Abstract:
An information offering method including: disclosing summary information about a designated product via a designated communication line; judging whether or not the user reading said summary information disclosed by said summary information disclosing step and desiring to read detailed product information about the product about which said summary information is disclosed is a user who is permitted to read detailed information; and disclosing detailed information about the product about which said summary information is disclosed, to the user who is judged to be permitted to read detailed information by said judgment step.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    (1) Field of the Invention  
           [0002]    The present invention relates generally to a system in which given information is offered to a user, and more particularly to an information offering system which can be used to offer information on medical instrument products to users.  
           [0003]    (2) Description of the Related Art  
           [0004]    Unlike the ordinary goods market, users and purchasers of medical instruments are limited to doctors and hospital employees in charge of procurement of such medical instruments.  
           [0005]    Although in the case of ordinary goods, it may be possible to sell them to users by advertising them through general mass media, because of the limited users of medical instruments, such advertising activities are not cost-effective for the medical instrument market.  
           [0006]    Therefore, traditional promotional practices have been used in the medical instrument market: such as displaying products at meetings of medical science societies, visiting hospitals for advertising products, publishing articles in medical science journals, advertising by telephone, or by direct mail.  
           [0007]    Although in the case of some surgical instruments, it is necessary to show the same through dynamic picture images or demonstrations, for example, how the surgical instrument operates so that users may assess its effectiveness. However, such demonstrations cannot be made when it is advertised in articles of medical science journals or by direct mail. Therefore, the product advertising effect cannot be exhibited very well.  
           [0008]    On the other hand, in the case of advertising by telephone, it is difficult in practice to get in contact with doctors by telephone because they have to consume much of each day in performing surgery or examining patients. Although demonstrations can be made during hospital visits, much time is required to visit a hospital and to prepare for a demonstration, which may increase sales costs.  
           [0009]    Therefore, such expenses are reflected in the final product price, and in other words, may increase medical costs.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0010]    The present invention made in consideration of the above is intended to provide an information offering system which allows to reduce sales expenses by improving the system for offering information to users.  
           [0011]    Accordingly, an information offering system is provided. The information offering system comprises: a summary information disclosing means for disclosing summary information about a designated product via a designated communication line; a judgment means for judging whether or not the user reading said summary information disclosed by said summary information disclosing means and desiring to read detailed information about the product about which said summary information is disclosed is a user who is permitted to read detailed information; and a detailed information disclosing means for disclosing detailed information about the product about which said summary information is disclosed, to the user who is judged to be permitted to read detailed information by said judgment means.  
           [0012]    Also provided is an information offering method. The method comprising: disclosing summary information about a designated product via a designated communication line; judging whether or not the user reading said summary information disclosed by said summary information disclosing step and desiring to read detailed product information about the product about which said summary information is disclosed is a user who is permitted to read detailed information; and disclosing detailed information about the product about which said summary information is disclosed, to the user who is judged to be permitted to read detailed information by said judgment step.  
           [0013]    Still yet provided are a computer program product for carrying out the methods of the present invention and a program storage device for the storage of the computer program product therein. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0014]    These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the apparatus and methods of the present invention will become better understood with regard to the following description, appended claims, and accompanying drawings where:  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a medical instrument sales system.  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the server configuration of the maker side system in FIG. 1.  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 3 is an explanatory drawing of the user file database constructed in the data storage device in FIG. 2.  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 4 is an explanatory drawing of the product file database constructed in the data storage device in FIG. 2.  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 5 is a flow chart showing the user registration process by the maker-side system in FIG. 1.  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 6 is a drawing showing the homepage opened by the maker-side system in FIG. 1.  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 7 is a drawing showing the homepage for non-member users opened by the maker-side system in FIG. 1.  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 8 is the member registration screen in the processing flow in FIG. 5.  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 9 is a flow chart showing the process for updating files and offering product information to member users by the maker-side system in FIG. 1.  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing the processing flow for extracting member users&#39; mail addresses in FIG. 8.  
