JP2002259299A - Message system, message providing method, and program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide information which is individually useful to a member who uses an information recording card. SOLUTION: On the magnetic recording surface of the information recording card 1, attribute information on the age, sex, etc., of the member and communication destination information on the recipients of messages are previously recorded. A card processor 13 previously stores a message table containing the property information and messages in a storage part 25 while making them correspond to each other. When the information recording card 11 is inserted, a control part 29 reads the attribute information and communication destination information out through a card processing part 27. Then the control part 29 selects the message corresponding to the read property information out of the message table in the storage part 25 and passes it to a message transmission part 28 together with the communication destination information. The message transmission part 28 sends the passed message to the specific communication destination specified with the passed communication destination information through a communication terminal 1 and a network N.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a message system and a message providing method for sending a sales promotion message to a registered customer, and more particularly, to a sales promotion message according to the customer's purchase time and merchandise. The present invention relates to a message system and a message providing method that can send a message.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Information recording cards are widely issued to customers for the purpose of promoting sales. This type of card is provided with a magnetic information storage unit, which stores attribute information indicating the attribute of the member who is a customer, points given to the member along with the sale of goods, and the like. .
The points stored on the information recording card can be used for the purchase price the next time the member purchases a product. Therefore, members tend to purchase products only at stores / group stores that have issued the information recording card so that the stored points can always be applied to the price at each product purchase. Therefore, the effect of enclosing the customer is expected for the information recording card that stores the points given to the member with the sale of the product.

[0003]

In recent years, devices and know-how for exchanging information via the Internet have become widespread. In addition, it is becoming common to collect information, exchange opinions, and the like by using an e-mail address personally. Therefore, if an advertisement / advertisement e-mail is sent to a personal e-mail address that matches the hobby / taste of the person using the e-mail address, it is expected that the advertisement will be quite effective.

[0004] The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and is a message system capable of automatically creating a message corresponding to the attribute information of a member who owns an information recording card and sending the message to a mail address of the member. A first object is to realize a message providing method. Further, a second object of the present invention is to realize a message system and a message providing method capable of further enclosing members who own an information recording card and promoting sales.

[0005]

To achieve the above object, a message system according to a first aspect of the present invention comprises:
Attribute information acquiring means for acquiring attribute information representing the attribute of the member based on the record information of the information recording card owned by the member; a message table for storing the attribute information and the message in association with each other; Contact information acquisition means for acquiring contact information indicating a destination, a message associated with the attribute information acquired by the attribute information acquisition means is read from the message table, and the read message is acquired by the contact information acquisition means. Message transmitting means for transmitting to a contact indicated by the contact information.

With this configuration, when the information recording card is used, a message corresponding to the attribute of the member is transmitted to the transmission destination indicated by the contact information of the member who owns the card. Therefore, information suitable for the attributes such as the member's preference and behavior pattern arrives at the contact address designated by the member in advance, and the member who receives and browses this message is likely to be interested.

[0007] The information recorded on the information recording card may include the contact information. In this case, the contact acquiring means includes, for example, contact reading means for reading the contact information from the information recording card.

Alternatively, the information recorded on the information recording card may not include the contact information of the member but may include identification information. In this case, the apparatus further comprises identification information reading means for reading identification information from the information recording card, wherein the contact information acquiring means includes, for example, identification / contact information associating means for associating identification information with contact information, Means for acquiring contact information corresponding to the identification information read by the reading means from the identification / contact address associating means.

[0009] The attribute information may include contact information. In this case, the contact information acquisition means acquires the contact information from the attribute information acquired by the attribute information acquisition means.

[0010] The contact information may include a telephone number of the member. In this case, the message transmitting means transmits the message by a voice signal or a facsimile signal to the line specified by the telephone number, for example.

Alternatively, the contact information may include an electronic mail address of the member. In this case, the message transmitting means transmits a message to the mail address via the network, for example.

[0012] The recording information of the information recording card may include attribute information of the member. In this case, the attribute information acquiring unit includes, for example, an attribute reading unit that reads attribute information from the information recording card.

If the record information of the information recording card does not include the contact information of the member but does include the identification information, the attribute information acquisition means may include, for example, identification / attribute association means for associating the identification information with the attribute information. And means for acquiring attribute information corresponding to the identification information read by the identification information reading means from the identification / attribute association means.

The message table stores the attribute information and the message in a one-to-many correspondence, and the message transmitting means includes, for example, a message in the message table associated with the attribute information obtained by the attribute information obtaining means. A message that satisfies a predetermined condition such as a descending order or an ascending order may be selectively read from the messages.

The apparatus further comprises message association means for dynamically associating the attribute information with the message according to a predetermined condition, wherein the message transmission means comprises a message associated with the attribute information acquired by the attribute information acquisition means. May be selectively read in accordance with the correspondence of the message associating means. In this case, an update unit for updating a dynamic association between the attribute information and the message by the message association unit may be further provided.

