KR20050109096A - Method and system for managing on line item - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to an online item management method and system that further increases the interest associated with cyber items by connecting online items with goods or services in the real world, and enables new types of sales using games.

The present invention provides a method of maintaining an item and a target cyber point corresponding to a product in a real world in an item database in association with information about a product in the real world, and an item and a user cyber point granted to the user in response to a user. Maintaining in the user database in association with information about the user, granting a predetermined item to the user, and increasing user cyber points after granting the predetermined item to the user corresponding to the item granted to the user. Determining whether a target cyber point has been reached, and when the increased user cyber point reaches a target cyber point corresponding to the item assigned to the user, acquiring a product of the real world corresponding to the item from the user; Can It provides an online item management method comprising the step of notifying.

According to the present invention, by allowing users to own a certain item for a long time and displaying it, it is possible to efficiently advertise products and services in real life associated with the item.

Description

{Method and System for Managing On Line Item}

The present invention relates to a method and system for managing an item on-line, and more specifically, to increase the interest associated with cyber items by linking the item on-line with a product or service in the real world, and also using a game in a new form. The present invention relates to a method and system for managing an item online.

As the Internet has spread, a very large number of online shopping malls have appeared on the Internet. However, since the differences between specific online shopping malls are not emphasized among these online shopping malls, users do shopping without searching and shopping with loyalty to a specific shopping mall. Accordingly, customers of one shopping mall do not have loyalty to one shopping mall, and are easily moved to another shopping mall. However, since this means that shopping malls must continuously consume a lot of marketing costs in order to attract customers, online shopping malls have been continuously researching ways to increase the loyalty of users. This phenomenon is equally applicable to various online services as well as online shopping malls. Accordingly, there is a demand for a method for increasing the loyalty of users at low cost with respect to various services performed on the Internet.

One of the many methods used by many service providers that provide various services on the Internet to increase the loyalty of users is to provide the user with a certain earning point such as mileage. When users visit our site, use our service or purchase products through our site, we pay certain cyber points. In the future, the cyber point may be used when a predetermined amount is used. Or, if a certain point is achieved, a method of giving a certain gift is also used.

On the other hand, avatars are widely used in various fields on the Internet. An avatar is an image displayed on behalf of a user on the Internet. In addition, by decorating the avatar using cyber items such as clothes, shoes, and accessories, the users are actively displaying their personality or taste. However, according to the related art, there is no link between the items used in the avatar and the items used in the real life, which is a factor that halves the interest of the users.

Therefore, there is a demand for a method that can further increase the interest of such an avatar system.

The present invention has been made to improve the prior art as described above, and an object of the present invention is to provide a method and apparatus that can increase the loyalty of users at low cost with respect to various services and the like performed on the Internet.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide a method and apparatus for connecting users used in avatars with items used in real life to further increase interest in using the avatar.

Another object of the present invention is to allow users to own a certain item for a long period of time and to display it, thereby efficiently advertising products and services in real life associated with the item. In the prior art, Korean Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 2002-23732 also provides a method of creating an item associated with a real life product as an avatar item and providing the same to the user. However, in these methods, there is no method for allowing the user to use the item for a sufficient period of time. Not presented. If a user uses an item associated with a real-life product for a day or two and then discards it, the advertising effect due to the item will be very small. However, if the user maintains the item for a long time, the item has a special meaning to the user and has a very large advertising effect to the user. In addition, an object of the present invention is to enable the user to efficiently carry out the emotional marketing of the product by making the user feel more affection or emotional feeling for a particular item.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a user with a real item corresponding to the item in real time corresponding to the item, when the user accumulates a certain point associated with the item through a game or the like. The service provider according to the present invention provides a new Internet service method and apparatus that allows the user to further benefit while the user accumulates the points.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention is to maintain an item corresponding to a product of the real world and the target cyber point in the item database in association with the information about the product of the real world, given to the user in response to the user Maintaining items and user cyber points in association with information about the user in a user database, granting a predetermined item to the user, and increasing user cyber points after granting the predetermined item to the user. Determining whether the target cyber point corresponding to the assigned item has been reached; when the increased user cyber point reaches the target cyber point corresponding to the item assigned to the user, the user corresponding to the item reality A method of managing an item on-line is provided that includes notifying that a product of the world can be obtained.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, the method for managing items online provides the user with an online game service that can be played with another user, when the user wins the online game, Subtracting the cyber points by a predetermined value and adding the cyber points less than the subtracted cyber points to the cyber points of the user.