         [0025]    [0025]FIG. 11 is a flow chart showing the processing flow only for member users in FIG. 9.  
         [0026]    [0026]FIG. 12 is a flow chart showing the flow after receiving product information by the user system in FIG. 1.  
         [0027]    [0027]FIG. 13 is a flow chart showing the processing flow for member users&#39; requesting information on the homepage of the maker-side system in FIG. 1.  
         [0028]    [0028]FIG. 14 is the added detailed information screen to be opened. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0029]    Although this invention is applicable to numerous and various types of information offering systems, it has been found particularly useful in the environment of medical instrument sales. Therefore, without limiting the applicability of the invention to medical instrument sales, the invention will be described in such environment.  
         [0030]    As shown in FIG. 1, a preferred medical instrument sales system  1  of the present invention is illustrated. The system  1  comprises a maker-side system  2  for selling medical instruments and plural user systems  3  (e.g., systems for hospitals that are purchasers of medical instruments) that are interconnected via a wide-area network, such as the Internet  4 .  
         [0031]    The maker-side system  2  comprises plural personal computers  6  (hereinafter referred to as “PCs”) and a server  7  connected to the local-area network  5  (hereinafter referred to as “LAN”), and an Internet interface device  8  (hereinafter referred to as “Internet I/F”) that allows LAN  5  to be connected to Internet  4 . The maker-side system  2  can transmit and receive information to and from user systems  3  connected to Internet  4  via the Internet I/F  8 . User LANs  9  constructed in the facilities of larger end users, such as hospitals or other facilities can be also connected to the maker-side system  2  via the Internet  4 . Multiple PC&#39;s  6  are shown by way of example only and not to limit the spirit or scope of the present invention. Those skilled in the art will realize that the maker-side system may consist of a single PC  6  connected via the Internet  4  to the plural user systems  3 .  
         [0032]    As shown in FIG. 2, the above-mentioned server  7  comprises a CPU  12  connected to the bus  11 , a data storage device  13 , a display I/F  14 , an input I/F  15 , a network interface  16 , and the like. The above-mentioned network I/F  16  is connected to LAN  5 . The input I/F  15  is connected to a data input device  18  such as a keyboard and/or mouse, or an image scanner. The display I/F  14  is connected to the monitor  17 .  
         [0033]    In the data storage device  13 , are constructed a user file database  19  managing user information and a product file database  20  managing product informnation. CPU  12  controls a variety of processes: constructing these databases, as well as controlling the display I/F  14 , input I/F  15 , and network I/F  16 . In the situation where the maker-side system  2  consists of a single PC and not a LAN, the PC&#39;s CPU, storage device, interfaces, monitor, and data input devices provide the same function as the server  7 .  
         [0034]    As shown in FIG. 3, the above-mentioned user file database  19  comprises plural user files  21 . Preferably, on those user files  21 , are recorded, for each user, the user ID code, password, user name (including the position name and the qualification information such as doctor or nurse), facility (hospital) name, section name, facility address, telephone number, e-mail address, facsimile number, career record, keywords (related information, for example, techniques that he or she is interested in), code of the used (purchased) product, configuration of the used (purchased) unit (unit name and unit code), name of the responsible sales person, file update history, and the like.  
         [0035]    Among user data, user name (including the position name and the qualification information such as doctor or nurse), facility (hospital) name, section name, career record, keywords (related information, for example, techniques that he or she is interested in), and the like, are the user&#39;s own peculiar data.  
         [0036]    As shown in FIG. 4, the product file database  20  comprises plural product files  22 . Preferably, on those user files, are recorded, for each product, the product name, product code, configuration of the used (purchased) unit (unit name and unit code), use (or purchase) user ID code, field in which the product is used, keywords (related information, for example, techniques that he or she is interested in), product information, file update history, and the like.  
         [0037]    Furthermore, the user file database  19  and the product file database  20  are preferably linked, such as through user ID codes or used (or purchased) product ID codes. In the case of user files  21 , the used (purchased) product code, configuration of the used (purchased) unit (unit name and unit code), and the like are updated, for example, when a user purchases a product. In the case of user files  22 , use (or purchase) user ID code, and the like are updated, and the update history for each is rewritten. All pieces of information in the user file database  19  and the user file  21  can be updated as necessary.  
