U.S. patent application number 16/456386 was filed with the patent office on 2019-12-05 for information acquisition method, information acquisition system, and information acquisition apparatus.
The applicant listed for this patent is Panasonic Intellectual Property Corporation of America. Invention is credited to Takako HIROSE, Masayuki KOZUKA, Yoshiyuki MIYABE, Toshihisa NAKANO, Motoji OHMORI, Kazuo OKAMURA, Tsuyoshi SAKATA, Masayoshi TOJIMA.
Application Number | 20190370829 16/456386 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 51536344 |
Filed Date | 2019-12-05 |
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United States Patent
Application |
20190370829 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
NAKANO; Toshihisa ; et
al. |
December 5, 2019 |
INFORMATION ACQUISITION METHOD, INFORMATION ACQUISITION SYSTEM, AND
INFORMATION ACQUISITION APPARATUS
Abstract
Provided is a server device (101) including: a
transmitting/receiving section (201) for receiving, from a
household electric appliance (102), an identifier for identifying
the household electric appliance (102) and an operation status of
the household electric appliance (102); an updating section (207)
for estimating a consumption status of a consumer good using the
received operation status so as to update the consumption status of
the consumer good stored in a utilization information accumulating
section (205) based on the estimated consumption status of the
consumer good; and a determination section (206) for deciding
whether or not to transmit a confirmation message for confirming
the consumer good being used with the household electric appliance,
based on the updated consumption status of the consumer good.
Inventors: |
NAKANO; Toshihisa; (Osaka,
JP) ; KOZUKA; Masayuki; (Osaka, JP) ; OHMORI;
Motoji; (Osaka, JP) ; HIROSE; Takako; (Kyoto,
JP) ; SAKATA; Tsuyoshi; (Kanagawa, JP) ;
MIYABE; Yoshiyuki; (Osaka, JP) ; OKAMURA; Kazuo;
(Osaka, JP) ; TOJIMA; Masayoshi; (Osaka,
JP) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Panasonic Intellectual Property Corporation of America |
Torrance |
CA |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
51536344 |
Appl. No.: |
16/456386 |
Filed: |
June 28, 2019 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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14400148 |
Nov 10, 2014 |
10445751 |
|
|
PCT/JP2014/001305 |
Mar 7, 2014 |
|
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16456386 |
|
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|
61776249 |
Mar 11, 2013 |
|
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06Q 30/0201 20130101;
G06Q 30/01 20130101 |
International
Class: |
G06Q 30/02 20060101
G06Q030/02; G06Q 30/00 20060101 G06Q030/00 |
Claims
1-16. (canceled)
17. An information obtaining method comprising: receiving
information regarding a consumer good used by a user with a
household electric appliance; obtaining a remaining amount of the
consumer good used with the household electric appliance using
information received from a sensor or information input by the
user; deciding whether or not the remaining amount of the consumer
good is less than or equal to a predetermined amount; and
transmitting a message including discount information or product
sample availability information of a product belonging to the same
product category as the consumer good used by the user and
different from the consumer good used by the user, when the
remaining amount of the consumer good is decided to be less than or
equal to the predetermined amount.
18. The information obtaining method according to claim 17, wherein
in the discount information, a discount rate of the different
product unused by the user is higher than the discount rate of the
different product already used by the user.
19. The information obtaining method according to claim 17, wherein
the product sample availability information is an information on a
product different from the consumer good used by the user, and is
unused by the user.
20. The information obtaining method according to claim 17, wherein
the message is transmitted to the household electric appliance or
an information appliance.
21. The information obtaining method according to claim 17, wherein
a quantity of the consumer good at a start of consumption is
determined in advance.
22. The information obtaining method according to claim 17, the
method further comprising: storing, in a first memory section, the
remaining amount of the consumer good used by the user; storing
information regarding a plurality of consumer goods in a second
memory section associating with a type of the household electric
appliance; receiving an appliance identifier for identifying the
household electric appliance; extracting, from the second memory
section, information regarding a plurality of consumer goods which
can be used with the household electric appliance associated with
the received appliance identifier; transmitting the extracted
information regarding the plurality of consumer goods as a consumer
goods list; and receiving the information regarding the consumer
good used by the user with the household electric appliance, from
among the consumer goods list.
23. The information obtaining method according to claim 17, the
method further comprising: obtaining information for identifying
the consumer good by reading a barcode provided on the consumer
good; receiving the obtained information for identifying the
consumer good; storing information regarding a plurality of
consumer goods in a second memory section; and extracting, from the
second memory section, the information regarding the consumer good
on which the barcode is provided, based on the received information
regarding the consumer good.
24. The information obtaining method according to claim 23, the
method further comprising: obtaining information for identifying
the consumer good by reading the barcode by means of an information
appliance different from the household electric appliance; and
receiving the information for identifying the consumer good, which
has been obtained by the information appliance, directly from the
information appliance, or receiving the information for identifying
the consumer good, which has been obtained by the information
appliance, via the household electric appliance.
25. The information obtaining method according to claim 17, the
method further comprising: storing information regarding a
plurality of consumer goods in a second memory section; reading out
information for identifying the consumer good from a wireless tag
provided on the consumer good; receiving the information for
identifying the consumer good read out from the wireless tag; and
extracting, from the second memory section, the information
regarding the consumer good on which the wireless tag is provided,
based on the received information for identifying the consumer
good.
26. The information obtaining method according to claim 25, the
method further comprising: reading out information for identifying
the consumer good from the wireless tag by means of an information
appliance different from the household electric appliance; and
receiving the information for identifying the consumer good, which
has been read out by the information appliance, directly from the
information appliance, or receiving the information for identifying
the consumer good, which has been read out by the information
appliance, via the household electric appliance.
27. The information obtaining method according to claim 17, the
method further comprising: receiving an amount of consumption of
the consumer good which is measured by the sensor; and obtaining
the remaining amount of the consumer good based on the received
amount of consumption of the consumer good.
28. The information obtaining method according to claim 17, wherein
the received information includes an operation status of the
household electric appliance, the operation status includes setting
information regarding an operation of the household electric
appliance which is set by the user for the household electric
appliance when operating the household electric appliance, and the
method further comprises: obtaining the amount of consumption of
the consumer good from the setting information by using a parameter
determined in advance according to the operation.
29. The information obtaining method according to claim 17, the
method further comprising: storing, in a third memory section,
setting information regarding an operation of the household
electric appliance which is set for the household electric
appliance when operating the household electric appliance using the
consumer good; extracting the setting information stored in the
third memory section based on the received information regarding a
consumer good; and transmitting the extracted setting information
to the household electric appliance.
30. An information obtaining system comprising: a server device;
and a household electric appliance communicatively connected to the
server device, wherein the server device includes: a receiving
section for receiving information regarding a consumer good used by
a user; an obtaining section for obtaining a remaining amount of
the consumer good used in the household electric appliance using
information received from a sensor or information input by the
user; a decision section for deciding whether or not the remaining
amount of the consumer good is less than or equal to a
predetermined amount; and a transmitting section for transmitting a
message including discount information or product sample
availability information of a product belonging to the same product
category as the consumer good used by the user and different from
the consumer good used by the user, when the decision section
decides that the remaining amount of the consumer good is less than
the predetermined amount, and wherein the household electric
appliance includes: a transmitting section for transmitting, to the
server device, the information regarding the consumer good used by
the user.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present invention relates to an information obtaining
method, an information obtaining system and an information
appliance for obtaining information regarding non-durable consumer
goods (hereinafter referred to as "consumer goods"), such as
laundry detergents or frozen foods, for use with household electric
appliances installed in a house, such as washing machines or
microwave ovens.
BACKGROUND ART
[0002] With a household electric appliance installed in a house
having a network connection function and being connected to a
server device outside the house, the server device can know the
utilization status of the household electric appliance. For
example, a server device can automatically obtain, from a
refrigerator installed in a house, the number of times the door has
been opened/closed and time information of the opening/closing of
the door, without accepting an input operation from a user. A
server device can automatically obtain, from a washing machine
installed in a house, information such as the washing start time,
without accepting an input operation from a user.
[0003] Such information obtained during use of household electric
appliances is useful information, for manufacturers manufacturing
household electric appliances, for knowing the utilization status
of the users, and it has been known that it is helpful for future
product improvements or marketing.
[0004] Patent Literature 1 discloses a technique whereby a washing
machine determines the type of the detergent put in ("powder
synthetic detergent", "soap powder", or "liquid detergent") so as
to put in an amount of disinfectant that is suitable for the type
of the detergent.
[0005] However, the household electric appliance (washing machine)
of Patent Literature 1 performs the same process for detergents of
the same type (e.g., "soap powders") even if the detergents are of
different makers, and is not capable of determining the maker or
the product name of a consumer good (e.g., a detergent) used.
CITATION LIST
Patent Literature
[0006] Patent Literature 1: Japanese Patent Application Publication
No. 2003-19389
SUMMARY OF INVENTION
[0007] The present invention has been made to solve the problems
set forth above, and an object thereof is to provide an information
obtaining method, an information obtaining system and an
information appliance capable of appropriately identifying a
consumer good used by a user with a household electric
appliance.
[0008] An information obtaining method according to one aspect of
the present invention includes: receiving information regarding a
consumer good which has been determined as a consumer good actually
used by a user with a household electric appliance; storing, in a
first memory section, a consumption status of the consumer good
which has been determined as a consumer good actually used by the
user, based on the received information regarding the consumer
good; receiving, from the household electric appliance, an
identifier for identifying the household electric appliance and an
operation status of the household electric appliance; estimating
the consumption status of the consumer good using the received
operation status; updating the consumption status of the consumer
good stored in the first memory section based on the estimated
consumption status of the consumer good; deciding whether or not to
transmit a confirmation message for confirming the consumer good
being used with the household electric appliance, based on the
updated consumption status of the consumer good; and transmitting
the confirmation message when it is decided that the confirmation
message is to be transmitted.
[0009] According to the present invention, the consumption status
of a consumer good is estimated by using the received operation
status; a confirmation message is transmitted at a timing when a
decision is made based on the estimated consumption status of the
consumer good; and information regarding a consumer good which has
been determined as a consumer good actually used by the user is
received as a response to the confirmation message. Therefore, it
is possible to appropriately identify a consumer good which the
user uses with a household electric appliance.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0010] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of a
point-of-use information obtaining system according to Embodiment 1
of the present invention.
[0011] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a configuration of a server
device according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.
[0012] FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of an appliance
information according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.
[0013] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a first
confirmation message for confirming the consumer good being
used.
[0014] FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of a second
confirmation message for confirming the consumer good being used
and providing discount information (e.g., a coupon).
[0015] FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of a third
confirmation message for confirming the consumer good being used
and providing a product sample of another consumer good different
from the consumer good being currently used.
[0016] FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of consumer good
information according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.
[0017] FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of user information
according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.
[0018] FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example of utilization
information according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.
[0019] FIG. 10A is a diagram showing an example of utilization
information before being updated at the start of consumption of a
new consumer good,
[0020] FIG. 10B is a diagram showing an example of utilization
information after being updated at the start of consumption of a
new consumer good.
[0021] FIG. 11A is a diagram showing an example of utilization
information before being updated at the start of consumption of a
new one of the same consumer good which has been used,
[0022] FIG. 11B is a diagram showing an example of utilization
information after being updated at the start of consumption of a
new one of the same consumer good which has been used.
[0023] FIG. 12A is a diagram showing an example of utilization
information before being updated when updating the consumption
status of a consumer good that is already being used,
[0024] FIG. 12B is a diagram showing an example of utilization
information after being updated when updating the consumption
status of a consumer good that is already being used.
[0025] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a configuration of a household
electric appliance according to Embodiment 1 of the present
invention.
[0026] FIG. 14 is a diagram showing a configuration of an
information appliance according to Embodiment 1 of the present
invention.
[0027] FIG. 15 is a flow chart showing an example of an operation
by which the server device obtains utilization information from a
household electric appliance for the first time according to
Embodiment 1 of the present invention.
[0028] FIG. 16 is a first flow chart showing an example of an
operation by which the server device, which has utilization
information already stored therein, obtains utilization information
from a household electric appliance according to Embodiment 1 of
the present invention.
[0029] FIG. 17 is a second flow chart showing an example of an
operation by which the server device, which has utilization
information already stored therein, obtains utilization information
from a household electric appliance according to Embodiment 1 of
the present invention.
[0030] FIG. 18 is a diagram showing a configuration of a
point-of-use information obtaining system according to Embodiment 2
of the present invention.
[0031] FIG. 19 is a diagram showing a configuration of a first
server device according to Embodiment 2 of the present
invention.
[0032] FIG. 20 is a diagram showing an example of sales information
according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention.
[0033] FIG. 21 is a diagram showing a configuration of a second
server device according to Embodiment 2 of the present
invention.
[0034] FIG. 22 is a flow chart showing an example of an operation
by which the first server device obtains utilization information
from a household electric appliance for the first time according to
Embodiment 2 of the present invention.
[0035] FIG. 23 is a first flow chart showing an example of an
operation by which the first server device, which has utilization
information already stored therein, obtains utilization information
from a household electric appliance according to Embodiment 2 of
the present invention.
[0036] FIG. 24 is a second flow chart showing an example of an
operation by which the first server device, which has utilization
information already stored therein, obtains utilization information
from a household electric appliance according to Embodiment 2 of
the present invention.
[0037] FIG. 25 is a diagram showing a configuration of a
point-of-use information obtaining system according to Embodiment 3
of the present invention.
[0038] FIG. 26 is a diagram showing a configuration of a household
electric appliance according to Embodiment 3 of the present
invention.
[0039] FIG. 27 is a flow chart showing an example of an operation
by which the server device obtains utilization information from a
household electric appliance for the first time according to
Embodiment 3 of the present invention.
[0040] FIG. 28 is a diagram showing a configuration of a
point-of-use information obtaining system according to Embodiment 4
of the present invention.
[0041] FIG. 29 is a diagram showing a configuration of a household
electric appliance according to Embodiment 4 of the present
invention.
[0042] FIG. 30 a flow chart showing an example of an operation by
which the server device obtains utilization information from a
household electric appliance for the first time according to
Embodiment 4 of the present invention.
[0043] FIG. 31 is a diagram showing a configuration of a
point-of-use information obtaining system according to Embodiment 5
of the present invention.
[0044] FIG. 32 is a diagram showing a configuration of a server
device according to Embodiment 5 of the present invention.
[0045] FIG. 33 is a diagram showing an example of setting
information according to Embodiment 5 of the present invention.
[0046] FIG. 34 is a diagram schematically showing a configuration
of a point-of-use information obtaining system in which a household
electric appliance manufacturer and a consumer good manufacturer
cooperate with each other so as to provide a coupon or a product
sample.
[0047] FIG. 35 is a diagram illustrating a method for connecting
together a household electric appliance and a server device.
[0048] FIG. 36 is a diagram schematically showing a configuration
of a point-of-use information obtaining system in which a household
electric appliance manufacturer and a consumer good manufacturer
cooperate with each other so as to provide a coupon or a product
sample.
[0049] FIG. 37 is a diagram schematically showing a configuration
of a point-of-use information obtaining system in which a household
electric appliance manufacturer and a consumer good manufacturer
cooperate with each other so as to provide setting information for
a household electric appliance.
DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS
[0050] Embodiments of the present invention will now be described
with reference to the drawings. Note that the following embodiments
are examples of embodying the present invention and are not to
restrict the technical scope of the present invention.
Embodiment 1
[0051] 1.1 Configuration of Point-of-Use Information Obtaining
System
[0052] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of a
point-of-use information obtaining system according to Embodiment 1
of the present invention. The point-of-use information obtaining
system according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention includes
a server device 101, a household electric appliance 102 and an
information appliance 103, as shown in FIG. 1.
[0053] The server device 101 is communicatively connected to the
household electric appliance 102 via a network 105, and is
communicatively connected to the information appliance 103 via the
network 105. Note that the network 105 is the Internet, for
example.
[0054] The server device 101 stores a consumer goods list
representing a list of consumer goods, and the server device 101
transmits a consumer goods list in response to a request from the
household electric appliance 102 and transmits a confirmation
message for confirming the consumer good being currently used to
the information appliance 103. In addition, the server device 101
receives, from the household electric appliance 102, and
accumulates information regarding the consumer good being currently
used by the household electric appliance 102.
[0055] The consumer good is consumed by the household electric
appliance, and the quantity thereof at the start of consumption is
determined in advance. The consumer good is, for example, a
detergent, a fabric softener, a frozen food, or the like. Note that
other examples of the consumer good will be given later.
[0056] The household electric appliance 102 is communicatively
connected to the server device 101 via the network 105.
[0057] The household electric appliance 102 receives the consumer
goods list from the server device 101, presents the received
consumer goods list to the user, and accepts an input of
information regarding a consumer good. The household electric
appliance 102 transmits the accepted information regarding a
consumer good to the server device 101.
[0058] The information appliance 103 is communicatively connected
to the server device 101 via the network 105.
[0059] The information appliance 103 receives a confirmation
message from the server device 101, presents the received
confirmation message to the user, and accepts an input of
information regarding a consumer good by the user. The information
appliance 103 transmits the accepted information regarding a
consumer good to the server device 101.
[0060] 1.2 Configuration of Server Device 101
[0061] Next, a detailed configuration of the server device 101 will
be described.
[0062] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a configuration of the server
device according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. As shown
in FIG. 2, the server device 101 includes a transmitting/receiving
section 201, a consumer good information storing section 202, a
notification information storing section 203, a user information
storing section 204, a utilization information accumulating section
205, a determination section 206, an updating section 207 and a
control section 208.
[0063] The server device 101 is implemented by a microprocessor, a
random access memory (RAM), a read only memory (ROM), a hard disk,
and the like, which are not specifically shown in the figure. The
RAM, the ROM or the hard disk stores computer programs, and the
functions of the server device 101 are implemented by the
microprocessor operating in accordance with the computer
programs.
