JP2021093224A - Service system and computer program used therefor - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a service system capable of improving maintainability in controlling the provision of a second service when controlling the provision of the second service based on a usage history of a first service.SOLUTION: A service system 1 includes a content system 40 that is connected via a network NT to a settlement system 20 for managing a usage history of sales of articles provided to each user U identified based on a card ID via a vending machine 5 and that is constructed separately from the settlement system 20 as a system for a game provided via a game machine 3. When the game is provided to each user while obtaining the card ID via the game machine 3, the content system 40 acquires the usage history of the vending machine 5 corresponding to each user from the settlement system 20 based on the card ID, and controls the provision of the game to each user so that the privilege is granted when the usage history of the game machine 3 satisfies a privilege condition.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

The present invention is via a history management system and a network constructed as a system for managing the usage history of the first service provided to each user identified based on predetermined identification information via the first service terminal. The present invention relates to a service system including a service providing system constructed separately from the history management system as a system for providing a second service different from the first service provided via the second service terminal.

It is connected via a network to a history management system constructed as a system for managing the usage history of the first service provided to each user identified based on predetermined identification information via the first service terminal. There is a service system including a service providing system constructed separately from the history management system as a system for providing a second service different from the first service provided via the second service terminal. For example, a game machine as a first service terminal, a game as a first service, a vending machine as a second service terminal, member management for users of the vending machine as a second service, and a game management system as a history management system. , A member management system is used as a service provision system, and a two-dimensional code including privilege information such as discounts or points is given to the user when the game play status (user's behavior in the game) meets the permission conditions. There is known a privilege control system that gives a privilege such as a discount in a vending machine by displaying it on a user terminal and presenting it (see, for example, Patent Document 1). In addition, Patent Document 2 exists as a prior art document related to the present invention.

Japanese Patent No. 6395165 JP-A-2018-672201

In the privilege control system of Patent Document 1, the determination of the privilege is executed not by the member management system but by the game management system. In addition, the vending machine side also grants actual benefits such as discounts using the two-dimensional code displayed on the user terminal based on the privilege information issued by the game management system, not the member management system. .. In general, the vending machine operator and the game machine operator are often different, and the vending machine operator does not depend on the game machine operator and is on the vending machine side. In many cases, there is a need to decide on benefits. On the other hand, when the operator of the game machine and the operator of the vending machine are different, the operator of the game management system that manages the game machine and the vending machine are also often different. In such cases, vending machine operators often cannot easily change the systems of other operators.

Even if the operator of the game machine and the operator of the vending machine are the same, in the system of Patent Document 1, the management of the play status of the game machine and its use regarding benefits, etc. are the same. Runs on the management system. Therefore, for example, even when the game management system is maintained to change only the usage conditions related to the play status, the management of the play status may inevitably be affected. Because of this possibility, it is highly likely that such maintenance will take more time and effort than at least changing only the terms of use. Further, when the management of the play status of the game machine and the use of the privilege and the like are managed by the same game management system, the burden on the system increases.

On the other hand, in the system of Patent Document 2, it seems that a privilege may be given in the second service in the accommodation facility or the like according to the usage history of the first service provided in the store or the like. However, the management of the usage history of the first service and the determination of the privilege based on the management are executed by the same server device. For this reason, maintenance related to one of them also affects the other, and it takes more time and effort than maintenance of only one of them. In addition, the operator of the first service, the operator of the second service, and the operator of the server device are all different, and at least the operator of the first service and the operator of the second service. There is a high possibility that it will be difficult to change the content of the benefits or their conditions due to the circumstances of the above. Naturally, the burden on that one server device also increases.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a service system or the like that can improve maintainability related to control of the provision of the second service when the provision of the second service is controlled based on the usage history of the first service. And.

The service system of the present invention is a history management system constructed as a system for managing the usage history of the first service provided to each user identified based on predetermined identification information via the first service terminal. A service system including a service providing system that is connected via a network and is constructed separately from the history management system as a system that provides a second service different from the first service provided via the second service terminal. In the service providing system, the second service is provided to each user while acquiring specific information for identifying the identification information of each user via the second service terminal. A history acquisition means for acquiring the usage history of the first service corresponding to each user from the history management system based on the specific information, and the first service corresponding to the provision of the second service to each user. A service control means for controlling based on a service usage history is provided.

The computer program of the present invention is a history management system constructed as a system for managing the usage history of the first service provided to each user identified based on predetermined identification information via the first service terminal. A service system including a service providing system that is connected via a network and is constructed separately from the history management system as a system that provides a second service different from the first service provided via the second service terminal. When the computer incorporated in the service providing system is provided to each user while the second service acquires specific information for identifying the identification information of each user via the second service terminal. A history acquisition means for acquiring the usage history of the first service corresponding to each user from the history management system based on the specific information, and the first service corresponding to the provision of the second service to each user. It is configured to function as a service control means that controls based on the service usage history.

The figure which shows an example of the whole structure of the network system including the service system which concerns on one form of this invention. The figure which shows the outline of the privilege service in the network system which concerns on 1st form. The figure which shows an example of the outline procedure of the process for providing the settlement service to the usage management system. The figure which shows an example of the schematic procedure of the process for providing a privilege service to a game machine. The functional block diagram in the main part of the system of FIG. A flowchart showing an example of the procedure of history management processing. A flowchart showing an example of the procedure of the privilege granting process. The flowchart which shows an example of the procedure of grant status management processing. The figure which shows the outline of the privilege service in the network system which concerns on the 2nd form. The figure which shows the outline of the privilege service in the network system which concerns on 3rd form.

Hereinafter, one form of the service system of the present invention will be described. The service system of this embodiment is configured as a part of a network system that provides a predetermined service to a user. In the following, the outline of the network system will be described first, and then the configuration related to the privilege service provided by the service system will be described. As shown in FIG. 1, the network system 1 includes a server SV. The first terminal device group TD1 as the first service terminal and the second terminal device group TD2 as the second service terminal are connected to the server SV via the network NT.

As an example, the server SV is configured as a logical server system in which a plurality of server units 2A, 2B ... (hereinafter, may be represented by reference numeral 2) are combined. The server units 2 may be collectively installed at specific positions on the network NT, or are distributed and installed on the network NT using cloud computing to form a so-called cloud-type server system. It may be provided as follows. The network NT may be appropriately configured as long as the server SV can be communicably connected to various terminal devices included in the terminal device groups TD1 and TD2. As an example, the network NT is a LAN that connects the Internet as a WAN and various terminal devices included in the server SV and each terminal device group TD1 and TD2 to the Internet, or various connection facilities or devices such as an access point AP. Etc. may be included.

The terminal device groups TD1 and TD2 are common to each other in that they function as clients that provide various services to users via communication with the server SV. That is, each terminal device group TD1 and TD2 is a set of terminal devices capable of communicating with the server SV. Then, each of the terminal device groups TD1 and TD2 provides various services while using the server SV. On the other hand, the terminal device groups TD1 and TD2 are classified from the viewpoint that the provision of one service is controlled based on the usage history of the other service (the viewpoint of master-slave regarding service provision). Specifically, the first terminal device group TD1 is a set of terminal devices for providing the first service. On the other hand, the second terminal device group TD2 is a set of terminal devices for providing a second service different from the first service. The second service includes a privilege service. The privilege service is a service for granting a privilege based on the usage history of the first service. That is, the privilege service is controlled based on the usage history of the first service. Then, the second service uses the usage history of the first service through such a privilege service. The terminal device groups TD1 and TD2 are not exclusively set. That is, the same terminal device may function as each terminal device of two or more terminal device groups.

