FORM 2
THE PATENTS ACT, 1970
[39 OF 1970]
&
The Patents Rules, 2003
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION
[See Section 10 and Rule 13]
TITLE: “EQUIPMENT MANAGEMENT SERVER, TERMINAL
DEVICE, INFORMATION PROCESSING SYSTEM, INFORMATION
PROCESSING METHOD, INFORMATION PROCESSING PROGRAM,
IMAGE DISPLAY METHOD, IMAGE DISPLAY PROGRAM, AND
PRODUCT MANAGEMENT SERVER”
NAME AND ADDRESS OF THE APPLICANT:
MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION; 7-3, Marunouchi 2-chome, Chiyoda-ku,
Tokyo 1008310 Japan (JP)
Nationality: Japanese
The following specification particularly describes the invention and the manner in which it is
to be performed.
2
DESCRIPTION
TITLE OF INVENTION: EQUIPMENT MANAGEMENT SERVER, TERMINAL
DEVICE, INFORMATION PROCESSING SYSTEM, INFORMATION PROCESSING
METHOD, INFORMATION PROCESSING PROGRAM, IMAGE DISPLAY
METHOD, IMAGE DISPLAY PROGRAM, AND PRODUCT MANAGEMENT
SERVER
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present disclosure relates to an equipment management server, a terminal
device, an information processing system, an information processing method, an
information processing program, an image display method, an image display program,
and a product management server.
BACKGROUND ART
[0002] One or more equipment owned by a user may include equipment that is usable
but is not currently used. The equipment is, for example, various kinds of home
appliances.
[0003] There is an auction processing device that prompts a user who owns equipment
to put the equipment up for auction (see, for example, Patent Literature 1).
In the auction processing device, a user can register his/her equipment on a list
(hereinafter referred to as “purchases list”) by operating his/her user terminal (hereinafter
referred to as a “first user terminal”). In addition, another user can register desired
equipment on a list (hereinafter referred to as “favorites list”) by operating his/her user
terminal (hereinafter referred to as a “second user terminal”).
In the auction processing device, when the equipment registered on the “favorites
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list” matches the equipment registered on the “purchases list”, an auction server transmits,
to the first user terminal, a notice prompting listing of the matching equipment on auction.
CITATION LIST
PATENT LITERATURE
[0004] Patent Literature 1: JP 2009-265745 A
SUMMARY OF INVENTION
TECHNICAL PROBLEM
[0005] The auction processing device disclosed in Patent Literature 1 has a problem that,
unless the equipment registered on the “purchases list” matches the equipment registered
on the “favorites list”, the auction server cannot transmit, to the first user terminal, a
notice prompting listing of the matching equipment for sale on auction. Therefore, even
if the equipment registered on the “purchases list” includes equipment that is not currently
used, the auction processing device may not prompt listing of the equipment, and thus,
the transaction of the equipment that is not currently used is not promoted.
[0006] The present disclosure has been made to solve the above problems, and an object
of the present disclosure is to obtain an equipment management server capable of
prompting listing of equipment registered on a “purchases list” for sale on a secondhand
products trading market regardless of whether or not the equipment registered on the
“purchases list” matches equipment registered on the “favorites list”.
SOLUTION TO PROBLEM
[0007] An equipment management server according to the present disclosure includes:
an equipment information acquiring unit to acquire, from a first terminal device in which
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equipment owned by a user is registered, equipment information indicating the
equipment; a demand determination unit to acquire a transaction result of the equipment
indicated by the equipment information acquired by the equipment information acquiring
unit in a secondhand products trading market, and determine whether or not there is a
demand for the equipment in the secondhand products trading market on a basis of the
transaction result; and a solicitation notice transmitting unit to transmit, to the first
terminal device, a listing solicitation notice prompting listing of the equipment on the
secondhand products trading market when the demand determination unit determines that
there is a demand.
ADVANTAGEOUS EFFECTS OF INVENTION
[0008] According to the present disclosure, listing of the equipment registered on a
“purchases list” on the secondhand products trading market is prompted, regardless of
whether or not the equipment registered on the “purchases list” matches equipment
registered on the “favorites list”.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0009] FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram illustrating an information processing system
1 according to a first embodiment.
FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram illustrating a first terminal device 14 according
to the first embodiment.
FIG. 3 is a hardware configuration diagram illustrating hardware of the first
terminal device 14 according to the first embodiment.
FIG. 4 is a hardware configuration diagram of a computer in a case where the
first terminal device 14 is implemented by software, firmware, or the like.
5
FIG. 5 is a configuration diagram illustrating an equipment management server
19 according to the first embodiment.
FIG. 6 is a hardware configuration diagram illustrating hardware of the
equipment management server 19 according to the first embodiment.
FIG. 7 is a hardware configuration diagram of a computer in a case where the
equipment management server 19 is implemented by software, firmware, or the like.
FIG. 8A is a time chart illustrating main parts of procedures of processing
performed by the first terminal device 14, a second terminal device 18, and the equipment
management server 19, respectively.
FIG. 8B is a time chart illustrating main parts of the procedures of processing
performed by the first terminal device 14, the second terminal device 18, and the
equipment management server 19, respectively.
FIG. 9A is a flowchart illustrating an information processing method which is a
procedure of processing performed by the equipment management server 19 according to
the first embodiment.
FIG. 9B is a flowchart illustrating the information processing method which is a
procedure of processing performed by the equipment management server 19 according to
the first embodiment.
FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of a “purchases list”
corresponding to a first user who owns equipment 11-n.
FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of a “favorites list”
corresponding to a second user.
FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of a list of equipment.
FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of an instruction
manual of the equipment 11-n.
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FIG. 14 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of a listing solicitation
image.
FIG. 15 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of an image indicating
both a recommended listing price and equipment attribute information.
FIG. 16 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of an image indicating
a listing notice.
FIG. 17 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of an image indicating
that there is a prospective purchaser.
FIG. 18 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of an image indicating
establishment of transaction.
FIG. 19 is a configuration diagram illustrating a first terminal device 14
according to a second embodiment.
FIG. 20 is a hardware configuration diagram illustrating hardware of the first
terminal device 14 according to the second embodiment.
FIG. 21 is a configuration diagram illustrating an equipment management server
19 according to the second embodiment.
FIG. 22 is a hardware configuration diagram illustrating hardware of the
equipment management server 19 according to the second embodiment.
FIG. 23 is a time chart illustrating main parts of the procedures of processing
performed by the first terminal device 14, a second terminal device 18, and the equipment
management server 19, respectively.
FIG. 24 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of an image indicating
a purchase offer.
FIG. 25 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of a notice list image.
FIG. 26A is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of a list of equipment,
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and FIG. 26B is an explanatory diagram illustrating information regarding equipment that
has been purchased and is owned now.
FIG. 27A is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of a list of equipment,
and FIG. 27B is an explanatory diagram illustrating information of any one of equipment
11-1 to 11-N included in the “favorites list”.
FIG. 28 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of an image indicating
a listing notice.
FIG. 29 is a configuration diagram illustrating a product management server 19’.
FIG. 30 is a configuration diagram illustrating the product management server
19’.
FIG. 31 is a configuration diagram illustrating a first terminal device 14’.
FIG. 32 is a configuration diagram illustrating the first terminal device 14’.
DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS
[0010] In order to describe the present disclosure in more detail, a mode for carrying out
the present disclosure will now be described with reference to the accompanying
drawings.
[0011] First Embodiment
FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram illustrating an information processing system
1 according to a first embodiment.
The information processing system 1 illustrated in FIG. 1 includes an operation
input device 12, a display output device 13, a first terminal device 14, a storage device
15, an operation input device 16, a display output device 17, a second terminal device 18,
an equipment management server 19, and a network 20.
The information processing system 1 illustrated in FIG. 1 handles not only a
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business to consumer (B to C) transaction such as an auction but also a customer to
customer (C to C) transaction such as a flea market, for example.
Conventionally, there is an application or the like that registers equipment owned
by a user or equipment that the user is interested in for a purpose different from a purpose
of stimulating a secondhand products market. If the function of the information
processing system 1 illustrated in FIG. 1 can be applied to the above application or the
like, there is a potential to stimulate the secondhand products trading market including
not only an apparent user who is interested in transactions of secondhand products but
also a potential user who is not interested in transactions of secondhand products.
Note that, although an auction or a flea market generally focuses on transactions
of secondhand products, it may include transactions of brand-new products.
[0012] Equipment 11-n (n = 1, ..., N) is a tangible object owned by the user and does
not include electronic data stored in a storage medium. The tangible object includes, in
addition to home electric appliances, residential equipment items, in-vehicle equipment,
factory automation (FA) equipment, building equipment items, restaurant equipment, and
the like. N is an integer equal to or greater than 1.
FIG. 1 illustrates an example in which, in the information processing system 1,
all equipment 11-1 to 11-N are connected to the network 20. However, the equipment
11-n connected to the network 20 is an IoT device, and the equipment 11-n that is a nonIoT device is not connected to the network 20.
[0013] The operation input devices 12 and 16 are implemented by a keyboard, a mouse,
a gesture operation recognizing device, or a man-machine interface device such as a touch
panel.
The operation input device 12 receives an operation of the first user (hereinafter
referred to as “first user operation”) and outputs operation information indicating the
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content of the first user operation to the first terminal device 14.
The operation input device 16 receives an operation of the second user
(hereinafter referred to as “second user operation”) and outputs operation information
indicating the content of the second user operation to the second terminal device 18.
In the information processing system 1 illustrated in FIG. 1, the operation input
devices 12 and 16 are implemented by a keyboard, a mouse, a gesture operation
recognizing device, or a touch panel. However, this is merely an example, and the
operation input devices 12 and 16 may be implemented by, for example, a voice input
device including a microphone that takes in the voice of the user and a voice operation
analyzing unit that converts the voice taken in by the microphone into an electric signal
and generates operation information from the electric signal.
[0014] The display output devices 13 and 17 include a liquid crystal display, an organic
electro luminescence (EL) display, or the like.