[0064] Note that the functional blocks of the server device 101,
such as the transmitting/receiving section 201, the consumer good
information storing section 202, the notification information
storing section 203, the user information storing section 204, the
utilization information accumulating section 205, the determination
section 206, the updating section 207 and the control section 208,
may be typically implemented as a large scale integration (LSI)
which is an integrated circuit. The functional blocks may be
individually provided in single chips, and a single chip may
include one or more functional block or a part of a functional
block.
[0065] Although it is described as an LSI, it may be referred to as
an integrated circuit (IC), a system LSI, a super LSI or an ultra
LSI, depending on the degree of integration.
[0066] The method of circuit integration is not limited to LSI, but
it may be implemented by a dedicated circuit or a general-purpose
processor. One may employ a field programmable gate array (FPGA)
which can be programmed after the LSI production, or a
reconfigurable processor in which the connection or the setting of
circuit cells inside the LSI can be reconfigured after the LSI
production.
[0067] Moreover, if a circuit integration technique that replaces
LSI emerges because of the advancement of semiconductor technology
or alternative technology deriving therefrom, functional blocks may
of course be integrated by using such technology. For example, a
possible example of a circuit integration technique replacing LSI
may be an application of biotechnology, etc.
[0068] Finally, each functional block may be implemented by
software or a combination of LSI and software. The software may be
made tamper-resistant.
[0069] (1) Transmitting/Receiving Section 201
[0070] The transmitting/receiving section 201 receives, from the
household electric appliance 102, a request for a consumer goods
list, and appliance information including an identifier (appliance
ID) with which it is possible to uniquely identify the household
electric appliance 102. The transmitting/receiving section 201
receives, from the household electric appliance 102, a request for
information regarding a consumer good, and an identifier for
identifying the household electric appliance 102. FIG. 3 is a
diagram showing an example of appliance information according to
Embodiment 1. The example of appliance information shown in FIG. 3
indicates that the manufacturer (maker) of the household electric
appliance 102 is "Company P", the appliance category is "washing
machine", and the appliance ID is "0x123456". The
transmitting/receiving section 201 receives a part or whole of the
appliance information.
[0071] The transmitting/receiving section 201 transmits, to the
household electric appliance 102, one of the consumer goods lists
stored in the consumer good information storing section 202 that is
associated with the household electric appliance 102. The
transmitting/receiving section 201 extracts information regarding a
consumer good that can be used by the household electric appliance
associated with the identifier from the consumer good information
storing section 202, and transmits the extracted information
regarding the consumer good to the household electric appliance
102. Alternatively, the transmitting/receiving section 201 extracts
information regarding a plurality of consumer goods that can be
used by the household electric appliance associated with the
identifier from the consumer good information storing section 202,
and transmits the extracted information regarding the plurality of
consumer goods to the household electric appliance 102 as a
consumer goods list. A consumer goods list associated with the
household electric appliance 102 refers to, for example, a list of
laundry detergents, fabric softeners, bleaches, and the like, if
the household electric appliance 102 is a washing machine, and
refers to a list of foods, frozen foods, and the like, if the
household electric appliance 102 is a refrigerator.
[0072] The transmitting/receiving section 201 receives, from the
household electric appliance 102, information regarding the
consumer good selected or determined by the user based on the
consumer goods list. The transmitting/receiving section 201
receives, from the household electric appliance 102, information
regarding a consumer good which has been determined as a consumer
good actually used by the user. The transmitting/receiving section
201 also receives information regarding a consumer good, from the
consumer goods list, which has been determined as a consumer good
actually used by the user. Information regarding a consumer good
refers to, for example, the manufacturer name, the product category
or the product name of the consumer good, or a product ID, or the
like, with which it is possible to identify the product.
[0073] The transmitting/receiving section 201 receives, from the
household electric appliance 102, utilization information, such as
the amount of consumption of the consumer good used by the user.
For example, where the household electric appliance 102 is a
washing machine, the transmitting/receiving section 201 receives
the amount of consumption of the consumer good (laundry detergent)
which is measured by the washing machine itself. The
transmitting/receiving section 201 also receives, from the
household electric appliance 102, an identifier for identifying the
household electric appliance 102, and the operation status of the
household electric appliance 102. For example, where the household
electric appliance 102 is a washing machine, the
transmitting/receiving section 201 receives a utilization
notification indicating that the washing machine has been used. The
updating section 207 of the server device 101 to be described later
calculates the amount of consumption of the consumer good based on
the standard amount of consumption for a single use for the
consumer good.
[0074] The transmitting/receiving section 201 transmits, to the
information appliance 103, one of notification information
(confirmation messages) stored in the notification information
storing section 203 that is for confirming the consumer good being
used by the household electric appliance 102.
[0075] FIGS. 4 to 6 are diagrams showing examples of confirmation
messages. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a first
confirmation message for conforming the consumer good being used,
FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of a second confirmation
message for confirming the consumer good being used and providing
discount information (e.g., a coupon), and FIG. 6 is a diagram
showing an example of a third confirmation message for confirming
the consumer good being used and providing a product sample of
another consumer good different from the consumer good being
currently used.
[0076] The transmitting/receiving section 201 receives, from the
information appliance 103, user-input information (a response from
the user) for the confirmation message.
[0077] Moreover, the transmitting/receiving section 201 may
transmit, to the information appliance 103, one of the consumer
goods lists stored in the consumer good information storing section
202 that is associated with the household electric appliance 102.
The transmitting/receiving section 201 may transmit, to the
information appliance 103, information regarding a consumer good
that can be used by the household electric appliance associated
with the identifier extracted from the consumer good information
storing section 202. A consumer goods list associated with the
household electric appliance 102 refers to, for example, a list of
laundry detergents, fabric softeners, bleaches, and the like, if
the household electric appliance 102 is a washing machine, and
refers to a list of foods, frozen foods, and the like, if the
household electric appliance 102 is a refrigerator.
[0078] The transmitting/receiving section 201 may receive, from the
information appliance 103, information regarding the consumer good
selected or determined by the user based on the consumer goods
list. The transmitting/receiving section 201 may receive, from the
information appliance 103, information regarding the consumer good
which has been determined as a consumer good actually used by the
user. Information regarding a consumer good refers to, for example,
the manufacturer name, the product category or the product name of
the consumer good, or a product ID, or the like, with which it is
possible to identify the product.
[0079] (2) Consumer Good Information Storing Section 202
[0080] The consumer good information storing section 202 stores
information regarding consumer goods. The consumer good information
storing section 202 stores information regarding a consumer good
used by a household electric appliance while the information is
associated in advance with the type of the household electric
appliance. The consumer good information storing section 202 also
stores information regarding a plurality of consumer goods.
[0081] FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of consumer good
information according to Embodiment 1. The consumer good
information shown in FIG. 7 includes "appliance category"
indicating the type of the appliance with which the consumer good
is used, "manufacturer name" indicating the name of the company
manufacturing the consumer good, "product category" indicating the
type of the consumer good, "product ID" indicating the identifier
with which it is possible to identify the consumer good, "product
name" indicating the name of the consumer good, and "volume"
indicating the size, or the like, of the consumer good. For
example, a plurality of consumer goods are associated with washing
machines. For example, the consumer good information shown in FIG.
7 indicates that the "clothing detergent" manufactured by "Company
A" includes a product whose product ID is "5278" and whose product
name is "ATN", and that the volume thereof is "1.0 kg".
[0082] (3) Notification Information Storing Section 203
[0083] The notification information storing section 203 stores
messages to be notified to the user (e.g., a confirmation message).
The notification information storing section 203 stores a first
confirmation message, a second confirmation message and a third
confirmation message shown in FIGS. 4 to 6, for example. The
notification information storing section 203 stores a template of a
confirmation message, for example. A confirmation message is
created by inserting the product name of the consumer good into the
template of the confirmation message.
[0084] (4) User Information Storing Section 204
[0085] The user information storing section 204 stores information
(user information) regarding the user who uses the household
electric appliance 102 or uses the point-of-use information
obtaining system. FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of user
information according to Embodiment 1. The user information shown
in FIG. 8 includes "user ID" indicating the identifier with which
it is possible to uniquely identify the user, "family composition"
indicating the members of the family including the user, the age of
each family member, and the sex of each family member. The user
information also includes "appliance ID" for identifying household
electric appliances owned by the user or the user's family. The
user information further includes "information appliance ID" for
identifying the information appliance owned by the user. For
example, it can be seen that the family of the user associated with
user ID "324-5678" includes four people, and the user owns a
household electric appliance associated with appliance ID
"0x123456".
[0086] (5) Utilization Information Accumulating Section 205
[0087] The utilization information accumulating section 205
accumulates information regarding the utilization of consumer goods
for each household electric appliance. FIG. 9 is a diagram showing
an example of utilization information according to Embodiment 1.
The utilization information shown in FIG. 9 includes "appliance ID"
indicating the identifier for identifying the household electric
appliance, "product ID" indicating the identifier for identifying
the consumer good being used, "product name" indicating the name of
the consumer good being used, "volume" indicating the size, or the
like, of the consumer good, "consumption start date" indicating the
date of starting to use the consumer good, "amount of consumption"
indicating the amount of the consumer good that has been consumed
up to the present, and "estimated remaining amount" indicating the
current remaining amount of the consumer good. For example, the
utilization information shown in FIG. 9 indicates that the
household electric appliance associated with appliance ID
"0x123456" is using a consumer good associated with product ID
"5278" and product name "ATN", a consumer good associated with
product ID "88293" and product name "HMG", and a consumer good
associated with product ID "74839" and product name "WHT", and that
the estimated remaining amounts of the consumer goods are "50%",
"30%" and "80%", respectively.
[0088] (6) Updating Section 207
[0089] The updating section 207 updates the utilization information
accumulated by the utilization information accumulating section 205
based on information regarding a consumer good received by the
transmitting/receiving section 201. The updating section 207
stores, in the utilization information accumulating section 205,
the consumption status of the consumer good which has been
determined as the consumer good actually used by the user, based on
information regarding the consumer good received by the
transmitting/receiving section 201. The updating section 207 may
update the consumption status of the consumer good stored in the
utilization information accumulating section 205 based on the
amount of consumption of the consumer good received by the
transmitting/receiving section 201.
[0090] The updating section 207 may estimate the consumption status
of the consumer good by using the operation status received by the
transmitting/receiving section 201 so as to update the consumption
status of the consumer good stored in the utilization information
accumulating section 205 based on the estimated consumption status
of the consumer good. The operation status includes setting
information regarding the operation of the household electric
appliance 102, which is set by the user for the household electric
appliance 102 when operating the household electric appliance 102.
The updating section 207 calculates the amount of consumption of
the consumer good from the setting information using a parameter
determined in advance according to the operation of the household
electric appliance 102.
[0091] The utilization information accumulating section 205 further
stores the remaining amount of the consumer good. The updating
section 207 may estimate, as the consumption status, the remaining
amount of the consumer good using the operation status received by
the transmitting/receiving section 201 so as to update the
remaining amount of the consumer good stored in the utilization
information accumulating section 205 based on the estimated
remaining amount of the consumer good.
[0092] FIG. 10A is a diagram showing an example of utilization
information before being updated at the start of consumption of a
new consumer good, and FIG. 10B is a diagram showing an example of
utilization information after being updated at the start of
consumption of a new consumer good. For example, if the
transmitting/receiving section 201 receives, as information
regarding a consumer good, a manufacturer name "Company A", a
product ID "74839" and a product name "WHT", the updating section
207 updates the utilization information stored in the utilization
information accumulating section 205 as shown in FIG. 10. Now, the
consumption start date is the date when the information regarding
the consumer good is received, when the amount of consumption is 0
ml and the estimated remaining amount is 100%.
[0093] FIG. 11A is a diagram showing an example of utilization
information before being updated at the start of consumption of a
new one of the same consumer good which has been used, and FIG. 11B
is a diagram showing an example of utilization information after
being updated at the start of consumption of a new one of the same
consumer good which has been used. If the transmitting/receiving
section 201 receives information regarding a consumer good that
already exists in the utilization information, the updating section
207 updates the utilization information stored in the utilization
information accumulating section 205 as shown in FIG. 11B.
[0094] For example, at the start of consumption of a new one of the
same fabric softener associated with the manufacturer name "Company
A", the product ID "88293" and the product name "HMG" which has
already been used, the updating section 207 updates the consumption
start date, the amount of consumption and the estimated remaining
amount already stored associated with the product ID "88293" and
the product name "HMG". Now, the consumption start date is the date
when the information regarding the consumer good is received, when
the amount of consumption is 0 ml and the estimated remaining
amount is 100%.
[0095] FIG. 12A is a diagram showing an example of utilization
information before being updated when updating the consumption
status of a consumer good that is already being used, and FIG. 12B
is a diagram showing an example of utilization information after
being updated when updating the consumption status of a consumer
good that is already being used. The updating section 207 updates
the utilization information accumulated in the utilization
information accumulating section 205 based on the utilization
information such as the amount of consumption of the consumer good
received by the transmitting/receiving section 201. For example, if
the transmitting/receiving section 201 receives utilization
information, from the household electric appliance associated with
the appliance ID "0x123456", indicating that 100 g of the clothing
detergent associated with the product ID "5278" and the product
name "ATN" has been used, the updating section 207 updates the
utilization information stored in the utilization information
accumulating section 205 as shown in FIG. 12B. Herein, the amount
of consumption is updated to 600 g, and the estimated remaining
amount is updated to 40%.
[0096] (7) Determination Section 206
[0097] The determination section 206 determines whether or not the
estimated remaining amount included in the utilization information
accumulated in the utilization information accumulating section 205
is less than or equal to a predetermined set value. When it is
determined that the estimated remaining amount is not less than or
equal to a predetermined set value, the determination section 206
does nothing. When it is determined that the estimated remaining
amount is less than or equal to a predetermined set value, the
determination section 206 transmits a notification information
(confirmation message) via the transmitting/receiving section
201.
[0098] The determination section 206 determines whether or not to
transmit a confirmation message for confirming the consumer good
being used, based on the updated consumption status of the consumer
good. The determination section 206 also determines whether or not
the updated remaining amount of the consumer good is less than or
equal to a predetermined value. When it is determined that the
updated remaining amount of the consumer good is less than or equal
to a predetermined value, the transmitting/receiving section 201
transmits a confirmation message for confirming the consumer good
being used.
[0099] For example, with the utilization information of FIG. 9, if
the set value is 30%, the determination section 206 determines that
the estimated remaining amount of the consumer good associated with
the product name "HMG" and the product "88293" is less than or
equal to 30%. Then, the determination section 206 transmits the
first confirmation message, the second confirmation message or the
third confirmation message shown in FIG. 4, FIG. 5 or FIG. 6, for
example, via the transmitting/receiving section 201. The first
confirmation message is composed of a sentence "Is the fabric
softener you are using "HMG"?", the second confirmation message is
composed of a sentence "Isn't the fabric softener "HMG" you are
using running low? Now you can obtain a good coupon", and the third
confirmation message is composed of a sentence "Isn't the fabric
softener "HMG" you are using running low? Now you can try a free
sample of the fabric softener "SFN"".
[0100] The determination section 206 determines whether or not the
user input (a response from the user for the confirmation message)
received via the transmitting/receiving section 201 coincides with
the utilization information accumulated in the utilization
information accumulating section 205. That is, the determination
section 206 determines whether or not the consumer good being
currently used by the user coincides with the consumer good
included in the utilization information accumulated in the
utilization information accumulating section 205. When it is
determined that the consumer good being currently used by the user
coincides with the consumer good included in the utilization
information, the determination section 206 does nothing. If the
consumer good being currently used by the user does not coincide
with the consumer good included in the utilization information, the
determination section 206 transmits, via the transmitting/receiving
section 201, one of the consumer goods lists stored in the consumer
good information storing section 202 that is associated with the
household electric appliance 102.
[0101] For example, if the first confirmation message "Is the
fabric softener you are using "HMG"?" is transmitted based on the
utilization information of FIG. 9, and a response from the user
"Yes" is received, the determination section 206 does nothing. On
the other hand, if the first confirmation message "Is the fabric
softener you are using "HMG"?" is transmitted and a response from
the user "No" is received, the determination section 206 transmits
a consumer goods list via the transmitting/receiving section
201.
[0102] Note that the determination section 206 may determine
whether or not the updated remaining amount of the consumer good is
0. When it is determined that the updated remaining amount of the
consumer good is 0, the transmitting/receiving section 201 may
transmit a confirmation message for confirming the consumer good
being used.
[0103] (8) Control Section 208
[0104] The control section 208 implements the functions of the
server device 101 by managing and controlling the
transmitting/receiving section 201, the consumer good information
storing section 202, the notification information storing section
203, the user information storing section 204, the utilization
information accumulating section 205, the determination section 206
and the updating section 207 described above.
[0105] 1.3 Configuration of Household Electric Appliance 102
[0106] Next, a detailed configuration of the household electric
appliance 102 will be described.
[0107] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a configuration of a household
electric appliance according to Embodiment 1 of the present
invention. As shown in FIG. 13, the household electric appliance
102 includes a transmitting/receiving section 301, a display
section 302, a utilization information obtaining section 303, an
input accepting section 304, an appliance information storing
section 305 and a control section 306.
[0108] The household electric appliance 102 is implemented by a
microprocessor, a RAM, a ROM, a hard disk, and the like, which are
not specifically shown in the figure. The RAM, the ROM or the hard
disk stores computer programs, and the functions of the household
electric appliance 102 are implemented by the microprocessor
operating in accordance with the computer programs.
[0109] Note that the functional blocks, such as the
transmitting/receiving section 301, the display section 302, the
utilization information obtaining section 303, the input accepting
section 304, the appliance information storing section 305 and the
control section 306, may be implemented as LSIs which are typically
integrated circuits. The functional blocks may be individually
provided in single chips, and a single chip may include one or more
functional block or a part of a functional block.
[0110] Although it is described as an LSI, it may be referred to as
an IC, a system LSI, a super LSI or an ultra LSI, depending on the
degree of integration.