Further, the message transmitting means further includes a parameter acquiring means for acquiring a predetermined parameter, wherein the message transmitting means is provided based on the parameter acquired by the parameter acquiring means and the attribute information acquired by the attribute information acquiring means. The message may be selectively read. With this configuration, it is possible to transmit a message corresponding to the elapsed period, the current date and time, the external environment, and the like in addition to the member attribute information. For example, the attribute information includes time information and schedule attribute information, the parameter acquisition unit acquires a current date and time, and the message transmission unit selectively reads a message corresponding to a schedule within a reference period. It may be. In this case, a means may be provided for setting the reference period according to the contents of the schedule attribute information.

[0017] Alternatively, the attribute information includes time information and action attribute information, the parameter obtaining means obtains the current date and time, and the message transmitting means sets the action before the reference period or more, for example, the endurance period. A message corresponding to an action of purchasing an expired product may be selectively read. In this case, a means may be provided for setting the reference period according to the contents of the action attribute information.

[0018] The message transmitting means may read a plurality of messages associated with the attribute information acquired by the attribute information acquiring means from the message table.

[0019] A delivery means connected to the message table and delivering a message to the message table may be further provided. By this distribution means, it is possible to perform processing such as, for example, periodically and collectively updating messages of a plurality of message systems.

This message system comprises, for example, a computer and a POS terminal. In this case, the message system may be connected to a reader of the information recording card and read information from the information recording card via the reader. Alternatively, the attribute information acquisition unit, the message table, the contact information acquisition unit, and the message transmission unit are housed in the same housing as the reader of the information recording card, and a message system is constructed as an intelligent reader. It is also possible.

In order to achieve the above object, a message providing method according to a second aspect of the present invention provides attribute information for acquiring attribute information representing an attribute of a member based on information recorded on an information recording card owned by the member. An acquiring step, a contact acquiring step for acquiring contact information indicating the contact information of the member, and an attribute acquired in the attribute information acquiring step from a message table storing the attribute information and the message in association with each other. Reading a message associated with the information and transmitting the read message to a contact indicated by the contact information acquired in the contact acquiring step.

With this configuration, when the information recording card is used, a message corresponding to the attribute of the member is transmitted to the destination indicated by the contact information of the member who owns the card. Therefore, information suitable for the attributes such as the member's preference and behavior pattern arrives at the contact address designated by the member in advance, and the member who receives and browses this message is likely to be interested.

In order to achieve the above object, a program according to a third aspect of the present invention is a program for controlling a computer to acquire attribute information representing an attribute of a member based on information recorded on an information recording card owned by the member. Information obtaining means, a message table for storing the attribute information and the message in association with each other, a contact obtaining means for obtaining contact information indicating the contact information of the member, and an attribute obtained by the attribute information obtaining means A message transmitting unit that reads a message associated with information from the message table and transmits the read message to a contact indicated by the contact information acquired by the contact acquiring unit. .

With this configuration, when the information recording card is used, a message according to the attribute of the member is transmitted to the transmission destination indicated by the contact information of the member who owns the card. Therefore, information suitable for the attributes such as the member's preference and behavior pattern arrives at the contact address designated by the member in advance, and the member who receives and browses this message is likely to be interested.

[0025]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A message system according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described below, taking as an example a system used for customer management and point service in a store or the like. (First Embodiment) First, the operation of the message system having the above-described configuration will be described using a message system for managing members in a sports shop as an example.

The customer who uses the shop fills in a predetermined application form to apply for a subscription, because the customer becomes a member. The store registers information on the customer entered in the application form in a database (DB). The registered information is used for sales promotion and the like. The card issuing system (not shown) stores the new subscriber's member number, name, contact information, and points on the magnetic recording surface 11b of the information recording card 11 based on the content newly registered in the database by the above-mentioned subscription application. Record the initial value and other attribute information. Further, the card issuing system records the member identification information such as the member number and name on the visually recognizable recording surface 11a of the information recording card 11. Thereby, the information recording card 11 for the customer who has applied for the subscription is created.

FIG. 1 shows the overall configuration of a network system to which the message system of this embodiment is applied.

The information recording card 11 is distributed in advance to each customer who has performed a membership registration procedure at a store. The store inserts the information recording card 11 presented by the customer as a member into the card processing device 13. The card processing device 13 determines a message to be provided to the owner of the inserted information recording card 11 and a transmission destination thereof according to a procedure described later. Then, the card processing device 13
Transmits the determined message and the transmission destination to the communication terminal 1 on the store side.

The communication terminal 1 sends the transmitted message
The data is transmitted to the specified destination via the Internet or the public network N as described later. The transmitted message is received by the member terminal 2. Then, the member presenting the information recording card 11 to the store knows the content of the transmitted message via the terminal 2 of the member used by the member. The terminal 2 of the member is an Internet terminal device, a mobile phone mail terminal device, a telephone with an answering machine function, a facsimile device, or the like.

