JP2004302952A - Device and method for issuing coupon - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a menu picture for quickly issuing a coupon. <P>SOLUTION: A terminal device 1 is provided with: a coupon information database 20 in which the sales promotion information data of a plurality of stores are stored; a printer 4 for issuing a coupon in which the sales promotion information of one of the plurality of stores is described; and a display control part 11 for displaying a menu picture including menus hierarchically constituted in order to select one coupon, and an image for directly selecting a specific coupon. The printer 4 issues a coupon selected on the menu picture. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a technique for issuing a coupon with a so-called KIOSK terminal or the like, and particularly to a menu screen for issuing a coupon.
[0002]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Among touch panel-type KIOSK terminals that are often installed in front of stations, convenience stores, customer collection facilities, and the like, there is a type that issues a coupon ticket that allows a customer to receive a privilege at a store. There are many coupons that can be issued by KIOSK terminals. Therefore, the KIOSK terminal provides a menu screen for selecting a coupon, and the user uses this to select a desired coupon.
[0003]
Here, the menu screen is often hierarchical, and it is necessary for the user to perform an input operation according to the hierarchy before reaching the desired coupon, and it takes time until the coupon is issued. .
[0004]
An object of the present invention is to provide a menu screen for quickly issuing a coupon.
[0005]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In the coupon ticket issuing device according to one embodiment of the present invention, first storage means storing sales promotion information of a plurality of stores and sales promotion information of one of the plurality of stores are described. Control means for displaying on a display device a menu screen including ticket issuing means for issuing a coupon, a hierarchical menu for selecting one coupon, and an image for directly selecting a specific coupon. The ticket issuing means issues a coupon ticket selected on the menu screen. Thus, a specific coupon can be issued with a single touch of the user. Further, since a hierarchical menu and an image from which a specific coupon can be directly selected are displayed, it is possible to select a coupon according to a conventional hierarchy.
[0006]
In a preferred embodiment, the first storage unit further includes information indicating the location of the store, the ticket issuing device stores information indicating the location of the ticket issuing device, Specific coupon selecting means for determining the specific coupon based on the location of the ticket issuing device and the location of the store may be further provided. Thus, a coupon at a store close to the ticket issuing device can be issued with one touch.
[0007]
In a preferred embodiment, the ticket issuing device further includes a third storage unit that stores ticketing information indicating a past record of issuing a coupon ticket, and the specific coupon selecting unit includes the ticketing information, a location of the ticketing device. The specific coupon may also be determined based on the location of the store. As a result, frequently issued coupons can be issued with one touch.
[0008]
In a preferred embodiment, the specific coupon selecting unit may determine the specific coupon based on a ticket issuing time, a location of the ticket issuing device, and a location of the shop. Thereby, a suitable coupon can be issued with one touch according to the issue time.
[0009]
In a preferred embodiment, the apparatus further comprises identification information acquisition means for acquiring identification information of a user who uses the ticketing device, wherein the ticketing information storage means stores the ticketing information in association with user identification information, and stores the ticketing information for each user. The specific coupon selecting means, based on the user identification information acquired by the identification information acquisition means, ticketing information associated with the user identification information, the location of the ticketing device and the location of the store Alternatively, the specific coupon may be determined. As a result, coupons that are frequently issued by each user by themselves can be issued with one touch.
[0010]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, a terminal device 1 having a coupon ticket printing function according to an embodiment to which the present invention is applied will be described with reference to the drawings. This terminal device 1 is preferably used, for example, as an information processing terminal for business use (a so-called KIOSK terminal or the like). The terminal device 1 includes, for example, an input device 2, a display device 3, a printer 4, a card reader 5, and an information processing device 10, as shown in FIG.
[0011]
The input device 2 and the display device 3 can be realized using, for example, a touch panel and an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) installed on the back surface thereof. The printer 4 prints and outputs a coupon as described below. The card reader 5 is a device that reads information recorded on a magnetic card, an IC card, or the like. In the present embodiment, for example, the card reader 5 reads the user ID from an IC card or the like in which the user ID or the like is recorded. The IC card and the card reader 5 may be either a contact type or a non-contact type.
[0012]
The information processing apparatus 10 is configured by, for example, a general-purpose computer system, and individual components or functions in the information processing apparatus 10 described below are realized, for example, by executing a computer program.
[0013]
The information processing device 10 includes a display control unit 11, a ticketing processing unit 12, an authentication processing unit 13, a map database 14, a location information storage unit 15, a clock unit 16, a coupon information database 20, a ticketing database. 30 and a user database 40.