In the example of FIG. 1, a plurality of vending machines 5 are shown as the first terminal device group TD1. The vending machine 5 is a sales device that is arranged in a predetermined facility and sells one or more products. The products sold by the vending machine 5 may be appropriately set from various articles such as beverages, foods, newspapers, magazines, books, and toys. Ticket vending machines that sell ticket types such as tickets, admission tickets, and tickets, and vending machines that photograph and print out users are also included in the concept of vending machines. Alternatively, a refueling machine may also be included in the concept of a vending machine. Further, the first terminal device group TD1 is not limited to the vending machine 5 that handles physical goods, and may include a device that provides certain services or intangible goods in exchange for payment of a fee. For example, a device that allows a user to watch a video or the like, a money changer that exchanges currency, a device that provides certain services such as washing and car washing, a device that provides information requested by the user for a fee, and the like are the first terminal device group. It may function as TD1. That is, various sales devices may function as the first terminal device group TD1. In this case, the sale of products provided through the vending machine 5 functions as the first service of the present invention.

Further, in the example of FIG. 1, a game machine 3A, 3B, 3C ... (Hereinafter, may be represented by reference numeral 3) is shown as the second terminal device group TD1. The game machine 3 is an example of a game device. The game machines 3A and 3B are installed in facilities such as an amusement store, and are configured as arcade game machines that allow the user to play a game in exchange for payment of a predetermined price. This type of game machine is sometimes called an arcade game machine. The game machine 3C is a portable game machine used for personal use by the user. In addition to this, a home-use stationary game machine or the like may function as the game machine 3 in the second terminal device group TD1. Further, a mobile phone such as a smartphone or a mobile information terminal (including a tablet terminal and a personal computer) may be included in the second terminal device group TD2 as a kind of game machine 3. In this case, the game provided via the game machine 3 functions as the second service of the present invention. However, the terminal device of the second terminal device group TD2 is not limited to the game machine 3. As long as the service based on the usage history of the service provided by the first terminal device group TD1 is provided, various terminal devices providing various services may function as the second terminal device group. For example, various sales devices as described above may function as the second terminal device group TD2. The providers of the first service and the second service may be the same or different. Similarly, the first terminal device group TD1 and the second terminal device group TD2 may be installed in the same facility. That is, the vending machine 5 may be installed in, for example, an amusement store where the game machine 3 is installed.

(First form)
An outline of the privilege service realized by the network system 1 according to the first embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. In the following, the terminal device of the first terminal device group TD1 and the terminal device of the second terminal device group TD2 are the vending machine 5 and the game machine 3A, respectively, and the providers of the first service and the second service are different. The case where this is done will be described as an example. In the network system 1, the privilege to be applied to the user who uses the game machine 3 is controlled in association with the usage history of the user in the vending machine 5. In order to realize such control, a usage management system 10, a settlement system 20, a customer management system 30, and a content system 40 are constructed on the server SV of the network system 1. These systems 10, 20, 30, and 40 are systems realized by appropriately using the server unit 2 included in the server SV.

The usage management system 10 is constructed as a system that uses, for example, the server unit 2A and provides a predetermined service to the user U who uses the vending machine 5. Such a service includes a settlement service for realizing payment of the purchase price of a product via the card CD when the vending machine 5 is provided with a card reader CR so as to allow settlement by the card CD. .. The card CD is provided with a non-volatile storage medium such as an IC chip or a magnetic stripe, and identification information for directly or indirectly identifying each user U is recorded via such a non-volatile storage medium or the like. Will be done. The card reader CR is a device for reading the identification information of such a card CD, and is configured as a well-known device that reads such identification information in a non-contact state by using, for example, short-range wireless communication. Then, the usage management system 10 realizes a settlement service using such a card CD in cooperation with the settlement system 20. The card CD may be appropriately configured so that information can be recorded by various methods. Similarly, the card reader CR may be appropriately configured to be able to read such information.

The settlement system 20 is constructed as a system for executing settlement of payments related to various services via a card CD by using, for example, a server unit 2B, an account balance database DB1 and a consumption history database DB2. The account balance database DB 1 is a server unit 2 for recording the amount (balance) of virtual currency that can be used for the settlement of accounts of the service in a virtual account provided for each user U. The consumption history database DB 2 is a server unit 2 for recording the consumption history of virtual currency for each user. In these databases DB1 and DB2, a virtual account and consumption history are managed using a unique user ID as a key for each user in order to identify each user. The settlement system 20 realizes the settlement service by settlement (subtracting) the payment of the price from the balance of the virtual account associated with each user U based on such an account balance database DB1. Then, the settlement system 20 records the settlement result as a consumption history in the consumption history database DB2. Further, for example, when a unique card ID for each card CD is recorded on the card CD in order to identify each card CD as identification information that indirectly identifies each user U, the settlement system 20 uses such a card. Each user U is specified from the ID. The settlement system 20 realizes such identification of the user ID in cooperation with the customer management system 30.

The settlement process for realizing the settlement service may be the same as the various settlement processes already put into practical use. For example, the card CD may directly record balance information indicating the balance of the virtual currency in place of or in addition to the identification information for the purpose of shortening the settlement time or the like. In this case, the settlement system 20 may manage the consumption history information provided by the usage management system 10 as the settlement result. That is, the settlement system 20 does not have to be provided with the account balance database DB1. In addition, virtual currencies include both electronic currencies purchased by real currencies (indirect virtual currencies) and electronic currencies indicating the amount of real currencies (direct virtual currencies). Therefore, as a card CD, a card for settlement of accounts via a direct virtual currency such as a credit card or a debit card may be used. Indirect virtual currency may be deposited (increased balance) through a credit card or other settlement function via a user terminal such as a smartphone or a personal computer. The deposit process for realizing such a deposit may be the same as the various deposit processes already put into practical use. As a result, such a user terminal may be directly or indirectly connected to the settlement system 20. When the user terminal is indirectly connected to the settlement system 20, a system dedicated to payment processing connected to the settlement system 20 may be separately constructed, and the content system 40 and other systems function as such a system. You may.

The customer management system 30 uses, for example, the server unit 2C and the customer database DB3 to manage the card CD owned by each user U for each user U when the card CD for recording the card ID is used. It is a system. As a part of such management, the customer management system 30 also executes the identification of the user ID based on the card ID in cooperation with the settlement system 20 as described above. The customer database DB 3 is a server unit 2 for recording a card CD owned by each user U for each user U. Further, like the vending machine 5, the customer management system 30 is for playing the game via the card CD when the game machine 3A is provided with the card reader CR so as to allow the settlement by the card CD. In order to realize payment of consideration, the above-mentioned settlement service is also provided to the content system 40 in cooperation with the settlement system 20. The purchase price of the product in the vending machine 5 or the payment of the consideration in the game machine 3A may be settled in cash. In this case, in the procedure of the settlement service described later, the information (consumption amount, etc.) necessary for management excluding the settlement of the price is accompanied by the use of the card CD for separately identifying the user (or the direct input of the same identification information). May be processed in the same way.

The content system 40 is constructed as a system that provides various services related to the game to the user U who uses the game machine 3A by using, for example, the server unit 2D, the content database DB4, and the provision history database DB5. The content database DB 4 is a server unit 2 for recording a privilege for each game and a condition for granting the privilege. The provision history database DB 5 is a server unit 2 for recording the grant status of such a privilege for each user U. Then, the content system 40 realizes a privilege service in cooperation with the customer management system 30 while using the content database DB4 and the provision history database DB5 as a part of the service related to the game. Details of the privilege service will be described later.

