JP2004030168A - Method and system for member registration - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To facilitate a procedure for member registration and to register a user in such a form that the user is not directly represented. <P>SOLUTION: In the procedure for member registration from a portable terminal, the user need not do a special operation for entering an address, a name, etc., and then the procedure for member registration is facilitated. Further, data unique to the portable terminal are used as registered data needed for member registration to complete the member registration in the form wherein the user is not directly represented. For the member registration, identification data that the portable terminal uniquely has are automatically obtained to carry out the member registration and then the need for a user's operation is eliminated to facilitate the procedure for member registration; and the data for the member registration is not associated directly with the user. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a member registration method and a member registration system, and is suitable for a facility or a system that can acquire various services and information by member registration such as a pachinko, pachislot, karaoke and other game facilities.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, at a game facility such as a pachinko, pachislot, karaoke, etc., in order to register as a member, the applicant for registration must fill in a member registration application form in a predetermined format, such as an address, name, age, telephone number, email address, etc. Fill in information. By this member registration, a player can accumulate balls and coins acquired by a gaming machine such as a pachinko or pachislot as points, and use them for the gaming machine next time, or exchange points for prizes.
[0003]
Point management can be performed using a card carried by a player, such as a magnetic card or an IC card, and membership registration is not necessarily required when using a gaming machine, but for a player, a network is configured via a server or the like. By doing so, there is an advantage that it is possible to support a large number of gaming facilities and various types of gaming machines, and for the administrator of the gaming facility, it is necessary to improve security such as preventing the possibility of tampering with the number of points In addition to this, there is an advantage that various information can be obtained from the member, so it is desirable to register the player as a member.
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
Member registration by writing on the member registration application form is cumbersome and burdensome for the user, hindering the extension of member registration. In addition, the registration procedure includes input of personal information and is registered in a format that directly represents the user such as name and address, so that the relevance between the user and the usage situation can be easily estimated. Some users may avoid membership registration.
[0005]
Therefore, an object of the present invention is to solve the above-described problems and to facilitate the procedure of member registration, and to register a user in a format that does not directly represent a user.
[0006]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The present invention facilitates the member registration procedure by performing a member registration from a mobile terminal, and by eliminating the need for a user to enter an address or name in the membership registration procedure. Shall be. Also, by making the registration data required for member registration data unique to the portable terminal, the member registration is performed in a format that does not directly represent the user.
[0007]
The member registration according to the present invention can be a member registration method, a member registration system that implements the member registration method, a mobile terminal that constitutes the member registration system, and a member registration device.
[0008]
The member registration method of the present invention is a member registration method of performing member registration from a mobile terminal, and performs member registration using identification data uniquely provided in the mobile terminal as member registration data. The portable terminal has identification data such as a terminal ID, a serial number, and other numbers uniquely set for each device, and a telephone number, an IP address, and other numbers uniquely set for communication. The member registration method of the present invention automatically obtains identification data uniquely provided by the mobile terminal, and performs member registration using the obtained identification data as member registration data. It can be made easy, and the data of the member registration can be made not directly related to the user.
[0009]
The identification data required for membership registration can be obtained by activating the automatic transmission application program of the mobile terminal, and by activating the automatic transmission application program based on an external signal, the operation by the user is not required. can do. The user can cause the member registration process to be performed simply by bringing the portable terminal into a range where the external signal for activation is received.
[0010]
The mobile terminal has a built-in automatic download application program. When the URL information is acquired, the automatic download application program starts and downloads the automatic transmission application program from the server.
[0011]
The identification data is transmitted and received by short-range wireless communication such as infrared rays or non-contact IC communication according to an automatic transmission application program or the like. Since the communication distance of the short-range wireless communication is, for example, about 20 cm, it is easy to prevent leakage of identification data due to radio wave interception.
[0012]
A portable terminal of the present invention is a member registration system for performing member registration from a portable terminal, the portable terminal comprising: a holding unit for holding identification data unique to the portable terminal; and a holding unit based on an external activation signal. And transmitting / receiving means for reading and transmitting the identification data from the device.
[0013]
When the portable terminal receives the activation signal from the outside, the transmission / reception means reads the identification data uniquely set for the portable terminal, such as the terminal ID and the telephone number, from the holding means and transmits it. The mobile terminal performs these communication processes based on the automatic transmission application program. The automatic transmission application program identifies the activation signal, and defines each procedure of the transmission / reception means, such as reading the identification data from the holding means based on the activation signal and transmitting the read identification data. This automatic transmission application program can be pre-recorded in the mobile terminal or can be downloaded from an external server.
[0014]
The mobile terminal has a function of automatically connecting to an external server, automatically connects to the server of the URL based on URL information obtained from the outside, and downloads an automatic transmission application program from the server. The transmission / reception means has a short-range wireless communication function, and receives a start signal and URL information and transmits identification data by the short-range wireless communication function.
[0015]
The member registration device of the present invention is a member registration system for registering a member from a mobile terminal to the member registration device, wherein the member registration device is provided with identification data unique to the mobile terminal with respect to the mobile terminal. The transmitting and receiving unit transmits an activation signal for transmitting the identification data, and receives the identification data transmitted by the portable terminal, and the recording unit records the received identification data as member registration data.
[0016]
The recording means can be configured as a member server connected to a plurality of transmission / reception means, and the connection between the plurality of transmission / reception means and the member server can use a communication network such as the Internet or a network such as a LAN or the like. it can.
[0017]
The transmission / reception unit transmits the URL information as a command object together with the activation signal. This URL information specifies the server that holds the automatic transmission application program that defines the procedure for transmitting the identification data. The automatic download application program connects to the server using the URL information and downloads the automatic transmission application program from the server.