According to another aspect of the present invention, maintaining an item corresponding to a product of the real world and a target cyber point in the item database in association with the information about the product of the real world, the item assigned to the user in response to the user And maintaining a user cyber point in a user database in association with information about the user, determining whether the user cyber point has reached a target cyber point corresponding to an item assigned to the user, the user cyber point When a user reaches a target cyber point corresponding to an item assigned to the user, the method for providing an item on-line is provided, including notifying the user that a product of the real world corresponding to the item can be obtained. .

An online item management system according to another aspect of the present invention is an item database for storing item information about an item corresponding to a product in the real world, a target cyber point associated with the item, and product information about the product in the real world. A user database storing user information corresponding to a user, item information about an item assigned to the user and a user cyber point associated with the user, an item for assigning an item to the user and displaying the item in association with the user A processing unit and a purchase processing unit for notifying the user that a product of the real world corresponding to the item may be acquired when the user cyber point reaches a target cyber point corresponding to the item granted to the user.

Hereinafter, with reference to the accompanying drawings will be described an embodiment of the present invention;

1 is a diagram illustrating an online item management system according to an embodiment of the present invention. The online item management system 100 according to the present invention includes an item database 101, a user database 102, an item processing unit 103, and a purchase processing unit 104.

The online item management system according to the present invention is connected to a user terminal through a wired or wireless communication network such as the Internet. In addition, the item management system provides an item management service according to the present invention while communicating with a user program such as a web browser installed in the user terminal. At this time, the item management system includes hardware and software for communication, which is omitted since it is a component used universally in the field to which the present invention belongs. In addition, the user terminal may be a PC, a mobile phone, a smart phone, a PDA, a portable Internet terminal.

An Item Database 101 stores item information about an item corresponding to a product in the real world, a target cyber point associated with the item, and product information about the product in the real world. The item database 200 will be described with reference to FIG. 2.

The item database 200 stores information about items in accordance with the present invention. Item Identifier is an identifier for identifying an avatar item. In FIG. 2, a 3-digit number is used as the item identifier, but other types of codes may be used.

The Product Information Field is used to store information about what real world goods or services are associated with the avatar item. In Figure 2, "Burberry Court, Gucci Watch, iRiver MP3 Player and Kia Motors Opirus" and the like are shown as an example. According to another embodiment of the present invention, the product information field may be stored in more detail including information about a model name. In addition, in the above example, only the case of goods is shown, but information specifying a service such as, for example, "one month tour of Europe" may be input and stored.

The target cyber point field stores information about which point the user's cyber point must reach before the user is granted the right to obtain a product in the real world corresponding to the item. In FIG. 2, the target cyber point is "500,000" point for the "Burberry skirt". In this case, when the user's cyber point reaches "500,000" point, the user is given the right to obtain the "Burberry Skirt" of the real world, and notifies the user.

Although not shown in FIG. 2, the item database 200 may store image information of a corresponding item. For example, in response to the "Burberry skirt", an image of an avatar item image of a real Burberry skirt is stored. The image is an image of an actual product. In this way, when an image generated to correspond to an actual product is provided to the user as an item, the item is displayed together with the user's avatar. For example, an avatar wearing a "burberry skirt" is displayed as the user's avatar. As the avatar is continuously exposed to the user, the user becomes familiar with the item, thereby increasing the advertisement effect on the product related to the item. In addition, from the user's point of view, the item corresponding to the item in the real world can be owned in the cyber world, thereby increasing satisfaction. In addition, in the case of a service, an item of a type representing the service is stored. For example, in connection with the "one month trip to Europe" service, an image of the letter written on an envelope may be used as an item.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, there may be a case in which the item or service of the corresponding real world does not exist among the items, in which case, the product information and the target cyber point are not separately stored in the item database.

