (Where the icon which
has stopped being highlighted is the last icon on a
page, the first icon on the same page is highlighted.)
In the case of a reverse mode, a preceding icon is
highlighted at step N20. ~Where the icon which has
stopped being highlighted is the first icon on a page,
the last icon on the same page is highlighted.)
If an icon has already been selected at this
stage, this icon and an icon being scrolled are high-
- 86 -
1311~
lighted simultaneously. Then the program clears the
waiting time at step N22, and returns to step N8.
If step N8 finds a touch input made, step N2~
checks if the forward key has been touched. If it
has, the icons are highlighted in ascending order,
i.e. I1, I2, 13 ..., and the forward mode with the
"long waiting time" is set to prolong the waiting time
from highlighting of one icon to highlighting of the
next icon tstep N26).
If the forward key has not been touched, step N28
checks if the fast forward key has been touched. If
it has, the icons are highlighted in ascending order,
and a forward mode with a "short waiting time" is set
to shorten the waiting time for highlight switching
(step N30~.
If the fast forward ~e~- has not been touched,
step N32 checks if the reverse ke~ has been touched.
If it has, the icons are highlighted in descending
order (In, In-l, In-2, ...), and a re~erse mode with a
"long waiting time" is set to prolong the waiting time
for highlight switching tstep N3~).
If the reverse key has not been touched, step N36
checks if the fast reverse key has been touched. If
it has, the icons are hi~hlighted in descendin~ order,
and a reverse mode with a "short waiting time" is set
- 87 -
to shorten the waiting time for hishlight switching
(step N38).
If the fast reverse key has not been touched,
step N40 checks if the stop ke~ has been touched. If
not, step N42 checks if the "next page" key has been
touched. If the "next page" key has been touched, the
next page is displayed with the first icon thereon
highlighted (step N44).
If not, step N46 checks if the "previous page"
key has been touched. If it has, the previous page is
displayed with the last icon thereon highlighted (step
N48). Then the program returns to step N8.
In the case of no page change, step N50 checks if
the "O" key has been touched. I f not, the program
returns to step N8. If it has, the program returns to
the main routine.
The "ne~t page" and "previous page" keys are
displayed on the touch screen 213 where the choice
items are given on a plurality of pages. The "next
page" key is displayed on all these pages except the
last page. The "previous page" key is displa~-ed on
all the pages except the f irst page. These keys
Ithough not shown) are used on the screens (b) and (g)
shown in Figs. 17-1 and 17-3.
The user looks at the flow of highlighted icons
- 88 -
131~ ~3
being scrolled successively throu~h steps Nl4. N16 and
Nl8 or N20. The forward key may be touched when the
user does not hasten to reach the icon of a desired
choice item. The fast forward key may be touched when
the user considers it time-consuming to reach the
desired choice item, and may switch to the forward key
as the choice item draws near. The reverse key may be
touched when the desired choice item has passed. The
fast reverse key may be touched when the desired item
has long passed.
In any case, the "waiting time'` and icon feed
mode are set according to the function key touched. A
plurality of icons are scrolled for successive high-
lighting in the direction of their arrangement by
steps N14 through N20 with progress of time and
according to the set conditions. The above is the
scrolling operation for icon highlighting.
The user touches the stop key when the icon of a
desired choice item is highlighted. Then step N40
judges YES, whereby the finger mark m is displayed
prompting the user to make the selection (step N52).
The program waits at step N54 for a further touch
input.
Step N56 judges whether the user has touched the
highlighted icon at which the finger mark ~ is point-
-- 8g --
131~3
ed. If one of the function keys (forward, fast
forward, reverse, or fast reverse) has been touched,
processing similar to that of step N26, N30, N3~ or
N38 is carried out dependir.g on which function key has
been touched, and the "waiting time" and icon feed
mode are changed (step N58).
If the user has touched the highlighted icon at
which the finger mar~ m is pointed, step N60 checks if
this icon is already set. If this icon is selected
for the first time, the choice item corresponding to
this icon is set as an item eligible for retrieval
(step N62).
If this icon is selected for the second time, it
is interpreted as cancellation of the selection, and
the record of eligibility corresponding to this icon
is canceled. The program then returns to step N8.
When touching of the stop key is followed by
steps N66, N60 and N62, the icon remains highlighted
without the program moving from step N12 to step N14.
