Selection set evaluation device and sale management device

• US 7,747,467 B2
• Filed: 10/15/2001
• Issued: 06/29/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/17/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• 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
• Primary Examiner(s): Pond; Robert M.
• Application Number:
  US10/399,522
• Publication Number:
  US 20040098288A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,179 Days
• Field of Search: 705/26, 705/27
• 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 criterion 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 criterion. 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 at least one user-defined evaluation rule to evaluate a selection set constituted of one selection item or a plurality of selection items selected by a user, each of the evaluation rules comprising a condition and an associated grade value, the grade value representing how much the user-selected selection set enables achievement of a purpose of selection and the condition expresses the purpose of selection; and

selection set evaluating means for evaluating the selection set, in accordance with the at least one evaluation rule stored in the evaluation rule storing means, so as to output an evaluation result which is a tally of grade values indicative of how much the selection set satisfies the at least one evaluation rule, when the selection set is inputted.

2. The selection set evaluation device as set forth in claim 1, further comprising

evaluation rule setting means having an interface for the user to set the at least one evaluation rule, wherein

the evaluation rule setting means updates the at least one evaluation rule stored in the evaluation rule storing means.

3. The selection set evaluation device as set forth in claim 2, 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.

4. The selection set evaluation device as set fourth in claim 3, wherein:

the evaluation result adequacy setting means includes an interface for receiving from the user an input of agreement or no-agreement for the evaluation result by the user,

the evaluation rule setting means raises the grade value of the evaluation rule applied to the selection set if the evaluation result is agreed, and drops the grade value of the evaluation rule applied to the selection set if the evaluation result is not agreed.

5. The selection set evaluation device as set fourth in claim 4, wherein the evaluation rule setting means deletes the evaluation rule applied to the selection set if a value of the grade value is made less than a lower limit.

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

7. The selection set evaluation device as set forth in claim 1, wherein the condition of the at least one evaluation rule is whether an order of the selection items in the selection set is identical to a specific order or not.

8. The selection set evaluation device as set forth in claim 1, wherein the condition of the at lest one evaluation rule is whether a number of the selection items in the selection set, which satisfies the condition, is identical to a specific value.

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

10. The selection set evaluation device as set forth in claim 1, wherein the condition of the at least one evaluation rule is whether or not a number of combinations of the selection items combined so as to satisfy the condition is identical to a specific value.

12. The selection set evaluation device as set forth in claim 1, wherein the evaluation result is a sum of unit scores each of which is prepared based on a characteristic of each selection item or based on a combination of the selection item included in the selection set.

13. The selection set evaluation device as set fourth in claim 1, wherein the selection set evaluation means outputs a basis for the evaluation result on a display.

14. The selection set evaluation device as set fourth in claim 1, further comprising selection set ranking means for displaying a ranking of plural selection sets made by plural users based on the evaluation results.

16. The selection set evaluation device as set forth in claim 1 or 15, 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.

17. The selection set evaluation device as set fourth in claim 16,

wherein the evaluation result in a sum of products of unit scores and the respective selection condition parameters,

each of the unit scores being prepared based on a characteristic of each selection item or based on a combination of the selection items included in the selection set.

11. A selection set evaluation device, comprising:

evaluation rule storing means for storing at least one user-defined evaluation rule to evaluate a selection set constituted of one selection item or a plurality of selection items selected by a user, each of the evaluation rules comprising a condition and an associated grade value, the grade value representing how much the user-selected selection set enables achievement of a purpose of selection and the condition expresses the purpose of selection; and

selection set evaluating means for evaluating the selection set, in accordance with the at least one evaluation rule stored in the evaluation rule storing means, so as to output an evaluation result which is a tally of grade values indicative of how much the selection set satisfies the at least one evaluation rule, when the selection set is inputted, wherein said selection set is sold as a combination.

