JP2002189915A - Device and method for using preferential point - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a service which arouse a user to playing. SOLUTION: A user device 3 receives a member card, reads card identification information out of the member card, and obtains member data corresponding to the card identification information. Then the preferential points of the member data are obtained to calculate an exchange rate applied to the member and points obtained on the day and accumulated obtained points are found. Then exchangeable points are calculated by multiplying the total points by an exchange rate and displayed on a display panel, etc. The specification of a gift as an object of exchange is accepted, the points of the gift are subtracted from the exchangeable points, and at a user's request, etc., the remaining replaceable points are put back to the original standards and sent to a center 1 to update the registration contents of the corresponding member data.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an apparatus for using special treatment points, which can supply special treatment points to members of a game store, and use the special treatment points at a store or the like to exchange premiums.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, special treatment points are supplied to members of a game store according to predetermined conditions such as the amount of consumption and the number of visits to the store, and according to the value of the special treatment point, it is possible to provide advantageous information on the gaming machine, A mechanism for providing services such as preferential use of gaming machines has been realized.

[0003]

However, in the above-mentioned services, since the direct merits of the user were small, the user's willingness to play the game could not be greatly promoted. For this reason, by directly linking the special treatment points to the merits of the users, for example, by applying the special treatment points to the exchange of prizes, realizing a service that enhances the user's motivation to play and contributes to the promotion of enclosing customers in the hall. Was desired.

[0004] The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and has as its object to provide a service that contributes to support for encouraging customers to be enclosed in a hall. Another object of the present invention is to provide a service that enhances the user's willingness to play the game. It is another object of the present invention to provide a service in which preferential treatment points are applied to prize exchange.

[0005]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, a preferential use point apparatus according to a first aspect of the present invention is a preferential point use apparatus for exchanging points obtained by a game for a prize, Means for receiving a member card and reading identification information from the member card; means for obtaining an acquired point corresponding to the identification information; preferential point acquisition means for acquiring a preferential point corresponding to the identification information; Means for determining an exchange rate to be applied based on points, means for calculating and outputting exchangeable points to be used for exchange with a prize using the obtained points and the exchange rate, and a prize to be exchanged Means for receiving the designation of the designated prize, subtracting the point of the designated prize from the exchangeable point, and updating the acquired point corresponding to the identification information based on the subtraction result. And wherein the door.

According to such a configuration, since the exchange rate is determined based on the preferential treatment points, for example, in the case of a member having a high preferential treatment point, a higher exchange rate is selected to increase the exchangeable points. As a result, a service can be realized in which the special treatment points can be directly applied to the merit of the user. As a result, the member's desire to obtain special treatment points and game scores increases, and the special treatment points are given according to, for example, the number of visits to the store, the amount of game consumption, the number of visits to the store homepage, and the like. In this case, it is possible to increase the number of these items and to improve the willingness to play at the store. In addition, by making the preferential customer service at the store attractive, it is possible to strengthen measures for retaining customers through an increase in the number of members.

[0007] At least one of the acquired points and the preferential treatment points corresponding to the identification information may be obtained from a predetermined center.

[0008] Further, at least one of an acquired point and a preferential treatment point corresponding to the identification information may be read from the membership card.

[0009] Further, a storage means for storing at least one of the acquired points and preferential points held by each member may be further provided, and at least one of the acquired points and preferential points corresponding to the identification information is obtained from the storage means. May be.

[0010] Further, a method of using special treatment points according to a second aspect of the present invention is a method of using special treatment points for exchanging points obtained by games for premiums, using special treatment points provided under predetermined conditions. Receiving a membership card from the member, reading the identification information from the membership card, acquiring a score corresponding to the identification information, acquiring a special treatment point corresponding to the identification information, based on the special treatment point, Determine the exchange rate to be applied, calculate the exchangeable points to be used for exchange with the prize using the obtained points and the exchange rate, accept the specification of the prize to be exchanged, and specify from the exchangeable points, The obtained prize score is reduced, and the acquired score corresponding to the identification information is updated based on the subtraction result.

According to such a configuration, since the exchange rate is determined based on the preferential treatment points, for example, in the case of a member with a high preferential treatment point, a higher exchange rate is selected to increase the exchangeable points. As a result, a service can be realized in which the special treatment points can be directly applied to the merit of the user. As a result, the member's desire to obtain special treatment points and game scores increases, and the special treatment points are given according to, for example, the number of visits to the store, the amount of game consumption, the number of visits to the store homepage, and the like. In this case, it is possible to increase the number of these items and to improve the willingness to play at the store. In addition, by making the preferential customer service at the store attractive, it is possible to strengthen measures for retaining customers through an increase in the number of members.

[0012]

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention; As shown in FIG. 1, the special treatment point system according to the embodiment of the present invention includes a center 1 connected to each store via a network, and a use device 3 installed in each store.