Returning to FIG. 1 again, user database 102 stores user information corresponding to a user, item information about items assigned to the user, and user cyber points associated with the user. The user database 300 will be described with reference to FIG. 3.

The user database 300 stores information about a user in accordance with the present invention. The user identifier is an identifier for identifying a user. In FIG. 3, text characters are used as user identifiers, but other types of codes may be used.

The user cyber point field stores the total cyber point value held by the corresponding user. For example, in FIG. 3, a user named "Barbie" may have 20,000 user cyber points as a whole, and a user called "lightning" may have 530,000 user cyber points as a whole.

An item identifier field stores an identifier for an item held by a corresponding user. The user holds the item in various ways. The user may hold the item by purchasing the item or may hold the item for free by participating in a predetermined event event.

In FIG. 3, a user named “Bobby” owns an item corresponding to the item identifier “101”, a “Burberry Skirt” item, and an “Kia Motors Opirus” item corresponding to the item identifier “104”. Therefore, when displaying the avatar corresponding to the user "Bobby", the "Burberry Skirt" item and the "Kia Motors Opirus" item are displayed together. For example, the user's avatar may wear an "Burberry Skirt" and generate and display an image such that "Kia Motors Opirus" is disposed behind the avatar. According to another embodiment of the present invention, when a user has many items, the user selects an item to be displayed with his avatar, and only the selected item is displayed with the avatar.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, only when the avatar item is actually displayed, the increased point for each item described later may be increased, thereby increasing the exposure frequency of the corresponding avatar item. According to the present embodiment, there is an advantage in that the advertisement frequency is increased by increasing the exposure frequency of the corresponding avatar item.

The Per-Item Point Field stores the cyber points obtained by the user after the corresponding item is assigned to the user. For example, when a user named "Bobby" purchases a "Burberry Skirt" item for the first time, the item-incremented point corresponding to the "Burberry Skirt" item of "Bobby" becomes 0 point or a predetermined base point. Then, if the user "Bobby" increases his cyber points through a game or other method, the increased points for each item of an item owned by the user "Bobby" increases by that amount.

Returning to FIG. 1 again, the item processing unit 103 grants an item to the user and displays the item in association with the user. When the user purchases a specific item, the item processing unit 103 records the item identifier of the purchased item in the corresponding field of the user database 102 corresponding to the user. In addition, the item image corresponding to the item is identified from the item database 101 and transmitted to the user's terminal to be displayed on the user's PC. Transmission and display of the item image is to transmit the item of the avatar from the server to the terminal (PC) according to the prior art, and to display through a web browser or the like installed on the terminal, which is used universally in the technical field to which the present invention belongs This can be done.

In addition, the item processing unit 103 processes a user's cyber point or an increased point for each item when the user plays a specific game. That is, the corresponding field of the user database 102 is modified.

When the increased point for each item of a specific user reaches a target cyber point corresponding to the item given to the user, the purchase processing unit 104 may acquire the product of the real world corresponding to the item to the user. Notify. The method of changing the point is possible in various cases, the use of the game will be described later with reference to FIG.

Whenever the increased point field for each item in the user database is changed, the purchase processor 104 determines whether the increased point for each item of the user reaches a target cyber point corresponding to the item granted to the user. For example, if the item-increased point corresponding to the "Burberry Skirt" of the user "Barbie" is changed from 10,000 points to 20,000 points, the purchase processing unit 104 indicates that the 20,000 points of the "Burberry skirt". It is determined whether the target cyber point (refer to FIG. 2, 500,000 points) has been reached. In this embodiment, since the target cyber point has not been reached, no separate processing is performed.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, the increased point for each item corresponding to the user's "Gucci watch" (item identifier "102") of "lightning" is changed to 520,000 points. The purchase processing unit 104 determines whether the 520,000 points have reached the target cyber point of the "Gucci watch" (refer to FIG. 2, 500,000 points). In this embodiment, the target cyber point has been reached. Accordingly, the purchase processing unit 104 notifies the user that he can obtain a real world product (actual "Gucci watch") corresponding to the item. For example, the purchase processing unit 104 provides a real "Gucci clock" to the user "lightning" when the increased point for each item corresponding to the "Gucci watch" of the user "lightning" exceeds 500,000 points. Send a mail or message. Then, through a separate identity verification process and an address verification process, the service provider according to the present invention delivers the real world product to the user.