[0014]
The coupon information database 20 includes a coupon table 21 and a store table 22. The coupon table 21 stores sales promotion information for a plurality of stores for each store. The sales promotion information is printed on a coupon, for example. The coupon table 21 includes, for example, as shown in FIG. 2A, a coupon code 211 indicating a type of a coupon ticket, a store code 212, incentive information 213 for sales promotion, the number of issued tickets 214, The data items include the number of issued tickets 215 and a sales promotion flag 216 indicating that sales promotion activities are particularly strengthened.
[0015]
The incentive information 213 is, for example, a privilege that a customer who brings a coupon can receive at a store. The specific contents of the incentive information 213 (for example, what products and services are targeted for the benefit, how much the discount rate should be, and the like) can be independently determined by each store. The incentive information 213 and the sales promotion flag 216 may be updatable. For example, the incentive information 213 and the sales promotion flag 216 of the own store can be updated by accessing from a mobile phone (not shown) of a store manager or the like.
[0016]
The issued ticket number 214 is the number of issued coupon tickets. The maximum number of issued tickets 215 is the maximum number of coupons issued by the terminal device 1. Accordingly, the difference between the number of tickets 215 and the number 214 of tickets is the number of tickets that can be issued at that time.
[0017]
The store table 22 stores information on a store for which the terminal device 1 issues a coupon. For example, as shown in FIG. 2B, the data item includes a store code 221, a store name 222, a store address 223, a store telephone number 224, and a store category 225. The store category 225 is a store classification, which includes, for example, a bar, a fast food store, and entertainment.
[0018]
The ticketing database 30 includes a ticketing history table 31 and a tallying table 32. The ticketing history table 31 stores the ticketing history of the coupon issued by the ticketing device 1. For example, as shown in FIG. 3A, the data item includes a ticket issue number 311, a coupon code 312, a ticket issue date and time 313, and a user ID 314. One record is additionally stored in the ticketing history data every time the ticketing processing unit 12 issues a ticket.
[0019]
The tallying table 32 stores a tallying result obtained by tallying the ticketing histories stored in the ticketing history table 31 for a predetermined period. For example, data in which the number of tickets issued during the predetermined period is tabulated for each predetermined tabulation unit is stored. This tallying process is performed by, for example, a tallying unit (not shown). The aggregation table 32 has, for example, as shown in FIG. 3B, a coupon code 321, a ticketing time period 322, a user ID 323, and a ticket number 324 as data items. That is, here, the number of sheets is tabulated for each time slot issued and for each user who issued a ticket. The ticketing time slot 322 may be, for example, a ticketing time slot within a day (for example, 10 am to 11:00 am), or may be a unit of day, month, or the like.
[0020]
The location information storage unit 15 stores information indicating the location where the terminal device 1 is installed. The information indicating the location is, for example, the address where the terminal device 1 is installed.
[0021]
The map database 14 stores map information. This map information is used to determine the distance (distance) from the place where the terminal device 1 is installed to the store, as described later.
[0022]
A user table 41 is stored in the user database 40. The user table 41 stores attribute information and the like regarding registered users. For example, as shown in FIG. 4, the user table 41 has, as data items, a user ID 411 that is user identification information, a password 412, and a keyword 413 indicating that the user is interested.
[0023]
The authentication processing unit 13 performs user authentication. For example, when the card reader 5 reads a user ID from a predetermined membership card and receives an input of a password from the input device 2, the authentication processing unit 13 performs an authentication process as to whether the user is a registered user.
[0024]
The ticketing processing unit 12 causes the printer 4 to print a coupon, and performs a process for issuing a coupon. For example, when receiving the notification of the coupon code from the display control unit 11, the ticketing processing unit 12 acquires the incentive information 213 corresponding to the coupon code from the coupon table 21, and causes the printer 4 to print and issue the coupon ticket. I do. Further, the ticketing processing unit 12 adds ticketing data of the issued coupon to the ticketing history table 31.
[0025]
The display control unit 11 causes the display device 3 to display a menu screen and the like. For example, the display control unit 11 causes the display device 3 to display a menu screen 100 for selecting a coupon, for example, as shown in FIG. The menu screen 100 has a hierarchical area 110 for displaying a hierarchical menu and a direct area 120 for displaying a direct menu.
