JP2002049826A - Server, system, and method for exchanging point privilege, and recording medium - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a server, a system, and a method for point privilege exchange and a recording medium, which make it possible to exchange points with other commodities or services by using the Internet and further provide privileges regarding those commodities or services when a point system is used. SOLUTION: This method has a step for providing an Internet information site which operates and manage the services, a step for directly registering customers 6, a step for registering point plans, a step for registering alliance enterprises 4, a step for collecting membership fees from participation companies 4 having registered the point plans, a step for allowing the participation enterprises 4 to provide alternative privileges for customers 6, and a step for allowing customers 6 having been registered to use the services provided by the participation enterprises 4 to exchange their obtained point previleges.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a business method for exchanging benefits such as preferential treatment or provision, and more particularly, to a method in which an Internet information site and benefits are used by the general public.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a conventional point award exchange method, for example, there has been a method of providing an airline's point award according to an airline's point plan. The airline's point plan is to use the airline's airplane,
The distance traveled is accumulated as points, and various benefits (hereinafter, point benefits) are provided by the accumulated points. The provided point awards include, for example, those that allow the purchase of goods at a low price and those that allow the purchase of air tickets at preferential prices.

[0003]

However, in the above-described conventional point reward exchange method, the points accumulated by using the point plan are transferred to a predetermined company operating the point plan using the Internet. There was no disclosure of redeeming for other goods or services other than the point benefits offered by.
That is, the user (customer) of such a point plan only enjoys the benefit limited to the point privilege provided by the company that operates the point plan,
It was not always possible to obtain the goods or services that they needed or desired.

[0004] The present invention has been made in view of such problems in the prior art, and it is possible to exchange points obtained by at least one point plan with other goods and services other than point benefits. In addition, it is an object of the present invention to provide a point privilege exchange method that enables provision of benefits related to those products and services. Another object of the present invention is to provide a point reward exchange method that interacts with the market using the Internet or another public information system. Further, the present invention provides a method of exchanging point benefits that enables a wider range of benefits to be given to the user as compared with the benefits obtained by one point plan registered by the point plan user. The purpose is to:

[0005]

Means for Solving the Problems The first invention of the present application for solving the above problems is to accumulate points according to goods or services purchased by a customer, and to provide the accumulated points and point benefits to the customer. Means for registering at least one or more point plans to be exchanged, customers subscribing to the point plan, participating companies and products or services held by the participating companies, and the point benefits exchanged for the points. A point privilege exchange server characterized by having means for providing a substitute privilege to a customer by setting the product or service held by the participating company.

[0006] With this configuration, the point owner can compare the points and benefits provided by one company, for example, the airline, with the contents and services.
This has the advantage that a wider range of goods and services can be enjoyed as substitute benefits. In addition, the point plan is to give the customer who purchased the goods and services held by the customer points according to the goods or services purchased, and is equivalent to the points held by the customer at the request of the customer In exchange for point benefits, ie, goods or services.

The second invention of the present application is characterized in that it has means for constructing one common system by converting the value of each different point generated by a plurality of point plans into the value of one point. And

[0008] With this configuration, the value of all benefits is converted into the value of points along the monetary value. Therefore, depending on the purpose of each customer, airline, and all other participating companies,
It can be transferred, traded, or auctioned.

Further, the third invention of the present application has means for causing the auction to exhibit the substitute privilege, and means for causing a customer to bid for the exhibited substitute privilege using the points held by the customer. It is characterized by.

[0010] Due to the size of the advertising effect on the market and the wide range of use, the Internet has been used very effectively in buying and selling goods and services by auction. Therefore, there is an advantage that the exchanged point privilege and substitute privilege can be used by a known auction-based trading method.

[0011] Further, the fourth invention of the present application is a method for distributing an advertisement relating to a product or service of a participating company that has provided the alternative privilege provided by the customer to the customer who has exchanged the privilege from the participating company. It is characterized by having means.

As described above, according to the point privilege exchange method of the fourth invention of the present application, a customer who has given or received the substitute privilege from the participating company has been provided by the participating company which has provided the substitute privilege given or received by the customer. Distribute advertisements (information) related to goods or services. Further, the substitute privilege given and received by the customer is composed of a product or service provided by a specific participating company, and indicates a product or service that the customer is interested in. In other words, the customer who has given or received the substitute benefit is a prospective customer of the participating company that provided the substitute benefit. Therefore, by participating in the advertisement distribution to the prospective customer, the participating companies can efficiently acquire business opportunities such as attracting more customers. In addition, the advertisement
It is preferably delivered by e-mail.

Further, the fifth invention of the present application is characterized in that the distribution means distributes an advertisement to the customer and distributes means for allowing the customer to select whether to continue or not to distribute the advertisement. I do.

[0014] In this way, means for allowing the customer to select whether to continue or not to continue the advertisement delivery is delivered. Therefore, the customer can efficiently obtain information on a product or service of interest. In addition, the customer can voluntarily restrict the distribution of information about a product or service that he or she is not interested in. Further, the means for allowing the customer to select whether to continue or not to continue the advertisement distribution includes a template of a reply e-mail for performing a procedure for continuing or discontinuing the advertisement distribution attached to the advertisement distributed by e-mail or the like. Or a URL (Uniform Resource L) linked to a homepage for the continuation or discontinuation of the advertisement distribution
ocator).

[0015] In a sixth aspect of the present invention, the point plan is a point plan operated by an airline company.
It is a point plan that accumulates points according to the distance traveled by the customer using his / her own airplane and provides point benefits according to the accumulated points.

