JP2002149846A - Internet provider system and shopping mall system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To increase the opportunities for a beginner as inexperienced to use Internet of easily experiencing the use of Internet free of charge. SOLUTION: The terminal of a user is automatically connected to a preliminarily regulated address of Internet by use of a medium allowing the connection to this address of Internet distributed free in advance. When the user purchases a commodity or service in a shopping mall the user browses at this address, the user information or information for purchased contents are accumulated as order information and converted into a point, which is then accumulated. The shopping mall is provided to the user free of connection charge and communication charge, and when the user desires the Internet connection to other than the shopping mall, the imparted point can be transferred and used as the connection charge.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an Internet provider system and a shopping mall system, and more particularly to an Internet provider system in which an Internet service provider controls a user to view only a WWW server at a specific connection destination address. And a shopping mall system.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, to use the Internet,
The user contracts with a connection provider (Internet service provider: hereinafter, provider) that provides connection service,
It is necessary to connect to the provider's access point via the public line / ISDN and from there connect to any WWW server.

A WWW server is a computer system having a function of transmitting information, stores information such as HTML (Hyper Text Markup Language) documents and images that can be browsed on the Internet, and stores the information in a client terminal such as a WWW browser. In response to a request from the Internet, it is responsible for transmitting such information through a network such as the Internet.

[0004] In general, in order for a user to use the Internet, both the connection fee to the provider (maintenance and maintenance cost of the provider) and the communication fee to the access point of the provider are required. In recent years, some providers have come to rely on advertising revenue from companies and do not charge users for connection fees.

[0005] However, even if the user has a contract with a provider that provides a connection service free of charge, when the user uses the Internet, for example, to purchase a product on the Internet, he or she has to perform various procedures for selecting and purchasing the product. The communication cost between the user and the provider's access point during the process is the user's burden. This is a hindrance for the user to spend enough time on the Internet to select a product.

[0006] An Internet shop that sells goods on the Internet may be a single shop or may participate in a shopping mall where a plurality of shops are gathered. Various services are also provided for differentiation in the sale of goods on the Internet, and one of them is a point system for giving points to a user according to the purchase price of the user. This is a method conventionally used not only for selling goods on the Internet but also for selling general goods. Points are added according to the amount of money purchased by the user, and the goods are purchased based on the number of accumulated points. We provide services such as giving, cashing back, and discounting at the next purchase. Such a service is seen in examples where coupons are issued in various shopping malls and the like, and a stamp sealing service is implemented. In addition, such a point system is also introduced in stores and shopping malls on the Internet, and services are provided to motivate users to purchase again at the same stores and shopping malls.

For example, a "point service system in a virtual shopping mall" disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 10-78989 issues points according to a user's shopping price in a virtual shopping mall (shopping mall) on a network. This is a system for reducing the amount paid for shopping at the shopping mall as a return of points held by the user, and can be used as a sales promotion service associated with commercial transactions at the shopping mall.

[0008]

As described above, the point system service available at the same shop or the same shopping mall purchased by the user on the Internet is partially used. There is a limit to the effect of giving motivation to purchase to the user. Furthermore, it is not possible to sufficiently increase opportunities for beginners who have never used the Internet to easily and freely use the Internet through sites of Internet shopping malls.

The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and provides an Internet provider system and a shopping service that can increase the opportunity for a beginner who has never used the Internet to easily and freely use the Internet. It aims to provide a mall system.

[0010]

According to the present invention, there is provided an Internet provider system in which storage means for storing purchase point information converted from order information relating to service provision for each user, and a user connected from a predetermined access point are determined in advance. Control means for connecting to the designated Internet connection address and controlling connection to an address other than the predetermined Internet connection address for a time converted based on the purchase point information.

[0011] Further, the control means sets a point to be connected by paying a call charge person as the predetermined access point, so that the user can enjoy Internet shopping without worrying about the communication charge. Further, the control unit promotes the use of the Internet shopping and the use of the Internet by making the connection fee to an address other than the predetermined Internet connection address free for the converted time. be able to.

Further, the shopping mall system of the present invention has a storage means for storing order information relating to service provision, and an Internet connection address relating to service provision, which is provided to a provider contracted by a user connected to the address. And a communication means for transmitting the information for each user.

