JP2009020579A - Commodity guarantee system, id management gateway, commodity guarantee method, program and recording medium - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a commodity guarantee system having high convenience to a user receiving commodity guarantee service by allowing all enterprises to easily provide the commodity guarantee service without imposing a load of system construction even if each of the enterprise has an independent network. <P>SOLUTION: The commodity guarantee system includes company servers, store terminals, user terminals, and an ID management gateway. The ID management gateway has: a guarantee identification information management means imparting guarantee identification information in each commodity, and associating and managing the guarantee identification information and the company guaranteeing the commodity; a user identification information management means associating and managing user identification information and the company guaranteeing the commodity based on the user identification information and the guarantee identification information from the user terminal; and an identification destination transmission means receiving information input by the store terminal or the user terminal, identifying the company that is a transmission destination of the received information based on the information managed by the user identification information management means or the guarantee identification information management means, and transmitting the information to the company server. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a product guarantee system, an ID management gateway, a product guarantee method, a program, and a recording medium, and in particular, a gateway that can be used by all operators connected to a network is provided with a function for identifying warranty data and user data. The present invention relates to a technology for guaranteeing products using a gateway.

  Currently, almost all industrial products are attached with a warranty card, but at the time of product sales at the retail store, the warranty card with hand-written sales date and store stamp stamp is handed to the purchasing user. Guarantee of products according to the user's request. Accordingly, a company that provides a product warranty service cannot obtain information on the warranty start date (date of sale of the product) of the sold product or personal information of the user who purchased the product, and actively contacts the user from the company. For example, it is difficult to provide an effective product guarantee service to the user.

  The company providing the product upgrades the software and firmware of the product in order to repair and maintain the quality of the product. Due to the circumstances described above, when providing software or firmware to the user, the user Cannot manage information such as whether the company has a warranty for the product and whether the warranty is in the warranty period. Also, in order to implement an IC (Integrated Circuit) in which an identification number is stored in a warranty card, read IC information from a reader / writer, and realize a product warranty service, each company prepares a reader / writer and stores the terminal. It is also necessary to prepare a network between the terminal and the company. It is a heavy burden for one company to prepare the equipment.

  On the other hand, in Patent Document 1, for example, without using a dedicated reader / writer, the purchase information and repair information of the device are stored, or the information stored in the device is read to manage the warranty. A facilitating invention is disclosed. In the present invention, in a home network system composed of IRD and DVCR, when IRD installs DVCR warranty card FCM, DVCR purchase information and repair information are read from and written to nonvolatile memory of DVCR. Management is performed.

  Further, for example, in Patent Document 2, for a product manufactured by a manufacturer in-house, customer information regarding which customer is sold from a dealer and warranty information on the product sold to the customer can be efficiently obtained in a short time. An invention that enables the following sales promotion activities to be performed efficiently is disclosed. According to the present invention, in a buyer information management system in which a dealer terminal having a card reader / writer and an input means, an information server having a warranty information database and a customer information database, and a manufacturer terminal are connected via a communication network, the card reader / writer After the ID identification information read in step 1 and the product number input by the input means are transmitted through the network, the ID identification number and the product number are associated with each other and registered in the warranty information database and the customer information database for management. ing.

  Further, for example, Patent Document 3 discloses an invention that enables a purchaser to easily check warranty information about a purchased product at any time. According to the present invention, in a guarantee information confirmation system including a management computer, a terminal device, a portable terminal, and a non-contact type electronic tag attached to a product, the electronic tag stores product identification information and access point information. The mobile computer accesses the management computer based on the access point information read from the electronic tag by the reader and sends a display request for the product identification information and the warranty information. The management computer then sends the warranty information based on the product identification information. The warranty information is confirmed by searching the database and sending it to the mobile terminal.

For example, Patent Document 4 discloses an invention that enables a non-contact information medium attached to a product to be used as a guarantee after the product is sold. According to the present invention, when a product is sold in a POS system of a store consisting of a POS terminal, a store server, and a wireless tag attached to the product, the POS terminal reads and writes from the wireless tag with the wireless tag reader / writer. When the sales data is registered and the warranty information is written and the contents of the warranty are confirmed, the POS terminal reads the warranty information from the wireless tag with the wireless tag reader / writer and confirms whether the confirmation date has passed the warranty due date. It is carried out.
JP 2001-265888 A JP 2002-133080 A Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2005-234981 JP 2005-310047 A

  The invention disclosed in Patent Document 1 facilitates management of a warranty without using a dedicated reader / writer, but only manages device purchase information and repair information in a home network system. In addition, the inventions disclosed in Patent Document 2 and Patent Document 3 use the product identification information and user identification information (ID identification number) to manage warranty information and customer information, and use them effectively in future sales promotion activities. However, it is easy for users to check warranty information, but only one company forms a management system with a dealer or user via a network, and each company with its own network It is not a system for building product warranty services. In addition, the invention disclosed in Patent Document 4 uses a wireless tag used in merchandise sales processing as a storage means for warranty information, but it is assumed that confirmation of warranty details is performed at a dealer. There is a lack of convenience for users who receive product guarantee services.