[0018]
The transmitting / receiving means includes a communication port for performing short-range wireless communication, and performs short-range wireless communication with the portable terminal. For example, when using infrared communication as short-range wireless communication, an infrared port is used as a communication port. Alternatively, a non-contact IC communication unit is built in the portable terminal and a non-contact IC communication port is used as a communication port. Transmission and reception can be performed by setting the communication ports of the portable terminal side and the member registration device side within a communicable range with each other.
[0019]
Further, the member registration system of the present invention is a member registration system for performing member registration from a portable terminal, wherein the portable terminal is configured to retain identification data unique to the portable terminal, and to store the identification data based on an external activation signal. Transmission / reception means for reading and transmitting the identification data from the holding means, and the member registration device transmits, to the mobile terminal, an activation signal for transmitting the identification data unique to the mobile terminal to the mobile terminal. And transmitting / receiving means for receiving the identification data transmitted by the portable terminal, and recording means for recording the received identification data as member registration data.
[0020]
Both the mobile terminal and the member registration device have a short-range wireless communication function. By using the short-range wireless communication function, an activation signal and URL information are transmitted from the member registration device to the mobile terminal, and the identification data is transmitted from the mobile terminal to the member registration device. Send.
[0021]
The identification data in the present invention can be a terminal ID uniquely set to each device of the mobile terminal, a communication number for specifying the mobile terminal in communication, or both. When the mobile terminal is a mobile phone, the communication number is the telephone number of the mobile phone.
[0022]
In addition, the registration device can be arranged in the gaming facility. In this case, the gaming machine provided in the gaming facility, a prize management POS, a card processing device, a counter, and a stand-to-face service device installed between the gaming machines. It can be.
[0023]
In the case where the conventional member registration by recording personal information such as address and name is a main member registration, the member registration of the present invention may be a temporary member registration which is a stage prior to the main member registration. After the member registration of the invention is performed, the main member registration may be performed.
[0024]
In this case, in the case of the member registration of the present invention corresponding to the provisional member registration, for example, only accumulation of points is permitted, replaying by exchanging points, exchanging points for premiums, etc. are restricted, and real member registration is performed. After that, it may be set to allow the use of points.
[0025]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram for explaining the configuration of the member registration system of the present invention.
In the following, the member registration method and the member registration system of the present invention are applied to a member system that registers a member in a game facility or the like in which a pachinko or pachislot is installed, and further manages points based on the member registration. An example will be described.
[0026]
Here, the point is an index indicating a profit given to the player, and is given according to a game result of the gaming machine, so that various services can be received. For example, the balls and medals obtained by the game are converted into the number of points and accumulated, the accumulated points are converted into balls and medals, and the gaming machine can be used again, and can also be exchanged for a prize according to the number of points. .
[0027]
FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram for explaining the entire configuration of the member registration system of the present invention. Although FIG. 1 shows an example of a configuration in one game facility, the same configuration can be applied to another game facility or a facility other than the game facility to which a membership system is applied.
In FIG. 1, a member registration system 1 includes a mobile terminal 2 and a member registration device 3. Member registration is performed by transmitting identification data from the mobile terminal 2 to the member registration device 3, and the member registration device 3 records the transmitted identification data.
[0028]
The mobile terminal 2 is, for example, a mobile phone or the like, and is a communication device having at least a short-range wireless communication function. In the present invention, the display function and the voice communication function are not essential functions when the mobile terminal 2 realizes a function only for member registration. The mobile terminal 2 has a function of retaining identification data unique to a device of the mobile terminal and transmitting the identification data based on an external signal in order for a specific user to register as a member. The short-range wireless communication function can use infrared communication (for example, IrDA specification), non-contact IC communication, or Bluetooth (registered trademark). Non-contact IC communication is communication using a non-contact communication IC. Each of the mobile terminal 2 and the member registration device 3 includes a port (for example, an infrared port or a non-contact IC communication port) for a short-range wireless communication function, and performs transmission and reception between the ports.
[0029]
Here, the identification data is data uniquely provided to the mobile terminal 2 for specifying the mobile terminal 2, for example, a serial number or a terminal ID specifying the device itself of the mobile terminal 2, or specifying the mobile terminal 2 through communication. (For example, a telephone number or an IP address). According to the present invention, the identification data for specifying the mobile terminal is used as registration data for specifying an individual holding the mobile terminal.
[0030]
In addition, the mobile terminal includes an automatic download application program and an automatic transmission application program. The automatic download application program is an application program that automatically connects to a server specified by the URL based on the URL information, and downloads a predetermined application from the server. In the present invention, the server has an automatic transmission application program and downloads the automatic transmission application program from the server.
[0031]
The automatic transmission application program is an application program for automatically transmitting the identification data held by the mobile terminal 2 by the short-range wireless communication function, and is started based on an external signal such as a start signal included in a command object or the like, and Send data.
The automatic download application program and the automatic transmission application program are stored in the mobile terminal 2 in advance, or can be downloaded from a server.
[0032]
In the following description, the mobile terminal 2 stores an application program for automatic download in advance, fetches URL information from the outside by a short-range wireless communication function, starts the application program, connects to the server, and automatically connects to the server. Download the transmission application program.
[0033]
In the case where the automatic transmission application program is stored in the mobile terminal 2 in advance, it is not necessary to download the automatic transmission application program from the server using the automatic download application program. Therefore, in this case, it is not necessary to store the application program for automatic download, but it can be used when downloading a desired application program from another server.
Further, the activation of the application program for automatic download is not limited to activation by taking in URL information from the outside, but URL information is also stored in advance, and is activated by selecting a connection destination server from a menu or the like. You may.