FIG. 2 shows a membership card 7 used in the present system. The member card 7 is a card issued to a user (member) by performing a predetermined member registration, and includes at least card identification information (card ID and the like).
And card holder attribute information indicating the attributes of the card holder. The card holder attribute information includes, for example, information such as a name, an address, and a telephone number. The member card 7 may be a magnetic card having a magnetic storage area or an IC card having a semiconductor memory.
The member card 7 further stores, for example, card type information indicating that the card is the member card 7 as the card type.

The center 1 is a computer connected to each store, and includes a member database for storing member data indicating points, special treatment points, and the like held by each member.

As shown in FIG. 3, for example, the member data stored in this database includes card identification information, "score acquired on the day" indicating the score acquired on the day, and "score acquired on the day before" by the user. "Cumulative score" indicating the cumulative value
And information such as preferential treatment points acquired by the user.

Here, the score included in the member data is
For example, it corresponds to the number of balls, the number of medals, and the like obtained by the member in the game at the store. For example, when the game is completed in the store, the number of balls obtained by the member is counted by a counter, and the counting result and the card identification information of the user's membership card 7 are registered in the center 1 via a predetermined terminal. Center 1
Specifies the member data corresponding to the received card identification information from the member database, and adds the received count value to the score obtained on the day. In addition, the center 1 performs a process of adding the value of the current day's score to the accumulated score and clearing the value of the current day's score at a predetermined timing such as after business closing of each day.

The special treatment points included in the member information include, for example, visiting a store, consuming a predetermined amount of money in a game,
It is supplied in response to browsing of a store's homepage or the like. If this special treatment point is used in the present system, the points can be exchanged for prizes at an advantageous exchange rate when the points acquired in the game are exchanged for prizes. The special treatment points are managed for each point type (for example, for each issuing store).

The center 1 reads out the member data corresponding to the received card identification information from the member database and supplies it to the use device 3 in response to a request from the use device 3. Then, in response to the update request from the use device 3, the total score and the current day score in the member data corresponding to the received card identification information are updated.

The use device 3 is installed at, for example, a prize exchange place in the store, and is a device for performing calculation processing for exchanging the score held by the member with a prize desired by the member. As shown in (1), a display panel 3a, a card insertion slot 3b, and an input key 3c are provided on the outer surface thereof.

FIG. 5 shows an example of an internal configuration diagram of the utilization device 3. As illustrated, the use device 3 includes, for example, a card processing unit 31, a control unit 33, a display unit 35, an input unit 3
7 and a storage unit 39 and the like.

The card processing section 31 takes in the membership card inserted into the card insertion slot 3b, reads card identification information and the like stored in the membership card 7, and supplies the card identification information and the like to the control section 33.

The control unit 33 acquires card identification information from the membership card 7 via the card processing unit 31 and transmits the card identification information to the center 1 together with a membership data request. When the member data is received from the center 1, a process of calculating an exchangeable score, which is a score that can be used for prize exchange, based on the received data is performed.

In this calculation process, first, an exchange rate level is obtained by using a preferential treatment point in the member data and a predetermined function formula, and for example, by referring to an exchange rate table shown in FIG. Find the exchange rate to do.
The function formula for calculating the exchange rate level is a function that derives a more advantageous exchange rate level (that is, an exchange rate level corresponding to a higher exchange rate) for a member having a high value of the preferential point as a variable. It is. In addition, this function expression may be an expression using only a special type of preferential treatment point,
Further, an expression using a plurality of types of preferential treatment points may be used. Specifically, for example, a function formula using only the special treatment points issued in the own store may be used, and a function formula using the special treatment points issued in other stores as well as the special treatment points issued in the own store may be used. May be used.

Then, the control unit 33 sums up the current day's acquired points and the accumulated acquired points in the member data received from the center 1 to obtain the points currently held by the member. Then, an exchangeable score is obtained by multiplying the total value of the scores by the obtained exchange rate.

The control unit 33 displays the exchangeable score calculated by the calculation process on the display unit 35, and accepts the designation of a premium to be exchanged. Specifically, for example, the input of the premium code of the premium to be exchanged is received from the input unit 37. Then, the data of the score required for exchange with the designated premium is read from the storage unit 39, and the score is subtracted from the exchangeable score. Then, the exchangeable score after the subtraction is divided by the exchange rate used earlier to restore the score standard, and then the score and the card identification information are transmitted to the center 3 together with a predetermined update request. And O from the center 3
In response to the K signal or the like, the member card is ejected from the card insertion slot 3b via the card processing unit 31.

The control unit 33 determines whether the card to be processed is a card other than the member card 7,
In the member data obtained from the center 1, if there is no special treatment point used for calculating the exchange rate (zero), the calculation is performed using the normal exchange rate when there is no privilege (the same exchange rate as a non-member). I do.