  Therefore, in view of the circumstances described above, the present invention can easily provide a product guarantee service without any system construction load even if the company has its own network, and receive the product guarantee service. It is an object of the present invention to provide a product guarantee system that is convenient for the user, an ID management gateway, a product guarantee method, a program, and a recording medium used in the system.

  In order to achieve such an object, the present invention includes a company server that manages product warranty service information and customer information, a store terminal that receives input of warranty identification information that is information for identifying a warranty for each sold product, A user terminal that receives input of user identification information and warranty card identification information, which is information for identifying a user who has purchased a product, and an ID management gateway that manages the warranty card identification information and the user identification information are connected via a network. In this product guarantee system, the ID management gateway assigns the warranty certificate identification information for each product in response to the identification information grant request of the company server, and guarantees the warranty certificate identification information and the product to which the information is attached. Guarantee identification information management means for managing in association with the company, warranty identification information and user information from the user terminal Based on the identification information, the user identification information management means for managing the user identification information and the company that guarantees the product purchased by the user in association with each other, and the information input at the store terminal or the user terminal are received, and the warranty An identification destination transmission unit that identifies a company that is a transmission destination of received information based on information managed by the identification information management unit or the user identification information management unit, and transmits the received information to the company server. This is a product guarantee system characterized by

  As another aspect, the present invention relates to a company server that manages product warranty service information and customer information, a store terminal that receives input of warranty certificate identification information that is information for identifying a warranty for each sold product, It is an ID management gateway that is connected via a network to a user terminal that accepts input of user identification information and warranty card identification information, which is information for identifying a purchased user, and constitutes a product warranty system, and identification information of a company server In addition to granting warranty identification information for each product in response to the grant request, warranty certificate identification information management means for managing the warranty certificate identification information in association with the company that guarantees the product to which the information is given, and a user terminal Guarantee the user identification information and the product purchased by the user based on the warranty identification information and the user identification information User identification information management means that associates and manages the company, and information input at the store terminal or user terminal is received and received based on information managed by the warranty identification information management means or user identification information management means An ID management gateway comprising: identification destination transmission means for identifying a company that is an information transmission destination and transmitting the received information to a company server.

  As another aspect, the present invention relates to a company server that manages product warranty service information and customer information, a store terminal that receives input of warranty certificate identification information that is information for identifying a warranty for each sold product, A product warranty in which a user terminal that receives input of user identification information and warranty card identification information, which is information for identifying a purchased user, and an ID management gateway that manages the warranty card identification information and the user identification information are connected via a network This is a product guarantee method in the system. At the ID management gateway, warranty identification information is assigned to each product in response to a company server identification information grant request, and the warranty identification information and the product to which the information is assigned are guaranteed. Warranty identification information management step for managing the company in association with A user identification information management step for managing the user identification information and the company that guarantees the product purchased by the user in association with each other based on the document identification information and the user identification information, and information input at the store terminal or the user terminal. An identification destination transmission step for identifying a company that is a transmission destination of the received information and transmitting the received information to the company server based on the information received and managed by the warranty identification information management step or the user identification information management step; , A product guarantee method characterized by comprising:

  As another aspect, the present invention relates to a company server that manages product warranty service information and customer information, a store terminal that receives input of warranty certificate identification information that is information for identifying a warranty for each sold product, A product warranty in which a user terminal that receives input of user identification information and warranty card identification information, which is information for identifying a purchased user, and an ID management gateway that manages the warranty card identification information and the user identification information are connected via a network A program for a system that provides warranty identification information to an ID management gateway for each product in response to an identification information grant request from a company server, and guarantees the warranty identification information and the product to which the information is assigned. Warranty identification information management function that manages and associates with warranty identification information from the user terminal And based on the user identification information, the user identification information management function for managing the user identification information in association with the company that guarantees the product purchased by the user, and the information input at the store terminal or the user terminal are received, Based on information managed by the warranty identification information management function or the user identification information management function, an identification destination transmission function for identifying the company that is the transmission destination of the received information and transmitting the received information to the company server is realized. It is a program characterized by making it carry out.

  As another aspect, the present invention is a recording medium characterized by recording the above program and being readable by a computer.

  According to the present invention, even if a company has its own network, all companies can easily provide a product guarantee service without imposing a system construction load, and are highly convenient for users who receive the product guarantee service. A product guarantee system, an ID management gateway used in the system, a product guarantee method, a program, and a recording medium are provided.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  First, the configuration of the product guarantee system according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the configuration of the product guarantee system of this embodiment. Each company provides a product guarantee service using the product guarantee system 100. Specifically, each company provides a product guarantee service that guarantees the quality of the product 5 for a predetermined period, and a product that guarantees a predetermined period for compensation for defects, loss, or theft of the product 5 The warranty service is provided to the user who purchased the product 5 or the user who owns the product 5 by using the warranty card 6 attached to the product 5.

  The merchandise warranty system 100 includes a common base ID management gateway 11 that manages the identification number of the warranty card 6, a store terminal 31 installed in each store, a user terminal 1 operated by each user, and each company It is comprised from the company server 21 which is a server terminal to hold. The ID management gateway 11, the plurality of user terminals 1, the plurality of store terminals 31, and the plurality of company servers 21 are connected by a wireless or wired network 50.

