Patent Publication Number: US-2013232034-A1

Title: Coordinate supporting system, coordinate supporting apparatus and coordinate supporting method

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application is based upon and claims the benefit of priority from Japanese Patent Application No. 2012-048502, filed Mar. 5, 2012, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
     FIELD 
     Embodiments described herein relate to a system, apparatus and method for supporting the coordinate of clothing, interiors and so on. 
     BACKGROUND 
     A coordinate supporting system is known which provides the coordinate information of the commodities, as a reference information, purchased by a customer to another customer having trouble in coordinating clothing or accessory. 
     However, in the conventional system, the coordinate information provided to a customer is not always the information meeting preferences of the customer. Thus, it is troublesome for the customer receiving the coordinate information that the customer has to select the information meeting his/her preferences from the variety of coordinate information. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic diagram illustrating a coordinate supporting system according to an embodiment; 
         FIG. 2  is a pattern diagram illustrating the format of a record stored in a store database managed by the store server of the system shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a pattern diagram illustrating the format of a record stored in a commodity database managed by the commodity server of the system shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a pattern diagram illustrating the format of a record stored in a member database managed by the member server of the system shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 5  is a pattern diagram illustrating the data structure of a commodity classification table managed by the coordinate server of the system shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 6  is a pattern diagram illustrating the data structure of a coordinate table managed by the coordinate server of the system; 
         FIG. 7  is a pattern diagram illustrating the format of a record stored in a coordinate database managed by the coordinate server of the system; 
         FIG. 8  is a block diagram illustrating the main components of a POS terminal in the system; 
         FIG. 9  is a block diagram illustrating the main components of an information terminal in the system; 
         FIG. 10  is a block diagram illustrating the main components of the coordinate server in the system; 
         FIG. 11  is a block diagram illustrating the main functional components of the system; 
         FIG. 12  is a flowchart illustrating the main procedures of a member transaction data reception processing carried out by the coordinate server of the system; 
         FIG. 13  is a flowchart illustrating the main procedures of a coordinate supporting processing carried out by the information terminal of the system; 
         FIG. 14  is a flowchart illustrating the main procedures of a coordinate inquiry reception processing carried out by the coordinate server of the system; 
         FIG. 15  is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of a member registration screen displayed on a panel display unit in the information terminal of the system; 
         FIG. 16  is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of a coordinate retrieval screen displayed on the panel display unit in the information terminal of the system; 
         FIG. 17  is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of a coordinate image screen displayed on the panel display unit in the information terminal of the system; and 
         FIG. 18  is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of a coordinate detail screen displayed on the panel display unit in the information terminal of the system. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     In accordance with an embodiment, a coordinate supporting apparatus comprises a determination section configured to determine whether or not there is a combination of commodities realizing a given coordinate pattern according to the data of the commodities purchased by a customer and a storage section configured to store the data of the combination of commodities in association with a customer feature data relating to preferences of the customer who purchases commodities of the combination if the determination section determines that there is a combination of commodities realizing the given coordinate pattern. 
     An embodiment of the coordinate supporting system is described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. In addition, in the embodiment, coordinate information is provided to a customer requesting support in the coordinate of clothing or interiors in each clothing chain store. 
       FIG. 1  is a schematic diagram illustrating a coordinate supporting system  1  according to the present embodiment. The system  1  comprises a cloud computing  2 , and a store system  3  built for each chain store. 
     The cloud computing  2  comprises, based on a wire or wireless network (e.g. the Internet), a store server  21 , a commodity server  22 , a member server  23  and a coordinate server to provide given services in the form of a SaaS (Software as a Service) to the store system  3 . 
     The store server  21  manages a store database  210 . In the store database  210 , a record for shop is accumulated in association with a unique or a proper store code set for each shop constituting a chain store to identify each shop, as shown in  FIG. 2 . The record for shop includes a shop information such as a store name and a telephone number. 
     The commodity server  22  manages a commodity database  220 . In the commodity database  220 , a record for commodity is accumulatively stored in association with a proper commodity code set for each commodity to identity each commodity sold in a shop, as shown in  FIG. 3 . The record for commodity includes a commodity information such as a commodity name, a unit price, a commodity classification, a commodity size, a commodity image, and the quantity of stock in the shop. The commodity code assigned to the commodity is attached to the commodity in the form of a bar code. 