[0111] The method of circuit integration is not limited to LSI, but
it may be implemented by a dedicated circuit or a general-purpose
processor. One may employ an FPGA which can be programmed after the
LSI production, or a reconfigurable processor in which the
connection or the setting of circuit cells inside the LSI can be
reconfigured after the LSI production.
[0112] Moreover, if a circuit integration technique that replaces
LSI emerges because of the advancement of semiconductor technology
or alternative technology deriving therefrom, functional blocks may
of course be integrated by using such technology. For example, a
possible example of a circuit integration technique replacing LSI
may be an application of biotechnology, etc.
[0113] Finally, each functional block may be implemented by
software or a combination of LSI and software. The software may be
made tamper-resistant.
[0114] (1) Transmitting/Receiving Section 301
[0115] The transmitting/receiving section 301 transmits, to the
server device 101, a request for a consumer goods list, and
appliance information including an identifier (appliance ID) with
which it is possible to uniquely identify the household electric
appliance 102. The example of appliance information shown in FIG. 3
indicates that the manufacturer (maker) of the household electric
appliance 102 is "Company P", the appliance category is "washing
machine", and the appliance ID is "0x123456". The
transmitting/receiving section 301 transmits a part or whole of the
appliance information.
[0116] The transmitting/receiving section 301 receives a consumer
goods list associated with the household electric appliance 102
from the server device 101.
[0117] The transmitting/receiving section 301 transmits, to the
server device 101, user-input information accepted by the input
accepting section 304 for the consumer goods list displayed by the
display section 302, i.e., information regarding the consumer good
selected or determined by the user based on the consumer goods
list. Information regarding a consumer good refers to, for example,
the manufacturer name, the product category or the product name of
the consumer good, or a product ID, or the like, with which it is
possible to identify the product.
[0118] The transmitting/receiving section 301 transmits, to the
server device 101, utilization information, such as the amount of
consumption of the consumer good obtained by the utilization
information obtaining section 303. For example, where the household
electric appliance 102 is a washing machine, the
transmitting/receiving section 301 transmits the amount of
consumption of the consumer good (laundry detergent) which is
measured by the washing machine itself. The transmitting/receiving
section 301 also transmits, to the server device 101, an identifier
for identifying the household electric appliance 102, and the
operation status of the household electric appliance 102. For
example, where the household electric appliance 102 is a washing
machine, the transmitting/receiving section 301 receives a
utilization notification indicating that the washing machine has
been used. The server device 101 calculates the amount of
consumption of the consumer good based on the standard amount of
consumption for a single use for the consumer good. With a washing
machine, the amount of detergent is determined based on the washing
course, the amount of clothing in the wash tub, etc. Thus, the
amount of detergent consumed can be calculated once the setting
information, such as the washing course and the amount of clothing
in the wash tub, is known.
[0119] (2) Display Section 302
[0120] The display section 302 displays, and presents to the user,
a consumer goods list received via the transmitting/receiving
section 301. The display section 302 displays the information
regarding a consumer good received by the transmitting/receiving
section 301.
[0121] (3) Utilization Information Obtaining Section 303
[0122] The utilization information obtaining section 303 obtains
utilization information such as the amount of consumption of the
consumer good. For example, where the household electric appliance
102 is a washing machine, the household electric appliance 102 may
include a tank for storing a laundry detergent in advance, and a
sensor for measuring the actually amount of consumption of the
laundry detergent which is put and stored in the tank in advance.
The utilization information obtaining section 303 may obtain, as
utilization information, information indicating that the washing
machine has been used. That is, the utilization information
obtaining section 303 may obtain the operation status of the
household electric appliance 102.
[0123] (4) Input Accepting Section 304
[0124] The input accepting section 304 accepts user-input
information for the consumer goods list displayed by the display
section 302, i.e., information regarding the consumer good selected
or determined by the user based on the consumer goods list. The
input accepting section 304 accepts user's selection of a consumer
good actually used from the consumer goods list displayed by the
display section 302.
[0125] (5) Appliance Information Storing Section 305
[0126] The appliance information storing section 305 stores
appliance information with which it is possible to uniquely
identify the household electric appliance 102. The appliance
information includes the manufacturer name of the manufacturer who
manufactured the household electric appliance, the appliance
category indicating the type of the household electric appliance,
and the appliance ID for identifying the household electric
appliance. The example of appliance information shown in FIG. 3
indicates that the manufacturer (maker) of the household electric
appliance 102 is "Company P", the appliance category is "washing
machine", and the appliance ID is "0x123456".
[0127] (6) Control Section 306
[0128] The control section 306 implements the functions of the
household electric appliance 102 by managing and controlling the
transmitting/receiving section 301, the display section 302, the
utilization information obtaining section 303, the input accepting
section 304 and the appliance information storing section 305
described above.
[0129] 1.4 Configuration of Information Appliance 103
[0130] Next, a detailed configuration of the information appliance
103 will be described.
[0131] FIG. 14 is a diagram showing a configuration of an
information appliance according to Embodiment 1 of the present
invention. As shown in FIG. 14, the information appliance 103
includes a transmitting/receiving section 401, a display section
402, an input accepting section 403 and a control section 404.
[0132] The information appliance 103 is implemented by a
microprocessor, a RAM, a ROM, a hard disk, and the like, which are
not specifically shown in the figure. The RAM, the ROM or the hard
disk stores computer programs, and the functions of the information
appliance 103 are implemented by the microprocessor operating in
accordance with the computer programs.
[0133] Note that the functional blocks, such as the
transmitting/receiving section 401, the display section 402, the
input accepting section 403 and the control section 404, may be
implemented as LSIs which are typically integrated circuits. The
functional blocks may be individually provided in single chips, and
a single chip may include one or more functional block or a part of
a functional block.
[0134] Although it is described as an LSI, it may be referred to as
an IC, a system LSI, a super LSI or an ultra LSI, depending on the
degree of integration.
[0135] The method of circuit integration is not limited to LSI, but
it may be implemented by a dedicated circuit or a general-purpose
processor. One may employ an FPGA which can be programmed after the
LSI production, or a reconfigurable processor in which the
connection or the setting of circuit cells inside the LSI can be
reconfigured after the LSI production.
[0136] Moreover, if a circuit integration technique that replaces
LSI emerges because of the advancement of semiconductor technology
or alternative technology deriving therefrom, functional blocks may
of course be integrated by using such technology. For example, a
possible example of a circuit integration technique replacing LSI
may be an application of biotechnology, etc.
[0137] Finally, each functional block may be implemented by
software or a combination of LSI and software. The software may be
made tamper-resistant.
[0138] (1) Transmitting/Receiving Section 401
[0139] The transmitting/receiving section 401 receives, from the
server device 101, a confirmation message with which the household
electric appliance 102 confirms the consumer good being used.
[0140] The transmitting/receiving section 401 transmits, to the
server device 101, user-input information accepted by the input
accepting section 403 for the confirmation message displayed by the
display section 402, i.e., a response from the user.
[0141] The transmitting/receiving section 401 receives, from the
server device 101, a consumer goods list associated with the
household electric appliance 102.
[0142] The transmitting/receiving section 401 transmits, to the
server device 101, user-input information accepted by the input
accepting section 403 for the consumer goods list displayed by the
display section 402, i.e., information regarding the consumer good
selected or determined by the user based on the consumer goods
list. Information regarding a consumer good refers to, for example,
the manufacturer name, the product category or the product name of
the consumer good, or a product ID, or the like, with which it is
possible to identify the product.
[0143] (2) Display Section 402
[0144] The display section 402 displays, and presents to the user,
a confirmation message received via the transmitting/receiving
section 401.
[0145] (3) Input Accepting Section 403
[0146] The input accepting section 403 accepts a user input (a
response from the user) for the confirmation message displayed by
the display section 402.
[0147] The input accepting section 403 accepts user-input
information for the consumer goods list displayed by the display
section 402, i.e., information regarding the consumer good selected
or determined by the user based on the consumer goods list. The
input accepting section 403 accepts user's selection of a consumer
good actually used from the consumer goods list displayed by the
display section 402.
[0148] (4) Control Section 404
[0149] The control section 404 implements the functions of the
information appliance 103 by managing and controlling the
transmitting/receiving section 401, the display section 402 and the
input accepting section 403 described above.
[0150] 1.5 Operation by which Server Device Obtains Utilization
Information from Household Electric Appliance
[0151] An example of an operation by which the server device 101
obtains utilization information from the household electric
appliance 102 will be described with reference to FIGS. 15 to
17.
[0152] FIG. 15 is a flow chart showing an example of an operation
by which the server device obtains utilization information from a
household electric appliance for the first time according to
Embodiment 1 of the present invention.
[0153] First, the transmitting/receiving section 301 of the
household electric appliance 102 transmits, to the server device
101, a request for a consumer goods list, and appliance information
stored in the appliance information storing section 305 (step S1).
Note that the timing at which the transmitting/receiving section
301 transmits the request for a consumer goods list and the
appliance information to the server device 101 is, for example, the
timing at which the power of the household electric appliance 102
is turned ON for the first time, the timing at which a button for
requesting a consumer goods list, which is provided on the
household electric appliance 102, is pressed, the timing at which
the household electric appliance 102 is connected to a network for
the first time, or the like.
[0154] Then, the transmitting/receiving section 201 of the server
device 101 receives the request for a consumer goods list and the
appliance information transmitted by the household electric
appliance 102 (step S2).
[0155] Then, the transmitting/receiving section 201 extracts, from
the consumer good information storing section 202, a consumer good
information associated with the appliance category included in the
received appliance information (step S3). Note that the consumer
good information includes the appliance category, the manufacturer
name, the product category, the product ID, the product name and
the volume. The consumer good information may also include an image
of the consumer good.
[0156] Then, the transmitting/receiving section 201 transmits, to
the household electric appliance 102, the extracted consumer good
information as a consumer goods list (step S4). Note that the
consumer goods list includes at least one piece of consumer good
information.
[0157] Then, the transmitting/receiving section 301 of the
household electric appliance 102 receives the consumer goods list
transmitted by the server device 101 (step S5).
[0158] Then, the display section 302 displays the consumer goods
list received by the transmitting/receiving section 301 (step S6).
In this process, the display section 302 does not need to display
all of the consumer good information, but may display only some of
the consumer good information (e.g., the product name) with which
it is possible to identify the consumer good. The display section
302 may also display an image of the consumer good. Thus, the user
can more easily select the consumer good being currently used.
[0159] Then, the input accepting section 304 accepts a user input
(step S7). The input accepting section 304 accepts selection of a
consumer good being currently used by the user from the consumer
goods list being displayed. Where the input accepting section 304
is implemented by a touch panel, for example, the user touches the
consumer good being currently used by the user from the consumer
goods list displayed on the display section 302. Where the input
accepting section 304 is implemented by a button, for example, the
user presses a button so as to select the consumer good being
currently used by the user from the consumer goods list being
displayed on the display section 302.
[0160] Then, the transmitting/receiving section 301 transmits, to
the server device 101, information regarding a consumer good
(consumer good information) accepted by the input accepting section
304 (step S8).
[0161] Then, the transmitting/receiving section 201 of the server
device 101 receives information regarding a consumer good (consumer
good information) transmitted by the household electric appliance
102 (step S9).
[0162] Then, the updating section 207 updates the utilization
information accumulated in the utilization information accumulating
section 205 based on the consumer good information received by the
transmitting/receiving section 201 (step S10). In this process,
utilization information associated with the consumer good
identified by the consumer good information received this time is
not accumulated in the utilization information accumulating section
205. Therefore, the updating section 207 newly stores, in the
utilization information accumulating section 205, utilization
information in which the product ID, the product name and the
volume included in the consumer good information are associated
with the appliance ID. In this process, the updating section 207
uses the date when the consumer good information is received from
the household electric appliance 102 as the consumption start date,
"0" as the amount of consumption, and "100%" as the estimated
remaining amount value, to be included in the utilization
information.
[0163] Next, an operation by which the server device 101, which has
utilization information already stored therein, obtains utilization
information from the household electric appliance 102 will be
described.
[0164] FIG. 16 is a first flow chart showing an example of an
operation by which the server device, which has utilization
information already stored therein, obtains utilization information
from a household electric appliance according to Embodiment 1 of
the present invention, and FIG. 17 is a second flow chart showing
an example of an operation by which the server device, which has
utilization information already stored therein, obtains utilization
information from a household electric appliance according to
Embodiment 1 of the present invention.
[0165] First, the utilization information obtaining section 303 of
the household electric appliance 102 obtains utilization
information (step S21).
[0166] Then, the transmitting/receiving section 301 transmits, to
the server device 101, the utilization information obtained by the
utilization information obtaining section 303 (step S22).
[0167] Then, the transmitting/receiving section 201 of the server
device 101 receives the utilization information transmitted by the
household electric appliance 102 (step S23).
[0168] Then, the updating section 207 calculates the remaining
amount of the consumer good based on the utilization information
received by the transmitting/receiving section 201 (step S24). If
the utilization information includes the operation status of the
household electric appliance 102, the updating section 207
calculates the remaining amount of the consumer good based on the
operation status of the household electric appliance 102. Note that
if the utilization information includes the amount of consumption
of the consumer good, the updating section 207 calculates the
remaining amount of the consumer good based on the volume of the
consumer good and the amount of consumption of the consumer good.
Although the remaining amount of a consumer good in Embodiment 1 is
expressed as a percent, the present invention is not limited to
this, and it may be expressed as a value obtained by subtracting
the amount of consumption of the consumer good from the volume of
the consumer good.
[0169] Then, the updating section 207 updates the utilization
information accumulated in the utilization information accumulating
section 205 based on the utilization information received by the
transmitting/receiving section 201 and the remaining amount
calculated (step S25). In this process, the utilization information
associated with the consumer good identified by the utilization
information received this time is already accumulated in the
utilization information accumulating section 205. Therefore, the
updating section 207 updates the amount of consumption included in
the utilization information accumulated in the utilization
information accumulating section 205 to the amount of consumption
included in the received utilization information or the amount of
consumption calculated from the utilization information. The
updating section 207 also updates the remaining amount included in
the utilization information accumulated in the utilization
information accumulating section 205 to the remaining amount
calculated from the received utilization information.
[0170] Then, the determination section 206 of the server device 101
determines whether or not the estimated remaining amount of the
utilization information accumulated in the utilization information
accumulating section 205 is less than or equal to a predetermined
set value (step S26). When it is determined that the estimated
remaining amount is not less than or equal to a set value (NO in
step S26), the determination section 206 does nothing and the
process ends.
[0171] On the other hand, when it is determined that the estimated
remaining amount is less than or equal to a set value (YES in step
S26), the determination section 206 obtains notification
information stored in the notification information storing section
203 (step S27). The notification information is a confirmation
message for confirming the consumer good being used. The
determination section 206 creates a confirmation message by reading
out a confirmation message stored in the notification information
storing section 203, and inserting the product name included in the
utilization information into the read-out confirmation message.
[0172] Then, the transmitting/receiving section 201 transmits the
obtained notification information (confirmation message) to the
information appliance 103 (step S28).
[0173] Then, the transmitting/receiving section 401 of the
information appliance 103 receives the notification information
(confirmation message) transmitted by the server device 101 (step
S29).
[0174] Then, the display section 402 displays the notification
information (confirmation message) received by the
transmitting/receiving section 401 (step S30).
[0175] Then, the input accepting section 403 of the information
appliance 103 accepts a user input, i.e., a response from the user
for the confirmation message (step S31).
[0176] Then, the transmitting/receiving section 401 transmits, to
the server device 101, response information for the confirmation
message accepted by the input accepting section 403 (step S32).
[0177] Then, the transmitting/receiving section 201 of the server
device 101 receives the response information transmitted by the
information appliance 103 (step S33).
[0178] Then, the determination section 206 determines whether or
not the consumer good identified by the utilization information
accumulated in the utilization information accumulating section 205
coincides with the consumer good being currently actually used by
the user based on the response information received by the
transmitting/receiving section 201 (step S34).
[0179] That is, if affirmative response information is obtained for
the confirmation message for confirming whether or not the consumer
good identified by the utilization information accumulated in the
utilization information accumulating section 205 coincides with the
consumer good being currently actually used by the user, the
determination section 206 determines that the consumer good
identified by the utilization information accumulated in the
utilization information accumulating section 205 coincides with the
consumer good being currently actually used by the user. If
negative response information is obtained for the confirmation
message, the determination section 206 determines that the consumer
good identified by the utilization information accumulated in the
utilization information accumulating section 205 does not coincide
with the consumer good being currently actually used by the
user.
[0180] When it is determined that the consumer good identified by
the utilization information coincides with the consumer good being
currently actually used by the user (YES in step S34), the
determination section 206 does nothing and the process ends.
[0181] On the other hand, when it is determined that the consumer
good identified by the utilization information does not coincide
with the consumer good being currently actually used by the user
(NO in step S34), the transmitting/receiving section 201 of the
server device 101 extracts the consumer good information associated
with the appliance ID included in the utilization information from
the consumer good information storing section 202 (step S35). Note
that the consumer good information includes the appliance category,
the manufacturer name, the product category, the product ID, the
product name and the volume. The consumer good information may also
include an image of the consumer good.
[0182] Then, the transmitting/receiving section 201 transmits, to
the information appliance 103, the extracted consumer good
information as a consumer goods list (step S36). Note that the
consumer goods list includes at least one piece of consumer good
information.
[0183] Then, the transmitting/receiving section 401 of the
information appliance 103 receives the consumer goods list
transmitted by the server device 101 (step S37).
[0184] Then, the display section 402 displays the consumer goods
list received by the transmitting/receiving section 401 (step S38).
In this process, the display section 402 does not need to display
all of the consumer good information, but may display only some of
the consumer good information (e.g., the product name) with which
it is possible to identify the consumer good. The display section
402 may also display an image of the consumer good. Thus, the user
can more easily select the consumer good being currently used.