  The ID management gateway 11 includes a control device 12 and constructs and manages a warranty information database system 13 and a reader / writer information database system 14. FIGS. 2D and 2E show items managed and stored by the guarantee information database system 13 and the reader / writer information database system 14, respectively. The control device 12 controls the ID management gateway 11.

  In the warranty information database system 13, the identification number of the warranty 6 attached to the product 5 by each company and the name of the company that provides the warranty for the product 5 are stored in association with each other as a data set. Has been. The ID management gateway 11 extracts the company name using the identification number of the warranty card 6, and transmits the identification number of the warranty card 6 and information accompanying it to the company server 21 of the extracted company name. The reader / writer information database system 14 stores the identification number of the reader / writer 3 and the name of the company that guarantees the product in association with each other as a single data set.

  The company servers 21 owned by the respective companies communicate with other terminals and servers via the network 7 and further provide a product guarantee service using the portal WEB site. The company server 21 is a customer who manages a product warranty service information database system 23 that manages individual products 5 that provide product warranty services, and personal information of users and product information of individual products 5 that the user purchases or holds. Two database systems of the information database system 24 are constructed and managed. 2B and 2C show items managed and stored by the product guarantee service information database system 23 and the customer information database system 24, respectively. The control device 22 controls the company server 21.

  In the product warranty service information database system 23, for each product, the product name, the product number consisting of alphanumeric characters identifying each product, the alphanumeric identification number of the warranty card, the free warranty period of the product, the inquiry about the product The telephone number of the call center that provides the service and the name of the person in charge providing the service are stored in association as a single data set.

  The identification number of the warranty 6 attached to each product 5 and the product number for identifying each product 5 are associated with each other in a one-to-one relationship. Product 5 is guaranteed individually.

  In order to carry out the merchandise warranty service, the identification number of the warranty card 6 consisting of alphanumeric characters for the number of merchandise 5 to be sold is prepared. Therefore, the product name, the product number consisting of alphanumeric characters that identify each product, the alphanumeric identification number of the warranty card, the free warranty period of the product, the telephone number of the call center that provides services such as inquiries about the product, etc. Assuming that the person-in-charge name is associated with one data set, the product guarantee service information database system 23 stores the associated data sets for the number of products 5 sold.

  The customer information database system 24 stores user personal information and product information of individual products 5 purchased or held by the user. The user's personal information includes the user's alphanumeric identification number, the user's name, gender, date of birth, address, telephone number, user terminal 1 terminal name, user terminal 1 alphanumeric model, user terminal 1 IP address of the user terminal 1 when the user terminal 1 is a mobile phone, and an identification number consisting of alphanumeric characters of the reader / writer 3 built in or external to the user terminal 1. The product information of each product 5 purchased or held by the user includes the product name, the product number consisting of alphanumeric characters identifying each product, the identification number consisting of alphanumeric characters of the warranty card 6, and the warranty of the product consisting of the date It consists of the start date, the free warranty period of the product that guarantees the product free of charge, and the name of the store that sold the product.

  User identification number, user name, gender, date of birth, address, telephone number, user terminal 1 terminal name, user terminal 1 alphanumeric model, user terminal 1 IP address, user terminal 1 is a mobile phone, a telephone number, an identification number consisting of alphanumeric characters of a reader / writer 3 built in or externally attached to the user's terminal 1, a product name, a product number consisting of alphanumeric characters for identifying individual products, a warranty card 6 A customer information database that associates the identification number consisting of alphanumeric characters, the date on which the warranty for the product is started, the warranty period for the product, and the name of the store where the product was sold as a set of data. Stored in system 24.

  A user terminal 1 installed at home or work is a mobile phone, a personal computer, or the like, and communicates with other terminals and servers via the network 7. The user terminal 1 includes a control device 2 that controls the terminal and a built-in or external reader / writer 3. The reader / writer 3 has an identification number made up of alphanumeric characters and is connected to the control device 2.

  The store terminal 31 installed in the store is a mobile phone, a personal computer, a POS terminal or the like, and communicates with other terminals and servers via the network 7. The store terminal 31 includes a control device 2 that controls the terminal and a built-in or external reader / writer 3. The reader / writer 3 has an identification number made up of alphanumeric characters and is connected to the control device 2.

  Next, the data flow in the product guarantee system of this embodiment will be described. FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining a data flow in the commodity guarantee system according to the present embodiment. In the product guarantee system 100, a large processing unit is divided into a first phase to a fourth phase.

  The first phase is a process performed between the company server 21 and the ID management gateway 11 after the manufacture of the product, and is a process of allocating the identification number of the warranty card and registering it as product warranty service information together with the product number and the like. The second phase is a process performed between the store terminal 31, the ID gateway 11 and the company server 21 at the time of product sales. The identification number of the warranty read at the store terminal 31 together with the product number and the product warranty period is used as customer information. Is registered as The third phase is a process performed between the user terminal 1, the ID gateway 11, and the company server 21 after purchasing the product. The user personal information input at the user terminal 1 is registered as customer information together with the reader / writer identification number. It is processing to do. The fourth phase is a process performed between the user terminal 1, the ID management gateway 11, and the company server 21 when providing the product warranty service. The fourth phase is based on the warranty read by the user terminal 1 and the reader / writer identification number. The company server 21 performs a product guarantee service.