The display output device 13 displays an image indicated by display data output
from the first terminal device 14 on a liquid crystal display or the like.
The display output device 17 displays an image indicated by display data output
from the second terminal device 18 on a liquid crystal display or the like.
The storage device 15 includes a storage medium such as a solid state drive
(SSD) or a hard disk drive (HDD). The storage device 15 performs a process of writing
information into a storage medium in accordance with an external request to write
information, and performs a process of reading information stored in the storage medium
in accordance with an external request to read information.
[0015] Each of the first terminal device 14 and the second terminal device 18 is
implemented by a general-purpose computer such as a personal computer, a mobile
terminal such as a smartphone or a tablet terminal, a dedicated integrated circuit, or the
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like.
FIG. 1 illustrates an example in which, in the information processing system 1,
the operation input device 12 and the display output device 13 are provided outside the
first terminal device 14, and the operation input device 16 and the display output device
17 are provided outside the second terminal device 18. It is to be noted, however, that,
in a case where the first terminal device 14 is implemented by a mobile terminal, the
operation input device 12 and the display output device 13 may be provided inside the
first terminal device 14. In addition, in a case where the second terminal device 18 is
implemented by a mobile terminal, the operation input device 16 and the display output
device 17 may be provided inside the second terminal device 18.
[0016] The equipment management server 19 is implemented by a general-purpose
computer such as a personal computer, a dedicated integrated circuit, or the like.
The first terminal device 14 and the second terminal device 18 can transmit and
receive information to and from the equipment management server 19 via the network 20.
In the information processing system 1 illustrated in FIG. 1, the storage device
15 is provided outside the equipment management server 19. However, this is merely
an example, and the storage device 15 may be provided inside the equipment management
server 19.
The network 20 is a communication network such as a local area network (LAN),
a wireless LAN, long term evolution (LTE), 4th generation (4G), 5G, or an Internet line.
The equipment 11-n (n = 1, ..., N), the first terminal device 14, the storage device
15, the second terminal device 18, and the equipment management server 19 are
connected to the network 20.
[0017] FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram illustrating the first terminal device 14
according to the first embodiment.
11
FIG. 3 is a hardware configuration diagram illustrating hardware of the first
terminal device 14 according to the first embodiment.
The first terminal device 14 illustrated in FIG. 2 includes an equipment
registration unit 21, an equipment information transmitting unit 22, an instruction manual
information acquiring unit 23, a solicitation notice receiving unit 24, a listing
consideration notification unit 25, a listing decision notification unit 26, a notice
transmitting and receiving unit 27, a purchase decision notification unit 28, and a display
processing unit 29.
[0018] The configuration of the second terminal device 18 is similar to the configuration
of the first terminal device 14, and FIG. 2 is applied as a configuration diagram illustrating
the configuration of the second terminal device 18.
It is to be noted that, in the second terminal device 18, the operation input device
connected to the second terminal device 18 is the operation input device 16, and the
display output device connected to the second terminal device 18 is the display output
device 17.
[0019] The equipment registration unit 21 is implemented by, for example, an
equipment registration circuit 31.
The equipment registration unit 21 acquires equipment information indicating
the equipment 11-n (n = 1, ..., N) owned by the first user from the operation input device
12.
The equipment registration unit 21 registers the equipment 11-n by adding the
equipment information to a “purchases list” to be described later. The “purchases list”
may be stored in, for example, the storage device 15, or may be stored in an external
storage device (not illustrated). The “purchases list” may be stored in an internal
memory of the equipment registration unit 21.
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In the first terminal device 14 illustrated in FIG. 2, the equipment registration
unit 21 acquires equipment information from the operation input device 12. However,
this is merely an example, and in a case where, for example, a barcode indicating
equipment information is affixed to the equipment 11-n, a barcode reader (not illustrated)
may read the barcode, and the equipment registration unit 21 may acquire the equipment
information indicated by the barcode read by the barcode reader. In addition, the
equipment registration unit 21 may acquire the equipment information from a purchase
history remaining in a sales site from which the equipment 11-n has been purchased.
Furthermore, a camera (not illustrated) may capture an image of a character string of an
equipment model number which is equipment information described in a housing of the
equipment 11-n, a packing box of the equipment 11-n, an instruction manual of the
equipment 11-n, or the like, and optical character recognition (OCR) may acquire the
equipment information from the image captured by the camera.
[0020] The equipment information transmitting unit 22 is implemented by, for example,
an equipment information transmitting circuit 32.
The equipment information transmitting unit 22 transmits equipment
information indicating the equipment 11-n (n = 1, ..., N) owned by the first user to the
equipment management server 19 via the network 20.
[0021] The instruction manual information acquiring unit 23 is implemented by, for
example, an instruction manual information acquiring circuit 33.
When receiving an acquisition request to acquire an instruction manual including
equipment information indicating the equipment 11-n from the operation input device 12,
the instruction manual information acquiring unit 23 transmits the acquisition request to
acquire the instruction manual to the equipment management server 19 via the network
20.
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The instruction manual information acquiring unit 23 receives instruction
manual data indicating the instruction manual of the equipment 11-n from the equipment
management server 19 via the network 20.
The instruction manual information acquiring unit 23 outputs the instruction
manual data to the display processing unit 29.
[0022] The solicitation notice receiving unit 24 is implemented by, for example, a
solicitation notice receiving circuit 34.
The solicitation notice receiving unit 24 receives a listing solicitation notice
prompting listing of the equipment (11-n) for sale on a secondhand products trading
market from the equipment management server 19 via the network 20.
The solicitation notice receiving unit 24 outputs a listing solicitation notice to
the display processing unit 29.
In addition, the solicitation notice receiving unit 24 receives a recommended
listing price of the equipment 11-n from the equipment management server 19 via the
network 20.
The solicitation notice receiving unit 24 outputs the recommended listing price
to the display processing unit 29.
[0023] The listing consideration notification unit 25 is implemented by, for example, a
listing consideration notification circuit 35.
When the operation input device 12 receives an operation indicating an intention
of “considering listing of the equipment 11-n on the secondhand products trading market”
as the first user operation, the listing consideration notification unit 25 transmits a listing
consideration notice indicating that the listing of the equipment 11-n is considered to the
equipment management server 19 via the network 20.
[0024] The listing decision notification unit 26 is implemented by, for example, a listing
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decision notification circuit 36.
When the operation input device 12 receives an operation indicating an intention
of “listing the equipment 11-n for sale on the secondhand products trading market” as the
first user operation, the listing decision notification unit 26 transmits a listing decision
notice indicating that the equipment 11-n is to be listed on the secondhand products
trading market to the equipment management server 19 via the network 20.
[0025] The notice transmitting and receiving unit 27 is implemented by, for example, a
notice transmitting and receiving circuit 37.
When receiving a listing notice indicating that the equipment 11-n is listed on
the secondhand products trading market from the equipment management server 19 via
the network 20, the notice transmitting and receiving unit 27 of the second terminal device
18 outputs the listing notice to the display processing unit 29.
When receiving, from the equipment management server 19 via the network 20,
a prospective-purchaser presence notice indicating that there is a prospective purchaser,
the notice transmitting and receiving unit 27 of the first terminal device 14 outputs the
prospective-purchaser presence notice to the display processing unit 29.
In addition, when receiving an equipment purchase notice indicating an intention
of purchasing the equipment 11-n from the equipment management server 19 via the
network 20, the notice transmitting and receiving unit 27 of the first terminal device 14
outputs the equipment purchase notice to the display processing unit 29.
When the operation input device 12 receives an operation indicating an intention
of “selling the equipment 11-n” as the first user operation, the notice transmitting and
receiving unit 27 of the first terminal device 14 transmits an equipment sale decision
notice indicating an intention of selling the equipment 11-n to the equipment management
server 19 via the network 20.
15
When receiving a transaction establishment notice indicating that the transaction
for the equipment 11-n is established from the equipment management server 19 via the
network 20, the notice transmitting and receiving unit 27 of the second terminal device
18 outputs the transaction establishment notice to the display processing unit 29.
[0026] The purchase decision notification unit 28 is implemented by, for example, a
purchase decision notification circuit 38.
When the operation input device 16 receives an operation indicating an intention
of “purchasing the equipment 11-n” as the second user operation, the purchase decision
notification unit 28 of the second terminal device 18 transmits an equipment purchase
notice indicating an intention of purchasing the equipment 11-n to the equipment
management server 19 via the network 20.
[0027] The display processing unit 29 is implemented by, for example, a display
processing circuit 39.
The display processing unit 29 of the first terminal device 14 acquires instruction
manual data from the instruction manual information acquiring unit 23, and generates
display data indicating the instruction manual of the equipment 11-n.
The display processing unit 29 of the first terminal device 14 outputs the display
data to the display output device 13 so as to display the instruction manual of the
equipment 11-n on the display of the display output device 13.
In addition, the display processing unit 29 of the first terminal device 14 acquires
the listing solicitation notice from the solicitation notice receiving unit 24, and generates
display data of a listing solicitation image indicating that the equipment 11-n is prompted
to be listed on the secondhand products trading market.
The display processing unit 29 of the first terminal device 14 outputs the display
data to the display output device 13 so as to display the listing solicitation image on the
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display of the display output device 13.
The display processing unit 29 of the first terminal device 14 acquires the
recommended listing price from the solicitation notice receiving unit 24 and generates
display data of an image indicating the recommended listing price.
The display processing unit 29 of the first terminal device 14 outputs the display
data to the display output device 13 so as to display the image indicating the
recommended listing price on the display of the display output device 13.
The display processing unit 29 of the first terminal device 14 acquires the
prospective-purchaser presence notice from the notice transmitting and receiving unit 27,
and generates display data of a prospective-purchaser presence image indicating that there
is a prospective purchaser.
The display processing unit 29 of the first terminal device 14 outputs the display
data to the display output device 13 so as to display the prospective-purchaser presence
image on the display of the display output device 13.
