JP2002279273A - Shopping district point system and center server device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a shopping district point system that does not burden a shopping district association office with equipment cost. SOLUTION: A management and operation function of shopping district point service is divided into a server part and a client part. The former is separated as a center server device 410 from the shopping district office, so that the shopping district office only needs to have an office terminal 310 having only a client function.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a point system (hereinafter referred to as a shopping mall point system) that can be commonly used in a shopping street, which is an aggregate of stores by a plurality of different business entities.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 1 shows an example of a shopping mall point system 1 according to the prior art. 200 is a member store, 201 is a store terminal, 8 is a network (such as a public line network provided by a telecommunications carrier), and 300 is equipment of a secretariat office. A host computer 101 that manages the member database 102 and the point database 103 and receives point data from the store terminal of each store via the network 8 is provided. Reference numeral 10 denotes a membership card. It is an IC card or a magnetic card that stores the number of points acquired by the owner (member customer) and the identification information of the owner. In the following description, the point service database 110 is collectively referred to as 102 and 103.
Sometimes called. FIG. 3 shows a shopping mall point system 1
FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a mechanism of the service. First, the shopping district secretariat issues a membership card to members (Fig. 3
Circle 0). The member presents the membership card and purchases the product at the member store (FIG. 3). The store issues points (of FIG. 3). After a certain amount of points are accumulated, the member customer can request the exchange of points from the shopping mall office or some member stores ('in FIG. 3). The merchant or secretariat provides the merchandise or prizes to the member customers in exchange for points ('in FIG. 3). The member store notifies the secretariat of the point balance (number of points issued and number of points exchanged) as point transaction data at a certain timing (see FIG. 3). The secretariat requests a point settlement fee to the store from the point balance data (FIG. 3). The secretariat bills the store an amount corresponding to the amount of points issued by the store, and pays the store an amount corresponding to the amount of points exchanged by the store. The merchant pays the points according to the amount billed (Fig. 3).

Normally, a standard value is determined in a shopping street for a point issuance rate with respect to a customer's purchase price and a commodity exchange rate when a customer exchanges points. However,
In the structure of FIG. 3, the member store can increase the number of points issued by increasing the point issuance rate for the purchase amount for a certain period of time, such as a store opening sale, thereby attracting more customers. it can. The points collected by the customer at this store A may be redeemed at another store B, but since the store A has to pay more points to the secretariat for settlement, the store A has to pay with the other stores. There is no inequity.

[0004]

The above-mentioned shopping mall point system can be an effective means for revitalizing an existing shopping district where customers are likely to be robbed by a large store newly entering a suburb. In order to manage member customer information and perform the above point clearing process, a computer facility is needed to build and maintain a database at the union office (shopping area office) that operates the shopping mall point system As a result, equipment and maintenance costs for the introduction and subsequent stable operation were a bottleneck.

[0005] The present invention has been made in view of such problems, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a shopping mall point system in which facility and maintenance costs do not burden the union secretariat.

[0006]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a center server apparatus and a secretariat which use a membership card for recording points as computer-readable data. A shopping mall point system in which a terminal and a store terminal are connected via a network, wherein the center server device receives a request from the secretariat terminal or the store terminal, and performs necessary processing in response to the request. And a request accepting and responding means for returning a result to the request source; and
Point transaction updating means called from the request acceptance response means to update point transaction data of the store; point clearing means also called from the request acceptance response means to calculate billing data of each store; and confirming the request source. Access authentication means for determining whether or not a subsequent response is possible;
A member database that records and stores registration information of member customers and member stores, a point database that records and stores earned points of member customers and point transaction data of each member store, and updates and searches these database contents as requested. Database management means for responding and responding;
The store terminal is provided with a card reader / writer device, reads the number of acquired points of the member recorded on the inserted member card, and adds the new number of points given by the operator. And a member card updating means for writing the updated point number into the member card again, and accumulating the record of the single point update in the internal storage as point transaction data, and accumulating it until then at an appropriate timing. A transaction record transfer means for transferring the obtained point transaction data to the center server device, wherein the secretariat terminal retrieves billing data for each participating store from the point database and bills each store. Alternatively, there is provided a shopping mall point system comprising a bill issuing means for creating a withdrawal notice.