Next, with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4, an example of a schematic procedure of processing executed for providing the above-mentioned settlement service and privilege service will be described. First, the details of the settlement service will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of a schematic procedure of processing for providing a settlement service to the usage management system 10. The example of FIG. 3 shows a case where the card ID information is recorded on the card CD and the card ID information is used at the time of settlement of accounts by the card CD. In this case, as shown in FIG. 3, the settlement service provided to the usage management system 10 includes six procedures (F11 to F16). Then, the settlement service is realized through these six procedures. In each of FIGS. 3 and 4, servers and the like that are not directly related to the procedure in the figure are shown in gray.

Specifically, first, the vending machine 5 provides the usage management system 10 with information for settlement of accounts necessary for settlement of accounts using a card CD (F11). The settlement information includes card ID, terminal ID, and consumption amount information. The card ID information is acquired from the card CD via the card reader CR. The consumption amount information is information indicating the amount of virtual currency that should be consumed as the price required to purchase the product to be settled. The consumption amount information is given by the vending machine 5 at the time of settlement as information on the price corresponding to the product to be settled. The terminal ID is unique information for each vending machine 5 in order to identify each vending machine 5. The terminal ID information is given by each vending machine 5 as information indicating the vending machine 5 (self) to be settled when the card CD is used.

Next, the information for settlement of accounts is provided from the usage management system 10 to the settlement system 20 (F12). The information of the terminal ID may be given by the usage management system 10. In this case, the information provided from the vending machine 5 to the usage management system 10 may not include the terminal ID information. That is, information on the card ID and the consumption amount may be provided from the vending machine 5, and information for settlement of accounts may be generated by the usage management system 10 by adding the information on the terminal ID to the information.

Subsequently, the card ID information among the settlement information is provided from the settlement system 20 to the customer management system 30 (F13). When the card ID information is given to the customer management system 30 from the settlement system 20, the customer management system 30 identifies the user ID corresponding to the card ID. Specifically, the customer database DB 3 includes information of a "card ID" indicating a card ID and a "user ID" indicating a user ID. The customer management system 30 refers to the customer database DB3 and identifies a user ID associated with a given card ID. Then, the information of the specified user ID is provided from the customer management system 30 to the settlement system 20 (F14). In this case, the user ID information may be provided with a card ID (the same card ID provided by the settlement system 20) corresponding to the user ID.

When the information of the user ID is given to the settlement system 20, the settlement system 20 executes the settlement based on the user ID. Specifically, the account balance database DB1 includes information of a "user ID" indicating a user ID and an "account balance" indicating an account balance. Then, in the settlement system 20, the account balance corresponding to the user ID is specified based on the account balance database DB1, and the consumption amount included in the settlement information is subtracted from the account balance. Further, the consumption history database DB2 includes information of a "user ID" indicating a user ID, a "terminal ID" indicating a terminal ID, and a "consumption amount" indicating a consumption amount. Then, in the settlement system 20, the consumption amount corresponding to the user ID and the information of the consumed terminal ID are recorded in the consumption history database DB2 as the consumption history. That is, with the execution of the settlement of the consumption amount, the settlement system 20 manages such consumption history information by updating the consumption history database DB2. In addition, in the consumption history database DB2, other appropriate information such as the date and time of consumption, facilities, or the number of consumption may be recorded as the consumption history.

Further, after such settlement, the result is provided from the settlement system 20 to the usage management system 10 (F15). Specifically, when the settlement system 20 can process the settlement normally (successful reduction of the consumption amount), the information indicating the success of the settlement is displayed, and when the settlement system 20 fails the settlement (for example, the account balance). When the consumption amount cannot be subtracted due to a shortage or the like, or when the settlement of accounts cannot be executed due to the inability to send and receive information due to a communication failure or the like), the information indicating the failure of the settlement of accounts is displayed as the settlement result of the usage management system 10. Provided to. In this case, the virtual currency and the "account balance" information recorded in the account balance database DB1 function as the value and balance information of the present invention, respectively. Further, by recording such information, the account balance database DB1 functions as the balance holding means of the present invention. Similarly, the consumption history information (information such as "user ID", "terminal ID", and "consumption amount") of the consumption history database DB2 functions as the usage history of the first service of the present invention. As a result, the settlement system 20 provided with such a consumption history database DB2 functions as the history management system of the present invention.

When the settlement result is provided to the usage management system 10, the settlement result of the vending machine 5 is provided from the usage management system 10 (F16). Then, when the settlement result is successful, the product is actually provided to the user U by the vending machine 5. On the other hand, if the settlement result is a settlement failure, the vending machine 5 provides the result to the user U. As an example, the settlement service is provided to the usage management system 10 (in other words, the user U of the vending machine 5 via the usage management system 10) by such a procedure. Whether or not the product can be provided based on the settlement result may be determined by the usage management system 10. In this case, the vending machine 5 may be provided with the availability result (information indicating whether it can be provided or not) from the usage management system 10. That is, whether or not the product can be provided based on the settlement result may be executed by the vending machine 5 or may be executed by the usage management system 10.

Next, the details of the privilege service will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a schematic procedure of a process for providing a privilege service to the game machine 3A. The example of FIG. 4 shows a case where the card ID information is recorded on the card CD and the information of the card ID is used at the time of settlement of accounts by the card CD, as in the example of FIG. Therefore, the example of FIG. 4 also includes a procedure of the settlement service provided to the content system 40 (in other words, the user U of the game machine 3A via the content system 40). In this case, as shown in FIG. 4, the privilege service includes six procedures (F21 to F26), of which the procedures F21 to F23 function as a settlement service. The privilege service is realized through six procedures including such a settlement service. Of the six procedures, the remaining procedures other than the procedures F21 to F23 for realizing the settlement service may function as a privilege service.

Specifically, with the use of the card CD, first, the game machine 3A provides the content system 40 with information for settlement of accounts necessary for settlement of accounts by the card CD (F21). The settlement information includes card ID and consumption amount information. The addition of this information is the same as in the example of FIG. 3 (however, the roles of the vending machine 5 and the usage management system 10 are executed by the game machine 3A and the content system 40, respectively). Then, the information for settlement of accounts is provided from the content system 40 to the customer management system 30 (F22). As in the example of FIG. 3, the information for settlement of accounts has a unique terminal ID for each game machine 3A in order to identify each game machine 3A (a system different from the terminal ID of the vending machine 5). May be included.

When the settlement information is given to the customer management system 30, the customer management system 30 identifies the user ID corresponding to the card ID, and the specified user ID and the consumption amount included in the settlement information. Information is provided from the customer management system 30 to the settlement system 20 (F23). Since the procedure from the identification of the user ID based on the card ID to the provision to the settlement system 20 is the same as the procedure in the example of FIG. 3, the description thereof will be omitted. In this case, the card ID functions as the specific information of the present invention.

When the information of the user ID is given to the settlement system 20, the settlement system 20 executes the settlement. Since the settlement of accounts executed by the settlement system is the same as the example of FIG. 3, the description thereof will be omitted. Then, the settlement result is provided from the settlement system 20 to the customer management system 30 (F24). Further, when the settlement is successful, the settlement system 20 specifies the consumption history information associated with the user ID to be settled. This identification is executed based on the consumption history database DB2. Specifically, the information of the "terminal ID" and the "consumption amount" (consumption amount in the vending machine 5) associated with the user ID to be settled is specified as the consumption history information based on the consumption history database DB2. To. Then, such consumption history information is included in the settlement result provided to the customer management system 30. As will be described later, the provision history database DB 5 may manage the search history (inquiry history) of the consumption history. In this case, the search history may be included in the consumption history request (if it accompanies the settlement of accounts, the settlement request). Alternatively, such a search history may be managed in the consumption history database DB2. Then, in such a case, the search history may be used to identify the consumption history. Specifically, for example, the consumption history may be specified based on the search history to determine whether or not it has been searched, and only the unsearched consumption history may be searched and specified.

