JP2002024665A - Information providing server and service providing system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To impart a benefit point for not only the real use record of a store but also an action related to the use of the store. SOLUTION: An information providing means 21 provides a portable telephone 10 with a store-related information 23a in compliance with a request from the portable telephone 10. When portable telephone 10 is provided with the store-related information 23a, a benefit point generation means 25 generates a reading point showing that a user of the communication terminal reads information related to the store as a benefit point to be added for the user. A benefit point control means 26 controls the benefit point generated by the benefit point generation means 25. If the benefit point is added for the reading action of the store-related information 23a in this way, the reading action is promoted and thereby, a sales increase in the shop can be expected.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a service providing system for providing services according to privilege points,
In particular, this system relates to an information providing server that provides information to a communication terminal such as a mobile phone.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A privilege point is given to a customer according to the use result of a store (purchase of a product or enjoyment of a service), and a reward or a service corresponding to the privilege point is returned on a daily basis. . According to such a service providing system, the number of customers who use the store for the purpose of obtaining privilege points increases, and as a result, the sales of the store increase.

[0003]

Here, in the above-mentioned conventional method, privilege points are given only according to the use results of the store. However, not only the use results but also the actions leading to the use are given. It is also preferable to give privilege points.

[0004] For example, a person who browses information related to a store, such as a map to the store and contents of products handled by the store, on an Internet homepage or the like is likely to use the store in the future. That is, such a browsing operation of the homepage is an act that leads to the use of the store, and an increase in sales of the store can be expected by giving a privilege point to the browsing operation.

Here, a privilege point management method in the case of shopping with a credit card is conventionally known, but this method does not have a mechanism for confirming the fact that information related to a store has been browsed on a homepage. . That is, in the conventional method, it is not possible to give a privilege point to an action that leads to the use of a store, such as a browsing action.

The present invention has been proposed based on the above-mentioned conventional circumstances, and provides a service providing system capable of giving a privilege point to an act that leads to the use of a store.

[0007]

The present invention employs the following means to achieve the above object. That is, as shown in FIG. 1, it is assumed that an information providing server 20 that provides information to a communication terminal such as a mobile phone 10 is provided.

[0008] Here, the information providing means 21 is a portable telephone 1
In response to a request from 0, information related to a store (hereinafter referred to as “store-related information”) 23a is provided to the mobile phone 10. Also, when the store-related information 23a is provided to the mobile phone 10, the privilege point generation unit 25 causes the user of the mobile phone 10 to browse the store-related information 23a by this provision. As a bonus point to be added, a browse point indicating that the user has browsed the store-related information 23a is generated. Further, the privilege point managing means 26 manages the privilege points generated by the privilege point generating means 25.

As described above, by adopting a configuration in which the privilege points are added to the browsing operation of the store-related information 23a,
Since this browsing action is promoted, an increase in sales of the store can be expected.

The privilege point managing means 26 is installed outside the information providing server 20, and the privilege point generating means 2 is provided to the privilege point managing means.
5 may be provided with the communication means 24 for notifying the privilege point generated.

Preferably, the store-related information 23a includes at least one of map information for the store, telephone number information of the store, designated information specified by the store, and address information of the store's homepage.

Further, the act for which the privilege points are to be generated is not limited to the above-mentioned browsing act. For example, the privilege point generating means 25 may generate a telephone point indicating that the user has called the store as a privilege point to be added to the user of the communication terminal.

[0013]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a main part of a service providing system to which the present invention is applied. In the following, the configuration of the mobile phone 10 will be described by a user of a mobile phone 10 such as "i-mode" or "EZ Web". Store related information 2 in information communication mode
A description will be given together with the operation of browsing 3a (“i-mo” described above).
“de” is the name of the information communication service provided by NTT DoCoMo, Inc., and “EZ Web” is the name of the information communication service provided by Daini Denden Co., Ltd.).

The stores referred to below include not only restaurants and shops, but also all institutions that sell products and provide services to customers, such as movie theaters and fitness clubs. In addition, it is assumed that the user of the mobile phone 10 has subscribed to the system.

