JP4269684B2 - Information management system - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a self-inspection apparatus, a control method for the self-inspection apparatus, a program for the self-inspection apparatus, and an information management system, and more specifically, a part of a product manufactured by combining specified parts among a plurality of parts. The present invention also relates to a self-inspection device for self-inspecting parts constituting the product, a control method for the self-inspection device for controlling the self-inspection device, a program for the self-inspection device for causing a computer to function as a self-inspection device, and an information management system.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, when a customer purchases a product (for example, a personal computer) on the Internet or the like, a so-called BTO (Built to Order) online sales form has been proposed in which a desired part is specified from a plurality of parts and ordered. (See Patent Document 1). When a desired part is designated by a customer and a product is ordered, parts designated by the customer are picked up at an assembly factory and assembled to complete the product. Then, the inspection is performed to determine whether or not the parts composing the product and the parts specified by the customer coincide with each other before shipment.
[0003]
[Patent Document 1]
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 14-189891
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in the past, since the inspection of whether or not the parts constituting the assembled product match the parts specified by the customer was performed at the assembly factory using a document such as an inspection process sheet, There is a problem that it is difficult to carry out such an inspection after the product is shipped, the inspection work becomes complicated, and inspection errors increase.
[0005]
One object of the self-inspection apparatus and the control method for the self-inspection apparatus of the present invention is to solve these problems and to more easily and accurately self-inspect the parts constituting the product. Another object of the program for a self-inspection apparatus of the present invention is to make a computer function as the above-described self-inspection apparatus. Another object of the information management system of the present invention is to provide information necessary for inspection by the self-inspection apparatus.
[0006]
[Means for solving the problems and their functions and effects]
The self-inspection apparatus, the control method for the self-inspection apparatus, the program for the self-inspection apparatus, and the information management system of the present invention employ the following means in order to achieve at least a part of the above-described object.
[0007]
The self-inspection device of the present invention
A self-inspection device that forms part of a product that is manufactured by combining specified parts among a plurality of parts and that self-inspects the parts constituting the product,
Designation information obtaining means for obtaining designation information relating to the designation of the component;
Part information acquisition means for acquiring part information related to parts constituting the manufactured product with an inquiry to the product;
Inspection means for inspecting parts constituting the manufactured product based on the acquired designation information and the acquired parts information;
The gist of the present invention is to provide output means for outputting the inspection result of the inspection means.
[0008]
In this self-inspection apparatus of the present invention, the specification information related to the specification of the parts is acquired, and the part information related to the parts constituting the manufactured product is acquired with an inquiry to the product, and the acquired specification information and the part information are obtained. The parts that make up the manufactured product are inspected, and the inspection result is output. Therefore, the self-inspection of the parts constituting the manufactured product can be performed relatively easily and accurately. Here, the “component” includes software as well as hardware (the same applies hereinafter).
[0009]
In such a self-inspection apparatus of the present invention, the specified information acquisition means may be means for acquiring the specified information via a network, and the self-inspection apparatus of the present invention constitutes the product. An information storage unit in which information including the designation information is stored in advance as one of the components may be provided, and the designation information acquisition unit may be a unit that reads the designation information stored in the information storage unit. . In this case, the former does not need to store the specified information in the product, so the burden on the product can be reduced. In the latter, the specified information is stored in the product in advance, so that self-inspection is performed without network connection. be able to. In the latter case, the information storage means may be a hard disk device.
[0010]
Further, in the self-inspection apparatus of the present invention, the inspection means is means for inspecting a part constituting the manufactured product by comparing the acquired designation information and the acquired part information. You can also
[0011]
Furthermore, in the self-inspection apparatus of the present invention, the output means may be means for displaying and outputting the inspection result. In this way, the user can immediately know the result of the self-test.
[0012]
In the self-inspection apparatus of the present invention, the output means may be means for outputting the inspection result to an information management system that manages information about the product via a network. In this way, the product can be efficiently managed in the information management system.