     The member server  23  manages a member database  230 . In the member database  230 , a record for member is accumulatively stored in association with a proper member code set for each member to identify each member in the shop, as shown in  FIG. 4 . The record for member includes a member information such as name, sex, age, height, clothing size and a purchase history. A member card on which the member code of a member is recorded is issued to the member. 
     The coordinate server  24  manages a commodity classification table  241 , a coordinate table  242  and a coordinate database  240 . As shown in  FIG. 5 , the group name of a clothing is set in the commodity classification table  241  in association with a proper commodity classification. 
     As shown in  FIG. 6 , commodity classifications of two kinds of clothing or interiors realizing or achieving a coordinate pattern are set in the coordinate table  242  in association with a proper coordinate code. That is, the combination of commodity classifications of two kinds of commodities purchased by a customer for coordinate, such as a jacket and a shirt, a jacket and a necktie, a blouse and a skirt, and a sweater and a shirt, are respectively set in association with different coordinate codes. 
     A coordinate record, in which information relating to the purchase transaction of two kinds of clothes or interiors forming a coordinate pattern is recorded, is stored in the coordinate database  240 . That is, as shown in  FIG. 7 , a coordinate code for the coordinate pattern formed, a purchase date, a store record, purchaser information (e.g. sex, age, height and size of clothing) and codes of commodities of the first and second classifications are recorded as an information relating to the purchase transaction. 
     The following description will be given with reference to  FIG. 1 . 
     The store system  3  comprises a POS (Point Of Sales) terminal  31 , an information terminal  32  having a wireless communication function therein and a wireless base station  33  for conducting a wireless communication with the information terminal  32 . The POS terminal  31  is connected with the network of the cloud computing  2  via a LAN (Local Area Network). The information terminal  32  is a portable wireless communication apparatus and is connected with the network of the cloud computing  2  via the wireless base station  33 . 
       FIG. 8  is a block diagram illustrating the main components of the POS terminal  31 . The POS terminal  31  is provided with a CPU (Central Processing Unit)  41  as the main body of a control unit. The CPU  41  is connected with a bus line BL such as an address bus, a data bus and the like. A ROM (Read Only Memory)  42 , a RAM (Random Access Memory)  43 , a clock section  44  and a communication interface  45  are connected to the bus line BL. In addition, various input/output devices, including a keyboard  46 , a scanner  47 , a display for operator  48 , a display for customer  49 , a printer  50  and a card reader  51 , are also connected with the bus line BL via an I/O (Input/Output) controller (not shown). 
     Numeric keys for inputting numerical data, and a closing key for declaring the closing of the registration in one commodity transaction are arranged on the keyboard  46 . The scanner  47  optically reads the barcode attached on a commodity. The commodity name and the price of a commodity purchased by a customer are displayed on the display  48  for operator and the display  49  for customer. The printer  50  prints and issues a receipt. The card reader  51  reads the data in the member card held by a customer who is a member of the shop. 
       FIG. 9  is a block diagram illustrating the main components of the information terminal  32 . The information terminal  32  is also provided with a CPU  61  as the main body of a control unit. Moreover, the CPU  61  is connected with a bus line BL, and a ROM  62 , a RAM  63 , a clock section  64  and a wireless section  65  are also connected with the bus line BL. In addition, for example, the interface  67  for a touch panel  66 , and a card reader  68  are connected with the bus line BL. The touch panel  66  includes a touch panel sensor  662  mounted on the screen of a panel display unit  661  composed of a liquid crystal display. 
       FIG. 10  is a block diagram illustrating the main components of the coordinate server  24 . The coordinate server  24  is also provided with a CPU  71  as the main body of a control unit. The CPU  71  is connected with a bus line BL, and a ROM  72 , a RAM  73 , a clock section  74  and a network interface  75  are also connected with the bus line BL. Further, a HDD (Hard Disk Drive) device  76  as a high-capacity memory is connected with the bus line BL via an I/O (Input/Output) controller (not shown). The coordinate database  240  is stored in the HDD device  76 . 
