WO2017090093A1

WO2017090093A1 - Information processing device, information processing method, and information processing program

Info

Publication number: WO2017090093A1
Application number: PCT/JP2015/082949
Authority: WO
Inventors: 高橋　勲
Original assignee: 楽天株式会社
Priority date: 2015-11-24
Filing date: 2015-11-24
Publication date: 2017-06-01

Abstract

According to the present invention, a system control unit 4 specifies, as detection target merchandise, merchandise that has become a detection target as a result of an operation by a user U1 and, on the basis of information on the specified detection target merchandise, specifies, as notification target merchandise, merchandise that was registered as a reference target for a user U2 before the point in time at which the detection target merchandise was specified. Then the system control unit 4 acquires at least reference information for the specified notification target merchandise and, when it has been determined that the notification target merchandise meets prescribed notification conditions, sends user U2, who is designated by a user ID that has been associated with the reference information, notification information that indicates that another user may be interested in the notification target merchandise that satisfies the notification conditions.

Description

Information processing apparatus, information processing method, and information processing program

The present invention relates to a technical field such as a system for supporting the purchase of a product by a user.

Conventionally, a technology for supporting the purchase of a product by a user is known. For example, Patent Literature 1 discloses a technology that enables a prospective purchaser to easily find out which popular products are available by displaying the average number of browsing for the products in a graph for each product. It is disclosed. Further, in Patent Document 2, a list of products that can be reserved by the product reservation applicant is displayed on the customer terminal based on the customer rank of the product reservation applicant and the sales status of the product. Discloses a technique for keeping a product.

JP2003-115006 JP 2010-003139 A

However, in a technique such as Patent Document 1, after a user finds a product that satisfies a desired condition, a discovered product is sold to another user during a period in which the user is further searching for a better product. There is an inconvenience. On the other hand, if the product is allowed to be reserved for the user as in the technique of Patent Document 2, the sales opportunity of the seller may be lost.

Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the above points, and can promptly notify a user who is considering purchasing a product whether the product is interested in other users. It is an object to provide an information processing apparatus, an information processing method, and an information processing program.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, the invention according to claim 1 is characterized in that a product specifying means for specifying a product to be detected by an operation of the first user and a product registered as a reference target for the second user From the storage means for storing the reference information, the registration time of the product, and the user identification information of the second user in association with each second user, to the product information specified by the product specifying means A reference information acquisition unit that acquires reference information of the product registered before a specific time point of the product based on the product, and the product indicated in the reference information acquired by the reference information acquisition unit satisfies a predetermined notification condition If it is a product, there is a possibility that the product satisfying the notification condition may be interested in other users for the second user indicated by the user identification information associated with the reference information. A notification unit that notifies the notification information indicating, characterized in that it comprises a.

According to this invention, it is possible to promptly notify a user who is considering purchasing a product whether or not the product is interested in other users.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the information processing apparatus according to the first aspect, a continuity condition for continuity of interest of the second user with respect to the product indicated in the reference information is one of the notification conditions. And the notifying means satisfies at least the continuity condition at the specific time when the continuity of interest of the second user with respect to the product indicated by the reference information acquired by the reference information acquiring means. In this case, the notification information is notified to the second user, assuming that the product indicated in the reference information is a product that satisfies the notification condition.

According to this invention, it is possible to make a notification target a product that the user who is considering purchasing the product continues to be interested in.

A third aspect of the present invention is the information processing apparatus according to the second aspect, wherein the continuity condition includes a session between one or a plurality of terminals used by the second user and the information processing apparatus. Alternatively, a condition indicating login continuity is included.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the information processing apparatus according to the second or third aspect of the present invention, a search term used when registering the commodity indicated in the reference information is stored in the storage means. The continuity condition is stored in association with information, and the continuity condition uses the related search word related to the search word associated with the reference information, and then registers the product indicated in the reference information. A condition indicating that a search for another product has been performed by the operation of the user 2 is included.

A fifth aspect of the present invention is the information processing apparatus according to the fourth aspect, wherein the reference information is associated with the different pieces of user identification information, and each of the plurality of reference information of the same product. The system further comprises related search word determining means for determining the search word associated with the same search word as the related search word for the same product.

According to the present invention, it is possible to further increase the determination accuracy of whether or not a product that the user who is considering purchasing a product is interested in is more suitable as a notification target.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the information processing apparatus according to any one of the first to fifth aspects, an inventory condition for a stock quantity of a commodity indicated in the reference information is set as one of the notification conditions. And the notification means, when the stock quantity of the product indicated by the reference information acquired by the reference information acquisition means satisfies at least the inventory condition at the specific time, the product indicated by the reference information is the The notification information is notified to the second user that the product satisfies the notification condition.

According to the present invention, a product that is not in stock and that is expected to run out of stock if not purchased early can be targeted for notification.

The invention according to claim 7 is the information processing device according to claim 6, wherein the comparison between the inventory amount of the product indicated by the reference information acquired by the reference information acquisition unit and the demand amount of the product is performed. And the notification means notifies the second user of the notification information only when it is determined from the comparison result by the comparison means that the inventory quantity of the product satisfies the inventory condition. It is characterized by doing.

The invention according to claim 8 is the information processing device according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein an advantage condition for the superiority of the product is set as one of the notification conditions, The reference information acquisition unit acquires the reference information of each of the same product as the product specified by the product specifying unit and the product related to the product, and the notification unit is acquired by the reference information acquisition unit. Among the products indicated in each of the plurality of reference information, if the same product as the product specified by the product specifying means is a product that best matches at least the superiority condition, the product satisfies the notification condition The notification information is notified to the second user as being a product.

According to the present invention, a product that has an advantage among a plurality of products and is expected to be sold if not purchased quickly can be a notification target.

The invention according to claim 9 is the information processing device according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein a superiority condition for the superiority of the product is set as one of the notification conditions, The product specifying unit specifies a product that is a detection target by the operation of the first user and a product related to the product, and the notification unit is the product specified by the product specifying unit. If the product to be detected is the product that best matches at least the superiority condition, the product indicated in the reference information acquired based on the information of the best match product is a product that satisfies the notification condition The notification information is notified to the second user.

The invention according to claim 10 is the information processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the first user operation type includes a search operation, a browsing operation, and a registration operation. The notification means notifies the notification information having different notification contents according to the type of the operation that has led to the detection of the product specified by the product specifying means.

According to the present invention, it is possible to make the user grasp at a glance the degree of rush for purchasing the product.

The invention according to claim 11 is the information processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the notification means has a notification content stepwise as time elapses from the start of notification of the notification information. The notice information to be emphasized is notified.

According to a twelfth aspect of the present invention, in the information processing apparatus according to the eleventh aspect, based on a purchase history of a product purchased by the operation of the first user, the purchase of the product from the operation of the first user. Notification information that further includes time specifying means for specifying a time until completion, wherein the notification means emphasizes the notification contents in stages from at least the start of notification of the notification information until the time specified by the time specifying means It is characterized by notifying.

According to the present invention, it is possible to make the second user understand at a glance the degree of rush for purchase examination considering the time until the user completes the purchase of the product.

According to a thirteenth aspect of the present invention, in the information processing apparatus according to any one of the first to twelfth aspects, continuity of registration intervals of products indicated in each of the plurality of reference information stored in the storage unit And further comprising a classifying means for classifying the reference information stored in the storage means into groups, wherein the reference information obtaining means is specified by the product specifying means among the groups classified by the classification means. The plurality of reference information included in the group to which the reference information of the same product as the product belongs is acquired, and the notification is included in the products indicated by the plurality of reference information acquired by the reference information acquisition unit. The notification information is notified to a second user indicated by the user identification information associated with the reference information of a product that satisfies a condition.

According to the present invention, it is possible to prevent the products to be compared from being excluded at time intervals, and to reduce the processing load of the information processing apparatus.

According to a fourteenth aspect of the present invention, in the information processing apparatus according to any one of the first to thirteenth aspects, a browsing time specified by a browsing history of products browsed by the browsing operation of the second user or The apparatus further comprises registration means for registering a product whose browsing count satisfies a predetermined browsing condition as a reference target of the second user corresponding to the browsing history.

According to the present invention, it is possible to save the trouble of the registration operation by the user.

The invention according to claim 15 is an information processing method executed by a computer, wherein a product specifying step for specifying a product to be detected by an operation of a first user and a reference target of a second user Identified by the product identification step from storage means for storing reference information of the registered product, registration time of the product, and user identification information of the second user in association with each second user A reference information acquisition step for acquiring reference information of the product registered before a specific time point of the product based on information on the product, and a product indicated in the reference information acquired by the reference information acquisition step is a predetermined information When the product satisfies the notification condition, there are other products that satisfy the notification condition for the second user indicated by the user identification information associated with the reference information. A notification step of notifying the notification information indicating that there is a possibility that interest the user is given, characterized in that it comprises a.

The invention according to claim 16 is a product specifying means for specifying a product that is a detection target by an operation of the first user, reference information for a product registered as a reference target of the second user, From the storage means for storing the registration time of the product and the user identification information of the second user in association with each second user, based on the product information specified by the product specifying means, When reference information acquisition means for acquiring reference information of the product registered before a specific time point, and the product indicated in the reference information acquired by the reference information acquisition means is a product that satisfies a predetermined notification condition, The second user indicated by the user identification information associated with the reference information indicates that a product that satisfies the notification condition may be interested in other users. Characterized in that to function as a notification means for notifying the broadcast information.

It is a figure showing an example of outline composition of information service system S concerning this embodiment. (A) is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration example of the information providing server SA according to the present embodiment. FIG. 4B is a diagram illustrating an example of functional blocks in the system control unit 4. It is a figure which shows an example of the content of the reference information database. It is a conceptual diagram which shows the example by which several reference information was classified into the group based on the continuity of the registration interval of goods. FIG. 11 is a sequence diagram illustrating an example of operations performed in the information providing system S. It is a figure which shows the example of a screen when notification information is displayed on the toolbar plugged in to the web browser. It is a figure which shows the example at the time of displaying notification information on the search result display page in the window of a web browser.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The embodiment described below is an embodiment when the present invention is applied to an information providing system.

[1. Overview of information provision system and functions]
First, with reference to FIG. 1 etc., the structure and outline | summary function of the information provision system S which concern on this embodiment are demonstrated. FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a schematic configuration example of an information providing system S according to the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, the information providing system S includes a plurality of seller terminals STm (m = 1, 2, 3,...), A plurality of user terminals UTn (n = 1, 2, 3,...), And It includes an information providing server SA and the like. Seller terminal STm, user terminal UTn, and information providing server SA are each connected to a network NW. The network NW is constructed by, for example, the Internet, a dedicated communication line (for example, CATV (Community Antenna Television) line), a mobile communication network (including a base station), a gateway, and the like.

Seller terminal STm is a terminal device used by seller SHm (m = 1, 2, 3...) That sells (provides) merchandise. The seller SHm is a provider who sells products through the information providing system S. In the present embodiment, a store (including various facilities) managed by an individual, a corporation, or an organization will be described as an example of the seller SHm. The product in the present embodiment is an item to be traded. Examples of such product categories (product categories) include home appliances (eg, television, audio, personal computer, camera, etc.), food, fashion, interior, books, miscellaneous goods, cars, digital content, tickets, etc. It is not limited. For example, the product corresponds to an accommodation plan or a travel plan sold by an accommodation facility or a travel agency, or a use plan sold by a golf facility or an amusement facility. The user terminal UTn is a terminal device used by a user Un (n = 1, 2, 3...) Who considers purchasing a product (or purchases a product).