Here, the participating companies are, for example, the participating companies are agencies including accommodation facilities, rental car agents, travel agents, merchandise discount coupon issuing companies, credit card companies, debit card companies, and entertainment ticket companies. is there. Also, it is desirable that all special treatments and benefits are provided to the customer by exchanging points owned by the customer. The point plan managed by the airline is what is called a mileage plan. In recent years, with the development of networks and aviation networks, business borders are being destroyed, and the number of airplane users is increasing. The mileage plan is very useful for those who do business in such a place. However, a general customer who does not intend to do business has a high use unit price and points are accumulated according to the travel distance, so it is difficult to accumulate points that enable the transfer of point benefits. Also, such point benefits were not necessarily widespread products or services, and thus it was difficult to encourage customers to purchase air services. Therefore, by giving the customers who use the mileage plan the points earned by the mileage plan not only to point benefits but also to other alternative benefits, customers can enjoy a wider range of products and services Can be done. As a result, the customer's willingness to purchase air service can be promoted.

Further, according to a seventh aspect of the present invention, a customer terminal provided on the customer side, points according to goods or services purchased by the customer are accumulated, and the accumulated points and point benefits are added to the customer terminal. Means for registering at least one or more point plans to be exchanged with a customer, a customer who has subscribed to the point plan, a participating company and products or services held by the participating company, and a customer request received from the customer terminal According to the above, the point privilege exchangeable with the point of the customer, the product or service held by the participating company, by providing a server that has a means for providing the customer a substitute privilege, via a network This is a point award exchange method characterized by being connected to each other.

[0018] With this configuration, the point owner can compare a point award with goods and services provided by one company, for example, an airline.
This has the advantage that a wider range of goods and services can be enjoyed as substitute benefits. In addition, the point plan is to give the customer who purchased the goods and services held by the customer points according to the goods or services purchased, and is equivalent to the points held by the customer at the request of the customer In exchange for point benefits, ie, goods or services. Here, the network is, for example, a network using the Internet or the like. Further, the network may be any network as long as information can be transmitted between the customer terminal and the server, that is, between the customer and the server via the network, regardless of whether it is wired or wireless. The customer terminal is a terminal used by the customer, and is a WWW (WoW) that enables access to a homepage via the network.
rld Wide Web) It has access means such as a browser. Specifically, the customer terminal is a terminal such as a personal computer, a mobile phone, and a mobile computer that can be connected to a network such as the Internet. Further, the customer terminal is provided with means for transmitting and receiving electronic mail and the like to and from the server.

In the eighth invention of the present application, the server converts a value of each different point generated by a plurality of point plans into a value of one point, thereby constructing one common system. It is characterized by having.

With such a configuration, the value of all benefits is converted into the value of points along the monetary value. Therefore, depending on the purpose of each customer, airline, and all other participating companies,
It can be transferred, traded, or auctioned.

According to a ninth invention of the present application, the server causes the auction to exhibit the substitute privilege, and causes the customer to bid on the exhibited substitute privilege using the points held by the customer. And characterized in that:

[0022] Due to the size of the advertising effect on the market and the wide range of use, the use of the Internet has recently been very effectively used for buying and selling goods and services by auction. Therefore, there is an advantage that the exchanged point privilege and substitute privilege can be used by a known auction-based trading method.

[0023] In the tenth invention of the present application, the server may provide, to a customer who has given or received the substitute privilege from the participating company, an advertisement relating to a product or service of the participating company that provided the substitute privilege given or received by the customer. Characterized by having a distribution means for distributing the.

As described above, the advertisement (information) relating to the product or service of the participating company that provided the alternative privilege provided by the customer is distributed to the customer who has provided the alternative privilege from the participating company. Further, the substitute privilege given and received by the customer is composed of a product or service provided by a specific participating company, and indicates a product or service that the customer is interested in. In other words, the customer who has given or received the substitute benefit is a prospective customer of the participating company that provided the substitute benefit. Therefore, by participating in the advertisement distribution to the prospective customer, the participating companies can efficiently acquire business opportunities such as attracting more customers. Further, it is preferable that the delivery of the advertisement is performed by electronic mail.

The eleventh invention of the present application is characterized in that the distribution means distributes an advertisement to the customer and distributes means for allowing the customer to select continuation or non-continuation of advertisement distribution. I do.

As described above, the means for allowing the customer to select the continuation or non-continuation of the advertisement distribution is distributed. Therefore, the customer can efficiently obtain information on a product or service of interest. In addition, the customer can voluntarily restrict the distribution of information about a product or service that he or she is not interested in. Further, the means for allowing the customer to select whether to continue or not to continue the advertisement distribution includes a template of a reply e-mail for performing a procedure for continuing or discontinuing the advertisement distribution attached to the advertisement distributed by e-mail or the like. Or a URL (Uniform Resource L) linked to a homepage for the continuation or discontinuation of the advertisement distribution
ocator).

Further, in the twelfth invention of the present application, the point plan is a point plan operated by an airline, and the points are accumulated according to the distance traveled by the customer using his / her own airplane. It is a point plan that gives a point privilege according to the points earned.

Here, the participating companies are, for example, the participating companies are agencies including accommodation facilities, car rental agencies, travel agencies, merchandise discount coupon issuing companies, credit card companies, debit card companies, and entertainment ticket companies. is there. Also, it is desirable that all special treatments and benefits are provided to the customer by exchanging points owned by the customer. The point plan managed by the airline is what is called a mileage plan. In recent years, with the development of networks and aviation networks, business borders are being destroyed, and the number of airplane users is increasing. The mileage plan is very useful for those who do business in such a place. However, a general customer who does not intend to do business has a high use unit price and points are accumulated according to the travel distance, so it is difficult to accumulate points that enable the transfer of point benefits. Also, such point benefits were not necessarily widespread products or services, and thus it was difficult to encourage customers to purchase air services. Therefore, by giving the customers who use the mileage plan the points earned by the mileage plan not only to point benefits but also to other alternative benefits, customers can enjoy a wider range of products and services Can be done. As a result, the customer's willingness to purchase air service can be promoted.