As shown in FIG. 2, the information recording card 11 has a visual recording surface 11a for recording visually recognizable information on one surface.
Are arranged, and the magnetic recording surface 11b is arranged on the other surface.

[0031] Arbitrary information such as the member number and name of the member is recorded on the viewing recording surface 11a so as to be visible. A member number for identifying a member is provided on the magnetic recording surface 11b.
Member identification information such as name and address, points at the present time, and member attribute information (details will be described later) are magnetically recorded.

The card processing device 13 for processing the information recording card 11 has an outer shape as shown in FIG. The card processing device 13 includes an input unit 21, a communication unit 23, a storage unit 25, a card processing unit 27, a message transmission unit 28, and a control unit 29, as shown in FIG.

The input section 21 inputs arbitrary information. The communication unit 23 is connected to a POS terminal (not shown),
The point read from the information recording card 11 and input via the control unit 29 is notified to the POS terminal. And
The communication unit 23 notifies the control unit 29 of a new point notified from the POS terminal. The storage unit 25 stores, for example,
Is stored as shown in FIG.

The card processing section 27 has a magnetic recording section 271. The magnetic recording unit 271 includes a magnetic head, and the information recording card 1 is controlled by the control unit 29.
The information recorded on one magnetic recording surface 11b is read or updated. The message transmission unit 28 is connected to the store-side communication terminal 1 shown in FIG. 1 and transmits a message also transmitted from the control unit 29 to a contact specified by the contact information passed from the control unit 29. The communication terminal 1 is instructed to do so.

The control unit 29 is composed of a program storage unit, a microprocessor, and the like.
The information recorded on the information recording card 11 is read out via the interface 7.
Then, the control unit 29 extracts points from the read record information and inputs the points to the communication unit 23. Thereafter, when a new point is notified via the communication unit 23, the control unit 29 controls the magnetic recording unit 271 to record the new point on the magnetic recording surface 11b of the information recording card 11. . Further, the control unit 29 extracts the attribute information included in the record information read from the information recording card 11 as described later, and stores the attribute information in the storage unit 2 according to the attribute information.
5. Select the message stored in 5. Then, the contact information and the selected message included in the read record information are transferred to the message transmitting unit 28.

When purchasing a product or a service, the member hands over the information recording card 11 to a person in charge at the store at a cash register at the store. The person in charge inserts the handed information recording card 11 into the card insertion slot 13 of the card processing device 13.
Insert into A.

The information recording card 11 is inserted into the card insertion slot 13A.
, The control unit 29 starts the processing shown in FIG. First, the control unit 29 reads information recorded on the magnetic recording surface 11b of the information recording card 11 via the magnetic recording unit 271 (Step S1). The information read out at this time is member identification information such as a member number and name, points, contact information such as a telephone number and an e-mail address, and other attribute information.

Next, the control unit 29 acquires the attribute information of the member who owns the information recording card 11 based on the information read from the magnetic recording surface 11b (step S2). Then, the acquired attribute information is collated with a correspondence table and related parameters stored in the storage unit 25 in advance (step S3).

Finally, the control unit 29 acquires a message corresponding to the result of the collation in step S3 (step S3).
4) By passing this message and the contact information to the message transmitting unit 28, the member transmits the message to the contact information described in the application form when applying for subscription (step S5).

When the above processing is completed, the information recording card 11 is ejected from the card insertion slot 13A of the card processing device 13.

With this configuration, when the information recording card is used, a message corresponding to the attribute of the member is transmitted to the transmission destination indicated by the contact information of the member who owns the card. Therefore, information suitable for the attributes such as the member's preference and behavior pattern arrives at the contact address designated by the member in advance, and the member who receives and browses this message is likely to be interested.

(Second Embodiment) In the first embodiment, the magnetic recording surface 11b of the information recording card 11
Although the contact information indicating the contact information of the member who owns the card is recorded, for example, the contact information of each member may be stored in the card processing device 13 side. In this case, as shown in FIG. 6, for example, an identification / contact address correspondence table for associating the member contact information stored in the card processing device 13 with the member identification information is registered in the storage unit 25 in advance. Then, the information recording card 11
Only the member identification information, the attribute information, and the points are recorded on the magnetic recording surface 11b.

The operation of the message system in the above configuration is as follows. When the information recording card 11 is inserted into the card insertion slot 13A, the control unit 29 reads out member identification information, attribute information, and points from the magnetic recording surface 11b in step S1 of FIG. And the control unit 29
Reads out the contact information of the member who owns the information recording card 11 in accordance with the identification / contact address correspondence table registered in the storage unit 25 in advance, and thereafter, continues the processing from step S2.

With this configuration, the amount of information recorded on the magnetic recording surface 11b of the information recording card 11 can be reduced.

