JP2003288530A - Affiliate system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an affiliate system which pays a reward to a recommender having contributed to purchase of an article by a customer once, i.e., a recommendation web server even if subsequent purchase by the customer is not done through a recommendation server. <P>SOLUTION: A browsing terminal utilizes history information including information showing whether the browsing terminal is a recommendation web use terminal which is a terminal having a history of transmitting purchase information by browsing an e-commerce web based upon link information obtained from a recommendation web server in the past in the second and succeeding chances of browsing the e-commerce web pages. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an affiliate system.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In general, "affiliate" is a word that means tie-up, membership, etc., but in the e-commerce industry, product recommendation sites are used for the purpose of increasing sales at product sales sites. It is posted on the server of the person concerned, and when the product is purchased through the server through the server, the compensation is paid to the third party as a success fee.

In the conventional affiliate system, the link information posted by the site recommending the product is used to browse the sales site of the product, and the reward is paid only when the product is purchased. , If you purchase a product directly from the product sales site without using the link information posted by the site that recommends the product, you will not be eligible for payment of the reward.

[0004]

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] However, even a person who purchases a product from a product sales site by using the link information posted on a site recommending a product next purchases the product from that site. If the user purchases the product directly from the product selling site without using the link information of the site recommending the product, the reward is not paid to the product recommending site.

In this case, there is no incentive for a site that recommends products (recommendation site), that is, the site of the recommended web server to make an effort for the customer to continuously use the product sales site. It should be noted that the recommendation site is practically any site that has a link button, even if it is not recommended.

[0006] The fact that the customer does not continuously use his / her product sales site has a negative effect on the site itself that sells the products. "My" means an e-commerce web site that has link buttons attached to recommended sites.

In view of the above situation, the present invention directly uses the product sales site when the person purchases the product through the product recommendation site once when the person purchases the product next time. Even if they did, they are trying to provide a system for paying a reward to a product recommendation site that first led the person to purchase the product. In addition, for example, as a website selling cosmetics, "kire
Assuming the one named "icom-shop", of course, even if the product is purchased for the first time, the reward referred to in the present invention will be paid. For example, if you become a member of "kireicom-shop", you can purchase merchandise such as cosmetics for the first time. For example, a user who flies to the “kireicom-shop” from the recommendation site “A” and purchases a product is “kirei” linked to the recommendation site “A”.
First to become a member of "com-shop". For example, a member identification number "A-001" is given. This is the difference between the present invention and the conventional affiliate system.

[0008] Since the usual "affiliate system" does not make the user from the recommended site "A" a member associated with "kireicom-shop", it becomes a one-time reward (back margin).

The "affiliate system" proposed this time is linked to "kireicom-sho" from the recommendation site.
It is characterized in that it becomes a "p" member. Therefore, the "affiliate system" can be used from the first purchase.

[0010]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention is an e-commerce web server that sells products by communicating with a browsing terminal, which is an intention to purchase a product transmitted from the browsing terminal. Whether the purchase acceptance unit that receives the purchase information and the browsing terminal are terminals that have a history of transmitting the purchase information by browsing the e-commerce web based on the link information acquired from the recommendation web server in the past, are the recommended web use terminals. And a reward calculator that calculates the reward paid by the recommended web user terminal for the recommended web that was used in the past, when the purchase information is received from the recommended web user terminal. ,
An e-commerce web server having a.

[0011]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described below.

<First Embodiment>

First, the first embodiment will be described.

The first embodiment is an e-commerce web server used in an affiliate system.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the concept of this affiliate system. In FIG. 1A, a browsing terminal that is a terminal used by a customer (this is on a network such as the Internet and can communicate with the recommended web server or the e-commerce server) is first a recommended web. Browse the server and post it on the recommendation web server
It is a state of acquiring the link information to the commerce web server. Furthermore, the browsing terminal that has acquired the link information to the e-commerce web server browses the e-commerce web server using the link information and refers to the information about the product to display the purchase information, which is an intention to purchase the product. Send to e-commerce web server. As a result, the product sold on the e-commerce web server is purchased due to the advertising effect of the recommendation web (server). Finally, a reward is paid for the contribution of the recommendation web server, and this customer's initial purchase of the product is completed.