The seller terminal STm and the user terminal UTn each include an operation / display unit, a communication unit, a storage unit, a control unit, and the like. The operation / display unit includes, for example, a touch panel having an input function for receiving an operation (user operation) with a human finger or a pen, and a display function for displaying information on a display screen. The types of user operations include a search operation, a browsing operation, a bookmark registration operation, a shopping cart registration operation, and the like. The communication unit has a function of performing communication by connecting to the network NW. The storage unit stores an operating system (OS), application programs, Web browser programs, and the like. The control unit includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a ROM (Read Only Memory), a RAM (Random Access Memory), and the like, and executes an application program, a Web browser program, and the like on the OS. The seller terminal STm and the user terminal UTn include, for example, a personal computer (PC), a mobile phone, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a mobile terminal (Smartphone) that combines a mobile phone and a mobile information terminal. Or a portable game machine etc. are applicable. The seller terminal STm and the user terminal UTn access the information providing server SA via the communication unit and the network NW, respectively, and can communicate with the information providing server SA. Each of the seller terminal STm and the user terminal UTn displays, for example, a web page transmitted from the information providing server SA in response to a request to the information providing server SA, for example, in a web browser window.

The information providing server SA is an example of the information processing apparatus of the present invention, and is a server that provides Web sites such as a shopping site, an auction site, a travel reservation site, an accommodation reservation site, and a facility use reservation site. FIG. 2A is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration example of the information providing server SA according to the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 2A, the information providing server SA includes a communication unit 1, a storage unit 2 (an example of a storage unit), an input / output interface unit 3, a system control unit 4, and the like. The system control unit 4 and the input / output interface unit 3 are connected via a system bus 5. The communication unit 1 has a function of performing communication by connecting to the network NW. The storage unit 2 includes, for example, a hard disk drive and stores an operating system (OS), a server program (including the information processing program of the present invention), and the like. The server program is downloaded from a predetermined server to the information providing server SA. Alternatively, the server program may be recorded on a recording medium such as a CD or a DVD (recorded so as to be readable by a computer), read from the recording medium, and stored in the storage unit 2. Further, the storage unit 2 stores, for example, electronic data constituting a web page or the like. Furthermore, a seller information database (DB) 21, a user information database (DB) 22, a product information database (DB) 23, a reference information database (DB) 24, and the like are constructed in the storage unit 2.

The seller information database 21 is a database for storing information on the seller SHm who has become a member of the information providing system S. In the seller information database 21, for example, the seller ID, password, seller name, and seller product information of the seller SHm are stored in association with each seller SHm. The seller ID is unique identification information for each seller SHm. The seller ID and password are authentication information necessary for the seller SHm to log in to the system. The seller product information includes, for example, a product ID of a product that can be sold by the seller SHm, a common product code of the product, a name of the product, attribute information of the product (for example, sales price, specification, etc.), Stock quantity (for example, number) is included. The merchandise ID is, for example, identification information unique to a merchandise having the same specification (same model) by each seller SHm, and is a code that does not overlap in the system S. Moreover, even if it is a goods of the same specification, if seller SHm to sell differs, goods ID will differ. For example, even if the product is a compact camera (model: C-123) of the same specification produced by a certain manufacturer, the product ID will be different if the seller SHm to be sold is different, and the selling price of the product will also vary depending on the seller SHm. There are various settings.

The common product code is a code unique to each product (for example, a product type, or a unique product number according to the model), and is a code common to a plurality of sellers SHm (a code that can be used across sellers). It is. For example, in the case where a store sells products (for example, home appliances) produced by a certain manufacturer (that is, the case where the producer and seller of the product are not the same entity), the product specifications and manufacturer price (list price) The same common product code is assigned to the same product. In addition, in a case where the store sells a product (for example, an accommodation plan) generated by a store such as an accommodation facility (that is, a case where the product creator and the seller are the same entity), the product May not be given a common product code. The product attribute information is divided into a plurality of types of attribute items, and includes attribute values of the respective attribute items. The type of attribute item may differ depending on the product category. For example, in the attribute information of the camera, an attribute value is set for each attribute item such as a selling price, the number of pixels, a zoom magnification, a dimension, and a mass. The number of pixels, zoom magnification, dimensions, and mass are product specifications. In the accommodation plan attribute information, an attribute value is set for each attribute item such as sales price, meal, bath, and number of users. Note that the seller product information is stored in response to a storage request from the seller terminal STm that has accessed the information providing server SA, for example. The inventory amount of the product included in the seller product information is updated, for example, every time a product transaction is completed (that is, the sale of the product is completed) or at predetermined time intervals. Note that, when one seller SHm sells a plurality of types of products with different product attribute information, the seller information database 21 stores seller product information of a plurality of types of products.

Next, the user information database 22 is a database for storing information on the user Un who has become a member of the information providing system S. The user information database 22 includes, for example, the user ID, password, gender, age, e-mail address, bookmark list, shopping cart list, search history, browsing history, purchase history, etc. of the user Un who became a member for each user Un. Are stored in association with each other. The search history, the browsing history, and the purchase history are examples of the operation history (action history) of the user Un for the product. The operation history of the user Un may be stored in a history information database provided separately from the user information database 22 in association with the user ID for each user Un. The user ID is identification information unique to each user Un. The user ID and password are authentication information necessary for the user Un to log in to the system.

The bookmark list is a list for registering products designated by the bookmark registration operation of the user Un (sometimes referred to as a favorite list). The product specified by the user Un bookmark registration operation can be said to be a product to be referred to later as a product that the user Un is interested in. That is, a product registered in the bookmark list (hereinafter referred to as “bookmark registration”) is a product registered as a reference target. In the bookmark list, for example, the bookmark registration time, the product ID of the product specified by the bookmark registration operation, the common product code of the product, the seller ID and seller name of the seller SHm who sells the product, the product category to which the product belongs , The name of the product, and information such as attribute information of the product are included in association with each other. Here, the bookmark registration time is, for example, the time when a bookmark registration request (including the product ID of the product) specified by the bookmark registration operation is received by the information providing server SA, or the bookmark registration request is made. It is the time when the product is registered in the bookmark list. The bookmark registration time may be expressed as day + time, may be expressed as month / day + time, or may be expressed as year / month / day + time (shopping cart registration time, search time, which will be described later, The same applies to browsing time and purchase time). For the bookmark registration operation, for example, a bookmark registration button provided on a screen for displaying product information (for example, a web page or an application screen) is designated (for example, clicked with a mouse, tapped with a finger). Applicable. Note that bookmark registration means that product information is stored in a memory area for storing a bookmark list. The bookmark registration can be canceled by the user Un bookmark registration canceling operation. The bookmark registration cancellation operation corresponds to, for example, designating a product deletion button provided on a screen for displaying information on products registered for bookmarks. For example, when a bookmark registration cancellation request for a product designated by a bookmark registration cancellation operation is received by the information providing server SA, the information on the product targeted for bookmark registration cancellation is deleted from the bookmark list.

The shopping cart list is a list for registering products specified by the user Un shopping cart registration operation (sometimes referred to as a shopping cart list). The product specified by the user Un shopping cart registration operation can be said to be a product to be referred to later as a product that the user Un intends to purchase or a product that is considering purchase. That is, a product registered in the shopping cart list (hereinafter referred to as “shopping cart registration”) can be said to be a product registered as a reference target. The shopping cart list includes, for example, the shopping cart registration time, the product ID of the product specified by the shopping cart registration operation, the common product code of the product, the seller ID and seller name of the seller SHm who sells the product, and the product. Information such as a product category to which the product belongs, a name of the product, and attribute information of the product is associated and included. Here, the shopping cart registration time is, for example, the time when a shopping cart registration request (including the product ID of the product) specified by the shopping cart registration operation is received by the information providing server SA, or the shopping cart. This is the time when the requested product is registered in the shopping cart list. The shopping cart registration operation corresponds to, for example, designating a shopping cart registration button provided on a screen for displaying product information. Note that shopping cart registration means that product information is stored in a memory area that stores a shopping cart list. Further, the shopping cart registration can be canceled by the user Un shopping cart registration canceling operation. The shopping cart registration cancellation operation corresponds to, for example, designating a product deletion button provided on a screen for displaying information on products registered in the shopping cart. For example, when a shopping cart registration cancellation request for a product designated by a shopping cart registration cancellation operation is received by the information providing server SA, information on the product for which the shopping cart registration is to be canceled is deleted from the shopping cart list.

The search history includes a search time, a search query, a session ID, a search result, and the like in association with each other. Here, the search time is, for example, the time when the search request including the search query is received by the information providing server SA or the time when the search is executed by the information providing server SA. The search query is a product narrowing condition, and is composed of search terms (for example, one or more parts of speech). The search term is specified by the search operation of the user Un. For the search operation, for example, after the search word is input in the search word input field provided on the screen for searching for products (or after the search word is selected from the list of product categories), the search button is clicked. It is applicable to specify. The session ID is an identification code unique to each session. One session is, for example, from when the web browser of the user terminal UTn is accessed to the information providing server SA until the web browser is closed (or until the application is terminated). The search results include the product ID of the product hit by the search based on the search query, the common product code of the product, the name of the seller SHm selling the product, the product category to which the product belongs, the name of the product, and the Information such as product attribute information is associated and included. The product hit by the search based on the search query is a product satisfying the search query (for example, “camera & compact”) (where “&” is usually designated by a space (blank)). Such a search history is comprised from the record distinguished for every search request containing the search query from user terminal UTn, for example. In addition, when a product does not hit by the search based on the search query, the search result includes information (NULL) indicating that the product has not been hit.

The browsing history includes a browsing time, a session ID, a browsing time (length), a merchandise ID of a merchandise browsed by a browsing operation of the user Un, a common merchandise code of the merchandise, a seller ID of the seller SHm who sells the merchandise. A seller name, a product category to which the product belongs, a name of the product, attribute information of the product, and the like are associated with each other. Here, the browsing time is, for example, the time when the browsing request for the detailed information on the product designated by the browsing operation (including the product ID of the product) is received by the information providing server SA, or the product requested to be viewed. The detailed information is transmitted from the information providing server SA to the user terminal UTn. The browsing time may be the time when the detailed information of the requested product is displayed on the screen, or the detailed product display page displaying the detailed information of the product is displayed on the window of the web browser. For the browsing operation, for example, a product link set in a product name, a product image, or the like on a screen (for example, a search result display page) that displays a search result based on a search query, and a web page, for example, For example, the product link set in the banner advertisement area provided above is designated. The product link (hyperlink) includes a URL (Uniform Resource Locator) indicating the location of the detailed information of the product. The browsing time is, for example, the display end time from the display start time of the product (the above browsing time). The display end time is, for example, the time when screen transition (for example, page transition) is performed, or the time when screen display ends. Such browsing history is composed of, for example, records that are distinguished for each browsing request from the user terminal UTn. The number of times of browsing for each product ID is calculated by counting the number of records for each product ID. Note that the number of times of browsing for each product ID may be calculated by counting the number of records including a browsing time of a threshold (for example, 10 seconds) or more for each product ID.

The purchase history includes a purchase time, a session ID, a purchase price, a product ID of the purchased product, a common product code of the product, a seller ID and a seller name of the seller SHm who sells the product, a product category to which the product belongs, Information such as the name of the product and attribute information of the product is included in association with each other. Here, the purchase time is, for example, the time when the purchase request (including the product ID of the product) designated by the purchase operation is received by the information providing server SA, or the settlement processing of the product requested for purchase. Is the time when is completed. The purchase operation corresponds to, for example, designating a purchase button provided on a screen (for example, a purchase procedure page) that displays information on products registered in the shopping cart list. Such a purchase history is composed of, for example, records that are distinguished for each purchase request from the user terminal UTn.