[0007] The management and operation function of the shopping mall point service is separated into a server part and a client part, and the former is used as a center server device and is separated from the shopping mall secretariat, so that the shopping mall secretariat has only the client function. Therefore, the problem is solved.

A second aspect of the first invention is a shopping mall point system in which the function of point clearing means for creating billing data for each store has been transferred from a center server device to an office terminal. . Such a configuration may be used as long as the original data for creating the billing data is recorded in the point database.

A third aspect of the first invention adopts HTTP (HyperText Transfer Protocol) as an application-level communication protocol between the center server device and various client devices such as an office terminal and a store terminal. WWW (World Wi-Fi)
de Web) It uses server software. By configuring the system in this way, in addition to the shopping mall point service, a center server device prepares various member service content data and a member service processing program, and provides various client devices equipped with a WWW browser through a network. Member service can be provided. Customer members also use WW on their home computers
If a W browser is installed, it becomes possible to connect to the center server device from home and browse various member service contents.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the shopping mall point system according to any one of the first aspect, the second aspect, and the third aspect, the center server device transmits the information from a customer terminal. In response to a selected product purchase request or a selected premium exchange request, the request is received and responded by the request accepting and responding means to create one purchase record and one point transaction data, or one point transaction data, and obtain at this time. A virtual shop providing means for returning the point value to the request source and calling the point transaction updating means is provided.On the other hand, a member customer terminal equipped with a card reader / writer device is provided with a point value instructed from the center server device, Providing virtual store usage means to update the member's earned point value recorded on the member card In addition, the customer who has accessed the center server device through the network can also perform a product purchase notification or a prize exchange notification and a corresponding point acquisition or point exchange in a virtual space or while viewing a flyer or a catalog. It is a shopping mall point system.

A second invention for solving the problems is a center server device of a shopping mall point system connected to various external terminals via a network, using a membership card for recording points as computer-readable data. As a first aspect, request accepting and responding means for accepting a request issued from an external terminal issued in accordance with a certain protocol, operating necessary processing in response to the request, and returning a result to a request source; Point transaction updating means called from the request acceptance response means to update the point transaction data of the store, point clearing means also called from the request acceptance response means to calculate the billing data of each store, and after confirming the request source, Access authentication means to determine the response of And membership database that records storing information, and updated in accordance with the point database that records accumulated points balance data acquisition points and each member store of member customers, these databases contents of the request,
A center server device having a database management means for searching and returning a response, and realizing a central management function of a shopping mall point system from a remote place through a network.

[0012] Such a center server device can be constructed in accordance with a target shopping mall point service, and a specialized company that can operate without any trouble is a contract service of daily management business of the shopping mall point service. Can be developed without geographical restrictions.

If the original data for creating billing data is recorded in the point database, the center server device may not have the function of the point clearing means for creating billing data for each store. It is possible to create billing data for each store on the client terminal side installed in the secretariat.

Further, in the center server device of the second invention, WWW server software capable of handling the HTTP protocol is employed as the request accepting / replying means, and the center server device is provided with various member service contents data and member service processing. A program may be prepared so that various member services can be provided to the terminal of the member customer through the network.

[0015]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 2 is an overall configuration diagram of a shopping mall point system 2 according to an embodiment of the present invention.
Reference numeral 400 denotes a point card service center. In the point card service center 400, a center server device (center server) 410 and a point service database 110 are installed. The center server 410 includes a request reception / response unit 411, a point transaction updating unit 412, a database management unit 413, an access authentication unit 414, and a point clearing unit 415. Member service content data 419 is prepared in an internal or external hard disk device. Have been. The shopping mall point system 2 has a form in which a center server 410 and an office terminal 110, a store terminal 210, a computer 510 or a mobile phone 502 of a member customer, which will be described later, are connected via the Internet 9 as a customer terminal 510.