When the settlement result is given to the customer management system 30, the settlement result is provided from the customer management system 30 to the content system 40 (F25). If the settlement is successful, the settlement result includes consumption history information. Therefore, the settlement result provided to the content system 40 also includes information on the user ID, the terminal ID, and the consumption amount. In the game machine 3A, consideration may be paid for various measures. For example, in the game machine 3A, cash or a card using a settlement system other than the settlement system 10 (for example, a credit card) may be used for payment of consideration. Therefore, the consumption history may be provided to the content system 40 separately from the settlement result. In this case, for example, when the settlement of accounts is completed (successful), the content system 40 that receives the information provides the customer management system 30 with a request for consumption history (F22), and if necessary, the user ID is assigned to the customer management system 30. The request is provided to the settlement system 20 after it has been identified (unnecessary if, for example, the user ID has already been identified, or if the request already contains other information to identify the consumption history). Good (F23). Then, the consumption history specified in the settlement system 10 based on the request may be provided to the content system 40 via the customer management system 30 (F24) (F25). That is, in response to the request from the content system 40, only the consumption history may be provided to the content system 40 separately from the settlement result.

When the settlement result is given to the content system 40, the settlement result is provided to the game machine 3A (F26). If the consumption history satisfies the privilege condition, the settlement result includes information on the privilege content. Therefore, when the settlement result is given to the content system 40, the content system 40 determines whether or not the consumption history information satisfies the privilege condition while referring to the content database DB4 and the provision history database DB5.

Specifically, the content database DB4 includes information on the "game ID", the "privilege condition", and the "privilege content". The "game ID" is information indicating a unique game ID for each game (for each game machine 3A when each game machine 3A provides only one type of game) in order to identify each game. The "privilege condition" is information indicating the privilege condition for determining whether or not the privilege can be granted. For example, if the privilege condition is the product number of the vending machine 5 (for example, when the game machine 3 is included in the first terminal device group TD1, the first service is a game, or the first terminal device group TD1 is determined by this information. It may be identified as a game machine 3. That is, this information may function as information identifying the types of various first services), the number of products purchased, the time of purchase, and the place of purchase (vending machine). When the requirements include the installation location of 5) and the grant history (information indicating whether or not similar benefits have already been granted), the information indicating such requirements is described as "privilege conditions". The "privilege content" is information indicating the content of the privilege given when the privilege condition is satisfied. As a privilege, for example, when the provision of rewards (including points indicating various values in the game, discounts or exemptions of the play price), or the granting of items is used, the information indicating these is the "privilege content". It is described in. The content database DB4 manages these information in association with each other.

When the product number, the number of purchased products, the purchase time, the place of purchase, the grant history, and the like are used as privilege conditions, the consumption history database DB2 may manage such information as the consumption history. That is, the settlement system 20 may acquire such information from the usage management system 10 and reflect it in the consumption history database DB 2 as the consumption history. Further, the consumption history database DB may also manage various types of consumption information classified as so-called big data as consumption history. Then, such various consumption information may be used as a privilege condition.

In addition, the provision history database DB 5 includes information of a "user ID" indicating a user ID and a "providing history". The "offer history" information is information indicating the history of privilege provision based on the consumption history of the vending machine 5. For example, as the "offer history" information, information indicating whether or not the privilege is granted (whether or not the consumption history is referred to), information indicating the date and time of privilege grant, the number of times the privilege is granted, and the game machine 3A (or the game machine 3A) to which the privilege is granted The game) or information indicating the facility may be used. In addition, for example, a search history such as a consumption history search condition, a search range, and a result thereof for the consumption history database DB2 may be used as information on the provision history. The provision history database DB5 manages these information in association with each other. In this case, the information of the "providing history" of the providing history database DB5 and the providing history database DB5 function as the providing history and the history holding means of the present invention, respectively. The content database DB4 and the provision history database DB5 may be constructed as one database. That is, in such one database, it is described in the content database DB4 such as "game ID", "privilege condition", "privilege content", "user ID", and "providing history", and the provision history database DB5. All information may be recorded. Then, the one database may function as the content database DB4 and the provision history database DB5.

In the content system 40, it is determined whether or not the consumption history information provided by the customer management system 30 satisfies the privilege condition corresponding to the "privilege condition" of the content database DB4. When the privilege condition includes the grant history in the requirement, the information of the "provide history" of the provision history database DB5 is further referred to for this determination. Then, when the privilege condition is satisfied, the information of the privilege content is provided to the game machine 3A based on the "privilege content" of the content database DB4. Further, in the content system 40, when the privilege is given based on the privilege condition, the information of the "providing history" of the provision history database DB 5 is updated. That is, the information reflecting the present provision result is described in the provision history database DB 5 as the information of the "providing history". The content system 40 is provided for each game, in other words, for each type of the second terminal device group TD2 (even if the same arcade game machine has different types, it may be determined to be a different type). You may. For example, even if the game machine 3 is managed by the same operator, the person in charge or the team in charge may be different for each type of the game machine 3. In such a case, it is often preferable that the content system 40 is constructed for each person in charge or the team in charge from the viewpoint of maintainability and the like.

When the settlement result is given to the game machine 3A, the provision of the game is controlled by the game machine 3A according to the settlement result. Specifically, if the settlement of accounts fails, the game cannot be provided. That is, the game is controlled so that the game is not provided. In this case, information indicating a settlement failure may be notified. On the other hand, if the settlement is successful, the provision of the game is permitted, and the game is actually provided to the user U on the game machine 3A. Further, if the privilege condition is satisfied, the privilege is given to the game. That is, not only the play of the game is permitted, but also the provision of the game is controlled so that the privilege is given to the game. As an example, the privilege service is provided to the game machine 3A (in other words, the user U) via the content system 40 and the customer management system 30 by such a procedure. Then, in this case, the service system is constructed by the combination of the content system 40 and the customer management system 30. The settlement system may function as a part of the service system, or may function as a system separate from the service system.

Next, the configuration of the main part of the control system related to the privilege service in the network system 1 will be described. FIG. 5 is a functional block diagram showing a main part of the control system of the network system 1. The configuration of FIG. 5 is one of the specific examples of the configuration of the network system 1 of FIG. 2, and the components corresponding to FIG. 2 are designated by the same reference numerals as those of FIG.

As shown in FIG. 5, the settlement system 20 is provided with a control unit 21 and a storage unit 22. The storage unit 22 is composed of a storage unit including a non-volatile storage medium (computer-readable storage medium) such as a hard disk array. The storage unit 22 stores the computer program PG1 to be referred to by the control unit 21 and various data (not shown). The control unit 21 is configured by utilizing the computer hardware resources of one or a plurality of server units 2. Various logical devices are configured in the control unit 21 by combining the hardware resources constituting the control unit 21 and the computer program PG1. In the example of FIG. 5, the customer is a logical device related to the privilege service. A specific unit 23, a settlement execution unit 24, and a history management unit 25 are provided.

The customer identification unit 23 is a logical device that performs various processes for identifying the user U who requests the settlement of accounts (consumption of virtual currency). For example, when the card ID information is provided from the usage management system 10 as a request for consumption of virtual currency, the user ID (in other words, the user U) corresponding to the card ID is specified in cooperation with the customer management system 30. Execute the process to do. The settlement execution unit 24 is a logical device that performs various processes for executing settlement according to a request from the user U. For example, the settlement execution unit 24 identifies the balance account of the user U who requests settlement based on the user ID specified by the customer identification unit 23 in cooperation with the customer management system 30, and subtracts the requested consumption amount from the balance account. Execute the processing for. The history management unit 25 is a logical device that performs various processes for managing the consumption history. For example, the history management unit 25 executes a process of updating the consumption history database DB2 (reflecting the consumption history information in the consumption history database DB2) based on the settlement result executed by the settlement execution unit 24.