[0013]
The first information management system of the present invention includes:
An information management system connected via a network to the self-inspection device of the present invention in a mode for acquiring the above-described designated information via a network,
Designation information storage means for storing the designation information in association with identification information for identifying the product;
Identification information receiving means for receiving identification information for identifying the product from the self-inspection apparatus via the network;
When the identification information is received by the identification information receiving means, the designation information corresponding to the received identification information is searched for among the designation information stored in the designation information storage means, and the obtained identification information The gist of the present invention is to include a designation information transmission unit that transmits to a corresponding self-inspection apparatus via the network.
[0014]
In the first information management system of the present invention, the specified information is stored in association with the identification information for identifying the product, the identification information for identifying the product is received from the self-inspection apparatus via the network, and the identification information is received. The designated information corresponding to the received identification information is retrieved from the stored designation information and transmitted to the self-inspection apparatus corresponding to the identification information via the network. Therefore, the designation information corresponding to each product can be efficiently transmitted via the network.
[0015]
The control method of the self-inspection apparatus of the present invention is:
A control method of a self-inspection device that controls a self-inspection device that forms a part of a product manufactured by combining specified parts among a plurality of parts and that self-inspects the parts constituting the product,
In the self-inspection apparatus, designation information related to the designation of the part is obtained, and part information relating to a part constituting the manufactured product is obtained with an inquiry to the product, and the obtained designation information and the acquisition are obtained. The gist is to perform control so that parts constituting the product are inspected based on the obtained part information and the result of the inspection is output.
[0016]
In the control method of the self-inspection apparatus of the present invention, the self-inspection apparatus is acquired with the designation information regarding the designation of the parts and the part information regarding the parts constituting the manufactured product with an inquiry to the product, Control is performed so that the parts constituting the product are inspected based on the acquired designation information and part information, and the result of the inspection is output. Therefore, the self-inspection of the parts constituting the manufactured product can be performed relatively easily and accurately.
[0017]
The program for the self-inspection apparatus of the present invention is:
A program for a self-inspection device for causing a computer to function as a self-inspection device that forms a part of a product manufactured by combining specified parts among a plurality of parts and that self-inspects the parts constituting the product. There,
On the computer,
(A) a procedure for acquiring designation information relating to the designation of the component;
(B) a procedure for acquiring part information related to parts constituting the manufactured product with an inquiry to the product;
(C) The gist is to execute a procedure for inspecting a part constituting the manufactured product based on the acquired designation information and the acquired part information.
[0018]
In the program for the self-inspection apparatus of the present invention, since the computer functions as the self-inspection apparatus of the present invention described above, the same effect as the self-inspection apparatus of the present invention, that is, the self-inspection of the parts constituting the manufactured product Can be achieved relatively easily and accurately.
[0019]
In the program for the self-inspection apparatus of the present invention, it is possible to further execute (d) a procedure for outputting the inspection result according to the procedure (c).
[0020]
Moreover, in the program for the self-inspection apparatus of the present invention, the program is a program distributed to the self-inspection apparatus via the network in response to a request from the self-inspection apparatus connected to the network. You can also In this way, it is not necessary to store a program for the self-inspection device on the self-inspection device side, and it is possible to quickly cope with a program upgrade. In the program of the present invention of this aspect, the program may be a program that is automatically executed when distributed to the self-inspection apparatus. In this way, the self-inspection of the parts constituting the product can be performed more easily.
[0021]
The second information management system of the present invention is:
Self-inspecting parts constituting the product by forming a part of a product manufactured by combining specified parts among a plurality of parts and executing the program for the self-inspection apparatus of the present invention of each aspect described above An information management system connected to a self-inspection device via a network,
The gist of the present invention is to include a program distribution means for distributing the program to the self-inspection apparatus via the network in response to a request from the self-inspection apparatus.
[0022]
In the second information management system of the present invention, since the program for the self-inspection device is distributed based on the request from the self-inspection device connected to the network, the self-inspection device side stores the program for the self-inspection device. In addition, it is possible to respond quickly to the version upgrade of the program.