[0185] Then, the input accepting section 403 accepts a user input
(step S39). The input accepting section 403 accepts selection of a
consumer good being currently used by the user from the consumer
goods list being displayed. Where the input accepting section 403
is implemented by a touch panel, for example, the user touches the
consumer good being currently used by the user from the consumer
goods list displayed on the display section 402. Where the input
accepting section 403 is implemented by a button, for example, the
user presses a button so as to select the consumer good being
currently used by the user from the consumer goods list being
displayed on the display section 402.
[0186] Then, the transmitting/receiving section 401 transmits, to
the server device 101, information regarding a consumer good
(consumer good information) accepted by the input accepting section
403 (step S40).
[0187] Then, the transmitting/receiving section 201 of the server
device 101 receives information regarding a consumer good (consumer
good information) transmitted by the information appliance 103
(step S41).
[0188] Then, the updating section 207 updates the utilization
information accumulated in the utilization information accumulating
section 205 based on the consumer good information received by the
transmitting/receiving section 201 (step S42). In this process,
utilization information associated with the consumer good
identified by the consumer good information received this time is
not accumulated in the utilization information accumulating section
205. Therefore, the updating section 207 newly stores, in the
utilization information accumulating section 205, utilization
information in which the product ID, the product name and the
volume included in the consumer good information are associated
with the appliance ID. In this process, the updating section 207
uses the date when the consumer good information is received from
the household electric appliance 102 as the consumption start date,
"0" as the amount of consumption, and "100%" as the estimated
remaining amount value, to be included in the utilization
information.
Embodiment 2
[0189] 2.1 Configuration of Point-of-Use Information Obtaining
System
[0190] FIG. 18 is a diagram showing a configuration of a
point-of-use information obtaining system according to Embodiment 2
of the present invention. The point-of-use information obtaining
system according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention includes
a first server device 1701, a second server device 1702, the
household electric appliance 102 and the information appliance 103,
as shown in FIG. 18.
[0191] The first server device 1701 is communicatively connected to
the household electric appliance 102 via the network 105, and is
communicatively connected to the information appliance 103 via the
network 105. The first server device 1701 is also communicatively
connected to the second server device 1702. Note that the network
105 is the Internet, for example. The first server device 1701 may
be communicatively connected to the second server device 1702 via
the network 105.
[0192] The first server device 1701 receives and stores sales
information from the second server device 1702. The sales
information is information regarding a consumer good purchased by
the user. In response to a request from the household electric
appliance 102, the first server device 1701 selects a consumer
goods list associated with the household electric appliance 102
based on the sales information to transmit the consumer goods list,
or transmits a confirmation message for confirming the consumer
good being currently used to the information appliance 103. In
addition, the first server device 1701 receives and accumulates,
from the household electric appliance 102, information regarding
the consumer good being currently used by the household electric
appliance 102.
[0193] The second server device 1702 stores sales information, and
transmits the stored sales information to the first server device
1701.
[0194] Note that the configurations of the household electric
appliance 102 and the information appliance 103 of Embodiment 2 are
similar to those of Embodiment 1 and will not be described
below.
[0195] 2.2 Configuration of First Server Device 1701
[0196] Next, a detailed configuration of the first server device
1701 will be described.
[0197] FIG. 19 is a diagram showing a configuration of a first
server device according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention.
As shown in FIG. 19, the first server device 1701 includes the
transmitting/receiving section 201, the consumer good information
storing section 202, the notification information storing section
203, the user information storing section 204, the utilization
information accumulating section 205, the determination section
206, the updating section 207, a sales information storing section
1801, a selecting section 1802 and a control section 1803.
[0198] The first server device 1701 is implemented by a
microprocessor, a RAM, a ROM, a hard disk, and the like, which are
not specifically shown in the figure. The RAM, the ROM or the hard
disk stores computer programs, and the functions of the first
server device 1701 are implemented by the microprocessor operating
in accordance with the computer programs.
[0199] Note that the functional blocks of the first server device
1701, such as the transmitting/receiving section 201, the consumer
good information storing section 202, the notification information
storing section 203, the user information storing section 204, the
utilization information accumulating section 205, the determination
section 206, the updating section 207, the sales information
storing section 1801, the selecting section 1802 and the control
section 1803, may be implemented as LSIs which are typically
integrated circuits. The functional blocks may be individually
provided in single chips, and a single chip may include one or more
functional block or a part of a functional block.
[0200] Although it is described as an LSI, it may be referred to as
an IC, a system LSI, a super LSI or an ultra LSI, depending on the
degree of integration.
[0201] The method of circuit integration is not limited to LSI, but
it may be implemented by a dedicated circuit or a general-purpose
processor. One may employ an FPGA which can be programmed after the
LSI production, or a reconfigurable processor in which the
connection or the setting of circuit cells inside the LSI can be
reconfigured after the LSI production.
[0202] Moreover, if a circuit integration technique that replaces
LSI emerges because of the advancement of semiconductor technology
or alternative technology deriving therefrom, functional blocks may
of course be integrated by using such technology. For example, a
possible example of a circuit integration technique replacing LSI
may be an application of biotechnology, etc.
[0203] Finally, each functional block may be implemented by
software or a combination of LSI and software. The software may be
made tamper-resistant.
[0204] (1) Transmitting/Receiving Section 201 to Updating Section
207
[0205] The configurations of the transmitting/receiving section
201, the consumer good information storing section 202, the
notification information storing section 203, the user information
storing section 204, the utilization information accumulating
section 205, the determination section 206 and the updating section
207 are similar to those of Embodiment 1 and will not be described
below.
[0206] (2) Sales Information Storing Section 1801
[0207] The sales information storing section 1801 stores
information regarding a consumer good that the user has purchased
at a retail store, i.e., sales information regarding a consumer
good that the retail store has sold to the user. The
transmitting/receiving section 201 receives the sales information
transmitted by the second server device 1702, and stores the sales
information in the sales information storing section 1801. The
sales information storing section 1801 stores sales information, in
which information for identifying the consumer good sold to the
user is associated with the type of the household electric
appliance with which the consumer good is to be used.
[0208] FIG. 20 is a diagram showing an example of sales information
according to Embodiment 2. The example of sales information shown
in FIG. 20 includes, associated with one another, "user ID"
indicating the identifier for identifying the purchasing user,
"purchase date" indicating the date the consumer good was
purchased, "product ID" indicating the identifier with which it is
possible to identify the purchased consumer good, "product name"
indicating the name of the purchased consumer good, "unit price"
indicating the price per one unit of the purchased consumer good,
the "number of units" indicating the number of units of the
consumer good purchased, and "associated appliance" indicating the
type of appliances with which the purchased consumer good is to be
used.
[0209] The sales information shown in FIG. 20, for example,
indicates that on Mar. 3, 2013, the user identified by the user ID
"324-5678" purchased two units of the consumer good identified by
the product ID "5278" and the product name "ATN", purchased two
units of the consumer good identified by the product ID "11965" and
the product name "TYA", and purchased one unit of the consumer good
identified by the product ID "326" and the product name "JIK". It
is also indicated that the associated appliance for the consumer
good identified by the product ID "5278" and the product name "ATN"
is a "washing machine", indicating that it is to be used with a
washing machine. It is also indicated that the associated appliance
for the consumer good identified by the product ID "11965" and the
product name "TYA" is a "microwave oven", indicating that it is to
be used with a microwave oven. It is also indicated that the
associated appliance for the consumer good identified by the
product ID "326" and the product name "JIK" is "others", indicating
that it is not related to household electric appliances.
[0210] (3) Selecting Section 1802
[0211] Based on the appliance ID included in the appliance
information received via the transmitting/receiving section 201,
the selecting section 1802 identifies the user who uses the
household electric appliance associated with that appliance ID from
the user information stored in the user information storing section
204, and selects one of the consumer goods purchased by that user
from the sales information stored in the sales information storing
section 1801 that is associated with that household electric
appliance.
[0212] The selecting section 1802 selects a consumer good sold to
the user based on the sales information. The transmitting/receiving
section 201 extracts, from the consumer good information storing
section 202, consumer good information regarding the consumer good
selected by the selecting section 1802.
[0213] (4) Control Section 1803
[0214] The control section 1803 implements the functions of the
first server device 1701 by managing and controlling the
transmitting/receiving section 201, the consumer good information
storing section 202, the notification information storing section
203, the user information storing section 204, the utilization
information accumulating section 205, the determination section
206, the updating section 207, the sales information storing
section 1801 and the selecting section 1802 described above.
[0215] 2.3 Configuration of Second Server Device 1702
[0216] Next, a detailed configuration of the second server device
1702 will be described.
[0217] FIG. 21 is a diagram showing a configuration of a second
server device according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention.
As shown in FIG. 21, the second server device 1702 includes a
transmitting/receiving section 1901, a sales information storing
section 1902 and a control section 1903.
[0218] The second server device 1702 is implemented by a
microprocessor, a RAM, a ROM, a hard disk, and the like, which are
not specifically shown in the figure. The RAM, the ROM or the hard
disk stores computer programs, and the functions of the second
server device 1702 are implemented by the microprocessor operating
in accordance with the computer programs.
[0219] Note that the functional blocks of the second server device
1702, such as the transmitting/receiving section 1901, the sales
information storing section 1902 and the control section 1903, may
be implemented as LSIs which are typically integrated circuits. The
functional blocks may be individually provided in single chips, and
a single chip may include one or more functional block or a part of
a functional block.
[0220] Although it is described as an LSI, it may be referred to as
an IC, a system LSI, a super LSI or an ultra LSI, depending on the
degree of integration.
[0221] The method of circuit integration is not limited to LSI, but
it may be implemented by a dedicated circuit or a general-purpose
processor. One may employ an FPGA which can be programmed after the
LSI production, or a reconfigurable processor in which the
connection or the setting of circuit cells inside the LSI can be
reconfigured after the LSI production.
[0222] Moreover, if a circuit integration technique that replaces
LSI emerges because of the advancement of semiconductor technology
or alternative technology deriving therefrom, functional blocks may
of course be integrated by using such technology. For example, a
possible example of a circuit integration technique replacing LSI
may be an application of biotechnology, etc.
[0223] Finally, each functional block may be implemented by
software or a combination of LSI and software. The software may be
made tamper-resistant.
[0224] (1) Transmitting/Receiving Section 1901
[0225] The transmitting/receiving section 1901 receives information
regarding a consumer good purchased by the user transmitted by a
cash register terminal at a retail store, i.e., sales information
regarding the consumer good sold to the user by the retail store,
and receives totalized information (totalized data) obtained by
totalizing the sales information. The transmitting/receiving
section 1901 stores the received sales information in the sales
information storing section 1902.
[0226] The transmitting/receiving section 1901 transmits, to the
first server device 1701, sales information stored in the sales
information storing section 1902.
[0227] (2) Sales Information Storing Section 1902
[0228] The sales information storing section 1902 stores
information regarding a consumer good purchased by the user, i.e.,
sales information regarding the consumer good sold to the user by
the retail store. The example of sales information shown in FIG. 20
includes, associated with one another, "user ID" indicating the
identifier for identifying the purchasing user, "purchase date"
indicating the date the consumer good was purchased, "product ID"
indicating the identifier with which it is possible to identify the
purchased consumer good, "product name" indicating the name of the
purchased consumer good, "unit price" indicating the price per one
unit of the purchased consumer good, the "number of units"
indicating the number of units of the consumer good purchased, and
"associated appliance" indicating the type of appliances with which
the purchased consumer good is to be used. The sales information
shown in FIG. 20, for example, indicates that on Mar. 3, 2013, the
user identified by the user ID "324-5678" purchased two units of
the consumer good identified by the product ID "5278" and the
product name "ATN", purchased two units of the consumer good
identified by the product ID "11965" and the product name "TYA",
and purchased one unit of the consumer good identified by the
product ID "326" and the product name "JIK". It is also indicated
that the associated appliance for the consumer good identified by
the product ID "5278" and the product name "ATN" is a "washing
machine", indicating that it is to be used with a washing machine.
It is also indicated that the associated appliance for the consumer
good identified by the product ID "11965" and the product name
"TYA" is a "microwave oven", indicating that it is to be used with
a microwave oven. It is also indicated that the associated
appliance for the consumer good identified by the product ID "326"
and the product name "JIK" is "others", indicating that it is not
related to household electric appliances.
[0229] (3) Control Section 1903
[0230] The control section 1803 implements the functions of the
second server device 1702 by managing and controlling the
transmitting/receiving section 1901 and the sales information
storing section 1902 described above.
[0231] 2.4 Configuration of Household Electric Appliance 102 and
Information Appliance 103
[0232] The configurations of the household electric appliance 102
and the information appliance 103 of Embodiment 2 are similar to
those of Embodiment 1 and will not be described below.
[0233] 2.5 Operation by which First Server Device Obtains
Utilization Information from Household Electric Appliance
[0234] An example of an operation by which the first server device
1701 obtains utilization information from the household electric
appliance 102 will be described with reference to FIGS. 22 to
24.
[0235] FIG. 22 is a flow chart showing an example of an operation
by which the first server device obtains utilization information
from a household electric appliance for the first time according to
Embodiment 2 of the present invention.
[0236] First, the transmitting/receiving section 301 of the
household electric appliance 102 transmits, to the first server
device 1701, a request for a consumer goods list and appliance
information stored in the appliance information storing section 305
(step S51).
[0237] Then, the transmitting/receiving section 201 of the first
server device 1701 receives the request for a consumer goods list
and the appliance information transmitted by the household electric
appliance 102 (step S52).
[0238] Then, the selecting section 1802 identifies the user ID
based on the user information stored in the user information
storing section 204 and the appliance ID included in the received
appliance information, and selects one of the consumer goods
purchased by the user that can be used with the household electric
appliance 102 from the sales information stored in the sales
information storing section 1801 based on the identified user ID
and the appliance category included in the received appliance
information (step S53).
[0239] Note that the first server device 1701 obtains the sales
information from the second server device 1702 at a predetermined
timing. The second server device 1702 transmits the sales
information to the first server device 1701 at 12 am everyday, for
example. In this process, the second server device 1702 transmits
un-transmitted sales information to the first server device
1701.
[0240] The first server device 1701 may transmit, to the second
server device 1702, request information for requesting sales
information at the timing the request for a consumer goods list is
received from the household electric appliance 102, and the second
server device 1702 may transmit sales information to the first
server device 1701 in response to the request information.
[0241] Moreover, at the timing new sales information is obtained,
the second server device 1702 may transmit the obtained new sales
information to the first server device 1701.
[0242] Then, the transmitting/receiving section 201 extracts, from
the consumer good information storing section 202, consumer good
information associated with the consumer good selected by the
selecting section 1802 (step S54). Note that the consumer good
information includes the appliance category, the manufacturer name,
the product category, the product ID, the product name and the
volume. The consumer good information may also include an image of
the consumer good.
[0243] Then, the transmitting/receiving section 201 transmits, to
the household electric appliance 102, the extracted consumer good
information as a consumer goods list (step S55).
[0244] Then, the transmitting/receiving section 301 of the
household electric appliance 102 receives the consumer goods list
transmitted by the first server device 1701 (step S56).
[0245] Then, the display section 302 displays the consumer goods
list received by the transmitting/receiving section 301 (step S57).
In this process, the display section 302 does not need to display
all of the consumer good information, but may display only some of
the consumer good information (e.g., the product name) with which
it is possible to identify the consumer good. The display section
302 may also display an image of the consumer good. Thus, the user
can more easily select the consumer good being currently used.
[0246] Then, the input accepting section 304 accepts a user input
(step S58). The input accepting section 304 accepts selection of a
consumer good being currently used by the user from the consumer
goods list being displayed. Where the input accepting section 304
is implemented by a touch panel, for example, the user touches the
consumer good being currently used by the user from the consumer
goods list displayed on the display section 302. Where the input
accepting section 304 is implemented by a button, for example, the
user presses a button so as to select the consumer good being
currently used by the user from the consumer goods list being
displayed on the display section 302.
[0247] Then, the transmitting/receiving section 301 transmits, to
the first server device 1701, information regarding a consumer good
(consumer good information) accepted by the input accepting section
304 (step S59).
[0248] Then, the transmitting/receiving section 201 of the first
server device 1701 receives information regarding a consumer good
(consumer good information) transmitted by the household electric
appliance 102 (step S60).
[0249] Then, the updating section 207 updates the utilization
information accumulated in the utilization information accumulating
section 205 based on the consumer good information received by the
transmitting/receiving section 201 (step S61). In this process,
utilization information associated with the consumer good
identified by the consumer good information received this time is
not accumulated in the utilization information accumulating section
205. Therefore, the updating section 207 newly stores, in the
utilization information accumulating section 205, utilization
information in which the product ID, the product name and the
volume included in the consumer good information are associated
with the appliance ID. In this process, the updating section 207
uses the date when the consumer good information is received from
the household electric appliance 102 as the consumption start date,
"0" as the amount of consumption, and "100%" as the estimated
remaining amount value, to be included in the utilization
information.
[0250] Since only consumer goods purchased by the user are
presented to the user, the user can easily select a consumer good
to be used from among the consumer goods the user actually
owns.
[0251] Next, an operation by which the first server device 1701,
which has utilization information already stored therein, obtains
utilization information from the household electric appliance 102
will be described.
[0252] FIG. 23 is a first flow chart showing an example of an
operation by which the first server device, which has utilization
information already stored therein, obtains utilization information
from a household electric appliance according to Embodiment 2 of
the present invention, and FIG. 24 is a second flow chart showing
an example of an operation by which the first server device, which
has utilization information already stored therein, obtains
utilization information from a household electric appliance
according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention.
[0253] First, the utilization information obtaining section 303 of
the household electric appliance 102 obtains utilization
information (step S71). The utilization information may include the
appliance category indicating the type of the household electric
appliance 102, the appliance ID for identifying the household
electric appliance 102, the product ID for identifying the consumer
good, the product name of the consumer good, and the amount of
consumption of the consumer good. Note that the utilization
information may include the appliance category, the appliance ID,
the product ID, the product name, and the operation status of the
household electric appliance 102.