First, by operating the instruction input means 12 such as buttons provided on the mobile phone 10 in a predetermined procedure, the viewing software (browsing means 11) installed in the mobile phone 10 is transmitted to the information providing server 20. When a request to acquire a store search page is issued, the information providing unit 21 that has received this page acquisition request reads a store search page (not shown) from the storage unit 23 such as a hard disk and returns it to the mobile phone 10 (FIG. 2. Step S1 → S2).

Thus, the display means 1 of the mobile phone 10
3 (for example, a liquid crystal display or the like), a store search screen is displayed.
In the input area, your user ID (for example, "00001234")
At the same time, and after inputting a target store name (for example, "XX shop") in the search key input area, a search start is instructed (FIG. 2, step S3 → S4).

Note that the user ID is a user identification number issued at the time of joining the system. The user ID may be a unique number among registered users in the system, and may use a credit card number, a telephone number of the mobile phone 10, an identification number of the mobile phone 10, or the like (the user ID and the user ID). , A credit card number or a telephone number of the mobile phone 10).

In this case, the user ID is input by instruction. However, the user ID is stored in the storage means 14 (for example, a memory card), and the user ID is read from the storage means 14 and transmitted to the information providing server 20. The mobile phone 10 may include a user ID transmitting unit (not shown) for transmitting. By doing so, the user I
In addition to eliminating the need to specify and input D, user I
There is also an effect that D input errors are eliminated.

Accordingly, the browsing means 1 of the mobile phone 10
When a search request is issued from 1 to the information providing server 20, the information providing unit 21 that has received the search request notifies the search unit 22 of the store name "XX shop" instructed and input as described above. After receiving the notification, the search unit 22 searches the store management table 23b stored in the storage unit 23 based on the store name “XX shop”, and stores the store ID described below as the search result. It returns to providing means 21 (FIG. 2, step S5).

That is, as shown in FIG. 3, the store management table 23b is a table in which a name, a telephone number, a location, a business type, etc. are associated with the store ID in advance.
The store ID refers to a unique number among stores participating in the system. Therefore, here, the store ID (that is, “00000003”) associated with the store name “XX store” is returned to the information providing unit 21, and the information providing unit 21 receiving the store ID “00000003” Is the store-related information 23 with the file name “00000003”
a is read from the storage means 23 and returned to the mobile phone 10 (FIG. 2, step S6).

Here, the store-related information 23a refers to all kinds of information related to the store, in addition to the map information for the store and the telephone number information of the store. Therefore, the user of the mobile phone 10 that has received the store-related information 23a having the file name “00000003” is referred to as “XX shop” displayed on the display unit 13.
Then, the user browses the map and the telephone number of "xx shop" (FIG. 2, step S7).

The format of the map information is not particularly limited. However, considering that the destination of the map information is the mobile phone 10, as described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2000-35843, It is preferable to use a schematic map using. When the information providing unit 21 reads the store-related information 23a from the storage unit 23 and returns it to the mobile phone 10 (or at the same time as returning the same) as described above, the user with the user ID “00001234” (hereinafter, the user “ [00001234]) to the privilege point generating means 25 together with the user ID "00001234". Thereby, the privilege point generating means 25 generates a browse point indicating that the user ID “00001234” browses the store-related information 23a, and instructs the privilege point management means 26 to add the browse point to the user “00001234”. Upon receiving the instruction, the privilege point management unit 26 updates the content of the privilege point management table 23c stored in the storage unit 23 to the content obtained by adding the viewing point for the user “00001234” (FIG. 2, step S).
8).

As described above, if a configuration in which the privilege points are added to the browsing activity of the store-related information 23a is adopted, this browsing activity is promoted, and an increase in the sales of the store can be expected.

As described above, the store-related information 23a
Since there are several types, no matter what kind of store-related information 23a is used, bonus points are added to the browsing action, and, for example, map information for the store, etc.
Privilege points may be added only for the act of browsing the store-related information 23a that is easily connected to the use of the store.