When the increased point for each item reaches the target cyber point in this way, if the user is given the corresponding real world product, the user's point of view in the service provider's site according to the present invention is increased until the target cyber point is reached. Efforts will be made to gain increased points for each item, thus increasing the user's loyalty to the site. In addition, by connecting between the items used in the avatar and the items used in real life, the user can further increase the interest in using the avatar.

In addition, according to the present invention, since the user determines whether the target cyber point is reached in consideration of the increased cyber points since the user owns the avatar item, the users have to own a certain item for a long time, and such an item for a long time. By using with their avatar, products and services in real life associated with the item are effectively advertised.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, when the user cyber point reaches a target cyber point corresponding to the item assigned to the user, the purchase processing unit 104 acquires a product of the real world corresponding to the item to the user. Notify you that you can. Many modifications are possible in connection with this embodiment. Although the previous embodiment manages the increased points for each item for each item, the present embodiment does not manage the points for each item.

Instead of managing user cyber points for each item, only one cyber point is managed for a user. When the user cyber point reaches the target cyber point for each item owned by the user, the real world item corresponding to the corresponding item is provided. According to the present embodiment, since the points are not managed for each item, there is an advantage that the user database can be easily managed.

In another variant, only one avatar item associated with the real world is owned, and cyber points are maintained about the avatar item. After giving up, you can own a new avatar item.

4 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of an item management method online according to an embodiment of the present invention.

In step 401, the item management system according to the present invention maintains an item corresponding to a product in the real world and a target cyber point in the item database in association with information about the product in the real world. For information about the item database and the goods in the real world, refer to the goods information described with reference to FIG. 2.

In step 402, the item management system maintains in the user database items associated with the user and user cyber points associated with the user in association with the information about the user. The user cyber point may be a point that is uniquely maintained corresponding to the user, or may be a point that is separately maintained for each item.

In step 403, the item management system gives the user a predetermined item. For example, an item management system adds item information to the user database corresponding to the user. In addition, the item management system displays the item together on the avatar associated with the user.

In step 404, the item management system determines whether the increased user cyber point has reached the target cyber point corresponding to the item granted to the user after assigning the predetermined item to the user. That is, the user cyber point value is not compared with the target cyber point as it is, but the user cyber point increased after the item is assigned is compared with the target cyber point. To this end, as shown in FIG. 3, it may be managed using an increased point field for each item. For example, in FIG. 3, a user named "Barbie" owns two items, and since the cyber point has increased by 5,000 points, the user cyber point, the increased item-specific point corresponding to "Burberry skirt" and " Increases all points increased for each item corresponding to "Kia Motors Opirus" by 5,000 points. Then, an increased user cyber point can be easily calculated after assigning a predetermined item to the user using the increased point item for each item. Even if the points are reduced, all three point items are reduced.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, the cyber point when the item is given to the user is recorded and used to easily calculate the increased user cyber point after granting the user a predetermined item.

According to the present embodiment, since the user only considers the increased cyber points after receiving the corresponding item, the ownership period of the corresponding item becomes long, and thus, the advertisement effect is effectively increased.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, it is determined in step 404 whether the user cyber point has reached a target cyber point corresponding to the item assigned to the user. That is, in the present embodiment, only the user owns the item and determines whether the user's cyber point has reached the target cyber point. In the above embodiment, only the cyber points increased after the user receives the corresponding item are considered, but the conditions regarding this part are not considered separately. According to the present embodiment, a user who has earned a sufficient number of cyber points then acquires a real world product corresponding to the avatar item by purchasing the avatar item required by the user.

In step 405, when the increased user cyber point reaches a target cyber point corresponding to the item assigned to the user, the item management system may obtain a product of the real world corresponding to the item to the user Notify. The notification may be performed by posting on an e-mail or web page. When the user acquires a product of the real world corresponding to the item and a confirmation input is input thereto, the target cyber point is subtracted from the user cyber point. In the embodiment of managing both user cyber points and increased points for each item, the two points are subtracted.