Reference numeral 300 denotes a shopping mall secretariat. An office terminal 310 is installed in the shopping mall office 300. FIG.
Is a block diagram of the secretariat terminal 310. A computer main body 311, a card reader / writer device 312, a display 313, a keyboard 314, a printer 316
Is connected to the computer main body 311. Member registration search means 321 for registering a new member customer or a new member store, or issuing a request for searching for information on the member customer or member store to the center server 410, and the point database. A bill issuing means 322 for extracting billing data for each participating store from 103 and creating and printing a bill or a debit / payment notice for each store is provided. Also provided is a service content request display means 520 for taking out service content provided by the center server 410 and confirming the content.

In the member store 200, a store terminal 210 is installed. FIG. 7 is a configuration diagram of the shop terminal 210.
A display 213, a keyboard 214, and a card reader / writer 212 are connected to the computer main body 211, and the computer main body 211 reads out the acquired point data recorded on the membership card inserted into the card reader / writer 212,
The member card updating means 22 which writes in the member card the acquired point data of the member customer updated according to the number of points given to the member customer designated by 14 or the number of exchange points (minus points) collected from the member.
1. The record of this one point giving or collecting is recorded as one point transaction data,
15 and at appropriate timing (for example, once or several times at a fixed time of day), the accumulated point transaction data is transferred to the center server 410 at once, and the point balance of the store is transferred. A transaction record transfer unit 222 for requesting a record update is provided. Further, a service content request display unit 520 for extracting and using various service contents provided by the center server 410 is provided.

FIG. 8 shows a customer terminal 510 used when a member customer accesses the center server 410 from home.
FIG. A display 513, a keyboard 514, and a card reader / writer 512 are connected to the computer main body 511. The computer main body 511 has a service content request display means 520 for extracting and using various service contents provided by the center server 410, and a service content display section. In one virtual store, a virtual store use unit 521 for issuing a product purchase or prize exchange request and updating the acquired point data recorded on the customer's member card in accordance with the point value specified by the center server 410. Is provided.

Next, the center server 41 will be described with reference to FIG.
0 will be described in detail. Various requests are sent to the center server 410 via the Internet 9. These are point transaction data (requesting an update of the point database) of the store from the store terminal 211, or a search request to the point service database 110 or a new member registration request from the secretariat terminal 311. Or customer terminal 510
Or a request for content data from.
Normally, a client (here, 211, 311 etc.) requesting processing from a server (here, 410) sends one or more series of request messages according to a certain communication procedure in order to achieve one intended processing. Publish to server. Also in the present invention, it is assumed that there is a rule in the communication procedure and that the data format of the request message itself is also determined. Therefore, the request reception / response unit 411 can once receive all the request messages sent to the center server 410, check the contents of the messages, and take appropriate measures. The request reception response unit 411 can be realized by, for example, WWW server software. In such a case, HTT is used as the communication protocol for messages between the server and client.
P will be adopted.

Reference numeral 414 denotes an access authentication unit. Upon receiving a new request message, the request reception / response unit 411 first transmits the request to the center server 4.
The access authentication unit 414 is called to determine whether the client is a legitimate client that can access the client 10. The access authentication unit 414 allows the user to input a user name and a password and check them against the contents of an authentication table stored therein, or a member card (member store card, secretariat authentication card, customer card) inserted on the client side. The ID number of the member card may be requested and confirmed by referring to the member database (in this case, the client card reads out the ID number of the member card in response to the request from the center server 410). It is necessary to incorporate a program module that returns it to the center server 410). Alternatively, it may be realized by a combination of these methods or another known means. Check whether the client is valid by any of the above methods. If the client is an invalid client, the request acceptance / response unit 411 responds to reject the request. If the client is a valid client, necessary processing is started according to the contents of the request message.

