JP2002230381A - System and method for acceptance of reservation - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a printing service providing system which pays a reservation charge back when a reserving person changes. SOLUTION: A reservation acceptance part 13 accepts a reservation for a printing service from a user terminal 5. A cancel processing part 14 accepts the cancel of the reservation. When another user makes a reservation in the time zone wherein the reservation is canceled, a charging processing part 17 pays part or the whole of the reservation charge back to the person who has canceled the reservation.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a system for accepting reservations, and more particularly to a system for refunding a reservation fee when a reservation person fluctuates.

[0002]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Consider a printing service that receives print data from a user, performs printing using a large-format printer or the like, and delivers the printed material. This printing service can be performed by reservation. For example, a reservation is received from the user for each day and for each time period, and each print is executed in the reserved time period. When a reservation is accepted, a predetermined reservation fee is collected.

[0003] A user who uses such a printing service pays a reservation fee and makes a reservation, but the reservation may be canceled for various reasons, such as print data not being completed by the reservation time. At this time, if the reservation fee is not refunded, the reservation fee is wasted for the user. On the other hand, if you refund the reservation fee unconditionally,
Great disadvantage for service providers.

[0004] In addition, a user who wants to print immediately may want to make his / her own reservation in a reserved time zone. It would be advantageous for such a user to be able to transfer the reservation for that time period.

Therefore, a first object of the present invention is to provide a technique for returning a reservation fee to a person who has canceled a reservation within a range where a service provider does not suffer disadvantage.

[0006] A second object of the present invention is to provide a technique for transferring a reservation made by a reservation person to another reservation person.

[0007]

In order to achieve the first object, the present invention performs the following processing. That is, the reservation fee is determined according to the period up to the reservation date. The reservation is accepted by the reservation date and the time zone on condition that the determined reservation fee is paid, and then the cancellation of the accepted reservation is accepted. Under the condition that a reservation fee different from the reservation fee determined according to the period until the reservation date is paid, the reservation in the time zone where the reservation has been canceled is accepted again.

In order to achieve the second object, the present invention performs the following processing. That is, the reservation fee is determined according to the period up to the reservation date. A first reservation person accepting a reservation for a desired time zone on a reservation date desired by the first reservation person on condition that the determined first reservation fee is paid;
The first reservation fee is charged to the first reservation person. On the condition that the accepted reservation of the first reservation person is canceled and the second reservation person is paid a second reservation fee, the reservation of the time period is accepted and the reservation is changed, and the second reservation person is changed. The second reservation fee is charged to the reservation person. A process for refunding the second reservation fee to the first reservation person is performed.

[0009]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an overall configuration of a print service providing system to which the present invention is applied.
The system includes a management server 1, a printer server 2,
The printer includes a printer 3 and a plurality of user terminals 5. The management server 1 and the user terminal 5 are connected via a network 9. The printer server 2 is connected to the management server 1.

The present system provides a service of receiving print data from the user terminal 5, printing with the printer 3, and delivering the print result. The management server 1 manages a print schedule including member management, reservation acceptance, and the like.

Each of the management server 1, the printer server 2 and the user terminal 5 is constituted by a computer system. Each configuration or each function described below is realized, for example, by executing a program.

The management server 1 has, as its internal functions, a communication control unit 11, a reservation fee determination unit 12, a reservation reception unit 13, a cancellation processing unit 14, a reservation change processing unit 15, a display control unit 1.
6 is provided. Further, the management server 1 includes a member database 41, a reservation database 42, and a print database 43.

The member database 41 stores member information. For example, as shown in FIG. 3A, the data items of the member database 41 indicate a member number 411 for identifying a member, a name 412, a password 413, a bank account number 414, and a total amount not charged to the member. It has an unbilled amount 415 and a reservation number 416 for identifying the reservation of the member. A plurality of reservation numbers 416 can be stored. The reservation number 416 is stored in the reservation database 42
Associated with the reservation number 421.