As a result of the determination in step 404, if the user cyber point increased after granting the predetermined item to the user does not reach the target cyber point corresponding to the item assigned to the user, the user is allowed to enter the present invention. Various services provided by the service provider may be used.

Hereinafter, a case where another service provider provides a game service according to the present invention will be described. In addition, the game service providing method below is important in that it presents a new structure that allows the service provider according to the present invention to generate revenue.

In step 406, the item management system provides the user with an online game service that can be played with another user. Cyber points are earned at a certain rate when purchasing goods through a web page of a service provider according to the present invention. In addition, the cyber point may convert the cyber point of another user into its own cyber point by playing the game through the web page of the service provider according to the present invention. For example, a foca game can be provided online to a user.

In step 407, the item management system adjusts the cyber points according to the outcome of the game. When the user wins the online game, the cyber points of the other user are subtracted by a predetermined value. This is done by subtracting the user cyber points on the user database. Further, the cyber points less than the subtracted cyber points are added to the cyber points of the user. For example, if a user named "Bobby" and a user named "Lightning" play a foca game online, and the user "Bobby" wins 100 points from the user named "Lightning", the user of the user "Lightning" Cyber points are reduced by 100 points. However, the user cyber point of the user "Bobby" does not increase by 100 points, but increases by a value less than 100 points (for example, 90 points).

As such, in an online game, as the game progresses, the overall game point is reduced, so that if a user later reaches a target cyber point for a specific item, the exchange price of the game point consumed up to that point corresponds to the selling price of the item. If the target cyber point is determined, the service provider's point of view will be sufficiently compensated even if the user is provided with the real world product corresponding to the item free of charge. For example, suppose that the value of one cyber point is worth one won in the real world, and 100,000 points must be consumed in the process to achieve 10,000 points. In this case, in order to provide a product of 100,000 won to a user, the target cyber point corresponding to the product may be set to 10,000 points.

For example, if the deduction rate, which is the ratio of points deducted from the winner in each game, is r, then the points consumed by the user in the system to earn X points are X / (1-r). For example, if User A and User B play at 100,000 points and the deduction is 10 percent, if User A wins the game, User A's cyber points will increase by 90,000 points, and 100,000 points. Ten percent of 10,000 points are lost. Then, the user's B cyber point is reduced by 100,000 points. As a result, when user A earns 90,000 points, the amount actually consumed is 100,000 points. That is, 90,000 / (1-0.1) = 100,000 points are calculated.

In addition, according to another embodiment of the present invention, if the exchange price of the game point consumed until the target cyber point reaches the target cyber point is higher than the selling price of the item, the service provider according to the present invention by the difference 'S income will increase. For example, if one point corresponds to one won in the above embodiment, a product of 90,000 won may be provided corresponding to 90,000 points. In this case, since the points actually consumed through the game are 100,000 points, the service provider according to the present invention increases the income by the difference. Adjusting the deduction rate in this way may increase the income of the service provider accordingly. For example, if 200,000 points are consumed on average to achieve 100,000 points, and the product is supplied for 100,000 won, the difference of 100,000 points (100,000 won) is the profit of the service provider according to the present invention. . That is, the target cyber point corresponding to the item is determined such that the exchange price of all the cyber points consumed while reaching the target cyber point is a certain ratio higher than the selling price of the item.

Embodiments of the invention also include computer-readable media containing program instructions for performing various computer-implemented operations. The computer readable medium may include program instructions, data files, data structures, etc. alone or in combination. The medium or program instructions may be those specially designed and constructed for the purposes of the present invention, or they may be of the kind well-known and available to those having skill in the computer software arts. Examples of computer-readable recording media include magnetic media such as hard disks, floppy disks, and magnetic tape, optical media such as CD-ROMs, DVDs, and magnetic disks, such as floppy disks. Magneto-optical media, and hardware devices specifically configured to store and execute program instructions, such as ROM, RAM, flash memory, and the like. The medium may be a transmission medium such as an optical or metal wire, a waveguide, or the like including a carrier wave for transmitting a signal specifying a program command, a data structure, or the like. Examples of program instructions include not only machine code generated by a compiler, but also high-level language code that can be executed by a computer using an interpreter or the like.

