JP2002007927A - Point management system and point management method using communication network - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a point management system using communication network allowing a user to increase a point by an investment in game or the like and capable of performing the circulation only with the point within a virtual living community. SOLUTION: The user can purchase a commodity or receive an offer of service by use of the point with a participating company within the virtual living community, and also increase the point by the investment in game or the like. The participating company can purchase the point from the management organization of the virtual living community or convert the point into money, so that the circulation can be performed by use of the point within the virtual living community.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a point management method used in a virtual living community connected by a communication network.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in a virtual store connected by a communication network, an individual user using the virtual store in advance accesses the homepage of the virtual store, responds to a questionnaire, or purchases a product in advance. The given points were given to individual users. These points are totaled, and the individual user can obtain various incentives. On the other hand, as the settlement on the Internet, a settlement system using a credit card, a settlement system using an E-cash that can be used on a network, and the like have been used. In this conventional system, points are used as a prize or discount as a supplement, and individual users cannot purchase goods or receive services only with points.

[0003]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In view of the above circumstances, the present invention has been made as a result of earnest research, and its main problem is that a user can increase points by operating a game or the like. It is another object of the present invention to provide a point management system and a method using a communication network that enables distribution only by points in a virtual living community.

[0004]

[MEANS FOR SOLVING THE PROBLEMS] To solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention provides a virtual living community connected by a communication network and a user belonging to the virtual living community via a homepage. The company consists of a participating company that sells goods or provides games and other services, and a user who participates in the virtual living community and is given an ID number. It is a value medium commonly distributed between participating companies and users in the virtual living community, and a communication network comprising a point management database for managing the points is provided on the web of the management organization of the virtual living community. In the point management system used, users use points with participating companies in the virtual living community. You can purchase goods or receive services, or use games to increase the number of points.Participating companies can purchase points from the management organization of the virtual living community or redeem points. We have taken the technical measures of making it possible to distribute using points in the virtual living community. Further, in the invention of claim 2, the point management database stores the points given to the use of the user by the management organization, the points sold by the management organization to the participating companies, and the user receiving goods or services from the participating companies. For each user and participating company, the points paid to the participating company, points given to the user by the participating company for the use of the user, and points obtained by the user by operating the game etc. performed by the participating company are managed for each user and participating company Take the technical means of doing. Further, in the invention according to claim 3, the management organization of the virtual living community provides authentication work means for authenticating participation of the participating company and the user, and points to the participating company based on settlement of points based on a transaction between the participating company and the user. The technical means of having a charging work means to pay, a sales work means to sell points to participating companies, and a cashing work means to redeem points of participating companies is taken. Further, in the invention of claim 4, a technical means is provided in which the authentication work means assigns an ID number to the user by participation of the user and gives points to the user for payment of the usage fee from the user. ing. Further, in the invention of claim 5, there is provided a technical means that the cashing operation means can convert the points into another point used by an external organization.

Further, according to the invention of claim 6, a virtual living community connected by a communication network and a participating company belonging to the virtual living community which sells goods to users via a homepage or provides games and other services are provided. And a user who participates in the virtual living community and is given an ID number, and points obtained by the user using the homepage are shared among the participating companies and users in the virtual living community. A point management method using a communication network comprising a point management database for managing the points on a web of the management organization of the virtual living community. Use points to purchase products or receive services with participating companies at The points can be increased by operating the game, etc., the participating companies can purchase points from the management organization of the virtual living community or redeem the points, and can distribute using the points in the virtual living community We have taken technical measures to do so. Further, in the invention of claim 7, points given to the use of the user by the management organization of the virtual living community connected by the communication network, points sold by the management organization to the participating company, The user and the points paid to the participating company for receiving goods or services, the points given to the user by the participating company for the use of the user, and the points obtained by the user operating the game etc. performed by the participating company Technical measures are taken to manage each participating company. Further, in the invention according to claim 8, the management organization of the virtual living community authenticates the participating company and the user, assigns an ID number, and gives the user a point for payment of the usage fee from the user. And a billing means for paying points to the participating company based on the settlement of points based on the transaction between the participating company and the user, a selling work means for selling points to the participating company, cashing the participating company's points, And technical means for converting the user's points into another point used by an external organization.

[0006]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A preferred embodiment of a point management system using a communication network according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is an overall schematic diagram of the system of the present embodiment. Terminals of a user (end user) 3 such as a personal computer, a mobile phone, an Internet TV, and a game machine are connected to a virtual living community 1 to which a number of participating companies belong through a communication network 2.