[0026] The act for which the privilege points are to be generated is not limited to the above-described browsing act.

For example, when the user of the mobile phone 10 calls the store, the privilege point generating means 25 may generate a telephone point indicating that the user has called the store as a privilege point to be added to the user. Yes (FIG. 4, step S11: Yes → S12 → S
13: Yes → S14). However, in this case, the dial history notifying means 17 for notifying the information providing server 20 of the dial history indicating the dialed number and the date and time is provided by the mobile phone 1.
0 and the communication means 2 of the information providing server 20
After determining whether or not the user of the mobile phone 10 has called the store based on the dial history acquired through
The information providing server 20 is provided with a judging unit 27 for notifying the privilege point generating unit 25 of the judgment result. In addition,
The determination means obtains the telephone number information of each store from the store-related information 23a, and determines whether the user of the mobile phone 10 has called the store by comparing the telephone number information with the dial history. It is supposed to.

When the user of the mobile phone 10 uses the store, the privilege point generating means 25 can generate a use point indicating that the user has used the store as a privilege point to be added to the user. (FIG. 4, Step S15: Yes → S16 → S1
7). However, in this case, a computer of a credit card company C described later is provided with a use history notifying unit 31 for notifying the information providing server 20 of the use history of the credit card (store used, date and time, use details, etc.)
The communication means 24 of the information providing server 20 notifies the privilege history to the privilege point generating means 25. When the store is used without browsing the store-related information 23a, the use point is, for example, 1 point / 10
In contrast to 0 yen, the usage point when using the store after browsing the store-related information 23a is, for example, 2 points.
Points, such as points / 100 yen,
The score may vary depending on whether or not the store related information 23a is used after browsing.

Further, as shown in FIG. 5, the user of the mobile phone 10 following the link in the order of page 1 → page 3 → page 5 → page 6, ie, the predetermined information in the store-related information 23a, the store home page, etc. As privilege points to be added to the user of the mobile phone 10 following the link in the order, the privilege point generating means 25 can also generate an access point indicating that the user has made an access that matches the predetermined access condition (the above-mentioned point). In order to promote access to the homepage, it is effective to include the address information in the store-related information 23a). However, in this case, the access page history indicating the accessed page address and the date and time is stored in the information providing server 2.
The mobile phone 10 is provided with an access page history notifying unit 17 for notifying the user of the mobile phone 10 that the user of the mobile phone 10 matches a predetermined access condition based on the access page history acquired via the communication unit 24 of the information providing server 20. After judging whether or not the user has made the access, the information providing server 20 is provided with a judging means 27 for notifying the privilege point generating means 25 of the judgment result.

Here, every time the dial history, credit card use history, and access page history are updated, these histories are notified to the information providing server 20, but the notification timing is particularly limited. is not. That is, the information providing server 20-the mobile phone 1
From the viewpoint of preventing frequent communication between computers of 0 or the credit card company C, the history may be notified to the information providing server 20 at a predetermined period, for example, every week.

Here, when the privilege point generation method as described above is adopted, it is expected that a user for the purpose of only obtaining the privilege points will appear. Is not preferable. Therefore, the privilege point generating means 25 generates the same type of privilege point for the same user up to a predetermined number of times in a predetermined period (for example, the number of browse points related to the store “00000003” is generated once / one week). It may be.

It should be noted that the same kind of privilege points generated for the same user by the privilege point generating means 25 more than a predetermined number of times in a predetermined period (for example, browsing related to a store "00000003" generated more than once / one week) The same effect as above can be obtained even if the privilege point management means 26 invalidates the points. That is, privilege point management means 2
6, when instructed by the privilege point generating means 25 to add the privilege points, by referring to the privilege point management table 23c, privilege points of the same kind as the privilege points related to the addition are added within a predetermined period. The number of times of addition is checked to determine whether or not the addition is possible.