When step N56 is followed b~ step N58 and when step
N60 is followed by step N64, the program mo~es from
step N12 to step N14. Thus the highlighted icon
returns to the ordinary state.
CommoditY Ima~e DisDlaY OPeration
26 Next, an operation to display the images of
-- 90 --
~311~
retrieved commodities will be described in detail with
reference to the flow charts of Figs. 19-1 through 19-
~ and explanatory views shown in Figs. 20-1 through
21.
Prior to step M2, the video data and description
data of the commodities retrieved according to
retrieval data are stored in the video frame memory
228 and description frame memory 230. At step M2, a
maximum of first four video data are transferred from
the video frame memory 228 to the video frame memory
238 of the multi-scan monitor 232. Thus the images
are displayed in the four sub-frames A-D on the multi-
scan monitor 232.
There is a difference in the scrolling operation
between the case where the number of retrieved commod-
ities is 4 or more and the case where the number
thereof is less than 4. For expediency, the following
description assumes case (a) which deals with six
images P1-P6 and case (b) which deals with three
images Pl-P3.
Thus, in the case (a), the video data trans-
mission effected at step M2 results in the data of
images P1-P~ being set to memory areas R1-R~ for four
frames in the video frame memory 238. Consequently,
the images P1-P4 are displayed in the sub-frames A-D
-- 91 --
13il8~3
as shown in Fig. 20 (a).
In the case ~b), as shown in Fig. 21 (a), the
dhta of images P1-P3 are set to memory areas R1-R3 for
three frames, and the images P1-P3 are displayed in
the sub-frames A-C.
~ext, step M~ checks if the number of retrieved
commodities is up to 3 tcase (b)). If it is, one or
more of the four sub-frames A-D on the multi-scan
monitor 232 is/are set to a non-display state. In
this case, sub-frame D is set to the non-display state
since the number of retrieved commodities is 3.
Setting to the non-display state means that the memory
area R~ of the video frame memory 238 for the one
frame is locked to a disabled state. This step is not
taken when the number of retrieved commodities is 4 or
more (case ~a)).
Next, step M8 checks whether a touch operation
has occurred on the touch screen 213 or not. At this
time, the touch screen 213 displays the commodity
select screen (k) as shown in Fig. 17-4, which
includes the icons of "stop command-q" SA-SD, function
ke~s (forward, fast forward, stop, reverse, and fast
reverse keys), "0" key, "X" key, "entry" key and
"exit" key.
If no touch input has been made, checking is made
- 92 -
~311843
at step M10 whether or not the waiting time corre-
sponding to the image feed mode has elapsed. At the
initial stage, the ima~e feed mode is set to a forward
mode with a "long waiting time". If the waiting time
has not elapsed, the program returns to step M8. If
the waiting time has elapsed without a touch input,
step M12 checks whether the current image feed mode is
the forward mode or not.
If it is, step M14 shifts the video data forward
in the video frame memory 238 of the multi-scan
monitor 232. In the case of a reverse mode, step M16
shifts the video data backward. Since the forward
mode is set at the initial stage, the video data are
shifted forward.
In the case (a), as shown in Fig. 20 (b), the
images P2-P4 are shifted to the memor~ areas Rl-~3,
leaving the memory area R4 blank. In the case Ib), as
shown in Fig. 21 (b), the images P2, P3 and P1 are
shifted to the memory areas R1-R3.
Next, step M18 judges if the number of retrieved
commodities is 4 or more. In the case (a), the data
of next ima8e P5 is transmitted from the video frame
memory 228 to the video frame memory 238 of the multi-
scan monitor 232, which is set to the memory area R4
left blank (step M20~. In the case ~b), this step is
- 93 -
131~8~3
unnecessar~ as noted before.
At step M22, the ~-ideo data in the video frame
memory 238 are displayed in the sub-frames of the
multi-scan monitor 232 (see Figs. 20 (c) and 21 (c)).
This effects a Z-flow scroll of the images. Take the
case (a) for example, the images P1-P4 were displayed
in sub-frames A-D initially, and now image P1 disap-
pears from sub-frame A, with image P2 moved up for
display in sub-frame A, and images P3 and P4 displayed
in sub-frames B and D. The sub-frame D now displays a
new image P5.
Next, the program returns to step M8 for repeat-
ing the loop M8 through M22 and back to M8 until one
of the "stop commands" SA-SD is touched, with the Z-
flow scroll carried out image after image as shown in
Figs. 20 (d) and (e) and Fig. 21 ~d). The mode of
this image scroll may be adjusted through the function
keys on the touch screen 213 displaying the screen
(k).