Next, the merchandise information database (item database) 23 is a database that stores information on merchandise exhibited as a transaction object from the seller SHm among the merchandise indicated in the merchandise merchandise information stored in the merchant information database 21. The product information database 23 includes, for example, a product ID of a product listed as a transaction target from the seller SHm, a common product code of the product, a product category to which the product belongs, a name of the product, attribute information of the product, the product The inventory amount (the inventory amount of the product in the seller SHm that has been exhibited), the seller ID of the seller SHm, the seller name, and the like are stored in association with each product.

Next, the reference information database 24 is a database that stores reference information of products registered as reference targets for the user Un. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of the contents of the reference information database 24. In the reference information database 24, as shown in FIG. 3, the reference information of the product registered as the reference target of the user Un, the registration time of the product, and the user ID of the user Un are associated with each user Un. Stored. In the example of FIG. 3, the reference information database 24 stores a search query used when registering the product indicated in the reference information in association with the reference information. For example, when a product hit based on the search query of the user Un is registered as a reference target by the bookmark registration operation of the user Un, the search query is stored in association with the reference information of the product. . As described above, the search query associated with the reference information can be used for determination of the continuity condition for the continuity of interest in the notification target product (details will be described later).

The reference information includes, for example, a product ID of a product registered in at least one of a bookmark list and a shopping cart list, a common product code of the product, a seller ID and a seller name of the seller SHm who sells the product, and the product Information such as the product category to which the product belongs, the name of the product, the attribute information of the product, and the inventory amount of the product are associated with each other. The common product code of the product, the seller ID and seller name of the seller SHm who sells the product, the product category to which the product belongs, the name of the product, the attribute information of the product, and the inventory amount of the product are Since the product ID can be obtained from the product information database 23 or the like as a key, the reference information may include only the product ID. The product registration time is the time when the product is registered in the bookmark list or shopping cart list. The reference information of the product and the registration time of the product are stored in the reference information database 24 every time the product is registered in the bookmark list or the shopping cart list, for example, and every time the product is deregistered from the bookmark list or the shopping cart list. Are deleted from the reference information database 24. Alternatively, the contents of the bookmark list and the shopping cart list may be confirmed for each user ID at predetermined time intervals (for example, 12 hours), and the confirmation results may be reflected in the reference information database 24. In addition, even if the product is not registered in the bookmark list and the shopping cart list, as will be described later, the browsing time or the number of browsing specified by the browsing history of the product browsed by the browsing operation of the user Un is a predetermined browsing. A product that satisfies the conditions is registered (automatically registered) as a reference target of the user Un corresponding to the browsing history. In this case, the reference information of the automatically registered product, the registration time of the product, and the user ID of the user Un are stored in the reference information database 24.

The system control unit 4 as a computer includes a CPU 41 (processor), a ROM 42, a RAM 43 (an example of a storage unit), and the like, and executes a server program and the like on the OS. FIG. 2B is a diagram illustrating an example of functional blocks in the system control unit 4. As shown in FIG. 2B, the system control unit 4 (processor in the system control unit 4) executes a server program and the like, as shown in FIG. 2B, the detection target product identification unit 41a, the reference information acquisition unit 41b, and the reference information classification unit 41c. , The notification condition determination unit 41d, the related search word determination unit 41e, the user notification unit 41f, the product registration unit 41g, and the like. The detection target product specifying unit 41a is an example of a product specifying unit. The reference information acquisition unit 41b is an example of a reference information acquisition unit. The reference information classification unit 41c is an example of a classification unit. The notification condition determination unit 41d is an example of a comparison unit. The related search word determination unit 41e is an example of a related search word determination unit. The user notification unit 41f is an example of a notification unit. The product registration unit 41g is an example of a registration unit.

The detection target product specifying unit 41a specifies a product that is a detection target by the operation of the user U1 (an example of the first user) (for example, specified by a product ID). The product to be detected is, for example, a product to be detected in response to a search request, a browsing request, a bookmark registration request, or a shopping cart registration request from the user terminal UT1. That is, in the case of a search request, the product searched based on the search query corresponds to the product targeted for detection. In the case of a browsing request, the product identified by the product ID or the like included in the browsing request corresponds to the product targeted for detection. In the case of a bookmark registration request, the product identified by the product ID included in the bookmark registration request corresponds to the product to be detected. In the case of a shopping cart registration request, the product identified by the product ID or the like included in the shopping cart registration request corresponds to the product to be detected. As described above, the search operation, browsing operation, bookmark registration operation, and shopping cart registration operation (in other words, search request, browsing request, bookmark registration request, and shopping cart registration request) of the user U1 serve as a product detection trigger. However, if the search operation (search request) is a detection trigger, the processing load of the information providing server SA increases according to the number of hits of the product. For this reason, the search operation (search request) may be excluded from the detection trigger. In this case, the detection target product specifying unit 41a does not specify the product in the search operation of the user U1. It should be noted that the product targeted for detection may be specified in response to a request other than a search request, a browse request, a bookmark registration request, and a shopping cart registration request.

The product targeted for detection may be interested in the user U1. However, it can be said that the degree of interest of the user U1 is different for each of these requests. For example, it can be said that the degree of interest in a product targeted for detection in response to a shopping cart registration request is higher than the degree of interest in a product targeted for detection in response to a search request, a browsing request, or a bookmark registration request. . That is, since it can be presumed that the user U1 intends to purchase the product targeted for detection in response to the shopping cart registration request, there is a possibility that the user U1 is most interested. Further, for example, it can be said that the degree of interest in a product that is a detection target in response to a bookmark registration request is higher than the degree of interest in a product that is a detection target in response to a search request or a browsing request. In addition, for example, it can be said that the degree of interest in a product that is a detection target in response to a browsing request is higher than the degree of interest in a product that is a detection target in response to a search request. By the way, it is also conceivable that the degree of interest is about the same for a product for which the user operation on the product to be detected is the same in any of a search request, a browse request, a bookmark registration request, and a shopping cart registration request. In this case, the number of searches or browsing times of the product that is the detection target is compared with the number of searches or browsing times of other products (for example, products that belong to the same product category as the detection target product). It can be said that the more the number is relatively, the higher the degree of interest of the product to be detected. In addition, as the elapsed time from the request time of the product to be detected is relatively shorter than the elapsed time from the request time of the other product, the degree of interest of the product to be detected is higher. be able to. Moreover, it can be said that the degree of interest of a product to be detected is higher as the browse time of the product to be detected is relatively longer than the browse time of the other products. Note that the number of searches is calculated by aggregating the number of searches specified from the search history of the user U1 or the number of searches specified from the search history of a plurality of users Un. Moreover, the number of times of browsing is calculated by summing the number of times of browsing specified from the browsing history of the user U1 or the number of times of browsing specified from the browsing histories of a plurality of users Un. The browsed time is calculated by summing the browsing time specified from the browsing history of the user U1 or the browsing time specified from the browsing histories of a plurality of users Un.

Next, the reference information acquisition unit 41b is based on information on the product specified by the detection target product specifying unit 41a (hereinafter referred to as “detection target product”) before the specific time point (specific time) of the detection target product. The product registered as the reference target of the user U2 (second user) different from the user U1 and registered as the notification target product (hereinafter referred to as “notification target product”) The reference information of the target product is acquired from the reference information database 24 or the like. Here, the second user is not limited to one user U2, and there may be a plurality of users. However, for convenience of explanation, the description will be given focusing on one user U2. “Registered before the specific time of the detection target product” means that the detection target product is already registered as a reference target when, for example, browsing or shopping cart registration is performed. The notification target product is a product that is a target (candidate to be notified at this stage) to be notified to the user U2, assuming that the user U1 may be interested. For this reason, it is desirable that the product ID of the detection target product matches the product ID of the notification target product. In this case, the reference information acquisition unit 41b uses the product ID of the detection target product as a key, and is a notification target product (that is, sold by the same seller SHm) to which the same product ID as the product ID of the detection target product is assigned. Reference information of the same product (including a case where there are a plurality of stocks) is acquired. However, the range of the notification target product may be expanded. In this case, the reference information acquisition unit 41b assigns the same common product code as the common product code of the detection target product, using the common product code of the detection target product as a key. The reference information of the notified product to be notified (that is, the same product sold by different seller SHm) is acquired.

In addition, it is desirable that the reference information acquisition unit 41b acquires the reference information only for the notification target product registered between the specific time point of the detection target product and a time point that is a predetermined time (for example, 30 minutes). This is because a product registered in the past too much from a specific time point is considered to be less required to be notified. Thereby, the processing load of the information providing server SA can be reduced. In this case, the reference information is not acquired if there is no notification target product registered between the specific time point and the time point that is a predetermined time later. On the other hand, if there is a notification target product registered between a specific point in time and a point back for a predetermined time, the acquired reference information will be registered between the specific point in time of the detection target product and a point back for a predetermined time. In addition to the reference information of the notification target product, reference information of related products related to the notification target product (in other words, related products related to the detection target product) may be included. In this case, the related product related to the notification target product is a product belonging to the same product category as the notification target product, for example, a product including a part of the name of the notification target product (for example, a compact camera). is there. Alternatively, the related product related to the notification target product may be a product registered in the database in advance as a product that competes with the notification target product (for example, registered by the registration operation of the seller SHm that sells the notification target product). . Alternatively, the related product related to the notification target product may be a product with the same common product code as the common product code of the notification target product.

Further, the predetermined time from the specific time point of the detection target product may be dynamically determined. For example, the system control unit 4 determines the predetermined time based on the browsing time of a web page such as the product detail display page browsed by the user U2 (that is, the access duration time for an individual web page). Here, the browsing time of the Web page can be acquired from the browsing history of the user U2. When a plurality of web page browsing times are acquired from the browsing history of the user U2, the average value, standard deviation value, or maximum value of these browsing times is determined as the predetermined time. In this case, the reference information acquisition unit 41b acquires the reference information of the notification target product registered from the specific time point of the detection target product to the time point that is back for the determined predetermined time (for example, 40 minutes). become. Further, the system control unit 4 classifies a plurality of types of web pages browsed by the user U2 (or a plurality of users Un) for each product category, and averages the web page browsing time for each classified product category. The predetermined time may be determined by calculating a standard deviation value or a maximum value. In this case, the reference information acquisition unit 41b extends from a specific time point of the detection target product to a time point that is back for the predetermined time (for example, 20 minutes) determined for the product category to which the detection target product (or notification target product) belongs. The reference information of the notification target product registered in is acquired. In addition, the system control unit 4 accesses the information providing server SA by the user U2 (or a plurality of users Un), for example, the morning time zone (from 6:00 to 12:00), the day time zone (12:00) ~ 18: 00) and night time zone (from 18:00 to 00:00)), the average time, standard deviation value, or maximum value of Web page browsing time is calculated and determined as the predetermined time. May be. In this case, the reference information acquisition unit 41b determines the predetermined time determined for the time zone including the specific time point of the detection target product (for example, 20 minutes for the noon time zone, 60 minutes for the night time zone). ) The reference information of the notification target product registered up to the point in time is acquired. Further, the system control unit 4 classifies a plurality of users Un for each user segment (for example, a user group classified by gender, age group, residential area, preference, etc.), and a web page for each classified user segment. The predetermined time may be determined by calculating an average value, standard deviation value, or maximum value of the browsing time. In this case, the reference information acquisition unit 41b acquires the reference information of the notification target product that has been registered up to the point in time of the predetermined time determined for the user segment to which the user U2 belongs. The predetermined time may be determined based on a combination of any two or more of the product category, time zone, and user segment. For example, the system control unit 4 classifies a plurality of users Un for each user segment, classifies a plurality of types of Web pages browsed by a plurality of users Un for each classified user segment, and classifies the classification. The predetermined time may be determined by calculating an average value, standard deviation value, or maximum value of web page browsing time for each product category. In this case, the reference information acquisition unit 41b is registered between the user segment to which the user U2 belongs and the time determined by the predetermined time determined for the product category to which the detection target product (or notification target product) belongs. The reference information of the notification target product is acquired.

