JP2002133309A - Dynamic account system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To realize various price setting regarding a commodity. SOLUTION: A scenario management server 12 sets a price of commodity according to an account scenario designated by a supplier using a customer information when a customer accesses a commodity information data base 15 and reflect the price on a commodity information memorized in the commodity information data base 15. A report indicating a variation circumstance of a price based on an account scenario and an expectation result of a commodity sales by a simulation server 13 are informed to an information terminal 3 of the supplier by an electronic mail. In the case where the supplier desires a change of the account scenario in reference to these notices, the scenario management server 12 receives the change and reflects a newly set price according to the account scenario to the commodity information.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a dynamic billing system that enables various price settings for commodities to be bought and sold.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an auction system in which a plurality of buyers compete for a purchase price of a product sold by a seller, or a buyer can select a seller who sells a product at a most desirable price from a plurality of sellers. There was such a reverse auction system.

[0003]

However, in these systems, it is difficult for the supplier to control the price fluctuation because the price of the product fluctuates due to the relationship between the demand and supply at the time of buying and selling.

[0004] On the other hand, if the supplier can set various prices for products by incorporating the needs of consumers and the reaction of consumers in addition to the mere supply-demand relationship, it is possible to further improve profits. Conceivable.

[0005] The present invention has been made in view of the above, and an object of the present invention is to provide a dynamic charging system capable of setting various prices for commodities.

[0006]

In order to achieve the above object, a first feature of the dynamic charging system according to the present invention is that the system is connected to a customer information terminal and a product supplier information terminal via a network. A product information database that stores product information about products, a customer information database that stores customer information when a customer accesses the product information database, The present invention has a receiving unit for receiving designation of a charging scenario for setting a price of a product flexibly, and a price setting unit for setting a price of a product using customer information in accordance with the received charging scenario.

According to the present invention, the price of a product is set using customer information when the customer accesses the product information database in accordance with the charging scenario specified by the supplier. By appropriately designating a charging scenario, various prices can be set for one product.

The customer information includes, in addition to the product purchase information, the number of accesses, the access interval, the number of accesses for each product, the number of times and time of use of the advertisement data / viewing data, information obtained by weighting these items, the customer classification (personal / Company / NP
O, same industry / related business / different industry, Japan / Asia /
(Europe / USA, etc.) may be used.

The second feature of the dynamic charging system according to the present invention is that, in addition to a notifying means for notifying the information terminal of the supplier of a price fluctuation situation based on the charging scenario, a specified charging scenario and a price are specified. A prediction unit for predicting the sales of the product by a simulation using the price of the product set by the setting unit, a notification unit for notifying the prediction result by the prediction unit to the information terminal of the supplier, and further changing the charging scenario. It has a scenario change receiving means for receiving.

[0010] According to the present invention, the supplier is notified of the price fluctuation situation based on the charging scenario and the sales prediction result by simulation, and accepts the change of the charging scenario by the supplier, so that the supplier can change the charging scenario. By understanding the needs and customer responses, the billing scenario can be changed appropriately, and various pricing can be set according to the needs and customer responses.

[0011]

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

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a dynamic charging system according to one embodiment. The dynamic charging system 1 of FIG. 1 includes an access management server 11, a scenario management server 12, a simulation server 13, a product information database 14 connected to the access management server 11 and the scenario management server 12, and an access management server 11 and a customer information database 15 connected to the scenario management server 12, and a scenario database 16 connected to the scenario management server 12 and the simulation server 13. This dynamic billing system 1 includes an ASP (Application Service Pr
ovider).

The access management server 11 is connected to the customer information terminal 2 via the wide area network 4. The scenario management server 12 is connected to the information terminal 3 of the supplier via the wide area network 5. The information terminals 2 and 3 correspond to personal computers, mobile phones, information home appliances, and the like. In the figure, a record company A, a production company B, and an animation company C are shown as examples of suppliers, and are provided with information terminals 3a, 3b, and 3c, respectively.

The wide area networks 4 and 5 are formed by, for example, the Internet or the like, and can be connected by a wired line, a wireless line, or a combination thereof.

The merchandise information database 14 stores merchandise information such as merchandise names and prices of merchandise such as digital contents such as images and music sold by suppliers.

The customer information database 15 stores the customer's name, ID, password, gender, region, age, affiliation, etc., and also stores customer information when the customer accesses the product information database 14. . The customer information includes purchase information when a customer instructs to purchase a product, access count, access time, access interval,
Number of times of access by product, number of times and time of use of advertisement data / viewing data, weighted information, customer classification (individual / company / NPO, same company / related company / different company, Japan / Asia / Europe / USA) Etc.).