15. 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 at least one user-defined evaluation rule to evaluate the selection set that has been made by the user, the at least one evaluation rule being a condition-value rule for quantifying the amount that the user-selected selection set enables achievement of a purpose of selection; and

selection set evaluating means for evaluating the selection set, in accordance with the at least one evaluation rule stored in the evaluation rule storing means, so as to output an evaluation result, which is a tally indicative of how much the selection set satisfies the at least one evaluation rule.

18. The selection set evaluation device as set forth in claim 15, wherein the evaluation result is a sum of unit scores each of which is prepared based on a characteristic of each selection item or based on a combination of the selection items included in the selection set.

19. The selection set evaluation device as set fourth in claim 15, wherein the selection set evaluation means outputs a basis for the evaluation result on a display.

20. The selection set evaluation device as set fourth in claim 15, further comprising selection set ranking means for displaying a ranking of plural selection sets made by plural users based on the evaluation results.

21. 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 at least one user-defined 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 at least one evaluation rule to evaluate the selection set, the at least one evaluation rule being a condition-value rule for quantifying the amount that the user-selected selection set enables achievement of a purpose of selection; and

selection set evaluating means for evaluating the selection set, in accordance with the at least one evaluation rule stored in the evaluation rule storing means, so as to output an evaluation result, which is a tally indicative of how much the selection set satisfies the at least one evaluation rule.

22. The selection set evaluation device as set forth in claim 21, wherein the evaluation result is a sum of unit scores each of which is prepared based on a characteristic of each selection item or based on a combination of the selection items included in the selection set.

23. The selection set evaluation device as set fourth in claim 21, wherein the selection set evaluation means outputs a basis for the evaluation result on a display.

24. The selection set evaluation device as set fourth in claim 21, further comprising selection set ranking means for displaying a ranking of plural selection sets made by plural users based on the evaluation results.

25. 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;

evaluating the selection set, in accordance with at least one user-defined evaluation rule to evaluate the selection set, the at least one evaluation rule being a condition-value rule for quantifying the amount that the user-selected section enables achievement of a purpose of selection; and

outputting an evaluation result which is a tally indicative of how much the selection set satisfies the at least one evaluation rule, when the selection set is inputted.

26. The selection set evaluation method as set forth in claim 25, wherein the evaluation result is a sum of unit scores each of which is prepared based on a characteristic of each selection item or based on a combination of the selection items included in the selection set.

27. The selection set evaluation method as set fourth in claim 25, wherein outputting an evaluation result outputs a basis for the evaluation result on a display.

28. The selection set evaluation method as set fourth in claim 25, further comprising displaying a ranking of plural selection sets made by plural users based on the evaluation results.

29. 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;

evaluating a selection set constituted of the selection item in accordance with at least one user defined evaluation rule to evaluate the selection set, the at least one evaluation rule being a condition-value rule for quantifying the amount that the user-selected selection set enables achievement of a purpose of selection; and

outputting an evaluation result which is a tally indicative of how much the selection set satisfies the at least one evaluation rule.

30. The selection set evaluation method as set forth in claim 29, wherein the evaluation result is a sum of unit scores each of which is prepared based on a characteristic of each selection item or based on a combination of the selection items included in the selection set.

31. The selection set evaluation method as set fourth in claim 29, wherein outputting an evaluation result outputs a basis for the evaluation result on a display.

32. The selection set evaluation method as set fourth in claim 29, further comprising displaying a ranking of plural selection sets made by plural users based on the evaluation results.

33. 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 at least one user-defined evaluation rule to evaluate the selection set made by a user making the selection set, the at least one evaluation rule being a condition-value rule for quantifying the amount that the user-selected selection set enables achievement of a purpose of selection;

selection set evaluating means for evaluating the selection set, in accordance with the at least one evaluation rule stored in the evaluation rule storing means, so as to output an evaluating result which is a tally indicative of how much the selection set satisfies the at least one evaluating rule, 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.