Alternatively, the system control unit 4 may determine the predetermined time based on the Web access time by the user U2 (that is, the continuation time for accessing any Web site with the Web browser). Here, the Web access time can be specified, for example, by acquiring the access history of the Web site by the information providing server SA using the user ID as a key. When a plurality of Web access times by the user U2 are acquired, an average value, standard deviation value, or maximum value of these Web access times is determined as the predetermined time. In this case, the reference information acquisition unit 41b acquires the reference information of the notification target product registered from the specific time point of the detection target product to the time point determined by the predetermined time. Further, the system control unit 4 classifies Web sites (in this case, product information providing sites) accessed by the user U2 (or a plurality of users Un) for each product category, and performs Web access for each of the classified product categories. The predetermined time may be determined by calculating an average value, standard deviation value, or maximum value of time. In this case, the reference information acquisition unit 41b registers the notification target from the specific time point of the detection target product to the time point determined by the predetermined time determined for the product category to which the detection target product (or notification target product) belongs. The product reference information is acquired. In addition, the system control unit 4 accesses the information providing server SA by the user U2 (or a plurality of users Un), for example, the morning time zone (from 6:00 to 12:00), the day time zone (12:00) ~ 18: 00) and the night time zone (from 18:00 to 00:00)), the average value, standard deviation value, or maximum value of the web access time is calculated and determined as the predetermined time. Also good. In this case, the reference information acquisition unit 41b determines the predetermined time determined for the time zone including the specific time point of the detection target product (for example, 20 minutes for the noon time zone, 60 minutes for the night time zone). ) The reference information of the notification target product registered up to the point in time is acquired. In addition, the system control unit 4 classifies the plurality of users Un by user segments (for example, user groups classified by sex, age group, residential area, preference, etc.), and performs web access for each classified user segment. The predetermined time may be determined by calculating an average value, standard deviation value, or maximum value of time. In this case, the reference information acquisition unit 41b acquires the reference information of the notification target product that has been registered up to the point in time of the predetermined time determined for the user segment to which the user U2 belongs. The predetermined time may be determined based on a combination of any two or more of the product category, time zone, and user segment. For example, the system control unit 4 classifies a plurality of users Un for each user segment, classifies Web sites accessed by the plurality of users Un for each classified user segment, and classifies the classified product categories. The predetermined time may be determined by calculating an average value, a standard deviation value, or a maximum value of the Web access time every time. In this case, the reference information acquisition unit 41b is registered between the user segment to which the user U2 belongs and the time determined by the predetermined time determined for the product category to which the detection target product (or notification target product) belongs. The reference information of the notification target product is acquired.

For example, the session between the user terminal UT2 of the user U2 and the information providing server SA continues from the predetermined time before the specific time of the detection target product (in other words, the access continues from the predetermined time before the specific time. The reference information acquisition unit 41b may be configured to acquire the reference information of the notification target product registered between the specific time point of the detection target product and the time point retroactive to the predetermined time.

In this way, the related products registered between the specific time point of the detection target product and the time point that has been traced back for a predetermined time are estimated as products that have been compared with the notification target product (e.g., compared for purchase consideration). can do. By using such related product reference information, it is possible to appropriately determine whether the notification target product is more suitable as a product to be notified to the user U2. However, if the acquisition range of the reference information is simply divided by time (for example, 30 minutes), the notification target product and the product that is actually compared may be excluded at the above time division. For this reason, it is good to comprise so that reference information may be acquired in the group unit of the reference information classified based on the continuity of the registration interval of goods. In this case, the reference information classification unit 41c stores the registration interval (that is, the registration time) of the products indicated in each of the plurality of reference information stored in the reference information database 24 (for example, the reference information of the notification target product and its related products). The plurality of pieces of reference information are classified into a plurality of groups based on the continuity of time difference. For example, the reference information classification unit 41c generates a group for each range by dividing the registration time associated with the notification target product and the reference information of the related product with each range having continuity. Here, the range having continuity means a range where two or more time differences between the two nearest registration times are continuous within a threshold (hereinafter referred to as “continuity threshold”). Thereby, the reference information of the some goods compared mutually in a certain time slot | zone can be handled as a package. The continuity threshold is set by default, for example. However, since the registration interval is affected by the browsing time of the user Un, the continuity threshold is preferably set based on the browsing history of the user Un. Furthermore, since the registration interval is also affected when there is a product that has been browsed between registration times associated with the reference information but has not been registered, the threshold of continuity is the product browse within the product registration interval. It may be corrected based on the number.

Then, the reference information acquisition unit 41b refers to the reference information of the notification target product that is the same as the detection target product (that is, the notification target product whose product ID is the same as the detection target product) among the groups classified by the reference information classification unit 41c. A plurality of reference information (reference information of a notification target product and its related products) included in the group to which the belongs. As a result, it is possible to prevent the notification target product and the product that is actually the comparison target from being excluded at time intervals, and to reduce the processing load of the information providing server SA.

FIG. 3 is a conceptual diagram showing an example in which a plurality of pieces of reference information (reference information of notification target products and related products) are classified into groups based on continuity of product registration intervals. In the examples of FIGS. 4A to 4C, the user ID “U0002” of the user U2 is associated with the reference information of 10 products. Among these ten products, the product ID “Item062” of the notification target product matches the product ID “Item062” of the detection target product by the operation of the user U1. First, FIG. 4A shows an example in which the continuity threshold value is set to 5 minutes by default. In this case, the reference information classifying unit 41c divides the registration times associated with each of the plurality of pieces of reference information into ranges having continuity based on the default threshold values (that is, the reference information classification units 41c are arranged in the order of the registration times). By dividing the reference information at a position where the registration interval exceeds the threshold), a group is generated for each range. As a result, as shown in FIG. 4A, 10 pieces of reference information are classified into three groups G1 to G3.

In FIG. 4A, the product IDs are “Item088” and “Item012”, “Item012” and “Item012” retroactive from the registration time (10:57) closest to the specific time (11:00) of the detection target product. Since the registration intervals between “Item062” and “Item062” and “Item242” are within the continuity threshold (5 minutes), the product reference information with product IDs from “Item088” to “Item242” Is recognized as a continuous range. However, since the registration interval (8 minutes) between the product IDs “Item242” and “Item950” exceeds the continuity threshold (5 minutes), the reference information of the product with the product ID “Item950” has continuity. Excluded from a certain range. Therefore, the group G1 is generated based on the reference information included within a certain range of continuity. Further, retroactively from the registration time (10:35), the registration intervals between the item IDs “Item950” and “Item102” and “Item102” and “Item022” are the continuity threshold (5 minutes), respectively. Therefore, the reference information of the products with the product ID “Item950” to “Item022” is recognized as a continuous range. However, since the registration interval (14 minutes) between the product IDs “Item022” and “Item002” exceeds the continuity threshold (5 minutes), the reference information of the product with the product ID “Item002” has continuity. Excluded from a certain range. Therefore, the group G2 is generated based on the reference information included within a certain range of continuity. Similarly, a group G3 is generated based on reference information included in a range having continuity.

In the case of FIG. 4A, the reference information acquisition unit 41b has the same notification target product (product ID “Item062”) as the detection target product among the groups G1 to G3 classified by the reference information classification unit 41c. All reference information included in the group G1 to which the reference information belongs (reference information of products (product to be notified and related products) with product IDs “Item088” to “Item242”) is acquired. In this case, even if it is set so that the reference information of the registered product is acquired from the specific time point of the detection target product to a time point that goes back for a predetermined time (for example, 30 minutes), acquisition in group units has priority Therefore, as shown in FIG. 4A, the range in which the reference information is acquired stops within a range where there is continuity. That is, even if the point in time of a predetermined time (for example, 30 minutes) from the specific point in time of the detection target product is in the group G2, the reference information included in the group G2 is not acquired. In this case, the reference information acquisition unit 41b may acquire all the reference information included in the group to which the reference information of the product to which the same common product code “C-123” as the detection target product is assigned belongs. . In this case, since there is a point in the group G2 that is a predetermined time (for example, 30 minutes) after the specific point in time of the detection target product, the reference information included in the group G2 is also acquired in addition to the group G1.

Next, FIG. 4B shows an example in which the continuity threshold is set based on the browsing history. In this case, the reference information classification unit 41c acquires a plurality of browsing histories (for example, browsing histories of products belonging to the same product category as the notification target product) associated with the user ID of the user U2 from the user information database 22. Then, the reference information classification unit 41c sets the maximum browsing time as a continuity threshold value (8 minutes in the example of FIG. 4B) among the browsing times included in each of the acquired browsing histories. . Then, the reference information classifying unit 41c divides the registration time associated with each of the plurality of pieces of reference information into ranges that have continuity based on a threshold set based on the browsing history, so that Create a group. Accordingly, as shown in FIG. 4B, the ten pieces of reference information are classified into two groups G1 and G2.

In FIG. 4B, the product IDs are “Item088” and “Item012”, “Item012” and “Item012” retroactive from the registration time (10:57) closest to the specific time (11:00) of the detection target product. The registration intervals between “Item062”, “Item062” and “Item242”, “Item242” and “Item950”, “Item950” and “Item102”, and “Item102” and “Item022” are respectively Since it is within the continuity threshold (8 minutes), the reference information of the products with the product IDs “Item088” to “Item022” is recognized as a range having continuity. However, since the registration interval (14 minutes) between the product IDs “Item022” and “Item002” exceeds the continuity threshold (8 minutes), the reference information of the product with the product ID “Item002” has continuity. Excluded from a certain range. Therefore, the group G1 is generated based on the reference information included within a certain range of continuity. Similarly, the group G2 is generated based on the reference information included in a range having continuity.

In the case of FIG. 4B, the reference information acquisition unit 41b includes the same notification target product (product ID “Item062”) as the detection target product among the groups G1 and G2 classified by the reference information classification unit 41c. All reference information included in the group G1 to which the reference information belongs (product reference information with product IDs “Item088” to “Item022”) is acquired. In this case, even if it is set so that the reference information of the registered product is acquired from the specific time point of the detection target product to a time point that goes back for a predetermined time (for example, 30 minutes), acquisition in group units has priority Therefore, as shown in FIG. 4B, if it is included in the group G1, the reference information of the product registered in the past further from the point of time that goes back for a predetermined time (for example, 30 minutes) (for example, the product ID) Is acquired (including the reference information of the item “Item022”).

