Selection set evaluation device and sale management device

• US 20040098288A1
• Filed: 04/17/2003
• Published: 05/20/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 10/17/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Minakuchi, Mitsuru
• Granted Patent: US 7,747,467 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/26.61
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/202 Interconnection or interaction of plural electronic cash registers [ECR] or to host computer, e.g. network details, transfer of information from host to ECR or from ECR to ECR
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0256 User search
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0611 Request for offers or quotes
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0623 Item investigation

Abstract

A selection set evaluation device comprises selection item storage means (201) where information concerning selection items are stored, selection item presenting means (202) for presenting selection items to a user, selection item selection means (203) for allowing the user to select one or more of the presented selection items, evaluation criterion storage means (207) where evaluation criteria used for evaluating a selection set consisting of the one or more selection items selected by the user, and selection set evaluating means (209) for evaluating the selection set on the basis of the evaluation criteria. Thus a selection set evaluation device for evaluating a selection set which is a combination of selection items selected by the user on the basis of predetermined evaluation criteria.

Claims

1. A selection set evaluation device, comprising:

evaluation rule storing means for storing an evaluation rule to evaluate a selection set constituted of one selection item or a plurality of selection items selected by a user; and

selection set evaluating means for evaluating the selection set, in accordance with the evaluation rule stored in the evaluation rule storing means, so as to output an evaluation result, when the selection set is inputted.

3. The selection set evaluation device as set forth in claim 1 or 2, further comprising selection condition parameter setting means for setting a selection condition parameter to adjust a degree at which each selection item included in the selection set contributes to an evaluation, wherein

the selection set evaluating means adjusts the evaluation result according to the selection condition parameter that has been set.

4. The selection set evaluation device as set forth in any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising evaluation rule setting means for setting the evaluation rule, wherein

the evaluation rule setting means updates the evaluation rule stored in the evaluation rule storing means.

5. The selection set evaluation device as set forth in claim 4, further comprising evaluation result adequacy setting means by which the user sets adequacy with respect to the evaluation result of the selection set, said evaluation result having been given by the selection set evaluating means, wherein

the evaluation rule setting means uses the adequacy that has been set by the evaluation result adequacy storing means, so as to update the evaluation result stored in the evaluation rule storing means.

6. The selection set evaluation device as set forth in any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the selection set evaluating means evaluates the selection set in real time when a content of the selection set is updated.

13. A product selling device, which enables a plurality of products to be sold as a combination, comprising the selection set evaluation device as set forth in any one of claims 1 to 6, or the selection set evaluation device as set forth in claim 7, or the selection set making device as set forth in claim 8, or the selection set evaluating system as set forth in claim 9.

50. (added) The selection set evaluation device as set forth in claim 1, wherein the evaluation rule is based on whether an order of the selection items in the selection set is identical to a specific order or not.

51. (added) The selection set evaluation device as set forth in claim 1, wherein the evaluation rule is based on whether a number of the selection items in the selection set, which satisfies a specific condition, is identical to a specific value.

52. (added) The selection set evaluation device as set forth in claim 1, wherein the evaluation rule is based on whether or not a ratio of (a) some of the selection items that satisfy a specific condition and (b) others of the selection items that satisfy another specific condition is identical to a specific value.

53. (added) The selection set evaluation device as set forth in claim 1, wherein the evaluation rule is based on whether or not a number of combinations of the selection items combined so as to satisfy a specific combination condition is identical to a specific value.

2. A selection set evaluation device, which evaluates a selection set constituted of one selection item or a plurality of selection items selected by a user, comprising:

selection item storing means for storing information concerning the selection item;

selection item indicating means for indicating the selection item to the user;

selection item selecting means by which the user selects the selection item, that has been indicated, so as to make the selection set;

evaluation rule storing means for storing an evaluation rule to evaluate the selection set that has been made by the user; and

selection set evaluating means for evaluating the selection set, in accordance with the evaluation rule stored in the evaluation rule storing means, so as to output an evaluation result.