Further, the shopping mall system according to the present invention has a storage means for storing order information relating to service provision, and an Internet connection address relating to service provision, which is provided to a provider contracted by a user connected to the address. And communication means for transmitting the purchase point information converted from the above for each user.

[0014]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION In an Internet provider system and a shopping mall system of the present invention, a user terminal can automatically connect to a predetermined Internet address from a user terminal by using a medium (such as a CD-ROM) that can be connected to the Internet address. Make a connection to. At that time, the connection from the user's terminal to the access point of the provider is made by a public line using a caller-paid number. When a product or service is purchased at a shopping mall connected to the user at the address, user information and information on the purchase content are stored as order information. Further, points are converted and accumulated according to the order information of the shopping mall for each user.

The connection to the shopping mall is provided to the user free of charge, and when the user desires an Internet connection to a place other than the shopping mall, the given points are transferred as a connection fee and can be used. The shopping mall organizer encourages the use of the Internet by notifying the available connection time and the like from the point information converted by the purchase history in the shopping mall for each user. In addition, the shopping mall organizer pays the provider a communication fee from the user's terminal to the provider's access point and a connection service fee provided by the provider. In addition, each store on the Internet that opens a shopping mall pays a store opening fee (participation fee) to the shopping mall organizer. In other words, at least a part of the shopping mall participation fee is allocated as a communication fee from the user terminal to the provider access point and a connection service fee provided by the provider. This makes it possible to cover the communication fee and the connection fee with the participation fee. Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an entire system that allows a user terminal to browse a predetermined WWW server using an Internet connection system. In FIG. 1, an access point 115 is an access point to which a call charge from a user is free. The access point 115 can be accessed with a telephone charge caller paying number via a modem 120 connected to the user terminal device.

In advance, the organizer of the shopping mall distributes a medium 160 such as a CD-ROM or a DVD free of charge. The medium 160 includes a function of displaying an advertisement relating to a shopping mall and stores participating in the shopping mall, and a function of automatically connecting to the access point 115.

The user who has acquired the medium 160 can use the modem 1
By inserting the CD-ROM into the terminal device to which the terminal 20 is connected, the terminal 20 is automatically connected to the access point 115 via the modem 120. Further, when the access control server 118 is connected to the access point 115, the WWW server 140 of the shopping mall
Is controlled so that it cannot be connected to any other URL address.

Here, the URL address is a description method indicating the location of information resources (documents, images, etc.) existing on the Internet, and includes the type of information, server name,
It consists of a port number, folder name, file name, etc. For example, http://www.xx.co.jp or http: //www.○
○ It is written like .ne.jp. This allows
The user can browse the Internet without communication costs and connection costs within the range provided by the shopping mall without a contract with the provider.

Since the access from the user terminal to the access point 115 of the provider is made with the number of the caller, the communication fee is charged to the provider. In addition, the Internet connection is provided to the user free of charge by the provider. However, a contract is made between the provider and the shopping mall organizer in advance so that the shopping mall will bear the communication costs and the connection costs. In addition, a store that opens a shopping mall has a contract to pay a store opening fee to the shopping mall organizer in advance. When the provider provides a connection service to a place other than the shopping mall for a fee, the connection from the user is made to an access point (pay)
Received by 117. When this access point 117 is used, it is possible to connect to an arbitrary URL address for a fee.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the user management table 200. In FIG. 2, the user management table 200
Manages information of users who have purchased at a shopping mall. The user ID 210 is an identification code for distinguishing the user, the name 220 is the name of the user,
Point 230 is the number of points according to the purchase price of the user at the shopping mall, e-mail 240 is the user's e-mail address, address 250 is the user's address, and telephone number 260 is the user's telephone number. The available time 270 is the Internet available time according to the point of the user.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a shopping mall order management table 300. In FIG. 3, the shopping mall order management table 300 manages the order information of each store constituting the shopping mall as the entire shopping mall. The order receiving date 310 is the date when the order was received at each store, and the store ID 32
0 is an identification code for distinguishing the stores constituting the shopping mall, and the order number 330 is a number assigned each time an order is received at each store. The order information is uniquely identified by the store ID 320 and the order number 330. The user ID 340 is the user ID 210 in the user management table 200, and the amount 350 represents the order amount of the order information.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the store management table 400. In FIG. 4, a store management table 400 manages information on stores constituting a shopping mall. The store ID 410 is an identification code for distinguishing the stores constituting the shopping mall, and the store name 420 is the name of the store. The data in the store management table 400 is registered in advance, and is updated when a store newly joins a shopping mall, when an existing store stops a shopping mall, or when a store name is changed.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a store order management table 500. In FIG. 5, a store order management table 50 is shown.
0 manages order information for each store. The order receipt date 510 is the date on which sales occurred at each store, and the order receipt number 520 is a number given each time an order is received at each store. The user ID 530 is the user ID 210 in the user management table 200, and the product ID 5
40 is an identification code for distinguishing the products sold by the store, the quantity 550 is the order quantity, and the total amount 560
Represents the total amount of the order information. The total amount 560 is
It is calculated using the product management table described in FIG.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the product management table 600. In FIG. 6, a merchandise management table 600 manages a merchandise unit price handled in each store. The product ID 610 is an identification code for distinguishing a product sold by the store, and is used in the store order management table 500. The product name 620 indicates the product name, and the unit price 630 indicates the unit price of the product. In the store order management table 500 of FIG. 5, the total price 560 is calculated by searching the product management table 600 for the product unit price 630 using the product ID 610 as a key and calculating the product of the unit price 630 and the quantity 550.