Here, the network 2 is an open network such as the Internet. Virtual Community 1
It is composed of a workstation or personal computer having a point management mechanism of the operating company 13 and is connected via the network 2 to a workstation or personal computer having a function for selling products and providing services of participating companies. ing.

That is, as shown in FIG.
Is provided with a WWW server 5, and a homepage 1 'on the WWW server 5 sets a virtual nation as an example of a virtual living community. In this embodiment, the participating companies 14 belonging to the virtual nation have their own WWW servers 15 and sales management databases 17 for selling products and providing services. Has established a web link. Also,
In the image and video representation of the virtual living community 1, as a space shared by the user 3, Web3D technology (VR
It provides a 3D virtual space using an HTLM language or the like (partially with the existing HTLM language).

The virtual living community 1 is provided with a database server 6, and a database 7 performs user management, point management, and the like. The database server 6 is protected by a wall system (firewall or virus check system) 8.

Next, as an example of the products and services provided by the participating company 14, as shown in FIG. 1, a homepage 1 'has icons 31 for information provision and event implementation linked to programs and the like. Icon 32 for selling various products (shopping in malls), icon 33 for playing games (net games at game centers) and providing content, icon 34 for providing medical services, icon 35 for providing community, mobile phone There are a corresponding page icon 36, a link icon 37 for each company site, and the like, which are selectably displayed. Regarding linkage with programs, etc., terrestrial television broadcasting, terrestrial data broadcasting, CS broadcasting, BS digital broadcasting, radio broadcasting,
Various information, video, and audio linked to each of movie, drama, music, live, and sports may be provided as digital content.

Here, an example of a game associated with a program will be described. The user 3 tunes the TV to, for example, a live broadcast program of an eight-channel horse race. Then, the user 3 clicks the game icon 33 and selects a horse racing game. The horse racing game provided by the participating company 14 starts simultaneously with the live broadcast program of the TV. Then, on the game screen, the odds for the user (resident) of the horse race to be broadcast live are displayed. Based on the odds, the user 3 bets points on the horse racing game and watches a live broadcast of TV. Then, since the actual order of the relayed horse races is the same as the order of the game, the user can receive a refund of points according to the odds.

The icon for providing a community is provided by the operating company 13, and the user 3 as a resident,
The three can communicate with each other by transmitting character data, voice data, image data, and the like. Furthermore, although not shown, points can be saved and operated,
A financial institution icon for issuing a lottery or lending may be provided.

Next, when the participating company 14 clicks a store registration icon (not shown) on the homepage 1 ', the participating company 14 switches to a store registration screen, inputs the information, transmits it to the operating company, or contacts the operating company by fax or the like. A store ID number is assigned and recorded in the resident management database 71 of the operating company. At the same time, participating company 1
4 pays predetermined points to the operating company 13 as a license fee (membership fee, system usage fee, maintenance cost).

When the user 3 clicks the immigration icon on the homepage or another homepage linked to the homepage, the user 3 is switched to a screen on which a resident (member) can be registered, and inputs predetermined personal information in accordance with a registration form. Next, when the "send" portion is clicked, this personal information is received by the mail server (not shown) of the operating company 13, the ID number is determined, and the personal information is automatically registered in the resident management database 71 by the database server 6. .
Further, the determined ID number is transmitted to the user 3 via the terminal via the network 2.

Further, in this embodiment, together with the ID number,
The address and the residence (possible to move by paying points) in the virtual nation are determined and notified to the user 3. When the user 3 pays the resident tax (membership fee), a certain percentage (10% in this embodiment) of the resident tax is given to the user 3, and the point is transmitted to the user 3. Is done.

Each time the user 3 regularly pays a resident tax (monthly membership fee), a redemption point is given to the user 3. The above configuration is for the case where the user 3 is a membership system, and does not require a membership fee. A configuration in which points used by an external organization are redeemed to obtain points may be used. The user 3 may also be able to purchase points with cash as described later.

The user 3 who has obtained points in this way
Collects this as a predetermined number of points and provides information and events linked to TV programs, sales of various products, provision of games and contents, medical services provided by participating companies 14 of the virtual living community 1. Can be provided.