  First, the first phase process will be described. First, the company server 21 transmits the company name and the number of products to be manufactured or sold to the ID management gateway 11 and requests to allocate the identification number of the guarantee. Upon receipt of the request, the ID management gateway 11 allocates the identification number of the guarantee for the number of products, and registers the information for the number of products in the warranty information database system 13 by associating each identification number with the company name. Here, the identification number of the guarantee and the product guarantee company name shown in FIG. 2D are registered (FIG. 3A). Then, the ID management gateway 11 transmits the identification information of the allocated warranty card to the company server 21.

  The company server 21 that has received the warranty identification information writes the identification number in the warranty certificate 6 with a reader / writer (not shown). Here, the identification number of the guarantee shown in FIG. 2A is registered (FIG. 3B). Further, the company side prints the identification number on the surface of the warranty card 6 while writing the identification number of the warranty card on the warranty card 6. As described above, the warranty card 6 has a card shape and an IC is mounted in the card. However, the IC card may be attached to the surface of the product package, or the IC may be embedded in the product itself if possible. .

  Further, the company server 21 associates the product name, product number, warranty card identification number, product warranty period, call center telephone number, and service person for each product and registers them in the product warranty service information database system 23. Here, the product name, product number, warranty card identification number, product warranty period, call center telephone number, and service person shown in FIG. 2B are registered (FIG. 3C). On the company side, a warranty card 6 is attached to each product to produce the product 5, and the product 5 is sold and displayed at a store or the like where the product is sold.

  Next, processing in the second phase will be described. When the merchandise sales process is performed at the store side, the store terminal 31 reads the warranty card 6 of the product 5 by the reader / writer 33, and acquires the identification number of the warranty card, the read date, and the store name. Then, the store terminal 31 transmits the acquired information to the ID management gateway 11.

  The ID management gateway 11 refers to the product warranty information database system 13, extracts the name of the company that guarantees the product from the identification number of the received warranty, and identifies the warranty received from the store terminal 31 to the company server 21 of the company Send the number, reading date, and store name.

  The company server 21 refers to the product warranty service information database system 23 and extracts the product name, product number, and product warranty period associated with the identification number of the warranty received from the ID management gateway 11. Then, the extracted product name, product number, product warranty period, identification number of the received warranty card, store name, and reading date are registered in the customer information database system 24. The reading date is registered as the warranty start date which is the start time of the product warranty service. Here, the product name, product number, warranty card identification number, product warranty period, store name, and warranty start date shown in FIG. 2C are registered (FIG. 3D).

  Next, the third phase process will be described. After the user purchases the product, the user terminal 1 reads the warranty card 6 attached to the product 5 with the reader / writer 3 to obtain the identification number of the warranty card. The user terminal 1 includes a user identification number, name, gender, date of birth, address, telephone number, terminal name, terminal model number, terminal IP address, terminal telephone number (in the case of a mobile phone), reader / writer User personal information consisting of an identification number is input and transmitted to the ID management gateway 11 together with the identification number of the guarantee.

  The ID management gateway 11 refers to the warranty information database system 13 and extracts the company name associated with the identification number of the received warranty card, and associates the received reader / writer identification number with the extracted company name. Register in the information database system 14. Here, the reader / writer identification number and merchandise guarantee company name shown in FIG. 2 (e) are registered (FIG. 3 (E)). Then, the warranty card identification number, reader / writer identification number, and other user personal information received from the user terminal 1 are transmitted to the company server 21 having the extracted company name.

  The company server 21 compares the identification number of the guarantee received from the ID management gateway 11 with the information registered in the product guarantee service information database system 23, and confirms that the identification number is properly registered. The company server 21 registers the reader / writer identification number and other user personal information received from the ID management gateway 11 in the customer information database system 24 in association with the warranty identification number. Here, the user identification number, user name, user gender, user date of birth, user address, user telephone number, terminal name, terminal model number, terminal IP address, terminal telephone number shown in FIG. ), The reader / writer identification number is registered (FIG. 3F).

  Next, the process in the fourth phase will be described. When the company provides the product guarantee service, the company server 21 notifies the user of the distribution of the upgraded software or firmware from the portal WEB site. The user who has received the notification accesses the company portal WEB site at the user terminal 1 and applies for downloading of upgraded software or firmware.

  The company server 21 that has received the application from the user terminal 1 makes a transmission request for the identification number of the warranty to the user terminal 1. The user terminal 1 reads the warranty card 6 with the reader / writer to acquire the identification number of the warranty card, and transmits the acquired identification number of the warranty card and the identification number of the reader / writer to the ID management gateway 11.

  The ID management gateway 11 refers to the reader / writer information database system 14 from the received identification number of the reader / writer, extracts the company name corresponding to the identification number, and sends the identification number of the warranty to the company server 21 of the extracted company. The reader / writer identification number is transmitted.

  The company server 21 compares the identification number of the guarantee received from the ID management gateway 11 with the information registered in the product guarantee service information database system 23, and confirms that the identification number is properly registered. Then, the warranty start date and product warranty period associated with the identification number of the warranty card are extracted from the customer information database system 24, and whether or not the product warranty service is free or paid when the download application is received. to decide.