[0023]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described using examples. FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing an outline of a configuration of an inspection system 10 having a computer 22 that functions as a self-inspection apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. The inspection system 10 includes an information management system 30 configured by connecting a Web server 32 that provides a predetermined website and an information management server 34 having a database 34a that stores predetermined information via a LAN 36, and the information management system. 30 and a computer 22 of a client 20 connected via the Internet 12.
[0024]
When the client 20 of the computer 22 connected to the Internet 12 purchases a computer product online, the Web server 32 constituting the information management system 30 is a CPU type, a memory capacity, a hard disk device capacity, an OS type, an application. It provides a BTO (Build To Order) sales system website that allows users to specify and order software components and other types of components. When receiving the order information from the client 20, the information management system 30 assigns a unique serial number to each order information and outputs it to the information management server 34 through the LAN 36. Here, the order information includes product data such as the model name of the purchased product and designation information related to the specification of the part type by the client 20, personal data such as the name, address, telephone number, and e-mail address of the client 20, and the charge. Includes data on the payment method.
[0025]
In addition, the information management system 30 is a program for inspection for causing the computer 22 sold by the BTO sales system to function as a self-inspection apparatus of the embodiment and other information necessary for inspection (designated information included in order information). Provides a website for delivering to the computer 22.
[0026]
The information management server 34 constituting the information management system 30 is configured as a server that manages various types of information stored in the database 34a. The database 34a stores the order information output from the Web server 32, the inspection program executed by the computer 22, and other information necessary for the inspection.
[0027]
The computer 22 of the client 20 is configured as a well-known personal computer including a CPU 23, a memory 24, a hard disk 25, a display 26, a keyboard 27, and the like. The computer 22 downloads an inspection program from the Web server 32 and downloads designation information included in the order information from the Web server 32 based on the serial number provided to the client 20 at the time of product shipment. Perform self-inspection of components.
[0028]
Next, operations of the computer 22 and the information management system 30 that function as the self-inspection apparatus of the embodiment configured as described above will be described. First, the operation when the client 20 purchases a computer product on the website provided by the web server 32 of the information management system 30 using the computer 22 connected to the Internet 12 will be described. When the client 20 accesses a computer product purchase website provided by the Web server 32, the Web server 32 transmits an input screen for causing the client 20 to input items necessary for purchasing the computer product to the computer 22. To do. An example of this input screen is shown in FIG. As shown in the figure, on the screen, a list of “main body essential specifications” for specifying, using a pull-down menu, required items such as “OS”, “CPU”, and “memory” that are indispensable. A list of “options & services” is provided for specifying any item such as “display” or “application” by using a pull-down menu. When a part is specified by a pull-down menu in each list, the price of the specified part is reflected in the "subtotal" list, the "consumption tax" list, and the "total" list. In addition, although “1” is set as a default value in the “quantity” list, when two or more units are desired to be purchased, the number is input. When the “Next” button is clicked after each item is entered, the screen proceeds to an input screen (not shown) for designating a payment method. When the payment method of the price is designated, the process further proceeds to an input screen (not shown) for inputting personal data such as the name and address of the client 20. When the input of each information is completed and the order button is clicked, the order information input by the client 20 via the Internet 12 is transmitted from the computer 22 to the Web server 32. When receiving the order information, the Web server 32 assigns a serial number to the order information and outputs it to the information management server 34 via the LAN 36. When the order information is input, the information management server 34 registers the order information in the database 34a in association with the assigned serial number. An example of order information registered in the database 34a is shown in FIG. The information management server 34 instructs the assembly factory to assemble the computer based on the order information, and picks up the parts in accordance with the instruction at the assembly factory, and completes the computer product as a product. To do.