Here, when the user 3 clicks the game icon 33 on the homepage, the participating company 1
The user 3 jumps to the homepage of the game company 4 and informs the ID number to the participating company 14 and at the same time pays the usage fee by points. When the user 3 plays the game and wins a prize, the participating company 14 gives the user 3 points according to the prize. Conversely, if you do not win, you will not get points.

In the participating company 14, the user 3
In addition to the ID number, the points of the usage fee, the reward points and the points given in the winning are recorded in the sales management database 17. This game is performed, for example, as a horse racing game linked to a TV as described above, and the user 3 can bet points and receive a payout according to a winning rate. Also in this case, the received point and the refunded point are recorded in the sales management database together with the ID number of the user 3. As a result, the user 3 can operate and increase the points.
Further, as a means for managing points, a floating exchange rate system of points, introduction of investment management institutions, or lottery operation may be performed.

Next, in the case of sale of goods or medical services, the user 3 selects the icon 3 of the desired goods or service.
When the user clicks on 2, 34, the user jumps to the homepage of the above-mentioned product sales company or medical service company, which is the participating company 14, and when the user 3 purchases the product or receives the provision of medical service, the ID number is entered. Inform the company 14 and pay the point at the same time. The participating company 14 records the points received as consideration and the points to be returned to the user in accordance with the purchase price in the sales management database 17 together with the ID number of the user.

In the case of providing free information or advertising, the user 3 jumps to the homepage of the information providing company or advertising company which is the participating company 14 by clicking the icon of free information providing or advertising. When the user 3 answers the questionnaire and informs the participating company of the ID number, points are paid.

The participating company 14 records the paid points together with the user ID number in the sales management database. In addition, for various merchandise and services, the participating company 14 can appropriately determine points (0 may be given) to the user, and calculate the balance of points along with the ID number in each sales management database 1.
Record in 7. The service may be performed by the operating company 13 instead of the participating company 14.

Next, the point management system 4 in the above system will be described. As shown in FIG. 2, the point management system includes an authentication work unit 41, a billing work unit 42, a sales work unit 43, and a cashing work unit 44.

That is, the authentication work means 41 is provided by the participating company 14
Is approved and a store ID number is assigned, and a user 3 is authenticated for entry into Japan and a user ID number is assigned. Resident tax (monthly fee) for user 3
Is received and a predetermined point for this is returned to the user.

Next, the charging work means 42 is provided by the participating company 14
With respect to the settlement request for the points of the participating company 14 based on the transaction of the user 3, the predetermined points are deducted from the points owned by the user 3 in order to add the points to the points owned by the participating company 14. In addition, a point corresponding to a license fee is deducted from the points owned by the participating company 14 to the operating company 13.

The selling operation means 43 is for selling points of the number of applications to the participating company 14 by cash or a profit in place of the same in response to a purchase application of the participating company 14. On the contrary to the selling operation means 43, the cashing operation means 44 cashes the number of applications by the cashing application of the participating company 14 and pays it to the participating company.

In the cashing means 44, the points can be exchanged with another point P '(mileage, gift certificate, various cards, etc.) used by an external organization by applying for the participating company 14 or the user 3. I do. Therefore, the user 3 can exchange the mileage points for points to pay a membership fee, or can exchange the collected points for points on another card for use.

The sales rate and the exchange rate of these points can be fixed or variable. The point redemption rate of the participating companies is left to the participating companies, and is arbitrarily determined, for example, generally 0.5%, 3% to 13%,
It may be 0.

The point management database 7 shown in FIG.
The management company 13 sends information on return points of the membership fee given to the user 3, information on points sold to the participating company 14, and information on points paid by the participating company 14 as a license fee.

Similarly, the point management database 73 includes, from the sales management database 17 of the participating company 14, information on points paid by the user 3 to the participating company 14 to receive goods or services from the participating company 14, Information on the reward points given by the participating company 14 to the user 3 for the use of the user 3 and information on the points obtained by the user operating the game or the like performed by the participating company are sent.

These pieces of information are classified by the ID codes of the user 3 and the participating companies, the number of points is calculated for each ID code, and recorded together with the history. In this embodiment,
The user 3 and the participating company 14 are managed together with the ID number in the resident management database 71, and the settlement history with the participating company 14 is managed in the charging / settlement database 72.
The point management database 7 manages points for each number.
3 is managed.

When delivery to the user 3 is required for product sales by the participating company 14, the product is managed by the physical distribution database 74, and goods are transferred from the warehouse of the participating company 14 to the user via a delivery / distribution center (not shown). It is delivered to 3.