Further, the thirteenth invention of the present application provides at least one or more point plans for accumulating points according to goods or services purchased by a customer, and exchanging the accumulated points and point benefits with the customer. Registering customers, participating companies and products or services held by the participating companies that have subscribed to the point plan, and converting the point benefits exchangeable with the points into products or services held by the participating companies. And providing a substitute privilege to the customer.

[0030] With this configuration, the point owner can compare the points and benefits provided by one company, for example, an airline, with goods and services.
This has the advantage that a wider range of goods and services can be enjoyed as substitute benefits. In addition, the point plan is to give the customer who purchased the goods and services held by the customer points according to the goods or services purchased, and is equivalent to the points held by the customer at the request of the customer In exchange for point benefits, ie, goods or services.

According to a fourteenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the step of providing an Internet information site for operating and managing services for the general public, and the step of providing a customer subscribed to the point plan from the general public to the Internet information site. Directly registering, registering a point plan in the Internet information site, registering a participating company in the Internet information site, and registering a membership fee for registering in the Internet information site with the customer and the point plan. From the participating companies to provide the customer with an alternative privilege for redeeming at least one or more of the point benefits according to the point plan; and To use one or more services A point redemption method characterized by having a step for exchanging the point award among said registration has been finished customer obtains.

The point owner can enjoy a wider range of goods and services as substitute benefits as compared with point benefits that include goods and services provided by one company, for example, an airline. Is obtained. In addition, the point plan is to give the customer who purchased the goods and services held by the customer points according to the goods or services purchased, and is equivalent to the points held by the customer at the request of the customer In exchange for point benefits, ie, goods or services.

[0033] The fifteenth invention of the present application is characterized in that the invention has a step of obtaining the substitute privilege by auctioning the point privilege.

The use of the Internet has been very effective in recent years for buying and selling goods and services by auction due to the large advertising effect on the market and the wide range of use. Therefore, there is an advantage that the exchanged point privilege and substitute privilege can be used by a known auction-based trading method.

Further, the sixteenth invention of the present application includes a step of listing the substitute privilege in an auction and a step in which a customer bids for the listed substitute privilege by the point held by the customer. Features.

The use of the Internet has been very effective in recent years for buying and selling goods and services by auction due to the large advertising effect on the market and the wide range of use. Therefore, there is an advantage that the exchanged point privilege and substitute privilege can be used by a known auction-based trading method.

The seventeenth invention of the present application is characterized in that one common system is constructed by converting the value of each different point generated by a plurality of point plans into the value of one point.

With this configuration, the value of all benefits is converted into the value of points along the monetary value. Therefore, depending on the purpose of each customer, airline, and all other participating companies,
It can be transferred, traded, or auctioned.

Further, the eighteenth invention of the present application converts one point system into a single type of point system by converting the value of all the point benefits and the value of all of the alternative benefits exchanged for them. The method has a step of constructing a common system.

With this configuration, the value of all benefits is converted into one type of point system, for example, the value of points along the monetary value. Therefore,
These points can be transferred, traded, or auctioned for the purposes of the customer, the airline, and all other participating companies.

Further, the nineteenth invention of the present application is a step of distributing an advertisement relating to a product or a service of a participating company that provided the alternative privilege provided by the customer to the customer who has exchanged the privilege from the participating company. It is characterized by having.

As described above, the advertisement (information) relating to the product or service of the participating company that provided the alternative benefit provided and received by the customer is delivered to the customer who has provided the alternative benefit from the participating company. Further, the substitute privilege given and received by the customer is composed of a product or service provided by a specific participating company, and indicates a product or service that the customer is interested in. In other words, the customer who has given or received the substitute benefit is a prospective customer of the participating company that provided the substitute benefit. Therefore, by participating in the advertisement distribution to the prospective customer, the participating companies can efficiently acquire business opportunities such as attracting more customers. Further, it is preferable that the delivery of the advertisement is performed by electronic mail.

The twentieth invention of the present application is characterized in that the method further includes a step of distributing an advertisement to the customer and distributing means for allowing the customer to select continuation or non-continuation of advertisement distribution.

As described above, the means for allowing the customer to select the continuation or non-continuation of the advertisement distribution is distributed. Therefore, the customer can efficiently obtain information on a product or service of interest. In addition, the customer can voluntarily restrict the distribution of information about a product or service that he or she is not interested in. Further, the means for allowing the customer to select whether to continue or not to continue the advertisement distribution includes a template of a reply e-mail for performing a procedure for continuing or discontinuing the advertisement distribution attached to the advertisement distributed by e-mail or the like. Or a URL (Uniform Resource L) linked to a homepage for the continuation or discontinuation of the advertisement distribution
ocator).

In the twenty-first aspect of the present invention, the point plan is a point plan operated by an airline, and the points are accumulated according to the distance traveled by the customer using his own airplane, and the accumulated points are accumulated. It is a point plan that gives a point privilege according to the points earned.

Here, participating companies include, for example, accommodation facilities,
Car rental agencies, travel agencies, merchandise discount coupon issuers,
It is an agency that includes credit card companies, debit card companies, and box office ticket companies. Also, it is desirable that all special treatments and benefits are provided to the customer by exchanging points owned by the customer. The point plan managed by the airline is what is called a mileage plan. In recent years, with the development of networks and aviation networks, business borders are being destroyed, and the number of airplane users is increasing. The mileage plan is very useful for those who do business in such a place. However, a general customer who does not intend to do business has a high use unit price and points are accumulated according to the travel distance, so it is difficult to accumulate points that enable the transfer of point benefits.
Also, such point benefits were not necessarily widespread products or services, and thus it was difficult to encourage customers to purchase air services.
Therefore, by giving the customers who use the mileage plan the points earned by the mileage plan not only to point benefits but also to other alternative benefits, customers can enjoy a wider range of products and services Can be done. As a result, the customer's willingness to purchase air service can be promoted.