The point transaction updating means 412 is called when the received request message is the point transaction data of the store from the store terminal 211, and stores the current point transaction record of the source store (database management means 41).
3) from the point database 103, the transaction record is updated by the transmitted point transaction data, and the result is read (database management means 413).
Through the point database 103). The request reception response unit 411 replies that the updating of the point transaction record has been completed normally.

The database management means 413 is a module for executing actual search, update, and deletion for the point service database 110. If the received request message is a request for member information search, registration of a new member, deletion of a registered member, etc. (these do not come from other than the secretariat terminal 310), the request message is immediately transmitted to the database management means 413, The database management unit 413 executes a process according to the request. The search result is returned from the request reception response unit 411 as a response message.

If the received request message is a request data of a store bill from the secretariat terminal 310, the point clearing means 415 sends the request reception response means 411
And reads out the point transaction record data of all the member stores (through the database management means 413), and converts the number of points into a monetary amount for each member store to calculate billing data. The request reception response unit 411 returns the calculated billing data for each member store to the secretariat terminal 310 as a response message.

If the received request message is a service content request, the request reception response unit 411 fetches the content data specified by the request message from the content storage unit 419, and replies the content to the request source. The request message is
A request for execution of a certain program module may be made, and the execution result of the program module may be returned. The virtual store providing means 418 is one type of such a program module. The service contents may include a guide article / guide map of a shopping street, a notice of sale information of a store, a membership application, a confirmation of earned points, a virtual store, and the like. Virtual store providing means 418
Is called by the request reception / response unit 411 when a member accessing through the network notifies the user of purchase of a product or exchange of a prize at a virtual store presented as service content. The virtual shop providing means 418 emulates the function of the membership card updating means 221 of the shop terminal 210 together with the virtual shop using means 521 of the customer terminal 510. That is, one point transaction data is created, the point exchange data of the virtual store is updated (through the database management means 413), and the point value obtained (or collected) by the member is returned to the terminal of the access source.

When WWW server software is used as the request acceptance / response means 411, the member customer
A personal computer 501 at home equipped with a WW browser or a mobile phone 502 equipped with a browser function capable of displaying contents for mobile phones can be used as the customer terminal 510. (A WWW browser or a browser capable of displaying content for a mobile phone is the service content request display means 520.) However, when using the virtual shop service, a program module for realizing the card reader / writer function and the virtual shop use means 521 It is necessary to provide.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram for explaining the service mechanism of the shopping mall point system 2. As shown in FIG. First, the shopping mall secretariat sends new application data from the customer to the database of the service center and requests new registration processing. Then, a membership card is issued to the new member (circle 0 in FIG. 4). The member presents the membership card and purchases the merchandise at the member store (FIG. 4) or purchases the merchandise at the virtual store provided by the service center (FIG. 4 ').
The shop issues points ('in FIG. 4). After accumulating points to a certain extent, the member customer can request exchange of points at some member stores or a virtual store provided by a service center ('in FIG. 4). The member store or the virtual store provides merchandise or prizes to the member customers in exchange for points ('in FIG. 4). The member store notifies the service center of the point balance (number of points issued and number of points exchanged) as point transaction data at a certain timing (see FIG. 4). At a certain time, such as at the end of the month, the service center creates and records billing data from the point balance data at that time for each member store to the store. The shopping district office fetches billing data from the center server of the service center at regular intervals (FIG. 4). The secretariat bills the store for the amount of points issued by the store (FIG. 4), and pays the store the amount of points exchanged by the store. The merchant pays the points according to the amount billed (FIG. 4).