The reservation database 42 stores the reservation status. For example, as shown in FIG. 3B, the data items of the reservation database 42 include a reservation number 421 for uniquely identifying a reservation and a member number 42 for identifying a reserved member.
2. Reservation date and time 423 indicating the reservation date and time zone, reservation fee 424 of the reservation, print data 425, cancel flag 426, sold flag 427, and resale flag 4
28. The print data 425 is a pointer indicating the print data stored in the print database 43. The cancel flag 426 indicates whether the reservation has been canceled. That is, the cancel flag 426 is off when it has not been cancelled, and turns on when it has been cancelled. Resale possible flag 428,
In the reservation menu screen 500 (see FIG. 8), the resale option is turned on when it is set, and turned off when it is not set. The resale option will be described later.

The print database 43 stores print data. Each print data stored here is pointed from the print data 425 of the reservation database.

The communication control unit 11 controls communication with devices connected to the network 9 and the printer server 2.

The present system provides a service of receiving reservations by day and time zone from a member user, performing printing by a printer during the reserved time zone, and delivering printed matter.
When a member makes a reservation, it is necessary to pay a predetermined reservation fee. Therefore, the reservation fee determination unit 12 determines the reservation fee. The reservation fee may be changed, for example, according to the period up to the reservation date. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 2, the shorter the period up to the reservation date, the higher the reservation fee may be set.

The reservation receiving section 13 performs a reservation receiving process.
For example, a reservation request including a reservation time zone, print data, and the like input from the reservation menu screens 100 and 200 (see FIGS. 4 and 5) displayed on the user terminal 5 is received. When the reservation receiving unit 13 receives a reservation request from the user terminal 5, the member database 41 and the reservation database 42
To complete the reservation reception. When the reservation reception is completed, the reservation reception unit 13 stores the print data in the print database 43.

Here, the time zone specified in the reservation request is
Once a reservation has been made, it is determined whether or not the present time is within the time slot in which the reservation has been canceled by turning on / off the cancel flag. When the cancel flag is on, the charge processing unit 17 is notified and a refund process is performed for the previous reservation person.

The cancel processing unit 14 performs a cancel processing of a reservation that has already been accepted. For example, the cancellation processing unit 14 receives a cancellation instruction input from the reservation cancellation screen 300 (see FIG. 6) displayed on the user terminal 5, updates the member database 41 and the reservation database 42, and cancels the reservation. . At this time, the cancel flag 426 of the reservation record in the reservation database 42 is turned on.

[0021] The reservation change processing unit 15 changes the reservation person for the reservation already accepted. For example, when another person who wants to make a reservation appears for a reservation for which the resale option is set, a resale request is received from the user terminal 5 and the reservation is changed from the previous person to the new person. Specifically, the reservation of the previous reservation is canceled, and the canceled time zone is set as the reservation of the new reservation. In order for a new reservation person to make a reservation, payment of a predetermined reservation fee is a condition.

Here, the resale option means that, even when the user (previous reservation person) makes a reservation once, when another reservation requester (new reservation person) appears, the reservation is made to that requester. Is an option that allows you to yield. Whether to set the resale option is determined by the previous reservation person at the time of reservation and is input from the reservation menu screen 500. When the resale is established, part or all of the reservation fee paid by the new reservation person may be returned to the previous reservation person. Whether or not the resale option is set is confirmed by the resale available flag 428. That is, when the resale available flag 428 is turned on, the resale option is set.

The display controller 16 generates information for displaying the screens shown in FIGS. 4 to 8 on the user terminal 5. For example, the display control unit 16 determines the reservation status by referring to the reservation database 42, and
The information for displaying 00 is generated. Further, the display control unit 16 refers to the reservation database 42 to grasp the reservation status of the member, and generates information for displaying the reservation cancel screen 300.