     The coordinate server  24  with the above structure functions as a determination element  81 , a storage element  82 , an acquisition element  83  and an output element  84 , as shown in  FIG. 11 . The determination element  81  determines, according to the data of the commodities purchased by a customer, whether or not there is a combination of commodities realizing a given coordinate pattern. The data of the commodities purchased by the customer is sent from the POS terminal  31 . If the determination element  81  determines that there is a combination of commodities realizing the coordinate pattern, the storage element  82  stores the data of the combination of commodities in the coordinate database  240  in association with a customer feature data relating to preferences of the customer who purchases the commodities of such combination. The acquisition element  83  compares a person feature data relating to preferences of the person who requests the coordinate support with the customer feature data associated with the data of the combination of commodities of each customer stored in the coordinate database  240  to acquire the data of a combination of commodities associated with the customer feature data similar to the person feature data. The output element  84  outputs the data of the combination of commodities acquired by the acquisition element  83  to the information terminal  32 . Functions of the determination element  81 , the storage element  82 , the acquisition element  83  and the output element  84  are achieved by the CPU  71  acting in accordance with a server side coordinate supporting program stored in the ROM  72 . 
     On the other hand, the information terminal  32  includes functions as a transmission element  91  and a notification element  92 . The transmission element  91  sends person feature data relating to preferences of the person who requests a coordinate support to the coordinate server  24 . The notification element  92  receives the data of the combination of commodities output from the coordinate server  24  and notifies it. The functions of the transmission element  91  and the notification element  94  are realized by the CPU  61  acting according to a terminal side coordinate supporting program stored in the ROM  62 . 
     The functions of the aforementioned coordinate server  24  and information terminal  32  will be understood from the following function description. First, the functions achieved between the POS terminal  31  and the cloud computing  2  are described. 
     When the data in a member card is read by the card reader  51 , the POS terminal  31  inquires of the cloud computing  2  about member data via the communication interface  45 . The member server  23  in the cloud computing  2  actuates in response to the inquiry. The member server  23  retrieves the member database  230  using the member code contained in the data of the member card. Then, if the member server  23  detects a member record containing the member code, the member server  23  sends the member record to the POS terminal  31  that is an inquiry source. The POS terminal  31  stores data of the member record received from the member server  23  in the transaction area of the RAM  43 . 
     When the commodity code (barcode) of a commodity purchased by a customer is read by the scanner  47 , the POS terminal  31  inquires of the cloud computing  2  about commodity data via the communication interface  45 . The commodity server  22  in the cloud computing  2  actuates in response to the inquiry. The commodity server  22  retrieves the commodity database  220  using the commodity code read by the scanner  47 . Then, if the commodity server  22  detects a commodity record containing the commodity code, the commodity server  22  sends the commodity record to the POS terminal  31  that is an inquiry source. The POS terminal  31  generates commodity sales data based on the commodity name, unit price, commodity classification and commodity size contained in the commodity record received from the commodity server  22 . Then, the POS terminal  31  stores the commodity sales data in the transaction area. Moreover, the POS terminal  31  displays the commodity name and the unit price on the display  48  for operator and the display  49  for customer. 
     When the closing key on the keyboard  46  is operated, the POS terminal  31  executes the closing processing in one commodity transaction based on the member data and commodity sales data stored in the transaction area. Then, the printer  50  is activated to issue a receipt which shows the details of the one commodity transaction. The POS terminal  31  further generates member transaction data containing the member data and commodity sales data stored in the transaction area, the current date/time (transaction date and time) timed by the clock section  44  and a preset store code and sends the generated data to the cloud computing  2  via the communication interface  45 . 
     The commodity server  22 , the member server  23  and the coordinate server  24  operate in the cloud computing  2  receiving the member transaction data, the commodity server  22  updating a stock quantity list in each shop based on the store code and commodity sales data contained in the member transaction data, and the member server  23  updating purchase history information based on the transaction date/time, the member data and the commodity sales data. 
     On the other hand, the server side coordinate supporting program is started in the coordinate server  24 . Then, the CPU  71  starts to carry out the processing of the procedures shown in  FIG. 12  according to the server side coordinate supporting program. First, the commodity sales data is analyzed (ST 1 ) to determine whether or not the commodity sales data is a transaction data including more than two purchase items (ST 2 ). The processing is ended if the transaction data includes only one purchase item (NO in ST 2 ). 