More particularly, when one of the function ~eys
(forward, fast forward, reverse, and fast reverse
keys) is touched~ step M8 judges YES, step M24 judges
that the stop command is not made, and step M26 judges
that one of the function keys has been touched. Then
the program moves to step M28 for setting the mode
- 94 -
13~
corresponding to the touched function key, and returns
to step M8.
The mode is set to the forward mode with a "long
waiting time" when the forward key is touched, to the
fast forward mode with a "short waiting time" when the
fast forward key is touched, to the reverse mode with
a "long waiting time" when the reverse ~ey is touched,
and to the fast reverse mode with a "short waiting
time" when the fast reverse key is touched.
Consequently, in the loop of steps M8 through M22
and back to step M8, the Z-flow scrolling is acceler-
ated or decelerated and directed forward or backward
depending on the selected image feed mode.
When the user finds an image to his or her liking
amon~ the scrolled images, the user touches the corre-
sponding "stop command" on the touch screen 213 to
select that image as prima facie eligible.
Assume that the user likes image P6 displaved in
the sub-frame C as shown in Fig. 20 (e) and touches
the "stop command" SC on the touch screen 213 (see
Fig. 20 (f)). Then the program moves from step M8 to
step M2~ which judges YES, whereby the program moves
on to step M30.
At step M30, the images P4, P5 and P1 are erased
and only the image P6 designated by the touch opera-
1311~3
tion remains on display. At the same time, thedescription data of the commodity corresponding to the
image P6 is read out of the description frame memory
240, and the description is displayed in the sub-frame
D ne~t-to the sub-frame C displaying the image P6 (see
Fig. 20 (f)). At this time, the touch screen 213
gives the "description of commodity" screen (l) as
shown in Fig. 17-~.
~hen the user touches the forward key after read-
ing the description, step M32 judges NO, and step M34is e~ecuted for carryin~ out freeze processing to
remove the image P6 from scrolling. The freeze proc-
essing is an operation for prohibiting a shift input
and a shift output of the video data with respect to
the memory area R3 to which the data of image P6 in
question is set within the video frame memor~- 238. As
a result of this operation, the frozen image P6 is
locked in the sub-frame C.
If the "magnify" icon is touched on the screen
(l), the fro7en commodity image P6 is magnified to
fill the entire screen of multi-scan monitor 232 ~step
M36). At this time, the touch screen 213 displays the
"magnifying" screen (m~ as shown in Fig. 17-5).
Step M38 checks if all the four sub-frames are in
the freeze state. If not, the program returns to step
- 96 -
~ 3 ~
M8. hhen step M10 judges expiration of the waiting
time, the loop of step M8 through M22 is resumed for
the image scrolling operation. At this time the
shifting at steps M14 and M15 is prohibited with
respect to the memory area corresponding to the frozen
image. Accordingly, the screen state changes from
Fig. 20 (e) to Fig. 20 (g).
Subseguentl~, the program repeats the loop of
steps M8, M10, M12, M14 (or M16), M18, M20, M22 and
back to M8 (including M8, M24, M26, M28 and M8) or the
loop of steps M8, M24, N30, M32, M34 (or M36), M38 and
back to M8. The former loop relates to the ima~e-
after-image scrolling, and the latter to the image
freeze processing.
With the image P6 frozen, the remaining images
Pl-P5 are scrolled in cycle. The user is thus allowed
to make comparison by visually observing the frozen
image P6 and three images in series of the remaining
images at the same time.
If the "stop command" SB is touched when the
screen is in the state shown in Fig. 20 (h~, to select
the image P2, the freeze is effect at two positions as
shown in Fig. 20 (i). With the images P6 and P2 now
frozen, the remaining images P1, P3, P4 and P5 are
scrolled in cycle. The user is thus allowed to make
- 97 -
comparison by looking at the frozen images P6 and P2
and two images in series of the remaining images at
the same time.
If the "stop command" SD is touched when the
screen is in the state shown in Fig. 20 ~j), to select
the image P5, the freeze is effect at three positions
as shown in Fig. 20 (k~. With the images P6, P2 and
P5 now frozen, the remaining images P1, P3 and P4 are
scrolled in cycle. The user is thus allowed to
compare one of the remaining three images with the
frozen images P6, P2 and P5 at the same time.