7. A selection set evaluation device, which evaluates a selection set constituted of one selection item or a plurality of selection items selected by a user in accordance with an evaluation rule that has been set in advance, comprising:

selection item transmission controlling means for controlling transmission of information concerning the selection item to a terminal operated by the user who selects the selection item so as to make the selection set;

selection set reception controlling means for controlling reception of the selection set from the terminal;

evaluation rule storing means for storing the evaluation rule to evaluate the selection set; and

selection set evaluating means for evaluating the selection set, in accordance with the evaluation rule stored in the evaluation rule storing means, so as to output an evaluation result.

8. A selection set making device, connected to the selection set evaluation device as set forth in claim 7, which makes a selection set constituted of one selection item or a plurality of selection items, said selection set making device comprising:

selection item selecting means by which a user selects the selection item indicated by the selection set evaluation device; and

selection set transmitting means for transmitting the selection set that has been made by the user to the selection set evaluation device.

9. A selection set evaluating system, comprising the selection set evaluation device as set forth in claim 7 and the selection set making device as set forth in claim 8.

10. A selection set evaluating method, comprising the steps of:

inputting a selection set constituted of one selection item or a plurality of selection items selected by a user; and

evaluating the selection set, in accordance with an evaluation rule to evaluate the selection set, when the selection set is inputted.

12. A computer-readable storage medium, storing a program for carrying out the selection set evaluating method as set forth in claim 10 or 11.

11. A selection set evaluating method, by which a combination of one selection item or a plurality of selection items selected by a user is evaluated, comprising the steps of:

indicating information concerning the selection item to the user; and

evaluating a selection set constituted of the selection item in accordance with an evaluation rule to evaluate the selection set.

14. A selection set evaluation device, by which a selection set constituted of one selection item or a plurality of selection items selected by a user is evaluated by another user, comprising:

selection item storing means for storing information concerning the selection item;

selection item indicating means for indicating the selection item to a selecting user;

selection item selecting means by which the selecting user selects the selection item, that has been indicated, so as to make the selection set;

selection set indicating means for indicating the selection set, that has been made by the selecting user, to a plurality of evaluating users; and

evaluation inputting means by which each of the evaluating users inputs an evaluation of the selection set that has been indicated.

15. The selection set evaluation device as set forth in claim 14, further comprising total evaluation deriving means for deriving a total evaluation in accordance with a plurality of evaluations of the selection set, said evaluations having been inputted by said plurality of evaluating users.

16. The selection set evaluation device as set forth in claim 14, further comprising:

evaluation result informing means for informing evaluation results, that have been inputted by the plurality of evaluating users, to a user using the evaluation results;

evaluation result adequacy setting means by which the user using the evaluation results sets adequacy of the evaluation results that have been informed by the evaluation result informing means; and

total evaluation deriving means for deriving a total evaluation in accordance with (a) the evaluations that have been inputted by said plurality of evaluating users and (b) the adequacy that has been set by the evaluation result adequacy setting means.

17. The selection set evaluation device as set forth in any one of claims 14 to 16, wherein a basis for each evaluation is inputted together via the evaluation inputting means.

24. A product selling device, comprising the selection set evaluation device as set forth in any one of claims 14 to 17, or the selection set evaluation result collecting device as set forth in claim 18, or the selection set making device as set forth in claim 19, or the selection set evaluation inputting device as set forth in claim 20, or the selection set evaluating system as set forth in claim 21.

25. A communication supporting device, comprising the selection set evaluation device as set forth in any one of claims 14 to 17, or the selection set evaluation result collecting device as set forth in claim 18, or the selection set making device as set forth in claim 19, or the selection set inputting device as set forth in claim 20, or the selection set evaluating system as set forth in claim 21, wherein the communication supporting device allows messages and the like to be exchanged between a plurality of users.

18. A selection set evaluation result collecting device, which collects an evaluation result with respect to a selection set constituted of one selection item or a plurality of selection items selected by a user, said evaluation result being made by an evaluating user, said selection set evaluation result collecting device comprising:

selection item transmission controlling means for controlling transmission of information concerning the selection item to a first terminal operated by the user selecting the selection item so as to make the selection set;

selection item transmission/reception controlling means for controlling (a) reception of the selection set from the first terminal and (b) transmission of the selection set to a second terminal operated by the evaluating user; and

selection set evaluation reception controlling means for controlling reception of an evaluation of the selection set from the second terminal.