The display processing unit 29 of the second terminal device 18 acquires the
listing notice from the notice transmitting and receiving unit 27 and generates display
data of an image indicating the listing notice.
The display processing unit 29 of the second terminal device 18 outputs the
display data to the display output device 17 so as to display the image indicating the listing
notice on the display of the display output device 17.
The display processing unit 29 of the second terminal device 18 acquires the
transaction establishment notice from the notice transmitting and receiving unit 27 and
generates display data of an image indicating the establishment of the transaction.
The display processing unit 29 of the second terminal device 18 outputs the
display data to the display output device 17 so as to display the image indicating the
17
establishment of the transaction on the display of the display output device 17.
[0028] In FIG. 2, it is assumed that each of the equipment registration unit 21, the
equipment information transmitting unit 22, the instruction manual information acquiring
unit 23, the solicitation notice receiving unit 24, the listing consideration notification unit
25, the listing decision notification unit 26, the notice transmitting and receiving unit 27,
the purchase decision notification unit 28, and the display processing unit 29, which are
components of the first terminal device 14, is implemented by dedicated hardware as
illustrated in FIG. 3. That is, it is assumed that the first terminal device 14 is
implemented by the equipment registration circuit 31, the equipment information
transmitting circuit 32, the instruction manual information acquiring circuit 33, the
solicitation notice receiving circuit 34, the listing consideration notification circuit 35, the
listing decision notification circuit 36, the notice transmitting and receiving circuit 37, the
purchase decision notification circuit 38, and the display processing circuit 39.
Each of the equipment registration circuit 31, the equipment information
transmitting circuit 32, the instruction manual information acquiring circuit 33, the
solicitation notice receiving circuit 34, the listing consideration notification circuit 35, the
listing decision notification circuit 36, the notice transmitting and receiving circuit 37, the
purchase decision notification circuit 38, and the display processing circuit 39 is, for
example, a single circuit, a composite circuit, a programmed processor, a parallel
programmed processor, an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a fieldprogrammable gate array (FPGA), or a combination of some of these circuits.
[0029] The components of the first terminal device 14 are not limited to be implemented
by dedicated hardware, and the first terminal device 14 may be implemented by software,
firmware, or a combination of software and firmware.
Software or firmware is stored in a memory of a computer as a program. The
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computer means hardware that executes the program, and may be, for example, a central
processing unit (CPU), central processor, processing unit, computing unit,
microprocessor, microcomputer, processor, or digital signal processor (DSP).
FIG. 4 is a hardware configuration diagram of a computer in a case where the
first terminal device 14 is implemented by software, firmware, or the like.
In a case where the first terminal device 14 is implemented by software, firmware,
or the like, an image display program for causing the computer to execute respective
processing procedures performed by the equipment registration unit 21, the equipment
information transmitting unit 22, the instruction manual information acquiring unit 23,
the solicitation notice receiving unit 24, the listing consideration notification unit 25, the
listing decision notification unit 26, the notice transmitting and receiving unit 27, the
purchase decision notification unit 28, and the display processing unit 29 is stored in a
memory 41. Then, a processor 42 of the computer executes the image display program
stored in the memory 41.
[0030] Further, FIG. 3 shows an example in which each of the components of the first
terminal device 14 is implemented by dedicated hardware, and FIG. 4 shows an example
in which the first terminal device 14 is implemented by software, firmware, or the like.
However, this is merely an example, and some components in the first terminal device 14
may be implemented by dedicated hardware, and the remaining components may be
implemented by software, firmware, or the like.
[0031] FIG. 5 is a configuration diagram illustrating the equipment management server
19 according to the first embodiment.
FIG. 6 is a hardware configuration diagram illustrating hardware of the
equipment management server 19 according to the first embodiment.
The equipment management server 19 illustrated in FIG. 5 includes an
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equipment information acquiring unit 51, a demand determination unit 52, a solicitation
notice transmitting unit 53, a recommended listing price calculating unit 54, a first
terminal searching unit 55, a listing notice transmitting unit 56, a first notice transmitting
and receiving unit 57, and an instruction manual transmitting unit 58.
[0032] The equipment information acquiring unit 51 is implemented by, for example,
an equipment information acquiring circuit 61 illustrated in FIG. 6.
The equipment information acquiring unit 51 acquires the equipment
information indicating the equipment 11-n from the first terminal device 14 that has
registered the equipment 11-n owned by the first user via the network 20.
The equipment information acquiring unit 51 outputs the equipment information
to each of the demand determination unit 52 and the recommended listing price
calculating unit 54.
[0033] The demand determination unit 52 is implemented by, for example, a demand
determination circuit 62 illustrated in FIG. 6.
The demand determination unit 52 acquires the equipment information output
from the equipment information acquiring unit 51.
The demand determination unit 52 acquires the number of past transactions in
the secondhand products trading market from the storage device 15 as transaction results
of the equipment 11-n indicated by the equipment information in the secondhand products
trading market.
In the information processing system 1 illustrated in FIG. 1, it is assumed that
the storage device 15 stores the number of transactions of the equipment 11-n, and the
demand determination unit 52 acquires the number of transactions of the equipment 11-n
from the storage device 15. However, this is merely an example, and in a case where an
external server (not illustrated) stores the number of transactions of the equipment 11-n,
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the demand determination unit 52 may acquire the number of transactions of the
equipment 11-n from the external server.
The demand determination unit 52 determines whether or not there is a demand
for the equipment 11-n in the secondhand products trading market on the basis of the
number of transactions of the equipment 11-n in the secondhand products trading market
indicated by the equipment information acquired by the equipment information acquiring
unit 51.
That is, the demand determination unit 52 determines that there is a demand for
the equipment 11-n in the secondhand products trading market when the number of
transactions of the equipment 11-n in the secondhand products trading market tends to
increase or the number of transactions of the equipment 11-n in the secondhand products
trading market is equal to or larger than a threshold. The threshold may be stored in an
internal memory of the demand determination unit 52 or may be given from the outside
of the equipment management server 19.
The demand determination unit 52 outputs a determination result indicating
whether or not there is a demand to the solicitation notice transmitting unit 53.
[0034] In the equipment management server 19 illustrated in FIG. 5, the demand
determination unit 52 acquires the number of transactions as the transaction results of the
equipment 11-n in the secondhand products trading market, and determines whether or
not there is a demand for the equipment 11-n in the secondhand products trading market
on the basis of the number of transactions. However, this is merely an example, and the
demand determination unit 52 may acquire the contract rate after listing of the equipment
11-n, the average contract price of the equipment 11-n, the average number of days
required for the contract of the equipment 11-n, or the like as the transaction results of the
equipment 11-n in the secondhand products trading market, and determine whether or not
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there is a demand for the equipment 11-n in the secondhand products trading market on
the basis of the acquired transaction results.
[0035] The solicitation notice transmitting unit 53 is implemented by, for example, a
solicitation notice transmitting circuit 63 illustrated in FIG. 6.
The solicitation notice transmitting unit 53 acquires the determination result
from the demand determination unit 52.
When the demand determination unit 52 determines that there is a demand, the
solicitation notice transmitting unit 53 transmits a listing solicitation notice that prompts
listing of the equipment 11-n for sale on the secondhand products trading market to the
first terminal device 14 via the network 20. In addition, the solicitation notice
transmitting unit 53 transmits the representative value of the transaction price calculated
by the recommended listing price calculating unit 54 to the first terminal device 14 via
the network 20.
When receiving a listing consideration notice indicating that listing of the
equipment 11-n on the secondhand products trading market is considered from the first
terminal device 14 via the network 20, the solicitation notice transmitting unit 53
transmits the recommended listing price calculated by the recommended listing price
calculating unit 54 to the first terminal device 14 via the network 20.
In the equipment management server 19 illustrated in FIG. 5, the solicitation
notice transmitting unit 53 transmits the recommended listing price to the first terminal
device 14. When transmitting the recommended listing price to the first terminal device
14, the solicitation notice transmitting unit 53 may transmit advice regarding the
recommended listing timing to the first terminal device 14. Examples of the conceivable
recommended listing timing include “The prices of secondhand similar equipment in the
same category tend to decrease sharply after one year has passed since production, and
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thus, I think it is better to sell it before that.” and “The national total number of people
who register the equipment 11-n in “favorites list” has changed from an increasing trend
to a decreasing trend, and thus, I think it is better to sell it earlier.”
[0036] The recommended listing price calculating unit 54 is implemented by, for
example, a recommended listing price calculating circuit 64 illustrated in FIG. 6.
When receiving the equipment information from the equipment information
acquiring unit 51, the recommended listing price calculating unit 54 acquires the past
transaction prices of the equipment 11-n indicated by the equipment information in the
secondhand products trading market from the storage device 15.
In the information processing system 1 illustrated in FIG. 1, it is assumed that
the storage device 15 stores the transaction prices of the equipment 11-n, and the
recommended listing price calculating unit 54 acquires the transaction prices of the
equipment 11-n from the storage device 15. However, this is merely an example, and in
a case where an external server (not illustrated) stores the transaction prices of the
equipment 11-n, the recommended listing price calculating unit 54 may acquire the
transaction prices of the equipment 11-n from the external server.
The recommended listing price calculating unit 54 calculates an average value
of the transaction prices as a representative value of the transaction prices of the
equipment 11-n in the secondhand products trading market.
The recommended listing price calculating unit 54 outputs the average value of
the transaction prices to the solicitation notice transmitting unit 53.
When receiving the listing consideration notice from the first terminal device 14
via the network 20, the recommended listing price calculating unit 54 calculates the
recommended listing price on the basis of the average value of the transaction prices.
When calculating the recommended listing price on the basis of the average
23
value of the transaction prices, the recommended listing price calculating unit 54 may
calculate the recommended listing price using one or more of the usage condition of the
equipment 11-n indicated by the equipment information and a warranty status of the
equipment 11-n.
The recommended listing price calculating unit 54 outputs the recommended
listing price to each of the solicitation notice transmitting unit 53 and the listing notice
transmitting unit 56.