Also, the twenty-second invention of the present application provides at least one or more point plans for accumulating points corresponding to goods or services purchased by a customer and exchanging the accumulated points and point benefits for the customer. Registering customers, participating companies and products or services held by the participating companies participating in the point plan, and setting the point benefits exchanged for the points as products or services held by the participating companies. And a step of providing a substitute privilege to the customer. The computer-readable recording medium stores a program for causing a computer to execute the point privilege exchange method.

With such a configuration, the point owner can compare the points and benefits provided by a company such as an airline with goods and services.
This has the advantage that a wider range of goods and services can be enjoyed as substitute benefits. In addition, the point plan is to give the customer who purchased the goods and services held by the customer points according to the goods or services purchased, and is equivalent to the points held by the customer at the request of the customer In exchange for point benefits, ie, goods or services.

Further, the twenty-third invention of the present application provides a step of providing an Internet information site for operating and managing services for the general public, and the step of providing a customer who has subscribed to a point plan from the general public to the Internet information site. Directly registering, registering a point plan in the Internet information site, registering a participating company in the Internet information site, and registering a membership fee for registering in the Internet information site with the customer and the point plan. From the participating companies to provide the customer with an alternative privilege for redeeming at least one or more of the point benefits according to the point plan; and To use one or more services And a step for exchanging the point awards acquired by the registered customer. The computer-readable recording medium stores a program for causing a computer to execute the point award exchange method. .

The point owner can enjoy a wider range of goods and services as substitute benefits as compared with point benefits that include goods and services provided by one company, for example, an airline. Is obtained. In addition, the point plan is to give the customer who purchased the goods and services held by the customer points according to the goods or services purchased, and is equivalent to the points held by the customer at the request of the customer In exchange for point benefits, ie, goods or services.

The twenty-fourth invention of the present application is characterized in that the invention has a step of obtaining the substitute privilege by auctioning the point privilege.

In recent years, the use of the Internet has been very effectively used for buying and selling goods and services by auction due to the large advertising effect on the market and the wide range of use. Therefore, there is an advantage that the exchanged point privilege and substitute privilege can be used by a known auction-based trading method.

Further, the twenty-fifth invention of the present application includes a step of listing the substitute privilege in the auction and a step of performing a bid of the customer for the exhibited substitute privilege by the points held by the customer. Features.

In recent years, the use of the Internet has been very effectively used for buying and selling goods and services by auction due to the large advertising effect on the market and the wide range of use. Therefore, there is an advantage that the exchanged point privilege and substitute privilege can be used by a known auction-based trading method.

Further, the twenty-sixth invention of the present application has a step of constructing one common system by converting the value of each different point generated by a plurality of point plans into the value of one point. Features.

With this configuration, the value of all benefits is converted into the value of points along the monetary value. Therefore, depending on the purpose of each customer, airline, and all other participating companies,
It can be transferred, traded, or auctioned.

Further, the twenty-seventh invention of the present application provides a single point system by converting the value of all the above-mentioned point benefits and the value of all of the above-mentioned substitute benefits to be exchanged for them. The method has a step of constructing a common system.

With this configuration, the value of all benefits is converted into the value of points along the monetary value. Therefore, depending on the purpose of each customer, airline, and all other participating companies,
It can be transferred, traded, or auctioned.

In the twenty-eighth aspect of the present invention, a step of distributing an advertisement relating to a product or service of a participating company that has provided the substitute benefit provided by the customer to the customer who has provided the substitute benefit from the participating company. It is characterized by having.

As described above, the advertisement (information) relating to the product or service of the participating company that provided the alternative privilege provided and received by the customer is distributed to the customer who has provided the alternative privilege from the participating company. Further, the substitute privilege given and received by the customer is composed of a product or service provided by a specific participating company, and indicates a product or service that the customer is interested in. In other words, the customer who has given or received the substitute benefit is a prospective customer of the participating company that provided the substitute benefit. Therefore, by participating in the advertisement distribution to the prospective customer, the participating companies can efficiently acquire business opportunities such as attracting more customers. Further, it is preferable that the delivery of the advertisement is performed by electronic mail.

A twenty-ninth invention of the present application is characterized in that it has a step of distributing an advertisement to the customer and distributing means for allowing the customer to select continuation or non-continuation of advertisement distribution.

As described above, the means for allowing the customer to select the continuation or non-continuation of the advertisement distribution is distributed. Therefore, the customer can efficiently obtain information on a product or service of interest. In addition, the customer can voluntarily restrict the distribution of information about a product or service that he or she is not interested in. Further, the means for allowing the customer to select whether to continue or not to continue the advertisement distribution includes a template of a reply e-mail for performing a procedure for continuing or discontinuing the advertisement distribution attached to the advertisement distributed by e-mail or the like. Or a URL (Uniform Resource L) linked to a homepage for the continuation or discontinuation of the advertisement distribution
ocator).

Further, in the thirtieth invention of the present application, the point plan is a point plan operated by an airline, and the points are accumulated according to the distance traveled by the customer using his own airplane. It is a point plan that gives a point privilege according to the points earned.

Here, participating companies include, for example, accommodation facilities,
Car rental agencies, travel agencies, merchandise discount coupon issuers,
It is an agency that includes credit card companies, debit card companies, and box office ticket companies. Also, it is desirable that all special treatments and benefits are provided to the customer by exchanging points owned by the customer. The point plan managed by the airline is what is called a mileage plan. In recent years, with the development of networks and aviation networks, business borders are being destroyed, and the number of airplane users is increasing. The mileage plan is very useful for those who do business in such a place. However, a general customer who does not intend to do business has a high use unit price and points are accumulated according to the travel distance, so it is difficult to accumulate points that enable the transfer of point benefits.
Also, such point benefits were not necessarily widespread products or services, and thus it was difficult to encourage customers to purchase air services.
Therefore, by giving the customers who use the mileage plan the points earned by the mileage plan not only to point benefits but also to other alternative benefits, customers can enjoy a wider range of products and services Can be done. As a result, the customer's willingness to purchase air service can be promoted.