For a user who does not use the store (or a user who does not use or call) until a predetermined period such as one week has elapsed after browsing the store-related information 23a, the browsing points related to this store A method of invalidating (or all the browsing points acquired by the user) or a method of generating a cancellation point which is a minus point for a user who has canceled a reservation made in a store and adding the cancellation point is adopted. Is also effective. In order to determine whether or not the above-mentioned predetermined period has elapsed, when the viewing points are added, the added date and time may be recorded in the privilege point management table 23c by the privilege point management means 26. The determination means 27 of the information providing server 20 determines whether the reservation has been canceled based on the use history of the credit card.
Is to judge.

Here, the "management" performed by the privilege point managing means 26 is not limited to only the addition, subtraction, and invalidation of the privilege points. That is, if necessary,
The privilege point management means 26 may perform other management (such as multiplication and division).

Hereinafter, the privilege point generation method described above will be described in more detail by exemplifying how privilege points change with various actions of the user “00001234”. Note that the number of privilege points adopted by the present invention is not limited to the following points.

First, on July 2, after browsing the information 23a related to the store "00000003", the store related information 23a is read.
When the links are traced in a specific order in FIG.
As shown in (2), two viewing points and two access points are added to the privilege point management table 23c. Therefore, the total privilege points of the user “00001234” are as shown in FIGS. 4 points.

When the information 23a related to the store "00000005" is browsed on July 3, two browse points are added to the privilege point management table 23c as shown in FIG. 6 (3). As shown in FIG. 7 (3), the bonus point total of the user “00001234” is 6 points by adding 2 points to the above 4 points.

Further, when a telephone reservation is made to the store "00000003" on July 7, as shown in FIG. 6D, three telephone points are added to the privilege point management table 23c. As shown in FIG. 7 (4), the total of the privilege points of "" is 9 points obtained by adding 3 points to the above 6 points.

Here, by the time one week has passed since the information 23a related to the store “00000005” was browsed (that is, by July 10), both the use points and the telephone points related to the store “00000005” were obtained. If not added, the browsing points (see FIG. 6 (3)) relating to the store “00000005” added as described above become invalid, and the total privilege points of the user “00001234” are calculated as shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 7, two points are subtracted from the above nine points to obtain seven points.

When the reservation for the store "00000003" is canceled on July 15, the cancellation point of -4 points is added to the privilege point management table 23c as shown in FIG. 6 (5). "000012
As shown in FIG. 7 (5), the total privilege points of “34”
Four points are subtracted from the above seven points to obtain three points.

When the information 23a related to the store "00000001" is browsed on July 16, two browse points are added to the privilege point management table 23c as shown in FIG. 6 (6). As shown in FIG. 7 (6), the bonus point total of the user “00001234” is 5 points by adding 2 points to the above 3 points.

Finally, when the store "00000001" is used on July 17, a use point (10 points) corresponding to the use amount is added to the privilege point management table 23c as shown in FIG. 6 (7). User "00001234"
As shown in FIG. 7 (7), the total of privilege points becomes 15 points by adding 10 points to the above 5 points.

As described above, according to the present invention, privilege points are added to various activities that lead to the use of the store. As a result, these activities are promoted, and an increase in sales of the store can be expected.

In the above description, the search operation in the case where the store name “○ × ya” is directly inputted is input, but the search mode is not limited to this. That is, it is also possible to perform a refined search based on the type and location of the store, or a search for a store located within a predetermined range from the current position of the user. To identify the current position of the user, for example, GPS (Global Positioning Sys
tem)).

Although the above description does not refer to a method of notifying the user of the management status of the privilege points, when the content of the privilege point management table 23c is updated, the total privilege points at that time, Information providing means 21 and the service contents provided according to the points
May be sent to the mobile phone 10. That is, the privilege point management unit 26 that has updated the contents of the privilege point management table 23c notifies the information providing unit 21 of the total privilege points at that time, and the information providing unit 21 that has received this notification responds to the privilege points according to the privilege points. After reading out the service contents (not shown) provided by the storage means 23,
An e-mail or the like describing the total of the privilege points is sent to the mobile phone 10 together with the service contents. In this way, the management status of the privilege point is displayed on the display unit 13 of the mobile phone 10, so that the browsing action is further promoted.