[0037] In the equipment management server 19 illustrated in FIG. 5, the recommended
listing price calculating unit 54 calculates the average value of the transaction prices as
the representative value of the transaction prices of the equipment 11-n, and calculates
the recommended listing price on the basis of the average value of the transaction prices.
However, this is merely an example, and the recommended listing price calculating unit
54 may calculate the median, the weighted average, the mode, the lower limit, the upper
limit, or the price range from the lower limit to the upper limit of the transaction price as
the representative value of the transaction prices of the equipment 11-n, and calculate the
recommended listing price on the basis of the calculated representative value.
[0038] The first terminal searching unit 55 is implemented by, for example, a first
terminal searching circuit 65 illustrated in FIG. 6.
When receiving a listing consideration notice indicating that the listing of the
equipment 11-n is considered from the first terminal device 14 via the network 20, the
first terminal searching unit 55 searches for the second terminal device 18 owned by the
second user who is likely to purchase the equipment 11-n. One or more second terminal
devices 18 owned by the second user who is likely to purchase the equipment 11-n may
be present. In a case where there is a plurality of second terminal devices 18, the first
terminal searching unit 55 searches for a plurality of second terminal devices 18. Note
24
that it is assumed that there are often multiple second terminal devices 18, rather than
only one, of the second user who is likely to purchase the equipment 11-n.
The first terminal searching unit 55 outputs a search result of the second terminal
device 18 to the listing notice transmitting unit 56.
[0039] The listing notice transmitting unit 56 is implemented by, for example, a listing
notice transmitting circuit 66 illustrated in FIG. 6.
The listing notice transmitting unit 56 acquires the search result of the second
terminal device 18 from the first terminal searching unit 55.
While the first terminal searching unit 55 receives the listing decision notice
from the first terminal device 14, the listing notice transmitting unit 56 transmits the
listing notice indicating that the equipment 11-n has been listed on the secondhand
products trading market to the second terminal device 18 searched by the first terminal
searching unit 55 via the network 20.
The listing notice transmitting unit 56 adds, to the listing notice transmitted by
the listing notice transmitting unit 56, one or more of a profile of the first user who lists
the equipment 11-n for sale on the secondhand products trading market and transaction
results of the first user in the secondhand products trading market, for example.
In a case where a plurality of second terminal devices 18 is searched by the first
terminal searching unit 55, the listing notice transmitting unit 56 transmits the listing
notice to each of the plurality of second terminal devices 18 via the network 20.
[0040] The first notice transmitting and receiving unit 57 is implemented by, for
example, a first notice transmitting and receiving circuit 67 illustrated in FIG. 6.
When receiving an equipment purchase notice indicating an intention to
purchase the equipment 11-n from the second terminal device 18 via the network 20, the
first notice transmitting and receiving unit 57 transfers a prospective-purchaser presence
25
notice indicating that there is a prospective purchaser to the first terminal device 14 via
the network 20.
When receiving an equipment sale decision notice indicating an intention to sell
the equipment 11-n from the first terminal device 14 via the network 20, the first notice
transmitting and receiving unit 57 transmits a transaction establishment notice indicating
that the transaction of the equipment 11-n has been established to the second terminal
device 18 via the network 20.
[0041] The instruction manual transmitting unit 58 is implemented by, for example, an
instruction manual transmitting circuit 68 illustrated in FIG. 6
The instruction manual transmitting unit 58 receives an acquisition request to
acquire an instruction manual from the first terminal device 14 via the network 20.
The instruction manual transmitting unit 58 transfers the equipment information
included in the acquisition request to acquire the instruction manual to, for example, a
server of a manufacturer of the equipment 11-n indicated by the equipment information
via the network 20, thereby collecting the instruction manual data indicating the
instruction manual of the equipment 11-n from the server of the manufacturer.
The instruction manual transmitting unit 58 transmits the instruction manual data
to the first terminal device 14 via the network 20.
In the information processing system 1 illustrated in FIG. 1, the instruction
manual transmitting unit 58 collects instruction manual data indicating the instruction
manual of the equipment 11-n from the server of the manufacturer. However, this is
merely an example, and in a case where, for example, the storage device 15 stores the
instruction manual data indicating the instruction manual of the equipment 11-n in
advance, the instruction manual transmitting unit 58 may transfer the equipment
information included in the acquisition request to the storage device 15 to collect the
26
instruction manual data indicating the instruction manual of the equipment 11-n from the
storage device 15.
[0042] In FIG. 5, it is assumed that each of the equipment information acquiring unit 51,
the demand determination unit 52, the solicitation notice transmitting unit 53, the
recommended listing price calculating unit 54, the first terminal searching unit 55, the
listing notice transmitting unit 56, the first notice transmitting and receiving unit 57, and
the instruction manual transmitting unit 58, which are components of the equipment
management server 19 is implemented by dedicated hardware as illustrated in FIG. 6.
That is, it is assumed that the equipment management server 19 is implemented by the
equipment information acquiring circuit 61, the demand determination circuit 62, the
solicitation notice transmitting circuit 63, the recommended listing price calculating
circuit 64, the first terminal searching circuit 65, the listing notice transmitting circuit 66,
the first notice transmitting and receiving circuit 67, and the instruction manual
transmitting circuit 68.
Here, each of the equipment information acquiring circuit 61, the demand
determination circuit 62, the solicitation notice transmitting circuit 63, the recommended
listing price calculating circuit 64, the first terminal searching circuit 65, the listing notice
transmitting circuit 66, the first notice transmitting and receiving circuit 67, and the
instruction manual transmitting circuit 68 is, for example, a single circuit, a composite
circuit, a programmed processor, a parallel programmed processor, an ASIC, an FPGA,
or a combination of some of these circuits.
[0043] The components of the equipment management server 19 are not limited to be
implemented by dedicated hardware, and the equipment management server 19 may be
implemented by software, firmware, or a combination of software and firmware.
FIG. 7 is a hardware configuration diagram of a computer in a case where the
27
equipment management server 19 is implemented by software, firmware, or the like.
In a case where the equipment management server 19 is implemented by
software, firmware, or the like, an information processing program for causing the
computer to execute respective processing procedures performed by the equipment
information acquiring unit 51, the demand determination unit 52, the solicitation notice
transmitting unit 53, the recommended listing price calculating unit 54, the first terminal
searching unit 55, the listing notice transmitting unit 56, the first notice transmitting and
receiving unit 57, and the instruction manual transmitting unit 58 is stored in a memory
71. Then, a processor 72 of the computer executes the information processing program
stored in the memory 71.
[0044] Further, FIG. 6 shows an example in which each of the components of the
equipment management server 19 is implemented by dedicated hardware, and FIG. 7
shows an example in which the equipment management server 19 is implemented by
software, firmware, or the like. However, this is merely an example, and some
components in the equipment management server 19 may be implemented by dedicated
hardware, and the remaining components may be implemented by software, firmware, or
the like.
[0045] Next, the operation of the information processing system 1 illustrated in FIG. 1
will be described.
FIGS. 8A and 8B are time charts illustrating main parts of the procedures of
processing performed by the first terminal device 14, the second terminal device 18, and
the equipment management server 19, respectively.
FIGS. 9A and 9B are flowcharts illustrating an information processing method
which is a procedure of processing performed by the equipment management server 19
according to the first embodiment.
28
[0046] The operation input device 12 receives, for example, a registration operation of
registering the equipment 11-n (n = 1, ..., N) owned by the first user as the first user
operation.
The registration operation of registering the equipment 11-n is an operation of
receiving an input of equipment information indicating the equipment 11-n.
Furthermore, the registration operation of registering the equipment 11-n is an
operation of receiving an input of, for example, a user identification (ID) as user
identification information for identifying the first user.
Upon receiving the input of the equipment information indicating the equipment
11-n and the user identification information, the operation input device 12 outputs an
equipment registration request including the equipment information and the user
identification information to the equipment registration unit 21 of the first terminal device
14.
[0047] The equipment registration unit 21 of the first terminal device 14 acquires the
equipment registration request output from the operation input device 12.
The equipment registration unit 21 transmits the equipment registration request
to the storage device 15 via the network 20 to register the equipment 11-n in storage
device 15.
Upon receiving the equipment registration request from the equipment
registration unit 21, the storage device 15 adds the equipment information included in the
equipment registration request to the “purchases list” corresponding to the first user
indicated by the user identification information included in the equipment registration
request.
As the equipment information is added to the “purchases list”, the equipment 11-
n is registered on the “purchases list” corresponding to the first user.
29
FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of the “purchases list”
corresponding to the first user who owns the equipment 11-n.
In the example of FIG. 10, an air conditioner having equipment information of
“ABC-0001”, an electric fan having equipment information of “GP-1234”, a television
having equipment information of “TV-567”, and a video recorder having equipment
information of “BD-789” are registered on the “purchases list”.
In the information processing system 1 illustrated in FIG. 1, the equipment
registration unit 21 directly registers the equipment 11-n in the storage device 15.
However, this is merely an example, and the equipment registration unit 21 may transmit
the equipment registration request to the equipment management server 19 so that the
equipment management server 19 registers the equipment 11-n in the storage device 15.
Note that the main purpose of the user performing the registration operation of
registering the equipment 11-n (n = 1, ..., N) to register the equipment information of the
equipment 11-n on the “purchases list” is assumed to centrally manage the instruction
manual of the equipment 11-n, collectively purchase the extended warranty, centrally
control the IoT device, or the like, rather than to list the equipment 11-n for sale on the
secondhand products trading market.
[0048] The operation input device 16 receives, for example, an operation of registering
the equipment of interest to the second user as the second user operation.
The operation of registering the equipment of interest is an operation of receiving
an input of the equipment information of the equipment.
Furthermore, the operation of registering the equipment of interest is an
operation of receiving an input of, for example, a user ID as user identification
information for identifying the second user.
Upon receiving the input of the equipment information indicating the equipment
30
of interest and the user identification information, the operation input device 16 outputs
an equipment-of-interest registration request including the equipment information and the
user identification information to the equipment registration unit 21 of the second
terminal device 18.