(Third Embodiment) The first and second embodiments described above
In the embodiment, the magnetic recording surface 1 of the information recording card 11 is
Although the attribute information relating to the member who owns the card is recorded in 1b, for example, the attribute information of each member may be stored in the card processing device 13 side. In this case, for example, as shown in FIG. 7, the storage unit 25 stores an identification / attribute correspondence table for associating the member attribute information stored in the card processing device 13 with the member identification information.
Is registered in advance. Then, only the member identification information, contact information, and points are recorded on the magnetic recording surface 11b of the information recording card 11.

The operation of the message system in the above configuration is as follows. When the information recording card 11 is inserted into the card insertion slot 13A, the control unit 29 reads out member identification information, contact information, and points from the magnetic recording surface 11b in step S1 of FIG. And control unit 2
9 reads out the attribute information of the member who owns the information recording card 11 in accordance with the identification / attribute correspondence table registered in advance in the storage unit 25, and thereafter, continues the processing from step S2.

With this configuration, the amount of information recorded on the magnetic recording surface 11b of the information recording card 11 can be reduced.

(Fourth Embodiment) Further, for example,
It is also possible to adopt a configuration in which both the contact information and the attribute information are stored in the card processing device 13 side. In this case, as shown in FIG. 8, for example, a correspondence table for associating member contact information and attribute information stored in the card processing device 13 with member identification information is registered in the storage unit 25 in advance. Then, only the member identification information and the points are recorded on the magnetic recording surface 11b of the information recording card 11.

The operation of the message system in the above configuration is as follows. When the information recording card 11 is inserted into the card insertion slot 13A, the control unit 29 reads out the member identification information and points from the magnetic recording surface 11b in step S1 of FIG. Then, the control unit 29 reads out the contact information and the attribute information of the member who owns the information recording card 11 in accordance with the correspondence table registered in advance in the storage unit 25, and thereafter, continues the processing from step S2.

With this configuration, the amount of information recorded on the magnetic recording surface 11b of the information recording card 11 can be reduced.

In any of the above-described first to fourth embodiments, the point is stored in the card processing device 13 instead of the magnetic recording surface 11b of the information recording card 11, as in the case of the contact information and the attribute information. You may make it memorize | store in the part 25. In this way, the amount of information recorded on the magnetic recording surface 11b can be further reduced.

(Fifth Embodiment) Further, the above-described first embodiment
In the fourth embodiment, the contact information and the attribute information are treated as mutually independent information. However, for example, as shown in FIG. A configuration may be included.

(Sixth Embodiment) In the above-described first to fifth embodiments, the message is directly associated with the attribute information. You may.

In this case, for example, as shown in FIG. 10, a related parameter for associating a message with attribute information is registered in the storage unit 25 in advance. That is, in the case of FIG. 10, if the owner of the information recording card 11 is a member having the attribute “attribute B”, the control unit 29 according to the setting of the related parameter registered in the storage unit 25 in advance.
Reads "message 3" from the message table. And, to the destination filled in by the member when applying for membership,
“Message 3” is transmitted.

With such a configuration, for example, the control unit 29 changes the setting of the related parameter recorded in the storage unit 25 in response to an instruction from the input unit 21 so that the message for the attribute information is changed. Can be arbitrarily changed.

(Seventh Embodiment) Furthermore, a message can be associated with attribute information by a parameter dynamically determined according to a predetermined condition, instead of a predetermined parameter such as the above-described related parameter. .

For example, a timer is arranged in the control unit 29,
As shown in FIG. 11, the control unit 29 may be configured to dynamically select a message to be associated with the attribute information, using the current date and time or the time supplied from the timer as a parameter. Further, the contents of the related parameters are dynamically set / changed based on the output of the timer, and the control unit 29
However, a message may be associated with the attribute information according to the setting of the related parameter.

The information used to dynamically determine the parameters is not limited to information relating to the time from the timer. For example, any information that dynamically changes, such as weather information and traffic information supplied via a network, can be used.

(Eighth Embodiment) Further, members who own the information recording card 11 are grouped based on a predetermined viewpoint, and a message is added to the attribute information using information indicating which group the member belongs to as a parameter. Can also be associated.

For example, the control unit 29 analyzes at what time and what kind of product / service the member who owns the information recording card 11 used to purchase the product, and according to the analysis result. Classify members into their groups. The control unit 29 selects a message to be associated with the attribute information, using the member's group thus obtained as a parameter. Further, the contents of the related parameters are dynamically set / changed based on the group to which the user belongs, and the control unit 2
9 may associate the message with the attribute information in accordance with the setting of the related parameter.

(Ninth Embodiment) In the first to eighth embodiments described above, it is assumed that the contents of the message table and the related parameters are set and changed for each store. The contents of the store message table and related parameters can be centrally managed in a centralized manner.

For example, in the case of the system configuration shown in FIG. 12, the card processing device 1 of each store of a plurality of companies A, B and C
11 to 131 are network NWs such as the Internet
Is connected to the central management terminal 101 via the. The management terminal 101 stores a correspondence table, related parameters, and the like set according to conditions such as company, store, and customer tier.
Card processing device 111 of each store via network NW
To 131. Card processing devices 111-of each store
131 receives the correspondence table, related parameters, and the like transmitted from the management terminal 101, and registers them in the respective storage units 25.