If the "stop command" SA is touched when the
screen is in the state shown in Fig. 20 (k), to select
the image Pl, the freeze is effect at the four posi-
tions as shown in Fig. 20 (l). Then, step M38 judgesYES and the program moves to step M40 for restoring
the image P6 frozen earliest for the scrolling opera-
tion.
Consequently, at step M14 or M16 in the ne.~t
c~cle, the image P6 is shift-output from the memory
area R3 and the image P3 is shift-input thereto. ~t
step M22, the image P3 is displayed in the sub-frsme C
as shown in Fig. 20 (m). Thereafter, the sub-frame C
displays images P3, P4, P6 and P3 in cycle. If, for
example, the image P3 is frozen in the course of this
- 98 -
13~8~3
c~cle, the second earliest frozen image P2 is restored
for the scrolling operation.
Thus, a maximum of three images may be frozen on
the multi-scan monitor 232 since they must be compared
5 with the other images.
Assume that the user has made comparison to a
reasonable extent and selected a certain number of
commodities as eligible for purchase. Assume, for
example, that the user has selected four images P6,
P2, P5 and P1 as prima facie eligible, as described
above. And assume that the user touches the "O`' ke~
on the screen ~k) as shown in Fig. 17-4. Then, step
M8 will judge YES, step M2~ NO, step M26 NO and step
M42 YES, whereby the touch screen 213 changes to the
screen (n) as shown in Fig. 17-5.
On this screen, the user finally decides which
commodity or commodities to purchase. At this time,
the multi-scan monitor 232 is in the state shown in
Fig. 20 (m). If the commodity the user wants to
purchase is displayed in this state, the user touches
the "purchase mark" icon corresponding to the position
in which that commodity is displayed. Then, step M~4
judges YES, step M62 NO, and step M66 NO. whereb~ the
program moves to step M68. The operation csrried out
at step M68 will be described later.
_ 99 _
~311~3
If the "O" key on the screen (k) is not touched
in the state shown in Fig. 20 (m), the program moves
from step M44 through step M46 to step M48. When step
M48 judges elapse of the waiting time of the current
image feed mode, step M50 judges whether the image
feed mode is the forward mode or not. If it is, step
M52 shifts the contents of the ~ideo frame memor~ 238
forward b~- one image. If the mode is the reverse
mode, step M54 shifts the contents backward. In the
forward mode, the shift is made as shown in Fig. 20
(n).
In this case, as distinct from the foregoing case
of image comparison, there is no shift prohibition.
Specifically, the images P2, P3 and P5 are set to the
memory areas R1, R2 and R3, with the memory area R4
left blank. Next, step M56 checks if the number of
retrieved commodities is 4 or more. If it is, step
M58 reads the next image P4 out of the video frame
memory 238 and sets it to the memor~ area R4. If the
number is up to 3, the read-out is unnecessary as
described in relation to Fig. 21.
At step M60 the video data are read out of the
~ideo frame memory 238 for displa~ on the multi-scan
monitor 232. If the number of commodities is 4 or
more, the screen is in the state shown in Fig. 20 ~o).
- 100 --
131~$3
~ hen one of the function keys Iforward, fast
forward, reverse, and fast reverse) is touched on the
screen (n) as shown in Fig. 17-5, the image scrolling
is resumed in the manner corresponding to the image
feed mode of the touched key.
~ hen the user spots a commodity to be purchased
in the course of image scroll, the user touches the
"purchase mark" icon corresponding to the position in
which that commodity is displayed. As a result, the
program moves from step M44 through steps M62, M66 and
M68 to step M70. Then, the commodity code of the
displayed image corresponding to the touched "purchase
mark" icon is recorded for purchase. This image is
removed from the scrolling operation and is frozen in
a sub-frame on the multi-scan monitor 232. If there
are a plurality of commodities to be purchased final-
ly, the user repeats touching the "purchase mark"
icons.
After completing the selection of a commodity for
purchase, the user touches the ol key on the screen
(n). Then, step M66 judges YES, and the program moves
to step M72 for displaying the commodity confirm
screen (o) as shown in Fig. 17-5. This screen dis-
plays the brandname, commodity number and price of the
commodity finally selected as eligible. This display
- 101 -
~ 3 ~ 3
is made for one commodity. Step M7~ magnifies the
commodity image on the multi-scan monitor 232, and the
program waits at step M76 for the user to make a touch
input.