The accounting processing section 17 performs an accounting process and a refund process. For example, a reservation fee is charged to the reservation person. Specifically, the member's bank account number 4
A process for withdrawing from 14 is performed. When a new reservation is made during the time period canceled by the previous reservation, a refund process is performed to the previous reservation. Specifically, a process for transferring the credit to the bank account number 414 of the member is performed. The billing processing unit 17 compares the reservation fee 424 paid by the previous reservation person with the reservation fee paid by the new reservation person, and selects the reservation fee paid by the previous reservation person from the reservation charges paid by the new reservation person. The refund may be made within a range not exceeding the fee.

The user terminal 5 includes a display device (not shown),
Each of the screens 100, 200, 30 is provided based on information transmitted from the management server 1 and an input device (not shown).
0, 400, and 500 are displayed, and the input from the member user is accepted. Further, the user terminal 5 includes a communication control unit that controls communication of data and the like. For example, the user terminal 5 may include a WWW browser.

Next, each screen displayed on the user terminal 5 will be described.

The reservation menu screen 100 shown in FIG. 4 has a display area 110 for a reservation status for each day and time zone, and a display area 120 for a daily reservation fee. The display of the reservation status includes “reserved” and “empty”. The user can operate the input device (not shown) to select one of the “vacant” time zones. The display of the reservation status further includes "discounting". In the “discounting” time zone, the reservation is accepted at a discounted rate from the reservation fee displayed in the reservation fee display area. The time period during which the discount is being made is a time period in which a reservation has been made once but has been canceled. When the user selects a time zone to be reserved, the user presses the reservation button 130 to continue the reservation procedure.

When the reservation button 130 is pressed, a reservation menu screen 200 shown in FIG. 5 is displayed. The reservation menu screen 200 has an area 210 for inputting a file name of print data. The user inputs the file name of the print data and presses the send button 220. When the transmission button 220 is pressed, the reserved time zone and the print data are transmitted to the management server 1.

Next, a reservation cancel screen 30 shown in FIG.
0 is an area 31 for displaying the current reservation status of the user
0, cancel accept buttons 321, 322, and an email contact select accept area 330. User reserved 3
If you wish to cancel 11 (or 312),
The user presses the cancel accept button 321 (or 322).
Thereafter, when the transmission button 340 is pressed, a request for canceling the selected reservation is transmitted to the management server 1.

The reservation menu screen 4 shown in FIGS. 7 and 8
00 and 500 are those with a resale option.

The reservation menu screen 400, like the reservation menu 100, has a reservation area display area 4 for each day and time zone.
10 and a display area 420 for daily reservation fee.
Here, the reservation status is displayed as "reserved" or "vacant"
And "Resale available". “Resale available” indicates that the reservation has already been made, but it is possible to receive resale from the person who made the reservation. That is, the resale option is set for the reservation in this time zone, and the resale available flag 428 is ON. When the reservation button 430 is pressed, the reservation procedure is continued.

When the reservation button 430 is pressed, a reservation menu screen 500 shown in FIG. 8 is displayed. The reservation menu screen 500 has an area 510 for inputting a file name of print data, and a resale option setting area 520.
The user inputs the file name of the print data in the input area 510. Further, an input is made to the resale option setting area 520 to select whether or not a resale option is set. Thereafter, when the send button 530 is pressed, the presence / absence of the resale option, the reserved time zone, and the print data are transmitted to the management server 1.

Next, a processing procedure for making a print reservation in the present system will be described with reference to FIG. 9 together with a specific example. FIG. 9 shows a processing flow when a print reservation is made.

First, the member user accesses the management server 1 from the user terminal 5 and displays the member ID from a screen (not shown).
Login with D and password authentication (S10
1). When the user logs in, the display control unit 16 generates information for displaying the reservation menu screen 100 displaying the reservation status, and transmits the information to the user terminal 5. In the user terminal 5,
Upon receiving this, the reservation menu screen 100 is displayed (S102). The member user can select the reservation menu screen 100
To select a reservation time zone, and designate print data on the reservation menu screen 200 (S103). Here, it is assumed that the discounted time zone 111 (9:00 to 10:00 on May 29) has been selected. When the transmission button 230 is pressed, a reservation request is transmitted to the management server 1.

