Method and apparatus for providing relative-evaluations of commodities to user by using commodity-comparison map

• US 7,107,238 B2
• Filed: 10/16/2001
• Issued: 09/12/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/01/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
• Original Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
• Inventors: Kato, Hiromi, Watanabe, Isamu, Hatakama, Hiroshi, Misue, Kazuo, Wako, Junichi
• Primary Examiner(s): FADOK, MARK A
• Application Number:
  US09/977,200
• Publication Number:
  US 20020184108A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,792 Days
• Field of Search: 705/26, 705/27, 283/115
• US Class Current: 705/26.64
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0629 for generating comparisons

Abstract

In a method for providing information on commodities to a user by using a computer, commodity-comparison information indicating at least one result of at least one comparison between the commodities is acquired and stored. Next, a commodity-comparison map which visually indicates at least one relationship between the commodities is produced by using the commodity-comparison information stored above, in such a manner that at least one coordinate axis of the commodity-comparison map corresponds to at least one evaluation criterion used in evaluation of the commodities, respectively. Then, relative-evaluation information which indicates at least one relative evaluation of the commodities is produced by using the commodity-comparison map. Finally, the relative-evaluation information is provided to the user.

Claims

1. A method for providing information on commodities to a user by using a computer, comprising:

acquiring a plurality of pieces of commodity-comparison information indicating results of comparison between individual commodities in a plurality of commodity evaluation criteria, from at least one first terminal through a communication means;

storing in a storage device said commodity-comparison information acquired by said acquiring;

producing, from said commodity-comparison information stored in said storage device, a commodity-comparison map displaying one commodity relative to another on the map;

visually indicating relative superiority between said commodities in two specified evaluation criteria by plotting each of said commodities on a two-dimensional area with coordinate axes representing the evaluation criteria specified;

producing relative-evaluation information which indicates at least one relative evaluation of said commodities by using said commodity-comparison map; and

transmitting said relative-evaluation information to one of at least one second terminal through a communication means.

2. A method according to claim 1,

further comprising acquiring possessed-commodity information which a commodity possessed by said user;

and

wherein said commodity-comparison map is produced in by plotting said user-possessed commodity, together with other commodities superior thereto in either or both of the two evaluation criteria, as well as by expressly showing which coordinate axis direction represents greater superiority.

3. A method according to claim 2, wherein as a result of said producing, the relative-evaluation information is arranged for display of information with at least one of the other commodities and superior feature thereof.