[0034]
In FIG. 1, a server 10 includes a Web server 11 connected to a communication network 14 of the Internet, and a service server 12 and an application server 13 connected to the Web server 11. Here, for example, the service server 12 may be a server that manages i-mode (registered trademark) services, and the application server 13 may be a server that manages i-appli (registered trademark) application programs. it can.
[0035]
The member registration device 3 includes a registration device 4 that transmits and receives data to and from the mobile terminal 2 and a recording unit that records the identification data received by the registration device 4. In FIG. 1, a member server 5 is provided as recording means. The registration device 4 transmits the command object to the mobile terminal 2. The command object includes an activation signal, and causes the portable terminal 2 to transmit identification data. Note that the instruction object may include URL information in addition to the activation signal.
[0036]
The registered device 4 can be installed alone in the gaming facility, or can be attached to various devices installed in the gaming facility. In FIG. 1, an example in which the registered device 4A is installed in the premium POS 6, an example in which the registered device 4B is installed in a stand-to-frame service device 7 installed between game machines called a sand machine, and an example in which the registered device 4C is installed in the gaming machine 8 And an example in which the registered device 4D is installed in a counter 9 for counting balls and medals. Each registered device 4 is connected to a member server 5 provided in the gaming facility via a premises wiring such as a LAN.
[0037]
The member server 5 forms member registration data by recording the acquired identification data in a database (not shown). This member registration data may store point data in addition to personal information such as an address and a name when the main member is registered, in addition to the identification data.
[0038]
When the mobile terminals 2A to 2D are mobile phones, the telephone numbers of the mobile phones can be, for example, NB1 to NB4, the terminal IDs are TE1 to TE4, and the e-mail addresses are AD1 to AD4. The member server 5, each registered device 4, and various device devices 6 to 9 installed in the game facility are, for example, LANs (local area networks) constructed in the game facility using Ethernet (registered trademark) or the like. Can be connected. Further, each registered device 4 can be individually connected to the network individually, or can be connected via various installed device devices 6 to 9.
[0039]
In addition, by performing two-way communication between the member server 5 and the registration device 4, it is possible to perform processing such as player authentication, point exchange, and delivery confirmation at the time of registration by each mobile terminal 2 after member registration. You can also.
In FIG. 1, the number of portable terminals and registered devices is four, the number of installed device devices is four, and the number of networks is one, but the number is not limited to this.
[0040]
Next, a configuration of a main part of the mobile terminal 2 will be described with reference to FIG. Although the mobile terminal 2 applicable to the present invention can have various different configurations, the configuration of the main part shown is a function that can be provided in common. Note that the configuration of each mobile terminal does not always correspond one-to-one with the illustrated components.
[0041]
2, the mobile terminal 2 includes a control unit 2a, communication units 2b1, 2b2, 2b3, a storage unit 2c, an operation unit 2d, and a display unit 2e.
The control unit 2a includes a CPU of the mobile terminal and stores an OS (Operating System), and controls each function of the mobile terminal. In the configuration shown in FIG. 2, in addition to controlling the data between the communication unit 2b and the storage unit 2c, operation control input by the operation unit 2d and display control on the display unit 2e are performed.
[0042]
A communication unit 2b for wirelessly communicating with a base station in a mobile phone network to transmit and receive voice and analog data; a communication unit 2b1 for transmitting and receiving a digital signal as packet data; The communication unit 2b3 for performing short-range wireless communication is included. Note that the communication unit 2b2 may include a Web browser or a mailer that sends and receives e-mails. Further, the communication unit 2b3 includes, for example, an infrared port, a non-contact IC communication, and a Bluetooth port corresponding to the short-range wireless communication to be used.
[0043]
The storage unit 2c stores a terminal ID, a telephone number, and an e-mail address unique to the mobile terminal. The terminal ID is identification information for identifying a mobile terminal from another mobile terminal, and is usually transmitted using this terminal ID. The storage unit 2c can store an automatic download application program and an automatic transmission application program. Note that a volatile or nonvolatile storage element can be used for the storage unit 2c. For example, data unique to the mobile terminal is stored in a nonvolatile storage element. The automatic download application program and the automatic transmission application program are stored in a non-volatile storage element when the mobile terminal is provided in advance, and a volatile storage element when used only at the time of download.
[0044]
The operation unit 2d is a unit that instructs the control unit 2a to perform control contents, and can use a button included in the mobile terminal. In addition, the display unit 2e can use a display included in the mobile terminal, and various displays such as a standby screen, browsing display of a Web page, and display of the contents of an e-mail are performed.
The display of the identification data on the display screen of the mobile terminal can be performed by operating the operation button on the mobile terminal.
[0045]
The automatic download application program is a program that connects to a server based on URL information and downloads a predetermined application program to a portable terminal. In the present invention, this program is activated by URL information included in an instruction object input from the outside. The activation of the program is not limited to the input of the URL information, but may be performed by an activation command from the outside or the operation unit 2d. In this case, the URL information can be stored in the storage unit 2c in advance.
[0046]
The automatic transmission application program is a program for automatically transmitting the identification data unique to the mobile terminal. In the present invention, this program is started by a start command included in an instruction object input from the outside. The automatic transmission application program started by the start command reads the identification data unique to the portable terminal such as the terminal ID and the telephone number stored in the storage unit 2c, and transmits the data by the communication unit 2b3 having the short-range wireless communication function. Further, the display unit 2e may display a display indicating the transmission state or a confirmation display when a transmission / reception confirmation signal is received.
[0047]
The identification data can be a terminal ID, a telephone number, or an e-mail address of the mobile terminal. Some mobile terminals do not have an e-mail address, such as models that do not have a mailer function for processing e-mails, or have not been assigned an e-mail address, and do not use terminal IDs depending on the mobile phone network There are cases. Such various cases can be dealt with by preparing a plurality of types as identification data.