  When the guarantee is free of charge, the user terminal 1 transmits the upgraded software or firmware to the user terminal 1 free of charge. In the case of a paid warranty, a message that the product warranty service is charged is notified after the free warranty period has elapsed, and after the user has paid for the price, the upgraded software or firmware is transmitted to the user terminal 1.

  Next, data transfer processing, data registration processing, and product guarantee processing in the product guarantee system of this embodiment will be described. Hereinafter, the processing flow will be described separately from the first phase to the fourth phase shown in FIG.

  First, the flow of processing in the first phase will be described. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the flow of data transfer processing and data registration processing in the first phase in the product guarantee system of the present embodiment. First, the company server 21 owned by each company transmits the name of the company that implements the product guarantee service and the number of products to be sold to the ID management gateway 11, and the number of products to be sold to the ID management gateway 11. An identification number consisting of alphanumeric characters for the warranty card 6 is requested (step S101).

  Then, the ID management gateway 11 prepares the identification numbers of the guarantees 6 for the number of products 5 to be sold, and transmits them to the company server 21 via the network 50 (step S102). Further, the ID management gateway 11 associates the identification number of the warranty card 6 and the company name of the product warranty execution as one data set and stores them in the warranty card information database (step S103).

  Subsequently, the company server 21 uses the identification number of the warranty 6 received from the ID management gateway 11 to write the identification number of the warranty on each warranty 6 of the product 5 to be sold by a reader / writer (not shown) ( Step S104). Further, the company prints the identification number of the warranty card 6 on the surface of the warranty card 6 and attaches one warranty card 6 to each product 5.

  Further, the company server 21 sets, for each product, a product name, a product number consisting of alphanumeric characters for identifying each product, an identification number consisting of alphanumeric characters of the warranty card 6 attached to the product, a free warranty period for the product, a call center Are associated with each other and stored in the commodity guarantee service information database (step S105). Then, the product 5 is wholesaled to a store or the like where the product is sold, and the product 5 is displayed.

  Next, the flow of processing in the second phase will be described. FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the flow of data transfer processing and data registration processing in the second phase in the product guarantee system of this embodiment. When the user brings the product 5 to be purchased to a cash register that performs sales processing at a store or the like, the person in charge of the cash register performs the sales processing of the product 5 and also sends the product 5 to the reader / writer 33 provided in the store terminal 31. Hold the warranty card 6 attached to the. The reader / writer 33 communicates with the warranty card 6, reads the identification number of the warranty card from the warranty card 6, and transmits it to the store terminal 31 (step S201).

  Then, the store terminal 31 transmits the identification number of the warranty, the date of the reading process date including the date of reading the identification number from the warranty 6 and the store name to the ID management gateway 11 via the network 50 ( Step S202). If the date on which the product 5 is sold is different from the date on which the identification number is read from the warranty card 6, the date on which the identification number is read from the warranty card 6 may not be transmitted.

  The ID management gateway 11 refers to the warranty information database system 13 from the identification number of the warranty, and extracts the name of the company that performs the product warranty (step S203). Then, the ID management gateway 11 transmits the identification number of the guarantee received from the store terminal 31, the date of the day of reading the identification number from the guarantee 6 and the store name to the company server 21 of the company name of the product guarantee implementation ( Step S204).

  Subsequently, upon receiving the identification number of the warranty card, the date of the day when the identification number is read from the warranty card 6 and the store name, the company server 21 registers the identification number of the warranty card in the product warranty service information database system 23. The information is compared (step S205). When the identification number of the warranty matches the identification number of the warranty registered in the product warranty service information database system 23 (step S206 / YES), it is confirmed that the warranty 6 has no errors and frauds. On the other hand, if the identification numbers do not match (step S206 / NO), a message indicating that the warranty card has an error or fraud is displayed and the process ends (step S211). Then, it is determined whether or not the date of the day when the identification number is read from the warranty card 6 is received (step S207). If the date is not received (step S207 / NO), the company server sets the identification number. The received date of the current day is used instead (step S208).

  Subsequently, the company server 21 extracts, from the product warranty service information database system 23, the product name associated with the identification number of the warranty, the product number consisting of alphanumeric characters for identifying each product, and the free warranty period for the product. (Step S209). And the company server 21 memorize | stores the extracted product name, the product number consisting of the alphanumeric characters which identify each product, the identification number of a guarantee, the free warranty period of a product, and the store name in a customer information database. Further, the company server 21 stores the date of the day when the identification number is read from the warranty card 6 or the date of the day when the company server 21 receives the identification number as the date for starting the guarantee of the product in the customer information database ( Step S210).

  Next, the flow of processing in the third phase will be described. FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a flow of data transfer processing and data registration processing in the third phase in the product guarantee system of the present embodiment. A user who has purchased the product 5 uses the user terminal 1 installed at home or work, and registers user personal information in order to receive the product warranty service. The user holds the warranty card 6 attached to the product 5 over the reader / writer 3 provided in the user terminal 1. The reader / writer 3 communicates with the warranty card 6, reads the identification number of the warranty card from the warranty card 6, and transmits it to the user terminal 1 together with the reader / writer identification number (step S301).