The above is a preferred embodiment of the present invention. The shopping mall point system 2 has been described. Next, the shopping mall point system 1 of the prior art example and the shopping mall point system 2 will be compared. Shopping mall point system 1 having the configuration of FIG.
Then, the shopping mall secretariat needs to install a server device that maintains the point service database. It is also necessary to take measures against the failures associated with server installation at the required level. Therefore, the equipment cost of the secretariat will be several million yen or more. On the other hand, in the shopping mall point system 2, the shopping mall secretariat 300 only needs to have a very common personal computer and printer. The cost for this is about several hundred thousand yen. If you entrust the daily management of the center server device 410 to a specialized company,
There is no need for human resources with advanced computer knowledge for managing the server device, and there is no need to consider failure measures.

On the other hand, a specialized company having a server computer and equipped with advanced computer technology can implement a new business of specializing in management and operation of the shopping mall point service if the center server device 410 is provided. Becomes possible. Since the Internet 9 is used, this new business can be promoted without geographical restrictions.

[0029]

As described above in detail, in the shopping mall point system constructed based on the present invention, the management equipment for the point service can be separated and commissioned to a specialized trader. This has a remarkable effect of greatly reducing the burden. In addition, a specialized company equipped with advanced computer technology, which is familiar with the shopping mall point system, designs and builds a point service database of the target shopping mall, and uses the center server device 41 of the present invention.
By preparing 0, there is a remarkable effect that a new business that specializes in the management and operation of the shopping mall point service can be developed without geographical restrictions.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of a shopping mall point system 1 configured by a conventional technique.

FIG. 2 is an overall configuration diagram of a shopping mall point system 2 which is a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of a service mechanism of the shopping mall point system 1.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of a service mechanism of a shopping mall point system 2.

FIG. 5 is a configuration diagram of a center server device 410.

FIG. 6 is a configuration diagram of a secretariat terminal 310.

FIG. 7 is a configuration diagram of a shop terminal device 210.

FIG. 8 is a configuration diagram of a customer terminal 510.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Shopping district point system 2 Shopping district point system 9 Internet 10 Member card 102 Member database 103 Point database 110 Point and service database 200 Member store 210 Store terminal 221 Member card updating means 222 Transaction record transfer means 300 Shopping district secretariat 310 Office Station terminal 321 bill issuing means 400 service center 410 center server device 411 request accepting and responding means 412 point transaction updating means 413 database management means 414 access authentication means 415 point settlement means 419 content data storage section 520 service content request display means 521 virtual Store usage method

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI Theme coat ゛ (Reference) G06F 17/60 330 G06F 17/60 330 410 410A B42D 15/10 521 B42D 15/10 521 G06F 17/30 110 G06F 17/30 110F 170 170Z 19/00 300 19/00 300J G06K 17/00 G06K 17/00 L R 19/00 G07G 1/12 321L G07G 1/12 321 1/14 1/14 G06K 19/00 Q F Term (reference) 2C005 MA18 MB10 NA03 SA03 TA21 3E042 CC04 EA01 5B035 BB09 BC00 5B058 KA08 YA20 5B075 KK07 KK13 KK33 KK37 MM21 ND03 ND20 ND23 PQ02 PQ03 UU40