[0065]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, a point reward exchange system, a point reward exchange server, a point privilege exchange method, and a recording medium according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

(Embodiment 1) First, a point privilege exchange method, a point privilege exchange server, a point privilege exchange method, and a recording medium according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIG. In this embodiment, the customer registered in the mileage plan of the airline, that is, the point plan,
Referring to the drawings, a point reward exchange method, a point reward exchange server, a point privilege exchange method, and a recording medium for exchanging points generated in such a point plan for an alternative privilege will be described. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an outline of an Internet information site operated using the point privilege exchange method according to the embodiment of the present invention.

Internet information site (not shown)
Is a site that operates and manages services for the general public via the Internet. Internet information sites are Virtual Mall 1, Point Database 2,
And a point exchange system 3 and a site management unit (not shown). The Internet information site operates when a server that realizes the Internet information site transmits and receives information to and from the customer 6 via the Internet. In other words, a server (not shown) has a virtual mall 1, a point database 2, a point exchange system 3, and a site management unit. Further, the Internet information site may have a point inquiry means 7 for the customer 6 to inquire about points such as the remaining balance of his / her points and usage history. In addition, the Internet information site, that is, the server, for the customer 6 who has given and received the substitute privilege from the participating company,
There is a distribution means for distributing an advertisement relating to a product or service of a participating company that has provided the substitute privilege given and received by the customer 6. Such distribution means distributes an advertisement to the customer 6 and distributes means for allowing the customer 6 to select whether to continue or not to distribute the advertisement.

[0068] The virtual mall 1 is a group of virtual shops that provide goods and services to the general public via the Internet. In the virtual mall 1, at least one or more participating companies 4 registered in the site management section have opened respective virtual stores. Participating companies 4 include, for example, accommodation facilities, car rental agencies, travel agencies, merchandise discount coupon issuers, credit card companies, debit card companies,
Agents, including airline tickets, airlines, etc.

The real mall 5 is a group of real stores that provide goods and services to the general public through physically existing stores. Such a real store group includes, for example, a card settlement agency such as a debit card company, a credit card company, and a store original card company, and an airline. Among the participating companies 4 registered in the site management department, a card settlement agency, such as a debit card company, a credit card company, an original store card company, etc., settles the trading value of stores in the real mall 5. Also performs duties.

In the site management section, a plurality of point plans by the airline and a plurality of point plans by the other participating companies 4 are registered, and the subscribers of these point plans are required to register the customer with the site management section via the Internet. 6
Can be registered as In addition, the participating companies 4 and the customers 6 who provide the point plan pay a membership fee to the Internet information site regularly when registering with the site management unit. Here, the participating company 4 does not necessarily have to be a company that manages the point plan itself. When registering the customer 6 and the participating company 4,
It is desirable to assign an ID to each of the registered customers 6 and participating companies 4.

The customer 6 registered in the site management section can receive information on services and products provided by the participating company 4 and the point plan via the virtual mall 1 or the real mall 5, Can be purchased. Also, the participating company 4 provides the customer 6 with at least one or more substitute benefits for exchanging points generated by the point plan, instead of the point benefits by the point plan.

The Internet information site has its own point exchange system 3. The point system includes a point benefit based on a point plan, an alternative benefit provided by the participating company 4 in place of the point benefit, a price of goods and services provided by the participating company 4, and a customer 6 This is a system that converts the value of each payment with the payment price when using a card issued by the middle card payment business agent into one type of point value. For example, one point of the point exchange system 3 and one point of the airline are considered in consideration of the conditions under which another point plan, for example, the point plan of the airline, generates one point based on the value of one point of the point exchange system 3. The ratio (rate) to one point of the plan is calculated. For example, when 1.6 points in the airline's point plan are calculated as 1 point in the point exchange system 3, 1.6 points in the calculated airline's point plan are converted to 1 point in the point exchange system 3. Is converted. Such conversion of points is desirably performed at the request of the customer 6. That is, a part of points generated when the customer 6 makes a transaction with one point plan may be converted by the point conversion system 3 into common points that can be shared.

Next, the operation of the point award exchange method, the point award exchange server and the point award exchange method of the present embodiment will be briefly described with reference to FIG. First,
When the customer 6 purchases a product or service of the participating company 4, uses a card issued by a card settlement agent in the participating company 4, or uses a point plan, the point system Converts those values into one type of common point value, and saves the increase / decrease of points and the balance of each customer 6 in the point database 2. Finally, the customer 6 uses the point exchange system 3 to exchange the points accumulated in the point system for goods and services provided by the participating company 4 and alternative awards or point awards provided by the airline.

Next, the operations of the point award exchange method, the point award exchange server and the point award exchange method of the present embodiment will be described in more detail with reference to the drawings. First, a customer 6 receives an Internet information site (hereinafter, site) from a customer terminal (not shown) provided on the customer 6 side.
To access. The user accesses the point inquiry menu 9 among the menus provided on the top page 8 shown in FIG. 2 of the site. Here, a screen (not shown) for inputting an ID given in advance is displayed on the customer terminal.
Input own ID. By such an operation, the point inquiry page 10 shown in FIG. 3 is displayed on the display means (not shown) provided in the customer terminal.
Inquiry about own point in point system. Here, the means for distributing the point inquiry page 10 to the display means is the point inquiry means 7.