  Further, the user inputs user personal information to the user terminal 1 (step S302). User personal information includes an identification number composed of alphanumeric characters of the user, the user's name, gender, date of birth, address, telephone number, terminal name, model number composed of alphanumeric characters of the terminal, IP address of the terminal, and the user terminal 1 carrying it In the case of a telephone, it is a telephone number of the terminal and an identification number consisting of alphanumeric characters of the reader / writer 3 built in or externally attached to the user terminal 1. Then, the user terminal 1 transmits the warranty card identification number, the reader / writer identification number, and other user personal information to the ID management gateway 11 (step S303).

  Subsequently, the ID management gateway 11 refers to the warranty information database system 13 from the warranty certificate identification number received from the user terminal 1 and extracts the name of the company performing the product warranty (step S304). The ID management gateway 11 stores the reader / writer information database in association with the reader / writer identification number and the product guarantee execution company name as one data set (step S305). Also, the ID management gateway 11 transmits the identification number of the guarantee received from the user terminal 1, the identification number of the reader / writer, and other user personal information to the company server 21 having the company name of the product guarantee implementation (step S306).

  When the company server 21 receives the identification number of the warranty, the identification number of the reader / writer, and other user personal information received from the ID management gateway 11, the identification number of the warranty is registered in the product warranty service information database system 23. (Step S307). When the identification number of the warranty matches the identification number of the warranty registered in the product warranty service information database system 23 (step S308 / YES), it is confirmed that there are no errors or frauds in the warranty.

  Subsequently, the company server 21 searches the customer information database system 24 for whether or not the identification number of the warranty has already been registered (step S309). If it has already been registered (step S310 / YES), the date of the day consisting of the identification number of the warranty card and the date of reading the identification number from the warranty card for the same product, the store name is already The company server 21 stores the identification number of the reader / writer and other personal information of the user in the database item in which the identification number of the same guarantee is registered in the customer information database system 24 (step S311). ).

  On the other hand, when the identification number of the guarantee received from the ID management gateway does not match the identification number in the product guarantee service information database system 23 (step S308 / NO), the identification number of the guarantee registered in the customer information database system 24 is If not (NO in step S310), a message indicating that the warranty card has an error or fraud is displayed and the process ends (step S312).

  Next, the flow of processing in the fourth phase will be described. FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the flow of data transfer processing and product guarantee processing in the fourth phase in the product guarantee system of this embodiment. The company server 21 provides the product guarantee service to the user terminal 1 and the store terminal 31 via the network from the portal WEB site installed in each company server 21 of the product guarantee system 100. Specifically, the company distributes the upgraded software or firmware to guarantee the quality of the product 5 and the product guarantee that guarantees compensation for defects of the product 5, and the warranty card 6 Use it.

  First, the company server 21 notifies the user of distribution of upgraded software or firmware from the portal WEB site installed on the company server 21 (step S401). The user who has received the notification accesses the portal WEB site installed in the company server 21 with the user terminal 1 installed at home or work, and upgrades the software or firmware of the product 5 owned by the user. (Step S402).

  Then, the company server 21 receiving the application from the user terminal 1 requests transmission of the identification number of the warranty card 6 attached to the product 5 held by the user from the portal WEB site (step S403). The user who has received the transmission request for the identification number holds the warranty card 6 of the product 5 over the reader / writer 3 provided in the user terminal 1 installed at home or work. The reader / writer 3 communicates with the warranty card 6, reads the identification number of the warranty card from the warranty card 6, and transmits it to the user terminal 1 together with the identification number of the reader / writer 3 (step S 404).

  Subsequently, the user terminal 1 transmits the identification number of the warranty and the identification number of the reader / writer to the ID management gateway 11 (step S405). Then, the ID management gateway 11 refers to the warranty information database system 13 from the received identification number of the warranty, and extracts the name of the company that executes the product warranty (step S406). Further, the ID management gateway 11 transmits the identification number of the guarantee received from the user terminal 1 and the identification number of the reader / writer to the company server 21 having the name of the company that implements the product guarantee (step S407).

  When the company server 21 receives the identification number of the guarantee and the identification number of the reader / writer transmitted from the ID management gateway 11, the company server 21 compares the identification number of the guarantee with the information registered in the product guarantee service information database system 23 ( Step S408). If the identification number of the warranty matches the identification number of the warranty registered in association with the product warranty service information database system 23 (step S409 / YES), the user is a user who holds a regular warranty for the product 5. Judge. On the other hand, if the identification numbers of the warranty do not match (step S409 / NO), a message indicating that the warranty is incorrect or invalid is displayed and the process ends (step S414).

  When the user is a person who has a regular warranty card for the product 5, the company server 21 starts the warranty for the product associated with the identification number of the warranty card from the customer information database system 24, and the free warranty period for the product. To extract. Then, the date when the free warranty for the product is terminated is calculated from the start date of the product warranty and the free warranty period of the product, and the date when the free warranty for the product is terminated in the future from the current date (at the time of downloading application) It is determined whether the past (step S410).

  If the date of ending the free warranty for the product is in the future from the current date (step S411 / YES), the company server 21 determines that the free product warranty for the product 5 is within the valid period and guarantees the product on the portal WEB site. The fact that the service is free of charge is displayed, and transmission of the upgraded software or firmware to the user terminal 1 is started (step S412).

