[DESCRIPTION] [Invention Title]

ELECTRONIC COMMERCIAL SYSTEM LINKING THE PRODUCTS INFORMATION INDIVIDUALLY ON THE PRIVATE WEB-PAGE

[Technical Field]

<i> The present invention relates to an electronic commerce system for individually linking product information to the private web pages of one or more product providers, which links various types of product information registered in an Internet shopping mall to one or more private web pages, so that the corresponding products can be traded based on the linked product information without access to the corresponding shopping mall, and furthermore, the corresponding products can be also traded using an integrated server for managing the private web pages.

<2>

[Background Art]

<3> General Internet shopping is performed in such a way that a user accesses a shopping mall server using a terminal, selects a desired product, and then makes payment. That is, in order to purchase a product, a user must access a shopping mall server, check posted product information, and perform a payment process for the selected product information.

<4> Accordingly, a conventional shopping method is performed through a process in which a user accesses a shopping mall server over the Internet, searches the shopping mall server for product information for a product to be purchased, and checking the user' s intention to purchase the corresponding product through a payment procedure, thereby completing the trade.

<5> However, there are problems in that the shopping method using the Internet is limitative as described above, and in that the shopping malls have no diversity because some shopping malls that have pioneered the shopping method focus on only the sale of popular products.

<6> Of course, these problems cause Internet users, who demand diversity,

to lose interest in Internet shopping, thus leading to a decrease in the trade of products which are not popular, such as unique items, over the Internet, so that the problems are factors to prevent the continuous development of the Internet shopping industry.

<7>

[Disclosure]

[Technical Problem]

<8> Accordingly, the present invention has been made keeping in mind the above problems occurring in the prior art, and an object of the present invention is to provide an electronic commerce system for individually linking product information to the private web pages of one or more product providers, which enables a purchaser to share the function of a shopping mall server without classifying a shopping mall server and a user as a product provider and a purchaser in Internet shopping, thereby enabling electronic commerce for items desired by the purchaser to be realized and maintaining the diversity of Internet shopping.

<9>

[Technical Solution]

<io> In order to accomplish the above object, the present invention provides an electronic commerce system for individually linking product information to the private web pages of one or more product providers, including

<π> a shopping mall server including a product module for classifying a plurality of pieces of product information according to types of products and posting the resulting product information over the Internet, a link module for transmitting product information when a link to the corresponding product information is requested, and a payment module for performing a payment procedure for a product targeted for electronic commerce; and an integrated server including a product information management module for providing a private web page for each member and outputting the product information, transmitted from the link module, by linking the product information to the private web page of a member who requested the link to the product

information, and a payment mediation module for performing the payment procedure while communicating with the payment module when a product corresponding to the product information linked to the private web page is traded.

<12>

[Advantageous Effects]

<14> According to the present invention, products are sold using a large number of individual web pages, with the result that individuals can be product providers in electronic commerce, so that there is an advantage in that mediators, who provide units and places for linking a small number of shopping malls and products being sold in the shopping malls using such an electronic commerce method, and individual product providers (shopping mall clients), who are members of the mediators, actively fetch the products of the shopping malls, and link them to their private web pages, can obtain profits attributable to electronic commerce, and in that products, monotonously sold in the electronic commerce, can have diversity through the selection by a plurality types of individual product providers.

<15> Furthermore, a person who has expert knowledge in a specific product field or who is a smart shopper constructs his/her own professional shop by selecting products appropriate to his/her shopping theme, and the professional shop can be searched by a shopping mall server, so that there is an advantage in that a third person can actively perform electronic commerce activity through the professional shop. If mania for professional products arises and trade through the corresponding shop is activated, there is an advantage in that the sale benefits of the owner of the corresponding shop can increase, thereby creating higher amount of benefits.

<16>

[Description of Drawings] <17> FIG. 1 is a diagram schematically showing the configuration screen of an electronic commerce system according to the present invention; <18> FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the electronic commerce system according to the present invention; <19> FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a process of performing an electronic commerce method according to the present invention; <20> FIG. 4 is a view showing a web page provided by the shopping mall server of the electronic commerce system according to the present invention;

<2i> FIG. 5 is a view showing a web page provided by the integrated server of the electronic commerce system according to the present invention! <22> FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing another embodiment of the electronic commerce system according to the present invention; <23> FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing another process of performing the electronic commerce method according to the present invention; and <24> FIG. 8 is a view showing the private web page of the electronic commerce system according to the present invention.