The customer management system 30 is provided with a control unit 31 and a storage unit 32. The storage unit 32 is composed of a storage unit including a non-volatile storage medium (computer-readable storage medium) such as a hard disk array. The storage unit 32 stores the computer program PG2 to be referred to by the control unit 31 and various data (not shown). The control unit 31 is configured by utilizing the computer hardware resources of one or a plurality of server units 2. Various logical devices are configured in the control unit 31 by combining the hardware resources constituting the control unit 31 and the computer program PG2. In the example of FIG. 5, the customer is a logical device related to the privilege service. A management unit 33 and a history acquisition unit 34 are provided.

The customer management unit 33 is a logical device that performs various processes for managing the user ID corresponding to each user U. For example, the customer management unit 33 executes reference and update of the customer database DB3 that manages and manages the user ID and the card ID as one of such management. Specifically, the customer management unit 33 cooperates with the customer identification unit 23 of the settlement system 20 to specify the user ID corresponding to the card ID provided by the usage management system 10 based on the customer database DB3, and the user ID is specified. The specific result is provided to the customer identification unit 23. In addition, the customer management unit 33 also performs a process of acquiring the settlement result by the settlement system 20 and providing it to the content system 40. The history acquisition unit 34 is a logical device that performs various processes for acquiring consumption history information from the consumption history database DB 2 of the settlement system 20. For example, when the game machine 3A requests the consumption of the virtual currency, the history acquisition unit 34 requests and acquires the consumption history information corresponding to the user U who requests the consumption from the settlement system 20.

The content system 40 is provided with a control unit 41 and a storage unit 42. The storage unit 42 is composed of a storage unit including a non-volatile storage medium (computer-readable storage medium) such as a hard disk array. The storage unit 42 stores the computer program PG3 to be referred to by the control unit 41 and various data (not shown). The control unit 41 is configured by utilizing the computer hardware resources of one or a plurality of server units 2. Various logical devices are configured in the control unit 41 by combining the hardware resources constituting the control unit 41 and the computer program PG3. In the example of FIG. 5, payment is made as a logical device related to the privilege service. A control unit 43, a game control unit 44, and a history management unit 45 are provided.

The payment control unit 43 is a logical device that performs various processes related to payment of the game machine 3A. For example, the payment control unit 43 provides the card ID information provided by the game machine 3A to the customer management unit 33 of the customer management system 30. Further, the payment control unit 43 acquires the settlement result from the customer management unit 33, and provides the game machine 3A with the possibility of settlement according to the settlement result (information necessary for the game machine 3A to provide the game). It also performs the process of doing. The game control unit 44 is a logical device that performs various processes for controlling the game provided by the game machine 3A based on the usage history of the vending machine 5 (consumption history managed by the consumption history database DB2). .. Such processing includes determination of privilege conditions and granting of benefits corresponding to the privilege conditions. Specifically, the game control unit 44 acquires the consumption history from the history acquisition unit 34 of the customer management system 30, and determines whether or not the consumption history satisfies the privilege condition of the content database DB4. At that time, the game control unit 44 refers to the information of the “providing history” of the providing history database DB5 as necessary. Then, when the privilege condition is satisfied, the game control unit 44 grants a privilege to the game provided by the game machine 3A. For example, this grant is realized by providing the privilege content to the game machine 3A. That is, the game control unit 44 uses the provision of such privilege contents to control the game provided by the game machine 3A so that the privilege is given. The history management unit 45 is a logical device that performs various processes for managing the provision history of benefits based on the consumption history. For example, when the game control unit 44 grants a privilege to a game (in other words, a user U who plays the game), the history management unit 45 updates (provides) the provision history database DB 5 based on the result of the privilege grant. The history information is reflected in the provided history database DB5).

Next, with reference to FIGS. 6 to 8, the processes executed in each part of the network system 1 in relation to the privilege service will be described. FIG. 6 shows an example of a procedure of history management processing executed by the control unit 21 of the settlement system 20 in order to manage the usage history of the vending machine 5. When the settlement system 20 executes the settlement of the purchase price with the purchase of the product in the vending machine 5, the history management unit 25 of the control unit 21 starts the history management process of FIG. (Step S101). In the settlement system 20, even when a card CD for recording a card ID is used for settlement, the user ID is specified by cooperation between the customer identification unit 23 and the customer management unit 33 of the customer management system 30 based on the card ID. To. Therefore, the settlement result includes information on the user ID, the terminal ID, and the consumption amount. The history management unit 25 acquires such information as a settlement result.

Subsequently, the history management unit 25 updates the consumption history of the consumption history database DB2 (step S102). Specifically, the history management unit 25 updates the consumption history database DB 2 so that the terminal ID and the consumption amount included in the settlement result are associated with the user ID included in the settlement result as the consumption history. Then, the history management unit 25 ends the current history management process after such an update. As a result, the settlement result by the settlement system 20, in other words, the usage history of the vending machine 5 is reflected in the consumption history database DB2. Then, the usage history of the vending machine 5 is managed via such a consumption history database DB2.

FIG. 7 shows a procedure of privilege granting processing executed by the control unit 41 of the content system 40, the control unit 31 of the customer management system 30, and the control unit 21 of the settlement system 20 in order to realize the granting of benefits associated with the privilege service. An example is shown. In the example of FIG. 7, the processes mainly executed by the control unit 41, the control unit 31, and the control unit 21 are shown as contents, customer management, and settlement of accounts, respectively.

When the card CD is used to pay the consideration for playing the game on the game machine 3A, the game control unit 44 of the control unit 41 starts the privilege granting process of FIG. 7 as a part of the settlement process. First, the consumption history is requested from the customer management system 30 (step S201). The game control unit 44 executes this request by transmitting information for settlement of accounts to the customer management system 30. Specifically, the game control unit 44 transmits the card ID acquired from the game machine 3A and the consumption amount information to the customer management system 30 as information for settlement of accounts. In this case, the transmission of such information functions as a request for consumption history (furthermore, a request for settlement processing in the settlement system 20). The consumption history may be requested separately from the settlement process, for example, when the consideration is paid in cash. In this case, steps S401 and S203 in the example of FIG. 7 may be omitted, and in steps S403 and S303, only the consumption history may be transmitted instead of the settlement result. If the user ID has already been specified, step S301 may be omitted as well. Then, in step S202, only the consumption history may be acquired.

On the other hand, when the consumption history is requested from the game control unit 44, the history acquisition unit 34 of the control unit 31 starts the privilege granting process of FIG. 7 and first identifies the user ID corresponding to the consumption history request ( Step S301). Since the consumption history request is realized by transmitting the information for settlement of accounts, the consumption history request includes the card ID. The history acquisition unit 34 identifies the user ID based on this card ID. Specifically, the history acquisition unit 34 refers to the customer database DB3 and identifies a user ID associated with the card ID there. Subsequently, the history acquisition unit 34 requests the consumption history from the settlement system 20 (step S302). The history acquisition unit 34 executes this request by transmitting the user ID specified in step S301 and the consumption amount included in the settlement information to the settlement system 20. If the consumption history request is executed separately from the settlement of accounts, the consumption amount information may be omitted.

When the consumption history is requested from the history acquisition unit 34, the history management unit 25 of the control unit 21 starts the privilege granting process of FIG. 7, and first determines whether or not the settlement of accounts associated with the use of the card CD is successful (step). S401). If the settlement is successful, the history management unit 25 identifies the consumption history corresponding to the user ID included in the consumption history request (step S402). The history management unit 25 executes this identification while referring to the consumption history database DB2. Specifically, the history management unit 25 specifies the consumption history (terminal ID, consumption amount, etc.) associated with the user ID of the settlement information via the consumption history database DB2.