[0049] The equipment registration unit 21 of the second terminal device 18 acquires the
equipment-of-interest registration request output from the operation input device 16.
The equipment registration unit 21 transmits the equipment-of-interest
registration request to the storage device 15 via the network 20, thereby registering the
equipment of interest in the storage device 15.
Upon receiving the equipment-of-interest registration request from the
equipment registration unit 21, the storage device 15 adds the equipment information
included in the equipment-of-interest registration request to the “favorites list”
corresponding to the second user indicated by the user identification information included
in the equipment-of-interest registration request.
As the equipment information is added to the “favorites list”, the equipment of
interest to the second user is registered in the “favorites list” corresponding to the second
user.
FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of the “favorites list”
corresponding to the second user.
In the example of FIG. 11, a television having equipment information of “TV567” is registered on the “favorites list”.
In the information processing system 1 illustrated in FIG. 1, the equipment
registration unit 21 directly registers the equipment of interest in the storage device 15.
However, this is merely an example, and the equipment registration unit 21 may transmit
the equipment-of-interest registration request to the equipment management server 19 so
31
that the equipment management server 19 registers the equipment of interest in the storage
device 15.
Note that the main purpose of the user issuing the equipment-of-interest
registration request to register the equipment information of the equipment of interest in
the “favorites list” is generally assumed to purchase a brand-new product rather than to
purchase a secondhand product in the secondhand products trading market.
[0050] The operation input device 12 receives, for example, a display operation of
displaying the equipment 11-n (n = 1, ..., N) owned by the first user as the first user
operation.
The display operation of displaying the equipment 11-n includes an operation of
receiving an input of, for example, a user ID as user identification information for
identifying the first user.
Upon receiving the display operation of displaying the equipment 11-n (n = 1, ...,
N), the operation input device 12 outputs an acquisition request to acquire an equipment
registration state including the user identification information to the equipment
registration unit 21 of the first terminal device 14.
[0051] The equipment registration unit 21 of the first terminal device 14 acquires the
acquisition request to acquire the equipment registration state output from the operation
input device 12.
The equipment registration unit 21 transmits the acquisition request to acquire
the equipment registration state to the storage device 15 via the network 20, thereby
allowing the storage device 15 to return the equipment information included in the
“purchases list” corresponding to the first user indicated by the user identification
information included in the acquisition request.
Upon receiving the acquisition request to acquire the equipment registration state
32
from the equipment registration unit 21, the storage device 15 acquires the equipment
information included in the “purchases list” corresponding to the first user indicated by
the user identification information included in the acquisition request.
The storage device 15 transmits the equipment information included in the
“purchases list” to the equipment registration unit 21 of the first terminal device 14 via
the network 20.
[0052] Upon receiving the equipment information included in the “purchases list” from
the storage device 15, the equipment registration unit 21 of the first terminal device 14
transfers the equipment information included in the “purchases list” to the display
processing unit 29.
Further, the equipment registration unit 21 outputs the equipment information
included in the “purchases list” to the equipment information transmitting unit 22.
[0053] The display processing unit 29 of the first terminal device 14 generates display
data for displaying a list of equipment indicated by the equipment information included
in the “purchases list”.
The display processing unit 29 outputs the display data to the display output
device 13 so as to display the list of equipment on the display of the display output device
13 as illustrated in FIG. 12.
FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of a list of equipment.
In the example of FIG. 12, an air conditioner having equipment information of
“ABC-0001”, an electric fan having equipment information of “GP-1234”, a television
having equipment information of “TV-567”, and a video recorder having equipment
information of “BD-789” are displayed.
[0054] The operation input device 12 receives, for example, a display operation of
displaying the instruction manual of the equipment 11-n owned by the first user as the
33
first user operation.
The display operation of displaying the instruction manual of the equipment 11-
n is, for example, an operation of receiving a touch on certain equipment in the list
displayed on the display.
Upon receiving the display operation of displaying the instruction manual of the
equipment 11-n, the operation input device 12 outputs an instruction-manual acquisition
request including identification information indicating the equipment 11-n to the
instruction manual information acquiring unit 23 of the first terminal device 14.
In the information processing system illustrated in FIG. 1, the operation input
device 12 receives the display operation of displaying the instruction manual of the
equipment 11-n owned by the first user as the first user operation. The display operation
received as the first user operation by the operation input device 12 is not limited to the
display operation of displaying the instruction manual of the equipment 11-n. The
display operation received as the first user operation by the operation input device 12 may
be any display operation of displaying information useful for the end user, and examples
of the conceivable display operation include a display operation of displaying, for
example, manufacturer's official FAQ (frequently asked questions and answers) related
to the equipment 11-n or manufacturer's official support-related information related to the
equipment 11-n.
[0055] The instruction manual information acquiring unit 23 of the first terminal device
14 transmits the instruction-manual acquisition request to the instruction manual
transmitting unit 58 of the equipment management server 19 via the network 20.
The instruction manual transmitting unit 58 of the equipment management server
19 receives the instruction-manual acquisition request from the instruction manual
information acquiring unit 23 of the first terminal device 14 via the network 20.
34
The instruction manual transmitting unit 58 transfers the equipment information
included in the instruction-manual acquisition request to, for example, the server of the
manufacturer of the equipment 11-n indicated by the equipment information via the
network 20, thereby collecting the instruction manual data indicating the instruction
manual of the equipment 11-n from the server of the manufacturer.
The instruction manual transmitting unit 58 transmits the collected instruction
manual data to the instruction manual information acquiring unit 23 of the first terminal
device 14 via the network 20.
The instruction manual information acquiring unit 23 of the first terminal device
14 receives the instruction manual data from the instruction manual transmitting unit 58
of the equipment management server 19 via the network 20.
The instruction manual information acquiring unit 23 outputs the instruction
manual data to the display processing unit 29.
[0056] The display processing unit 29 of the first terminal device 14 generates display
data for displaying the instruction manual of the equipment 11-n from the instruction
manual data output from the instruction manual information acquiring unit 23.
The display processing unit 29 outputs the display data to the display output
device 13 so as to display the instruction manual of the equipment 11-n on the display of
the display output device 13 as illustrated in FIG. 13.
FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of the instruction
manual of the equipment 11-n.
In the example of FIG. 13, an instruction manual of the television “TV-567”
which is the equipment 11-n is displayed.
[0057] Upon receiving the equipment information included in the “purchases list” from
the equipment registration unit 21, the equipment information transmitting unit 22 of the
35
first terminal device 14 transmits the equipment information included in the “purchases
list” to the equipment information acquiring unit 51 of the equipment management server
19 via the network 20 (step ST1 in FIG. 8A).
[0058] The equipment information acquiring unit 51 of the equipment management
server 19 acquires the equipment information included in the “purchases list” from the
equipment information transmitting unit 22 of the first terminal device 14 via the network
20 (step ST2 in FIG. 8A and step ST31 in FIG. 9A).
The equipment information acquiring unit 51 outputs the equipment information
to each of the demand determination unit 52 and the recommended listing price
calculating unit 54.
[0059] The demand determination unit 52 acquires the equipment information output
from the equipment information acquiring unit 51.
The demand determination unit 52 acquires the number of past transactions of
the equipment 11-n indicated by the equipment information in the secondhand products
trading market from the storage device 15.
As the number of past transactions in the secondhand products trading market,
the number of transactions in the past month, the number of transactions in the past week,
the number of transactions in the past three days, or the like can be considered.
The demand determination unit 52 determines whether or not there is a demand
for the equipment 11-n in the secondhand products trading market on the basis of the
number of transactions of the equipment 11-n in the secondhand products trading market
indicated by the equipment information acquired by the equipment information acquiring
unit 51 (step ST3 in FIG. 8A and step ST32 in FIG. 9A).
That is, the demand determination unit 52 determines that there is a demand for
the equipment 11-n in the secondhand products trading market when the number of
36
transactions of the equipment 11-n in the secondhand products trading market tends to
increase or the number of transactions of the equipment 11-n in the secondhand products
trading market is equal to or larger than a threshold.
For example, when the number of transactions in the past three days is acquired
as the number of transactions in the secondhand products trading market, the demand
determination unit 52 determines that the number of transactions tends to increase when
the number of transactions in the past three days is larger than the number of transactions
during the period from the past six days to the past four days.
The demand determination unit 52 outputs a determination result indicating
whether or not there is a demand to the solicitation notice transmitting unit 53.
[0060] In the equipment management server 19 illustrated in FIG. 5, the demand
determination unit 52 determines whether or not there is a demand for the equipment 11-
n in the secondhand products trading market on the basis of the number of transactions of
the equipment 11-n in the secondhand products trading market. However, this is merely
an example, and the demand determination unit 52 may determine whether or not there is
a demand for the equipment 11-n in the secondhand products trading market on the basis
of transaction results other than the number of transactions of the equipment 11-n in the
secondhand products trading market.
When determining whether or not there is a demand for the equipment 11-n in
the secondhand products trading market on the basis of, for example, the contract rate
after listing of the equipment 11-n as the transaction results other than the number of
transactions, the demand determination unit 52 determines whether or not there is a
demand for the equipment 11-n in the secondhand products trading market as follows, for
example.
The demand determination unit 52 determines that there is a demand for the
37
equipment 11-n in the secondhand products trading market when the contract rate after
listing of the equipment 11-n on the secondhand products trading market tends to increase
or the contract rate after listing of the equipment 11-n on the secondhand products trading
market is equal to or larger than a threshold.
[0061] When receiving the equipment information from the equipment information
acquiring unit 51, the recommended listing price calculating unit 54 acquires the past
transaction prices of the equipment 11-n in the secondhand products trading market from
the storage device 15.
The recommended listing price calculating unit 54 calculates an average value
of transaction prices of the equipment 11-n in the secondhand products trading market as
a market price of the equipment 11-n in the secondhand products trading market (step
ST4 in FIG. 8A and step ST33 in FIG. 9A).