[0254] Then, the transmitting/receiving section 301 transmits, to
the first server device 1701, the utilization information obtained
by the utilization information obtaining section 303 (step
S72).
[0255] Then, the transmitting/receiving section 201 of the first
server device 1701 receives the utilization information transmitted
by the household electric appliance 102 (step S73).
[0256] Then, the updating section 207 calculates the remaining
amount of the consumer good based on the utilization information
received by the transmitting/receiving section 201 (step S74). If
the utilization information includes the operation status of the
household electric appliance 102, the updating section 207
calculates the remaining amount of the consumer good based on the
operation status of the household electric appliance 102. Note that
if the utilization information includes the amount of consumption
of the consumer good, the updating section 207 calculates the
remaining amount of the consumer good based on the volume of the
consumer good and the amount of consumption of the consumer good.
Although the remaining amount of a consumer good in Embodiment 2 is
expressed as a percent, the present invention is not limited to
this, and it may be expressed as a value obtained by subtracting
the amount of consumption of the consumer good from the volume of
the consumer good.
[0257] Then, the updating section 207 updates the utilization
information accumulated in the utilization information accumulating
section 205 based on the utilization information received by the
transmitting/receiving section 201 and the remaining amount
calculated (step S75). In this process, the utilization information
associated with the consumer good identified by the utilization
information received this time is already accumulated in the
utilization information accumulating section 205. Therefore, the
updating section 207 updates the amount of consumption included in
the utilization information accumulated in the utilization
information accumulating section 205 to the amount of consumption
included in the received utilization information or the amount of
consumption calculated from the utilization information. The
updating section 207 also updates the remaining amount included in
the utilization information accumulated in the utilization
information accumulating section 205 to the remaining amount
calculated from the received utilization information.
[0258] Then, the determination section 206 of the first server
device 1701 determines whether or not the estimated remaining
amount of the utilization information accumulated in the
utilization information accumulating section 205 is less than or
equal to a predetermined set value (step S76). When it is
determined that the estimated remaining amount is not less than or
equal to a set value (NO in step S76), the determination section
206 does nothing and the process ends.
[0259] On the other hand, when it is determined that the estimated
remaining amount is less than or equal to a set value (YES in step
S76), the determination section 206 obtains notification
information stored in the notification information storing section
203 (step S77). The notification information is a confirmation
message for confirming the consumer good being used. The
determination section 206 creates a confirmation message by reading
out a confirmation message stored in the notification information
storing section 203, and inserting the product name included in the
utilization information into the read-out confirmation message.
[0260] Then, the transmitting/receiving section 201 transmits the
obtained notification information (confirmation message) to the
information appliance 103 (step S78).
[0261] Then, the transmitting/receiving section 401 of the
information appliance 103 receives the notification information
(confirmation message) transmitted by the first server device 1701
(step S79).
[0262] Then, the display section 402 displays the notification
information (confirmation message) received by the
transmitting/receiving section 401 (step S80).
[0263] Then, the input accepting section 403 of the information
appliance 103 accepts a user input, i.e., a response from the user
for the confirmation message (step S81).
[0264] Then, the transmitting/receiving section 401 transmits, to
the first server device 1701, response information for the
confirmation message accepted by the input accepting section 403
(step S82).
[0265] Then, the transmitting/receiving section 201 of the first
server device 1701 receives the response information transmitted by
the information appliance 103 (step S83).
[0266] Then, the determination section 206 determines whether or
not the consumer good identified by the utilization information
accumulated in the utilization information accumulating section 205
coincides with the consumer good being currently actually used by
the user based on the response information received by the
transmitting/receiving section 201 (step S84).
[0267] That is, if affirmative response information is obtained for
the confirmation message for confirming whether or not the consumer
good identified by the utilization information accumulated in the
utilization information accumulating section 205 coincides with the
consumer good being currently actually used by the user, the
determination section 206 determines that the consumer good
identified by the utilization information accumulated in the
utilization information accumulating section 205 coincides with the
consumer good being currently actually used by the user. If
negative response information is obtained for the confirmation
message, the determination section 206 determines that the consumer
good identified by the utilization information accumulated in the
utilization information accumulating section 205 does not coincide
with the consumer good being currently actually used by the
user.
[0268] When it is determined that the consumer good identified by
the utilization information coincides with the consumer good being
currently actually used by the user (YES in step S84), the
determination section 206 does nothing and the process ends.
[0269] On the other hand, when it is determined that the consumer
good identified by the utilization information does not coincide
with the consumer good being currently actually used by the user
(NO in step S84), the selecting section 1802 identifies the user ID
based on the user information stored in the user information
storing section 204 and the appliance ID included in the received
utilization information, and selects one of the consumer goods
purchased by the user that can be used with the household electric
appliance 102 from the sales information stored in the sales
information storing section 1801 based on the identified user ID
and the appliance category included in the received utilization
information (step S85).
[0270] Then, the transmitting/receiving section 201 extracts, from
the consumer good information storing section 202, consumer good
information associated with the consumer good selected by the
selecting section 1802 (step S86). Note that the consumer good
information includes the appliance category, the manufacturer name,
the product category, the product ID, the product name and the
volume. The consumer good information may also include an image of
the consumer good.
[0271] Then, the transmitting/receiving section 201 transmits, to
the information appliance 103, the extracted consumer good
information as a consumer goods list (step S87).
[0272] Then, the transmitting/receiving section 401 of the
information appliance 103 receives the consumer goods list
transmitted by the first server device 1701 (step S88).
[0273] Then, the display section 402 displays the consumer goods
list received by the transmitting/receiving section 401 (step S89).
In this process, the display section 402 does not need to display
all of the consumer good information, but may display only some of
the consumer good information (e.g., the product name) with which
it is possible to identify the consumer good. The display section
402 may also display an image of the consumer good. Thus, the user
can more easily select the consumer good being currently used.
[0274] Then, the input accepting section 403 accepts a user input
(step S90). The input accepting section 403 accepts selection of a
consumer good being currently used by the user from the consumer
goods list being displayed. Where the input accepting section 403
is implemented by a touch panel, for example, the user touches the
consumer good being currently used by the user from the consumer
goods list displayed on the display section 402. Where the input
accepting section 403 is implemented by a button, for example, the
user presses a button so as to select the consumer good being
currently used by the user from the consumer goods list being
displayed on the display section 402.
[0275] Then, the transmitting/receiving section 401 transmits, to
the first server device 1701, information regarding a consumer good
(consumer good information) accepted by the input accepting section
403 (step S91).
[0276] Then, the transmitting/receiving section 201 of the first
server device 1701 receives information regarding a consumer good
(consumer good information) transmitted by the information
appliance 103 (step S92).
[0277] Then, the updating section 207 updates the utilization
information accumulated in the utilization information accumulating
section 205 based on the consumer good information received by the
transmitting/receiving section 201 (step S93). In this process,
utilization information associated with the consumer good
identified by the consumer good information received this time is
not accumulated in the utilization information accumulating section
205. Therefore, the updating section 207 newly stores, in the
utilization information accumulating section 205, utilization
information in which the product ID, the product name and the
volume included in the consumer good information are associated
with the appliance ID. In this process, the updating section 207
uses the date when the consumer good information is received from
the household electric appliance 102 as the consumption start date,
"0" as the amount of consumption, and "100%" as the estimated
remaining amount value, to be included in the utilization
information.
Embodiment 3
[0278] 3.1 Configuration of Point-of-Use Information Obtaining
System
[0279] FIG. 25 is a diagram showing a configuration of a
point-of-use information obtaining system according to Embodiment 3
of the present invention. The point-of-use information obtaining
system according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention includes
the server device 101, a household electric appliance 2501, the
information appliance 103 and a wireless tag 2502, as shown in FIG.
25.
[0280] The server device 101 stores a consumer goods list
representing a list of consumer goods, and the server device 101
transmits a consumer goods list in response to a request from the
household electric appliance 2501 and transmits a confirmation
message for confirming the consumer good being currently used to
the information appliance 103. In addition, the server device 101
receives, from the household electric appliance 2501, and
accumulates information regarding the consumer good being currently
used by the household electric appliance 2501.
[0281] The wireless tag 2502 is provided on a consumer good. For
example, the wireless tag 2502 is attached to the package of the
consumer good. The wireless tag 2502 transmits, to the household
electric appliance 2501 which is a reader, information for
identifying the consumer good to which it is attached.
[0282] The household electric appliance 2501 detects information
regarding a consumer good (e.g., a product ID, or the like) from
the wireless tag 2502 existing in the vicinity thereof, and
transmits the detected information regarding a consumer good to the
server device 101. The household electric appliance 2501 receives
the detected information regarding a consumer good (e.g., a product
image, or the like) from the server device 101, presents the
received information regarding a consumer good to the user, accepts
a user confirmation (user input) indicating whether or not the
presented information regarding the consumer good is correct, and
transmits an accepted user input to the server device 101.
[0283] The information appliance 103 receives a confirmation
message from the server device 101, presents the received
confirmation message to the user, and accepts an input of
information regarding a consumer good by the user. The information
appliance 103 transmits the accepted information regarding a
consumer good to the server device 101.
[0284] 3.2 Configuration of Household Electric Appliance 2501
[0285] Next, a detailed configuration of the household electric
appliance 2501 will be described.
[0286] FIG. 26 is a diagram showing a configuration of a household
electric appliance according to Embodiment 3 of the present
invention. As shown in FIG. 26, the household electric appliance
2501 includes the transmitting/receiving section 301, the display
section 302, the utilization information obtaining section 303, the
input accepting section 304, the appliance information storing
section 305, a wireless tag detecting section 2601 and a control
section 2602.
[0287] The household electric appliance 2501 is implemented by a
microprocessor, a RAM, a ROM, a hard disk, and the like, which are
not specifically shown in the figure. The RAM, the ROM or the hard
disk stores computer programs, and the functions of the household
electric appliance 2501 are implemented by the microprocessor
operating in accordance with the computer programs.
[0288] Note that the functional blocks of the household electric
appliance 2501, such as the transmitting/receiving section 301, the
display section 302, the utilization information obtaining section
303, the input accepting section 304, the appliance information
storing section 305, the wireless tag detecting section 2601 and
the control section 2602, may be implemented as LSIs which are
typically integrated circuits. The functional blocks may be
individually provided in single chips, and a single chip may
include one or more functional block or a part of a functional
block.
[0289] Although it is described as an LSI, it may be referred to as
an IC, a system LSI, a super LSI or an ultra LSI, depending on the
degree of integration.
[0290] The method of circuit integration is not limited to LSI, but
it may be implemented by a dedicated circuit or a general-purpose
processor. One may employ an FPGA which can be programmed after the
LSI production, or a reconfigurable processor in which the
connection or the setting of circuit cells inside the LSI can be
reconfigured after the LSI production.
[0291] Moreover, if a circuit integration technique that replaces
LSI emerges because of the advancement of semiconductor technology
or alternative technology deriving therefrom, functional blocks may
of course be integrated by using such technology. For example, a
possible example of a circuit integration technique replacing LSI
may be an application of biotechnology, etc.
[0292] Finally, each functional block may be implemented by
software or a combination of LSI and software. The software may be
made tamper-resistant.
[0293] (1) Transmitting/Receiving Section 301 to Appliance
Information Storing Section 305
[0294] The configurations of the transmitting/receiving section
301, the display section 302, the utilization information obtaining
section 303, the input accepting section 304 and the appliance
information storing section 305 are similar to those of Embodiment
1 and will not be described below.
[0295] (2) Wireless Tag Detecting Section 2601
[0296] The wireless tag detecting section 2601 detects the wireless
tag 2502 existing in the vicinity thereof, and reads out
information embedded in the wireless tag 2502 (e.g., information
for identifying the consumer good, such as the product ID). The
communication scheme of the wireless tag may be a commonly-employed
communication scheme, and will not be described herein. The
detected (read-out) information for identifying the consumer good,
such as the product ID, is transmitted to the server device 101 by
the transmitting/receiving section 301.
[0297] (3) Control Section 2602
[0298] The control section 2602 implements the functions of the
household electric appliance 2501 by managing and controlling the
transmitting/receiving section 301, the display section 302, the
utilization information obtaining section 303, the input accepting
section 304, the appliance information storing section 305 and the
wireless tag detecting section 2601 described above.
[0299] 3.3 Configuration of Server Device 101 and Information
Appliance 103
[0300] The configurations of the server device 101 and the
information appliance 103 of Embodiment 3 are similar to those of
Embodiment 1 and will not be described below.
[0301] 3.4 Operation by which Server Device Obtains Utilization
Information from Household Electric Appliance
[0302] An example of an operation by which the server device 101
obtains the utilization information from the household electric
appliance 2501 will be described with reference to FIG. 27.
[0303] FIG. 27 is a flow chart showing an example of an operation
by which the server device obtains utilization information from a
household electric appliance for the first time according to
Embodiment 3 of the present invention. Note that in Embodiment 3 of
the present invention, the operation by which the server device
101, which has utilization information already stored therein,
obtains utilization information from the household electric
appliance 2501 is similar to that shown in FIGS. 16 and 17 of
Embodiment 1 and will not be described below.
[0304] First, the wireless tag detecting section 2601 of the
household electric appliance 2501 detects the wireless tag 2502
existing within a predetermined detection range, and reads out
information for identifying the consumer good (consumer goods
identification information) from the detected wireless tag 2502
(step S101). Note that the consumer goods identification
information includes the product ID, for example. Where a plurality
of wireless tags are existing in the vicinity of the household
electric appliance 2501, the wireless tag detecting section 2601
reads out the consumer goods identification information from each
of the plurality of wireless tags.
[0305] Then, the transmitting/receiving section 301 transmits, to
the server device 101, the consumer goods identification
information read out by the wireless tag detecting section 2601,
and the appliance information stored in the appliance information
storing section 305 (step S102).
[0306] Then, the transmitting/receiving section 201 of the server
device 101 receives the consumer goods identification information
and the appliance information transmitted by the household electric
appliance 2501 (step S103).
[0307] Then, the transmitting/receiving section 201 extracts, from
the consumer good information storing section 202, consumer good
information associated with the received consumer goods
identification information (product ID) (step S104). Note that the
consumer good information includes the appliance category, the
manufacturer name, the product category, the product ID, the
product name and the volume. The consumer good information may also
include an image of the consumer good.
[0308] Then, the transmitting/receiving section 201 transmits, to
the household electric appliance 2501, the extracted consumer good
information as a consumer goods list (step S105). Note that where
one wireless tag is detected by the household electric appliance
2501, the consumer goods list includes one piece of consumer good
information, and where a plurality of wireless tags are detected by
the household electric appliance 2501, the consumer goods list
includes a plurality of pieces of consumer good information.
[0309] Then, the transmitting/receiving section 301 of the
household electric appliance 2501 receives the consumer goods list
transmitted by the server device 101 (step S106).
[0310] Then, the display section 302 displays the consumer goods
list received by the transmitting/receiving section 301 (step
S107). In this process, the display section 302 does not need to
display all of the consumer good information, but may display only
some of the consumer good information (e.g., the product name) with
which it is possible to identify the consumer good. The display
section 302 may also display an image of the consumer good. Thus,
the user can more easily select the consumer good being currently
used.
[0311] Then, the input accepting section 304 accepts a user input
(step S108). The input accepting section 304 accepts selection of a
consumer good being currently used by the user from the consumer
goods list being displayed. Where the input accepting section 304
is implemented by a touch panel, for example, the user touches the
consumer good being currently used by the user from the consumer
goods list displayed on the display section 302. Where the input
accepting section 304 is implemented by a button, for example, the
user presses a button so as to select the consumer good being
currently used by the user from the consumer goods list being
displayed on the display section 302.
[0312] Then, the transmitting/receiving section 301 transmits, to
the server device 101, information regarding a consumer good
(consumer good information) accepted by the input accepting section
304 (step S109).
[0313] Then, the transmitting/receiving section 201 of the server
device 101 receives information regarding a consumer good (consumer
good information) transmitted by the household electric appliance
2501 (step S110).
[0314] Then, the updating section 207 updates the utilization
information accumulated in the utilization information accumulating
section 205 based on the consumer good information received by the
transmitting/receiving section 201 (step S111). In this process,
utilization information associated with the consumer good
identified by the consumer good information received this time is
not accumulated in the utilization information accumulating section
205. Therefore, the updating section 207 newly stores, in the
utilization information accumulating section 205, utilization
information in which the product ID, the product name and the
volume included in the consumer good information are associated
with the appliance ID. In this process, the updating section 207
uses the date when the consumer good information is received from
the household electric appliance 102 as the consumption start date,
"0" as the amount of consumption, and "100%" as the estimated
remaining amount value, to be included in the utilization
information.
[0315] Then, the utilization information obtaining section 303 of
the household electric appliance 2501 obtains utilization
information. Then, the transmitting/receiving section 301
transmits, to the server device 101, the utilization information
obtained by the utilization information obtaining section 303. The
transmitting/receiving section 201 of the server device 101
receives the utilization information transmitted by the household
electric appliance 2501. Then, the updating section 207 calculates
the remaining amount of the consumer good based on the utilization
information received by the transmitting/receiving section 201.
Then, the updating section 207 updates the utilization information
accumulated in the utilization information accumulating section 205
based on the utilization information received by the
transmitting/receiving section 201 and the remaining amount
calculated. This and subsequent operations are similar to
operations of step S26 and thereafter of FIG. 16 of Embodiment 1
and will not be described below.
[0316] Thus, from wireless tags provided on consumer goods,
consumer goods identification information for identifying the
consumer goods are read out, and only the consumer goods associated
with the read-out consumer goods identification information are
presented to the user. Therefore, the user can easily select a
consumer good to be used from among the consumer goods the user
actually owns.
Embodiment 4
[0317] 4.1 Configuration of Point-of-Use Information Obtaining
System
[0318] FIG. 28 is a diagram showing a configuration of a
point-of-use information obtaining system according to Embodiment 4
of the present invention. The point-of-use information obtaining
system according to Embodiment 4 of the present invention includes
the server device 101, a household electric appliance 2801 and the
information appliance 103, as shown in FIG. 28.