In this system, all distribution can be performed using points in the virtual living community, but payment of the membership fee of the user 3 and payment of cash when purchasing points of participating companies are performed. May be required. On the other hand, network-type electronic money, Web Money,
Known settlement means such as CAFIS and CVS storage agent can be used.

In the present invention, the case where the participating company has a WWW server separately from the WWW server 5 of the management company of the virtual living community 1 has been described, but all information is recorded on the homepage of the WWW server 5 of the management company. The sales management database may be managed using a management company database. Further, in this embodiment, the user cannot redeem the points, but the user may be able to redeem the points within a certain range or all.
In other words, it goes without saying that various design changes can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.

[0035]

Since the present invention has the above configuration, it is not limited to the reward points received when a user purchases a product or a service, or the points received by responding to a questionnaire or clicking a window, and may be a game or the like. And can be used to increase the number of points, and in the virtual living community, distribution can be performed using only points, and cash is not required. In addition, since the participating companies can cash the points, there is no risk of disadvantage even if they sell products or provide services with the points. Further, since the points can be converted into another point used by an external organization, the versatility of the points can be enhanced and the points can be further utilized.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an overall outline of a system.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a point management system.

FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram of a point management system.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Virtual Living Community 2 Network 3 User 4 Point Management System 5 WWW Server (Management Company) 6 Database Server 7 Database 8 Wall System 13 Operating Company 14 Participating Company 15 WWW Server (Participating Company)

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. A virtual living community connected by a communication network, a participating company belonging to the virtual living community, selling a product to a user via a homepage or providing a game or other service, and participating in the virtual living community And a user who is given an ID number, and the points obtained by the user using the homepage are a value medium commonly distributed between the participating company and the user in the virtual living community. A point management system using a communication network provided with a point management database for managing the points on the web of the management organization of the virtual living community; Use points to purchase products or receive services, or use them in games, etc. It is possible to increase the number of points, and the participating companies can purchase or redeem points from the management organization of the virtual community, and can distribute using points in the virtual community. A point management system using a communication network. 2. The point management database includes: points given by the management organization for the use of the user; points sold by the management organization to the participating companies; and points for the user to receive goods or services from the participating companies. Each user and participating company must manage the points paid, the points given to the user by the participating company for the use of the user, and the points earned by the user operating the games etc. performed by the participating company. A point management system using the communication network according to claim 1. 3. A management system of a virtual living community, comprising: an authentication work means for authenticating participation of a participating company and a user; a charging work means for paying points to a participating company based on settlement of points based on a transaction between the participating company and a user; The point management system using a communication network according to claim 1, further comprising: a sales work unit for selling points to the participating companies; and a cashing unit for cashing the points of the participating companies. 4. The communication according to claim 3, wherein the authentication work means assigns an ID number to the user upon participation of the user and gives the user a point for payment of the usage fee from the user. Point management system using a network. 5. The point management system using a communication network according to claim 3, wherein the cashing operation means can convert the point into another point used by an external organization. 6. A virtual living community connected by a communication network, a participating company belonging to the virtual living community, selling a product to a user via a homepage or providing a game or other service, and participating in the virtual living community And a user who is given an ID number, and the points obtained by the user using the homepage are a value medium commonly distributed between the participating company and the user in the virtual living community. A point management method using a communication network in which a web of the management organization of the virtual living community is provided with a point management database for managing the points, wherein a user communicates with a participating company in the virtual living community. Use points to purchase products or receive services, or use them in games, etc. The participating companies can purchase points from the management organization of the virtual living community or redeem the points, and the points can be used for distribution within the virtual living community. Management method using a communication network. 7. Points given to the use of the user by the management organization of the virtual living community connected by the communication network, points sold by the management organization to participating companies, and users receiving goods or services from the participating companies. For each user and participating company, the points paid to the participating company, points given to the user by the participating company for the use of the user, and points obtained by the user by operating the game etc. performed by the participating company are managed for each user and participating company 7. The point management method using a communication network according to claim 6, wherein: 8. A management organization of a virtual living community, authenticates a participating company and a user, assigns an ID number, and gives a user a point for payment of a usage fee from the user. Billing means for paying points to participating companies based on settlement of points based on user transactions, sales work means for selling points to participating companies, redeeming points for participating companies, and externalizing points for participating companies or users 7. The point management method using a communication network according to claim 6, further comprising a cashing operation means for converting into another point used by an organization.