     If there are more than two purchase items (YES in ST 2 ), the CPU  71  detects the commodity classification of each purchase item (ST 3 ). Then, the detected commodity classifications are used to check the coordinate table  242  to determine whether or not a given coordinate pattern is realized. That is, the commodity classifications detected are used to determine whether or not there is a combination of a first and second classifications corresponding to each coordinate code realized (ST 4 ). If there is no combination realized (NO in ST 4 ), the processing is ended. 
     In the case in which there is a combination of a first and second classifications realized corresponding to at least one coordinate code (YES in ST 4 ), the CPU  71  creates a coordinate record for each coordinate pattern to which a combination is realized. That is, a coordinate record is created according to the realized coordinate code, the transaction date/time (purchase date) and store code (code of the store from where commodities are purchased) contained in the member transaction data, member data (purchaser information), the code of the purchased commodity belonging to the first classification and the code of the purchased commodity belonging to the second classification (ST 5 ). Thereafter, the CPU  71  additionally stores the created coordinate record in the coordinate database  240  (ST 6 ). Then the processing is ended. 
     The coordinate server  24  functions as the determination element  81  by executing ACTs ST 2 , ST 3  and ST 4 , and also as the storage element  82  by executing ACTs ST 5  and ST 6 . 
     The operations executed between the information terminal  32  and the cloud computing  2  are described below. 
     The information terminal  32  is used when a shop clerk is asked a coordinate advice from a customer. That is, the shop clerk who is asked a coordinate advice operates the touch panel  66  of the information terminal  32  to start a coordinate supporting service. The terminal side coordinate supporting program is started in the information terminal  32 . Then, the CPU  61  starts the processing of the procedures shown in  FIG. 13  according to the program. First, the CPU  61  displays a member registration screen  100  on the panel display unit  661  of the touch panel  66  (ST 11 ). 
       FIG. 15  shows a display example of the member registration screen  100 . As shown in the diagram, an input box  101  for inputting a name, select boxes  102 ,  103 ,  104  and  105  for selecting sex, age, height and clothing size, a ‘member registration’ button  106  and a ‘cancel’ button  107  are arranged on the member registration screen  100 . Moreover, a message  108  ‘Please show your member card if you are a member’ is also displayed on the member registration screen  100 . Thus, the shop clerk confirms whether or not the customer (requester) requesting for a coordinate advice is a member. If the requester is a member, the shop clerk sets the member card taken from the member on the card reader  68  to read the card data of the member card, otherwise, the shop clerk asks the requester about his/her name, sex, age, height and clothing size which are necessary for the registration of a new member and then inputs these information to the boxes  101 - 105 . Then, the shop clerk touches the ‘member registration’ button  106 . Additionally, if there is an error in input, the shop clerk touches the ‘cancel’ button  107 . 
     The CPU  61  activating the display of the member registration screen  100  waits for the input of the data of the member card (ST 12 ) or the items necessary for the registration of a new member (ST 13 ). When the data of the member card is read by the card reader (YES in ST 12 ), the CPU  61  inquires of the cloud computing  2  about member data via the wireless section  65 . 
     The member server  23  operates in the cloud computing  2  in response to the inquiry. The member server  23  retrieves the member database  230  using the member code in the data of the member card. Then, if the member server  23  detects a member record containing the member code, then the member server  23  sends the member record to the information terminal  32  of the inquiry source. 
     The information terminal  32  acquires name, sex, age, height and clothing size according to the data of the member record received from the member server  23  and displays the acquired information in the boxes  101 - 105  on the member registration screen  100  (ST 14 ). At this time, the ‘member registration’ button  106  is switched to a ‘OK’ button. The CPU  61  waits for the input of the ‘OK’ button  106  or the ‘cancel’ button  107  (ST 15 ). 
     The shop clerk confirms the contents displayed in the boxes  101 - 105 . Then, if the contents displayed in the boxes  101 - 105  are correct, the shop clerk touches the ‘OK’ button  106 . If the contents displayed in the boxes  101 - 105  are incorrect, the shop clerk touches the ‘cancel’ button  107 . If the ‘cancel’ button  107  is touched (NO in ST 15 ), the CPU  61  waits again for the input of the data of the member card (ST 12 ) or the items necessary for the registration of a new member (ST 13 ). 