  On the other hand, if the date of ending the free warranty for the product is past the current date (step S411 / NO), the company server determines that the free warranty for the product 5 is outside the valid period, and the product is guaranteed on the portal WEB site. The service is displayed for a fee, and the user is requested to pay for distribution of the upgraded software or firmware (step S413). Then, after the payment by the user is confirmed, transmission of the upgraded software or firmware to the user terminal 1 is started.

  The user uses the user terminal 1 to install the downloaded upgraded software or firmware on the product 5.

  The above-described embodiment is a preferred embodiment of the present invention, and the scope of the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment alone, and various modifications are made without departing from the gist of the present invention. Implementation is possible.

  That is, the ID management gateway 11 and the company server 21 in the above-described embodiment operate by processing, means, and functions executed by a computer according to program instructions. The program sends a command to each component of the computer, and predetermined processing and functions as described above, for example, the ID management gateway 11 assigns warranty identification information for each product to be sold and guarantees the product. Each identification information is registered in the warranty information database system 13 in association with the company name, the company name associated with the identification information is extracted from the identification information of the warranty received from the user terminal 1, and the reader / writer of the user terminal 1 is extracted. The identification information and the company name are associated with each other and registered in the reader / writer information database system. Based on these database systems, information from the store terminal 31 and the user terminal 1 is transferred to the company server 21 of the company associated with the information. The transmission process is performed, and the product guarantee service information database system 23 is sent to the company server 21. To perform the registration of information to the customer information database system 24. As described above, the processes and means in the above-described embodiment are realized by specific means in which the program and the computer cooperate.

  Then, the program code stored in the storage medium, for example, by the computer (CPU) of the ID management gateway 11 via the computer-readable recording medium that records the program code of the software that realizes the functions of the above-described embodiment, that is, the storage medium. The object of the present invention can also be achieved by reading and executing. Further, the program can be loaded and executed directly on a computer through a communication line without going through a recording medium, and the object of the present invention can be achieved similarly.

  In this case, the program code itself read from the storage medium or loaded and executed through the communication line realizes the functions of the above-described embodiment. And the storage medium which memorize | stored the program code comprises this invention.

  Examples of the storage medium for supplying the program code include a floppy (registered trademark) disk, a hard disk, an optical disk, a magneto-optical disk, a CD-ROM, a CD-R, a nonvolatile memory card, a ROM, and a magnetic tape. Can be used.

  In the above-described embodiment, an example in which the present invention is applied to a product warranty service such as a version up using the identification number of the warranty is shown. However, the present invention is also applied to an application such as a countermeasure against a recall using the identification number of the warranty. It is possible to apply

  According to the above-described embodiment, by installing a common-based ID management gateway between a store and a company, or between a user and a company, each company can easily construct a product guarantee service.

  Further, according to the above-described embodiment, the company can obtain the warranty start date information of the product and the personal information of the user who has purchased the product, and using this information from the company side to the user side. On the other hand, it is possible to provide an effective product guarantee service actively.

  In addition, according to the above-described embodiment, when a user requests a product software or firmware upgrade, whether the user has a warranty for the product, or guarantee of the warranty It is possible to determine whether or not the contents are within the expiration date of the free warranty, and to provide software and firmware for upgrading to the user.

It is the figure which showed the structure of the goods guarantee system which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a figure for demonstrating the data item managed by the database system etc. in embodiment of this invention. It is a figure for demonstrating the flow of the data in embodiment of this invention. It is the flowchart which showed the flow of the data transfer process in embodiment of this invention, and a data registration process. It is the flowchart which showed the flow of the data transfer process in embodiment of this invention, and a data registration process. It is the flowchart which showed the flow of the data transfer process in embodiment of this invention, and a data registration process. It is the flowchart which showed the flow of the data transfer process in embodiment of this invention, and a goods guarantee process.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 User terminal 2,12,22,32 Control apparatus 3,33 Reader / writer 5 Goods 6 Warranty card 11 ID management gateway 13 Warranty card information database system 14 Reader / writer information database system 21 Company server 23 Goods guarantee service information database system 24 Customer information database System 31 Store terminal 50 Network 100 Product guarantee system

Claims (14)