Further, in the above description, the operation when the information providing server 20 is accessed using the mobile phone 10 is illustrated, but the PDA (Personal Digital Assistance) is used.
The same effect can be obtained by accessing using a communication terminal capable of displaying at least the store-related information 23a on a screen, such as a portable terminal as in e) or a fixed terminal such as a personal computer.

Although the above description does not refer to an operation of providing a service in exchange for a privilege point, the service entity is a management company of the information providing server 20 (hereinafter referred to as an “information providing company”). However, the present invention is not limited to stores participating in the system.

For example, as shown in FIG. 8, it is assumed that a customer A uses a store B using a credit card, and a part of the sales is credit card company C, business support company D, and information providing company E. In the situation where the credit card is distributed by the three parties, the credit card company C and the business support company D can also be the service entities. Note that the business support company D refers to a company that supports various businesses necessary for operating the system, such as a business that issues a guidebook for the store B.

However, when the present invention is applied to the service providing system having such a configuration, it is preferable that the privilege point be managed by the service subject (for example, the credit card company C). That is, the privilege point management means 26 and the privilege point management table 23c may be provided not in the information providing server 20 but in a computer managed by the credit card company C. In this case, the privilege points generated by the privilege point generating means 25 of the information providing server 20 are notified to the computer managed by the credit card company C by the communication means 24 of the information providing server 20, and the privilege point management provided in the computer is provided. It will be added to the table.

Alternatively, privilege points can be managed by each mobile phone 10. That is, the privilege points generated by the privilege point generating means 25 of the information providing server 20 are notified to the mobile phone 10 by the communication means 24 (or the information providing means 21) of the information providing server 20, and the storage provided in the mobile phone 10 is provided. The information may be stored in the means 14 (for example, a memory card).

The storage means 14 is not limited to a memory card as long as it can be read by a service entity such as a computer managed by a credit card company C. Further, when the service is provided in exchange for the privilege point, it goes without saying that the content of the privilege point management table 23c is updated by the privilege point management means 26 (that is, the privilege point is subtracted).

[0052]

As described above, according to the present invention, privilege points are added to various actions that lead to the use of the store. As a result, these actions are promoted, and an increase in sales of the store is expected. it can.

Since the map information for the store is included as the store-related information, there is an effect that it is easy to find the store.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a main part of a service providing system to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a store-related information browsing operation according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of an internal configuration of a store management table according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a privilege point adding operation in the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a relationship between a page and a link.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of an internal configuration of a privilege point management table according to the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing the transition of the total privilege points according to the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an overall configuration of a service providing system to which the present invention is applied;

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Cellular phone 11 Browsing means 12 Instruction input means 13 Display means 14 Privilege point storage means 20 Information providing server 21 Information providing means 22 Retrieval means 23 Storage means 23a Store related information (store related information) 23b Store management table 23c Bonus points Management table 24 Communication means 25 Privilege point generation means 26 Privilege point management means A Customer B Store C Credit card company D Business support company E Information providing company

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI Theme coat ゛ (Reference) H04M 3/493 H04M 3/493

Claims (21)