The reservation processing unit 13 sets a reservation for the member in a designated time zone (S104). Here, the reservation is set in the time zone from 9:00 to 10:00 on May 29.
The charging unit 17 charges a reservation fee to the member (S1).
05). Here, it is the date and time when the reservation fee of 1000 yen is originally collected, but 500 yen is charged as the reservation fee because it is under discount. Further, the reservation receiving unit 13 determines whether or not the time slot reserved here is the canceled time slot (S106). If the time period has been canceled, the billing processing unit 17 performs a refund process to the previous reservation person (S107). In this case, since 9:00 to 10:00 on May 29 is a canceled time zone, a process of refund to the previous reservation person is performed. That is, the charging processing unit 17 performs a process of refunding the reservation fee (500 yen) paid by the newly reserved person to the previous reservation person.

Thus, the former reservation person can receive a refund of a part or all of the reservation fee. Also, the new reservation person can make a reservation at a reservation fee lower than the original reservation fee. The printing service company can acquire another customer during the canceled time period.

Next, a processing procedure for canceling reserved printing will be described with reference to FIG. FIG.
5 shows a processing flow in the case of canceling.

First, the user accesses the management server 1 from the user terminal 5 and logs in from a screen (not shown) after authentication of the member ID and password (S201). When the user logs in and selects cancel on a menu screen (not shown), the display control unit 16 generates information for displaying a reservation cancel screen 300 that displays the reservation status of the member, and transmits the information to the user terminal 5. The user terminal 5 receives this and displays the reservation cancel screen 300 (S202). On this screen 300, the user selects a time zone to be canceled with the cancel buttons 321 and 322. In addition, the new reservation person selects whether or not he / she wants to be notified when the reservation fee is refunded (S203). When the user presses the send button 340, a cancel request is sent to the management server 1.

Upon receiving the cancel request, the cancel processing unit 14 performs a cancel process, and turns on the cancel flag 426 of the reservation (S204).

Next, in the case where the resale option is set, a processing procedure for transferring a reserved time zone is described below.
This will be described with reference to FIG. 11 together with a specific example. FIG.
10 shows a processing flow when a reserved time zone is transferred.

First, the member user accesses the management server 1 from the user terminal 5 and displays the member I from a screen (not shown).
Login after D and password authentication (S30)
1). When the user logs in, the display control unit 16 generates information for displaying the reservation menu screen 300 displaying the reservation status with the resale option, and transmits the generated information to the user terminal 5.
The user terminal 5 receives the request and displays the reservation menu screen 300 (S302). The member user selects a reservation time zone on the reservation menu screen 300 and specifies print data on the reservation menu screen 500 (S303). Here, it is assumed that resale available time zone 411 (9:00 to 10:00 on May 29) is selected. When transmission button 530 is pressed, a resale request is transmitted to management server 1.

The reservation change processing unit 15 confirms whether or not the resale flag 428 of the record indicating the reservation in the designated time zone is on (S304). If the resale flag is ON, the reservation person in that time zone is changed to a new member (S305). Further, the billing processing unit 17 bills the reservation fee to the new reservation person and returns it to the previous reservation person (S306).
Here, the original reservation fee of 1000 yen is charged to the new reservation person. The reservation fee 1000 yen paid by the new reservation person will be returned to the previous reservation person.

If the resale flag is off in step S304, a new reservation is set and a reservation fee is charged (S307, S308).

Thus, the former reservation person can receive the reservation fee paid by the new reservation person instead of giving the reservation. In addition, the new subscriber can transfer the reserved time zone. Further, the service provider can stably secure the reservation. An upper limit may be set on the number of resales so that resale does not continue forever.

The reservation change processing unit 15 may change the reservation of the previous reservation person who has transferred the reservation to the earliest time slot among the free time. Then, the new reservation time zone may be notified by e-mail.