19. A selection set making device, connected to the selection set evaluation result collecting device as set forth in claim 18, by which a selection set constituted of one selection item or a plurality of selection items is made, said selection set making device comprising:

selection item selecting means by which a user making the selection set selects the selection item, that has been indicated by the selection set evaluation result collecting device, so as to make the selection set; and

selection set transmitting means for transmitting the selection set, that has been made by the user, to the selection set evaluation result collecting device.

20. A selection set evaluation inputting device, connected to the selection set evaluation result collecting device as set forth in claim 18, by which an evaluation with respect to a selection set constituted of one selection item or a plurality of selection items is inputted, said selection set evaluation inputting device comprising:

evaluation inputting means by which an evaluating user inputs the evaluation of the selection set indicated by the selection set evaluation result collecting device; and

evaluation transmitting means for transmitting the evaluation inputted by the evaluation inputting means to the selection set evaluation result collecting device.

21. A selection set evaluating system, comprising:

the selection set evaluation result collecting device as set forth in claim 18;

the selection set making device as set forth in claim 19;

and the selection set evaluation inputting device as set forth in claim 20.

22. A selection set evaluating method, by which a selection set constituted of one selection item or a plurality of selection items selected by a user is evaluated by another user, comprising the steps of:

indicating information concerning the selection item to a selecting user;

indicating the selection set made by the selecting user to an evaluating user; and

allowing the evaluating user to input an evaluation of the selection set that has been indicated.

23. A computer-readable storage medium, storing a program for carrying out the selection set evaluating method as set forth in claim 22.

26. A selection set evaluation device, by which a selection set constituted of one selection item or a plurality of selection items selected by a user is evaluated, comprising:

evaluation rule storing means for storing an evaluation rule to evaluate the selection set made by a user making the selection set;

selection set evaluating means for evaluating the selection set, in accordance with the evaluation rule stored in the evaluation rule storing means, so as to output an evaluating result, when the selection set is inputted;

selection set indicating means for indicating the selection set, that has been inputted, to an evaluating user;

evaluation inputting means by which the evaluating user inputs an evaluation of the selection set that has been indicated; and

total evaluation deriving means for deriving a total evaluation result in accordance with (a) an evaluation result made by the selection set evaluating means and (b) the evaluation inputted by the evaluating user with the evaluation inputting means, so as to output a total evaluation result.

27. The selection set evaluation device as set forth in claim 26, further comprising:

selection item storing means for storing information concerning the selection item;

selection item indicating means for indicating the selection item to the user making the selection set; and

selection item selecting means by which the user making the selection set selects the selection item that has been indicated.

28. The selection set evaluation device as set forth in claim 26 or 27, further comprising evaluation rule setting means for adding or deleting or rectifying the evaluation rule, wherein the evaluation rule setting means updates the evaluation rule stored in the evaluation rule storing means.

29. The selection set evaluation device as set forth in claim 28, further comprising evaluation rule extracting means for extracting the evaluation rule from the evaluation inputted by the evaluating user with the evaluation inputting means, wherein

the evaluation rule setting means updates the evaluation rule stored in the evaluation rule storing means by using the evaluation rule that has been extracted by the evaluation rule extracting means.

30. The selection set evaluation device as set forth in claim 29, further comprising evaluation result adequacy setting means by which a user referring to the evaluation result sets adequacy of (a) the evaluation result made by the selection set evaluating means or (b) the evaluation inputted by the evaluating user with the evaluation inputting means, wherein

the evaluation rule extracting means extracts the evaluation rule corresponding to the adequacy of the evaluation that has been set by the evaluation result adequacy setting means.

36. A computer-readable storage medium, storing a selection set evaluation program which causes a computer to carry out (a) the means comprised in the selection set evaluation device as set forth in any one of claims 26 to 30, or (b) the means comprised in the selection set evaluation result collecting device as set forth in claim 31, or (c) the means comprised in the selection set making device as set forth in claim 32, or (d) the means comprised in the selection set evaluation inputting device as set forth in claim 33.