FIG. 8 shows an access log management table 800.
FIG. In FIG. 8, an access log management table 800 manages access log information of a user who has made an Internet connection with a provider. The user ID 810 is an identification code for distinguishing a user, the connection start time 820 is a value of the date and time when the connection is started, and the connection end time 830 is a value of the date and time when the user is connected. is there.

In FIG. 1, the user management table 200, order management table 300, store management table 400, store order management table 500, and product management table 600 are described separately from the WWW server 140 of the shopping mall organizer. However, these tables are usually held by the WWW server 140. Also, in FIG. 1, the user management table 200 and the access log management table are described separately from the access control server 118 of the Internet service provider. However, these tables are usually provided by the access control server 118. I have.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a processing flow between a provider and a shopping mall organizer from when a user purchases a product to when a purchase point is used. The process between the provider and the shopping mall host until the purchase point is used will be described with reference to FIG.

The user obtains a medium (CD-ROM or the like) distributed free of charge in advance, and uses the medium to automatically connect to the access point 115 of the provider in FIG. 1 using a user terminal and a modem. (Step S1
0). The provider recognizes that the connection has been made to the access point 115, and connects to the WWW server of the shopping mall (step S11). The user browses the shopping mall, and when purchasing, the user information (name, e-
Input or select input mail address, address, telephone number) and purchase information (purchased goods, quantity) (step S1)
2).

The user information input in step S12 is stored in the shopping mall user management table 200. At this time, in the user management table 200, the user's name is changed to the name 220, the user's e-mail address is changed to the e-mail 240, and the user's address is changed to the address 250.
The telephone number of the user is stored in the telephone number 260, respectively. Further, the user ID 210 is automatically numbered and registered. In addition, point 230 and available time 27
"0" is registered as an initial value for "0" (step S1).
3).

The user's purchase information input in step S12 is stored in the store order management table 500. At this time, the order date 510 stores the order date as numerical information. For example, on August 14, 2000, 20000814 or the like. Order number 520
Stores a number automatically assigned to each store. In the user ID 530, the user ID 210 registered in step S13 is stored. Then, in step S12, a product ID corresponding to the product name input or selected by the user is searched from the product management table 600, and the product name 6
The merchandise ID 610 corresponding to 20 is stored in the merchandise ID 540 of the store order management table 500. Quantity 550 contains
The numerical value of the quantity input in step S12 is stored.
The value of the product of the unit price 630 and the quantity 550 of the product in the product management table 600 is stored in the total price 560 (step S14).

Each store sends a product to the user in accordance with the order information in the store order management table 500. In order to count the sales of the entire shopping mall, data is extracted from the store order management table 500 of each store at a certain fixed time or daily timing, and the data of the shopping mall order management table 300 is stored (step S15). ).

For example, when processing is performed on a daily basis, the order date 31 in the shopping mall order management table 300
The value of the date is stored in 0, and the ID of the store is stored in the store ID 320. Further, a record of the date is searched from the column of the order date 510 of the store order management table 500 of the store, and the order number 520 of the record is searched.
To the order number 330 of the shopping mall order management table 300, and the value of the user ID 530 of the record to the user I of the shopping mall order management table 300.
In D340, the value of the total amount 560 of the record is stored in the amount 350 of the shopping mall order management table 300.