Next, FIG. 4 (C) shows an example in which the continuity threshold is corrected based on the number of items viewed within the registration interval of the reference information. Also in this case, as in FIG. 4B, the reference information classification unit 41c acquires the browsing history associated with the user ID of the user U2, and sets the maximum browsing time as the continuity threshold. When there is a registration interval exceeding the threshold set based on the browsing history, the reference information classifying unit 41c searches the browsing history for a product that has been browsed but not registered within the registration interval. In the example of FIG. 4C, the time difference between “Item022” and “Item002” is 14 minutes and exceeds the continuity threshold value of 8 minutes, so this registration interval (10:20 to 10: During (34), products including the browsing time (excluding products registered as reference targets) are searched. Here, for example, the products to be searched are included in the same search result together with the products whose product IDs are “Item022” and “Item002”. In the product list in the search results, the products of “Item022” and “Item002” It can be said that there is a high possibility that the product is sandwiched between the products and presented to the user Un. For this reason, the reference information classifying unit 41c searches for a product whose browsing time is included in the registration interval (10:20 to 10:34) instead of searching for a product with a registration interval from the product list in the search result. You may comprise so that the goods pinched | interposed between the goods used as the reference | standard (the goods of "Item022" and the goods of "Item002") may be searched.

Then, when a product is found by the search, the reference information classification unit 41c identifies the number of discovered products as the number of products viewed, and the identified number of products viewed is included in the acquired browsing history. The estimated browsing time (for example, 7 minutes) within the registration interval is calculated by multiplying the average browsing time (which may be the maximum value). Then, the reference information classifying unit 41c determines the correction threshold (for example, 15 minutes) by adding the calculated estimated browsing time to the set threshold (that is, clogging the threshold). Then, the reference information classification unit 41c divides the registration times associated with each of the plurality of pieces of reference information for each range having continuity based on the determined correction threshold (that is, references arranged in the order of the registration times). By dividing the registration interval at a position where the registration interval exceeds the correction threshold in the information), a group is generated for each range. In the example of FIG. 4C, all the registration intervals are within the continuity correction threshold (15 minutes) retroactive from the registration time (10:57) closest to the specific time (11:00) of the detection target product. Therefore, the product reference information with the product IDs “Item088” to “Item111” is recognized as a continuous range, and as a result, one group G1 is generated.

In the case of FIG. 4C, the reference information acquisition unit 41b includes all the reference information (product ID) included in the group G1 to which the reference information of the same notification target product (product ID “Item062”) as the detection target product belongs. Obtains product reference information) from “Item088” to “Item111”. In this case, even if it is set so that the reference information of the registered product is acquired from the specific time point of the detection target product to a time point that goes back for a predetermined time (for example, 30 minutes), acquisition in group units has priority Therefore, as shown in FIG. 4 (C), if it is included in the group G1, reference information of a product registered in the past further from a point in time that goes back a predetermined time (for example, 30 minutes) (for example, a product ID) Are acquired (including the reference information of the items “Item022” to “Item111”).

Next, the notification condition determination unit 41d determines whether the notification target product indicated in the reference information acquired by the reference information acquisition unit 41b is a product that satisfies a predetermined notification condition. That is, the notification condition determination unit 41d determines whether the notification target product is more suitable as a notification target to be notified to the user U2. By setting notification conditions, it is possible to narrow down the products to be notified, so the processing load on the information providing server SA can be reduced. Here, as a notification condition, (a) a continuity condition regarding the continuity of interest (here, the interest of the user U2) for the notification target product, (b) an inventory condition regarding the inventory amount of the notification target product, (c) One of an advantage condition for the superiority of the notification target product and (d) an advantage condition for the superiority of the detection target product is set. Note that the notification condition may be a combination (AND condition) of any one of the conditions shown in (a) to (d). As the number of conditions related to the combination increases, the determination accuracy of whether or not the notification target product is more suitable as a notification target to be notified to the user U2 can be increased. Hereinafter, the conditions shown in (a) to (d) will be described.

(A) In the case of the continuity condition regarding the continuity of interest in the notification target product The notification condition determination unit 41d continues the interest of the user U2 with respect to the notification target product indicated in the reference information acquired by the reference information acquisition unit 41b. Determines whether or not the continuity condition is satisfied at the specific time of the detection target product. The continuity condition includes, for example, a condition indicating the continuity of the session between the user terminal UT2 used by the user U2 and the information providing server SA. This is based on the idea that the continuity of interest of the user U2 depends on the continuity of the session between the user terminal UT2 and the information providing server SA. More specifically, the session between the user terminal UT2 and the information providing server SA used by the user U2 continues from the registration time of the notification target product to the current time (that is, the determination processing time of the notification condition determination unit 41d). This is a continuity condition. Here, “continuing” means that the user terminal UT2 and the information providing server SA are exchanging with the same session ID from the registration time of the notification target product to the current time. When the session between the user terminal UT2 used by the user U2 and the information providing server SA continues from the registration time of the notification target product to the present time, the notification condition determination unit 41d has continuity of interest of the user U2 with respect to the notification target product. By determining that the continuity condition is satisfied, it is determined that the notification target product is a product that satisfies the notification condition. Thereby, the product which user U2 continues to be interested can be set as a notification target.

Alternatively, the continuity condition includes a condition indicating continuity of login between a plurality of terminals (for example, the user terminal UT2 and a portable terminal other than the user terminal UT2) used by the user U2 and the information providing server SA. May be. This is based on the idea that the continuity of interest of the user U2 depends on the continuity of login across a plurality of terminals. For example, after the user U2 logs in using the user ID and password from the user terminal UT2 and the product designated by the bookmark registration operation or the like is registered, another user ID and password are used from a mobile terminal other than the user terminal UT2. When logging in and searching for or browsing products from a mobile terminal, there is continuity of login across multiple terminals. More specifically, the continuity condition is that the login information at the registration time of the notification target product (which indicates what user ID and password are used to log in) and the current login information are the same or associated with each other. It becomes. In general, the user ID and password used in the user terminal UT2 are often different from the user ID and password used in a mobile terminal other than the user terminal UT2, but the user ID and password used in the user terminal UT2 The user ID and password used in the terminal may be associated with each other and registered in the database. When the login information at the registration time of the notification target product and the current login information are the same or associated with each other, the notification condition determination unit 41d determines that the continuity of interest of the user U2 with respect to the notification target product satisfies the continuity condition. By determining that the condition is satisfied, it is determined that the notification target product is a product that satisfies the notification condition. Also by this, it is possible to make a notification target a product that the user U2 has been interested in.

Further, in the continuity condition, a search for another product is performed by the operation of the user U2 after registering the notification target product using a related search term related to the search query of the search query associated with the reference information of the notification target product. It is preferable that a condition indicating that has been performed is included. This is based on the idea that the continuity of interest of the user U2 depends on a search for other products using related search terms related to the search query used when registering the notification target product. In this search, for example, while the user U2 reserves the notification target product for the time being, the search is for a product having almost the same attribute information as the notification target product but superior to the notification target product (for example, at a lower price). Means. The notification condition determination unit 41d acquires the search term of the search query associated with the search time after registration of the notification target product (to the present time) from the search history associated with the user ID of the user U2, It is determined whether or not a predetermined number (or all) of the searched search terms is related search terms related to the search term of the search query associated with the reference information of the notification target product. If a predetermined number or more of the search terms acquired from the search history are related search terms related to the search query associated with the reference information of the notification target product, the reference information of the notification target product It can be said that a search for another product has been performed by the operation of the user U2 after registering the notification target product using a related search term related to the search term of the associated search query.

Here, the related search terms related to the search query are specified from, for example, a related term database, or specified using a technique such as emphasis filtering. For example, if the search query consists of the search term “camera & compact & waterproof”, “compact camera & impact” is a related search term for “camera & compact & waterproof” (both are common words “camera”) Is included). Then, the notification condition determination unit 41d notifies when a predetermined number or more of the search terms acquired from the search history are related search terms related to the search term of the search query associated with the reference information of the notification target product. By determining that the continuity of interest of the user U2 with respect to the target product satisfies the continuity condition, it is determined that the notification target product is a product that satisfies the notification condition. Also by this, it is possible to make a notification target a product that the user U2 has been interested in. As described above, the condition indicating that a search for another product has been performed by the operation of the user U2 after registering the notification target product using the related search word is the condition indicating the continuity of the session or login described above. In addition (in this case, an AND condition) or alternatively, it is included in the continuity condition.

By the way, when the range of related search terms is wide, for example, the user U2 is not searching for a product (for example, a camera) superior to the notification target product, but a product (for example, a camera cover) having different attribute information from the notification target product ) Is started, it is determined that the continuity of interest of the user U2 with respect to the notification target product satisfies the continuity condition, which is not preferable. For this reason, the related search word determination unit 41e is a plurality of pieces of reference information associated with different user IDs, and has the same product as the notification target product (for example, the same product ID or the same common product code). A search term associated with each of the plurality of reference information of the product may be determined as a related search term for the same product. In this case, the notification condition determining unit 41d determines that the predetermined number or more of the search terms acquired from the search history is related search terms for the notification target product (that is, related search terms determined by the related search term determination unit 41e). If it is determined that the continuity of interest of the user U2 with respect to the notification target product satisfies the continuity condition, it is determined that the notification target product is a product that satisfies the notification condition. For example, it is assumed that the search is performed using the search word “compact camera & impact” after the camera X searched using the search word “camera & compact & waterproof” is registered by the search operation of the user U2. To do. In this case, if the search term “compact camera & impact” is not associated with the reference information of any user U3, U4... As the search term for camera X, “camera & compact & waterproof” and “compact camera” "& Shock" is not a related search term. For this reason, the range of normal related search terms can be substantially narrowed down, and the determination accuracy of whether or not the notification target product is more suitable as the notification target can be further enhanced.

Further, the continuity condition may include a condition indicating that the user U2 has viewed a product in the product category to which the notification target product belongs after registration of the notification target product. This is based on the idea that the continuity of interest of the user U2 depends on browsing the products in the product category to which the notification target product belongs after registration of the notification target product. In this browsing, for example, the user U2 reserves a notification target product for the time being and browses a product having almost the same attribute information as the notification target product but superior to the notification target product (for example, at a lower price). Means that. The notification condition determination unit 41d acquires a product category associated with the browsing time after registration of the notification target product (to the present time) from the browsing history associated with the user ID of the user U2, and the notification target product is It is determined whether it belongs to the acquired product category. If the notification target product belongs to the product category acquired from the browsing history, it can be said that the user U2 browsed the product in the product category to which the notification target product belongs after registration of the notification target product. Then, the notification condition determination unit 41d determines that the continuity of interest of the user U2 with respect to the notification target product satisfies the continuity condition when the notification target product belongs to the product category acquired from the browsing history. Thus, it is determined that the notification target product is a product that satisfies the notification condition. Also by this, it is possible to make a notification target a product that the user U2 has been interested in. As described above, the condition indicating that the user U2 has browsed the product in the product category to which the notification target product belongs after the registration of the notification target product is added to or replaced with the above-described condition indicating the continuity of the session or login. Included in the continuity condition. In addition, the condition indicating that the user U2 has browsed the product in the product category to which the notification target product belongs after registration of the notification target product is that other products may be operated by the operation of the user U2 after registering the notification target product using a related search term. May be included in the continuity condition in addition to the condition indicating that the search is performed.

Further, in addition to the above-described conditions, the continuity condition includes a condition indicating that the same product as the notification target product (for example, a product with the same product ID or the same common product code) is not purchased. It is good to be. This is based on the idea that the continuity of interest of the user U2 is interrupted by purchasing the same product as the notification target product (which may be a product that competes with the notification target product). The notification condition determination unit 41d acquires the product ID (or common product code) associated with the purchase time after registration of the notification target product (to the present time) from the purchase history associated with the user ID of the user U2. Then, it is determined whether or not the acquired product ID (or common product code) matches the product ID (or common product code) of the notification target product. If the product ID (or common product code) acquired from the purchase history does not match the product ID (or common product code) of the notification target product, the notification condition determination unit 41d also sets the other conditions described above. If it is satisfied, it is determined that the continuity of interest of the user U2 with respect to the notification target product satisfies the continuity condition, thereby determining that the notification target product is a product that satisfies the notification condition.