<25>

[Mode for Invention]

<26> The present invention will be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings below.

<27> FIG. 1 is a diagram schematically showing the configuration screen of an electronic commerce system according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the electronic commerce system according to the present invention. The present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

<28> A conventional shopping mall uses a method of a plurality of distributors opening a shop in a small number of shopping malls and a large number of users purchasing the products of the shop. The present invention uses a method of enabling one or more terminals of respective users to be used as shopping malls for electronic commerce, with the result that a plurality of distributors opens a shop in a large number of shopping malls and sells products, so that all members of a nation can have their own shopping malls (private web pages).

<29> For this purpose, the electronic commerce system according to the present invention enables a user (a client) to selectively link product information for products sold in a shopping mall server to his/her own private web page, so that the user and other people who access the corresponding private web page can check the linked product information, and payment is processed on the corresponding private web page, thereby

performing electronic commerce.

<30> For this purpose, the electronic commerce system according to the present invention includes a shopping mall server 10 or 10' including a product module 11 for uploading and displaying various types of product information on a web page so that a user who has accessed the web page can check the product information, and a payment module 12 for processing information and payment so that the user, who has checked the displayed product information and decided to purchase a corresponding product, performs a payment process; and an integrated server 30 including a product information management module 31 for linking and outputting the product information selected by the user in the shopping mall server 10 or 10' , and a payment mediation module 32 for operating in conjunction with the payment module 12 or operating independently of the payment module 12, and processing information and payment so as to perform a payment process.

<3i> Meanwhile, the integrated server 30 may further include a member subscription module (not shown) for performing a general procedure for member subscription so that the electronic commerce system is managed to be open to members, and a member DB 34 for storing member information obtained based on the procedure.

<32> For reference, since the technical configurations of the member subscription module and the member DB 34 are well known in the relevant industry, descriptions thereof will be omitted.

<33> The configuration and function of the electronic commerce system will be described in detail based on the sequence of electronic commerce.

<34> FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a process of performing an electronic commerce method according to the present invention, FIG. 4 is a view showing a web page provided by the shopping mall server of the electronic commerce system according to the present invention, and FIG. 5 is a view showing a web page provided by the integrated server of the electronic commerce system according to the present invention. The present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

<35>

<36> SlO; Product information linking step

<37> As shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, a shopping mall server 10 includes a shopping mall server web page 100 used to sell one or more products. One or more pieces of product information 110 are output on the shopping mall server web page 100.

<38> That is, when a first client 42, who is a user, accesses the shopping mall server 10 using a terminal, the shopping mall server web page 100 is output on the terminal.

<39> The product module 11 of the shopping mall server 10 is in charge of the output/management/editing of the product information 110 output on the shopping mall server web page 100.

<40> FIG. 4 shows the shopping mall server web page 100 on which a plurality of pieces of product information 110 is output and, generally, one or more product images and brief descriptions thereof are output so as to check the information about products to be sold.

<4i> Generally, the first client 42 who accesses the shopping mall server 10 checks the product information 110 output on the shopping mall server web page 100, and selects a product to purchase. When the selection is completed, the payment module 12 is driven and performs a payment procedure for the corresponding product. Since this electronic commerce process is a well known technique, additional description about the payment procedure is omitted.

<42> Meanwhile, unlike the above-described electronic commerce method, the electronic commerce system and method according to the present invention enables a user to select one or more from among the plurality of pieces of product information 110, and to fetch the selected information for a separate integrated server 30.

<43> In the present embodiment, in order to purchase a bag, a user accesses a shopping mall server web page 100 (www.shopping.co.kr), and then accesses a web page (www.shopping.co.kr/baglist) which provides product information 110

for bag products.

<44> When the user accesses the web page (www.shopping.co.kr/baglist), the product module 11 of the shopping mall server 10 outputs a plurality of pieces of product information 110 related to the bag products.

<45> The user can select a product desired to be purchased and can fetch the product for the integrated server 30 while viewing the output product information 110. For this purpose, the shopping mall server 10 further includes a link module 13 for performing control such that the user can fetch the selected product information 110.

<46> When the plurality of pieces of product information 110 is output on the web page (www.shopping.co.kr/baglist), the link module 13 can execute an interface, such as, a 'My Page Link,' so that the user can easily fetch the selected product information 110. That is, when the user clicks on the interface so as to fetch the product information 110 selected by the user, the corresponding product information 110 is linked to a predetermined location on the integrated server 30.