         [0038]    Next, using the processing flow chart shown in FIG. 5, how a user is registered as a member and how a user ID code is issued are described. First, in Step S 1 , the homepage  31 , as shown in FIG. 6, prepared in the server  4  is opened on Internet  4  via the Internet I/F  8 . Next, when a user accesses the homepage  31  in Step S 2 , he or she will be permitted only to access the non-member users&#39; page  32 , as shown in FIG. 7. For example, when the selection button  31  a for “Articulated Instruments” is pressed (clicked) among “Product Information” items displayed on the homepage  31  in FIG. 6, the non-member users&#39; page  32  shown in FIG. 7 will be opened.  
         [0039]    If the user desires to transmit his or her request or opinion on products to the maker while reading the non-member users&#39; page  32  shown in FIG. 7, he or she should click one of the check boxes  32   a  in the non-member users&#39; page  32  next to a corresponding request, or input a comment into the blank space of the box “Others,” and click the reply button  32   b.  This allows the user to transmit his request or opinion to the maker side. On the other hand, clicking the return button  32   c  returns the user to the homepage screen  31  shown in FIG. 6.  
         [0040]    Next, returning to the flow chart shown in FIG. 5, in Step  4 , it is determined whether the user desires more detailed product information for members. When the user takes interest in a product on the non-member users&#39; page  32 , or desires that more detailed information should be provided to read, he or she is required to become a member. In the next Step, whether the user is a member or not is confirmed. First, when the user clicks the members&#39; information button  32   d  on the non-member users&#39; page  32  shown in FIG. 7, whether his or her user ID code is registered or not will be determined in Step S 5 .  
         [0041]    Alternatively, even when the user checks one of the check boxes  32   a  (“Want to purchase it,” “Want to clinically use it,” “Want to be explained,” etc.) on the non-member users&#39; page  32 , and presses the reply button  32   b,  whether his or her ID code is registered or not will be determined in Step S 5 . If his or her ID code is not registered, the member registration screen shown in FIG. 8 will be displayed instead of the screen  32  shown in FIG. 7 in Step S 7 . If the user ID code is registered in Step S 5 , his or her ID code will be input in Step S 6  to jump to Step S 71  shown in FIG. 13. This process is described below in detail. On the other hand, if the user does not desire to read members&#39; information in the above-mentioned Step S 4 , the process for Step S 3  will be continued.  
         [0042]    Next, if the user desires to register himself or herself as a member in Step S 8  on the member registration screen  33  in FIG. 8 displayed in Step S 7 , he or she must select a registration manner in Step S 9 . Preferably, the user must decide to register himself or herself by e-mail or on the homepage  31 . If the user does not desire to register himself or herself, button  33   c  is clicked and the process continues back to Step S 3 . If “e-mail” is selected in Step  9  by clicking the e-mail button  33   a,  the maker will send an e-mail to the user to ask registration information (user data) necessary for the registration process in Step S 10 . What the maker asks the user about is necessary to construct the user file  19  shown in FIG. 3. When the user receives the e-mail from the maker, he or she must answer all the questions that the maker asks.  
         [0043]    During this time period, the maker side waits for the user&#39;s reply in Step S 11 . After the e-mail from the user is received in Step S 11 , it is determined whether all pieces of registration information (user data) necessary for the sales list is provided. Here, this sales list includes the contents of lists prepared by salespersons for users having made contact with the maker via salespersons. Therefore, even those users who are not registered for the present system can be checked.  
         [0044]    If registration information necessary for the sales list is insufficiently provided, required registration information will be asked of the user, for example, through an e-mail questionnaire in Step S 14 . An e-mail from the user is waited for again in Step S 15 . When an e-mail from the user is received in Step S 15 , and that all pieces of registration information (user data) necessary for the sales list is provided is judged in Step S 13 , the maker side will proceed to member registration in Step S 15 , using the data input device  18 .  