If the user touches the forward key, the program
moves from step M78 to step M80 and then to step M82
to check if there are a plurality of commodities
recorded for purchase by touching of the "purchase
marks". If there are, step M84 displays the brand-
name, commodity number and price of a/the ne~t commod-
- ity on the screen (o), and step M86 magnifies the
commodity image. If the user touches the "O" ke~-, the
program moves to step M88 for order processing.
In the method of displaying the commodity images
according to this embodiment as described above, a
commodity is selected as eligible for purchase from
among the plurality of commodities narrowed down
through the commodity retrieval, which commodity is
frozen in a sub-frame on the multi-scan monitor 232,
with the other commodities being displayed and scrol-
led in the remaining sub-frames. This method provides
the advantage of allowing the user to determine a
finally eligible commodity by comparin~ the frozen
commodity ~ith the other commodities.
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1311843
lC] Retrieval Histor~ Data Collection
Transmission
Operations to collect and transmit the retrieval
history data of the system according to this embodi-
ment will be described next with reference to Figs.
22-1 through 22-3.
(1) HistorY Data Mode Switchin~
The user station 200 has a history data mode
switchable by commands from the host station 100.
This switching operation will be described first with
reference to the flow chart of Fig. 22-1.
The mode switching operation is controlled by
software stored in the front end computer 218.
When power is turned on at the user station 200,
the history data mode is initially set to no-collect
mode (step U2). Then the user station 200 waits for a
history collect command, a histor~- collect cancel
command or other command to be transmitted from the
host station 100 (step U4).
The host station 100 transmits the history
collect command to selected user stations 200. The
retrieval history data has one day for the unit, and
the histor~ collect command is transmitted before a
collection starting time of the day. The command
26 format includes the address of the user station 200,
- 103 -
1311~43
contents of the command, the collection starting time,
and collection ending time. The period from collec-
tion starting time to collection ending time is called
the collecting period.
S The history collect command, and history collect
cancel command are transmitted from the retrieval
history collecting computer 182 of the retrieval
history data control section 180 at the host station
100 .
If the histor~- collect command is received (step
U6), the history data mode is set to a collect mode
and the collecting time is set as well (step U8~.
Then the program returns to step U4. If the history
collect cancel command is received Istep U10), the
history data mode is set to the no-collect mode (step
U12). Then the program returns to step U~. If a
different command is received, the program just
returns to step U4.
The collect mode and no-collect mode are main-
tained in the front end computer at the user station
200. The collect cancel command is transmitted when
the histor~ data have become unnecessar~ following
transmission of the history collect command.
(2) Retrieval HistorY Data Collection
~ retrieval history data collecting operation
-- 10~ --
~3118~3
carried out at the user station 200 will be described
ne~t with reference to the flow chart of Fig. 22-2.
This data collecting operation is controlled by
software in the retrieval terminal 212.
6 The loop from step V2 through step VlO relates to
the auto OFF operation of a monitor switch 250, which
will be described later.
First, step V4 chec~s if a touch input is made on
the initial screen displayed on the touch screen 213.
If a touch input is made, step V12 checks whether it
is (3) shopping or not. If not, the program returns
to step V4 since the retrieval history data need not
be collected. If ~3) shopping is selected, step V14
checks whether the monitor switch 250 is turned on.
16 The retrieval terminal 212 includes the monitor
switch 250 which is turned on when the retrieval
history data is collected from a monitor member, and
digital switches 262 for setting the membership number
of the monitor member ~these switches being omitted
from Fig. 5).
The monitor switch 250 has a toggle function, and
is lit when turned on and unlit when turned off. The
monitor switch 250 may be automatically turned off by
the software. The membership number consists of a
shop number set by an 8-figure digital switch 252 and
- 105 -
a member's serial number set by a 5-fi~ure digital
switch 252. The shop number consists of 2 figures
indicating the region in which the user station 200 is
installed, 2 figures indicating the t~-pe of business,
and 4 figures indicating the identification number of
the shop.
The monitor switch 250 and digital switches 252
are operated bp the staff of the shop where the user
station is installed.
~a) Retrieval HistorY Data Collection
from Monitor
When the monitor switch 250 is turned on, the
membership number input through the digital switches
252 is recorded in the retrieval history data file 242
(step V16). ~ext, a collection execute mode is set at
step V18, and the time elapse to that point of time is
cleared at step V26.