On the other hand, after the consumption history is specified, or when the settlement is not successful (in the case of failure), the history management unit 25 transmits the settlement result to the customer management system 30 (step S403). When the settlement of accounts fails, information indicating the settlement of accounts failure is transmitted to the customer management system 30 as the settlement result. On the other hand, when the settlement is successful, the settlement result includes the consumption history (user ID, terminal ID, consumption amount, etc.) specified in step S402 in addition to the information indicating the success of the settlement. Then, the history management unit 25 ends the privilege granting process this time after the transmission.

On the other hand, when the settlement result is transmitted from the history management unit 25, the history acquisition unit 34 of the control unit 31 transmits the consumption history to the content system 40 (step S303). When the settlement is successful, the settlement result includes the consumption history such as the user ID as described above. Then, the history acquisition unit 34 ends the present privilege granting process after the transmission.

Further, when the settlement result is transmitted from the history acquisition unit 34, the game control unit 44 of the control unit 41 first acquires the settlement result (step S202). Subsequently, the game control unit 44 determines whether or not the settlement is successful based on the acquired settlement result (step S203). This determination is executed based on the information indicating the settlement success or the settlement failure included in the settlement result. Then, when the settlement of accounts fails, the game control unit 44 skips the subsequent processing and ends the current privilege granting process.

On the other hand, when the settlement is successful, the game control unit 44 determines whether or not the consumption history included in the acquired settlement result satisfies the privilege condition (step S204). The game control unit 44 executes this determination while referring to the privilege condition of the content database DB4. The game control unit 44 also refers to the provision history database DB 5 depending on the requirements of the privilege conditions. Specifically, when the privilege condition requires a specific schedule in a specific facility, the game control unit 44 determines the specific facility (for example, the terminal ID) based on the terminal ID included in the consumption history and the date and time information. The facility may be specified based on the facility data that associates the device with the facility. Therefore, such data may also be managed by the content system 40) and whether or not it corresponds to a specific schedule is determined. Further, when the privilege condition includes the provision history such as the one-time grant for each game machine 3A or each game, the game control unit 44 refers to the provision history of the provision history database DB5, and thus Determine whether or not the requirements are met. Then, if the privilege requirement is not satisfied, the game control unit 44 skips the subsequent processing and ends the current privilege granting process.

Regardless of the privilege condition, all the consumption history information may be transmitted from the settlement system 20, or the necessary information of the consumption history may be transmitted from the settlement system 20 according to the request from the game control unit 44. When the game control unit 44 requests the necessary information, the privilege condition may be specified after determining the game or the like to be settled before requesting the consumption history. Then, the game control unit 44 may request the information of the consumption history according to the specified privilege condition as necessary information in step S201. Further, in the case of failure of settlement of accounts or when the privilege is not given, the game control unit 44 may transmit information indicating failure of settlement of accounts or no privilege to the game machine 3A.

On the other hand, when the privilege condition is satisfied, the game control unit 44 grants the privilege according to the privilege condition to the game while referring to the privilege content of the content database DB4 (step S205). When the game machine 3A actually grants a privilege to the game, this grant may be executed as the provision of privilege content or the like necessary for granting such a privilege. That is, the game control unit 44 may indirectly give a privilege to the game by providing such information. Alternatively, if there is play data that manages the game play status for each user U, the game control unit 44 may grant the privilege by adding information about the privilege to such play data. In this case, when the game machine 3A refers to such play data, a privilege is given to the game. Similarly, the game control unit 44 may provide the game machine 3A with information indicating the success of the settlement of accounts. Then, the game control unit 44 ends the current privilege granting process after granting such a privilege. As a result, it is possible to grant benefits associated with the privilege service. More specifically, a privilege is given to the game provided by the game machine 3A according to the usage history of the vending machine 5. Further, in the granting of such a privilege, if the privilege condition includes the provision status, the provision history of the privilege such as whether or not the same privilege has already been granted in the same game is also taken into consideration.

FIG. 8 shows an example of the procedure of the grant status management process executed by the control unit 41 of the content system 40 in order to manage the grant status (provision history) of the privilege associated with the privilege service. When the privilege based on the privilege service is granted, the history management unit 45 of the control unit 41 starts the grant status management process of FIG. 8, and first acquires the grant result of the privilege (step S501). This grant result includes not only whether or not the privilege is granted or the date and time, but also the privilege condition such as the game (game machine 3A), the facility, or the number of times the privilege is granted when the provision status is used as the privilege condition. Corresponding information may be included. Subsequently, the history management unit 45 updates the provision history database DB 5 based on the acquired grant result (step S502). Then, the history management unit 45 ends the present grant status management process after such an update. As a result, the status of granting benefits by the content system 40, in other words, the status of providing benefits based on the privilege service, is reflected in the provision history database DB 5. Then, it is managed via such a provision history database DB5.

As described above, according to this form, the usage history of the vending machine 5 is acquired from the settlement system 20 via the customer management system 30 in the content system 40, and the game is provided using the usage history. Be controlled. More specifically, the existence or non-equity of the privilege condition is determined based on the usage history, and the game is provided so as to include the privilege when the privilege condition is satisfied. That is, in the content system 40 different from the settlement system 20 that manages the usage history of the vending machine 5, the usage history is acquired and the game is used for provision. Therefore, instead of the settlement system 20 that manages the usage history of the vending machine 5, the control related to the provision of the game, that is, the privilege conditions, the content of the privilege, etc. is changed mainly by changing to a content system 40 different from the settlement system 20. Can be done. Thereby, when the privilege of the game is controlled based on the usage history of the vending machine 5, the maintainability related to the provision of the game can be improved.

Similarly, since the settlement system 20 is constructed as a system different from the content system 40, if the operator of the vending machine 5 or the settlement system 20 and the operator of the game machine 3A are different (or provisionally, the operator). However, even if the person in charge or the team in charge is different), it is possible to allow the operator (person in charge or team in charge) of the game machine 3A to construct the content system 40. Therefore, even if the control content related to the provision of the game (for example, the content of the privilege, the condition, etc.) is changed, the control content should be changed mainly by the maintenance of the system operated by the self (operator of the game machine 3A). Therefore, the control regarding the provision of the game can be changed according to the convenience of the operator of the game machine 3A. As a result, the maintainability of controlling the provision of the game using the usage history of the vending machine 5 can be further improved.

Further, the provision history database DB 5 for recording the provision history related to the provision of the game using the usage history of the vending machine 5 is provided not in the settlement system 20 or the like but in the content system 40. Therefore, the provision history of such a game, in other words, the usage status of the usage history of the vending machine 5 can be managed by a system different from the settlement system 20 that manages the usage history of the vending machine 5. .. As a result, the provision history related to the provision of the game using the usage history of the vending machine 5 can be appropriately used while suppressing the influence on the settlement system 20, the usage management system 10, or the vending machine 5. In addition, it is possible to improve the maintainability of such a provision history. Then, for example, when such a provision history is used as a requirement of the privilege condition, not only the usage history of the vending machine 5 but also the provision history of the game is used to control the granting of the privilege in the game in more detail. be able to. Specifically, each time a product is purchased from the vending machine 5, a privilege such as one can be given in a game (any one of a plurality of games may be used). Thereby, the value of the privilege, the value of the usage history of the vending machine 5, and the like can be adjusted.