The processing in step S15 is performed on the store order management tables 500 of all stores in the shopping mall registered in the store management table 400. The data of the shopping mall order management table 300 includes an order date 310, a store ID 320, and an order number 3
Three of the 30s are uniquely identified as keys.

As a process for each fixed period such as weekly or monthly, points for each user are calculated from the shopping mall order management table 300 (step S16).
The order date 310 in the shopping mall order management table 300 is searched, and records in the processing period concerned are targeted. Within this record range, for each user registered in the user management table 200,
A search is performed using D210 as a key, and the sum of the amounts of the records is obtained.

The calculation of points from the sum of the amounts of money is 10
It can be defined as appropriate, such as 1 point for every 00 yen. For example, if 1 point is set for every 1000 yen, and the total amount of the point calculation processing period of the user whose user ID is U00002 is 15,000 yen, the point is calculated as 15 from the definition of the point calculation described above. The user management table 20 is defined by the sum of this value and the existing value.
The point 230 of 0 is updated. That is, points calculated this time + existing points = new points are calculated and stored. For example, the user management table 200
If the existing value of the point 230 is 5 in the record whose user ID 210 is U00002, the point 230 is updated with 5 + 15 = 20 as the new value.

It is assumed that the user's points can be transferred to the use of the Internet connection service which is usually paid by the provider. For example, one hour or 10 hours is defined per point, and an Internet connection fee up to that time is provided free of charge to encourage users to use the Internet connection fee. The result obtained by converting the points of each user obtained by the calculation into the time during which the Internet connection can be used is shown in User Management Table 2
00 is stored in the usable time 270.

At this time, the connection destination of the Internet can be used for another connection destination without restriction of only the shopping mall. It is also possible to provide free services for a certain period of time, such as free use for several months, as well as simply connecting points for time conversion. Also,
When connecting to the Internet using the purchase points, not only the connection fee but also the communication fee can be made free. To this end, the provider separately prepares a call charge caller paying number different from the call charge caller paying number accessed to the access point 115 and an access point accessed by the number. The provider may control so as to eliminate the restriction on the connection destination. The same information as the user management table 200 updated in the shopping mall is transferred to the provider and updates the user management table 200 (Step S1)
7).

The shopping mall informs the user how many hours of free Internet connection can be used based on the calculated point information. This means that e-mai
l, telephone, mail, etc. (step S18). This is the point 230 and e-mail 2 of the user management table
40, the address 250, and the telephone number 260.

The user makes an application for the use of points (e-mail, telephone, mail, etc.) in response to the guidance from the shopping mall (step S19), so that the Internet can be used within the points obtained. . The contact of the user is made by the shopping mall, and the shopping mall notifies the provider that the user has applied for the use of points (step S20).

The provider receives the notification from the user that the user has applied for the use of the Internet connection to a destination other than the predetermined connection destination, and provides the user with the connection service within the points owned by the user with respect to the user. The usage time is monitored (step S21).

The provider accumulates the Internet connection history (log) information of each user when the Internet connection is made to the user in the normal business. In the present embodiment, information on the time at which the user started connecting to the Internet and the time at which the connection was ended is stored and used. Each time each user connects, in the access log management table 800, the user ID of the user connected to the Internet is connected to the user ID 810, the connection start date and time are connected to the connection start time 820, and the connection end date and time are set to the connection end time. 830 respectively.

Connection start time 8 for each user every time connection is completed
The usage time is calculated based on the difference between 20 and the connection end time 830, and the difference between the value of the usage time and the value of the available time 270 in the user management table 200 is updated as a new value of the available time 270. The provider monitors the Internet connection status of the user, compares the value of the available time 270 (time converted based on the purchase point information) with the elapsed time from the connection start time, and determines that the usage exceeds the available time. If so, disconnect the user from the Internet. In this case, the fact that the connectable time has been exceeded is notified later by e-mail or the like.

When a point is used to make a free connection to a destination other than a predetermined destination, the user connects to the access point (paid) 117 in FIG. When connected to the access point 117, the provider controls so as not to limit the connection destination of the Internet.