     If the ‘OK’ button  106  is touched (YES in ST 15 ), the CPU  61  stores the sex, age, height and clothing size contained in the received member record in the RAM  63  as a customer feature data relating to the preferences of the requester, that is, a requester information (ST 17 ). 
     On the other hand, when the name, sex, age, height and clothing size are input to the boxes  101 - 105  on the member registration screen  100  based on a signal from the touch panel sensor  662 , and then the ‘member registration’ button  106  is touched, the CPU  61  sends the input information in the boxes  101 - 105  to the cloud computing  2  via the wireless section  65  as anew member registration information. 
     The member server  23  operates in the cloud computing  2  in response to the transmission of the new member registration information. That is, after issuing a new member code, the member server  23  generates a member record in which the new member registration information is set in association with the new member code, and then adds the new member record in the member database  230 . 
     The CPU  61  of the information terminal  32  sending the new member registration information stores the sex, age, height and clothing size contained in the new member registration information in the RAM  63  as a requester information (ST 17 ). 
     When the requester information is stored in the RAM  63 , then the CPU  61  switches the screen on the panel display section  661  to a coordinate retrieval screen  110  (ST 18 ). 
       FIG. 16  shows a display example of the coordinate retrieval screen  110 . As shown in  FIG. 16 , boxes  111  and  112  for selecting two kinds of commodity classification ‘commodity 1’ and ‘commodity 2’ for coordinate, a ‘retrieval’ button  113  and a ‘cancel’ button  114  are displayed on the coordinate retrieval screen  110 . 
     The shop clerk asks the requester two kinds of commodity classifications for coordinate. Then, the two kinds of commodity classifications answered by the requester are selected on boxes  111  and  112 , respectively. For example, in the case in which a male requester desires the coordinate of a jacket and a necktie, a commodity classification ‘gentleman jacket’ is selected on the ‘commodity 1’ box  111 , and a commodity classification ‘necktie’ is selected on the ‘commodity 2’ box  112 . In an other way, the commodity classification ‘necktie’ may be selected on the ‘commodity 1’ box  111 , and the commodity classification ‘gentleman jacket’ may be selected on the ‘commodity 2’ box  112 . 
     After displaying the coordinate retrieval screen  110 , the CPU  61  waits for the selection of any one of commodity classifications on the ‘commodity 1’ box  111 . When the commodity classification is selected (YES in ST 19 ), the CPU  61  retrieves the coordinate table  242  to detect all of other commodity classifications which realize the coordinate pattern together with the selected commodity classification. Then, all the detected commodity classifications are narrowed down to the classifications that can be selected on the ‘commodity 2’ box  112  (ST 20 ). For example, if the commodity classification selected on the ‘commodity 1’ box  111  is ‘male jacket’, then the commodity classifications that can be selected on the ‘commodity 2’ box  112  are narrowed down to ‘male shirt’, ‘necktie’ and the like, but ‘female jacket’ and ‘blouse’ are eliminated from the selected items. 
     Next, the CPU  61  waits for the selection of any one of the commodity classifications on the ‘commodity 2’ box  112  (ST 21 ). When a commodity classification is selected (YES in ST 21 ), the CPU  61  stores the data of a pair of commodity classifications selected on the ‘commodity 1’ box  111  and the ‘commodity 2’ box  112  in the RAM  63  (ST 22 ). Then, the CPU  61  creates a coordinate inquiry command using the requester information (sex, age, height and clothing size) stored by the process in the ACT ST 17  and the data of the pair of commodity classifications stored by the process in the ACT ST  22 . The CPU  61  sends the inquiry command to the cloud computing  2  via the wireless section  65  (ST 23 ). 
     The coordinate server  24  in the cloud computing  2  operates in response to the inquiry command. That is, the CPU  71  of the coordinate server  24  reads the coordinate code assigned to the pair of commodity classifications in the command, referring to the coordinate table  242 , as shown in the flowchart of  FIG. 14 . 