For example, when the transaction prices for the past three days are acquired as
the past transaction prices in the secondhand products trading market, the recommended
listing price calculating unit 54 calculates an average value of the transaction prices for
the past three days.
The recommended listing price calculating unit 54 outputs the average value of
the transaction prices to the solicitation notice transmitting unit 53.
[0062] The solicitation notice transmitting unit 53 acquires the determination result
from the demand determination unit 52 and acquires the average value of the transaction
prices of the equipment 11-n from the recommended listing price calculating unit 54.
When the demand determination unit 52 determines that there is a demand (YES
in step ST5 in FIG. 8A, and YES in step ST34 in FIG. 9A), the solicitation notice
transmitting unit 53 transmits the listing solicitation notice for prompting listing of the
equipment 11-n on the secondhand products trading market and the average value of the
38
transaction prices to the solicitation notice receiving unit 24 of the first terminal device
14 via the network 20 (step ST6 in FIG. 8A and step ST35 in FIG. 9A).
When the demand determination unit 52 determines that there is no demand (NO
in step ST5 in FIG. 8A, and NO in step ST34 in FIG. 9A), the solicitation notice
transmitting unit 53 does not transmit the listing solicitation notice to the solicitation
notice receiving unit 24 of the first terminal device 14.
[0063] In the equipment management server 19 illustrated in FIG. 5, the equipment
information acquiring unit 51 of the equipment management server 19 acquires the
equipment information included in the “purchases list” from the equipment information
transmitting unit 22 of the first terminal device 14, and outputs the equipment information
to each of the demand determination unit 52 and the recommended listing price
calculating unit 54. When a flag indicating that the equipment 11-n is not intended to
be sold is added to the equipment information included in the “purchases list”, the
equipment information acquiring unit 51 may not output the equipment information
indicating the equipment 11-n to each of the demand determination unit 52 and the
recommended listing price calculating unit 54. In this case, the solicitation notice
transmitting unit 53 does not transmit the listing solicitation notice to the solicitation
notice receiving unit 24 of the first terminal device 14.
[0064] The solicitation notice receiving unit 24 of the first terminal device 14 receives
the listing solicitation notice and the average value of the transaction prices from the
solicitation notice transmitting unit 53 of the equipment management server 19 via the
network 20 (step ST7 in FIG. 8A).
The solicitation notice receiving unit 24 outputs the listing solicitation notice and
the average value of the transaction prices to the display processing unit 29.
[0065] The display processing unit 29 of the first terminal device 14 acquires the listing
39
solicitation notice and the average value of the transaction prices from the solicitation
notice receiving unit 24.
When acquiring the listing solicitation notice and the average value of the
transaction prices, the display processing unit 29 generates display data of a listing
solicitation image that prompts listing of the equipment 11-n on the secondhand products
trading market. The listing solicitation image also includes information indicating the
average value of transaction prices as the market price of the equipment 11-n.
The display processing unit 29 outputs the display data to the display output
device 13 so as to display the listing solicitation image on the display of the display output
device 13 as illustrated in FIG. 14 (step ST8 in FIG. 8A).
FIG. 14 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of the listing
solicitation image.
FIG. 14 shows an example of the listing solicitation image that prompts listing
of the air conditioner having equipment information of “ABC-0001” and the television
having equipment information of “TV-567” in the secondhand products trading market
because there is a demand for them in the secondhand products trading market.
Specifically, a message indicating “If you list the air conditioner ‘ABC-0001’ for
sale on the secondhand products trading market, it can be potentially sold for xxx yen”.
In addition, a message indicating “If you list the television ‘TV-567’ for sale on the
secondhand products trading market, it can be potentially sold for xxx yen”. xxx yen is
an average value of transaction prices in the secondhand products trading market.
When the listing solicitation image is displayed on the display of the display
output device 13 and the first user views the listing solicitation image, the first user may
be interested in listing the equipment 11-n for sale on the secondhand products trading
market. When the first user is interested in listing, he/she may consider listing.
40
[0066] In the first terminal device 14 illustrated in FIG. 2, when acquiring the listing
solicitation notice and the average value of the transaction prices, the display processing
unit 29 generates display data of the listing solicitation image that prompts listing of the
equipment 11-n on the secondhand products trading market. The display processing unit
29 may generate the display data of the listing solicitation image prompting listing of the
equipment 11-n on the secondhand products trading market only when a flag indicating
that the equipment 11-n is intended to be sold is added to the equipment information
included in the “purchases list”.
[0067] The operation input device 12 receives, for example, an operation indicating an
intention of “considering listing the equipment 11-n for sale on the secondhand products
trading market” as the first user operation.
When receiving the operation indicating the intention of “considering listing the
equipment 11-n for sale on the secondhand products trading market”, the operation input
device 12 outputs a transmission request to transmit a listing consideration notice to the
listing consideration notification unit 25 of the first terminal device 14.
[0068] Upon receiving the transmission request to transmit the listing consideration
notice from the operation input device 12, the listing consideration notification unit 25 of
the first terminal device 14 transmits the listing consideration notice including the
equipment information indicating the equipment 11-n to each of the solicitation notice
transmitting unit 53 and the recommended listing price calculating unit 54 in the
equipment management server 19 via the network 20 (step ST9 in FIG. 8A).
[0069] When receiving the listing consideration notice from the listing consideration
notification unit 25 of the first terminal device 14 via the network 20 (YES in step ST10
in FIG. 8A, and YES in step ST36 in FIG. 9A), the recommended listing price calculating
unit 54 of the equipment management server 19 calculates a recommended listing price
41
on the basis of the average value of the transaction prices calculated previously (step ST11
in FIG. 8A and step ST37 in FIG. 9A).
When not receiving the listing consideration notice (NO in step ST10 in FIG. 8A,
and NO in step ST36 in FIG. 9A), the recommended listing price calculating unit 54 waits
until receiving the listing consideration notice.
The processing of calculating the recommended listing price by the
recommended listing price calculating unit 54 will be specifically described below.
[0070] When, for example, the usage condition of the equipment 11-n is stored in the
storage device 15, the recommended listing price calculating unit 54 acquires the usage
condition of the equipment 11-n from the storage device 15. Examples of the
conceivable usage condition of the equipment 11-n include the total operating time and
use frequency of the equipment 11-n, and the usage condition may be reported by the first
user who owns the equipment 11-n and stored in the storage device 15.
When the equipment 11-n is an IoT device, the recommended listing price
calculating unit 54 acquires the operation log from the equipment 11-n and confirms the
usage condition of the equipment 11-n by referring to the operation log.
When the warranty status of the equipment 11-n is stored in the storage device
15, the recommended listing price calculating unit 54 acquires the warranty status from
the storage device 15. Examples of conceivable warranty status include the ordinary
manufacturer’s one-year warranty, the manufacturer’s extended warranty, and the
extended warranty by a delivery agent.
[0071] When information indicating that the equipment 11-n is “unused”, information
indicating that the equipment is “unopened”, or information indicating that “the
equipment has a scratch” is stored in the storage device 15, the recommended listing price
calculating unit 54 acquires these pieces of information from the storage device 15.
42
These pieces of information may be stored in the storage device 15 when the first user
who owns the equipment 11-n reports the usage condition.
When information indicating the purchase date of the equipment 11-n or
information indicating the maintenance notes of the equipment 11-n is stored in the
storage device 15, the recommended listing price calculating unit 54 acquires the
information indicating the purchase date of the equipment 11-n or the information
indicating the maintenance notes of the equipment 11-n from the storage device 15.
The recommended listing price calculating unit 54 acquires specification
information of the equipment 11-n from the server of the manufacturer by, for example,
transmitting the equipment information indicating the equipment 11-n to the server of the
manufacturer of the equipment 11-n.
[0072] The recommended listing price calculating unit 54 sets an assessment coefficient
k1 of the equipment 11-n depending on the usage condition of the equipment 11-n.
That is, the recommended listing price calculating unit 54 classifies the usage
condition of the equipment 11-n into, for example, three categories, that is, a high usage
condition, a medium usage condition, and a low usage condition. When the usage
condition of the equipment 11-n is, for example, lower than a first threshold, the
equipment is classified as the low usage condition, and when the usage condition of the
equipment 11-n is, for example, equal to or higher than the first threshold and equal to or
lower than a second threshold higher than the first threshold, the equipment is classified
as the medium usage condition. When the usage condition of the equipment 11-n is, for
example, higher than the second threshold, the equipment is classified as the high usage
condition.
When the usage condition of the equipment 11-n is the low usage condition, the
recommended listing price calculating unit 54 sets the assessment coefficient k1 to, for
43
example, a coefficient larger than “1”, because the probability of failure is low.
When the usage condition of the equipment 11-n is the medium usage condition,
the recommended listing price calculating unit 54 sets the assessment coefficient k1 to a
value smaller than the value of the assessment coefficient k1 when the usage condition is
the low usage condition, because the probability of failure is higher than that in the low
usage condition.
When the usage condition of the equipment 11-n is the high usage condition, the
recommended listing price calculating unit 54 sets the assessment coefficient k1 to a value
smaller than the value of the assessment coefficient k1 when the usage condition is the
medium usage condition, because the probability of failure is higher than that in the
medium usage condition. The assessment coefficient k1 is set to a coefficient smaller
than “1”, for example.
[0073] The recommended listing price calculating unit 54 sets an assessment coefficient
k2 of the equipment 11-n depending on the warranty status of the equipment 11-n.
That is, when the warranty is purchased, the recommended listing price
calculating unit 54 sets the assessment coefficient k2 to, for example, a coefficient larger
than “1”.
When the warranty is not purchased, the recommended listing price calculating
unit 54 sets the assessment coefficient k2 to, for example, a coefficient smaller than “1”.
[0074] When the information indicating that the equipment 11-n is “unused” is stored
in the storage device 15, the recommended listing price calculating unit 54 sets a
coefficient larger than “1”, for example, as an assessment coefficient k3 of the equipment
11-n.