In the scenario database 16, a plurality of charging scenarios as described later are stored in advance, and can be selected by the supplier. In addition, the charging scenario created by the supplier is also received and stored.

The access management server 11 performs user authentication using an ID, a password, etc., when a customer accesses using the information terminal 2. In addition to presenting the product information designated by the customer among the product information stored in the product information database 14, the customer information such as the purchase information when the customer has designated the purchase of the product, the number of accesses, the access time, etc. The information is stored in the information database 15.

Here, when the product designated for purchase is digital content stored in the product information database 14, the access management server 11 distributes the digital content to the customer via the wide area network 4. Make a charge. The product whose purchase is specified is Music C
If the product is a product such as D and cannot be delivered via the wide area network 4, delivery is separately arranged.

The scenario management server 12 receives a billing scenario designation from the supplier. This designation is accepted by prompting the user to select a plurality of billing scenarios stored in the scenario database 16 or by accepting the input of a billing scenario created by the supplier himself. Then, as described later, the price of the product is set based on the designated billing scenario and the customer information stored in the customer information database 15, and the price setting is reflected on the product information stored in the product information database 14. Let it. Further, a report indicating a price fluctuation state based on the charging scenario is notified to the information terminal 3 of the supplier by e-mail.

The simulation server 13 performs a simulation using the charging scenario specified by the scenario management server 12 and the price of the set commodity, and predicts the sales of the commodity. As a method of this simulation, for example, a linear programming method, a time series analysis, a neural network, a game theory, or the like is used. Then, the prediction result is notified to the information terminal 3 of the supplier by e-mail. Note that the simulation method used here is generally known, and a detailed description thereof will be omitted.

Next, a charging scenario will be described. 2 and 3 are diagrams illustrating an example of a billing scenario. The charging scenario is represented by a function indicating the rate of change of the price of the product.

Of course, in addition to the charge determined by the charging scenario, the price of the product may include some basic charge as a fixed portion where the price does not change.

FIG. 2A shows a model for increasing the unit price in accordance with an increase in the sales volume of a product. In the figure, functions a, b, and c are shown as an example of the present model. The functions a and b are represented by exponential functions and the like, and the function c is represented by a function that changes stepwise. The advantage of using such a billing scenario is that music CDs normally sold at a single price
Even if it is a product like, if it hits it will be able to sell even if the price is slightly higher, and if it is unpopular, it may be sold if the price is set lower, so it is possible to sell such a product When applied, it is possible to improve the profit of the whole product.

Similarly, FIG. 2B shows a model in which the unit price is reduced in accordance with an increase in the sales volume of the product. FIG. 2C shows an advertisement viewing model. This is a model in which the unit price for a customer is reduced as the number of times the customer previews the CM content based on the audio data stored in the product information database 14 is increased. Note that the number of times the CM content of the video data is browsed may be used instead of the audio data.

FIG. 3 (4) shows a model in which the unit price varies depending on the time and time zone. For example, the price of a Christmas song is set so as to be cheaper during a period other than the Christmas season. In addition, the price of a product is set higher during a time period when there are many accesses from customers. Alternatively, for products intended for housewives in the daytime, the price is set higher (or lower) during the daytime.

FIG. 3 (5) shows a model for lowering the unit price for a customer who has purchased a tie-up product. For example, a tie-up is made between a musician's related product and the like and clothing and the like at a specific department store, and a setting is made so that a unit price of the other tie-up product is reduced for a customer who has purchased one of the tie-up products. This facilitates joint marketing and co-promotion between companies in the same industry and between companies in different industries.

FIG. 3 (6) shows a model in which the unit price is changed in accordance with the priority order of the tracing site. this is,
This is a model in which sites linked to the dynamic charging system 1 on the Internet or the like are prioritized, and prices are changed according to the sites followed by customers. This is effective when the customer wants to follow a specific link route or when he or she knows from what site the customer comes from.

Next, the operation of the thus configured dynamic charging system 1 will be described. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of a processing procedure of the dynamic charging system 1.

First, the scenario management server 12 prompts the supplier to select or input a billing scenario for a product to be sold, and the billing scenario is designated by the supplier (d1). At this time, numerical values of parameters such as a sales amount and a unit price required for setting a function of the charging scenario are also accepted. In addition, the notification frequency of the report by the electronic mail and the notification frequency of the simulation result are also accepted. Then, the price is set based on the charging scenario, and the set price is reflected on the product information stored in the product information database 14 (d2).

Subsequently, when the customer accesses the information terminal 2 using the information terminal 2, the access management server 11 displays on the screen of the information terminal 2 the product information reflecting the price setting based on the charging scenario (d3). ). Then, the customer database 15 stores customer information, such as a product purchase instruction and the number of accesses, so that the customer information can be used for price setting according to a charging scenario (d4).