Note that the notification condition determination unit 41d may determine whether the continuity of interest of the user U2 with respect to the notification target product satisfies the continuity condition at a specific time of the detection target product using a condition other than the above. Good.

(B) In the case of inventory conditions regarding the inventory amount of the notification target product The notification condition determination unit 41d determines that the inventory amount of the notification target product indicated in the reference information acquired by the reference information acquisition unit 41b is the specific time of the detection target product. To determine whether the stock condition is satisfied. The stock condition includes, for example, a condition indicating that the stock quantity of the notification target product is a predetermined number or less. The predetermined number here is arbitrarily set by, for example, the seller SHm who sells the notification target product. The notification condition determination unit 41d determines that the inventory amount of the notification target product satisfies the inventory condition when the inventory amount of the notification target product is equal to or less than a predetermined number, so that the notification target product satisfies the notification condition. It is determined that As a result, for example, a product that is not in stock and is expected to run out of stock if not purchased early can be set as a notification target. Whether the inventory is sufficient depends on the demand amount of the product (that is, the number of consumers who want the product). For example, if there are three inventory quantities but the demand quantity is less than this, it can be said that the inventory is sufficient. For this reason, the notification condition determination unit 41d compares the inventory amount of the notification target product indicated in the reference information acquired by the reference information acquisition unit 41b with the demand amount of the notification target product, and determines the notification target from the comparison result. It may be determined whether the inventory amount of the product (that is, the relative inventory amount with respect to demand) satisfies the inventory condition. Here, the demand amount of the notification target product can be calculated, for example, by counting the number of users Un (excluding the user U2) who register the notification target product in the shopping cart (may be bookmark registration). In this case, the notification condition determination unit 41d determines that the inventory amount of the notification target product satisfies the inventory condition only when the inventory amount of the notification target product is smaller than the demand amount of the notification target product. It is determined that the notification target product is a product that satisfies the notification condition. Thereby, the determination accuracy of whether the notification target product is more suitable as the notification target can be further increased. Further, the threshold value of the inventory quantity in the inventory condition may be determined based on how the inventory quantity is reduced (for example, 1 piece / 30 minutes). For example, when the amount of inventory decreases is larger than the reference value, the threshold for the amount of inventory is increased, and when the method of decreasing inventory is less than the reference value, the threshold for the amount of inventory is decreased.

(C) In the case of the superiority condition regarding the superiority of the notification target product The notification condition determination unit 41d is a product (that is, the notification target product and its relation) indicated in each of the plurality of reference information acquired by the reference information acquisition unit 41b. Product), it is determined whether or not the notification target product is the product that best matches the superiority condition. The superiority condition includes, for example, a condition indicating that the notification target product has an attribute value superior to the related product. Here, whether or not it is dominant is preset for each attribute item. For example, when the attribute item is a sales price, a cheaper product is considered to be superior. Further, for example, when the attribute item is the number of pixels, it is considered that more products are superior. Also, for example, when the attribute item is zoom magnification, a higher product is considered to be superior. For example, when the attribute item is mass, a lighter product is considered to be superior. The notification condition determination unit 41d obtains an attribute value of a predetermined attribute item (for example, sales price) of the notification target product and an attribute value of a predetermined attribute item (for example, sales price) of the related product related to the notification target product. In comparison, when the notification target product has an attribute value superior to the related product, the notification target product satisfies the notification condition by determining that the notification target product is the product that best matches the superiority condition. It is determined that the product is a product. As a result, a product that has an advantage over the related product and is expected to be sold if not purchased early can be set as a notification target. On the other hand, since the notification target product that does not have an advantage over the related product can be excluded from the notification target, an unnecessary increase in notification can be prevented and the processing load of the information providing server SA can be reduced.

For example, in the case of FIG. 4 (A), the notification target is among the products whose product IDs indicated by the plurality of reference information included in the group G1 acquired by the reference information acquisition unit 41b are “Item088” to “Item242”. Since the product (“Item062”) has an attribute value superior to the related product (that is, the selling price is the lowest), it is determined that the notification target product is a product that satisfies the notification condition. On the other hand, in the case of FIG. 4 (B), the product IDs indicated in the plurality of reference information included in the group G1 acquired by the reference information acquisition unit 41b are the items to be notified among the products from “Item088” to “Item022”. Although the product (“Item062”) has an attribute value superior to the related product, there is also a related product (“Item022”) having a selling price (¥ 7,500) equivalent to the notification target product. In such a case, it may be set so that the notification target product is not determined to be the product that best matches the superiority condition. On the other hand, in the case of FIG. 4 (C), the notification target is among the products whose product IDs indicated by the plurality of reference information included in the group G1 acquired by the reference information acquisition unit 41b are “Item088” to “Item111”. Because there is a related product (“Item111”) that has a superior attribute value (sales price: ¥ 7,000) over the product (“Item062”), it is determined that the product subject to notification is not the product that best matches the superiority condition The

(D) In the case of the superiority condition regarding the superiority of the detection target product When the reference information of the notification target product is acquired based on the information of the detection target product, the detection target product specifying unit 41a A product (related product related to the detection target product) that has been searched, browsed, bookmarked, or registered in the shopping cart by the operation of the user U1 during a predetermined time (for example, 30 minutes) after the specific time It is identified from the operation history associated with the user ID of U1. The notification condition determining unit 41d is a product that the detection target product most closely matches the superiority condition among the products specified by the detection target product specifying unit 41a (that is, the detection target product and its related products). It is determined whether or not there is. This superiority information is the same as in the case of the superiority condition regarding the superiority of the notification target product. The notification condition determination unit 41d obtains an attribute value of a predetermined attribute item (for example, sales price) of the detection target product and an attribute value of a predetermined attribute item (for example, sales price) of the related product related to the detection target product. In comparison, when the detection target product has an attribute value superior to the related product, it is determined that the detection target product is the product that best matches the superiority condition, and thus the same notification as the detection target product It is determined that the target product is a product that satisfies the notification condition. Also by this, a product that has an advantage over the related product and is expected to be sold if not purchased early can be set as a notification target. On the other hand, since products that do not have superiority over related products can be excluded from notifications, an increase in unnecessary notifications can be prevented and the processing load on the information providing server SA can be reduced.

Next, when the notification target product indicated by the reference information acquired by the reference information acquisition unit 41b is determined to be a product that satisfies the notification condition by the notification condition determination unit 41d, the user notification unit 41f Notification information indicating that there is a possibility that the notification target product satisfying the notification condition may be interested in other users is notified to the user U2 indicated by the user ID associated with the information. Here, the notification information is composed of at least one of text data and image data. For example, the user notification unit 41f notifies the user U2 of the communication information by transmitting an e-mail in which the notification information is described in the text to an e-mail address associated with the user ID of the user U2. Alternatively, the user notification unit 41f notifies the user U2 of the communication information by transmitting the notification information to the user terminal UT2 that is continuing the session. In this case, for example, the user notification unit 41f displays the notification information on a toolbar plugged into the Web browser by transmitting the notification information to the user terminal UT2 during the session. Alternatively, the user notification unit 41f displays the notification information on the search result display page or the product detail display page being displayed in the window of the Web browser by transmitting the notification information to the user terminal UT2 during the session. Alternatively, the user notification unit 41f may display the web page in the window of the web browser by transmitting the web page representing the notification information to the user terminal UT2 during the session.

Next, the product registration unit 41g acquires the browsing history of the product browsed by the browsing operation of the user Un (for example, the user U2) that is the processing target, and the browsing time or the number of browsing times specified by the acquired browsing history. Is determined for each product (excluding products already registered as a reference object) indicated in the browsing history. Here, the browsing condition includes, for example, a reference value (for example, a maximum value, an average value, a standard deviation) calculated from the browsing time or the browsing count of the product registered as a bookmark by the user Un bookmark operation. Value or median) is set. Alternatively, the browsing condition includes a reference value (for example, a maximum value, an average value, a standard deviation value, or a median value) calculated from the browsing time or the number of browsing times of the product purchased by the purchase operation of the user Un as the processing target. ) Or more is set. The merchandise registration unit 41g determines that the browsing condition is satisfied when the browsing time or the browsing count specified by the browsing history of the user Un as the processing target is equal to or greater than the reference value. And the goods registration part 41g performs the process which registers (automatically registers) the goods which satisfy | fill the said browsing conditions as a reference object of the user Un (that is, user Un corresponding to the said operation history) used as the said process target. Thus, the reference information and registration time of the product satisfying the browsing condition are stored in the reference information database 24 in association with the user ID of the user Un. Thereby, the trouble of registration operation by the user Un can be saved.

[2. Operation of information providing system S]
Next, the operation of the information providing system S according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 5 is a sequence diagram illustrating an example of operations performed in the information providing system S. First, the user terminal UT2 accesses the information providing server SA via the network NW, and login is performed using the authentication information of the user U2. Thereafter, detailed information of the product designated by the browsing operation of the user U2 is displayed on the screen of the user terminal UT2 from the products searched by the information providing server SA in response to a search request from the user terminal UT2. When the user U2 designates a shopping cart registration button provided on the screen on which the detailed information of the product is displayed, a shopping cart registration request (including the product ID of the product) is transmitted from the user terminal UT2 via the network NW. Is transmitted to the information providing server SA (step S1). When receiving the shopping cart registration request from the user terminal UT2, the system control unit 4 of the information providing server SA associates the product identified by the product ID included in the shopping cart registration request with the user ID of the user U2. Registered in the shopping cart list (step S2). Next, the system control unit 4 of the information providing server SA stores the reference information and registration time of the product registered in the shopping cart list in Step S2 in the reference information database 24 in association with the user ID of the user U2 (Step S2). S3) The process is terminated. The reference information and registration time of the product may be stored in association with the search query used when the product is searched. Thus, whenever there is a shopping cart registration request (or bookmark registration or automatic registration) from the user terminal UTn, the reference information database 24 stores the reference information of the registered product.

Next, the user terminal UT1 accesses the information providing server SA via the network NW, and login is performed with the authentication information of the user U1. Thereafter, a product browsing request specified by the browsing operation of the user U1 is provided from the user terminal UT1 via the network NW among the products searched by the information providing server SA in response to a search request from the user terminal UT1. It is transmitted to the server SA (step S4). Upon receiving the browsing request from the user terminal UT1, the system control unit 4 of the information providing server SA displays the product detail display page of the product identified by the product ID included in the browsing request via the network NW. (Step S5).

Next, the system control unit 4 (detection target product specifying unit 41a) specifies the product identified by the product ID included in the received browsing request as the detection target product (step S6). Next, the system control unit 4 stores the reference information of the same product (for example, the product with the same product ID or the same common product code) as the detection target product identified in step S6 in the reference information database 24. It is determined whether or not there is (step S7). When the system control unit 4 determines that the reference information of the same product as the detection target product is stored in the reference information database 24 (step S7: YES), the system control unit 4 sends the same product as the detection target product to the notification target product. (Specify for each user ID), and the process proceeds to step S8. When a common product code is used for the determination in step S7, a case where a plurality of pieces of reference information of the same product as the detection target product is stored in the reference information database 24 for one user ID is assumed. In this case, for example, among a plurality of products that are the same as the detection target product, one product whose registration time is closest to the detection time point, one product that is randomly selected, or a product that has the most dominant attribute value is notified. It may be specified as the target product. On the other hand, if the system control unit 4 determines that the reference information of the same product as the detection target product is not stored in the reference information database 24 (step S7: NO), the process ends.