When the information indicating that the equipment 11-n is “unopened” is stored
in the storage device 15, the recommended listing price calculating unit 54 sets the
44
assessment coefficient k3 of the equipment 11-n to a value larger than the value of the
assessment coefficient k3 when the equipment 11-n is “unused”.
When the information indicating that the equipment 11-n is “unused” or the
information indicating that the equipment 11-n is “unopened” is not stored in the storage
device 15, the recommended listing price calculating unit 54 sets “1” to the assessment
coefficient k3, for example.
[0075] The recommended listing price calculating unit 54 calculates a recommended
listing price SP from the average value Pave of the transaction prices of the equipment 11-
n using the assessment coefficient k1, the assessment coefficient k2, and the assessment
coefficient k3 as represented by following Expression (1).
SP = Pave × k1 × k2 × k3 (1)
Expression (1) which is a computation expression of the recommended listing
price SP is merely an example, and the computation expression of the recommended
listing price SP by the recommended listing price calculating unit 54 is not limited to
Expression (1).
The recommended listing price calculating unit 54 outputs the recommended
listing price to each of the solicitation notice transmitting unit 53 and the listing notice
transmitting unit 56.
In addition, when acquiring the information indicating that “the equipment 11-n
has a scratch”, the information indicating the purchase date of the equipment 11-n, the
information indicating the maintenance notes of the equipment 11-n, or the specification
information of the equipment 11-n, the recommended listing price calculating unit 54
outputs the acquired information (hereinafter referred to as “equipment attribute
information”) to the solicitation notice transmitting unit 53.
In a case where the first terminal device 14 illustrated in FIG. 2 has a function
45
of, for example, unified management of home electric appliances, browsing of the
instruction manual, or the like, or cooperates with an application having, as the main
function, a function of unified management of home electric appliances, browsing of the
instruction manual, or the like, the equipment attribute information can be easily acquired
without the user newly performing the registration operation of registering the purchase
date, the specification information, etc. of the equipment 11-n.
[0076] When receiving the listing consideration notice from the listing consideration
notification unit 25 of the first terminal device 14 via the network 20, the solicitation
notice transmitting unit 53 of the equipment management server 19 transmits the
recommended listing price calculated by the recommended listing price calculating unit
54 to the solicitation notice receiving unit 24 of the first terminal device 14 via the
network 20 (step ST12 in FIG. 8A and step ST38 in FIG. 9A).
Upon receiving the equipment attribute information from the recommended
listing price calculating unit 54, the solicitation notice transmitting unit 53 transmits the
equipment attribute information to the solicitation notice receiving unit 24 of the first
terminal device 14 via the network 20.
[0077] The solicitation notice receiving unit 24 of the first terminal device 14 receives
the recommended listing price from the solicitation notice transmitting unit 53 of the
equipment management server 19 via the network 20 (step ST13 in FIG. 8A).
When the equipment attribute information is transmitted from the solicitation
notice transmitting unit 53 of the equipment management server 19, the solicitation notice
receiving unit 24 receives the equipment attribute information.
The solicitation notice receiving unit 24 outputs the recommended listing price
to the display processing unit 29.
Upon receiving the equipment attribute information, the solicitation notice
46
receiving unit 24 outputs the equipment attribute information to the display processing
unit 29.
[0078] The display processing unit 29 of the first terminal device 14 acquires the
recommended listing price from the solicitation notice receiving unit 24, and if the
equipment attribute information is output from the solicitation notice receiving unit 24,
acquires the equipment attribute information.
The display processing unit 29 generates display data of an image indicating the
recommended listing price.
When acquiring the equipment attribute information, the display processing unit
29 generates display data of an image representing both the recommended listing price
and the equipment attribute information.
The display processing unit 29 outputs the generated display data to the display
output device 13 so as to display the image indicating the recommended listing price or
the image indicating both the recommended listing price and the equipment attribute
information on the display of the display output device 13 (step ST14 in FIG. 8A).
FIG. 15 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of an image indicating
both the recommended listing price and the equipment attribute information.
In the example of FIG. 15, the equipment 11-n that is considered to be listed is a
television having equipment information of “TV-567”, and thus, the recommended listing
price of the television “TV-567” is displayed. In addition, the purchase date of the
television, the maintenance notes, and the specification information are displayed as the
equipment attribute information of the television “TV-567”.
When the image indicating the recommended listing price is displayed on the
display of the display output device 13 and the first user views the image, the first user
may determine that he/she lists the equipment 11-n for sale on the secondhand products
47
trading market.
[0079] The operation input device 12 receives, for example, an operation indicating an
intention of “listing the equipment 11-n for sale on the secondhand products trading
market” as the first user operation.
When receiving the operation indicating the intention of “listing the equipment
11-n for sale on the secondhand products trading market”, the operation input device 12
outputs a transmission request to transmit a listing decision notice to the listing decision
notification unit 26 of the first terminal device 14.
Here, it is assumed that the equipment 11-n is listed for sale on the secondhand
products trading market when the operation input device 12 receives the operation
indicating an intention of “listing the equipment 11-n for sale on the secondhand products
trading market”.
In the first terminal device 14 illustrated in FIG. 2, the operation input device 12
receives the operation indicating an intention of “listing the equipment 11-n for sale on
the secondhand products trading market” as the first user operation. In addition to the
operation indicating the intention described above, the operation input device 12 may
receive a change operation of changing the recommended listing price to a different price.
In this case, the operation input device 12 outputs a transmission request to transmit the
listing decision notice including the changed price to the listing decision notification unit
26 of the first terminal device 14. The listing price of the equipment 11-n in the
secondhand products trading market is the changed recommended listing price.
[0080] When the operation input device 12 receives the operation indicating an intention
of “listing the equipment 11-n for sale on the secondhand products trading market” as the
first user operation, the listing decision notification unit 26 of the first terminal device 14
transmits a listing decision notice including the equipment information indicating the
48
equipment 11-n to the first terminal searching unit 55 of the equipment management
server 19 via the network 20 (step ST15 in FIG. 8A).
[0081] When receiving the listing decision notice from the listing decision notification
unit 26 of the first terminal device 14 via the network 20 (YES in step ST16 in FIG. 8B,
and YES in step ST39 in FIG. 9B), the first terminal searching unit 55 of the equipment
management server 19 searches for the second terminal device 18 owned by the second
user who is likely to purchase the equipment 11-n (step ST17 in FIG. 8B and step ST40
in FIG. 9B).
That is, the first terminal searching unit 55 transmits the listing decision notice
to the storage device 15 via the network 20 and receives the search result of the second
terminal device 18 from the storage device 15. When receiving the listing decision
notice from the first terminal searching unit 55, the storage device 15 searches for the
“favorites list” including the equipment information included in the listing decision notice
from the “favorites lists” respectively corresponding to the plurality of users. The
storage device 15 transmits information indicating the second terminal device 18 owned
by the second user corresponding to the searched “favorites list” to the listing notice
transmitting unit 56 as a search result of the second terminal device 18.
When not receiving the listing decision notice from the first terminal device 14
(NO in step ST16 in FIG. 8B, and NO in step ST39 in FIG. 9B), the first terminal
searching unit 55 waits until receiving the listing decision notice.
The first terminal searching unit 55 outputs the search result of the second
terminal device 18 to the listing notice transmitting unit 56. When the changed
recommended listing price is included in the listing decision notice, the first terminal
searching unit 55 outputs the changed recommended listing price to the listing notice
transmitting unit 56.
49
[0082] The listing notice transmitting unit 56 of the equipment management server 19
acquires the search result of the second terminal device 18 from the first terminal
searching unit 55, and specifies the second terminal device 18 owned by the second user
who is likely to purchase the equipment 11-n on the basis of the search result.
For example, when one or more of the profile of the first user who owns the
equipment 11-n, the transaction results of the first user in the secondhand products trading
market, and the like is stored in the storage device 15, the listing notice transmitting unit
56 acquires any one or more of the profile of the first user, the transaction results, and the
like from the storage device 15. When the first user who owns the equipment 11-n
reports any one or more of the profile, the transaction results, and the like, the profile, the
transaction results, and the like may be stored in the storage device 15.
When the changed recommended listing price is output from the first terminal
searching unit 55, the listing notice transmitting unit 56 adds the changed recommended
listing price to the listing notice indicating that the equipment 11-n has been listed for
sale.
When the changed recommended listing price is not output from the first
terminal searching unit 55, the listing notice transmitting unit 56 adds the recommended
listing price output from the recommended listing price calculating unit 54 to the listing
notice.
In addition, the listing notice transmitting unit 56 adds any one or more of the
profile of the first user, the transaction results, and the like to the listing notice, and
transmits the listing notice to the notice transmitting and receiving unit 27 of the specified
second terminal device 18 via the network 20 (step ST18 in FIG. 8B and step ST41 in
FIG. 9B).
[0083] The notice transmitting and receiving unit 27 of the second terminal device 18
50
receives the listing notice from the listing notice transmitting unit 56 of the equipment
management server 19 via the network 20 (step ST19 in FIG. 8B).
The notice transmitting and receiving unit 27 outputs the listing notice to the
display processing unit 29.
[0084] The display processing unit 29 of the second terminal device 18 acquires the
listing notice from the notice transmitting and receiving unit 27.
When acquiring the listing notice, the display processing unit 29 generates
display data of an image indicating the listing notice. The image indicating the listing
notice includes the image indicating the profile of the first user or the transaction results.
The display processing unit 29 outputs the generated display data to the display
output device 17 so as to display the image representing the listing notice on the display
of the display output device 17 (step ST20 in FIG. 8B).
FIG. 16 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of the image indicating
the listing notice.
In the example of FIG. 16, the equipment 11-n that is listed for sale is the
television having equipment information of “TV-567”, and thus, the message indicating
that the television “TV-567” has been listed for sale on the secondhand products trading
market is displayed.
Further, the listing price of the television “TV-567”, the profile of the first user
that has listed the television “TV-567” for sale, the transaction results of the first user, and
the equipment attribute information are displayed. The equipment attribute information
is the one illustrated in FIG. 15, and includes the purchase date, the maintenance notes,
and the specification information.