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. A shopping mall point system in which a center server device, a secretariat terminal and a store terminal are connected via a network, using a membership card for recording points as computer-readable data, The server device receives a request from the secretariat terminal or the store terminal, operates necessary processing in response to the request, and returns a result to a request source. Point transaction updating means for updating the point transaction data of the store, point clearing means for calculating the billing data of each store also called from the request accepting and responding means, and confirming the request source to judge whether or not subsequent responses are possible. Access authentication means, and an association that records and stores registered information of member customers and franchisees. Member database, a point database that records and accumulates points earned by member customers and point transaction data of each member store, and a database management unit that updates, searches, and replies the contents of these databases in response to requests. The store terminal is provided with a card reader / writer device, reads the number of points acquired by the member recorded on the inserted membership card, and adds the new number of points given by the operator to this. A member card updating means for writing the updated point number into the member card again, and a record of this one point update is stored in the internal storage unit as point transaction data, and stored up to that time at an appropriate timing. It is provided with transaction record transfer means for transferring point transaction data to the center server device, The store bureau terminal is configured to include bill issuing means for extracting billing data for each participating store from the point database and creating a bill or a withdrawal / deposit notice for each store. Town point system. 2. A shopping mall point system in which a center server device, a secretariat terminal and a store terminal are connected via a network, using a membership card for recording points as computer-readable data, wherein The server device receives a request from the secretariat terminal or the store terminal, operates necessary processing in response to the request, and returns a result to a request source. Point transaction updating means for updating the point transaction data of the store, access authentication means for confirming the request source and judging whether or not a subsequent response is possible, a member database recording and accumulating registration information of member customers and member stores, Points that record and accumulate points earned by member customers and point transaction data for each affiliated store Int databases and the contents of these databases are updated and searched on request,
And a database management means for returning a reply, wherein the store terminal is provided with a card reader / writer device, reads the number of points earned by the member recorded on the inserted membership card, and Member card updating means for writing the updated point number by adding the new point number given by the user to the member card again, and accumulating the record of this one point update in the internal storage as point transaction data. And a transaction record transfer means for transferring the point transaction data accumulated so far at an appropriate timing to the center server device, wherein the secretariat terminal transmits the point transaction for each participating store from the point database. Point clearing means to extract data and calculate billing data for each store, and from the obtained billing data an invoice to each store or Shopping district point system, characterized in that it has a structure with a billing means for creating a debit-payment notice. 3. The shopping mall point system according to claim 1, wherein WWW server software is employed as said request accepting / responding means of said center server device, and said center server device has various member service contents. A shopping mall point system in which data and a member service processing program are prepared so that various member services can be provided to member terminals equipped with a WWW browser through a network. 4. The shopping mall point system according to claim 1, wherein the center server device transmits the request in response to a selected commodity purchase request from a customer terminal or a selected premium exchange request. Activated by acceptance response means, one purchase record and one
Point transaction data or one point transaction data, a virtual shop providing means for returning the acquired point value to the request source and calling the point transaction update means, and a card reader / writer device The terminal device of the member customer provided with virtual shop use means for updating the member's earned point value recorded on the member card in accordance with the point value instructed from the center server device, the center server through a network A customer who has accessed the device
A shopping mall point system that enables the purchase of goods or the exchange of prizes and the acquisition or redemption of points along with it in a virtual space or while viewing a flyer or catalog. 5. A center server device of a shopping mall point system connected to various external terminals via a network, using a membership card for recording points as computer-readable data, issued according to a certain protocol. A request accepting and responding means for accepting a request from the external terminal, operating necessary processing in response to the request, and returning a result to the request source; and a point for updating the point transaction data of the store called by the request accepting and responding means. Transaction update means, point clearing means also called from the request acceptance response means to calculate billing data for each store, access authentication means for confirming the request source and judging whether or not subsequent responses can be made; A member database that stores and stores store registration information, A point database that records and accumulates earned points and point income and expenditure data of each member store, and updates the contents of these databases upon request,
A center server device comprising a database management means for searching and returning a response, and realizing a central management function of a shopping mall point system from a remote place through a network. 6. A shopping mall point system center server device using a membership card for recording points as computer-readable data and connected to various external terminals via a network, issued according to a certain protocol. A request accepting and responding means for accepting a request from the external terminal, operating necessary processing in response to the request, and returning a result to the request source; and a point for updating the point transaction data of the store called by the request accepting and responding means. Transaction updating means, access authentication means for confirming the request source and judging whether or not a response can be made thereafter, a member database recording and storing registration information of member customers and member stores, points acquired by member customers, and points of each member store A point database that records and stores point balance data, A center server device comprising: a database management unit that updates a database content in response to a request, searches, and returns a response, and realizes a central management function of a shopping mall point system from a remote place through a network. 7. The center server device of the shopping mall point system according to claim 5, wherein WWW server software is adopted as the request accepting and responding means, and various member service content data are stored in the center server device. And a member service processing program for providing various member services to member terminals equipped with a WWW browser through a network.