Further, the right of re-booking may be given within the range of the reservation money paid by the previous reservation person. In this case, the URL (Uniform Re
(Source Locator) and a key indicating the right are notified by e-mail. Then, re-reservation may be made from this dedicated site using a key indicating a right.
Since this key is made valid only once, it is registered in a predetermined database so as to become invalid after re-reservation.

Each configuration described in the above embodiment is
Changes, additions, omissions and the like can be made as much as possible.

[0048]

According to the present invention, a reservation fee can be returned to a person who has canceled a reservation within a range where the service provider does not suffer disadvantage. In addition, the reservation made by the reservation person can be transferred to another reservation person.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of a print service providing system to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a fee system of a reservation fee in the print service providing system.

3A is a diagram illustrating a data structure of a member database 41, and FIG. 3B is a diagram illustrating a data structure of a reservation database 42. FIG.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a reservation menu screen 100.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of a reservation menu screen 200.

6 shows an example of a reservation cancel screen 300. FIG.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of a reservation menu screen 400.

8 shows an example of a reservation menu screen 500. FIG.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure when a member user makes a reservation.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure when canceling a reservation.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure when a member user makes a reservation by resale.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Management server 2 ... Printer server 3 ... Printer 5 ... User terminal 9 ... Network 11 ... Communication control part 12 ... Reservation fee determination part 13 ... Reservation reception part 14 ... Cancel processing part 15 ... Reservation change processing part 16 ... Display control part 17 Billing processing unit

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. A deciding means for deciding a reservation fee according to a period up to a reservation date, and on condition that the first reservation fee decided by the deciding means is paid.
A reservation receiving unit for receiving a reservation for each reservation date and time zone, a cancel receiving unit for receiving the cancellation of the reservation received by the reservation receiving unit, and a charging processing unit for charging a reservation fee, A reservation receiving system for re-receiving a reservation in a time zone in which the reservation has been canceled, on condition that a second reservation fee different from the reservation fee determined by the determining means is paid. 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the charge processing unit performs a process for refunding a part or all of the first reservation fee to a person who has canceled the reservation after paying the first reservation fee. Item 1. The reservation receiving system according to Item 1. 3. A deciding means for deciding a reservation fee according to a period up to a reservation date, and a first reserving person pays the first reservation fee decided by the deciding means, A reservation accepting unit for accepting a reservation for a desired time zone on a reservation date desired by the first reserving unit; a reservation reserving unit canceling the reservation of the first reserving unit for which the reservation is accepted; A reservation changing means for receiving a reservation in the time zone on condition that a second reservation fee is paid; a charging means for charging a first and a second reservation person with a respective reservation fee; A refund unit for performing a process for refunding the second reservation fee to a reservation person. 4. The reservation receiving system according to claim 3, wherein the second reservation fee is higher than the first reservation fee. 5. A deciding means for deciding a reservation fee in accordance with a period up to a reservation date, provided that the reservation fee decided by the deciding means is paid.
A first receiving means for receiving a reservation in a desired time zone of a reservation date desired by a reservation person; and resale when another reservation person requests a reservation in a time zone desired by the reservation person. And a second receiving means for receiving an intention display for accepting the request. 6. A reservation fee is determined in accordance with a period up to a reservation date, a reservation is received by a reservation date and a time zone on condition that the determined reservation fee is paid, and then the received reservation is canceled. A reservation receiving method for receiving a reservation in a time slot in which the reservation has been canceled, on condition that a reservation fee different from a reservation fee determined according to a period up to a reservation date is received. 7. A reservation fee is determined according to a period up to a reservation date, and the first reservation person desires the first reservation person on condition that the first reservation person pays the determined first reservation fee. A reservation for a desired time zone of a reservation date is received, the first reservation fee is charged to the first reservation person, the received reservation of the first reservation person is canceled, and a second reservation person is On condition that the second reservation fee is paid, the reservation of the time zone is accepted and the reservation is changed, the second reservation fee is charged to the second reservation person, and the first reservation person is charged to the second reservation fee. A reservation receiving method for performing a process for refunding the second reservation fee.