Further, the settlement system 20 that manages the usage history of the vending machine 5 is constructed as a system different from the usage management system 10 that provides a predetermined service to the vending machine 5. Therefore, the usage history of the vending machine 5 can be managed in a system different from the usage management system 10 that directly affects the vending machine 5. As a result, the maintainability of the usage history of the vending machine 5 can be improved. Further, the settlement system 20 is used as a system for managing the usage history of such a vending machine 5. Since the settlement system 20 is also used for settlement of accounts in the vending machine 5, it is highly relevant to the use of the vending machine 5. Since the usage history can be managed in the settlement system 20 which is highly related to the use of the vending machine 5, the usage history of the vending machine 5 can be efficiently managed.

In the above embodiment, the game control unit 44 of the content system 40 functions as the history acquisition means and the service control means of the present invention by executing the process of FIG. 7. More specifically, the game control unit 44 functions as a history acquisition means by executing the process of step S202 of FIG. 7, and as a service control means by executing the process of step S205 of FIG. 7. Further, the history management unit 45 of the content system 40 functions as the history updating means of the present invention by executing step S502 of FIG. Further, by providing the game control unit 44 and the history management unit 45, the content system 40 functions as the service providing system of the present invention.

(Second form)
Next, the privilege service realized by the network system 1 according to the second embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. In the following, the same reference numerals will be given to FIGS. 9 for the configurations common to the first embodiment, and the description thereof will be omitted. FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an outline of a service system in the network system 1 according to the second embodiment. As shown in FIG. 9, in the network system 1 according to the second embodiment, there are two types of game machines 3 (hereinafter, one of them is the first game machine) in the facility SA2 different from the facility SA1 in which the vending machine 5 is installed. 3A, the other may be referred to as a second game machine 3B) is installed. The vending machine 5 and the two types of game machines 3 are operated by separate providers (first service provider and second service provider). Further, the two types of game machines 3 have different content systems 40 (hereinafter, the one corresponding to the first game machine 3A is the first content system 40A, and the one corresponding to the second game machine 3B is the second content system. (Sometimes called 40B) is provided. Then, in order to link the network system 1 according to the second form with the granting of benefits (in other words, control of the provision of the game) in these content systems 40 as compared with the network system 1 according to the first form. The privilege interlocking system 50 of is added.

The privilege interlocking system 50 is constructed as a system for interlocking the granting of benefits based on the usage history of the vending machine 5 between the first game machine 3A and the second game machine 3B. Specifically, the privilege interlocking system 50 is provided with the above-mentioned provision history database DB 5 instead of the content system 40. Therefore, the management of the provision history is executed by the privilege interlocking system 50. Similarly, the usage history of the vending machine 5 is provided from the customer management system 30 to the first content system 40A and the second content system 40B via the privilege interlocking system 50. According to this form, it is possible to efficiently manage the provision status of benefits among a plurality of games. In the example of FIG. 9, the provision of the card ID for identifying the user ID and the request for settlement of accounts may also be realized from the first content system 40A and the second content system 40B via the privilege interlocking system 50. .. That is, such provision of the card ID may be executed via the privilege interlocking system 50 instead of the customer management system 30. As a result, all transmission and reception of information between the first content system 40A and the second content system 40B and the customer management system 30 may be integrated in the privilege interlocking system 50.

(Third form)
Next, the privilege service realized by the network system 1 according to the third embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. In the following, the same reference numerals will be given to FIG. 9 for the configurations common to the first form or the second form, and description thereof will be omitted. FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an outline of a service system in the network system 1 according to the third embodiment. As shown in FIG. 10, in the network system 1 according to the third embodiment, the first game machine 3A and the second game machine 3B are installed in separate facilities SA2 and SA3, and are provided by different operators (second service provision). And the third service provider). In this case, the card CD used is different between the first game machine 3A and the second game machine 3B, and the system of the card ID recorded therein is often different. Therefore, a customer interlocking system 60 for integrating the game machines 3 operated by these separate operators is added to the network system 1 according to the third embodiment.

The customer interlocking system 60 is a system for associating card IDs of different systems with a common user ID. Therefore, in the customer interlocking system 60, a customer interlocking database (not shown) for associating a plurality of card IDs with a unified card ID (a user ID may be used, in which case the customer management system 30 may be omitted). Is provided. In this case, both the first content system 40A and the second content system 40B, including the usage management system 10, first provide the card ID to the customer interlocking system 60. Subsequently, the unified card ID specified from the card ID is provided to the customer management system 30, and the user ID associated with the account balance is specified by the customer management system 30 based on the unified card. Then, the user ID is provided to the settlement system 20, and settlement and the like are executed. The consumption history is also specified based on the user ID. After that, the settlement result including the consumption history is provided to the usage management system 10, the first content system 40A, and the second content system 40B via the customer interlocking system 60.

Contrary to the above example, a unified card ID (a unified card ID between the second service provider and the third service provider, in other words, different operators) is recorded instead of a card ID of a different system. A card CD may be used. In this case, the customer-linked database may use such a unified card ID as a user ID (a user ID for the settlement system 20 when the settlement system 20 is used, and a consumption history database DB2 when the settlement system 20 is not used. It may be a user ID used for managing the consumption history. The user ID when the settlement system 20 is not used may be a system different for each provider) and may be managed. Specifically, for example, in the customer-linked database, such a unified card ID, a provider ID indicating the provider of the unified card ID (an ID unique to each provider to identify each provider. The ID may be assigned by, for example, a game machine 3A or the like, or a first content system 40A or the like), and the information of the user ID may be described so as to be associated with each other. Then, in the customer interlocking system 60, such a user ID may be specified based on the unified card ID. In this case, the customer management system 30 may be omitted.

According to this form, it is possible to control the provision of the plurality of game machines 3 provided by the plurality of operators in an interlocking manner. Further, since the content system 40 in which a plurality of operators can separately manage the provision history and acquire the consumption history can be provided, it is possible to allow the use of the consumption history for the convenience of each operator. As a result, the maintainability of providing the game using the consumption history of the vending machine 5 can be further improved.

The present invention is not limited to the above-described form, and may be implemented in various modified or modified forms. For example, in the above form, the consumption history database DB2 is provided in the settlement system 20. That is, the settlement system 20 also manages settlement and consumption history. However, the present invention is not limited to such a form. For example, the consumption history database DB 2 may be provided in another system such as the usage management system 10. For example, in the vending machine 5, there is a possibility that a plurality of types of cards corresponding to different settlement processes (settlement systems) are used. That is, there is a possibility that the settlement process is executed (including the case of cash settlement) in a system other than the settlement system 20. In such a case, the consumption history of the vending machine 5 may be managed in another system such as the usage management system 10 from the viewpoint of efficiency or versatility. Alternatively, the consumption history database DB2 may be constructed in a dedicated system for managing the consumption history. That is, these usage management systems 10 and the like, or a dedicated system may function as the history management system of the present invention. Similarly, in the above-described form, the provision history database DB 5 is constructed in the content system 40. That is, the content system 40 also serves as the granting of benefits (control of the game) and the management of the provision history (using the consumption history). However, the present invention is not limited to such a form. For example, the provision history database DB 5 may be provided in another system such as the customer management system 30, or may be constructed in a dedicated system for managing the provision history.

Further, in the above-described form, the consumption history of the vending machine 5, in other words, the consumption history database DB2 is managed by using the user ID as a key. Therefore, when a card CD for recording a card ID is used, the user ID is specified from the card ID. However, the present invention is not limited to such a form. The consumption history of the consumption history database DB2 may be managed by using the card ID as a key. The same applies to the account balance database DB1. In such a case, the identification of the user ID based on the card ID may be omitted. That is, the card ID may function as direct identification information. Further, in this case, the customer management system 30 may be omitted.

Various aspects of the present invention derived from each of the above-described embodiments and modifications are described below. In the following description, in order to facilitate understanding of each aspect of the present invention, the corresponding members shown in the accompanying drawings are added in parentheses, whereby the present invention is limited to the illustrated form. It's not a thing.