[0029]
Next, a process of downloading an inspection program for causing the computer 22 of the client 20 to function as the self-inspection apparatus of the embodiment to the computer 22 will be described. FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating an example of an inspection program distribution process executed by the Web server 32. This process is executed when the client 20 accesses the program download website provided by the web server 32 using the computer 22. In the inspection program distribution process, the Web server 32 transmits an ID input screen to the computer 22 of the client 20 (step S100). An example of this ID input screen is shown in FIG. In FIG. 5, an ID and password are input in the input fields of the ID input screen displayed on the computer 22, and the information is transmitted to the Web server 32 when the “download” button is pressed. The Web server 32 authenticates the client 20 based on the received ID and password (step S102). When the client 20 is authenticated, the Web server 32 acquires an inspection program from the database 34a of the information management server 34, and obtains it. This is distributed to the computer 22 (step S104), and the process ends. Thereby, the download of the inspection program is started. When the inspection program is downloaded to the computer 22 of the client 20, the computer 22 automatically executes this program and starts self-inspection. If the client 20 is not authenticated in step S102, error information is transmitted to the computer 22 without performing download processing, and the process ends.
[0030]
Subsequently, a self-inspection process executed according to a program distributed to the computer 22 will be described. FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a self-inspection process executed by the computer 22 of the client 20 and the information management system 30. The processing on the left side of the broken line in the figure is executed by the computer 22, and the processing on the right side is executed by the information management system 30. This routine starts when the computer 22 of the client 20 accesses a self-inspection website provided by the Web server 32 and a request to start inspection is transmitted to the information management system 30 (step S200).
[0031]
Upon receiving the inspection start request, the information management system 30 transmits a serial number input screen for inputting the serial number to the computer 22 in order to transmit the designation information corresponding to the serial number assigned to the computer 22 to the computer 22. (Step S202). When receiving the serial number input screen, the computer 22 of the client 20 displays the serial number input screen on the display 26 (step S204). An example of the serial number input screen is shown in FIG. In the embodiment, the serial number is input by inputting the serial number provided to the client 20 using the keyboard 27 or the like. Of course, other input methods such as inputting a serial number provided to the client 20 with a barcode using a barcode reader may be adopted. When the serial number is input by the client 20 and the “download” button is clicked, the input serial number is transmitted to the information management system 30 (step S206).
[0032]
When receiving the serial number, the information management system 30 searches the database 34a for designation information corresponding to the serial number (step S208), and transmits the retrieved designation information to the computer 22 (step S210).
[0033]
When the computer 22 of the client 20 receives the designation information, it checks component information (information on the type of CPU mounted on the computer 22 and the memory capacity, etc.) regarding its own hardware configuration and software configuration (step S212). The checked component information is compared with the specified information (information regarding the CPU type and memory capacity specified by the client 20 when ordering the computer 22) (step S214), and the comparison result is displayed on the display of the computer 22 At the same time, it is transmitted to the information management system 30 (step S216). Here, the comparison between the component information and the designation information is performed based on whether or not the component information and the designation information match for each component constituting the computer 22, and when both match, “OK” is displayed. If they do not match, “NG” is output. An example of the comparison result displayed on the display 26 of the computer 22 is shown in FIG.
[0034]
Upon receiving the comparison result, the information management system 30 associates the comparison result with the serial number and registers it in the information management server 34a (step S218), and ends this routine. An example of the comparison result registered in the database 34a is shown in FIG.
[0035]
According to the self-inspection apparatus of the embodiment described above, the computer 22 of the client 20 functions as a self-inspection apparatus, and the part information regarding the parts constituting the computer 22 and the designation of the parts when the client 20 purchases the computer 22. Since the self-inspection is performed by comparison with the designated information, the parts constituting the computer 22 can be inspected easily and accurately. In addition, since the inspection program and the designation information are distributed by the information management system 30, it is possible to reduce the burden on the computer 22 and appropriately manage the program and the designation information.
[0036]
Further, according to the self-inspection apparatus of the embodiment, since the result of the self-inspection on the computer 22 is displayed on the display 26, the client 20 can obtain the inspection result immediately. Furthermore, since the inspection result is output to the information management system 30 and registered together with the serial number in the database 34a of the information management server 34, the client 20 can easily obtain the inspection result thereafter by accessing the database 34a. be able to.