With such a configuration, for example, the messages stored in the card processing devices installed in the chain stores including a plurality of stores can be collectively changed and updated from the central management terminal. Can be performed.

An example of the above embodiment will be described below. (First Embodiment) When the information recording card 11 of the first embodiment is applied to a member management system of a fan club or a shop relating to professional sports players, the result is as shown in FIG. That is, the member identification information (member number and name) is recorded on the visually recognizable recording surface 11a of the information recording card 11 so as to be visually recognizable. In addition, member identification information (member number, name, address), contact information (number of the portable terminal of the transmission destination), points at that time, and attribute information (name of a player who is a fan) are recorded on the magnetic recording surface 11b. ing.

When creating such an information recording card 11, a member designates the name of a player who is a fan at the time of subscription application or the like. Then, the shop registers the attribute information, that is, the name of the player designated as the member, on the magnetic recording surface 11b of the information recording card 11, together with the member identification information and the contact information. Also, the card processing device 1
As shown in FIG. 14, a message table in which a plurality of messages are associated with each player and directed to a member is stored in advance in the storage unit 25 of FIG.

When the information recording card 11 is inserted into the card insertion slot 13A, the control section 29 operates according to the flowchart shown in FIG. 5 to read information from the magnetic recording surface 11b. Then, it is determined which player the member is a fan of based on the attribute information in the read information, and one of the messages from the player in the message table stored in the storage unit 25 in advance is randomly or in accordance with a certain standard. select. Further, the control unit 29 obtains the date at this time by an internal timer or the like, and adds a comment such as “message of XX month from XX player” to the selected message. Here, “xx” is the name of a player who is a fan determined by the attribute information in the read information.

The control unit 29 passes the message selected / added as described above and the contact information in the information read from the magnetic recording surface 11b to the message transmitting unit 28.
Then, the message transmitting unit 28 transmits the passed message to the contact indicated by the passed contact information, that is, the mobile terminal corresponding to “090-123-4567” in FIG. Transmit via network N.

With this configuration, the member who owns the information recording card 11 can use the information recording card 11 to directly send a message from a favored professional athlete to his / her own portable terminal. It becomes easy to receive the impression that it was done. Therefore, there is a high possibility that the member who receives the message feels interest and goes to the shop again.

The first embodiment can be similarly applied to the second to fifth embodiments.

(Second Embodiment) The information recording card 1 of the sixth embodiment is used in a member management system of a retail store group or the like.
When 1 is applied, the attribute information / related parameter / message table is as shown in FIG. That is,
The age, gender, address, birthday, wedding anniversary, and the like of the member are recorded as attribute information on the magnetic recording surface 11b of the information recording card 11. The related parameters and the message table are recorded in the storage unit 25 of the card processing device 13 in advance. Then, the respective attribute information and the message in the message table are appropriately related by the related parameter.

For example, the information recording card 1 shown in FIG.
According to the member identification information recorded in No. 1, the address of the member "Emiko Tanaka" is "Shin-Yokohama 1-chome ....".
Further, the message “egg half price ....” is associated with the attribute “Yokohama” by the related parameters shown in FIG. For this reason, when "Emiko Tanaka" uses the information recording card 11 at a store of a retail group near the office in the 23 wards, a message is sent to the mobile terminal corresponding to the contact information "090-123-4567". "Egg half price ..." is transmitted. And if this message "Emiko Tanaka" on the way home, sees in the transportation, "Egg half price ...
... ", it is more likely to drop in at a retail store near your home.

With such a configuration, when the information recording card is used, the information recording card is adapted to the purchase layer according to the attribute information such as the age and gender of the member who owns the information recording card and the related parameters. A message about a product or a message about a matter of interest is selected. Then, the selected message is transmitted to the contact indicated by the contact information, and is read by the member. Therefore, it is possible to increase the possibility that the member who owns the information recording card is interested in the content of the message and stops at the corresponding retail store to purchase a product or service.

When a message is associated with each of a plurality of pieces of attribute information read from the magnetic recording surface 11b, only one of the messages may be selected and transmitted, or a plurality of messages may be selected. All at once.

(Third Embodiment) When the information recording card 11 according to the seventh embodiment is applied to a member management system of a book store for examinees, attribute information, related parameters,
The message table is as shown in FIG. That is, on the magnetic recording surface 11b of the information recording card 11, the member's test schedule (test date / test school) is recorded in advance as attribute information. The storage unit 25 of the card processing device 13
, The remaining days from that day to the entrance exam of a famous school,
It is registered in advance as a related parameter. The remaining days are obtained by the control unit 29 each time the date advances, and are re-registered in the storage unit 25. Further, a message table including a plurality of messages indicating encouragement, concern, and the like for the examinees is registered in the storage unit 25 in advance.