[0026]
In the hierarchical menu, a menu for selecting a coupon is hierarchized. In the example of FIG. 5A, menu buttons 111, 112, and 113 of three categories (fast food, entertainment, and izakaya) are displayed as a hierarchical menu. When any one of the menu buttons 111, 112, and 113 is selected, the display control unit 11 transitions to a selection screen for a coupon ticket belonging to the category. For example, when the fast food 111 is selected here, the display control unit 11 obtains the store name 222 of the store having the same store category 225 (the store category is fast food), and shows the store name 222 in FIG. Such a fast food restaurant coupon selection screen 200 is displayed on the display device 3. On the selection screen 200, a selection button 210 of a fast food restaurant or a coupon provided by the fast food restaurant is displayed. Here, when any one of the buttons 210 is selected, a coupon code 211 corresponding to the selected button 210 is notified to the ticket issuing processing unit 12, and a coupon of the shop is issued.
In the example of FIG. 5A, a button 121 for selecting coupon A and a button 122 for selecting coupon B are displayed on the direct menu. When the button 121 is selected, the coupon code 211 of the coupon A is notified to the issuance processing unit 12, and the coupon A is issued from the printer 4. Similarly, when the button 122 is selected, a coupon B is issued from the printer 4. Here, two types of coupons can be selected as a direct menu, but this may be one type or a plurality of types.
[0027]
Using the direct menu, the user of the terminal device can directly select a specific coupon. That is, the user can obtain the coupon by performing the input operation once. As described above, the direct menu is different from the hierarchical menu which requires a plurality of input operations in accordance with the hierarchy in that a coupon is issued in one step.
[0028]
Here, the display control unit 11 selects which coupon is to be displayed as a direct menu. The selection process will be described below with reference to flowcharts shown in FIGS.
[0029]
In the first selection process shown in FIG. 6, first, the display control unit 11 acquires the aggregation table 32 from the ticketing database 30 (S11). Then, a predetermined number (for example, the top five) of coupons in which the ranking of the number of issued tickets by coupon code is higher is extracted (S12). The display control unit 11 acquires the information on the shop that provides the coupon extracted here from the shop table 22 of the coupon information database 20, and further acquires the location information of the terminal device 1 from the location information storage unit 15. (S13). The display control unit 11 obtains the distance from the terminal device 1 to each store using the map information, the location information, and the store address of the map database 14 (S14). Then, the coupons of the two stores closest to each other are selected as recommended coupons (S15).
[0030]
Here, irrespective of the distance between the terminal device 1 and the store, the two highest-ranked tickets may be set as the recommended coupons.
[0031]
Next, in the second selection process shown in FIG. 7, the display control unit 11 acquires the current date and time from the clock unit 16 (S21). Further, the display control unit 11 acquires the aggregation table 32 from the ticketing database 30 (S22). Then, the display control unit 11 extracts a coupon in which the number of issued tickets by coupon code is higher in the ticketing time zone 322 corresponding to the current date and time, and selects it as a recommended coupon (S23, S24). As a result, coupons that are frequently issued in each time zone such as lunch time, evening, and night can be provided as a direct menu.
[0032]
In addition, if the ranking is displayed for each day of the week or season as ticketing time zone and the top coupon is the recommended coupon, it is possible to offer coupon tickets for popular entertainment facilities on the weekend as a direct menu on the weekend or the second half of the week . Further, as in the example of FIG. 6, a coupon of a store having a short distance from the terminal device 1 may be selected from the coupons with the highest number of issued tickets.
[0033]
Next, a third selection process shown in FIG. 8 will be described. When the user using the terminal device 1 causes the card reader 5 to read the user ID, the display control unit 11 acquires the user ID (S31). The display control unit 11 acquires the attribute information of the user from the user table 41 of the user database 40 based on the acquired user ID (S32). Here, the keyword 413 included in the attribute information is extracted (S33), a coupon table is searched based on the keyword, and coupons related to the keyword are extracted (S34).
[0034]
Thereby, a coupon that meets each user's preference can be provided as a direct menu. Here, similarly to the example of FIG. 6, a coupon of a store that is close to the terminal device 1 may be selected from coupons related to the keyword.
[0035]
Next, a fourth selection process shown in FIG. 9 will be described. As in the third process, the display control unit 11 acquires a user ID (S41). Then, the display control unit 11 uses the user ID acquired here as a key, extracts a record having the same user ID from the aggregation table 32 of the ticketing database 30, and acquires the number of issued tickets 324 (S42). Then, the two coupon codes 321 with the highest number of issued tickets by coupon code are extracted (S43), and the extracted coupon codes 321 are set as recommended coupons (S44).