[0037]
Here, in the self-inspection apparatus of the embodiment, the CPU 23, the keyboard 27, and the like correspond to designation information acquisition means, component information acquisition means, and inspection means, and the CPU 23, the display 26, and the like correspond to output means.
[0038]
In the self-inspection apparatus according to the embodiment, the inspection program is acquired from the database 34a of the information management server 34 via the Internet 12. However, the inspection program can be read by a computer 22 (for example, FDD). , A CD-ROM, a DVD-ROM, etc.), the inspection program may be acquired from this storage medium. In the self-inspection apparatus of the embodiment, the designation information is acquired from the database 34a of the information management server 34 via the Internet 12. However, the designation information is written in an external storage device such as the hard disk 25 of the computer 22. Thus, it may be obtained by reading the designation information from the external storage device. Of course, the designation information may be acquired from this storage medium by storing the designation information in a storage medium (for example, FDD, CD-ROM, DVD-ROM, barcode) that can be read by the computer 22. Absent. As described above, if the inspection program and the designation information are stored in an external storage device of the computer 22 or a storage medium readable by the computer 22, the computer 22 is used as a stand-alone self-inspection device of the embodiment. Can function as.
[0039]
The self-inspection apparatus of the embodiment is applied to a computer product. However, various products such as home appliances, automobiles, bicycles, motorcycles, etc., can be used as long as the products are configured by parts designated by the client from a plurality of parts. It may be applied to other products.
[0040]
In the embodiment, the self-inspection apparatus has been described as a self-inspection device that performs self-inspection by comparing the information on the components checked by the computer 22 with the information on the parts designated when the client 20 purchases the computer 22. It may be in the form of a method for controlling the inspection apparatus, or in the form of a program that causes a computer to function as the self-inspection apparatus of the embodiment. In the case of a program form, each step of the inspection process illustrated in FIG. 6 may be programmed using an appropriate program language and installed in a computer.
[0041]
The embodiments of the present invention have been described using the embodiments. However, the present invention is not limited to these embodiments, and can be implemented in various forms without departing from the gist of the present invention. Of course you get.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing an outline of the configuration of an inspection system 10;
FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of an input screen used for ordering computer products.
FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of order information registered in a database 34a.
FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of an inspection program distribution process.
FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of an ID input screen.
FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of inspection processing.
FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of a serial number input screen.
FIG. 8 is a view showing an example of a test result displayed on the display 26;
FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example of inspection results registered in the database 34a.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Inspection system, 12 Internet, 20 Client, 22 Computer, 23 CPU, 24 Memory, 25 Hard disk, 26 Display, 27 Keyboard, 30 Information management system, 32 Web server, 34 Information management server, 34a Database, 36 LAN.

Claims (2)

  Designation information relating to the designation of the part, which is part of a product manufactured by combining the designated parts among a plurality of parts and is connected via a network to a self-inspection device that self-inspects the parts constituting the product. A Web server for providing a product purchase Web site that receives order information including a serial number for each received order information, and an order from the Web server that is communicably connected to the Web server via a LAN. An information management system comprising: an information management server that receives information and registers it in the database in association with the assigned serial number,
  When the Web server receives a self-inspection request from the self-inspection device, the Web server receives a serial number provided at the time of product shipment from the self-inspection device, and specifies information corresponding to the received serial number in the information management server Search from the database and send to the self-inspection device,
  The self-inspection apparatus receives the transmitted designation information via the network, acquires part information regarding parts constituting the manufactured product with an inquiry to the product, and acquires the acquired part information and A device that inspects the part by comparing with the received designation information, displays an inspection result, and transmits the result to the Web server;
  When the Web server receives an inspection result from the self-inspection device, the received inspection result is associated with the serial number and registered in the database of the information management server.
  Information management system.   A program for causing a computer connected via the network to function as the self-inspection apparatus is registered in the database of the information management server, and the program is downloaded when the Web server receives a download request from the computer. The information management system according to claim 1, wherein the information management system is obtained from a database of the information management server and distributed to the computer.

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