<47> Various types of link techniques can be applied to such a link, and a Really Simple Syndication (RSS) method and a Rich Site Summary (RSS) method may be embodiments of such link techniques.

<48> The RSS technique enables content existing on a web page to be linked to another web page, thereby providing an environment in which the corresponding content can be executed from both of the web pages. In short, even though access is not made to the web page which is the source of the content, the content can be checked using another web page.

<49> Meanwhile, two or more shopping mall servers 10, each of which links and shares product information 110 with the integrated server 30, may exist. That is, when the user finds interesting product information 110 while enjoying shopping, the user can link the corresponding product information 110 to the integrated server 30 by clicking the interface without limitation of the shopping mall servers 10 and 10' .

<50> Although the location to which product information 110' will be linked

need not be limited to the integrated server 30, it is preferable in practice that the product information 110 actually be located in the integrated server 30, managed by the user who executed the link module 13 by clicking an interface.

<5i> Therefore, in order to successfully link the product information 110, a web browser, used when the corresponding user logs in the integrated server 30 and the integrated server web page 300 is output, must maintain a communication state with the integrated server 30. When the user accesses the shopping mall server 10 or 10' in the communication state and then clicks the interface of the product information 110 which is being output on the shopping mall server web page 100, the corresponding product information 110 is linked to the corresponding user region of the integrated server 30.

<52> The integrated server 30 includes a product information management module 31 for managing the linked product information 110 for respective users.

<53> As shown in FIGS. 1 to 5, a private web page 310, divided for each user, is constructed on the integrated server web page 300, and a product list 311 for the product information 110 linked by the corresponding user is constructed on the private web page 310. Therefore, the private web page 310 is a user area.

<54> With reference to FIG. 5, a web page 'www.myshop.co.kr/mypage' which is the subordinate directory of the integrated server web page 300 (www.myshop.co.kr) is a directory in which one or more user' s private web pages 310 and 310' , registered in the integrated server 30, exist. If one of the private web pages is selected, access to the private web page 310 (www.myshop.co.kr/mypage/bestcody) of a specific user can be made.

<55> Meanwhile, after the user of the private web page 310 accesses the shopping mall server 10 and selects one piece of product information 110 ( bag product 3' ) existing on the shopping mall server web page 100, the user clicks the interface 'My Page Link' of the corresponding product information 110 so that the link module 113 is driven. The link module 113

links the product information 110 to the integrated server 30, and the location of the product information 110 corresponds to the private web page

310 of the corresponding user.

<56> The product information 110' linked to the private web page 310 may be arranged in the specific location of the private web page 310 through the editing of the user, as shown in FIG. 5.

<57> For reference, in the embodiment according to the present invention, the theme of the private web page 310 is coordination for clothes and small articles, and a plurality of pieces of information about clothes and small articles necessary for coordination is output on various portions for coordination (portions for A type, B type, and C type) coordinated in various forms. The 'bag product 3,' which corresponds to the product information 110' linked from the shopping mall server 10, previously, is located in the portion 'B type' on the private web page 310.

<58> The product information 110 and 110' is shared by the shopping mall server 10 and the integrated server 30 using the above-described method.

<59> Meanwhile, the product information management module 31 of the integrated server 30 manages the product information 110' linked from the shopping mall server 10. Meanwhile, the payment module 12 of the shopping mall server 10 operates in conjunction with the payment mediation module 32 included in the integrated server 30. In the case in which the user accesses the integrated server 30, checks product information 110' on a product list

311 existing on the private web page 310, and attempts to purchase a corresponding product with confidence based on the product information 110' , the payment module 12 enables a payment process for the transaction of the corresponding product to be performed.

<60> The payment mediation module 32 may show two types of embodiments. A first embodiment is that the payment mediation module 32 functions as a medium for causing a payment page to be output on the integrated server web page 300 by executing the payment module 12 of the shopping mall server 10. A second embodiment is that the payment mediation module 32 functions as the

subject of the payment procedure, so that the payment mediation module 32 performs a payment procedure for a corresponding product separately from the payment module 12 on the integrated server web page 300.