[0036]
As a result, a coupon that is frequently used by each user can be provided as a direct menu to each user. Here, as in the example of FIG. 6, a coupon of a store that is closer to the terminal device 1 may be selected from coupons with a higher number of issued tickets.
[0037]
Next, a fifth selection process shown in FIG. 10 will be described. First, the display control unit 11 acquires the coupon table 21 from the coupon information database 20 (S51). Then, in the coupon table 21, the sales promotion flag 216 is turned on, and the coupon code 211 that is the target of strengthening the sales promotion activity is extracted (S52). The coupon extracted here is set as a recommended coupon (S53). Thus, a coupon that the store wants to enhance sales promotion can be preferentially set as a recommended coupon.
[0038]
Here, similarly to the example of FIG. 6, a coupon of a store whose distance from the terminal device 1 is short may be selected from coupons that are targeted for strengthening the sales promotion activity. Further, the fifth selection processing and any of the above-described first to fourth selection processing can be performed in combination.
[0039]
Note that, in any of the above selection processes, those for which the number of remaining coupon tickets that can be issued are 0 may be excluded from the selection process.
[0040]
The embodiments of the present invention described above are exemplifications for describing the present invention, and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention only to those embodiments. Those skilled in the art can implement the present invention in various other modes without departing from the gist of the present invention.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an overall configuration of a terminal device according to an embodiment to which the present invention is applied.
FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a structure of a table constituting a coupon information database.
FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of the structure of a table constituting a ticketing database.
FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of the structure of a table constituting a user database.
FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of a screen displayed on a display device.
FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a first process of selecting a direct menu.
FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a second process for selecting a direct menu.
FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a third process for selecting a direct menu.
FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a fourth process for selecting a direct menu.
FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing a fifth process for selecting a direct menu.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Terminal device, 2 ... Input device, 3 ... Display device, 4 ... Printer, 5 ... Card reader, 11 ... Display control unit, 12 ... Ticketing processing unit, 13 ... Authentication processing unit, 14 ... Map database, 15 ... Location Information storage unit, 16: clock unit, 20: coupon information database, 30: ticketing database, 40: user database.

Claims (7)

First storage means for storing sales promotion information of a plurality of stores;
Issuance means for issuing a coupon in which sales promotion information of one of the plurality of stores is described,
Control means for displaying a menu screen including a menu that is layered to select one coupon and an image for directly selecting a specific coupon on a display device,
The ticket issuing device is a coupon ticket issuing device that issues a coupon ticket selected on the menu screen. The first storage unit further includes information indicating a location of the store,
The ticket issuing device,
Second storage means for storing information indicating the location of the ticketing device;
The coupon ticket issuing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a specific coupon selecting unit that determines the specific coupon based on the location of the ticket issuing apparatus and the location of the store. A third storage unit that stores ticketing information indicating a past record of issuing a coupon ticket by the ticketing unit;
3. The coupon ticket issuing device according to claim 2, wherein the specific coupon selecting means determines the specific coupon ticket based on the ticket issuing information, the location of the ticket issuing device, and the location of the shop. The coupon ticket issuing device according to claim 2, wherein the specific coupon selecting means determines the specific coupon ticket based on a ticket issuing time, a location of the ticket issuing device, and a location of the shop. An identification information acquisition unit that acquires identification information of a user who uses the ticket issuing device,
The ticketing information storage means stores the ticketing information in association with user identification information and for each user,
The specific coupon selection means is based on the user identification information acquired by the identification information acquisition means, ticketing information associated with the user identification information, the location of the ticketing device, and the location of the store. The coupon ticket issuing device according to claim 2, wherein the coupon ticket is determined. Displaying a menu screen including a hierarchical menu for selecting one coupon and a reception image for directly selecting a specific coupon on a display device,
Receiving a plurality of inputs according to the hierarchical menu and, when one coupon is selected, issuing the selected coupon;
Receiving one input for the reception image, directly issuing a coupon ticket associated with the reception image. When executed on a computer,
Displaying a menu screen including a hierarchical menu for selecting one coupon and a reception image for directly selecting a specific coupon on a display device,
Receiving a plurality of inputs according to the hierarchical menu and, when one coupon is selected, issuing the selected coupon;
Receiving one input for the reception image, directly issuing a coupon ticket associated with the reception image, the computer program for issuing a coupon ticket.

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