[Claims] An information providing server for providing information to a communication terminal, comprising: an information providing means for providing information related to a store to the communication terminal in response to a request from the communication terminal; When provided to the terminal, as privilege points to be added for the user of the communication terminal, privilege point generating means for generating a browse point indicating that the user has browsed the information related to the store, the privilege point generating means, An information providing server, comprising: privilege point management means for managing generated privilege points. 2. A method according to claim 1, wherein said privilege point management means is installed outside said information providing server, and said privilege point management means is provided with a notification means for notifying said privilege point generation means of privilege points generated by said privilege point generation means. Item 2. The information providing server according to item 1. 3. The information relating to the store includes at least one of map information to the store, telephone number information of the store, designated information specified by the store, and address information of a homepage of the store. 2. The information providing server according to 2. 4. When the access history of the communication terminal to the information related to the store coincides with a predetermined access condition, the privilege point generating means sets the privilege point as a privilege point to be added to the user of the communication terminal. The information providing server according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein an access point is generated to indicate that an access has been made that matches the access condition. 5. A communication device for receiving a dial history of a communication terminal, and a judging device for judging presence or absence of a dial to a store based on a dial history from the communication device. The information provision according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein, as a privilege point to be added to the user of the communication terminal, a telephone point indicating that the user has called the store is generated based on the determination result of the determination unit. server. 6. A communication device for receiving a credit card usage history, a determination device for determining whether or not a store is used based on the credit card usage history from the communication device, wherein the privilege points are generated. 6. The information providing server according to claim 5, wherein the means generates a cancellation point indicating that the user has canceled the reservation as a privilege point to be subtracted for the user of the communication terminal based on a result of the determination by the determining means. 7. A communication device for receiving a credit card use history, a judgment device for judging whether or not a store is used based on the credit card use history from the communication device. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the means generates a use point indicating that the user has used the store based on the determination result of the determination means, as a privilege point to be added to the user of the communication terminal. Information server. 8. The information providing server according to claim 1, wherein the privilege point generating means generates the same privilege point for the same user up to a predetermined number of times during a predetermined period. 9. The information providing server according to claim 1, wherein the privilege point managing means determines whether or not the privilege points generated by the privilege point generating means can be added. 10. The information providing means according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the information providing means transmits the service contents provided in accordance with the privilege points and the total privilege points to a communication terminal or an e-mail address of a user of the communication terminal. Information providing server described in. 11. The information providing server according to claim 1, wherein the communication terminal is a mobile phone. 12. A service providing system for providing a service in accordance with a privilege point, comprising: an information providing means for providing information related to a store to the communication terminal in response to a request from the communication terminal; Is provided to the communication terminal, as a bonus point to be added to the user of the communication terminal, a bonus point generating means for generating a browsing point indicating that the user has browsed information related to the store, And a privilege point managing means for managing privilege points generated by the means. 13. The store according to claim 12, wherein the information related to the store includes at least one of map information for the store, telephone number information of the store, designated information designated by the store, and address information of a homepage of the store. The service providing system described. 14. A communication device for receiving a dial history of a communication terminal, and a determining device for determining whether or not a store is dialed based on a dial history from the communication device. 14. The service providing system according to claim 12, wherein, as privilege points to be added to the user of the communication terminal, a telephone point indicating that the user has called the store is generated based on the determination result of the determination unit. 15. A communication device for receiving a credit card usage history, and a determination device for determining whether or not a store is used based on the credit card usage history from the communication device. 15. The service providing system according to claim 14, wherein the means generates, as a privilege point to be subtracted for the user of the communication terminal, a cancellation point indicating that the user has canceled the reservation based on a result of the determination by the determining means. 16. A communication device for receiving a credit card usage history, a determination device for determining whether or not a store is used based on the credit card usage history from the communication device. The method according to any one of claims 12 to 15, wherein the means generates, as a privilege point to be added to the user of the communication terminal, a use point indicating that the user has used the store based on a result of the determination by the determination means. Service delivery system. 17. The service providing system according to claim 12, wherein said communication terminal is a mobile phone. 18. A privilege point management method of a service providing system for providing a service according to a privilege point, wherein in response to a request from the communication terminal, information providing processing for providing information related to the store to the communication terminal; When information related to the store is provided to the communication terminal, as a bonus point to be added to the user of the communication terminal, a privilege point generation process of generating a browse point indicating that the user has browsed the information related to the store, A privilege point management method for a service providing system, comprising: a privilege point management process for managing privilege points generated in the privilege point generation process. 19. The shop according to claim 18, wherein the information related to the shop includes at least one of map information for the shop, telephone number information of the shop, designated information designated by the shop, and address information of a homepage of the shop. The privilege point management method described. 20. The privilege point management method according to claim 18, wherein the communication terminal is a mobile phone. 21. A mobile phone capable of exchanging information with an information providing server, comprising a privilege point storage means for storing privilege points notified from the information providing server.