34. The selection set evaluation device as set forth in claim 33, 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.

35. The selection set evaluation device as set forth in claim 33 or 34, further comprising evaluation rule setting means having an interface for user invoked for adding or deleting or rectifying the at least one evaluation rule, wherein the evaluation rule setting means updates the at least one evaluation rule stored in the evaluation rule storing means.

36. The selection set evaluation device as set forth in claim 35, further comprising

evaluation rule extracting means for extracting the at least one 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.

37. The selection set evaluation device as set forth in claim 36, 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.

38. The selection set evaluation device as set forth in claim 33, wherein the condition of the at least one evaluation rule is whether an order of the selection items in the selection set is identical to a specific order or not.

39. The selection set evaluation device as set forth in claim 33, wherein the condition of the at least one evaluation rule is whether a number of the selection items in the selection set, which satisfies the condition, is identical to a specific value.

40. The selection set evaluation device as set forth in claim 33, wherein the condition of the at least one evaluation rule is whether or not a ratio of (a) some of the selection items that satisfy the condition and (b) others of the selection items that satisfy the condition is identical to a specific value.

41. The selection set evaluation device as set forth in claim 33, wherein the condition of the at least one evaluation rule is whether or not a number of combinations of the selection items combined so as to satisfy the condition is identical to a specific value.

42. The selection set evaluation device as set forth in claim 33, wherein the evaluation result is a sum of unit scores each of which is prepared based on a characteristic of each selection item or based on a combination of the selection items included in the selection set.

43. The selection set evaluation device as set fourth in claim 33, wherein the selection set evaluation means outputs a basis for the evaluation result on a display.

44. The selection set evaluation device as set fourth in claim 33, further comprising selection set ranking means for displaying a ranking of plural selection sets made by plural users based on the evaluation results.

45. A selection set evaluating system, comprising:

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 at least one user-defined evaluation rule that has been set in advance, the at least one evaluation rule being a condition-value rule for quantifying the amount that the user-selected selection set enables achievement of a purpose of selection, the evaluation device including

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 at least one evaluation rule to evaluate the selection set, and

selection set evaluating means for evaluating the selection set, in accordance with the at least one evaluation rule stored in the evaluation rule storing means, so as to output an evaluation result which is a tally indicative of how the selection set satisfies the evaluation rule; and

a selection set making device, connected to the selection set evaluation device, which makes a selection set constituted of one selection item or a plurality of selection items, the selection set making device including

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.

46. A product selling device, which enables a plurality of products to be sold as a combination, comprising 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 at least one user-defined evaluation rule to evaluate the selection set made by a user making the selection set, the at least one evaluation rule being a condition-value rule for quantifying the amount that the user-selected selection set enables achievement of a purpose of selection;

selection set evaluating means for evaluating the selection set, in accordance with the at least one evaluation rule stored in the evaluation rule storing means, so as to output an evaluating result which is a tally indicative of how much the selection set satisfies the at least one evaluation rule, 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.

47. A communication supporting device, which enables messages and the like to be exchanged between a plurality of users, comprising a selection set evaluation device, by which a selection set constituted of one selection item of a plurality of selection items selected by a user is evaluated, comprising:

evaluation rule storing means for storing at least one user-defined evaluation rule to evaluate the selection set made by a user making the selection set, the at least one evaluation rule being a condition-value rule for quantifying the amount that the user-selected selection set enables achievement of a purpose of selection;

selection set evaluating means for evaluating the selection set, in accordance with the at least one evaluation rule stored in the evaluation rule storing means, so as to output an evaluating result which is a tally indicative of how much the selection set satisfies the at least one evaluation rule, when the selection set is inputted;

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

evaluating 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.

48. A computer-readable storage medium, storing a program carrying out a selection set evaluating method by a computing device, 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;

evaluating a selection set constituted of the selection item in accordance with at least one user defined evaluation rule to evaluate the selection set, the at least one evaluation rule being a condition-value rule for quantifying the amount that the user-selected selection set enables achievement of a purpose of selection; and

outputting an evaluation result which is a tally indicative of how much the selection set satisfies the at least one evaluation rule.