According to the present invention, a method and apparatus for increasing loyalty of users at low cost with respect to various services performed on the Internet are provided.

In addition, according to the present invention, with respect to avatars used in various service systems on the Internet, the user may further increase interest in using the avatar by connecting the items used in the avatar with the items used in real life.

In addition, according to the present invention, by allowing users to own a certain item for a long time and display it, it is possible to efficiently advertise products and services in real life associated with the item. According to the present invention, by using such an item, a user may have a greater affection or emotional feeling for a particular item, thereby efficiently performing emotional marketing of the product.

Further, according to the present invention, when the user accumulates a certain point associated with the item through a game or the like, in order to provide the user with the real goods of the real life corresponding to the item, and at the same time to provide the real goods to the user By allowing the service provider according to the present invention to further benefit while the user accumulates the points, new Internet service methods and apparatus are provided.

As described above, the present invention has been described by way of limited embodiments and drawings, but the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, which can be variously modified and modified by those skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains. Modifications are possible. Accordingly, the spirit of the present invention should be understood only by the claims set forth below, and all equivalent or equivalent modifications thereof will belong to the scope of the present invention.

1 is a diagram illustrating an online item management system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

2 shows an example of an item database according to the present invention;

3 illustrates an example of a user database in accordance with the present invention.

4 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of an item management method online according to an embodiment of the present invention.

<Explanation of symbols for the main parts of the drawings>

101: item database

102: user database

103: item processing unit

104: purchase processing unit

Claims (9)

In the item management method online, Maintaining items and target cyber points corresponding to goods in the real world in an item database in association with information about the goods in the real world; Maintaining items and user cyber points assigned to the user in correspondence with the user in a user database in association with information about the user; Assigning a predetermined item to a user; Determining whether an increased user cyber point has reached a target cyber point corresponding to the item granted to the user after assigning the predetermined item to the user; When the increased user cyber point reaches a target cyber point corresponding to the item assigned to the user, notifying the user that a product of the real world corresponding to the item can be obtained. Item management method online, characterized in that it comprises a. The method of claim 1, Providing an online game service for the user to play with another user; Subtracting the cyber points of the other user by a predetermined value when the user wins the online game; Adding the cyber points less than the subtracted cyber points to the cyber points of the user; Item management method on-line characterized in that it further comprises. The method of claim 2, And the target cyber point corresponding to the item is determined such that the exchange price of all cyber points consumed while reaching the target cyber point corresponds to the selling price of the item. The method of claim 2, And the target cyber point corresponding to the item is determined such that the exchange rate of the total cyber points consumed while reaching the target cyber point is higher than the selling price of the item by a certain ratio. In the item management method online, Maintaining items and target cyber points corresponding to goods in the real world in an item database in association with information about the goods in the real world; Maintaining items and user cyber points assigned to the user in correspondence with the user in a user database in association with information about the user; Determining whether the user cyber point reaches a target cyber point corresponding to the item assigned to the user; When the user cyber point reaches a target cyber point corresponding to the item assigned to the user, notifying the user that a product of the real world corresponding to the item can be obtained. Item management method online, characterized in that it comprises a. The method of claim 5, Subtracting the target cyber point from the user cyber point if the user acquires a product of the real world corresponding to the item and a confirmation input is input thereto; Item management method on-line characterized in that it further comprises. The method of claim 5, Providing an online game service for the user to play with another user; Subtracting the cyber points of the other user by a predetermined value when the user wins the online game; Adding the cyber points less than the subtracted cyber points to the cyber points of the user; Item management method on-line characterized in that it further comprises. A computer-readable recording medium having recorded thereon a program for executing the method of any one of claims 1 to 7. In the online item management system, An item database that stores item information about an item corresponding to a product in the real world, a target cyber point associated with the item, and product information about the product in the real world; A user database for storing user information corresponding to a user, item information about an item assigned to the user, and a user cyber point associated with the user; An item processor which gives an item to a user and displays the item in association with the user; And When the user cyber point reaches the target cyber point corresponding to the item assigned to the user, a purchase processing unit for notifying the user that the product of the real world corresponding to the item can be obtained. Item management system on-line comprising a.