A company server that manages product warranty service information and customer information, a store terminal that accepts input of warranty identification information that is information for identifying a warranty for each sold product, and information for identifying a user who has purchased the product A user terminal that accepts input of the user identification information and the warranty identification information and an ID management gateway that manages the warranty identification information and the user identification information connected via a network,
The ID management gateway
Guarantee identification information that assigns the warranty identification information for each product in response to the identification information grant request of the company server and manages the warranty identification information in association with a company that guarantees the product to which the information is attached Management means;
User identification information management means for managing the user identification information in association with the company that guarantees the product purchased by the user based on the warranty identification information and the user identification information from the user terminal;
The information input at the store terminal or the user terminal is received, and the company that is the transmission destination of the received information is based on the information managed by the warranty identification information management means or the user identification information management means. Identification destination transmission means for identifying and transmitting the received information to the company server;
A product guarantee system characterized by comprising: The ID management gateway transmits, to the company server, the warranty identification information for each product provided by the warranty identification information management unit in response to the identification information grant request,
The product warranty system according to claim 1, wherein the company server manages the received warranty identification information as the product warranty service information together with information on a product warranty period of a product corresponding to the information. The ID management gateway transmits the warranty identification information from the store terminal and the date of acquisition of the warranty identification information to the company server of the company associated with the warranty identification information by the identification destination transmission unit. And
The company server extracts the product warranty service information corresponding to the received warranty identification information, manages the acquisition date as a warranty start date, and manages the warranty start date information as customer information in addition to the product warranty service information The product guarantee system according to claim 2, wherein: The ID management gateway transmits the user identification information and the warranty identification information from the user terminal to the company server of the company associated with the user identification information by the identification destination transmission unit,
The product guarantee according to claim 3, wherein the company server extracts the customer information corresponding to the received warranty identification information, and manages the customer information by adding the user identification information to the extracted information. system. The ID management gateway transmits the user identification information and the warranty identification information from the user terminal to the company server of the company associated with the user identification information by the identification destination transmission unit,
The company server extracts the customer information corresponding to the received warranty identification information, and based on the product warranty period and the warranty start date included in the extracted customer information, and the date received from the user terminal 5. The product guarantee system according to claim 4, wherein the product guarantee service is determined to be free or paid.   The company server is characterized in that, when it is determined that the product guarantee service is free of charge, upgrade software or upgrade firmware for a product purchased by a user can be downloaded to the accessed user terminal. The product guarantee system according to claim 5.   When it is determined that the product warranty service is paid, the company server notifies the user terminal that has accessed the payment of a price necessary for distribution of the software for upgrading the product or firmware for upgrading the product purchased by the user. The merchandise guarantee system according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that: A company server that manages product warranty service information and customer information, a store terminal that accepts input of warranty identification information that is information for identifying a warranty for each sold product, and information for identifying a user who has purchased the product An ID management gateway connected via a network to a user terminal that accepts input of the user identification information and the warranty identification information, and constituting a product warranty system,
Guarantee identification information that assigns the warranty identification information for each product in response to the identification information grant request of the company server and manages the warranty identification information in association with a company that guarantees the product to which the information is attached Management means;
User identification information management means for managing the user identification information in association with the company that guarantees the product purchased by the user based on the warranty identification information and the user identification information from the user terminal;
The information input at the store terminal or the user terminal is received, and the company that is the transmission destination of the received information is based on the information managed by the warranty identification information management means or the user identification information management means. Identification destination transmission means for identifying and transmitting the received information to the company server;
An ID management gateway characterized by comprising:   The ID management gateway according to claim 8, wherein the warranty identification information management means transmits the warranty identification information for each product assigned in response to the identification information grant request to the company server.   The identification destination transmission means receives the warranty identification information and the date of acquisition of the warranty identification information from the store terminal, and receives the warranty identification based on the warranty identification information managed by the warranty identification information management means. The ID management gateway according to claim 9, wherein the company associated with information is identified, and the received information is transmitted to the company server of the company.   The identification destination transmission unit receives the user identification information and the warranty identification information from the user terminal, and is associated with the received user identification information based on the user identification information managed by the user identification information management unit. The ID management gateway according to claim 10, further comprising: identifying the company and transmitting the received information to the company server of the company. A company server that manages product warranty service information and customer information, a store terminal that accepts input of warranty identification information that is information for identifying a warranty for each sold product, and information for identifying a user who has purchased the product A product guarantee method in a product guarantee system in which a user terminal that receives input of user identification information and warranty certificate identification information, and an ID management gateway that manages the warranty certificate identification information and the user identification information are connected via a network. There,
In the ID management gateway,
Guarantee identification information that assigns the warranty identification information for each product in response to the identification information grant request of the company server and manages the warranty identification information in association with a company that guarantees the product to which the information is attached Administrative steps;
A user identification information management step for managing the user identification information in association with the company that guarantees the product purchased by the user based on the warranty identification information and the user identification information from the user terminal;
The information input at the store terminal or the user terminal is received, and the company that is the transmission destination of the received information is based on the information managed by the warranty identification information management step or the user identification information management step. An identification destination transmission step of identifying and transmitting the received information to the company server;
A product guarantee method characterized by comprising: A company server that manages product warranty service information and customer information, a store terminal that accepts input of warranty identification information that is information for identifying a warranty for each sold product, and information for identifying a user who has purchased the product A user terminal that accepts input of the user identification information and the warranty identification information and an ID management gateway that manages the warranty identification information and the user identification information connected via a network. ,
In the ID management gateway,
Guarantee identification information that assigns the warranty identification information for each product in response to the identification information grant request of the company server and manages the warranty identification information in association with a company that guarantees the product to which the information is attached Management functions,
A user identification information management function for managing the user identification information and the company that guarantees the product purchased by the user in association with each other based on the warranty identification information and the user identification information from the user terminal;
The information input at the store terminal or the user terminal is received, and the company that is the transmission destination of the received information is based on the information managed by the warranty identification information management function or the user identification information management function. An identification destination transmission function for identifying and transmitting the received information to the company server;
A program characterized by realizing.   A recording medium that records the program according to claim 13 and is readable by a computer.

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