After reading out the member's test schedule from the magnetic recording surface 11b, the control unit 29 extracts the test school with the shortest remaining days until the test. In the case of FIG. 16, the shortest number of days from the current date and time (January 15, 2001) output by the timer is "36 days" of junior high school A. And the control unit 29
Selects from the message table a message associated with the number of remaining days, for example, "A little more!", And passes it to the message transmitting unit 28 together with the contact information read from the magnetic recording surface 11b. Message transmission unit 28
Transmits the passed message “more or less!” To the contact indicated by the passed contact information via the communication terminal 1 and the network N.

With this configuration, when the information recording card is used, a message of encouragement according to the examination schedule of the examinee who is a member who owns the information recording card is selected. Then, the selected message is transmitted to the contact indicated by the contact information, and is read by the member. Therefore, it is possible to increase the possibility that the member who owns the information recording card has a good impression on the book store that sent the message and frequently visits the store.

(Fourth Embodiment) When the information recording card 11 of the seventh embodiment is applied to a member management system of a durable consumer goods store or the like, the attribute information, related parameters and message table are as shown in FIG. It becomes as shown in. That is, the purchase history (time / action information) of the member is recorded on the magnetic recording surface 11b of the information recording card 11 as attribute information in advance. In the storage unit 25 of the card processing device 13, general useful lives of various durable consumer goods are registered in advance as related parameters. Further, a message table including a plurality of messages prompting a purchase of a product is registered in the storage unit 25 in advance.

After reading the purchase history of the member from the magnetic recording surface 11b, the control unit 29 extracts a product whose general useful life has elapsed from the purchase date of the product. In the case of FIG. 17, it is the television and the refrigerator that have passed the current date and time (Jan. 15, 2001) output by the timer and have exceeded the standard useful life. Therefore, the control unit 29 selects a message related to the television and the refrigerator from the message table, and transfers the message to the message transmitting unit 28 together with the contact information read from the magnetic recording surface 11b. Message transmission unit 28
Transmits the passed message, for example, “on a large screen...” To the contact indicated by the passed contact information via the communication terminal 1 and the network N.

With such a configuration, when the information recording card is used, a message prompting the purchase of a product having a general useful life has elapsed according to the purchase history of the member who owns the information recording card. Is selected. Then, the selected message is transmitted to the contact indicated by the contact information, and is read by the member. Therefore, the member who owns the information recording card knows that the replacement of the durable consumer goods pointed out by the message has come, and the possibility that the member will return to the store that transmitted the message increases.

(Fifth Embodiment) The information recording card 11 of the eighth embodiment is used in a member management system of a retail store or the like.
Is applied, the attribute information / related parameter / message table is as shown in FIG. That is, members who own the information recording card 11 are grouped into a plurality of customer classes based on past purchase histories. Then, on the magnetic recording surface 11b of the information recording card 11, information indicating in which customer layer the member is grouped is recorded in advance as attribute information. Also, the card processing device 1
In the storage unit 25 of No. 3, a customer analysis result table representing this grouping is registered in advance as a related parameter. Further, a message table including a plurality of messages that convey special information to members is registered in the storage unit 25 in advance.

After reading out information indicating which customer layer the member is grouped from from the magnetic recording surface 11b, the control unit 29 obtains a message corresponding to the customer layer from the message table. In the case of FIG. 18, when the members are grouped into the “special customers”, the control unit 29
Selects the message "Special notice from the store ...." corresponding to the "special customer" layer, and selects the magnetic recording surface 11
b to the message transmitting unit 28 together with the contact information read from b. The message transmitting unit 28 sends the passed message “A special notice from the store ....” to the contact indicated by the passed contact information.
And via the network N.

With such a configuration, when an information recording card is used, a special member corresponding to the customer layer is determined according to the customer layer to which the member who owns the information recording card is grouped. The message conveying the information is selected. Then, the selected message is transmitted to the contact indicated by the contact information, and is read by the member. Therefore, the member who owns the information recording card is interested in the special information notified by the message, and is more likely to return to the store that transmitted the message.

As described above, according to the embodiment and the example of the present invention, when the information recording card 11 is used, the message according to the attribute of the member who owns the information recording card 11 is a message. The message selected from the table is transmitted to the destination indicated by the contact information specified at the time of applying for membership registration. As a result, it is possible to notify a message according to the object of interest of each member, and it is possible to promote sales and help keep customers.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiments and examples, and various modifications and applications are possible.

For example, in the above embodiments and examples, the information recording card 11 has the visual recording surface 11a on one surface and the magnetic recording surface 11b on the other surface, but the configuration of the card itself is arbitrary. . For example, an IC having a visual recording surface on one surface and a contact electrode on one or the other surface
It is also possible to use the card as an information recording card.

Further, in the above embodiment, the example of the information recording card 11 which is assumed to be used as a member management card such as a membership card or a membership card and a point service card has been described. Is not limited to this example. For example, tickets used multiple times,
The same applies to a prepaid card if the contact information for specifying the contact is registered so as to be obtainable. Further, the contact information may be either a telephone number or a mail address. Additionally, if the contact information is a phone number, the signal used to send the message is
Any of an audio signal and a facsimile signal may be used.