[0048]
When a plurality of pieces of identification data are provided, the identification data to be used on the mobile terminal side may be selected in advance. Which identification data is adopted as the identification data, or which combination of the identification data is adopted, is arbitrary. By limiting the type of the identification data to be used, the program size can be reduced for the application program. .
[0049]
Next, a configuration of a main part of the registration device 4 will be described with reference to FIG. Although the mobile terminal 3 applicable to the present invention can have various different configurations, the configuration of the main part illustrated is a function that can be provided in common.
3, the registration device 4 includes a control unit 4a, communication units 4b1 and 4b2, and a communication port 4c.
[0050]
The control unit 4 a controls transmission and reception with the mobile terminal 2 and with the member server 5. Transmission and reception with the portable terminal 2 are performed by short-range wireless communication, and transmission and reception with the member server 5 are performed by network communication such as LAN. Therefore, the control unit 4a includes a communication program corresponding to each communication. Further, the control unit 4a may perform communication with the member server 5 via a device provided in the game facility. FIG. 3 shows a configuration example of connecting to the member server 5 via the premium POS 6. The prize POS 6 is a device that performs a process of exchanging balls and medals for prizes, and the control unit 6a has a function of performing the exchange process. Normally, the control unit 6a connects to the member server 5 via the communication unit 6b, performs a prize exchange process using data such as points of each member stored in the member server 5, and uses the processing result to perform a member exchange. Update the database of the server 5.
[0051]
The control unit 4a may be connected to the member server 5 via the control unit 6a or a control unit (not shown) provided solely for communication and the communication unit 6b.
The communication unit 4b1 has a short-range wireless communication function, performs short-range wireless communication with the portable terminal 2, transmits an instruction object to the portable terminal 2, and receives the identification data transmitted from the portable terminal 2. Further, the communication unit 4b2 transmits the obtained identification data to the member server 5.
[0052]
Between the mobile terminal 2 and the registration device 4, in addition to transmitting and receiving command objects and identification data in association with the member registration, transmission of messages and advertisements from the member server 5, inquiries from the mobile terminal 2 and the member server 5 corresponding thereto Can also be answered.
[0053]
The communication port 4c is a port for performing short-range wireless communication with the portable terminal 2, and may be, for example, an infrared port, a non-contact IC communication, or a Bluetooth port. The registration device 4 can be provided with an infrared port, non-contact IC communication, or a Bluetooth port, corresponding to the form of short-range wireless communication. The port to be installed may be one type or a plurality of types. The short-range wireless communication function of the portable terminal may differ depending on the model. By providing a plurality of types of short-range wireless communication functions and ports, these various short-range wireless communication modes may be supported.
[0054]
In addition, a display screen of the mobile terminal can be used to exchange identification data with a mobile terminal that does not have a short-range wireless communication function. Characters and image patterns representing identification data are displayed on a display screen provided in the mobile terminal, the display image is captured by an imaging unit provided in the registration device 4, and the identification data is obtained by image processing. In order to transmit and receive the identification data by the image, the portable terminal 2 has a function of displaying the identification data in a character or an image pattern, and the registration device 4 includes an imaging unit that captures a display image displayed by the portable terminal 2, It has a processing function. Thereby, the identification data can be obtained even when the device does not have the short-range wireless communication function.
[0055]
The display of the identification data can be performed by displaying the terminal ID or telephone number as it is, as characters or numbers as they are, or as encrypted characters or numbers, or by converting them into a two-dimensional image pattern. By encrypting or converting to an image pattern, it is possible to prevent the terminal ID and telephone number from being stolen. In the case of encryption or conversion to an image pattern, the registered device is provided with a function of decrypting these codes and a function of decrypting the image pattern. The decrypted identification data is transmitted to the member server 5.
[0056]
FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a communication state by short-range wireless communication between the portable terminal and the registration device. Note that FIG. 4 shows an example in which the registration device is installed in an inter-chamber service device 7 which is installed in a space between gaming machines called a so-called sand machine. The inter-chamber service device 7 shown in FIG. 4 is an example of an inter-chamber lending machine, and includes a display unit 7a for displaying a light, a display unit 7b for displaying the number, a bill slot 7c, a bill slot 7d, a tray 7e, and the like. Is provided.
[0057]
The registration device 4 is installed in the inter-service device 7, and only the communication port 4c1 is provided on the front panel. In the case of an infrared port, the communication port 4c1 is provided so as to be exposed on the front panel. However, in the case of a non-contact IC communication port Bluetooth, the communication port 4c1 is not necessarily provided so as to be exposed on the front panel. Only a display indicating the installation position may be provided on the front panel.
The user performs short-range wireless communication by bringing the port 2g of the mobile terminal 2B into the transmission / reception range of the communication port 4c1.
[0058]
FIG. 4B shows an example in which a plurality of types of communication ports 4c1 and 4c2 are provided. The mobile terminals 2 and 2 'perform short-range wireless communication with communication ports 4c1 and 4c2 corresponding to the short-range wireless communication function of each mobile terminal. The installation interval between the communication port 4c1 and the communication port 4c2 can be arbitrary.
[0059]
By installing the communication ports so that the communication ranges overlap each other, the user can use the communication ports 4c1 and 4c2 without being aware of the type. By installing the communication ports so that the communication ranges of the communication ports do not overlap, it is possible to prevent the simultaneous activation of both the short-range wireless communication functions of the communication ports 4c1 and 4c2. Even in a configuration in which the communication range of each communication port is set to overlap, by giving priority to one of the short-range wireless communication functions, it is possible to prevent both short-range wireless communication functions from being activated simultaneously. be able to.