[0319] The server device 101 stores a consumer goods list
representing a list of consumer goods, and the server device 101
transmits a consumer goods list in response to a request from the
household electric appliance 2801 and transmits a confirmation
message for confirming the consumer good being currently used to
the information appliance 103. In addition, the server device 101
receives, from the household electric appliance 2801, and
accumulates information regarding the consumer good being currently
used by the household electric appliance 2801.
[0320] A barcode is provided on a consumer good. For example, a
barcode is printed on or attached to the package of the consumer
good. A barcode has recorded therein information for identifying
the consumer good on which it is provided. Note that while the
present embodiment employs a barcode (one-dimensional code), the
present invention is not limited to this and may employ a
two-dimensional code. Where a two-dimensional code is employed, it
is possible to record more information than a barcode.
[0321] From a barcode provided on a consumer good, the household
electric appliance 2801 detects information regarding that consumer
good (e.g., the product ID, or the like), and transmits the
detected information regarding the consumer good to the server
device 101. The household electric appliance 2801 receives the
detected information regarding the consumer good (e.g., the product
image, or the like) from the server device 101, and presents the
received information regarding the consumer good to the user. The
household electric appliance 2801 accepts a user confirmation (user
input) indicating whether or not the presented information
regarding the consumer good is correct, and transmits the accepted
user input to the server device 101.
[0322] The information appliance 103 receives a confirmation
message from the server device 101, presents the received
confirmation message to the user, and accepts an input of
information regarding a consumer good by the user. The information
appliance 103 transmits the accepted information regarding a
consumer good to the server device 101.
[0323] 4.2 Configuration of Household Electric Appliance 2801
[0324] Next, a detailed configuration of the household electric
appliance 2801 will be described.
[0325] FIG. 29 is a diagram showing a configuration of a household
electric appliance according to Embodiment 4 of the present
invention. As shown in FIG. 29, the household electric appliance
2801 includes the transmitting/receiving section 301, the display
section 302, the utilization information obtaining section 303, the
input accepting section 304, the appliance information storing
section 305, a barcode reading section 2901 and a control section
2902.
[0326] The household electric appliance 2801 is implemented by a
microprocessor, a RAM, a ROM, a hard disk, and the like, which are
not specifically shown in the figure. The RAM, the ROM or the hard
disk stores computer programs, and the functions of the household
electric appliance 2801 are implemented by the microprocessor
operating in accordance with the computer programs.
[0327] Note that the functional blocks of the household electric
appliance 2801, such as the transmitting/receiving section 301, the
display section 302, the utilization information obtaining section
303, the input accepting section 304, the appliance information
storing section 305, the barcode reading section 2901 and the
control section 2902, may be implemented as LSIs which are
typically integrated circuits. The functional blocks may be
individually provided in single chips, and a single chip may
include one or more functional block or a part of a functional
block.
[0328] Although it is described as an LSI, it may be referred to as
an IC, a system LSI, a super LSI or an ultra LSI, depending on the
degree of integration.
[0329] The method of circuit integration is not limited to LSI, but
it may be implemented by a dedicated circuit or a general-purpose
processor. One may employ an FPGA which can be programmed after the
LSI production, or a reconfigurable processor in which the
connection or the setting of circuit cells inside the LSI can be
reconfigured after the LSI production.
[0330] Moreover, if a circuit integration technique that replaces
LSI emerges because of the advancement of semiconductor technology
or alternative technology deriving therefrom, functional blocks may
of course be integrated by using such technology. For example, a
possible example of a circuit integration technique replacing LSI
may be an application of biotechnology, etc.
[0331] Finally, each functional block may be implemented by
software or a combination of LSI and software. The software may be
made tamper-resistant.
[0332] (1) Transmitting/Receiving Section 301 to Appliance
Information Storing Section 305
[0333] The configurations of the transmitting/receiving section
301, the display section 302, the utilization information obtaining
section 303, the input accepting section 304 and the appliance
information storing section 305 are similar to those of Embodiment
1 and will not be described below.
[0334] (2) Barcode Reading Section 2901
[0335] The barcode reading section 2901 reads a barcode provided on
a consumer good to obtain information regarding the consumer good
(e.g., information for identifying the consumer good, such as the
product ID). The barcode reading section 2901 is implemented by a
barcode scanner, for example. The barcode reading scheme may be a
commonly-employed reading scheme, and will not be described herein.
The obtained information for identifying the consumer good, such as
the product ID, is transmitted to the server device 101 by the
transmitting/receiving section 301.
[0336] (3) Control Section 2902
[0337] The control section 2902 implements the functions of the
household electric appliance 2801 by managing and controlling the
transmitting/receiving section 301, the display section 302, the
utilization information obtaining section 303, the input accepting
section 304, the appliance information storing section 305 and the
barcode reading section 2901 described above.
[0338] 4.3 Configuration of Server Device 101 and Information
Appliance 103
[0339] The configurations of the server device 101 and the
information appliance 103 of Embodiment 4 are similar to those of
Embodiment 1 and will not be described below.
[0340] 4.4 Operation by which Server Device Obtains Utilization
Information from Household Electric Appliance
[0341] An example of an operation by which the server device 101
obtains the utilization information from the household electric
appliance 2801 will be described with reference to FIG. 30.
[0342] FIG. 30 is a flow chart showing an example of an operation
by which the server device obtains utilization information from a
household electric appliance for the first time according to
Embodiment 4 of the present invention. Note that in Embodiment 4 of
the present invention, the operation by which the server device
101, which has utilization information already stored therein,
obtains utilization information from the household electric
appliance 2801 is similar to that shown in FIGS. 16 and 17 of
Embodiment 1 and will not be described below.
[0343] First, the barcode reading section 2901 of the household
electric appliance 2801 reads the barcode provided on a consumer
good to obtain information for identifying the consumer good
(consumer goods identification information) (step S121). Note that
the consumer goods identification information includes the product
ID, for example. Where a plurality of barcodes provided on a
plurality of consumer goods are read, the barcode reading section
2901 obtains a plurality of pieces of consumer goods identification
information respectively associated with the plurality of consumer
goods.
[0344] Then, the transmitting/receiving section 301 transmits, to
the server device 101, the consumer goods identification
information obtained by the barcode reading section 2901 and the
appliance information stored in the appliance information storing
section 305 (step S122).
[0345] Then, the transmitting/receiving section 201 of the server
device 101 receives the consumer goods identification information
and the appliance information transmitted by the household electric
appliance 2801 (step S123).
[0346] Then, the transmitting/receiving section 201 extracts, from
the consumer good information storing section 202, consumer good
information associated with the received consumer goods
identification information (product ID) (step S124). Note that the
consumer good information includes the appliance category, the
manufacturer name, the product category, the product ID, the
product name and the volume. The consumer good information may also
include an image of the consumer good.
[0347] Then, the transmitting/receiving section 201 transmits, to
the household electric appliance 2801, the extracted consumer good
information as a consumer goods list (step S125). Note that where
one barcode is read by the household electric appliance 2801, the
consumer goods list includes one piece of consumer good
information, and where a plurality of barcodes are read by the
household electric appliance 2801, the consumer goods list includes
a plurality of pieces of consumer good information.
[0348] Then, the transmitting/receiving section 301 of the
household electric appliance 2801 receives the consumer goods list
transmitted by the server device 101 (step S126).
[0349] Then, the display section 302 displays the consumer goods
list received by the transmitting/receiving section 301 (step
S127). In this process, the display section 302 does not need to
display all of the consumer good information, but may display only
some of the consumer good information (e.g., the product name) with
which it is possible to identify the consumer good. The display
section 302 may also display an image of the consumer good. Thus,
the user can more easily select the consumer good being currently
used.
[0350] Then, the input accepting section 304 accepts a user input
(step S128). The input accepting section 304 accepts selection of a
consumer good being currently used by the user from the consumer
goods list being displayed. Where the input accepting section 304
is implemented by a touch panel, for example, the user touches the
consumer good being currently used by the user from the consumer
goods list displayed on the display section 302. Where the input
accepting section 304 is implemented by a button, for example, the
user presses a button so as to select the consumer good being
currently used by the user from the consumer goods list being
displayed on the display section 302.
[0351] Then, the transmitting/receiving section 301 transmits, to
the server device 101, information regarding a consumer good
(consumer good information) accepted by the input accepting section
304 (step S129).
[0352] Then, the transmitting/receiving section 201 of the server
device 101 receives information regarding a consumer good (consumer
good information) transmitted by the household electric appliance
2801 (step S130).
[0353] Then, the updating section 207 updates the utilization
information accumulated in the utilization information accumulating
section 205 based on the consumer good information received by the
transmitting/receiving section 201 (step S131). In this process,
utilization information associated with the consumer good
identified by the consumer good information received this time is
not accumulated in the utilization information accumulating section
205. Therefore, the updating section 207 newly stores, in the
utilization information accumulating section 205, utilization
information in which the product ID, the product name and the
volume included in the consumer good information are associated
with the appliance ID. In this process, the updating section 207
uses the date when the consumer good information is received from
the household electric appliance 102 as the consumption start date,
"0" as the amount of consumption, and "100%" as the estimated
remaining amount value, to be included in the utilization
information.
[0354] Then, the utilization information obtaining section 303 of
the household electric appliance 2801 obtains utilization
information. Then, the transmitting/receiving section 301
transmits, to the server device 101, the utilization information
obtained by the utilization information obtaining section 303. The
transmitting/receiving section 201 of the server device 101
receives the utilization information transmitted by the household
electric appliance 2801. Then, the updating section 207 calculates
the remaining amount of the consumer good based on the utilization
information received by the transmitting/receiving section 201.
Then, the updating section 207 updates the utilization information
accumulated in the utilization information accumulating section 205
based on the utilization information received by the
transmitting/receiving section 201 and the remaining amount
calculated. This and subsequent operations are similar to
operations of step S26 and thereafter of FIG. 16 of Embodiment 1
and will not be described below.
[0355] Thus, by reading barcodes provided on consumer goods,
consumer goods identification information for identifying the
consumer goods are obtained, and only the consumer goods associated
with the obtained consumer goods identification information are
presented to the user. Therefore, the user can easily select a
consumer good to be used from among the consumer goods the user
actually owns.
Embodiment 5
[0356] 5.1 Configuration of Point-of-Use Information Obtaining
System
[0357] FIG. 31 is a diagram showing a configuration of a
point-of-use information obtaining system according to Embodiment 5
of the present invention. The point-of-use information obtaining
system according to Embodiment 5 of the present invention includes
a server device 3101, the household electric appliance 2801 and the
information appliance 103, as shown in FIG. 31.
[0358] The server device 3101 stores a consumption list
representing a list of consumer goods, and the server device 3101
transmits a consumer goods list in response to a request from the
household electric appliance 2801 and transmits a confirmation
message for confirming the consumer good being currently used to
the information appliance 103. The server device 3101 stores
setting information regarding the operation of the household
electric appliance 2801, which is set for the household electric
appliance 2801 when operating the household electric appliance 2801
using a consumer good, and transmits the setting information of the
household electric appliance 2801 in response to a request from the
household electric appliance 2801. In addition, the server device
3101 receives, from the household electric appliance 2801, and
accumulates information regarding the consumer good being currently
used by the household electric appliance 2801.
[0359] A barcode is provided on a consumer good. For example, a
barcode is printed on or attached to the package of the consumer
good. A barcode has recorded therein information for identifying
the consumer good on which it is provided.
[0360] From a barcode provided on a consumer good, the household
electric appliance 2801 detects information regarding that consumer
good (e.g., the product ID, or the like), and transmits the
detected information regarding the consumer good to the server
device 3101. The household electric appliance 2801 receives the
detected information regarding the consumer good (e.g., the product
image, or the like) from the server device 101, and presents the
received information regarding the consumer good to the user. The
household electric appliance 2801 accepts a user confirmation (user
input) indicating whether or not the presented information
regarding the consumer good is correct, and transmits the accepted
user input to the server device 3101.
[0361] The information appliance 103 receives a confirmation
message from the server device 3101, presents the received
confirmation message to the user, and accepts an input of
information regarding a consumer good by the user. The information
appliance 103 transmits the accepted information regarding a
consumer good to the server device 3101.
[0362] 5.2 Configuration of Server Device 3101
[0363] Next, a detailed configuration of the server device 3101
will be described will be described.
[0364] FIG. 32 is a diagram showing a configuration of the server
device according to Embodiment 5 of the present invention. As shown
in FIG. 32, the server device 3101 includes the
transmitting/receiving section 201, the consumer good information
storing section 202, the notification information storing section
203, the user information storing section 204, the utilization
information accumulating section 205, the determination section
206, the updating section 207, a setting information storing
section 3201 and a control section 3202.
[0365] The server device 3101 is implemented by a microprocessor, a
RAM, a ROM, a hard disk, and the like, which are not specifically
shown in the figure. The RAM, the ROM or the hard disk stores
computer programs, and the functions of the server device 3101 are
implemented by the microprocessor operating in accordance with the
computer programs.
[0366] Note that the functional blocks of the server device 3101,
such as the transmitting/receiving section 201, the consumer good
information storing section 202, the notification information
storing section 203, the user information storing section 204, the
utilization information accumulating section 205, the determination
section 206, the updating section 207, the setting information
storing section 3201 and the control section 3202 may be
implemented as LSIs which are typically integrated circuits. The
functional blocks may be individually provided in single chips, and
a single chip may include one or more functional block or a part of
a functional block.
[0367] Although it is described as an LSI, it may be referred to as
an IC, a system LSI, a super LSI or an ultra LSI, depending on the
degree of integration.
[0368] The method of circuit integration is not limited to LSI, but
it may be implemented by a dedicated circuit or a general-purpose
processor. One may employ an FPGA which can be programmed after the
LSI production, or a reconfigurable processor in which the
connection or the setting of circuit cells inside the LSI can be
reconfigured after the LSI production.
[0369] Moreover, if a circuit integration technique that replaces
LSI emerges because of the advancement of semiconductor technology
or alternative technology deriving therefrom, functional blocks may
of course be integrated by using such technology. For example, a
possible example of a circuit integration technique replacing LSI
may be an application of biotechnology, etc.
[0370] Finally, each functional block may be implemented by
software or a combination of LSI and software. The software may be
made tamper-resistant.
[0371] (1) Transmitting/Receiving Section 201 to Updating Section
207
[0372] The configurations of the transmitting/receiving section
201, the consumer good information storing section 202, the
notification information storing section 203, the user information
storing section 204, the utilization information accumulating
section 205, the determination section 206 and the updating section
207 are similar to those of Embodiment 1 and will not be described
below.
[0373] (2) Setting Information Storing Section 3201
[0374] The setting information storing section 3201 stores, for
each consumer good, setting information regarding the operation of
the household electric appliance, which is set for the household
electric appliance. FIG. 33 is a diagram showing an example of
setting information according to Embodiment 5. The example of
setting information of FIG. 33 includes, associated with one
another, the manufacturer name of the manufacturer who manufactured
the consumer good, the product ID with which it is possible to
identify the consumer good, the product name representing the name
of the consumer good, the amount (the number of pieces or the
volume) of the consumer good to be used by the household electric
appliance, and the setting information of the household electric
appliance. The setting information shown in FIG. 33 represents an
example where the household electric appliance is a microwave oven,
and consumer goods are frozen foods. For example, where two pieces
of a frozen food of which the manufacturer name is "Company K", the
product ID is "5293", and the product name is "GRU" are to be
cooked by the microwave oven, they need to be heated for 1 min and
30 sec at the power of 500 W and 1 min and 20 sec at the power of
600 W.
[0375] When the household electric appliance 2801 reads a barcode
provided on the consumer good to obtain the consumer goods
identification information, the household electric appliance 2801
transmits the obtained consumer goods identification information to
the server device 3101.
[0376] The transmitting/receiving section 201 of the server device
3101 extracts, from the setting information storing section 3201,
setting information associated with the consumer goods
identification information (product ID) received from the household
electric appliance 2801, and transmits the extracted setting
information to the household electric appliance 2801. The household
electric appliance 2801 receives the setting information
transmitted by the server device 3101, and the household electric
appliance 2801 is operated based on the received setting
information. This eliminates the need for setting the time on the
household electric appliance 2801 (microwave oven).
[0377] (3) Control Section 3202
[0378] The control section 3202 implements the functions of the
server device 3101 by managing and controlling the
transmitting/receiving section 201, the consumer good information
storing section 202, the notification information storing section
203, the user information storing section 204, the utilization
information accumulating section 205, the determination section
206, the updating section 207 and the setting information storing
section 3201 described above.
[0379] 5.3 Configuration of Household Electric Appliance 2801 and
Information Appliance 103
[0380] The configurations of the household electric appliance 2801
and the information appliance 103 of Embodiment 5 are similar to
those of Embodiment 1 and Embodiment 4 and will not be described
below.
[0381] Note that when consumer good information is received in step
S130 of FIG. 30, the server device 3101 may extract setting
information stored in the setting information storing section 3201
based on the received consumer good information.
[0382] Therefore, in Embodiment 5, when a household electric
appliance is operated using a consumer good, setting information,
which is set for the household electric appliance, is provided from
the server device to the household electric appliance, thereby
eliminating the need for the user to perform a setting operation on
the household electric appliance, and thus improving the
controllability of the household electric appliance.
[0383] (Variations)
[0384] Variations of the present invention will now be
described.
[0385] (1) In Embodiments 1 to 5, the server device transmits a
consumer goods list to the household electric appliance and a
confirmation message to the information appliance, but the present
invention is not limited to this configuration. The server device
may transmit a consumer goods list to the information appliance and
a confirmation message to the household electric appliance. The
server device may transmit both a consumer goods list and a
confirmation message to the household electric appliance. The
server device may also transmit both a consumer goods list and a
confirmation message to the information appliance.
[0386] That is, the server device may transmit a confirmation
message to a household electric appliance that uses the consumer
good, another household electric appliance, which is not the
household electric appliance that uses the consumer good, or an
information appliance.