37. A product selling device, which enables a plurality of products to be sold as a combination, comprising the selection set evaluation device as set forth in any one of claims 26 to 30, or the selection set evaluation result collecting device as set forth in claim 31, or the selection set making device as set forth in claim 32, or the selection set inputting device as set forth in claim 33, or the selection set evaluating system as set forth in claim 34.

38. A communication supporting device, which enables messages and the like to be exchanged between a plurality of users, comprising the selection set evaluation device as set forth in any one of claims 26 to 30, or the selection set evaluation result collecting device as set forth in claim 31, or the selection set making device as set forth in claim 32, or the selection set inputting device as set forth in claim 33, or the selection set evaluating system as set forth in claim 34.

54. (added) The selection set evaluation device as set forth in claim 26, wherein the evaluation rule is based on whether an order of the selection items in the selection set is identical to a specific order or not.

55. (added) The selection set evaluation device as set forth in claim 26, wherein the evaluation rule is based on whether a number of the selection items in the selection set, which satisfies a specific condition, is identical to a specific value.

56. (added) The selection set evaluation device as set forth in claim 26, wherein the evaluation rule is based on whether or not a ratio of (a) some of the selection items that satisfy a specific condition and (b) others of the selection items that satisfy another specific condition is identical to a specific value.

57. (added) The selection set evaluation device as set forth in claim 26, wherein the evaluation rule is based on whether or not a number of combinations of the selection items combined so as to satisfy a specific combination condition is identical to a specific value.

31. A selection set evaluation result collecting device, which collects an evaluation result with respect to a selection set constituted of one selection item or a plurality of selection items selected by a user, comprising:

selection set transmission/reception controlling means for (a) receiving the selection set, that has been made by a first terminal operated by the user making the selection set, from the first terminal, and (b) transmitting the selection set to a second terminal operated by an evaluating user;

evaluation rule storing means for storing an evaluation rule to evaluate the selection set;

selection set evaluating means for evaluating the selection set, that has been received from the first terminal, in accordance with the evaluation rule stored in the evaluation rule storing means, so as to output an evaluation result;

selection set evaluation reception controlling means for controlling reception of an evaluation of the selection set from the second terminal; and

total evaluation deriving means for deriving a total evaluation result in accordance with (a) the evaluation result made by the selection set evaluating means and (b) the evaluation received by the selection set evaluation reception controlling means.

32. A selection set making device, connected to the selection set evaluation result collecting device as set forth in claim 31, which makes a selection set constituted of one selection item or a plurality of selection items, comprising:

selection item storing means for temporarily or continuously storing information concerning the selection item;

selection item indicating means for indicating the selection item to a user making the selection set;

selection item selecting means by which the user selects the selection item, that has been indicated, so as to make the selection set; and

selection set transmitting means for transmitting the selection set, that has been made, to the selection set evaluation result collecting device.

33. A selection set evaluation inputting device, connected to the selection set evaluation result collecting device as set forth in claim 31, by which an evaluation of a selection set constituted of one selection item or a plurality of selection items is inputted, comprising:

evaluation inputting means by which an evaluating user inputs the evaluation of the selection set that has been indicated by the selection set evaluation result collecting device; and

evaluation transmitting means for transmitting the evaluation, that has been inputted by the evaluation inputting means, to the selection set evaluation result collecting device.

34. A selection set evaluating system, comprising:

the selection set evaluation result collecting device as set forth in claim 31;

the selection set making device as set forth in claim 32;

and the selection set evaluation inputting device as set forth in claim 33.

35. A selection set evaluating method, by which a selection set constituted of one selection item or a plurality of selection items selected by a user is evaluated, comprising the steps of:

(i) evaluating the selection set, in accordance with an evaluation rule to evaluate the selection set that has been made by a user making the selection set, so as to output an evaluation result;

(ii) indicating the selection set to an evaluating user;

(iii) accepting the evaluating user to input an evaluation of the selection set that has been indicated; and

(iv) deriving a total evaluation result in accordance with (a) the evaluation result obtained in the step (i) and (b) the evaluation inputted in the step (iii), so as to output the total evaluation result, wherein a program causes a computer to carry out the steps.