As understood from the above operation, the
retrie~-al history data collection from monitors is
carried out with priority independently of the history
collect command from the host station 100.
The program then waits for a touch input to be
made by the monitor member of any desired choice on
any shopping screen appearing on the touch screen 213
(step V28). An internal timer ~not shown) included in
- 106 -
13~1 8~3
the user station 200 measures a time elapse till a
choice item is touched (step V30).
~ hen a choice item is touched, step V32 checks if
the collection execute mode is set. The collection
execute mode is set when the monitor switch 250 is
turned on, as noted above. Therefore, the choice item
and the time elapsed till its determination are
recorded in the retrieval history data file 242 (step
V3~).
Then the elapsed time is cleared at step V36, and
checking is made at step V38 whether the user has
completed the operation. The operation is judged
completed when the user touches the "exit" key at each
screen stage or when the user touches the '0" key on
the commodity confirm screen (o) shown in Fig. 17-5 to
proceed to the order processing. If the operation is
not completed, the program moves to a next processing
(step V40). The next processing means returning to
step V28 in the end.
More particularly, each time the user touches a
choice item on any screen appearing on the touch
screen 213, the choice item and the time taken for its
selection are recorded in the retrieval history data
file 2~2. By repeating this operation through the
loop of steps V28 through V40 and back to V28, the
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13i~8~3
entire retrieval history of the user is recorded as
retrieval history data in the retrieval history data
file 242.
Even when the user touches the e~it' key halfway
6 through the operation thereby reinstating the original
screen on the touch screen 213, the retrieval history
up to that point of time is recorded in the retrieval
history data file 242.
Upon return to the initial screen, step V2 clears
the time elapse till then, and step V4 checks if a
touch input is made on the touch screen 213. The time
elapse till a touch input is measured by the internal
timer (step V6). If step V8 finds no touch input upon
lapse of a predetermined time (6 minutes, for example)
and the monitor switch 250 remains on, the monitor
switch 260 is automatically turned off at step V10.
This is for avoiding retrieval history data collection
where a next user is not a monitor member.
Ib~ Random Retrieval HistorY Data Collection
Next, a retrieval history data collecting opera-
tion based on the history collect command from the
host station 100 will be described. This operation
collects retrieval history data of all users having
used the user station 200 during the predetermined
26 data collecting period. In this sense, it is a random
- 108 -
~ 31~ ~3
collection.
If step ~1~ judges that the monitor switch 2~0 is
turned off, step V20 checks if the history data mode
is set to the data collect mode. If it is, step ~'22
checks.if the current time is in the collecting
period. The judgments as to the collect mode, no-
collect mode and collecting period are made b~ refer-
ring to the front end computer 218.
If the collect mode is set and the current time
is in the collecting period, the collection execute
mode is set at step V18. If the collect mode is not
set, or if the collect mode is set but the current
time is outside the collecting period, a collection
non-execute mode is set at step V24.
After the collection execute mode is set, the
subsequent operation is carried out in exactly the
same manner as in the operation (a) described above.
When the collecting period comes to an end, however,
the operation is switched to the collection non-
execute mode, terminating the retrieval history data
collection. ~hus the retrieval history data are
collected only during the collecting period.
When the collection non-execute mode is set, the
subsequent operation is carried out as in the opera-
tion (a) except that the choice item and the time
-- 109 --
~311~3
taken for its selection are not recorded in theretrieval history data file 242 (i.e. step 34 is
skipped).
When the collect mode and the collection non-
execute mode are set, the same operation as the opera-
tion ~a) is carried out with start of the collecting
period, to collect the retrieval history data.
(3) HistorY Data Transmission ~ Deletion
Next, the operation to transmit the data collect-
ed in the operations (2) above and stored in theretrieval history data file 242 from the user station
200 to host station 100, and the operation to delete
such data from the retrieval history data file 242
will be described with reference to the flow chart of
Fig. 22-3.
These operations are controlled by the front end
computer 218.
First, step U22 checks if the user station 200
has received any command from the host station 100
during the non-business hours of the shop where the
user station 200 is installed. If it has, step U24
checks if the command received is a reception complete
signal. If the answer is NO, step U26 checks if the
command received is a history delete command. If the
answer is hO again, step U28 checks if the command is
-- 110 -
13118~3
a history transmit command. If the answer to this is
YES, step U30 checks if retrieval history data are
recorded in the retrieval history data file 242. If
retrieval history data are not recorded, the program
returns to step U22. If they are recorded, the
retrieval history data are read out and transmitted
from the user station 200 to host station 100 Istep
U32). Then the program returns to step U22.