         [0045]    On the other hand, if the user select the “homepage” alternative by clicking the homepage button  33   b  in Step S 9 , he or she will move from the member registration screen shown  33  in FIG. 8 to a registration page on which the member registration process will be conducted in Step S 12 .  
         [0046]    After the member registration process is conducted on the maker side in Step S 16 , or on the homepage in Step S 12 , the member user will be registered on the user file database in Step S 12 , and a user file is prepared. A user ID code is preferably given to this user file. Preferably, the user ID code is issued by e-mail to complete the member registration process. According to the flow chart shown in FIG. 5, the member registration process is started on the homepage  32  shown in FIG. 7. However, it is also possible to display the user registration button on the homepage  31  displayed in Step S 2  shown in FIG. 5, and to jump from this page to the ID code registration process starting from Step S 8 . Completing the member registration process as shown above, the user can access members&#39; pages by inputting his or her user ID code and password when accessing the homepage  31  (see FIG. 6), and obtain detailed information about products.  
         [0047]    Next, how a user file  21  and product file  22  are updated, and how information about products is provided are described. First, as shown in FIG. 9, when a responsible person from the maker-side accesses the maker-side system  2 , the maker-side system  2  will wait for an input for newly preparing a user file  21  or product file  22  in Step  21 . If a file is newly prepared, the member registration process described in Step S 11  in FIG. 5 is carried out on the user files  21  in Step S 22 . On the product files  22 , a new file is prepared, and the file update process and the product information offering process for member users are completed. On the other hand, if no file is newly prepared in Step S 21 , an input will be waited for updating a user files  21  or product file  22  in Step S 23 .  
         [0048]    If either file is updated, an input is waited for to judge whether a product file  22  should be updated or not in Step S 24 . If the file to be updated is a product file  22 , the product code should be input in Step S 25  to update a product file  22  in Step  26 . On the other hand, if the file to be updated is not a product file, a user file  21  will be updated. For this, the user ID code is input in Step S 27 , the user file  21  is updated in Step S 28 , and the file update process and the product information offering process for the member user are completed. If a product file  22  is updated in Step S 26 , an input is waited for to judge whether updated product information should be sent to the member user by e-mail in Step S 29 . If no updated product information is sent in Step S 29 , the file update process and the product information offering process for member users are completed.  
         [0049]    On the other hand, if updated product information is sent, Step S 33  will be taken. If it is determined that no user file  21  nor product file  22  should be updated, Step S 30  will be taken. In Step S 30 , an input is waited for to judge whether product information (for example, about new products) should be sent to member users by e-mail without updating any file. If no product information is sent in Step S 30 , the file update process and the product information offering process for member users are completed. If in Step S 30 , updated product information is sent, product information to be sent will be input in Step S 31 , and Step S 33  will be taken. In Step S 33 , the member users&#39; mail address extraction process as described below is carried out. And, in Step S 34 , detailed product information based on user information peculiar to member users is, by e-mail, sent to those member users whose mail addresses have been extracted in Step S 33 .  
         [0050]    As described above, the file update process and the product information offering process for member users are completed. Detailed product information based on user information peculiar to member users is such information as prepared for each member user and based on one or more keywords consisting of the position information, qualification information (doctor, nurse, etc), and related information (facility or hospital name, section name, career record, interesting techniques, etc).  
         [0051]    Next, the member users&#39; mail address extraction process in the abovementioned Step S 33  will be described using FIG. 10. First, if a keyword related to product information is input in Step S 41 , product files including the input keyword can be retrieved in Step S 42 . In the next Step S 43 , user files  21  are extracted using the user IDs included in retrieved product files. In the next Step S 44 , an input is waited for to judge whether member users to whom information is sent should be limited or not. If member users to whom information is sent are limited, the member users&#39; limitation process as described below will be carried out in Step S 45 , and the member users&#39; mail address extraction process will be completed. On the other hand, unless member users to whom information is sent are limited, the member users&#39; mail address extraction process will be completed.  