<6i> Meanwhile, when the user accesses the integrated server 30 and then logs in, the private web page 310 or 310' of the corresponding user may be basically output. In the case in which the user dose not have a separate private web page 310 or 310' or is not a member of the integrated server 30, one or more private web pages 310 and 310' of other users may be output, or a web page for providing product information about products being sold by the integrated server 30 may be output.

<62>

<63> S20; Purchase product selecting step

<64> The user selects and clicks corresponding product information 110' desired to be purchased from among a plurality of pieces of product information 110' being output on the integrated server web page 300.

<65> Of course, the payment mediation module 32 of the integrated server 30 is driven using the selection, and a payment web page independent of the shopping mall server 10 or a payment web page controlled by the payment module 12 of the shopping mall server 10 is fetched and then output.

<66>

<67> S30; Performing payment step

<68> The user performs a payment procedure for purchasing a corresponding product through the output of the payment web page. There are various types of payment methods, such as a payment method using a money transfer without using a bankbook, and a payment method using a credit card or a mobile phone. The real time payment using the payment page may use a method identical to the payment method using a credit card or a mobile phone. Since online payment is well known to those skilled in the art, a description thereof will be omitted.

<69> FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing another embodiment of the electronic commerce system according to the present invention, FIG. 7 is a flowchart

showing another process of performing the electronic commerce method according to the present invention, and FIG. 8 is a view showing the private web page of the electronic commerce system according to the present invention. The present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

<70> In another embodiment according to the present invention, when a user who has a private web page operates the private web page by booting his/her own terminal, the user' s private web page 210, including a product list 211, is output on the shopping mall client screen 200 of the terminal even when the user does not access the integrated server 30.

<7i> The embodiment according to the present invention will be described, together with the electronic commerce method.

<72>

<73> S15; Location of performance checking step

<74> In the embodiment according to the present invention, the user may perform electronic commerce using a private web page 310 provided by the integrated server 30 after accessing the integrated server 30, or may perform electronic commerce using a private web page 210 which is output on the shopping mall client screen 200 of a shopping mall client 20, that is, the user' s terminal, without accessing the integrated server 30.

<75> Therefore, when the user accesses the integrated server 30 and clicks product information 110 on the user' s private web page 310, the location of the performance of the electronic commerce is the integrated server 30. When the user clicks product information 110 on the private web page 210 which is output by the shopping mall client 20, that is, the user' s terminal, the location of the performance of the electronic commerce is the user' s terminal, that is, the shopping mall client 20.

<76>

<77> S19; Private web page setting step

<78> The private web page 210, output on the shopping mall client 20, is provided in the form of a file from the private web page installation module

35 of the integrated server 30. The file provided in this way is transmitted and then installed in the shopping mall client 20.

<79> Of course, when the shopping mall client 20 accesses the integrated server 30, the file need not be downloaded, and the private web page 310 may be output on the integrated server web page 300 in an integrated form (refer to FIG. 5) or may be output in a separate window form. However, since it is assumed that access to the integrated server 30 has been made, the concept thereof is different from the concept of the private web page 210.

<80> Therefore, in order to clearly distinguish the private web page 210 from the private web page 310, the private web page 210 must be output regardless of whether the shopping mall client 20 accesses the integrated server 30. For this purpose, the installation file of the private web page 210 provided by the private web page installation module 35 of the integrated server 30 must be downloaded and then be installed in the shopping mall client 20. The private web page 210 has a web browsing function, so that communication over the Internet is possible when the shopping mall client 20 is booted. Further, setting is made such that the private web page 210 automatically pops up on the shopping mall client screen 200 so that the user can rapidly check the private web page 210.

<8i> Meanwhile, in the case in which the private web page 210 has already been installed in the shopping mall client 20, the private web page installation module 35 determines whether a new version of the corresponding private web page 210 exists, and then determines whether to upgrade it. Of course, if a new version of the private web page 210 exists, the private web page installation module 35 checks the user whether to upgrade the version of the private web page 210 or unilaterally performs an upgrade procedure without performing the checking process, so that a new version of the private web page 210 is output.

<82> For this purpose, the shopping mall client 20 possesses data about the format and operation of the private web page 210 and includes a product information output module 21 for outputting the data on the shopping mall

client screen 200. The product information output module 21 checks the version of the private web page 210 while communicating with the private web page installation module 35.

<83> Thereafter, the user can perform electronic commerce immediately after selecting product information 110" shown by the product list 211 of the private web page 210 on the shopping mall client 20, that is, the user' s terminal. That is, the payment procedure for purchasing a product selected by the user can be performed. The payment procedure is performed by the payment processing module 22.