The scenario management server 12 resets the price of the product based on the billing scenario using the customer information and reflects the price on the product information stored in the product information database 15 (d2). Further, a report is prepared on the price fluctuation status, and this report is notified to the information terminal 3 of the supplier by e-mail at the specified notification frequency (d
5).

The simulation server 13 performs a simulation for predicting the sales of the product (d6).
The prediction result is notified to the information terminal 3 of the supplier by e-mail at the designated notification frequency (d7).

The scenario management server 12 receives the change of the charging scenario by the supplier (d8), and the supplier instructs the change of the charging scenario and the change of each parameter with reference to the report and the simulation result. The scenario management server 12 sets a new price according to the changed charging scenario, and reflects the reset price on the product information stored in the product information database 14 (d
2).

In the dynamic billing system 1, by repeating such processing, the supplier can easily grasp the needs and the response of the customer, and the price of the product can be changed at any time by changing the billing scenario and each parameter. Be able to reflect on.

Therefore, according to the present embodiment, according to the charging scenario specified by the supplier, the price of the product is set using the customer information when the customer accesses the product information database 15. Thus, the supplier can set various prices for one product by appropriately specifying the charging scenario.

According to the present embodiment, a report indicating a price fluctuation situation based on a charging scenario and a prediction result of product sales by simulation are notified to the information terminal 3 of the supplier by e-mail, and the charging scenario and each By accepting parameter changes, the supplier can appropriately change the billing scenario and each parameter after grasping the needs and customer responses, so that various pricing can be set according to the needs and customer responses. Can be.

According to the present embodiment, the supplier can obtain a profit in accordance with the designated charging scenario. For example, the supplier sets a higher price for a well-selling product,
If a billing scenario that sets a low price for a product that is not sold well is used, it is possible to improve the profit of the product as a whole. In particular, it is effective for companies that have some hit products such as music-related companies that greatly affect the profits of the entire company.

[0039]

As described above, according to the dynamic billing system according to the present invention, a customer can access a product information database using customer information according to a charging scenario specified by a supplier. The supplier can set various prices for one product by appropriately designating a charging scenario.

Further, by notifying the supplier of the price fluctuation situation based on the charging scenario and the sales prediction result by the simulation, and accepting the change of the charging scenario by the supplier, the supplier can meet the needs and customers. Since the charging scenario can be appropriately changed based on the response of the customer, various pricing can be set according to the needs and the response of the customer. As a result, it is possible to improve the profit of the entire product.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a dynamic charging system according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a billing scenario.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing another example of a charging scenario.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of a processing procedure of a dynamic charging system.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Dynamic billing system 2 Information terminal 3a, 3b, 3c Information terminal 4,5 Wide area network 11 Access management server 12 Scenario management server 13 Simulation server 14 Product information database 15 Customer information database 16 Scenario database

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI Theme coat ゛ (Reference) G06F 19/00 110 G06F 19/00 110 (72) Inventor Kazuho Arita 3-chome 19, Nishishinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo No. 2 Tonichi Honshin Telephone Co., Ltd. F-term (reference) 5B049 BB11 CC03 CC05 CC08 CC36 DD01 DD05 EE03 FF03 FF04 FF09 GG04 GG07

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. A dynamic charging system connected to a customer's information terminal and a product supplier's information terminal via a network, comprising: a product information database for storing product information on the product; A customer information database for storing customer information when accessing the information database; a receiving means for receiving designation of a billing scenario for setting a price of a product flexibly from a supplier; and a received billing scenario. And a price setting means for setting the price of the product using the customer information according to the following. 2. A scenario database for storing a charging scenario, wherein the receiving means receives the charging scenario by selecting a charging scenario stored in the scenario database.
The dynamic charging system according to claim 1, wherein at least one of input of a new charging scenario is received. 3. The dynamic charging system according to claim 1, wherein the charging scenario is represented by a function indicating a rate of change in price. 4. The dynamic charging system according to claim 1, wherein the customer information includes at least purchase information of a product. 5. The dynamic charging system according to claim 1, further comprising a notification unit for notifying a price change situation based on a charging scenario to an information terminal of a supplier. 6. A prediction means for predicting sales of a product by a simulation using a designated charging scenario and a price of a product set by a price setting means, and a prediction result by the prediction means to an information terminal of a supplier. The dynamic charging system according to claim 1, further comprising: a notification unit configured to notify the user. 7. The dynamic charging system according to claim 1, further comprising scenario change receiving means for receiving a change in a charging scenario.