[0387] (2) In Embodiments 1 to 5, the confirmation message
transmitted by the server device includes a message presenting
discount information such as a coupon or a message presenting a
product sample, but the present invention is not limited to this
configuration. The server device may transmit household electric
appliance control information associated with a consumer good. Note
that where the household electric appliance is a washing machine,
the household electric appliance control information represents a
new washing course, and where the household electric appliance is a
microwave oven, it represents a new menu or a new function.
[0388] The server device may transmit information notifying of an
associated product associated with a consumer good or a consumer
good used with another household electric appliance. The server
device may transmit information of a new product of a household
electric appliance or a consumer good. The server device may
transmit information notifying of when to next purchase the
consumer good being currently used. The server device may present
only the discount information for the consumer good being currently
used.
[0389] The server device may present discount information for an
unused consumer good belonging to the same product category as the
consumer good being currently used. In this case, the server device
may set a higher discount rate for the unused consumer good, or
suggest the availability of a product sample of an unused consumer
good belonging to the same product category as the consumer good
being currently used. The server device may analyze the user's
tastes and preferences based on the utilization status of consumer
goods so as to provide information on a recipe or how to use a
household electric appliance as recommended based on the analysis
results.
[0390] Moreover, when the remaining amount of a consumer good is
less than or equal to a predetermined set value, the server device
may not only notify (or instead of notifying) of when to next
purchase the consumer good, but also cooperate with the server
device of an electronic commerce (EC) website so as to
automatically register the consumer good (in so-called a "shopping
cart") as a product to be purchased by the user on the EC website.
Alternatively, the server device of an EC website may manage
consumer goods of which the remaining amount is small so as to make
those consumer goods of which the remaining amount is small more
easily purchasable by the user.
[0391] (3) In Embodiment 1, the household electric appliance
displays a consumer goods list to accept a user input in order to
identify the consumer good being currently used, but the present
invention is not limited to this configuration. The information
appliance may display a consumer goods list and accept a user
input. In this case, the information appliance may transmit the
consumer good information input by the user directly to the server
device, or transmit the consumer good information input by the user
to the server device via the household electric appliance. The
household electric appliance may display a consumer goods list and
accept a user input so as to transmit the consumer good information
input by the user to the server device via the information
appliance.
[0392] (4) In Embodiments 1 to 5, where a consumer goods list is
transmitted to a household electric appliance or an information
appliance, the server device may include a decision section for
deciding whether it is transmitted to the household electric
appliance or to the information appliance depending on the number
of items displayed. In this case, if the consumer goods list has a
number of items displayed that is smaller than a predetermined
number, the server device transmits the consumer goods list to the
household electric appliance, and if the consumer goods list has a
number of items displayed that is greater than or equal to the
predetermined number, the server device transmits the consumer
goods list to the information appliance. Alternatively, the server
device may decide whether or not the household electric appliance
is being currently operated, and the server device may transmit the
consumer goods list to the household electric appliance if the
household electric appliance is being operated, and may transmit
the consumer goods list to the information appliance if the
household electric appliance is not being operated.
[0393] (5) In Embodiments 1 to 5, the timing at which the server
device transmits a confirmation message to the household electric
appliance or the information appliance may be one of the first
timing to the fourth timing to be described below, or may be a
timing obtained by combining together two or more of the first
timing to the fourth timing to be described below.
[0394] The first timing is a timing when the remaining amount,
which is controlled based on the interior volume and the amount of
consumption of the consumer good (a laundry detergent, a frozen
food, or the like), reaches, or becomes below, a predetermined set
value.
[0395] The second timing is a timing that is determined in advance
for each product, for each product category, for each manufacturer,
or for each household electric appliance. For example, it may be
set in advance for Product A that a confirmation message be
transmitted after 30 days from the consumption start date, and it
may be set in advance for Product category B that a confirmation
message be transmitted after one week from the consumption start
date.
[0396] The third timing is a timing that is determined based on
user information such as the family composition. For example, if
the family composition includes 4 people and Product D is normally
consumed in one week, the server device transmits a confirmation
message after one week from the consumption start date of Product
D.
[0397] The fourth timing is a timing that is determined based on
the cycle in which the consumer good is purchased by the user. For
example, where a user purchases one unit of Product E per month,
the server device transmits a confirmation message immediately
before the purchase timing for Product E.
[0398] (6) In Embodiment 2, where the server device provides a
consumer goods list based on the sales information and displays it
on the household electric appliance, a consumer good of which the
purchase date is closer to the current date may be displayed first,
or a consumer good of which the purchase frequency (the number of
times purchased) is higher may be displayed first. If a consumer
good that the user has been using or the user is about to start
using is not included in the consumer goods list presented by the
server device based on the sales information, the household
electric appliance or the information appliance may accept a user
input indicating that a consumer good of interest is not included
in the consumer goods list, and transmit the accepted user-input
information to the server device. In this case, when the user-input
information is received, the server device may extract the consumer
good information associated with the household electric appliance,
and re-transmit the extracted consumer good information as a
consumer goods list.
[0399] An information appliance such as a smartphone may have sales
information stored therein. The information appliance may transmit
the sales information directly to the household electric appliance.
The information appliance may transmit the sales information to the
household electric appliance via the server device. The information
appliance may transmit the sales information directly to the server
device. The information appliance may transmit the sales
information to the server device via the household electric
appliance.
[0400] (7) In Embodiment 3, where the household electric appliance
is a washing machine or a microwave oven, the wireless tag
detecting section may search for wireless tags in the vicinity
thereof at a timing when the power is turned ON, for example, and
detect a consumer good having been used up, a consumer good having
been disposed of, or a change in the stock of a consumer good.
Where the household electric appliance is a refrigerator, the
wireless tag detecting section may search for wireless tags in the
vicinity thereof at a timing when the door is opened or at a timing
when the door is closed, for example, and detect a consumer good
having been used up, a consumer good having been disposed of, or a
change in the stock of a consumer good. The server device may
store, as a consumption history, the timing at which the consumer
good was used up or the period during which the consumer good was
being used. The server device may determine the timing at which to
transmit a confirmation message depending on the consumption
history. The server device may determine the timing at which to
transmit a confirmation message based on a combination between the
timing determination method of Variation (5) described above and
the consumption history.
[0401] (8) In Embodiments 1 to 5, the household electric appliance
is not limited to washing machines and microwave ovens, but it may
be any household electric appliance as long as a consumer good is
used therewith, e.g., a refrigerator, a dishwasher, a baking
machine, a rice cooker, a coffee maker, a vacuum cleaner, a toilet
(including a warm water cleansing toilet seat), an electric
toothbrush, or a shaver. The consumer good may be, for example, a
detergent, a frozen food, flour, rice, coffee beans, paper bags,
toilet paper, toothpaste, or shaving cream. Moreover, the
information appliance may be any appliance as long as it includes a
display section (display), e.g., a mobile telephone, a smartphone,
a tablet device, a TV, a personal computer, a facsimile machine, or
a door monitor.
[0402] (9) In Embodiments 1 to 5, when the household electric
appliance or the information appliance displays a consumer goods
list and accepts a user input, it may accept an input by the user
of the remaining amount of the consumer good. In this case, the
household electric appliance or the information appliance may
accept a user input including, for example, `half-used`, `1/3
used`, `20% used`, `used 5 times`, or `unused`.
[0403] (10) In Embodiment 5, the household electric appliance reads
a barcode to identify the consumer good, and the server device
extracts, from a database (setting information storing section),
setting information for the household electric appliance associated
with the consumer good. In addition, the household electric
appliance may accept an input by the user of the amount of
consumption of the consumer good to be used, and transmit the
accepted amount of consumption to the server device. The amount of
consumption of a consumer good is, for example, the number of
pieces or the volume of a frozen food to be cooked by a microwave
oven. The server device may determine the setting information for
the household electric appliance based on the amount of consumption
input by the user and the consumer good identified by reading a
barcode. Instead of identifying the consumer good by reading a
barcode, the household electric appliance may identify the consumer
good from a wireless tag, a user input, or the user's purchase
information (purchase history).
[0404] (11) The operation of reading a barcode or detecting a
wireless tag in Embodiments 3 to 5 may be performed by the
household electric appliance, by the information appliance, or by a
different appliance other than the information appliance or the
household electric appliance with which the consumer good is used.
The appliances may transmit consumer goods identification
information obtained by reading a barcode or consumer goods
identification information read out from a wireless tag directly to
the server device or to the server device via another
appliance.
[0405] That is, an information appliance different from the
household electric appliance may obtain information for identifying
the consumer good by reading a barcode. The server device may
receive information for identifying the consumer good obtained by
the information appliance, directly from the information appliance.
The server device may receive information for identifying the
consumer good obtained by the information appliance, via the
household electric appliance. In this process, the information
appliance transmits, to the server device, information (appliance
ID) for identifying the household electric appliance with which the
consumer good is used, together with the information for
identifying the consumer good.
[0406] An information appliance different from the household
electric appliance may read out information for identifying the
consumer good from a wireless tag. The server device may receive
information for identifying the consumer good read out by the
information appliance, directly from the information appliance. The
server device may receive information for identifying the consumer
good read out by the information appliance, via the household
electric appliance. In this process, the information appliance
transmits, to the server device, information (appliance ID) for
identifying the household electric appliance with which the
consumer good is used, together with the information for
identifying the consumer good.
[0407] (12) FIG. 34 is a diagram schematically showing a
configuration of a point-of-use information obtaining system in
which a household electric appliance manufacturer and a consumer
good manufacturer cooperate with each other so as to provide a
coupon or a product sample. Note that in the example shown in FIG.
34, the household electric appliance is a washing machine, and the
consumer good is a detergent. Preferably, in the point-of-use
information obtaining system, the household electric appliance
manufacturer and the consumer good manufacturer cooperate with each
other to minimize the user's burden and provide a coupon or a
product sample, thereby continuously obtaining the utilization
information.
[0408] A method by which the consumer good being used can be easily
input may be selecting form a consumer goods list obtained via the
server device, obtaining an input by a barcode (obtaining directly
from the household electric appliance or via the information
appliance), obtaining an input by a wireless tag (obtaining
directly from the household electric appliance or via the
information appliance), obtaining an input in cooperation with an
EC website (utilizing purchase information by displaying a list of
consumer goods purchased in the past), or obtaining an input in
cooperation with point-of-sales information (POS information)
(obtaining sales information from a retailer).
[0409] Moreover, as a method of issuing a coupon or giving points,
the server device may issue a coupon (displaying a coupon on an LCD
screen) when a washing machine is operated, or may automatically
transfer a coupon to an information appliance such as a personal
computer or a smartphone (e.g., transmission via email, or transfer
via near field communication (NFC)). If the same consumer good has
been used many times, the server device may transmit a coupon of
that consumer good or a coupon of another product competing with
that consumer good (e.g., transmission via email, or transfer via
NFC). The server device may present, to the user, the provision of
a product sample of a newly-released consumer good or the provision
of a product sample of a product competing with the consumer good
being currently used. When a new consumer good is released, the
server device may transmit a coupon for the new product (e.g.,
transmission via email, or transfer via NFC), or may present, to
the user, the provision of a product sample of the new product.
[0410] Moreover, as a method for cooperating with an EC website,
the server device may transmit a recommended consumer good to a
household electric appliance or an information appliance (e.g.,
transmission via email, or transfer via NFC) if the same consumer
good has been used many times. If the same consumer good has been
used many times, the server device may automatically input that
consumer good in the `Recommended` section of the EC website
frequently used by the user, or may arrange so that the user can
immediately purchase that consumer good when visiting the EC
website.
[0411] (13) FIG. 35 is a diagram illustrating a method for
connecting together a household electric appliance and a server
device. Note that in the example of FIG. 35, the household electric
appliance is a washing machine. As shown in FIG. 35, the household
electric appliance may connect directly to the server device by
using a mobile telephone network, or the like, may connect to the
server device via an in-home wireless router (router), or may
connect to the server device via an in-home home gateway and
wireless router (router).
[0412] The point-of-use information (utilization information) may
be input by using a large screen of the household electric
appliance (washing machine), may be input by using a small screen
of the household electric appliance (washing machine) (including
cases where the input is made by using a wireless tag or by using a
barcode), or may be input by using a combination of a screen of the
household electric appliance (washing machine) and an information
appliance (including cases where the input is made by using a
wireless tag, by using a barcode, by using NFC transfer, or by
transferring to the washing machine via the server device).
[0413] (14) FIG. 36 is a diagram schematically showing a
configuration of a point-of-use information obtaining system in
which a household electric appliance manufacturer and a consumer
good manufacturer cooperate with each other so as to provide a
coupon or a product sample. Note that in the example shown in FIG.
36, the household electric appliance is a microwave oven, and the
consumer good is a frozen food. Preferably, in the point-of-use
information obtaining system, the household electric appliance
manufacturer and the consumer good manufacturer cooperate with each
other to minimize the user's burden and provide a coupon or a
product sample, thereby continuously obtaining the utilization
information.
[0414] A method by which the consumer good being used can be easily
input may be selecting form a consumer goods list obtained via the
server device, obtaining an input by a barcode (obtaining directly
from the household electric appliance or via the information
appliance), obtaining an input by a wireless tag (obtaining
directly from the household electric appliance or via the
information appliance), obtaining an input in cooperation with an
EC website (utilizing purchase information by displaying a list of
consumer goods purchased in the past), or obtaining an input in
cooperation with point-of-sales information (POS information)
(obtaining sales information from a retailer).
[0415] Moreover, as a method of issuing a coupon or giving points,
the server device may issue a coupon (displaying a coupon on an LCD
screen) when a microwave oven is operated, or may automatically
transfer a coupon to an information appliance such as a personal
computer or a smartphone (e.g., transmission via email, or transfer
via NFC). If the same consumer good has been used many times, the
server device may transmit a coupon of that consumer good or a
coupon of another product competing with that consumer good (e.g.,
transmission via email, or transfer via NFC). The server device may
present, to the user, the provision of a product sample of a
newly-released consumer good or the provision of a product sample
of a product competing with the consumer good being currently used.
When a new consumer good is released, the server device may
transmit a coupon for the new product (e.g., transmission via
email, or transfer via NFC), or may present, to the user, the
provision of a product sample of the new product.
[0416] Moreover, as a method for cooperating with an EC website,
the server device may transmit a recommended consumer good to a
household electric appliance or an information appliance (e.g.,
transmission via email, or transfer via NFC) if the same consumer
good has been used many times. If the same consumer good has been
used many times, the server device may automatically input that
consumer good in the `Recommended` section of the EC website
frequently used by the user, or may arrange so that the user can
immediately purchase that consumer good when visiting the EC
website.
[0417] (15) FIG. 37 is a diagram schematically showing a
configuration of a point-of-use information obtaining system in
which a household electric appliance manufacturer and a consumer
good manufacturer cooperate with each other so as to provide
setting information for a household electric appliance. Note that
in the example shown in FIG. 37, the household electric appliance
is a microwave oven, and the consumer good is a frozen food. As
shown in FIG. 37, the server device stores, in a setting
information database, setting information (parameters such as the
wattage or the irradiation time) for household electric appliances
(a microwave oven in this case). Now, the setting information is
provided by the manufacturer of the consumer good (a frozen food in
this case), or provided by the user voluntarily making an
input.
[0418] The microwave oven may include a barcode reader, and may
obtain setting information by making an inquiry to the setting
information database of the server device using barcode information
read by the barcode reader. The microwave oven may include an NFC
function, and may obtain barcode information read by an information
appliance such as a smartphone by using the NFC function so as to
obtain setting information by making an inquiry to the setting
information database of the server device using the obtained
barcode information.
[0419] The information appliance such as a smartphone may include a
barcode reader, and may obtain setting information by making an
inquiry to the setting information database of the server device
using the barcode information read by the barcode reader, and the
microwave oven may include an NFC function, and may obtain the
setting information, which has been obtained by the information
appliance, from the information appliance by using the NFC
function.
[0420] The microwave oven may include an infrared (IR)
communication function, and may obtain barcode information read by
the information appliance such as a smartphone by using the IR
communication function so as to obtain setting information by
making an inquiry to the setting information database of the server
device using the obtained barcode information.
[0421] The information appliance such as a smartphone may include a
barcode reader, and may obtain setting information by making an
inquiry to the setting information database of the server device
using the barcode information read by the barcode reader, and the
microwave oven may include an IR communication function, and may
obtain setting information, which has been obtained by the
information appliance, from the information appliance using the IR
communication function.
[0422] (16) In the embodiments described above, a single device has
a plurality of functions (components), but the present invention is
not limited to this configuration. A plurality of functions
(components) may be distributed among a plurality of devices, and
effects or functions similar to those of the present embodiment may
be implemented by combination thereof.
[0423] (17) Some or all of the components of devices described
above may be implemented by IC cards or single-unit modules that
can be inserted/removed into/from the devices. An IC card or a
module is a computer system implemented by a microprocessor, a ROM,
a RAM, etc. An IC card or a module may include a super
multi-function LSI described above. The IC card or module achieves
its function as the microprocessor operates in accordance with
computer programs. The IC card or module may be
tamper-resistant.
[0424] (18) The present invention may be any of the methods
described above. The present invention may also be a computer
program that implements these methods by using a computer, or a
digital signal of a computer program.
[0425] The present invention may also be a computer-readable
storage medium storing a computer program or a digital signal. The
computer-readable storage medium may be, for example, a flexible
disk, a hard disk, a CD-ROM, an MO, a DVD, a DVD-ROM, a DVD-RAM, a
Blu-ray (registered trademark) Disc (BD), a semiconductor memory,
etc. The present invention may be a digital signal stored in these
storage media.
[0426] The present invention may be a computer program or a digital
signal being transferred via a network such as a telecommunication
network, a wireless communication network, a wired communication
network and the Internet, or data broadcasting, etc.
[0427] The present invention my be a computer system including a
microprocessor and a memory, wherein the memory may store the
computer program, and the microprocessor may operate in accordance
with computer programs.