[0060]
Next, a configuration of a main part of the member server 5 will be described with reference to FIG. In addition, the member server can be installed for each game facility, or can be installed for a plurality of game facilities.
In FIG. 5, the member server 5 includes a control unit 5a, a communication unit 5b, a registration unit 5c, a correspondence unit 5e, and a member database 5d.
[0061]
The communication unit 5b connects the above-described registered devices 4 or various device devices installed in the game facility via a network such as a LAN. Examples of various equipment installed in the gaming facility include a prize POS 6, a service device between cars 7, a game machine 8, a computer 9, and the like.
[0062]
The control unit 5a transmits and receives data to and from the portable terminal 2 and each of the device devices via the communication unit 5b, and controls the registration unit 5c and the corresponding unit 5e to manage data in the member database 5d. I do.
[0063]
When identification data is input from the registration device 4 through the communication unit 5b, the control unit 5a sends the identification data to the registration unit 5c. On the other hand, when an input is made from an equipment device (for example, the premium POS 6, the inter-service equipment 7, the gaming machine 8, and the computer 9), it is sent to the corresponding unit 5e.
[0064]
The registration unit 5c has a function of performing a member registration process by recording the input identification data in the member database 5d. The member registration process using the identification data is a member registration using the terminal ID or the telephone number of the mobile terminal. In order to distinguish a member registration for registering personal information such as an address and a name, the member registration using the identification data is referred to as a temporary member registration. Member registration for registering personal information will be referred to as regular member registration.
[0065]
FIG. 6 shows an example of data in the member database.
The member database has data items such as temporary registration information and regular registration information.
Provide point information. Here, for the sake of explanation, the above information is shown separately, but it is not always necessary to record separately.
[0066]
The temporary registration information can be, for example, identification data of a telephone number and a terminal ID, the date of temporary member registration, data relating to a registered device that has performed temporary member registration, and the like. The address, date registered as a regular member, address, name, and the like can be used. The point information can be, for example, a current accumulated point, a point history, a consumed point history, and the like.
[0067]
By setting these pieces of information for each user, a member database is configured. FIG. 6 shows five examples of the users U1 to U5. In the member registration based on the identification data of the present invention, the temporary member registration is performed by recording data in the temporary registration information portion of the member database. For example, for the user U1, a provisional member registration is performed using the identification data of the telephone number NB1 and the terminal ID TE1, and it is recorded that the provisional member registration was performed by the registration device RE001. For the user U2, the provisional member registration is performed only by the telephone number of the NB2 for the identification data, and for the user U3, the provisional member registration is performed only by the terminal ID of the TE3. In the case of temporary member registration using this identification data, the information of the regular registration information is not recorded.
[0068]
The information of the regular registration information can be recorded after the temporary member registration based on the identification data or by directly performing the regular member registration without performing the temporary member registration based on the identification data. In the example shown in the user U4, the temporary member registration is performed by recording the personal information such as the address and the name after the provisional member registration is performed by the identification data of the telephone number NB4 and the terminal ID TE4, and the user U5 is registered. In the example shown in (1), personal information such as an address and a name is recorded without recording temporary member information, and regular member registration is performed.
[0069]
The provisional member registration and the regular member registration can be equivalent or different in the use of points. When making a difference in the use of points, for example, it may be set that only accumulation of points is permitted in temporary member registration, and that the accumulated points are withdrawn or consumed after registration as a regular member.
In this way, by giving a difference in use of points between the temporary member registration and the regular member registration, it is possible to promote the transition from the temporary member registration to the regular member registration.
[0070]
In the member database, when it is assumed that any one of the telephone number and the terminal ID may be used as the identification data used for the temporary member registration, the temporary member registration using the telephone number and the temporary member registration using the terminal ID are performed twice. May occur. In this case, for example, by comparing the telephone number and the terminal ID at the time of regular member registration, double temporary member registration can be eliminated. When the double provisional member registration is canceled, the accumulated points can be effectively used by performing a process of adding the points accumulated in each provisional member registration.
[0071]
The correspondence unit 5e has a function of referring to each information recorded in the member database 5d, a function of converting the number of accumulated points into a number of balls or medals, a function of exchanging accumulated points for balls, medals, or prizes. . The inquiry process is performed by, for example, receiving an inquiry request issued from the mobile terminal or the premium POS 6, searching the member database 5d in response to the inquiry request, and returning an inquiry result obtained by the search to the mobile terminal. . The point conversion process and the point exchange process are performed based on requests and data issued from devices such as the prize POS 6, the inter-service device 7, the gaming machine 8, and the computer 9.
[0072]
Next, the operation of the member registration of the present invention will be described.
FIG. 7 is a relation diagram for explaining the flow of data performed between the mobile terminal, the registration device, the Web server, the application server, and the member server in the member registration operation of the present invention. Here, in the mobile terminal, an application program for automatically downloading a predetermined application by connecting to the server is stored in advance, and an automatic transmission application program for transmitting identification data used for member registration is not stored. And Note that the numbers in parentheses in the following description correspond to the numbers in FIG.
[0073]
The registration device transmits the command object by a short-range wireless communication function such as infrared communication or non-contact IC communication (1). This command object is transmitted at a predetermined time period, and an proximity sensor is arranged near the registered device, and is transmitted when the proximity sensor detects that the portable terminal or the user approaches the registered device. Is also good. The operating range of the proximity sensor is set to be within the communication range of the short-range wireless communication. When transmitting the command object at a predetermined time period, the command object can be transmitted to the portable terminal by transmitting the portable terminal within the communication range of the short-range wireless communication at the time of the transmission.