The timing at which the control unit 29 transmits the message to the member is not limited to immediately after the use of the information recording card 11. For example, this timing may be a point in time when a certain time has elapsed since the use of the information recording card 11. As described above, when the message is transmitted to the member at a timing different from immediately after the use of the information recording card 11, the message system proceeds as follows, for example. At the time of using the information recording card 11, the control unit 29 reads a message associated with the attribute information obtained from the information recording card 11 from the message table, and sets a message to be transmitted in the storage unit 25 as a set with the contact information. Remember in the table. And the control unit 29
Determines whether a predetermined timing has arrived with respect to the message and the contact information stored in the scheduled message table, and when it is determined that the predetermined timing has arrived, a set of the stored messages is set. To the member's contact indicated by the stored contact information. The control unit 29 deletes the set of messages and contact information whose transmission has been completed as described above from the transmission scheduled message table. It should be noted that, at a predetermined timing, in addition to the time when a certain time has elapsed from the use of the information recording card 11, the time when the number of messages and contact information stored in the transmission scheduled message table reaches the predetermined number,
It may be the time when a specific condition is satisfied for the member who owns the information recording card 11 or the like.

Further, the attribute information is not limited to the above example, and various information can be used as the attribute information. For example, the place of work, school, post, occupation, commuting / school method, hobby, favorite style, health information, age, occupation, gender, address, body or size, income, marriage / unmarried, sight, family composition, Purchase history (brand / amount, frequency, category), favorite music genre, reading magazine / newspaper, birthday, blood type, zodiac sign, favorite singer / talent, past purchases, etc. .

Further, as the message, a notice, a sales promotion, a service message, a personal message, or the like can be used. As the notification, for example, an advertisement for recruiting employees, a season service, an event guide, a CI notification, a store name notification, and the like can be set. Examples of the sales promotion include an introduction of a new product and an introduction of a hot selling product. The service message includes a point service, a coupon service, a medical service, an advisory message, and the like. Personal messages (personal messages) include an anniversary (birthday, wedding anniversary), an advisory message, a celebration message, and the like.

In the above embodiments and examples, for easy understanding, the reader of the information recording card (card processing unit 27 (magnetic recording unit 271)) and the data processing device for performing data processing on messages are the same. The example shown above is accommodated in a case and connected to a computer or a POS terminal. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, as shown in FIG. 19, the card processing unit 27 may be used alone, and data processing relating to messages may be performed by a computer or a POS terminal. With such a configuration, a system using a normal reader and a computer or a POS terminal can be configured, and the system can be realized at low cost and using a general-purpose device.

In the above embodiment, the programs for processing the operation of the message system have been described as being stored in the storage unit in advance. However, these programs are FD, CD-ROM,
The program may be stored in a computer-readable recording medium such as a VD and distributed. Further, it may be stored in a disk device or the like of a server device on the Internet, and may be downloaded to a computer, for example, by superimposing it on a carrier wave.

[0092]

As described above, according to the present invention,
When the information recording card is used, a message suitable for each member who owns the information recording card is transmitted to a destination specified in advance by the member. As a result, the member can always see the transmitted message with fresh interest. Accordingly, if the contents of the message to be transmitted are adjusted to the interests of the members, it is possible to promote sales and help keep customers.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a basic configuration of a network to which a message system of the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of an information recording card.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a configuration of a card processing device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a relationship between attribute information and contact information and a message table according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the card processing device.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a relationship between attribute information and contact information and a message table according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a relationship between attribute information and contact information and a message table according to a third embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a relationship between attribute information and contact information and a message table according to a fourth embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a relationship between attribute information and contact information and a message table according to a fifth embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a relationship among attribute information, related parameters, and a message table according to a sixth embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating a relationship among attribute information, a message table, and a message selection unit according to a seventh embodiment.

FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example in a case where a plurality of card processing apparatuses are connected by a network and a plurality of card processing apparatuses are centrally managed by a management terminal.

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of a message and magnetic information recorded on an information recording card.

FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating an example of attribute information and a message table.

FIG. 15 is a diagram illustrating an example of attribute information, related parameters, and a message table.

FIG. 16 is a diagram showing an example of attribute information indicating a member's examination schedule, a table of the number of days remaining until an examination at each examination school, and a message table.

FIG. 17 is a diagram illustrating an example of attribute information indicating a member's purchase history, a standard useful life table of each purchased product, and a message table.

FIG. 18 is a diagram illustrating an example of a customer analysis result table and a message table.