The display unit 35 displays each screen for prize exchange in accordance with an instruction from the control unit 33. Input unit 37
Notifies the control unit 33 of the data input from the input key 3c. The storage unit 39 stores a function formula for calculating an exchange rate, an exchange rate table, a table in which a premium code is associated with a score, an exchange rate for non-members, and the like.

Next, the operation of the utilization device 3, which is a characteristic part of the present system, will be specifically described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. For example, at a certain store, the member sets the membership card 7 on the use device 3 installed at the prize exchange place in order for the member to exchange points for prizes. The use device 3 checks whether or not the processing target is the member card 7 based on the card type information read from the card in response to the card insertion into the card insertion slot 3b (Step S).
1).

When the object to be processed is the membership card 7,
The use device 3 transmits the card identification information read from the member card 7 to the center 1, acquires the corresponding member data from the center 1 (step S2), refers to the acquired member data, and obtains the preferential treatment points. Is determined (step S3). When it is determined that there is a special treatment point, the utilization device 3 acquires the exchange rate using the special treatment point and a predetermined function formula (step S4).

For example, a function formula F using a preferential point of the point type “A” is set in the use device 3, and the preferential point of the point type “A” is included in the member data acquired from the center 1. It has been set. In this case, the utilization device 3 calculates the exchange rate level L using the preferential points of the point type “A” in the acquired member data and the function formula F, and exchanges the exchange rate R corresponding to the calculated exchange rate level L. It is obtained from the rate table (see FIG. 6).

Next, the utilization device 3 calculates an exchangeable score by multiplying the total value of the current day's acquired points and the accumulated acquired points in the member data by the exchange rate acquired in step S4 (step S5). For example, if the total value of the score acquired on the day and the accumulated score is “1000” and the acquired exchange rate R is “4”, the exchangeable score is “4000 (=
1000 × 4) ”.

The utilization device 3 calculates the exchangeable score “4”
000 "is displayed on the display panel 3a, the designation of the prize to be exchanged is received, and a predetermined score calculation such as subtracting the designated prize score from the exchangeable score is performed (step S).
6). For example, if the prize Q designated by the member is “2000”, the exchangeable score “400”
The score “2000” of the premium Q is subtracted from “0”, and the remaining exchangeable score “2000” is displayed. Further, when exchanging for a prize, the designation of the prize is accepted again, and the points of the prize are subtracted from the remaining exchangeable points.

When an instruction or the like for ending the exchange of prizes is input, the remaining points are accumulated (ball savings). The score returned to the center 1 together with the card identification information.
To request the update of the registered contents (step S
7). For example, in the above example, the remaining exchangeable score is "2
000 ", the score" 500 "obtained by dividing this by the exchange rate" 4 "is transmitted to the center 1 together with the card identification information. In addition, at the center, in response to the data reception from the use device 3, the corresponding member data is registered by, for example, setting the received remaining score in the “cumulative earned score” and clearing the “same day earned score”. Update the content.

If it is determined in step S1 that the card to be processed is a card other than the membership card 7,
If it is determined in step S2 that there is no special treatment point,
The use device 3 reads out the non-member exchange rate R ′ from the storage unit 39 and uses it for calculating the exchangeable score (step S).
11).

As described above, according to the present system, when a member having a high preferential treatment point holds a prize exchange, a process for increasing the exchange rate used for the prize exchange is performed, whereby the preferential treatment is performed. It is possible to realize a service that directly applies points to the merits of users. As a result, the user's desire to obtain preferential treatment points and scores increases, so that, for example, the number of visits to the game store, the amount of game consumption, the number of visits to the store homepage, etc. are increased, and the Motivation can be improved. In addition, by making the preferential customer service at the store attractive, it is possible to strengthen measures for retaining customers through an increase in the number of members.

In the above description, the center 1 is connected to a plurality of stores, but the system form is not limited to this, and the center 1 and the use device 3 are installed in the store, for example. The system may be realized as a closed system in a store, which is connected via a network such as a LAN.

In the above description, the special treatment point and the score corresponding to each member card 7 are stored and managed in the center 1. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the special treatment point and the score (the score acquired on the day, the accumulated At least one of the acquired points) may be stored in the membership card 7. For example, the member card 7 in the case where both the preferential treatment point and the data on the score are stored in the member card 7
FIG. 8 shows an example of the configuration of FIG. When such a member card 7 is used, the use device 3 reads data such as the corresponding preferential treatment points, the points acquired on the day, the accumulated points acquired from the member card 7, and calculates the exchange rate, exchangeable points, and the like.
Then, after the points of the prize designated by the member are subtracted from the exchangeable points, the remaining exchangeable points are returned to the original reference points in accordance with the input request (reservation request etc.) and stored in the member card 7. The data such as the acquired points and the accumulated points on the day are updated.