When the image indicating the listing notice is displayed on the display of the
display output device 17 and the second user views the image, the second user may

CLAIMS
1. An equipment management server comprising:
an equipment information acquiring unit to acquire, from a first terminal device
in which equipment owned by a user is registered, equipment information indicating the
equipment;
a demand determination unit to acquire a transaction result of the equipment
indicated by the equipment information acquired by the equipment information acquiring
unit in a secondhand products trading market, and determine whether or not there is a
demand for the equipment in the secondhand products trading market on a basis of the
transaction result; and
a solicitation notice transmitting unit to transmit, to the first terminal device, a
listing solicitation notice prompting listing of the equipment on the secondhand products
trading market when the demand determination unit determines that there is a demand.
2. The equipment management server according to claim 1, wherein the demand
determination unit acquires a number of transactions as the transaction result, in the
secondhand products trading market, of the equipment indicated by the equipment
information acquired by the equipment information acquiring unit, and determines that
there is a demand for the equipment in the secondhand products trading market when the
number of transactions tends to increase or the number of transactions is equal to or larger
than a threshold.
3. The equipment management server according to claim 1, wherein the solicitation
notice transmitting unit transmits a representative value of a transaction price of the
equipment in the secondhand products trading market to the first terminal device.
80
4. The equipment management server according to claim 1, further comprising: a
recommended listing price calculating unit to calculate a recommended listing price
which is a listing price recommended for the equipment in the secondhand products
trading market on a basis of a representative value of a transaction price of the equipment
in the secondhand products trading market when receiving, from the first terminal device,
a notice indicating that listing of the equipment indicated by the equipment information
on the secondhand products trading market is considered, wherein
the solicitation notice transmitting unit transmits the recommended listing price
calculated by the recommended listing price calculating unit to the first terminal device.
5. The equipment management server according to claim 4, wherein when
calculating the recommended listing price on a basis of the representative value of the
transaction price of the equipment, the recommended listing price calculating unit
calculates the recommended listing price using one or more of a usage condition of the
equipment indicated by the equipment information and a warranty status of the equipment
indicated by the equipment information.
6. The equipment management server according to claim 5, wherein when the
equipment indicated by the equipment information is an IoT device, the recommended
listing price calculating unit acquires an operation log of the equipment, checks the usage
condition of the equipment from the operation log, and calculates the recommended
listing price using one or more of the usage condition of the equipment and the warranty
status of the equipment indicated by the equipment information.
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7. The equipment management server according to claim 1, further comprising:
a first terminal searching unit to search for a second terminal device owned by a
user who is likely to purchase the equipment indicated by the equipment information
when receiving a notice indicating that the equipment is listed on the secondhand products
trading market from the first terminal device; and
a listing notice transmitting unit to transmit a notice indicating that the equipment
has been listed on the secondhand products trading market to the second terminal device
searched by the first terminal searching unit.
8. The equipment management server according to claim 7, wherein the listing
notice transmitting unit transmits one or more of a profile of a user who has listed the
equipment indicated by the equipment information on the secondhand products trading
market and a transaction result of the user to the second terminal device searched by the
first terminal searching unit.
9. The equipment management server according to claim 7, further comprising: a
first notice transmitting and receiving unit to transmit a notice indicating that there is a
prospective purchaser to the first terminal device when receiving a notice indicating an
intention of purchasing the equipment indicated by the equipment information from the
second terminal device, and to transmit a notice indicating that a transaction of the
equipment has been established to the second terminal device when receiving a notice
indicating an intention of selling the equipment from the first terminal device.
10. The equipment management server according to claim 1, further comprising:
a second terminal searching unit to search for the first terminal device that
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registers equipment not listed on the secondhand products trading market when receiving
a purchase offer for the equipment not listed on the secondhand products trading market
from a terminal device different from the first terminal device; and
a second notice transmitting and receiving unit to transmit a notice indicating
that the purchase offer for the equipment is presented to the first terminal device searched
by the second terminal searching unit, and when receiving, from the first terminal device,
a notice indicating an intention of selling the equipment not listed on the secondhand
products trading market, transmit a notice indicating that a transaction of the equipment
not listed on the secondhand products trading market has been established or a transaction
condition of the equipment to the terminal device that has transmitted the purchase offer.
11. A terminal device comprising:
an equipment registration unit to register equipment owned by a user;
an equipment information transmitting unit to transmit equipment information
indicating the equipment registered by the equipment registration unit to an equipment
management server;
a solicitation notice receiving unit to receive a listing solicitation notice for
prompting listing of the equipment on the secondhand products trading market from the
equipment management server when the equipment management server determines that
there is a demand for the equipment indicated by the equipment information in the
secondhand products trading market; and
a display processing unit to generate and output display data of a listing
solicitation image indicating that listing of the equipment on the secondhand products
trading market is prompted when the listing solicitation notice is received by the
solicitation notice receiving unit.
83
12. The terminal device according to claim 11, further comprising: a notice
transmitting and receiving unit to receive a notice indicating that a transaction of the
equipment has been established from the equipment management server after the
equipment has been listed on the secondhand products trading market, wherein
the equipment registration unit cancels registration of the equipment when the
notice transmitting and receiving unit receives the notice indicating that the transaction
of the equipment has been established.
13. The terminal device according to claim 11, the terminal device being used by a
user who does not own the equipment, the terminal device comprising:
a notice transmitting and receiving unit to receive a notice indicating that a
purchase of the equipment has been established from the equipment management server
after the equipment has been listed on the secondhand products trading market, wherein
the equipment registration unit registers the equipment when the notice
transmitting and receiving unit receives the notice indicating that a transaction of the
equipment has been established.
14. An information processing system comprising:
a first terminal device in which equipment owned by a user is registered;
an equipment information acquiring unit to acquire, from the first terminal
device, equipment information indicating the equipment;
a demand determination unit to acquire a transaction result of the equipment
indicated by the equipment information acquired by the equipment information acquiring
unit in a secondhand products trading market, and determine whether or not there is a
84
demand for the equipment in the secondhand products trading market on a basis of the
transaction result; and
a solicitation notice transmitting unit to transmit, to the first terminal device, a
listing solicitation notice prompting listing of the equipment on the secondhand products
trading market when the demand determination unit determines that there is a demand.
15. An information processing method comprising:
acquiring, from a first terminal device in which equipment owned by a user is
registered, equipment information indicating the equipment by an equipment information
acquiring unit;
acquiring a transaction result of the equipment indicated by the equipment
information acquired by the equipment information acquiring unit in a secondhand
products trading market, and determining whether or not there is a demand for the
equipment in the secondhand products trading market on a basis of the transaction result
by a demand determination unit; and
transmitting, to the first terminal device, a listing solicitation notice prompting
listing of the equipment on the secondhand products trading market by a solicitation
notice transmitting unit when the demand determination unit determines that there is a
demand.
16. An information processing program causing a computer to execute:
acquiring, from a first terminal device in which equipment owned by a user is
registered, equipment information indicating the equipment by an equipment information
acquiring unit;
acquiring a transaction result of the equipment indicated by the equipment
85
information acquired by the equipment information acquiring unit in a secondhand
products trading market, and determining whether or not there is a demand for the
equipment in the secondhand products trading market on a basis of the transaction result
by a demand determination unit; and
transmitting, to the first terminal device, a listing solicitation notice prompting
listing of the equipment on the secondhand products trading market by a solicitation
notice transmitting unit when the demand determination unit determines that there is a
demand.
17. An image display method comprising:
registering equipment owned by a user by an equipment registration unit;
transmitting equipment information indicating the equipment registered by the
equipment registration unit to an equipment management server by an equipment
information transmitting unit;
receiving, by a solicitation notice receiving unit, a listing solicitation notice for
prompting listing of the equipment on the secondhand products trading market from the
equipment management server when the equipment management server determines that
there is a demand for the equipment indicated by the equipment information in the
secondhand products trading market; and
generating and outputting, by a display processing unit, display data of a listing
solicitation image indicating that listing of the equipment on the secondhand products
trading market is prompted when the listing solicitation notice is received by the
solicitation notice receiving unit.
18. An image display program causing a computer to execute:
86
registering equipment owned by a user by an equipment registration unit;
transmitting equipment information indicating the equipment registered by the
equipment registration unit to an equipment management serve by an equipment
information transmitting unit;
receiving, by a solicitation notice receiving unit, a listing solicitation notice for
prompting listing of the equipment on the secondhand products trading market from the
equipment management server when the equipment management server determines that
there is a demand for the equipment indicated by the equipment information in the
secondhand products trading market; and
generating and outputting, by a display processing unit, display data of a listing
solicitation image indicating that listing of the equipment on the secondhand products
trading market is prompted when the listing solicitation notice is received by the
solicitation notice receiving unit.
19. A product management server comprising:
a product information acquiring unit to acquire, from a first terminal device in
which a product owned by a user is registered, product information indicating the product;
a demand determination unit to acquire a transaction result of the product
indicated by the product information acquired by the product information acquiring unit
in a secondhand products trading market, and determine whether or not there is a demand
for the product in the secondhand products trading market on a basis of the transaction
result; and
a solicitation notice transmitting unit to transmit, to the first terminal device, a
listing solicitation notice prompting listing of the product on the secondhand products
trading market when the demand determination unit determines that there is a demand.
87
20. A terminal device comprising:
a product registration unit to register a product owned by a user;
a product information transmitting unit to transmit product information
indicating the product registered by the product registration unit to a product management
server;
a solicitation notice receiving unit to receive a listing solicitation notice for
prompting listing of the product on the secondhand products trading market from the
product management server when the product management server determines that there
is a demand for the product indicated by the product information in the secondhand
products trading market; and
a display processing unit to generate and output display data of a listing
solicitation image indicating that listing of the product on the secondhand products
trading market is prompted when the listing solicitation notice is received by the
solicitation notice receiving unit