FIG. 19 is a diagram showing another example of the card processing device in the message system of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 N Internet or public line network 1 Store side communication terminal 2 Member terminal 11 Information recording card 11a Visual recording surface 11b Magnetic recording surface 13 Card processing device 21 Input unit 23 Communication unit 25 Storage unit 27 Card processing unit 271 Magnetic recording unit 28 Message transmission unit 29 Control unit

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI Theme coat ゛ (Reference) G06F 17/60 502 G06F 17/60 502

Claims (22)

[Claims] 1. Attribute information acquisition means for acquiring attribute information representing an attribute of a member based on recording information of an information recording card owned by the member; a message table for storing the attribute information and a message in association A contact obtaining unit that obtains contact information indicating the contact information of the member; a message associated with the attribute information obtained by the attribute information obtaining unit is read from the message table; Message transmission means for transmitting to a contact indicated by the contact information acquired by the acquisition means. 2. The information recorded on the information recording card includes the contact information, and the contact acquiring means includes contact reading means for reading the contact information from the information recording card. The message system according to claim 1. 3. The information recorded on the information recording card includes the identification information of the member, further comprising identification information reading means for reading the identification information from the information recording card, wherein the contact information acquiring means comprises: Identification and contact correspondence means for associating information, and means for acquiring contact information corresponding to the identification information read by the identification information reading means from the identification and contact correspondence means. The message system according to claim 1, wherein: 4. The attribute information includes contact information, and the contact information obtaining means obtains the contact information from the attribute information obtained by the attribute information obtaining means. The message system according to any one of claims 1 to 3. 5. The contact information includes a telephone number of the member, and the message transmitting unit transmits a message to a line specified by the telephone number by a voice signal or a facsimile signal. The message system according to claim 1. 6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the contact information includes an e-mail address of the member, and the message transmitting means transmits a message to the e-mail address via a network. The message system according to claim 1. 7. The information recorded on the information recording card includes attribute information of the member, and the attribute information acquiring means includes attribute reading means for reading attribute information from the information recording card. The message system according to any one of claims 1 to 6. 8. An identification / attribute associating means for associating identification information with attribute information, and attribute information corresponding to the identification information read by said identification information reading means. The message system according to any one of claims 3 to 6, further comprising: means for acquiring from the associating means. 9. The message table stores the attribute information and the message in a one-to-many correspondence and stores the message information, wherein the message transmission means includes: 9. The message system according to claim 1, wherein a message satisfying a predetermined condition is selectively read from the message. 10. A message associating means for dynamically associating the attribute information with a message according to a predetermined condition, wherein the message transmitting means is associated with the attribute information obtained by the attribute information obtaining means. The message system according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the message is selectively read according to the correspondence of the message associating means. 11. The message system according to claim 10, further comprising updating means for updating dynamic association between attribute information and a message by said message associating means. 12. The message transmitting means further comprises parameter acquiring means for acquiring a predetermined parameter, based on the parameter acquired by the parameter acquiring means and the attribute information acquired by the attribute information acquiring means. The message system according to claim 1, wherein a message is selectively read. 13. The attribute information includes time information and schedule attribute information, the parameter acquisition unit acquires a current date and time, and the message transmission unit selectively selects a message corresponding to a schedule within a reference period. The message system according to claim 12, wherein the message system is read. 14. The message system according to claim 13, further comprising means for setting the reference period according to the contents of the schedule attribute information. 15. The attribute information includes time information and action attribute information, the parameter obtaining means obtains a current date and time, and the message transmitting means selectively selects a message corresponding to an action at least a reference period or earlier. 13. The message system according to claim 12, wherein the message is read out. 16. The message system according to claim 15, further comprising means for setting the reference period according to the contents of the action attribute information. 17. The method according to claim 1, wherein the message transmitting unit reads a plurality of messages associated with the attribute information obtained by the attribute information obtaining unit from the message table. The message system described in section. 18. The message system according to claim 1, further comprising a delivery unit connected to said message table and delivering a message to said message table. 19. The message system according to claim 1, wherein the message system is connected to a reader of the information recording card, and reads information from the information recording card via the reader. 20. The apparatus according to claim 20, wherein said attribute information obtaining means, said message table, said contact information obtaining means and said message transmitting means are housed in the same housing as a reader of said information recording card. The message system according to any one of claims 1 to 18. 21. An attribute information acquiring step of acquiring attribute information representing an attribute of the member based on record information of an information recording card owned by the member, and a contact for acquiring contact information indicating a contact of the member. An acquiring step, from a message table that stores the attribute information and the message in association with each other, reads a message associated with the attribute information acquired in the attribute information acquiring step, and reads the read message to the contact information acquiring step. Transmitting a message to a contact indicated by the contact information acquired in the above manner. 22. Attribute information acquisition means for acquiring attribute information representing the attribute of the member based on information recorded on an information recording card owned by the member, and storing the attribute information and a message in association with each other. A message table, a contact acquiring unit that acquires contact information indicating the contact information of the member, a message associated with the attribute information acquired by the attribute information acquiring unit, is read from the message table, and the read message is read. A program for functioning as a message transmitting unit for transmitting to a contact indicated by the contact information acquired by the contact acquiring unit.