[0074]
Although the user does not always carry the mobile terminal, by transmitting the command object based on the approach of the user, if the user is holding the mobile terminal, a command is issued to the mobile terminal. You can send objects. If the user does not hold the mobile terminal, the command object remains transmitted because no response can be obtained to the transmitted command object, but in the point that membership registration by the mobile terminal is not performed. No difference.
[0075]
The instruction object includes a start command for activating the automatic transmission application program, and URL information of a server for automatically downloading the automatic transmission application program and the like. The mobile terminal receives the command object transmitted from the registered device by entering the communication range of the short-range wireless communication (2). Upon receiving the command object, the mobile terminal starts an automatic download application program, connects to the Web server specified by the URL information included in the command object, and requests the automatic transmission application program. At this time, a display indicating that the automatic transmission application program is being downloaded may be displayed on the display of the portable terminal (3).
[0076]
The Web server receives the request (4), creates an SQL statement from the API or Java (registered trademark) via the API using the CGI, and transmits it to the application server that manages the application program (5).
[0077]
The application server accesses the database according to the SQL statement and reads the requested application program. Here, an automatic transmission application program for transmitting the identification data of the mobile terminal is transmitted to the Web server (7). The Web server receiving the automatic transmission application program transfers the program to the portable terminal (8).
[0078]
For example, CGI (Common Gateway Interface) is a method of creating an interface program based on an interface and exchanging with a database. In this case, the CGI is activated on a Web server in response to a request from a portable terminal. An instruction is issued to an application server which is a database server, and an HTML document is generated based on a response from the application server and transmitted to a portable terminal.
[0079]
In addition, by using an application program interface (API) without using CGI, or by incorporating component software such as Java (registered trademark), an application server which is a database server is directly accessed, and the application program is transferred to the portable terminal side. You may send it.
[0080]
The mobile terminal downloads and stores the application program transmitted from the Web server. At this time, the display of the completion of the download of the automatic transmission application program may be displayed on the display of the portable terminal (9). The downloaded automatic transmission application program is automatically activated by the activation command included in the instruction object without waiting for a user operation (10). The automatic transmission application program reads a terminal ID and a telephone number, which are identification data uniquely provided by the mobile terminal (11), and transmits the data to the registered device. As the identification data to be transmitted, which of the terminal ID or the telephone number is transmitted, or both are transmitted, and when transmitting either the terminal ID or the telephone number, the selection of which is given priority is: It can be set in advance by an automatic transmission application program or a portable terminal (12).
[0081]
The registration device receives the identification data (13) and transmits the received identification data to the member server (14). The member server receives the identification data (15), and performs a member registration process using the identification data as member registration data (16).
[0082]
When the mobile terminal stores the automatic transmission application program in advance, the mobile terminal can start from the application start-up process (10) by receiving the command object.
[0083]
A processing example of the mobile terminal in the above-described member registration operation will be described with reference to a flowchart of FIG. 8 and a display example of the display of the mobile terminal of FIG.
When the portable terminal receives the command object from the registered device (step S1), it searches whether there is an application program that operates by the start command included in the command object. Since the member registration process by the mobile terminal is performed automatically, the operation display of the member registration is not necessarily required, but, for example, a message "Start membership registration" is displayed on the display of the display mobile terminal (FIG. 9A). Alternatively, a display such as “Member registration in progress” (FIG. 9B) may be displayed. By performing this display, the user can be informed that the member registration process is in progress, and a sense of security can be given (step S2).
[0084]
If there is no application program that operates with the start command, the application program for automatic download is started, connected to the Web server specified by the URL information included in the instruction object (step S3), and requested for the automatic transmission application program. (Step S4). The automatic transmission application program transmitted from the Web server in response to the request is downloaded (step S5). After the download is completed, the connection with the Web server is disconnected (step S6).
[0085]
After acquiring the automatic transmission application program, or in the case where the automatic transmission application program is held in advance in step S2, the automatic transmission application program is activated by the activation command in the instruction object (step S7). The automatic transmission application program reads identification data uniquely provided in the mobile terminal, such as a terminal ID or a telephone number stored in a storage unit of the mobile terminal. Whether to read out the terminal ID or the telephone number or both of them can be determined by the automatic transmission application program or the setting of the portable terminal (step S8).
[0086]
The automatic transmission application program transmits the read identification data by a short-range wireless communication function such as infrared communication and non-contact IC communication (step S9). After receiving the completion signal indicating that the member registration process has been completed from the registration device (step S10), the member registration such as “member registration completed” (FIG. 9C) is completed on the display of the mobile terminal. Show what you did. If points can be accumulated by this member registration, a display such as "point accumulation server is available" may be displayed (step S11).
[0087]
If the member registration completion signal cannot be received even after the lapse of the predetermined time, the transmission process of step S9 is repeated by the number of restarts set in the program until the completion signal is received (step S12). . If the completion signal of the member registration cannot be received in the process of step S12, for example, as shown in FIG. 9E, the fact that the member registration is not completed is displayed (step S13).
[0088]
A processing example of the Web server and a processing example of the member server in the operation of the member registration will be described with reference to flowcharts of FIGS.
In the Web server, when there is a connection request from the portable terminal (Step S21), the Web server software receives the request (Step S22) and notifies the middleware (Step S23). In the middleware, the CGI is activated, or an API or a component software such as Java (registered trademark) is used to request an application server, which is a database server, to search for an automatic transmission application program using an SQL statement (step S24). Then, the automatic transmission application program is downloaded (step S25).
[0089]
When using CGI, a display screen is created by HTML (step S26), and the downloaded automatic transmission application program and the created display screen are transmitted to the portable terminal (step S27).