In step S8, the system control unit 4 selects one user ID associated with the reference information of the identified notification target product (that is, selects the user Un). At this time, the system control unit 4 may select a user ID based on the Web access time for each user Un. As described above, the Web access time can be specified by acquiring the access history of the Web site by the information providing server SA using the user ID as a key. In this case, the system control unit 4 determines the user ID of the user Un included in the Web access time from the Web access start time (for example, 20:05) at the specific time (for example, 20:30) of the detection target product. Select. That is, the user Un whose elapsed time (for example, 20: 05-20: 30, 25 minutes) from the Web access start time to the specific time is equal to or shorter than the Web access time is selected. The Web access start time is an access disclosure time to a Web site provided by the information providing server SA by the Web browser of the user terminal UTn, for example. For example, if the Web access time of the user U2 is 30 minutes, the Web access time of the user U3 is 25 minutes, and the Web access time of the user U4 is 20 minutes, the user U2 and the user U3 are selected. The reference information of the notification target product corresponding to the user IDs of the user U2 and the user U3 thus selected is acquired in the subsequent processing. Thereby, an increase in unnecessary notifications can be prevented, and the processing load on the information providing server SA can be reduced.

Next, the system control unit 4 has a registration time (that is, a registration time of the notification target product) associated with the user ID selected in step S8 and associated with the identified reference information of the notification target product. Then, it is determined whether or not the product to be detected is included in the period from the specific time point of the detection target product to the time point of the predetermined time (that is, before the past predetermined time) (step S9). When the system control unit 4 determines that the registration time of the notification target product is included between the specific time point of the detection target product and a time point that is a predetermined time (for example, 30 minutes) backward (step S9: YES), The process proceeds to step S10. Note that the session between the user terminal UTn of the user Un (for example, the user U2) indicated by the user ID selected in step S8 and the information providing server SA continues from the predetermined time before the specific time of the detection target product. (In other words, the process may proceed to step S10 only in the case where access is continuing from the predetermined time before the specific time point of the detection target product). That is, when the session between the user terminal UTn of the user Un (for example, the user U2) indicated by the user ID selected in step S8 and the information providing server SA is disconnected between the predetermined time and the specific time point. The notification information described above is not notified to the user Un indicated by the user ID (for example, due to the fact that browsing for product comparison review has ended and the browser has been closed immediately before the specific time point). Thereby, an increase in unnecessary notifications can be prevented, and the processing load on the information providing server SA can be reduced. On the other hand, when the system control unit 4 determines that the registration time of the notification target product is not included between the specific time point of the detection target product and a time point that is a predetermined time (for example, 30 minutes) backward (step S9: NO), the process proceeds to step S14.

In step S10, the system control unit 4 (reference information classifying unit 41c) determines the reference information of the notification target product and the relation related to the notification target product from the reference information associated with the user ID selected in step S8. The product reference information is extracted, and the plurality of reference information is classified into groups as described above based on the continuity of the registration intervals of the products indicated in the extracted reference information. Next, the system control unit 4 (reference information acquisition unit 41b) acquires a plurality of reference information included in the group to which the reference information of the notification target product belongs among the groups classified in step S10 (step S11).

Next, the system control unit 4 (notification condition determination unit 41d) determines whether or not the notification target product is a product that satisfies at least one of the above-described conditions (a) to (d). Is determined (step S12). If the system control unit 4 (notification condition determination unit 41d) determines that the notification target product is a product that satisfies the notification condition (step S12: YES), the process proceeds to step S13. On the other hand, if the system control unit 4 (notification condition determination unit 41d) determines that the notification target product is not a product satisfying the notification condition (step S12: NO), the process proceeds to step S14.

In step S13, the system control unit 4 (user notification unit 41f), the user Un indicated by the user ID associated with the reference information of the notification target product determined to satisfy the notification condition in step S12 (that is, the notification target). As described above, notification information indicating that there is a possibility that the notification target product that satisfies the notification condition may be interested in other users is notified to the user Un, for example, the user U2). For example, the system control unit 4 (user notification unit 41f) displays the notification information on a toolbar plugged into the Web browser by transmitting the notification information to the user terminal UT2 during the session. Alternatively, the system control unit 4 (user notification unit 41f) displays the notification information on the search result display page displayed in the window of the Web browser by transmitting the notification information to the user terminal UT2 that is continuing the session. .

In step S14, the system control unit 4 determines whether there is a user ID that has not yet been selected among the user IDs associated with the reference information of the identified notification target product. If the system control unit 4 determines that there is a user ID that has not yet been selected among the user IDs associated with the reference information of the identified notification target product (step S14: YES), the process proceeds to step S8. , One user ID that has not been selected is selected, and the processing from step S9 onward is executed. On the other hand, when the system control unit 4 determines that there is no user ID that has not yet been selected among the user IDs associated with the reference information of the identified notification target product (step S14: NO), the system control unit 4 performs the process. finish.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of a screen when notification information is displayed on a toolbar plugged into the Web browser. 6A shows an example of a screen before the notification information is displayed, and FIG. 6B shows an example of a screen when the notification information is displayed. The screens shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B are provided with a web browser toolbar 51 and a window 52, and a search result display page is displayed in the window 52. The search result display page is provided with a search word input unit 52a and a search result display unit 52b. Note that the search result display page scrolls on the window 52 in accordance with, for example, the movement of the scroll bar 53 by the scroll operation of the user U2. The search word input unit 52a is provided with a search word input field. After a search word is input to the search word input field, a search button including the search query is designated by the search button. It will be sent to SA. Further, the search result display section 52b is provided with a display area for displaying information on a plurality of products searched by the search query. In this display area, the name of the searched product, the common product code, the selling price, the seller name (here, the store name), the product image, and the like are displayed. In addition, a product link to a product detail display page is set in the name and the common product code displayed in the display area. Further, a bookmark registration button is provided in the display area, and when the bookmark registration button is designated, a bookmark registration request for a product associated with the display area is transmitted to the information providing server SA. It will be. In the example of FIG. 6B, notification information 51 a is displayed on the toolbar 51. In the notification information 51a shown in FIG. 6 (B), as a notification content, a character string (in this case, “more compact by other users” indicating that the notification target product may be interested in other users. A character string indicating that camera C-123 has been viewed! In this character example, a product link to a product detail display page is set. In addition, you may comprise so that the image showing that there exists a possibility that the notification object goods may be interested in another user is displayed on the toolbar 51. FIG.

On the other hand, FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example when notification information is displayed on the search result display page in the Web browser window. FIG. 7A shows an example screen before the notification information is displayed, and FIG. 7B shows an example screen when the notification information is displayed. The basic configuration of the screen shown in FIG. 7 (the configuration excluding the display of normal information) is the same as the screen shown in FIG. In the example of FIG. 7B, the notification information 52c is embedded and displayed in an empty area (an area where no character string and image are displayed) on the search result display page. Note that the notification information may be superimposed on the character string and the image displayed on the search result display page. In the notification information 52c shown in FIG. 7B, as a notification content, a character string (here, “by other user, The following product is browsed. ”, The name of the notification target product, the common product code, attribute information (sales price here), the product image, and the seller name. As a result, for example, the feature of the notification target product that the user U2 is interested in can be recognized or reminded to the user U2, for example. Also in the example of FIG. 7B, a product link to the product detail display page is set in the product name and the common product code. Furthermore, the notification information 52c includes, for example, a direct link (hyperlink to the URL of the purchase procedure page) to purchase procedure processing for the user U2 to purchase the notification target product. The “procedure” button 51d is set. Thereby, for example, the user U2 can quickly purchase the notification target product (for example, purchase before the user U1). Note that the notification information 52c may include a direct link to a reservation procedure process for making a purchase reservation for a product. In this case, the direct link is set to a purchase reservation button (not shown). For example, a reservation cancel condition may be set in the purchase reservation button.

6 and 7 are examples when the browsing operation (in other words, the browsing request) of the user U1 becomes a product detection trigger. By the way, for example, after the product detail display page is transmitted to the user terminal UT1 and displayed in step S5, the bookmark registration button or the shopping cart registration button provided on the product detail display page is designated by the operation of the user U1. If so, a bookmark registration request or a shopping cart registration request is transmitted from the user terminal UT1 to the information providing server SA via the network NW. Thereby, the system control unit 4 (detection target product specifying unit 41a) specifies the product identified by the product ID included in the received bookmark registration request or shopping cart registration request as the detection target product in step S6. Then, the processing after step S7 is executed. In the notification information in this case, as a notification content, a character string indicating that the notification target product may be interested in other users, for example, “the compact camera C-123 by another user Or “a character string indicating that the compact camera C-123 has been registered as a shopping cart by another user!”. That is, the system control unit 4 (user notification unit 41f) notifies notification information having different notification contents according to the type of operation that has led to the detection of the detection target product. Thereby, the user U2 can be made to grasp at a glance, for example, the degree of rush for purchase consideration of the notification target product.

Further, the notification information may include a numerical value representing an interest level corresponding to the type of operation that has led to detection of the detection target product as the notification content. For example, the higher the numerical value, the higher the interest level. For example, when the operation leading to the detection of the detection target product is a search operation, the interest level is set to “1” (set in the notification information), and the operation leading to the detection of the detection target product is a browsing operation. If there is, the interest level is set to “2”, and if the operation leading to the detection of the detection target product is a bookmark registration operation, the interest level is set to “3” to detect the detection target product. When the arrived operation is a shopping cart registration operation, the interest level is set to “4”. Such an interest level allows the user U2 to grasp the degree of urgency for considering the purchase of the notification target product at a glance.

Also, the color or size of the characters or images included in the notification information may be changed according to the type of operation that has led to detection of the detection target product. For example, when the operation that led to detection of the detection target product was a bookmark registration operation or a shopping cart registration operation, the size of the characters or images was the search operation or browsing operation that led to the detection of the detection target product It is set larger than the character or image size in the case (set in the notification information). Further, for example, when the operation leading to the detection of the detection target product is a bookmark registration operation or a shopping cart registration operation, the color of the character or the image indicates that the operation leading to the detection of the detection target product is a search operation or a browsing operation. It is set to be brighter (for example, lightness or saturation is higher) than the color of the character or image. Furthermore, the size of the display area where the notification information is displayed (for example, the area where the notification information 52c is displayed as shown in FIG. 7B) is changed according to the type of operation that led to the detection of the detection target product. You may comprise. For example, when the operation leading to the detection of the detection target product is a bookmark registration operation or a shopping cart registration operation, the size of the display area is that the operation leading to the detection of the detection target product is a search operation or a browsing operation It may be configured to be set larger than the size of the display area in the case.

Further, the system control unit 4 (user notification unit 41f) notifies the notification information in which the notification content is emphasized step by step as time elapses from the notification information notification start (for example, display start in the user terminal UTn). Also good. Thereby, the user U2 can be made to grasp at a glance, for example, the degree of rush for purchase consideration of the notification target product. In this case, the notification information is set so that the size of characters or images included as the notification content increases stepwise over time. Further, for example, the notification information may be set so that the color of characters or images included as the notification content becomes gradually brighter (for example, lightness or saturation is increased) as time passes. The notification information may be set such that, for example, characters or images included in the notification content blink, and the blinking interval becomes shorter as time elapses. Further, the notification information includes, for example, the notification content The size of the display area in which the displayed characters or images are displayed may be set to increase stepwise over time.