The history transmit command is transmitted from
the retrieval history collecting computer 182 at the
host station 100. The retrieval history data trans-
mitted from the user station 200 are stored in the
retrieval history data storage file 184 through the
retrieval history data collecting computer 182.
When the received data have been stored, the
retrieval history data collecting computer 182 trans-
mits the reception complete signal to the user station
200. hhen the user station 200 receives this signal
(YES from step U24), step U36 checks if there are
retrieval history data in the retrieval history data
file 242. If there are, the data are deleted at step
U38.
If step U28 finds that a history transmit command
is not received, the program moves to step U34 to
chec~ if the current time is 0 a.m. (data deleting
-- 111 --
13111 8~3
time). If it is not 0 a.m. yet, the program just
returns to step U22. If the time has reached 0. a.m.
without reception of the history transmit command,
step U36 checks if retrieval history data are in the
retrieval history data file 242. If there are, these
data are deleted at step U38.
Thus, in the absence of a history transmit
command from the host station 100, the retrieval
history data are automatically deleted at 0 a.m. to be
ready for retrieval history data collection to be made
the following day.
If the command received is a history delete
command (step U26), the retrieval history data are
deleted similarly.
Retrieval HistorY Data File Structure
The retrieval history file is for recording
retrieval history data collected in one day. As shown
in Fig. 24-1 (a), this file contains the number of
operations ~N) and operation data for each operation.
The operation data are in a data row including an
operation start time, a monitor/random type, a member-
ship number and history data.
A few examples of operation data are illustrated.
Fig. 24-2 (c) shows retrieval history data obtained
from a retrieval operation through the commodity
- 112 -
131~8~3
classifications (~ithout the free group retrieval).
Figs. 24-3 (d) shows retrieval history data obtained
from the free group retrieval. Figs. 24-3 le) shows
retrieval history data obtained from the demonstra-
tion.
In these e.Yamples of the file structures, the
choice item in each of the large classification,
medial classification, attributes, price setting and
commodity selection is followed by a numeric value
~righthand side of the dotted line) which represents a
time elapse in seconds. The numeric value at the
righthand next to it indicates the code number of a
selected choice item. The upper and lower limits set
to the attributes such as size and weight, and the
lS price are shown separately. In the example of free
group retrieval shown in Fig. 24-3 (d), an FG small
classification column is followed by "20, 3, 04, 0l
and 11", of which "20" indicates a time elapse, "04,
07 and 11" indicate a plurality of selections made,
and "3' indicates the number of selections. The
number of selections "3" distinguishes between "A~D"
and "OR" by the way it is expressed.
The retrieval history data received from each
user station 200 and stored in the retrieval history
data storage file 184 at the retrieval history data
- 113 -
131~3
control section of host station 100 are analyzed by
the retrieval history analyzer terminal 186. The
analyzed data are utilized as follows:
The retrieval histor~- data collected include
various information regarding operations and choices
for the commodity retrieval, commodit~ selection and
determination for purchase, and live or first-hand
information about hesitations, uncertainties, and
subtle workings of the mind in making the selections
and decisions in which the discretion of the user
plays no part. Further, the retrieval history data
are collected from a multiplicity of user stations 200
distributed extensively. Such data provide a clear
picture of motivations for commodity selections and
their changes, and enable a correct grasp of market
trends and popularity of commodities. These data may,
therefore, be used effectively for market researches,
product developments, sales plans and so on.
The live information further shows the stages of
operation at which users have difficulties. This
helps toward improvement in the operating method
employed at the user station.
The retrieval history data also include the time
taken in selecting the choice items, which shows at
which stage and choice item the user has difficulties
13118~3
in ma];ing a decision and the extents of such difficul-
ties. This aspect enables the improvement of the
operating method still further.
The third system provides information as to
characteristics of certain time periods and peak
operating times. According to the fourth system, the
retrieval history data obtained may be used for ana-
lyzing the consuming patterns and life style of cus-
tomers acting as monitor members. In the fifth and
sixth systems, the retrieval history data are automat-
ically deleted at a fixed point of time after trans-
mission thereof to the host station. This feature
produces the effects that the file need not have a
large capacity and that a next data collecting opera-
1~ tion may be carried out without trouble (the followingday, for example).
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