[0090]
Upon receiving the identification data from the mobile terminal (step S31), the member server searches the member database for registration information (step S32) and determines whether or not the member has already been registered (step S33).
[0091]
If the member is not registered as a result of the search of the member database, the member information is recorded in the member database using the identification data (step S34). When a predetermined service is permitted by member registration using identification data, a change in a database portion relating to the permitted service is permitted. For example, when a service such as accumulation of points is permitted, accumulation of points in the member database is permitted (step S35). After the recording in the member database is completed, a notification of the completion of the member registration is transmitted to the registered device (step S36).
[0092]
If the member is registered as a result of the search of the member database, the member database is searched to determine whether the member is a temporary member registration based on identification data or a regular member registration based on personal information (step S37). ).
[0093]
As a result of the search, if a temporary member is registered, a notification that the temporary member has been registered is transmitted to the registered device (step S38). If the result of the search indicates that the member has been registered as a regular member, the number of accumulated points is read out (step S39), a notification that the member has been registered as a regular member, and the number of accumulated points is transmitted to the registered device (step S40). .
[0094]
Next, another mode of transmitting identification data from a portable terminal to a registered device will be described with reference to FIG. In this transmission mode, a display provided in the mobile terminal is used, and transmission is performed using characters and images displayed on the display. In addition, FIG. 12 shows an example in which, as in the example of FIG. 4, the registration device is installed in the between-the-chamber service device 7 that is installed between the so-called sand machines of the gaming machines. The inter-chamber service device 7 shown in FIG. 7 is an example of an inter-chamber lending machine, and includes a display unit 7a for displaying a light, a display unit 7b for displaying the number, a bill slot 7c, a bill slot 7d, a tray 7e, and the like. Is provided.
[0095]
The registration device 4 is incorporated and installed in the inter-chamber service device 7, and an imaging device 4d such as a CCD camera is provided on the front panel in addition to the communication port 4c for performing the short-range wireless communication described above.
[0096]
The characters and numbers displayed on the display 2f of the mobile terminal can be the characters and numbers of the identification data, or the encrypted characters, numbers and symbols, or the image is based on the identification data and according to a predetermined rule. It is formed. By directing the display 2f toward the imaging device 4d (FIG. 12B), the imaging device 4d captures characters, numbers, or images displayed on the display 2f of the mobile terminal 2 and uses image processing means (not shown). Form image data. The registration device 4 obtains identification data by subjecting image data formed from characters, numbers, symbols, and images displayed on the display 2f to image processing by image processing means (not shown).
[0097]
In the case of transmitting the identification data, the mobile terminal has a function of displaying the identification data on a display, and the user performs the operation of displaying the identification data on the display, thereby transmitting the identification data. Start.
[0098]
Next, another embodiment of the member registration of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 13 is a relationship diagram for explaining a flow of data performed among the portable terminal, the registration device, the Web server, the application server, and the member server in another operation of the member registration of the present invention. The numbers shown in parentheses in the following description correspond to the numbers in FIG.
[0099]
In another form of member registration of the present invention, an automatic transmission application program for performing member registration is obtained from a Web server homepage or the like, and the member registration is performed using the automatic transmission application program obtained on the registration device. Is what you do. In addition, by acquiring a member registration code together with an automatic transmission application program from a Web server homepage, and registering the member using the member registration code, the association between the address of the portable terminal held by the user and the member registration is established. In addition to being able to do so, benefits can be given to users at the time of member registration.
[0100]
The homepage of the Web server is accessed from the portable terminal (21), and the menu transmitted from the homepage is displayed (22, 23). The member registration guide is selected from the displayed menu and requested to the Web server (24). Based on the request (25), the Web server creates an SQL sentence using an API, Java (registered trademark), or the like, transmits it to the database server (26), and accesses the database server (27). The database server transmits the requested automatic transmission application program to the Web server (28).
[0101]
The Web server sets the code for member registration and transmits the received automatic transmission application program to the mobile terminal (29), and the mobile terminal downloads the automatic transmission application program (31). Further, a code for member registration is transmitted to the member server (30).
[0102]
When using the gaming facility, the user can register as a member by using the automatic transmission application program previously downloaded to the mobile terminal by the above operation.
[0103]
The registration device installed in the game facility transmits the command object by a short-range wireless communication function such as infrared communication and non-contact IC communication, as in FIG. In this form, the instruction object comprises an activation command (32). The mobile terminal receives the command object (33), and automatically starts the automatic transmission application program according to the start command in the command object (34). The automatic transmission application program reads the identification data unique to the mobile terminal (35), and transmits the read identification data and the acquired code for member registration to the registration device (36).
[0104]
The registration device transfers the identification data and the code for member registration to the member server (37). The member server receives the identification data and the code for member registration (38), performs a member registration process based on the identification data (39), and performs a specific process of giving a benefit to the user by the member registration code. The specific processing includes, for example, storing points in the storage points in advance (40).
After the processing is completed, the end of the member registration and the contents of the privilege are transmitted to the registration device (41), and the contents are displayed on the portable terminal (42).
[0105]
ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to the member registration method and member registration system of this invention, a temporary member registration can be performed by simple registration and a part of member's privilege can be used. For example, member benefits such as accumulating points, referencing points, browsing services, and providing information can be used. After the provisional member registration, perform the prescribed procedure to complete the main member registration and use it for temporary member registration and main member registration so as to use member benefits such as withdrawing accumulated points and converting to premiums By providing a difference in the privilege contents that can be provided, the user can select the benefit enjoyment at each stage, and the game manager can increase the number of members in multiple stages, By switching from a temporary member to a primary member, it is possible to reduce a psychological barrier when directly registering as a primary member and increase the number of primary members.