[0428] A computer program or a digital signal may be carried out by
another independent computer system by recording it on a
computer-readable storage medium and transferring it to the
independent computer system. A computer program or a digital signal
may be carried out by another independent computer system by
transferring it to the independent computer system via a network,
or the like.
[0429] (19) Embodiments 1 to 5 described above and Variations (1)
to (18) described above may be combined together.
[0430] Note that the specific embodiments described above primarily
include an invention configured as follows.
[0431] An information obtaining method according to one aspect of
the present invention includes: receiving information regarding a
consumer good which has been determined as a consumer good actually
used by a user with a household electric appliance; storing, in a
first memory section, a consumption status of the consumer good
which has been determined as a consumer good actually used by the
user, based on the received information regarding the consumer
good; receiving, from the household electric appliance, an
identifier for identifying the household electric appliance and an
operation status of the household electric appliance; estimating
the consumption status of the consumer good using the received
operation status; updating the consumption status of the consumer
good stored in the first memory section based on the estimated
consumption status of the consumer good; deciding whether or not to
transmit a confirmation message for confirming the consumer good
being used with the household electric appliance, based on the
updated consumption status of the consumer good; and transmitting
the confirmation message when it is decided that the confirmation
message is to be transmitted.
[0432] With this configuration, information regarding a consumer
good which has been determined as a consumer good actually used by
the user with a household electric appliance is received, and based
on the received information regarding a consumer good, the
consumption status of the consumer good which has been determined
as a consumer good actually used by the user is stored in the first
memory section. An identifier for identifying the household
electric appliance and an operation status of the household
electric appliance are received from the household electric
appliance. The consumption status of the consumer good is estimated
using the received operation status. The consumption status of the
consumer good stored in the first memory section is updated based
on the estimated consumption status of the consumer good. It is
decided whether or not to transmit a confirmation message for
confirming the consumer good being used with the household electric
appliance, based on the updated consumption status of the consumer
good. Then, the confirmation message is transmitted when it is
decided that the confirmation message is to be transmitted.
[0433] Thus, the consumption status of a consumer good is estimated
by using the received operation status; a confirmation message is
transmitted at a timing when a decision is made based on the
estimated consumption status of the consumer good; and information
regarding a consumer good which has been determined as a consumer
good actually used by the user is received as a response to the
confirmation message. Therefore, it is possible to appropriately
identify a consumer good which the user uses with a household
electric appliance.
[0434] In the information obtaining method described above, it is
preferred that a quantity of the consumer good at a start of
consumption is determined in advance.
[0435] With this configuration, since the quantity of the consumer
good at the start of consumption is determined in advance, it is
possible to easily manage the amount of consumption and the
remaining amount of the consumer good.
[0436] In the information obtaining method described above, it is
preferred that the first memory section stores a remaining amount
of the consumer good, and the method further includes: estimating,
as the consumption status, the remaining amount of the consumer
good using the received operation status; updating the remaining
amount of the consumer good stored in the first memory section,
based on the estimated remaining amount of the consumer good;
deciding whether or not the updated remaining amount of the
consumer good is less than or equal to a predetermined value; and
transmitting a confirmation message for confirming the consumer
good being used when it is decided that the updated remaining
amount of the consumer good is less than or equal to the
predetermined value.
[0437] With this configuration, the remaining amount of the
consumer good is estimated as the consumption status using the
received operation status, and the remaining amount of the consumer
good stored in the first memory section is updated based on the
estimated remaining amount of the consumer good. It is decided
whether or not the updated remaining amount of the consumer good is
less than or equal to a predetermined value, and when it is decided
that the updated remaining amount of the consumer good is less than
or equal to the predetermined value, a confirmation message for
confirming the consumer good being used is transmitted.
[0438] Thus, the remaining amount of the consumer good is
estimated, and a confirmation message for confirming the consumer
good being used is transmitted if the remaining amount of the
consumer good is less than or equal to a predetermined value.
Therefore, it is possible to identify a consumer good to be used
next when the consumer good is running out.
[0439] In the information obtaining method described above, it is
preferred that the method further includes: storing the information
regarding a consumer good in the second memory section in advance
while the information is associated with a type of the household
electric appliance; receiving, from the household electric
appliance, a request for the information regarding a consumer good
and an identifier for identifying the household electric appliance;
extracting, from the second memory section, information regarding a
consumer good which can be used with the household electric
appliance associated with the identifier; and transmitting the
extracted information regarding the consumer good.
[0440] With this configuration, information regarding a consumer
good is stored in advance in the second memory section while the
information is associated with a type of the household electric
appliance. A request for the information regarding a consumer good
and an identifier for identifying the household electric appliance
are received from the household electric appliance. The information
regarding a consumer good which can be used with the household
electric appliance associated with the identifier is extracted from
the second memory section, and the extracted information regarding
a consumer good is transmitted.
[0441] Thus, information regarding a consumer good which can be
used with the household electric appliance is transmitted, and
information regarding a consumer good which has been determined as
a consumer good actually used by the user is received. Therefore,
it is possible to appropriately identify a consumer good which the
user uses with a household electric appliance.
[0442] In the information obtaining method described above, it is
preferred that the second memory section stores information
regarding a plurality of consumer goods, and the method further
includes: extracting, from the second memory section, information
regarding a plurality of consumer goods which can be used with the
household electric appliance associated with the identifier;
transmitting the extracted information regarding the plurality of
consumer goods as a consumer goods list; and receiving the
information regarding the consumer good which has been determined
as a consumer good actually used by the user, from among the
consumer goods list.
[0443] With this configuration, information regarding a plurality
of consumer goods are stored in the second memory section; the
information regarding a plurality of consumer goods which can be
used with the household electric appliance associated with the
identifier are extracted from the second memory section; and the
extracted information regarding the plurality of consumer goods are
transmitted as a consumer goods list. Then, the information
regarding the consumer good which has been determined as a consumer
good actually used by the user, from among the consumer goods
list.
[0444] Thus, since information regarding a plurality of consumer
goods are transmitted as a consumer goods list, the user can easily
select a consumer good to be actually used from among the consumer
goods list.
[0445] In the information obtaining method described above, it is
preferred that the method further includes: selecting a consumer
good which has been sold to the user based on sales information in
which information for identifying the consumer good which has been
sold to the user is associated with a type of a household electric
appliance with which the consumer good is used; and extracting the
information regarding the selected consumer good from the second
memory section.
[0446] With this configuration, a consumer good which has been sold
to the user is selected based on sales information in which
information for identifying the consumer good which has been sold
to the user is associated with a type of a household electric
appliance with which the consumer good is used; and the information
regarding the selected consumer good is extracted from the second
memory section.
[0447] Thus, since only information regarding consumer goods which
the user has actually purchased are extracted and transmitted, the
user can easily identify a consumer good to be used.
[0448] In the information obtaining method described above, it is
preferred that the method further includes: obtaining information
for identifying the consumer good by reading a barcode provided on
the consumer good; receiving the obtained information for
identifying the consumer good; and extracting, from the second
memory section, the information regarding the consumer good on
which the barcode is provided, based on the received information
regarding the consumer good.
[0449] With this configuration, information for identifying the
consumer good is obtained by reading a barcode provided on the
consumer good. The obtained information for identifying the
consumer good is received, and the information regarding the
consumer good on which the barcode is provided is extracted from
the second memory section based on the received information
regarding the consumer good.
[0450] Thus, information for identifying the consumer good is
obtained by reading a barcode provided on the consumer good, and
only consumer goods associated with obtained information for
identifying consumer goods are presented to the user. Therefore,
the user can easily select a consumer good to be used from among
the consumer goods the user actually owns.
[0451] In the information obtaining method described above, it is
preferred that the method further includes: obtaining information
for identifying the consumer good by reading the barcode by means
of an information appliance different from the household electric
appliance; and receiving the information for identifying the
consumer good, which has been obtained by the information
appliance, directly from the information appliance, or receiving
the information for identifying the consumer good, which has been
obtained by the information appliance, via the household electric
appliance.
[0452] With this configuration, information for identifying the
consumer good is obtained by reading the barcode by means of an
information appliance different from the household electric
appliance. The information for identifying the consumer good, which
has been obtained by the information appliance, is received
directly from the information appliance. Alternatively, the
information for identifying the consumer good, which has been
obtained by the information appliance, is received via the
household electric appliance.
[0453] Thus, even if a household electric appliance does not have a
function of reading a barcode, information for identifying a
consumer good can be obtained by means of an information appliance
different from the household electric appliance.
[0454] In the information obtaining method described above, it is
preferred that the method further includes: reading out information
for identifying the consumer good from a wireless tag provided on
the consumer good; receiving the information for identifying the
consumer good read out from the wireless tag; and extracting, from
the second memory section, the information regarding the consumer
good on which the wireless tag is provided, based on the received
information for identifying the consumer good.
[0455] With this configuration, information for identifying the
consumer good is read out from a wireless tag provided on the
consumer good, and the information for identifying the consumer
good read out from the wireless tag is received. The information
regarding the consumer good on which the wireless tag is provided
is extracted from the second memory section based on the received
information for identifying the consumer good.
[0456] Thus, information for identifying a consumer good is read
out from a wireless tag provided on the consumer good, and only
consumer goods associated with the read-out information for
identifying the consumer good are presented to the user. Therefore,
the user can easily select a consumer good to be used from among
the consumer goods the user actually owns.
[0457] In the information obtaining method described above, it is
preferred that the method further includes: reading out information
for identifying the consumer good from the wireless tag by means of
an information appliance different from the household electric
appliance; and receiving the information for identifying the
consumer good, which has been read out by the information
appliance, directly from the information appliance, or receiving
the information for identifying the consumer good, which has been
read out by the information appliance, via the household electric
appliance.
[0458] With this configuration, information for identifying the
consumer good is read out from the wireless tag by means of an
information appliance different from the household electric
appliance. The information for identifying the consumer good, which
has been read out by the information appliance, is received
directly from the information appliance. Alternatively, the
information for identifying the consumer good, which has been read
out by the information appliance, is received via the household
electric appliance.
[0459] Thus, even if a household electric appliance does not have a
function of detecting a wireless tag, information for identifying a
consumer good can be obtained by means of an information appliance
different from the household electric appliance.
[0460] In the information obtaining method described above, it is
preferred that the first memory section stores an amount of
consumption of the consumer good, and the method further includes:
receiving the amount of consumption of the consumer good which is
measured by the household electric appliance; and updating the
consumption status of the consumer good stored in the first memory
section, based on the received amount of consumption of the
consumer good.
[0461] With this configuration, the amount of consumption of the
consumer good which is measured by the household electric appliance
is received, and the consumption status of the consumer good stored
in the first memory section is updated based on the received amount
of consumption of the consumer good. Therefore, it is possible to
accurately manage the amount of consumption of the consumer
good.
[0462] In the information obtaining method described above, it is
preferred that the operation status includes setting information
regarding an operation of the household electric appliance which is
set by the user for the household electric appliance when operating
the household electric appliance, and the method further includes:
calculating the amount of consumption of the consumer good from the
setting information by using a parameter determined in advance
according to the operation.
[0463] With this configuration, the operation status includes
setting information regarding an operation of the household
electric appliance which is set by the user for the household
electric appliance when operating the household electric appliance.
Then, the amount of consumption of the consumer good is calculated
from the setting information by using a parameter determined in
advance according to the operation.
[0464] Thus, the amount of consumption of the consumer good is
calculated from setting information regarding an operation of a
household electric appliance which is set by the user for the
household electric appliance when operating the household electric
appliance by using a parameter determined in advance according to
the operation of the household electric appliance. Therefore, there
is no need for a sensor for measuring the amount of consumption of
the consumer good, and the user does not need to input the amount
of consumption of the consumer good, making it possible to
calculate the amount of consumption of the consumer good only by
obtaining the setting information of the household electric
appliance.
[0465] In the information obtaining method described above, it is
preferred that the method further includes: storing, in a third
memory section, setting information regarding an operation of the
household electric appliance which is set for the household
electric appliance when operating the household electric appliance
using the consumer good; extracting the setting information stored
in the third memory section based on the received information
regarding a consumer good; and transmitting the extracted setting
information to the household electric appliance.
[0466] With this configuration, setting information regarding an
operation of the household electric appliance which is set for the
household electric appliance when operating the household electric
appliance using the consumer good is stored in a third memory
section. The setting information stored in the third memory section
is extracted based on the received information regarding a consumer
good, and the extracted setting information is transmitted to the
household electric appliance.
[0467] Thus, since setting information of a household electric
appliance depending on a consumer good to be used is transmitted to
the household electric appliance, the user can operate the
household electric appliance using the consumer good without having
to input the setting information.
[0468] In the information obtaining method described above, it is
preferred that the confirmation message is transmitted to the
household electric appliance with which the consumer good is used,
another household electric appliance different from the household
electric appliance with which the consumer good is used, or an
information appliance.
[0469] With this configuration, the confirmation message is
notified to the user by means of the household electric appliance
with which the consumer good is used, another household electric
appliance different from the household electric appliance with
which the consumer good is used, or an information appliance.
[0470] An information obtaining system according to another aspect
of the present invention is an information obtaining system
including a server device and a household electric appliance
communicatively connected to the server device, the server device
including: a first receiving section for receiving information
regarding a consumer good which has been determined as a consumer
good actually used by a user; a first memory section for storing a
consumption status of a consumer good; a memory control section for
storing, in the first memory section, a consumption status of the
consumer good which has been determined as a consumer good actually
used by the user, based on the received information regarding the
consumer good; a second receiving section for receiving, from the
household electric appliance, an identifier for identifying the
household electric appliance and an operation status of the
household electric appliance; an estimating section for estimating
the consumption status of the consumer good using the received
operation status; an updating section for updating the consumption
status of the consumer good stored in the first memory section
based on the estimated consumption status of the consumer good; a
decision section for deciding whether or not to transmit a
confirmation message for confirming the consumer good being used,
based on the updated consumption status of the consumer good; and a
transmitting section for transmitting the confirmation message when
it is decided that the confirmation message is to be transmitted,
the household electric appliance including: a first transmitting
section for transmitting, to the server device, a request for the
information regarding a consumer good and an identifier for
identifying the household electric appliance; a first receiving
section for receiving the information regarding a consumer good
transmitted by the server device; a second transmitting section for
transmitting, to the server device, the information regarding a
consumer good which has been determined as a consumer good actually
used by the user; and a third transmitting section for
transmitting, to the server device, the identifier for identifying
the household electric appliance and the operation status of the
household electric appliance.
[0471] With this configuration, a first receiving section of a
server device receives information regarding a consumer good which
has been determined as a consumer good actually used by a user. A
first memory section stores a consumption status of a consumer
good. A memory control section stores, in the first memory section,
a consumption status of the consumer good which has been determined
as a consumer good actually used by the user, based on the received
information regarding the consumer good. A second receiving section
receives, from the household electric appliance, an identifier for
identifying the household electric appliance and an operation
status of the household electric appliance. An estimating section
estimates the consumption status of the consumer good using the
received operation status. An updating section updates the
consumption status of the consumer good stored in the first memory
section based on the estimated consumption status of the consumer
good. A decision section decides whether or not to transmit a
confirmation message for confirming the consumer good being used,
based on the updated consumption status of the consumer good. A
transmitting section transmits the confirmation message when it is
decided that the confirmation message is to be transmitted. A first
transmitting section of the household electric appliance transmits,
to the server device, a request for the information regarding a
consumer good and an identifier for identifying the household
electric appliance. A first receiving section receives the
information regarding a consumer good transmitted by the server
device. A second transmitting section transmits, to the server
device, the information regarding a consumer good which has been
determined as a consumer good actually used by the user. A third
transmitting section transmits, to the server device, the
identifier for identifying the household electric appliance and the
operation status of the household electric appliance.
[0472] Thus, the consumption status of a consumer good is estimated
by using the received operation status; a confirmation message is
transmitted at a timing when a decision is made based on the
estimated consumption status of the consumer good; and information
regarding a consumer good which has been determined as a consumer
good actually used by the user is received as a response to the
confirmation message. Therefore, it is possible to appropriately
identify a consumer good which the user uses with a household
electric appliance.
[0473] An information appliance according to another aspect of the
present invention an information appliance communicatively
connected to a server device, the information appliance including:
a receiving section for receiving a confirmation message for
confirming a consumer good being used, the confirmation message
having been decided by the server device to be transmitted based on
a consumption status of a consumer good to be used with a household
electric appliance, the consumption status having been estimated by
using an operation status of the household electric appliance; a
display section for displaying the received confirmation message;
an accepting section for accepting, from a user, an input of
response information for the confirmation message; and a
transmitting section for transmitting, to the server device, the
response information accepted by the accepting section.
[0474] With this configuration, a receiving section of the
information appliance receives a confirmation message for
confirming a consumer good being used, the confirmation message
having been decided by the server device to be transmitted based on
a consumption status of a consumer good to be used with a household
electric appliance, the consumption status having been estimated by
using an operation status of the household electric appliance. A
display section displays the received confirmation message. An
accepting section for accepting, from a user, an input of response
information for the confirmation message. A transmitting section
transmits, to the server device, the response information accepted
by the accepting section.
[0475] Thus, the consumption status of the consumer good is
estimated by using the received operation status, and the stored
consumption status of the consumer good is updated based on the
estimated consumption status consumer good. Therefore, it is
possible to easily manage the consumption status of consumer goods
without the user having to input the consumption status of the
consumer goods.
[0476] Note that the particular embodiments and examples set forth
in the Description of Embodiments section are merely to elucidate
the technical details of the present invention, and the present
invention should not be narrowly interpreted to be limited to such
specific examples, but various changes can be made thereto without
departing from the spirit of the present invention and the scope of
the claims.
INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY
[0477] The information obtaining method, the information obtaining
system and the information appliance of the present invention make
it possible to appropriately identify a consumer good which a user
uses with a household electric appliance, and they are applicable
as an information obtaining method, an information obtaining system
and an information appliance for obtaining information at the point
in time when the user uses the household electric appliance.
* * * * *