Here, the point inquiry page 1 shown in FIG.
At 0, the points in the point system of the customer 6 are displayed together with the point plan used by the customer 6, the number of points generated in the point plan, and the ratio (rate) between one point in the point system and one point in the point plan. You. Next, the customer 6 who has grasped the points in the point plan is, for example, XX
Perform a procedure to convert points generated when using an airline called airlines into points in the point system. For example, by inputting a part of the point number using the ×× air as the conversion point number and pressing the determination button 14, the point conversion is performed. For example, it is assumed that the customer 6 presses the enter button 14 with the number of points to be converted set to 4000. With this operation as an opportunity, the points are converted and added to the converted accumulated points. Since the number of points to be converted is 4000 and the rate is 0.5, the number of converted points to be added, that is, the number of points of the point system is 2000. As a result, the accumulated number of points is 8000. On the other hand, the converted number of points is subtracted from the number of points generated by the point plan. Therefore, customer 6 has 400
Since 0 points have been converted, the number of points (acquired points) generated by the point plan of XX Airlines is:
8000. Further, it is desirable that the number of points generated by the point plan be immediately transferred to the point database 2 via the network.

Next, the customer 6 who has grasped his own points
Accesses the point privilege menu 11 among the menus provided on the top page 8 shown in FIG. In response to such an operation, a point privilege screen 12 shown in FIG. 4 is displayed on the display means. The point award screen 12 displays a point award and / or an alternative award provided by a plurality of participating companies 4 including the airline, and the number of points required for giving and receiving the point award and / or the alternative award. Is done. Next, the customer 6 sets a flag in a check box 13 provided adjacent to the desired point benefit and / or substitute benefit, and selects the decision button 14 provided on the point benefit screen 12. Here, customer 6
It is assumed that a flag is set in a check box 13 adjacent to an alternative privilege that is not originally provided by the airline's point plan, and the enter button 14 is pressed. With this operation as an opportunity, points required for giving and receiving the substitute privilege are subtracted from the point database 2. next,
The point exchange system notifies the customer terminal of the deducted points and the number of remaining points. Here, the point distribution is performed by the distribution unit. Finally, a shipping instruction of the substitute privilege selected by the customer 6 is distributed to the manufacturer and / or the carrier from the site management unit, and the customer 6 provides the customer 6 with the desired substitute privilege.

After the exchange of the point benefits described above,
The distribution means provided in the server distributes, by e-mail, an advertisement of the participating company registered in advance by the participating company to the customer 6 who has received the substitute privilege provided by the participating company 4. At this time, the distribution means links to a button for allowing the customer to select the continuation or non-continuation of the advertisement distribution or a site for performing the continuation or non-continuation procedure in the e-mail transmitted to the customer 6 at the time of advertisement distribution. Attach the URL.

(Embodiment 2) Next, a point award exchange system, a point award exchange server, a point award exchange method, and a recording medium according to a second embodiment of the present invention different from the first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. This will be described with reference to FIG. The point award exchange method, the point award exchange server, the point award exchange method, and the recording medium according to the present embodiment exchange points for point awards and / or alternative awards by auction. That is, the point privilege and the substitute privilege held by the point exchange system 3 are set so that they can be exchanged for points in the auction format.

Next, the operation of exchanging points for point benefits and / or substitute benefits by auction will be described with reference to the drawings. First, the customer 6 accesses the auction exchange menu 15 among the menus provided on the top page 8 shown in FIG. In response to such an operation, the auction exchange screen 16 shown in FIG. 5 is displayed on the display means. Next, the customer 6 refers to the point award and / or the substitute award category shown on the auction exchange screen 16, and the point award and / or the categorized as a desired product or service.
Or, select an alternative benefit. For example, a hyperlink is set for the category, and selection is made by clicking the name of the category. By such an operation, a bid screen 17 shown in FIG. 6 is displayed on the display means. The bid screen 17 displays the names of point benefits and alternative benefits exhibited in the auction and the required number of points. Here, the customer 6 refers to the name of the point privilege and / or the substitute privilege displayed on the bidding screen 17 and the minimum required number of points (points at the time of exhibition) and the like, and obtains the desired point privilege and / or substitution. A bid button 18 provided adjacent to the name of the privilege is selected. By selecting the bid button 18, a bid condition input screen 19 shown in FIG. 7 is displayed on the display means. The bid condition input screen 19 displays image data of the point privilege or the substitute privilege to be bid, detailed description such as the bidding period, the maximum number of points bid, and the current number of bids. Further, the bid condition input screen 19 is provided with an ID input field 21 of the customer 6 who makes a bid and a point input field 20 which is provided so that the number of points to be bid can be input. Here, the customer 6 inputs his / her ID and the number of points to be bid in the ID input field 21 and the point input field 20, and presses the send button 22. By such an operation, the ID and the number of points, which are the bidding conditions input in the bidding condition input column, are transmitted to the site management unit, and the bidding procedure ends. On the other hand, the site management unit having received the bidding condition from the customer 6 transmits the latest bidding condition to the point exchange system 3. Point exchange system 3 that received the latest bid conditions
Updates the contents of the auction exchange menu 15. Finally,
After the end of the bidding period, the point exchange system 3 determines the customer 6 who has bid the most points as the successful bidder,
Notifying the customer 6 who is the successful bidder of that fact, and subtracting the number of points bid by the customer 6 who is the successful bidder from the points held in the point database 2. Also,
The Internet information site may auction the point benefits or points owned by the customer 6 to obtain other point benefits or the substitute benefits.

In each of the embodiments described above, an example is described in which the participating company 4 is an agent, but the present invention is not limited to this, and may be applied to other types of business. Further, in the embodiment described above, the Internet information site operates in cooperation with the card settlement agency in the participating company 4 to store the purchase history when the customer 6 uses the card in the household account book owned by the customer 6. A means for automatically reflecting the information on software (not shown) may be provided. Further, the exchange history of the point privilege or the substitute privilege exchanged by the customer 6 using the points may be accumulated in the point database 2, and the history may be disclosed to the customer 6.