[0106]
According to the present invention, a member registration procedure can be facilitated, and a user can be registered in a format that does not directly represent the user.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram for explaining an entire configuration of a member registration system of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram for explaining a configuration of a main part of the portable terminal of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a schematic block diagram for explaining a configuration of a main part of the registration device of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a communication state by short-range wireless communication between the portable terminal of the present invention and a registration device.
FIG. 5 is a schematic block diagram for explaining a configuration of a main part of a member server of the present invention.
FIG. 6 is a data example of a member database according to the present invention.
FIG. 7 is a relationship diagram for explaining a flow of data performed among a mobile terminal, a registration device, a Web server, an application server, and a member server in a member registration operation of the present invention.
FIG. 8 is a flowchart for explaining processing of the portable terminal of the present invention.
FIG. 9 is a diagram for explaining a display example of the mobile terminal of the present invention.
FIG. 10 is a flowchart for explaining the processing of the Web server of the present invention.
FIG. 11 is a flowchart for explaining processing of the member server of the present invention.
FIG. 12 is a diagram for explaining another mode of transmitting identification data from a portable terminal to a registration device.
FIG. 13 is a relation diagram for explaining a flow of data performed among a portable terminal, a registration device, a Web server, an application server, and a member server in another member registration operation of the present invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
1 Membership registration system
2,2A-2D mobile terminal
2a control unit
2b Communication unit
2c storage unit
2d operation unit
2e Display section
2f display
3 Member registration device
4,4A-4D registration equipment
4a Control unit
4b Communication unit
4c communication port
4d imaging unit
5 Member server
5a control unit
5b Communication unit
5c registration section
5e corresponding part
5d member database
6 Premium POS
6a Control unit
6b Communication unit
7 Service equipment between cars
7a, 7b display unit
7c Bill slot
7d money slot
7e saucer
8 gaming machines
9 Calculator
10 Server
11 Web server
12 Service server
13 Application Server

Claims (20)

In the member registration method of registering a member from a mobile terminal,
A member registration method characterized by automatically acquiring identification data uniquely provided by a mobile terminal, and performing member registration using the identification data as member registration data. The member registration method according to claim 1, wherein the identification data is automatically obtained by activating an automatic transmission application program of the mobile terminal based on an external signal. 3. The member registration method according to claim 2, wherein when the mobile terminal acquires the URL information, an application program for automatic download starts, and downloads the automatic transmission application program from a server. 4. The member registration method according to claim 1, wherein the identification data is transmitted and received by short-range wireless communication. The member registration method according to claim 4, wherein the short-range wireless communication is infrared communication or non-contact IC communication. In a member registration system that performs member registration from a mobile terminal,
Holding means for holding identification data unique to the mobile terminal,
A member registration system comprising: transmission / reception means for reading and transmitting identification data from the holding means based on an external activation signal. The portable terminal includes an automatic transmission application program that defines a procedure of a transmission / reception unit that identifies an activation signal, reads identification data from the holding unit based on the activation signal, and transmits the read identification data. The member registration system according to claim 6, characterized in that: The member registration system according to claim 7, wherein the automatic transmission application program is recorded in a mobile terminal in advance or downloaded from an external server. The mobile terminal has a function of automatically connecting to an external server, automatically connecting to a server of the URL based on URL information obtained from outside, and downloading an automatic transmission application program from the server. Item 8. The member registration system according to Item 8. The transmitting and receiving means has a short-range wireless communication function,
The member registration system according to any one of claims 6 to 9, wherein the short-range wireless communication function receives an activation signal and URL information, and transmits identification data. In a member registration system that performs member registration from a mobile terminal to a member registration device,
The member registration device,
Between the portable terminal, transmitting and receiving means for transmitting an activation signal for transmitting the identification data unique to the portable terminal to the portable terminal, receiving the identification data transmitted by the portable terminal,
Recording means for recording the received identification data as member registration data. The member registration system according to claim 11, wherein the recording unit includes a member server connected to a plurality of transmission / reception units. 13. The member according to claim 11, wherein the transmission / reception unit transmits, as a command object, URL information of a server holding an automatic transmission application program that defines a procedure for transmitting identification data, together with an activation signal. Registration system. 14. The member registration system according to claim 11, wherein the transmission / reception unit includes a communication port for performing short-range wireless communication, and performs short-range wireless communication with a portable terminal. . In a member registration system that performs member registration from a mobile terminal,
The portable terminal includes holding means for holding identification data unique to the portable terminal, and transmission / reception means for reading and transmitting identification data from the holding means based on an external activation signal,
Transmitting and receiving means for transmitting, to the portable terminal, an activation signal for transmitting identification data unique to the portable terminal, and receiving the identification data transmitted by the portable terminal, between the member registration device and the portable terminal; And a recording unit for recording the received identification data as member registration data. Both the portable terminal and the member registration device have a short-range wireless communication function. By using the short-range wireless communication function, an activation signal and URL information are transmitted from the member registration device to the portable terminal, and the identification data is transmitted from the portable terminal to the member registration device. 16. The member registration system according to claim 15, wherein 17. The device according to claim 6, wherein the identification data is a terminal ID uniquely set for each device of the mobile terminal and / or a communication number for specifying the mobile terminal in communication. Member registration system described in one. 17. The member registration system according to claim 10, wherein the short-range wireless communication function is infrared communication or non-contact IC communication. The mobile terminal is a mobile phone, and the registration device is provided in at least one of a gaming machine, a prize management POS, a card processing device, a counter, a stand-to-frame service device installed between the gaming machines. The member registration system according to any one of claims 6 to 18, characterized by: 20. The member registration system according to claim 19, wherein communication between the portable terminal and the registration device is performed by infrared communication or non-contact IC communication.

Images