The service system of the present invention is constructed as a system for managing the usage history of the first service provided to each user (U) identified based on predetermined identification information via the first service terminal (5). The history is connected to the history management system (20) via a network (NT) and provides a second service different from the first service provided via the second service terminal (3A). A service system (1) including a service providing system (40) constructed separately from the management system, wherein the second service identifies each user via the second service terminal in the service providing system. A history acquisition means for acquiring the usage history of the first service corresponding to each user from the history management system based on the specific information when the specific information for specifying the information is acquired and provided to each user. (44) and a service control means (44) that controls the provision of the second service to each user based on the usage history of the first service corresponding to each user are provided.

According to the present invention, the usage history of the first service is acquired in the service providing system, and the control of the provision of the second service using the usage history is executed. That is, in a service providing system different from the history management system that manages the usage history of the first service, the acquisition of the usage history and the use for the provision of the second service are realized. Therefore, the control regarding the provision of the second service can be changed mainly by changing to a service providing system different from the usage history system that manages the usage history of the first service. Thereby, when the provision of the second service is controlled based on the usage history of the first service, the maintainability related to the control of the provision of the second service can be improved. In addition, since the service provision system is constructed as a separate system from the history management system, even if the operator of the first service and the operator of the second service are different, the operator of the second service (of the history management system). It is possible to allow the construction of a service provision system by an operator and another operator). Therefore, even when the control content related to the provision of the second service is changed, the control content related to the provision of the second service can be changed mainly by the maintenance of the system operated by the operator of the second service. The control regarding the provision of the second service can be changed for the convenience of. As a result, the maintainability related to the control of the provision of the second service can be further improved.

After the second service is provided based on the usage history of the first service, the provision history may or may not be managed. Further, when the provision history is managed, the provision history may be managed by the service providing system or may be managed by another system. For example, in one aspect of the service system of the present invention, the service providing system includes a history holding means (DB5) that holds the provision history of the second service based on the usage history of the first service for each user, and the said. A history updating means (45) for updating the provision history held by the history holding means when the second service is provided based on the usage history of the first service may be further provided. In this case, the usage history of the second service based on the usage history of the first service, in other words, the usage status of the usage history of the first service can also be managed by a system different from the history management system. As a result, the provision history of the second service can be appropriately used while suppressing the influence on the history management system. In addition, maintainability related to such provision history can be improved.

The control of the second service based on the usage history of the first service may be appropriately executed. Information other than the usage history of the first service may or may not be used for controlling the provision of the second service. For example, when the provision history of the second service is managed, the provision history may be used as information other than the usage history of the first service. Specifically, for example, the content of the second service provided for the first time and the content of the second service provided for the second time may be different based on the usage history of the same first service. Therefore, for example, in one aspect of the service system of the present invention, the service control means may further use the provision history to control the provision of the second service. In this case, not only the usage history of the first service but also the provision history of the second service can be used to control the provision of the second service in more detail.

The service providing system may be appropriately configured. For example, the service providing system may be configured as one system or may include a plurality of systems. Similarly, the history management system may be appropriately configured. For example, the history management system may function as a part of the service system, or may function as a system separate from the service system. Specifically, for example, in one aspect of the service system of the present invention, the history management system communicates with the first service terminal in order to provide a predetermined service to each user who uses the first service terminal. When the usage management system (10) connected via NT) is constructed as a system different from the service system, the usage management system is connected to the usage management system via the network (NT). It may be built separately from the system and function as part of the service system. In this case, the usage history of the first service can be managed in a system different from the system that controls the provision of the first service. As a result, the maintainability of the usage history of the first service can be improved.

Further, the history management system may be configured as a dedicated system for managing the usage history of the first service, or may be configured as a system that also serves other roles. For example, in a mode in which the history management system functions as a part of the service system, the history management system holds balance information of the value used for payment of the first service for each user via the identification information. The balance holding means (DB1) may be provided, and may function as a settlement system for closing the payment of the price of the first service based on the identification information and the balance information. In this case, the usage history of the first service can be managed in the settlement system that is highly related to the use of the first service. As a result, the usage history of the first service can be efficiently managed.

The specific information may or may not match the identification information as long as the identification information can be specified. For example, different card IDs (in other words, cards) corresponding to different systems may be used as specific information and identification information. Alternatively, a card ID may be used as the identification information, and a user ID corresponding to such a card ID may be used as the specific information, or vice versa. Alternatively, the same card ID or user ID may be used as the specific information and the identification information. For example, in one aspect of the service system of the present invention, the history acquisition means uses the identification information as the specific information when the identification information is acquired as the specific information via the second service terminal. , The usage history of the first service may be acquired from the history management system based on the identification information.

The second service may be appropriately controlled based on the usage history of the first service. For example, the availability of the second service itself may be controlled based on the usage history of the first service, or the contents such as the scope of the second service may be controlled. For example, the granting of benefits may be used to control such contents. Specifically, for example, in one aspect of the service system of the present invention, the service control means is used by a user who corresponds to the usage history of the first service when the usage history of the first service satisfies the privilege condition. The provision of the second service may be controlled so that the privilege is given to the second service.

The history acquisition means may acquire the usage history of the first service from the history management system by various methods. For example, the history acquisition means may be acquired by requesting the history management system for the usage history of the first service. Alternatively, the history acquisition means may acquire the usage history transmitted from the history management system in association with another process such as settlement processing. Specifically, in one aspect of the service system of the present invention, the history acquisition means may acquire the usage history of the first service corresponding to each user by requesting the history management system.

Various services may be used as the first service and the second service. Similarly, as the first service terminal and the second service terminal, various service terminals that provide these services may be used. For example, in one aspect of the service system of the present invention, the provision of goods or services is used as the first service, the game is used as the second service, and each user is used as the first service terminal in exchange for payment of a fee. The sales device (5) that provides the goods or services may be used, and the game machine (3A) that provides the game as the second service terminal may be used.

The computer program of the present invention is a history constructed as a system for managing the usage history of the first service provided to each user identified based on the predetermined identification information via the first service terminal (5). The history management system is a system that is connected to the management system (20) via a network (NT) and provides a second service different from the first service provided via the second service terminal (3A). Is a computer (41) incorporated in the service providing system of the service system (1) including a service providing system (40) constructed separately, and the second service identifies each user via the second service terminal. A history acquisition means for acquiring the usage history of the first service corresponding to each user from the history management system based on the specific information when the specific information for specifying the information is acquired and provided to each user. (44), and is configured to function as a service control means (44) that controls the provision of the second service to each user based on the usage history of the first service corresponding to each user. .. The service system of the present invention can be realized by executing the computer program of the present invention.

1 Network system 3A, 3B, 3C game machine (game device)
5 Vending machine (sales equipment)
10 Usage management system 20 Settlement system (history management system)
40 Content system (service provision system)
41 Control unit (computer)
44 Game control unit (history acquisition means, service control means)
45 History management department (history update means)
DB1 account balance database (balance holding means)
DB5 provision history database (history retention means)
NT network

Claims (1)

It is connected via a network to a history management system constructed as a system for managing the usage history of the first service provided to each user identified based on predetermined identification information via the first service terminal. A service system including a service providing system constructed separately from the history management system as a system for providing a second service different from the first service provided via the second service terminal.
The service providing system corresponds to each user when the second service is provided to each user while acquiring specific information for identifying the identification information of each user via the second service terminal. A history acquisition means for acquiring the usage history of the first service from the history management system based on the specific information, and a usage history of the first service corresponding to each user to provide the second service to each user. A service system provided with a service control means that controls based on.

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