<84> The payment processing module 22 communicates with the payment mediation module 32 provided in the integrated server 30. When the user clicks the product information 110" of the private web page 210, the payment processing module 22 senses this, executes the payment mediation module 32, and then outputs a payment web page used to perform the payment procedure. In conclusion, the user can perform electronic commerce using the private web page 210.

<85> For reference, since the installation of the private web page 210 in the shopping mall client 20 can be realized using an independent file, the corresponding file does not necessarily need to be downloaded from the private web page installation module 35 in order to install the private web page 210. That is, the user can install the corresponding file in another shopping mall client while storing the corresponding file in a removable storage unit, such as a profile disk or a Universal Serial Bus (USB) storage device.

<86>

<87> S20' ; Purchase product selecting step

<88> Since this procedure is the same as that of the above-described purchase product selecting step S20, a description thereof is omitted.

<89>

<90> S21; Selected information transmitting step

<9i> The payment processing module 22 checks the selected information for a

product, obtained at the purchase product selecting step S20' , and transmits it to the payment mediation module 32 of the integrated server 30. The payment mediation module 32 transmits a payment page related to the corresponding product to the shopping mall client 20 and performs the payment step S30.

<92>

<93> S40; Calculating step

<94> The electronic commerce system according to the present invention may further include a commission calculation module 33 for performing a procedure for a first calculation which may occur when a user registered as a member opens product information from a shopping mall server 10 or 10' and links it to the integrated server 30, and performing a procedure for a second calculation which may occur when electronic commerce is performed on the private web page 310 of the integrated server 30 or the private web page 210 of the shopping mall client 20.

<95> In the case of the second calculation, as described above, a plurality types of users can access the integrated server 30 and check the product information 110 registered in the integrated server web page 300, and can perform electronic commerce for a product regardless of the owner of the private web page 310 including the corresponding product information 110.

<96> Here, in the case in which the corresponding product is not purchased from the shopping mall server 10, which is the source of the product information 110, and the corresponding product is purchased using the private web page 310 of the integrated server 30 or the private web page 210 of the shopping mall client 20, the owner of the shopping mall server 10, the private web page 310 or the private web page 210, and the actual provider of the product can divide the sale price of the corresponding product based on a predetermined ratio, and can have money corresponding to the ratio.

<97> Therefore, when the electronic commerce is realized on the private web page 210 or the private web page 310, the commission calculation module 33 calculates and stores the trade price of the corresponding product in the

form of points to be obtained by the real provider of the product and the owner of the shopping mall server 10, the private web page 310 or the private web page 210, based on a predetermined ratio.

<98> In the case of the first calculation, product information can be selected and then linked to the private web page 310 or the private web page 210 from the shopping mall server. Here, since products are output on the user' s private web page, points or a commission for the corresponding user can be increased depending on the number of links.

<99> In conclusion, in the case of the private web page 210, the corresponding file is installed in a terminal capable of performing communication over the Internet. If a person who uses the corresponding terminal purchases a product using the private web page 210, points corresponding to the product are provided to the owner of the private web page 210, so that profits can be created.

<ιoo> Meanwhile, if the corresponding file including the private web page 210 is installed in another terminal and a purchase is made, points or a commission are provided to the person who installed the file. The owner of a plurality of terminals, such as the owner of a company or an Internet cafe, may increase the likelihood of the sale of a product by installing a file including the owner' s private web page 210 in the owned terminals.

<ioι> For reference, the member of the integrated server 20 can construct his/her own private web page 310 or a private web page 210. When the user, who is the member, or a third person purchases a product on his/her own private web page 310 or the private web page 210, the person may receive a sale allowance. A person who is not a member can purchase a product from the shopping mall server 10 or from the private web page 310 or the private web page 210 of another person, constructed in the integrated server 20. The sale points or allowance for the purchase activity of the person, who is not a member, are provided to the owner of the private web page 310 or the private web page 210.

<iO2> The above-described electronic commerce system for individually linking

product information to the private web pages of one or more product providers according to the present invention is not limited to the shopping mall server 10, the integrated server 20, and user terminals, using communication over the Internet. With the integration between general broadcasting and the Internet, attributable to the development of digital broadcasting techniques, the electronic commerce system may be applied to all types of communication media capable of performing communication therebetween.