As described above, points are given to the user according to the purchase amount at the Internet shopping mall, and WWs other than the shopping mall are provided according to the points.
Because it is possible to connect to the W server, users can browse shopping malls without connection fees and call charges,
You can start using the Internet without the hassle of signing up with a provider. For this reason, barriers to the Internet can be reduced and the use of the Internet can be promoted. In particular, the free call charges can greatly contribute to promoting the use of the Internet by users.

For example, a housewife or an elderly person who has experienced mail-order sales but has never purchased on the Internet can experience what a purchase using the Internet is like. Can lower the barrier to In addition, by using points according to the shopping amount, it is possible to transfer to connection costs as in the case of a paid contract, so that the user's willingness to purchase is expected to increase.

As a result of experiencing the Internet for free, it is possible to increase user acquisition by making a paid contract with a user who wants to use the Internet in earnest. Also, stable income from the shopping mall organizer can be secured in addition to the variable general user billing. Furthermore, since the shopping mall organizer can target the beginners of the Internet, that is, the housewife group and the elderly group, which have been purchasing by mail order in the past, the target customers can be expected to expand.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, but can be implemented with various modifications. For example, in the above embodiment, the case where the user browses the shopping mall for free and purchases the product is described. However, in the present invention, when the user purchases the product at one store other than the shopping mall, In the case where the service is provided by browsing a paid site or the like that provides the information processing service or the information processing service, the normal Internet may be used as a point return. As described above, the term "service provision" is used in a broad sense that includes sale of goods through mail-order sales, information provision services such as a specific local weather forecast, and information processing services such as machine translation.

The order information is used in a broad sense including not only information on orders in a strict sense, but also information on dispatch of goods corresponding to service provision and information on payment for compensation. In the above embodiment,
Although the case where a CD-ROM is used as a medium to be distributed for free connection is described, the present invention uses a CD-ROM as a medium.
The same applies to the case where a storage medium other than the ROM is used.

Further, in the above embodiment, the case where the shopping mall organizer and the Internet provider are different is described, but in the present invention, the shopping mall organizer and the Internet provider may be the same. In addition, some of the roles of the Internet provider and the shopping mall organizer are interchangeable. For example, the guidance of step S18 point use is not performed by the shopping mall organizer,
Internet providers may do so. Further, the point conversion, the point transfer time unit, and the total unit (day or week) of the total amount in the above embodiment are not particularly limited, and various changes can be made.

[0051]

As described above, the Internet provider system and the shopping mall system of the present invention can increase the opportunity for a novice who has never used the Internet to easily and freely use the Internet. .

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an entire system that allows a predetermined WWW server to be browsed using an Internet provider system and a shopping mall system of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a user management table used in the Internet provider system and the shopping mall system of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a shopping mall order management table used in the shopping mall system of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a store management table used in the shopping mall system of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a store order management table used in the shopping mall system of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a product management table used in the shopping mall system of the present invention.

FIG. 7 shows an Internet provider system and a shopping mall system according to the present invention in which a user purchases a product and uses a purchase point;
It is a figure which shows the processing flow between shopping mall organizers.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an access log management table used in the Internet provider system of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 115,117 access point 118 access control server 120 terminal and modem 140 WWW server 160 distribution medium (CD-ROM etc.) 200 user management table 300 order management table 400 store management table 500 store order management table 600 merchandise management table 800 access log management table

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A storage means for storing, for each user, purchase point information converted from order information relating to service provision, and connecting a user connected from a predetermined access point to a predetermined Internet connection address, Control means for controlling connection to an address other than the predetermined Internet connection address for a time converted based on the information. 2. The Internet provider system according to claim 1, wherein said control means sets a point to be connected by paying a call charge person as said predetermined access point. 3. The Internet provider system according to claim 1, wherein said control means makes a connection fee to an address other than said predetermined Internet connection address free for said converted time. . 4. A storage means for storing order information relating to service provision, and a communication means having an Internet connection address relating to service provision and transmitting said order information to a provider contracted by a user connected to said address for each user. And a shopping mall system comprising: 5. A storage means for storing order information related to service provision, and a user who has an Internet connection address related to service provision and purchase point information converted from the order information to a provider contracted by a user connected to the address. A shopping mall system, comprising: a communication unit that transmits data for each shopping mall.