     Next, the CPU  71  retrieves the coordinate database  240 , using the coordinate code (ST 42 ), and determinates whether or not there is a coordinate record in which the same coordinate code is set (ST 43 ). If no coordinate record in which the same coordinate code is set presents in the coordinate database  240  (NO in ST 43 ), the CPU  71  sends a response command indicating that the response is unable to the information terminal  32  of the inquiry source (ST 44 ). 
     In contrast, if at least one coordinate record in which the same coordinate code is set is found (YES in ST 43 ), the CPU  71  acquires the purchaser information from the coordinate record. Then, the CPU  71  checks the purchaser information with the requester information in the inquirer command to calculate the similarity K of the requester against the purchaser (ST 45 ). 
     For example, if the items ‘sex’ in the purchaser information and the requester information are coincided with one another, ‘1’ is output and otherwise, then ‘0’ is output as a determined similarity value A. If the items ‘age’ in the purchaser information and the requester information are coincided with one another, then ‘50’ is output as a determined similarity value B, and each difference ‘one year’ between the purchaser and the requester brings a reduction of 5 from the determined similarity value B. If the items ‘height’ in the purchaser information and the requester information are coincided with one another, then ‘50’ is output as a determined similarity value C, and each difference ‘1 cm’ between the purchaser and the requester brings a reduction of 5 from the determined similarity value C. If the items ‘clothing size’ in the purchaser information and the requester information are coincided with one another, then ‘1’ is output as a determined similarity value D. If the purchaser information and the requester information are not coincided with one another, ‘0’ is output as a determined similarity value D. In addition, the minimum value of the determined similarity values B and C is ‘0’. 
     Then, the CPU  71  calculates the similarity K by the following formula: 
         K=A *( B+C )* D   (1)
 
     For each of such coordinate records, when the similarity K of the requester against the purchaser in the record is calculated, the CPU  71  determines whether or not there is a coordinate record in which the calculated similarity K is higher than a preset threshold X (ST 46 ). If there is no coordinate record in which the similarity Kis higher than the threshold X (NO in ST 46 ), then the CPU  71  sends a response command indicating that ‘response is unable’ to the information terminal  32  of the inquiry source (ST 44 ). 
     In contrast, if there is at least one coordinate record in which the similarity K is higher than the threshold X (YES in ST 46 ), the CPU  71  selects coordinate records in the descending order of the similarity K. Then, the commodity codes of the first and second classifications are acquired from the coordinate record each time a coordinate record is selected. Then, a commodity image and stock quantity list for each shop corresponding to the commodity code of the first classification as well as a commodity image and stock quantity list for each shop corresponding to the commodity code of the second classification are read from the commodity database  220  managed by the commodity server  22  (ST 47 ). 
     The CPU  71  creates, according to the commodity images corresponding to the commodity codes of the first and second classifications, a coordinate image G by overlapping the two images (ST 48 ). The CPU  71  sends the information of the created coordinate image G with the stock quantity list for each shop corresponding to the commodity code of the first classification and the stock quantity list for each shop corresponding to the commodity code of the second classification to the information terminal  32  of the inquiry command transmission source (ST 49 ). 
     The CPU  61  of the information terminal  32  sending the inquiry command in ACT ST 23  waits for a response from the coordinate server  24  (ST 24 ). Then, if the CPU  61  receives response data containing the information of the coordinate image G (YES in ST 24 ), the CPU  61  displays, on the panel display section  661  of the touch panel  66 , the coordinate image G created according to the coordinate record having the highest similarity K (ST 25 ). 
       FIG. 17  shows a display example of the coordinate image G. The image G of a coordinate realizing the coordinate pattern of commodity classifications ‘male jacket’ and ‘necktie’ is shown in  FIG. 17 . As shown in  FIG. 17 , a ‘previous page’ button  121 , a ‘next page’button  122 , a ‘detail’ button  123  and an ‘end’ button  124  are displayed on the screen  120  of the coordinate image G. Additionally, the ‘previous page’ button  121  is inoperable (invalid) on the screen  120  of the coordinate image G having the highest similarity K. Simirally, the ‘next page’ button  122  is inoperable (invalid) on the screen  120  of the coordinate image G having the lowest similarity K. 