A computer-readable recording medium on which a program for causing a computer to execute the information providing support method of the present invention is a CD-ROM on which a program for realizing the operation of the above-described embodiment is recorded.
Refers to an auxiliary storage medium such as a ROM, a DVD-ROM, and a flexible disk, or a main storage medium such as a hard disk.

[0082]

As described above, according to the point privilege exchange method in the embodiment of the present invention, the following advantages can be obtained. Point plan subscribers can not only use the point benefits of the point plan through one window of the Internet information site, but also substitute a wide range of products and services offered by participating companies registered on the Internet information site As an advantage, there is obtained an advantage that it is possible to enjoy the points generated by using the point plan. Furthermore, the value of all benefits used in the Internet information site is converted into the value of a common point by one point system. Therefore, there is an advantage that the converted points can be transferred, traded, or auctioned according to the purpose of the customer, the airline, and all the other participating companies.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an Internet information site according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a conceptual diagram of a top page 8 of a homepage according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a conceptual diagram of a point inquiry page of a homepage according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a conceptual diagram of a point privilege screen on a homepage according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a conceptual diagram of an auction exchange screen on a homepage according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a conceptual diagram of a bidding screen of a homepage according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a conceptual diagram of a bid condition input screen of a homepage according to the embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Virtual Mall 2 Point Database 3 Point Exchange System 4 Participating Companies 5 Real Mall 6 Customer 7 Point Inquiry Means 8 Top Page 9 Point Inquiry Menu 10 Point Inquiry Page 11 Point Bonus Menu 12 Point Bonus Screen 13 Check Box 14 Enter Button 15 Auction Exchange Menu 16 Auction exchange screen 17 Bid screen 18 Bid button 19 Bid condition input screen 20 Point input field 21 ID input field 22 Send button

────────────────────────────────────────────────── ───

[Procedure amendment]

[Submission date] May 11, 2001 (2001.5.1
1)

[Procedure amendment 1]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0075

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

Here, the point inquiry page 1 shown in FIG.
In the case of 0, together with the points in the point system of the customer 6, the point plan used by the customer 6, the number of points generated in the point plan (the number of acquired points) , and the ratio (rate ) between 1 point in the point system and 1 point in the point plan ) Is displayed. Next, the customer 6 who has grasped his or her acquired points in the point plan performs, for example, a procedure for converting the acquired points generated when using the airline company XX Airlines into points in the point system. For example, by inputting a part of the number of acquired points generated as a result of using × airline as the number of converted points and pressing the determination button 14, the acquired points are converted. For example, customer 6
Is the decision button 1 with the conversion point as 4000 points
It is assumed that 4 has been pressed. With this operation as an opportunity, the conversion points are converted and added to 6000 points , which are converted accumulated points held by the customer 6 in advance . client
6 is a conversion points is 4000 points <br/> the desired conversion, since the rate Ru 0.5 der customer 6 in advance
The converted points to be added to 6000 points of the converted accumulated points to be held, that is, the number of points of the point system is 2000 points . As a result, the cumulative number of points point system 8000 port
Int . On the other hand, the number of conversion points is subtracted from the number of acquired points generated by the point plan. Therefore, since the customer 6 has converted 4000 points, the number of acquired points generated by the point plan of XX Airlines has changed from 12000 points to 8000 points.
Is subtracted . Further, it is desirable that the number of points generated by the point plan be immediately transferred to the point database 2 via the network.

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI Theme coat ゛ (Reference) G07G 1/12 321 G07G 1/12 321M

Claims (30)