As described above, when the emphasis of the notification content becomes the largest, it is determined in consideration of, for example, an average time until the purchase of the product by the user U1 who has performed an operation in which the detection target product is a detection trigger. Good. In this case, the system control unit 4 functions as a time specifying unit, and based on the purchase history of the product purchased by the operation of the user U1, the time from the operation of the user U1 to the completion of the purchase of the product (hereinafter, “product” "Purchase completion time"). More specifically, the system control unit 4 acquires a browsing history (which may be a search history) and a purchase history associated with the user ID of the user U1, and is included in both the browsing history and the purchase history. A predetermined number of product IDs of products in the product category to which the detection target product belongs are specified. The system control unit 4 calculates, for each product ID, the elapsed time from the browsing time included in the acquired browsing history to the purchasing time included in the acquired purchase history for each specified product ID. Then, the system control unit 4 specifies the product purchase completion time based on the elapsed time calculated for each product ID. For example, an average value, a standard deviation value, or a median value of elapsed times calculated for each product ID is specified as the product purchase completion time. Thus, the system control unit 4 (user notification unit 41f) notifies the notification information in which the notification contents are emphasized step by step from the notification information notification start to the specified product purchase completion time. Thereby, for example, the user U2 can grasp the degree of urgency for the purchase examination considering the time until the purchase completion of the product by the user U1 at a glance.

Note that the system control unit 4 (user notification unit 41f) may notify the notification information in which the notification content is emphasized in stages according to the urgency from the start of notification of the notification information. Here, the urgency is based on, for example, the speed of the user U1 until the purchase procedure is completed or the purchase expected value of the user U1. When the speed to completion of the purchase procedure is applied, the system control unit 4 (user notification unit 41f) refers to the browsing history and purchase history of the user U1, and refers to the time from product browsing to product purchase (for example, average) Value or maximum value), and the notification content is stepwise according to the acquired time (for example, 0 to 2 minutes, 2 to 5 minutes, 5 to 10 minutes, etc.) Notify notice information to be emphasized. On the other hand, when the purchase expected value of the user U1 is applied, the system control unit 4 (user notification unit 41f) calculates the purchase expected value with reference to the browsing history and purchase history of the user U1, and calculates the calculated purchase. Notification information in which the content of notification is emphasized in stages is notified according to the expected value. Alternatively, the system control unit 4 (user notification unit 41f) may notify notification information in which notification content is emphasized in a display mode according to the urgency. For example, as the urgency is higher, the display mode of the notification content is emphasized in a more emphasized mode from the beginning (that is, from the start of displaying the notification information). When the speed to completion of the purchase procedure is applied, the system control unit 4 (user notification unit 41f) refers to the browsing history and purchase history of the user U1, and refers to the time from product browsing to product purchase (for example, average) Value or maximum value) is acquired, and notification information that is emphasized in a more emphasized manner is notified from the beginning as the obtained time is longer. On the other hand, when the purchase expected value of the user U1 is applied, the system control unit 4 (user notification unit 41f) calculates the purchase expected value with reference to the browsing history and purchase history of the user U1, and calculates the calculated purchase. As the expected value is higher, notification information that is emphasized in a more emphasized manner from the beginning is notified from the beginning. Here, the purchase expectation value is a value that quantitatively indicates the degree of expectation that the detection target product will be purchased. For example, the elapsed time from the latest purchase time to the current time is equal to or longer than the purchase interval (for example, specified from the purchase history) of the user U1 (in other words, a sufficient time has elapsed with respect to the normal purchase interval). ), The purchase expectation value is determined higher as the difference between the elapsed time and the purchase interval is larger. Alternatively, the purchase expectation value may be determined based on the purchase consideration level (initial or late) of the detection target product by the user U1. For example, from the browsing history of the user U1, the browsing status including at least one of the browsing time and the browsing count of the detection target product, the browsing time and the browsing count until the purchase of the product in the past (for example, browsing time or browsing) A purchase browsing result including at least one of the average number of times) is specified. If the browsing time or the number of browsing included in the browsing status of the detection target product is less than the browsing time or the number of browsing included in the browsing history at the time of purchase, the first purchase expectation value ( On the other hand, if the browsing time or number of browsing of the detection target product included in the browsing status is greater than or equal to the browsing time or number of browsing included in the browsing history at the time of purchase, As a result, the second purchase expectation value higher than the first purchase expectation value is determined. Alternatively, the expected purchase value may be determined based on the elapsed time from the browsing start time (or search start time) of the detection target product by the user U1. In this case, for example, the browsing start time (or search start time) of the detection target product is specified from the browsing history (or search history) of the user U1. The purchase expectation value is determined higher as the elapsed time from the browsing start time (or search start time) to the current time is shorter.

As described above, according to the above-described embodiment, the system control unit 4 identifies the product that is the detection target by the operation of the user U1 as the detection target product, and based on the information on the identified detection target product, The product registered before the specific time of the detection target product and registered as the reference target of the user U2 is specified as the notification target product. Then, the system control unit 4 acquires at least reference information of the identified notification target product, and when it is determined that the notification target product is a product that satisfies a predetermined notification condition, the user associated with the reference information Since it is configured to notify the user U2 indicated by the ID of notification information indicating that there is a possibility that the notification target product satisfying the notification condition may be of interest to other users, purchase consideration of the product It is possible to promptly notify the user U2 of whether the product is interested in other users. Thereby, purchase of the goods which user U2 desires can be promoted appropriately.

1 Communication unit 2 Storage unit 3 Input / output interface unit
4 System control unit STm Seller terminal UTn User terminal SA Information providing server

Claims

Product specifying means for specifying a product to be detected by an operation of the first user;
From the storage means for storing the reference information of the product registered as the reference target of the second user, the registration time of the product, and the user identification information of the second user in association with each second user, Reference information acquisition means for acquiring reference information of the product registered before the specific time point of the product based on information of the product specified by the product specifying means;
When the product indicated in the reference information acquired by the reference information acquisition unit is a product that satisfies a predetermined notification condition, for the second user indicated by the user identification information associated with the reference information, A notification means for notifying notification information indicating that there is a possibility that a product satisfying the notification condition may be of interest to other users;
An information processing apparatus comprising:
A continuity condition for the continuity of interest of the second user for the product indicated in the reference information is set as one of the notification conditions,
When the continuity of interest of the second user with respect to the product indicated by the reference information acquired by the reference information acquisition unit satisfies at least the continuity condition at the specific time, the notification unit includes the reference information. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the notification information is notified to the second user, assuming that the displayed product is a product that satisfies the notification condition.
3. The continuity condition includes a condition indicating continuity of a session or login between one or a plurality of terminals used by the second user and the information processing apparatus. The information processing apparatus described.
In the storage means, a search term used in reaching the registration of the product indicated in the reference information is stored in association with the reference information,
In the continuity condition, a search for another product is performed by an operation of the second user after registration of the product indicated by the reference information using a related search word related to the search word associated with the reference information. The information processing apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising a condition indicating that the operation has been performed.
A plurality of the reference information associated with the different user identification information, the search terms associated with each of the plurality of reference information of the same product, the related search terms for the same product The information processing apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising related search word determination means for determining
An inventory condition for the inventory amount of the product indicated in the reference information is set as one of the notification conditions,
The notification means, when the inventory amount of the product indicated in the reference information acquired by the reference information acquisition means satisfies at least the inventory condition at the specific time, the product indicated in the reference information satisfies the notification condition The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the notification information is notified to the second user as a product.
Comparing means for comparing the inventory amount of the product indicated by the reference information acquired by the reference information acquiring means with the demand amount of the product,
The notifying unit notifies the second user of the notification information only when it is determined from the comparison result by the comparing unit that the inventory amount of the product satisfies the inventory condition. The information processing apparatus according to claim 6.
An advantage condition for the superiority of the product is set as one of the notification conditions,
The reference information acquisition unit acquires the reference information of each product that is the same as the product specified by the product specifying unit and the product related to the product,
The notifying unit has the same product as the product specified by the product specifying unit among the products shown in each of the plurality of reference information acquired by the reference information acquiring unit, which at least matches the superiority condition. The notification information is notified to the second user on the assumption that the product is a product satisfying the notification condition. The information processing apparatus described.
An advantage condition for the superiority of the product is set as one of the notification conditions,
The product specifying unit specifies a product that is a detection target by the operation of the first user and a product related to the product,
The notification means, based on the information of the most matching product, when the detection target product is the product most matching the superiority condition among the products specified by the product specifying means. The notification information is notified to the second user on the assumption that the product indicated in the acquired reference information is a product satisfying the notification condition. The information processing apparatus according to item.
The type of operation of the first user includes a search operation, a browsing operation, and a registration operation.
10. The notification unit according to claim 1, wherein the notification unit notifies the notification information having different notification contents according to a type of the operation that has led to detection of the product specified by the product specifying unit. The information processing apparatus according to one item.
11. The notification unit according to claim 1, wherein the notification unit notifies the notification information in which notification content is emphasized step by step as time elapses from the start of notification of the notification information. Information processing device.
Based on the purchase history of the product purchased by the operation of the first user, further comprising time specifying means for specifying the time from the operation of the first user to the completion of the purchase of the product,
12. The notification unit according to claim 11, wherein the notification unit notifies the notification information in which the notification content is emphasized in stages from at least the start of notification of the notification information to the time specified by the time specifying unit. Information processing device.
Based on the continuity of the registration interval of the product indicated in each of the plurality of reference information stored in the storage means, further comprising a classification means for classifying the reference information stored in the storage means into a group,
The reference information acquisition unit acquires a plurality of the reference information included in the group to which the reference information of the same product as the product specified by the product specifying unit belongs among the groups classified by the classification unit. ,
For the second user indicated by the user identification information associated with the reference information of the product satisfying the notification condition among the products indicated by the plurality of reference information acquired by the reference information acquisition unit The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the notification information is notified.
A product whose browsing time or number of browsing specified by the browsing history of the product browsed by the browsing operation of the second user satisfies a predetermined browsing condition is set as a reference target of the second user corresponding to the browsing history. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising registration means for registering.
An information processing method executed by a computer,
A product specifying step for specifying a product to be detected by an operation of the first user;
From the storage means for storing the reference information of the product registered as the reference target of the second user, the registration time of the product, and the user identification information of the second user in association with each second user, A reference information acquisition step of acquiring reference information of the product registered before the specific time point of the product based on information of the product specified by the product specifying step;
When the product indicated in the reference information acquired by the reference information acquisition step is a product satisfying a predetermined notification condition, for the second user indicated by the user identification information associated with the reference information, A notification step for notifying notification information indicating that there is a possibility that a product satisfying the notification condition may be of interest to other users;
An information processing method comprising:
Computer
Product specifying means for specifying a product to be detected by an operation of the first user;
From the storage means for storing the reference information of the product registered as the reference target of the second user, the registration time of the product, and the user identification information of the second user in association with each second user, Reference information acquisition means for acquiring reference information of the product registered before the specific time point of the product based on information of the product specified by the product specifying means;
When the product indicated in the reference information acquired by the reference information acquisition unit is a product that satisfies a predetermined notification condition, for the second user indicated by the user identification information associated with the reference information, An information processing program that functions as a notification unit that notifies notification information indicating that a product that satisfies the notification condition may be interested in other users.