         [0052]    Next, the member users&#39; limitation process in the above-mentioned Step S 45  will be described in detail, using FIG. 11. First, in Step S 51 , the purposes for which the product is used are input. In the next Step S 52 , member users who belong to sections having the purposes input in Step S 52  are taken, and their mail addresses are extracted. In Step S 53 , the levels (for example, doctor or nurse, or special member user who has participated in the product development) of those member users to whom information should be sent are input.  
         [0053]    In the next Step S 54 , member users are narrowed down according to the levels input in Step S 53 , and their mail addresses are extracted again. In the next Step S 55 , an input is waited for to judge whether those member users to whom information should be sent should be further limited. If they are further limited, Step S 56  will be taken to input limitation items for further narrowing down and limiting member users to whom information should be sent. Such limitation items consist of a variety of pieces of information including positions (professor, assistant professor, etc), career record, geographical region, etc. of those member users to whom information will be sent.  
         [0054]    On the other hand, if they are not limited, the process is completed. In Step S 56 , if items are input to limit member users to whom information should be sent, member users are narrowed down according to the limitation items input in Step S 57 , and their mail addresses are extracted again.  
         [0055]    Thereafter, mail addresses of those member users to whom information should be sent are extracted, and product information based on specific user information will be sent, preferably by e-mail, to member users of those mail addresses extracted in Step S 34  shown in FIG. 9. When a member user on the user system  3  receives such product information, he or she can examine such product information in Step S 62  as shown in FIG. 12. When the member user sends back the examination results to the maker-side system  2  in the next Step S 63 , practical sales activities such as selling of products can start.  
         [0056]    Here, how the request of a member user on the user system  3  for product information (for example, about new products) is processed on the maker-side system  2  will be described using FIG. 13. When the maker-side system receives a user ID code via the members&#39; homepage on the homepage  31  in Step S 71 , a user file  21  will be read out based on the received user ID code, and user data will be extracted, in the next Step S 72 . In the next Step S 73 , product information is to be prepared according to the section that the member user belongs to, or related information (keyword) that he or she is interested in. Next, in Step S 74 , whether the member user desires to receive detailed information is read. If the member user desires to receive detailed information in this Step S 74 , technique information will be added to product information in Step S 75 , and Step S 76  will be taken. On the other hand, if the member user does not desire to receive detailed information, Step S 76  will be taken directly. In Step S 76 , the disclosure extent of product information is limited according to the level (for example, doctor or nurse) of the member user.  
         [0057]    In the next Step S 77 , disclosed information is prepared according to the disclosed scope limited in Step S 76 . And, in Step S 78 , disclosed information prepared in Step S 77  is carried on the homepage (members&#39; page) in Step S 77 . This process provides member users with product information most suitable and satisfactory to him or her.  
         [0058]    An example of the member users&#39; detailed information screen  34  is shown in FIG. 14. On the member users&#39; detailed information screen  34  in FIG. 14, are shown detailed photographs and detailed specifications of a product are disclosed, as well as for what techniques or diseases it is used, examples of its use (images, etc.), examples of unit installation, and examples of facilities in which it is used. Open information may be sent to member users by e-mail instead of being carried on the homepage (members&#39; page).  
         [0059]    According to the present embodiment, the most appropriate product information corresponding to the section, level, etc. can be provided for member users on the user system  3  via Internet  4 . Therefore, not only the sales system and distribution route can be improved, but also expenses for business activities toward selling of products such as medical instruments can be reduced, and product costs can be prevented from increasing.  
         [0060]    The methods of the present invention are particularly suited to be carried out by a computer software program, such computer software program preferably containing modules corresponding to the individual steps of the methods. Such software can of course be embodied in a computer-readable medium, such as an integrated chip or a peripheral device.  
         [0061]    While there has been shown and described what is considered to be preferred embodiments of the invention, it will, of course, be understood that various modifications and changes in form or detail could readily be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. It is therefore intended that the invention be not limited to the exact forms described and illustrated, but should be constructed to cover all modifications that may fall within the scope of the appended claims.