[Claims] At least one or more point plans for accumulating points according to goods or services purchased by a customer, exchanging the accumulated points and point benefits with the customer, and subscribing to the point plan. Means for registering a customer and a participating company and a product or service held by the participating company, and the point privilege exchanged for the points is a product or service held by the participating company, thereby giving the customer A point privilege exchange server having means for providing a substitute privilege to the server. 2. A system according to claim 1, further comprising means for constructing one common system by converting the value of each different point generated by a plurality of point plans into the value of one point. Point award exchange server. 3. A means for causing the auction to list the substitute privilege,
The point privilege exchange server according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising means for causing a customer to bid for the exhibited substitute privilege by using the points held by the customer. 4. A distribution means for distributing an advertisement relating to a product or service of a participating company that provided the alternative privilege provided by the customer to the customer who has received and transmitted the alternative privilege from the participating company. Claims 1 to 3
The point reward exchange server according to any one of the above. 5. The distribution means distributes an advertisement to the customer and distributes means for allowing the customer to select whether to continue or not to distribute the advertisement.
Point redemption server described in. 6. The point plan is a point plan operated by an airline, and accumulates points according to a distance traveled by a customer using his / her own airplane, and provides a point privilege according to the accumulated points. The point privilege exchange server according to claim 1, wherein the point reward plan is a point plan to be given. 7. A customer terminal provided on the customer side and points according to goods or services purchased by the customer are accumulated, and at least one or more points at which the accumulated points and point benefits are exchanged for the customer. Means for registering the plan, the customer subscribing to the point plan, the participating company and the products or services held by the participating company, and the customer's request received from the customer terminal according to the customer's request. By making point benefits that can be exchanged for points into products or services held by the participating companies, a server having means for providing alternative benefits to customers is connected via a network. Point reward exchange method to be. 8. The system according to claim 1, wherein said server has means for constructing one common system by converting the value of each different point generated by a plurality of point plans into the value of one point. Point redemption system described in 7. 9. The server according to claim 1, further comprising means for causing the auction to exhibit the substitute privilege, and means for causing the customer to bid for the exhibited substitute privilege using the points held by the customer. The point reward exchange method according to claim 7 or 8. 10. The server according to claim 1, wherein said server has a distribution unit for distributing an advertisement relating to a product or service of the participating company that provided the alternative privilege provided by the customer to the customer who has exchanged the privilege from the participating company. The point privilege exchange method according to any one of claims 7 to 9, wherein: 11. The point according to claim 10, wherein the distribution means distributes an advertisement to the customer and distributes a means for selecting the continuation or non-continuation of the advertisement distribution to the customer. Redemption system. 12. The point plan is a point plan operated by an airline, and accumulates points according to the distance traveled by the customer using his / her own airplane, and provides a point privilege according to the accumulated points. The point award exchange method according to claim 7, wherein the point reward plan is given. 13. A customer is subscribed to at least one or more point plans for accumulating points corresponding to goods or services purchased by customers and exchanging the accumulated points and point benefits for said customers. Registering customers, participating companies and products or services held by the participating companies, and making point benefits that can be exchanged for the points into products or services held by the participating companies, thereby providing alternative benefits to customers. Providing a point reward. 14. An Internet information site for operating and managing services for the general public; a step of directly registering a customer who has subscribed to a point plan from the general public to the Internet information site; Registering a point plan in an information site; registering a participating company in the Internet information site; and periodically collecting a membership fee for registering in the Internet information site from the customer and the point plan. Providing, by the participating company, the customer with an alternative benefit for redeeming at least one or more point benefits according to the point plan; and using at least one or more services provided by the participating company. The customer who has already registered Point redemption method characterized by having a step for exchanging acquired the point award each other. 15. The point privilege exchange method according to claim 13, further comprising a step of obtaining the substitute privilege by auctioning the point privilege. 16. The method according to claim 13, further comprising the steps of: listing the substitute privilege in an auction; and performing a bid for a customer for the listed substitute privilege using the points held by the customer. Item 14. The point reward exchange method according to item 14. 17. The method according to claim 13, further comprising the step of converting a value of each different point generated by a plurality of point plans into a value of one point to construct one common system. 16. The point privilege exchange method according to any one of (16). 18. A step of constructing one common system by converting the value of all said point benefits and the value of all said substitute benefits exchanged for them into one kind of point system. 17. The point privilege exchange method according to claim 13, wherein: 19. The method according to claim 19, further comprising the step of: distributing an advertisement relating to a product or service of the participating company that provided the alternative benefit provided by the customer to the customer who has provided the alternative benefit from the participating company. A method for redeeming points according to any one of claims 13 to 18. 20. The point privilege exchange according to claim 19, further comprising a step of distributing an advertisement to the customer and distributing means for allowing the customer to select whether to continue or not to distribute the advertisement. Method. 21. The point plan is a point plan operated by an airline, accumulates points according to the distance traveled by the customer using his / her own airplane, and provides a point privilege according to the accumulated points. The point reward exchange method according to claim 13 or 14, wherein the point reward is a given point plan. 22. The customer accumulates points according to the product or service purchased by the customer, and subscribes to at least one or more point plans for allowing the customer to exchange the accumulated points and point benefits. Registering the customer, participating companies and the products or services held by the participating companies, and making the point benefits exchanged for the points the products or services held by the participating companies, thereby providing alternative benefits to the customers. And a computer-readable recording medium storing a program for causing a computer to execute the point privilege exchange method. 23. A step of providing an Internet information site for operating and managing services for the general public; a step of directly registering a customer who has subscribed to a point plan from the general public to the Internet information site; Registering a point plan in an information site; registering a participating company in the Internet information site; and periodically collecting a membership fee for registering in the Internet information site from the customer and the point plan. Providing, by the participating company, the customer with an alternative benefit for redeeming at least one or more point benefits according to the point plan; and using at least one or more services provided by the participating company. The customer who has already registered Acquired the point a step for exchanging benefits together, computer-readable recording medium recording a program for executing the points redemption wherein the computer to have a. 24. A computer storing a program for causing a computer to execute the point privilege exchange method according to claim 22 or 23, further comprising a step of auctioning the point privilege to obtain the substitute privilege. A readable recording medium. 25. The method according to claim 22, further comprising the steps of: listing the substitute privilege in the auction; and performing a bid of the customer for the listed substitute privilege using the points held by the customer. A computer-readable recording medium recording a program for causing a computer to execute the point privilege exchange method according to item 23. 26. The method according to claim 22, further comprising the step of converting a value of each different point generated by a plurality of point plans into a value of one point, thereby constructing one common system. 25. A computer-readable recording medium recording a program for causing a computer to execute the point privilege exchange method according to any one of 25. 27. A step of constructing one common system by converting the value of all said point benefits and the value of all said substitute benefits exchanged for them into one kind of point system. A computer-readable recording medium storing a program for causing a computer to execute the point privilege exchange method according to any one of claims 22 to 25. 28. The method according to claim 28, further comprising the step of distributing an advertisement relating to a product or service of the participating company that provided the alternative benefit provided and received by the customer to the customer who has provided and received the alternative benefit from the participating company. A computer-readable storage medium storing a program for causing a computer to execute the point reward exchange method according to any one of claims 22 to 27. 29. The point award exchange according to claim 28, further comprising a step of distributing an advertisement to the customer and distributing means for allowing the customer to select whether to continue or not to continue the advertisement distribution. A computer-readable recording medium recording a program for causing a computer to execute the method. 30. The point plan is a point plan operated by an airline, and accumulates points in accordance with the distance traveled by the customer using his / her own airplane, and provides a point privilege in accordance with the accumulated points. 26. A computer-readable recording medium recording a program for causing a computer to execute the point privilege exchange method according to claim 22 or 25, wherein the recording medium is a point plan to give.