Further, the utilization device 3 may store and manage at least one of the special treatment point and the score corresponding to each member card 7. Then, at least one of the special treatment point and the score corresponding to the member card 7 to be processed may be read from the storage area and processed.

Further, in the above description, the score in the member code is managed by dividing it into “acquired score on the day” and “accumulated earned score”, but the total value of these may be managed. Further, the center 1 may calculate the total value of the “acquired points on the day” and the “cumulative acquired points” and supply the calculated value to the use device 3.

The method of designating a prize is arbitrary, and the prize barcode may be read by a barcode reader and input.

The function formula used in calculating the exchange rate may be used in common at a plurality of stores, or a unique formula may be used for each store. Further, the method of calculating the exchange rate is not limited to the above description, and is arbitrary. For example, a function formula that directly derives the exchange rate without using the exchange rate table may be used.

The type of the special treatment point is arbitrary, and may be set, for example, for each issue store (special treatment point for store a, special treatment point for store b...), Or for each acquisition condition ( Special treatment points for visiting stores, special treatment points for visiting websites, etc.). Further, the conditions for supplying points are not limited to those related to games, and various payment conditions can be set, for example, when a predetermined restaurant or the like is used, or when a predetermined video shop is used.

Although the types of the special treatment points used in the above embodiment are provided, the present invention is not limited to this. The present invention is also applicable to special treatment points having no special types.

The network connecting each store to the center 1 includes various networks such as a dedicated line, a public line, and the Internet.

It should be noted that the system of the present invention can be realized using an ordinary computer system without using a dedicated system. For example, by installing the program from a medium (floppy (registered trademark) disk, CD-ROM, or the like) storing a program for executing the above-described operation in a computer, the center 1 that executes the above-described processing, a utilization device 3 etc. can be comprised.
In the case where the above-described functions are realized by the OS sharing or the OS and the application being jointly used, only the part other than the OS may be stored in the medium.

It is also possible to superimpose a program on a carrier wave and distribute the program via a communication network. For example, the program may be posted on a bulletin board (BBS) of a communication network and distributed via the network. Then, by starting this program and executing it in the same manner as other application programs under the control of the OS, the above-described processing can be executed.

[0047]

As described above, according to the present invention,
It is possible to realize a service in which the special treatment points can be directly applied to the user's merit. As a result, the user's desire to obtain special treatment points and game-related points increases, and the special treatment points are, for example, the number of visits to the store,
If the amount is given according to the amount of the game, the number of visits to the store's homepage, etc.
The willingness to play at the store can be improved. In addition, by making the preferential customer service at the store attractive, it is possible to strengthen measures for retaining customers through an increase in the number of members.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram of a preferential treatment point system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining a membership card used in the system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining member data.

FIG. 4 is a view for explaining an outer surface of the utilization device used in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining an internal configuration of a utilization device used in FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an exchange rate table.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the utilization device.

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a membership card according to a modification of the embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Center 3 Utilization device 3a Display panel 3b Card insertion slot 3c Input key 31 Card processing unit 33 Control unit 35 Display unit 37 Input unit 39 Storage unit 7 Membership card

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. An apparatus for using special treatment points for exchanging points obtained by a game for a prize, comprising: means for receiving a member card and reading identification information from the member card; Means for acquiring, preferential point acquisition means for acquiring preferential points corresponding to the identification information, means for determining an exchange rate to be applied based on the preferential points, using the acquired points and the exchange rate Means for calculating and outputting exchangeable points used for exchange with a prize, accepting designation of a prize to be exchanged, subtracting the designated prize point from the exchangeable points, and Means for updating an acquired score corresponding to the identification information. 2. Acquiring at least one of an acquired point and a preferential treatment point corresponding to the identification information from a predetermined center.
The preferential treatment point utilization device according to claim 1, wherein: 3. The preferential treatment point using apparatus according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the acquired points and the preferential treatment points corresponding to the identification information is read from the member card. 4. A storage unit for storing at least one of an acquired point and a preferential point held by each member, wherein at least one of the acquired point and the preferential point corresponding to the identification information is acquired from the storing unit. The preferential treatment point utilization device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that: 5. A method of using special treatment points for exchanging points obtained by a game for a prize using special treatment points provided under predetermined conditions, wherein a member card is received from a member, and the member card is identified from the member card. Reading information, obtaining an acquisition point corresponding to the identification information, obtaining a preferential point corresponding to the identification information, determining an exchange rate to be applied based on the preferential point, Using the rate, the number of exchangeable points used for exchange with the prize is calculated, the designation of the prize to be exchanged is accepted, the point number of the designated prize is subtracted from the exchangeable point, and the identification based on the subtraction result is performed. A method of using preferential treatment points, characterized by updating the points obtained corresponding to the information.