39. A sale management device, managing via a network a sale of a product set which is a combination of a plurality of products or a plurality of selective items, said sale management device comprising:

product information indicating means for indicating information concerning the products to a product set maker who is an unspecified user;

product set storing means for storing the product set, that has been made by the product set maker, in accordance with the information concerning the products; and

product set indicating means for indicating to a purchaser (a) the product set stored in the product set storing means and (b) the information concerning the products.

45. A product set making device, connected to the sale management device as set forth in any one of claims 39 to 44, which makes a product set which is a combination of a plurality of products or a plurality of selective items, comprising:

product information storing means for temporarily or continuously storing information concerning the products;

product set making means by which a product set maker selects the information concerning the products, that has been stored in the product information storing means, so as to make the product set; and

product set transmitting means for transmitting the product set, that has been made by the product set maker, to the sale management device.

46. A product set purchasing device, connected to the sale management device as set forth in any one of claims 39 to 44, enabling a product set which is a combination of a plurality of products or a plurality of selective items to be purchased, said product purchasing device comprising:

product set receiving means for receiving the product set from the sale management device;

product set purchasing means to which a purchaser of the product set inputs the information to purchase the product set by selecting the product set that has been received by the product set receiving means; and

purchase information transmitting means for transmitting information to purchase the product set inputted by the product set purchasing means to the sale management device.

47. A sale management system, comprising:

the sale management device as set forth in claim 39 or 44;

the product set making device as set forth in claim 45;

and the product set purchasing device as set forth in claim 46.

49. A computer-readable storage medium, storing a sale management program for causing a computer to carry out the means comprised in the sale management device as set forth in any one of claims 39 to 44, or the means comprised in the product set making device as set forth in claim 45, or the means comprised in the product set purchasing device as set forth in claim 46.

40. A sale management device, managing a sale of a product set which is a combination of a plurality of products or a plurality of selective items by transmitting/receiving information to/from a device having a communication function and via a network, said sale management device comprising:

product information indicating means for transmitting information concerning the products to a first device in response to a request from the first device;

product set storing means for receiving the product set, that has been made by an unspecified product set maker in accordance with the information concerning the products, from the first device, so as to store the product set; and

product set indicating means for transmitting (a) the product set stored in the product set storing means and (b) the information concerning the products to the second device from which may be identical with the first device.

41. The sale management device as set forth in claim 40, further comprising additional information obtaining means for receiving additional information from the first device, wherein the product set storing means stores the product set and the additional information together, and the product set indicating means transmits the additional information together to the second device.

42. The sale management device as set forth in claim 40 or 41, further comprising:

user information obtaining means for receiving (a) information concerning the product set maker from the first device and (b) information concerning a purchaser of the product set from the second device;

user information comparing means for comparing (a) the information concerning the product set maker and (b) the information concerning the purchaser, so as to derive compatibility therebetween, wherein

the product set indicating means transmits the product set such that the compatibility between (a) the information concerning the product set maker and (b) the information concerning the purchaser is high, in preference, to the second device.

43. The sale management device as set forth in claim 41, further comprising product set maker selecting means for selecting the product set maker from the additional information stored in the product set storing means so as to give a benefit to the product set maker who has made the product set when an instruction to purchase the product set is received from the second device, wherein the additional information includes information for identifying the product set maker.

44. The sale management device as set forth in claim 41, further comprising ranking means for sorting (a) the product set stored in the product set storing means or (b) the product set maker, in accordance with a specific rule, wherein the additional information includes information for identifying the product set maker, and the product set indicating means transmits a result of sorting performed by the ranking means to the second device.

48. A sale management method, managing a sale of a product set which is a combination of a plurality of products or a plurality of selective items by transmitting/receiving information to/from a device having a communication function and via a network, comprising the steps of:

transmitting information concerning the products to a first device in response to a request from the first device;

receiving the product set from the first device that has been made by an unspecified product set maker in accordance with the information concerning the products, so as to store the product set; and

transmitting (a) the product set that has been stored and (b) the information concerning the products to a second device from which a request for transmission has been received, said product set being transmitted to also the first device in case the request for transmission is received from the first device, wherein the steps are carried out by a computer.