     The CPU  61  waits for the input of any one of the buttons on the screen  120  (ST 26 ,  28  and  30 ). If the ‘previous page’ button  121  or the ‘next page’ button  122  is touched to input (YES in ST 26 ), the CPU  61  switches the coordinate image G. That is, if the ‘previous page’ button  121  is touched to input, the coordinate image G is switched to a coordinate image G which is one rank higher in the similarity K than the coordinate image G being displayed. On the contrary, if the ‘next page’ button  122  is touched to input, the coordinate image G is switched to a coordinate image G which is one rank lower in the similarity K than the coordinate image G being displayed (ST 27 ). 
     When the ‘detail’ button  123  is touched (YES in ST 28 ), the CPU  61  acquires the stock quantity list for each shop corresponding to the first classification commodity code and the stock quantity list for each shop corresponding to the second classification commodity code added to the information of the coordinate image G being displayed. Then, a screen  130  showing the quantity of stock of the commodities of the first classification commodity code and the commodities of the second classification commodity code for each shop are displayed (ST 28 ). 
       FIG. 18  shows a display example of the quantity of stock for each shop. A ‘return’ button  131  is displayed on the screen  130  in  FIG. 18 . When the ‘return’ button  131  is touched, the screen being displayed returns to the screen  120  showing the immediately preceding coordinate image G. 
     When the ‘end’ button  124  is touched (YES in ST 30 ), the processing is ended. 
     Here, the CPU  71  of the coordinate server  24  executing the processes in ACTs ST 41 -ST 47  functions as the acquisition element  83 , and the processes in ACT ST 48  and ACT ST 49  function as an image creation element and an output element  84 , respectively. 
     Moreover, the CPU  61  of the information terminal  32  executing the processes in ACTs ST 11 -ST 23  and the process in ACT ST 25  functions as the transmission element  91  and the notification element  92 , respectively. 
     In the coordinate server  24  of the present embodiment, whether or not there is a combination of commodities realizing a given coordinate pattern is determined according to the member transaction data sent from the POS terminal  31 . Then, if it is determined that there is a combination of commodities realizing the given coordinate pattern, a coordinate record representing the data of the combination of commodities is created and stored in the coordinate database  240 . 
     The information of the combination of commodities realizing the given coordinate pattern is recorded in the coordinate record in association with customer feature data relating to his/her preference such as, the age, sex, height and clothing size of the purchaser who purchased the commodities of such combination. Therefore, by analyzing the coordinate records stored in the coordinate database  240 , user can easily obtain information that, for example, how to coordinate a jacket with a necktie by the men in their 30&#39;s who are about 170 cm high and like M-size clothing. 
     Further, in the coordinate server  24 , the customer feature data, including age, sex, height and clothing size of the requester, sent from the information terminal  32  is compared with the customer feature data recorded in each coordinate record stored in the coordinate database  240  to acquire the data of the combination of commodities which is associated with the customer feature data including features similar to those of the requester. Then, the data of the combination of commodities is output to the information terminal  32 . Therefore, in the information terminal  32 , the coordinate information of the commodities which were purchased before by a customer having features similar to those of the requester can be easily acquired by only inputting the customer feature data of the requester, thereby providing coordinate information meeting preferences of the requester in a short time. 
     Further, the coordinate information is provided as an image of the commodities combined. Therefore, the requester can reliably determine whether or not the coordinate is desirable because the requester can image he/she wearing the coordinated clothes. 
     The present invention is not limited to the embodiments above. 
     For example, in the embodiment, coordinate images are displayed in the descending order of the similarity, however, the display order of coordinate images is not limited to this. For example, coordinate images may be displayed in the order of purchase date nearest from the present date. Further, the method for calculating the similarity is not limited to the one used in the embodiments above. 
     Further, the coordinate of two kinds of clothes is described in the embodiments above, however, the present invention can also deal with the coordinate of three and more kinds of clothes, by rearranging the coordinate table  242 . Further, the present invention is also applicable to not only the coordinate of clothes but also the coordinate of furniture. 
     While certain embodiments have been described, these embodiments have been presented by way of example only, and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. Indeed, the novel embodiments described herein may be embodied in a variety of other forms; furthermore, various omissions, substitutions and changes in the form of the embodiments described herein may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. The accompanying claims and their equivalents are intended to cover such forms or modifications as would fall within the scope and spirit of the invention.