When paying this reward, for example, an identification code is associated with the purchaser of the first product. This is used to recognize that the product has already been purchased at the e-commerce website using the specific recommended web server at the time of the next purchase.

In the e-commerce website, by adding the identification code in this way, it is possible to pay the total amount of total sales flew from the recommended site "A" in a lump sum by setting a certain date. Becomes

FIG. 3B shows the second and subsequent purchases of the same customer by the same e-commerce web server. Since the customer already knows the address of the e-commerce website by the first purchase of the product shown in FIG. 7A, the recommendation web server is not used for the second purchase of the product. . That is, the customer directly accesses the e-commerce web server, transmits purchase information, which is an indication of intention to purchase the product, to the e-commerce web server, and the purchase of the product ends. Therefore, it does not go through the recommendation web server. However, in the present invention, the customer who purchases the product for the second time (“customer” means “terminal” in some cases. In the present specification, unless otherwise specified, the same shall always apply and will not be repeated). Since the purchase is performed via the recommendation web server in the first purchase of the product, the recommendation web (server) (operator of the recommendation web) is paid for the second purchase of the product.

As described above, a mechanism for paying a reward to the recommended web server is provided not only for the first time using the recommended web server but also for the second and subsequent purchases of products not using the recommended web server. Is a feature of the present invention.

<First Embodiment Structure>

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of functional blocks of the e-commerce web server of the first embodiment. This e-commerce web server 0200 includes a purchase acceptance unit 0201,
It has a background information acquisition unit 0202 and a reward calculation unit 0203.

The "purchase acceptance section" (0201) accepts purchase information transmitted from the browsing terminal, which is an indication of intention to purchase a product. In some cases, the purchase information may convey a solicitation with a so-called one-click, or may include information such as the customer's name, address, bank account number, and information indicating the purchase intention of the product. . The “commodity” may be a product, a service, or both. The browsing terminal can browse the web of an e-commerce web server for purchasing products or a recommendation web server. For example, a personal computer that can use a web browser is applicable. Although the browsing terminal is described as identifying the purchaser of the product in this specification,
A single browsing terminal may be used by a plurality of product purchasers. In this case, a plurality of customers who purchase products must be identified within one browsing terminal. This is possible by introducing the concept of customer identifiers that identify customers.

Although substantially the same, rewriting according to this case in consideration of claim 1, "it is an e-commerce web server that sells products by communicating with a browsing terminal and transmits from the browsing terminal. The purchase reception unit that receives the purchase information, which is an indication of the intention to purchase the product, and the customer who uses the browsing terminal have transmitted the purchase information by browsing the e-commerce web based on the link information acquired from the recommendation web server in the past. Recommendation information acquisition unit that obtains background information including information indicating whether the customer of the recommended terminal is a customer of the recommended Web terminal, and recommended when the purchase information sent by the customer of the recommended Web terminal is accepted. An e-commerce web server having a reward calculation unit that calculates a reward paid by a user of a web-using terminal for a recommended web that has been used in the past. " This meaning is substantially the same as in claim 1.

The “history information acquisition unit” (0202) is a terminal having a history that the browsing terminal transmits purchase information by browsing the e-commerce web based on the link information acquired from the recommendation web server in the past. Acquiring background information including information indicating whether the terminal is a use terminal. In short, the recommendation web server is used to acquire information about whether or not a product has been purchased in the past. As the background information, a cookie already held in the browsing terminal may be used. This cookie is e
This is what the commerce web server sent to the browsing terminal at the time of the previous product purchase. Further, the history information is only the identification information of the terminal (for example, it is transmitted from the terminal to the e-commerce web server using a cookie), and the history information is accumulated in the e-commerce web server 0200 in association with the ID. You may be able to obtain it. Of course, the history information is held and accumulated in a device other than the e-commerce web server 0200, and the e-commerce web server 0200 may acquire the history information through communication or the like. Based on this ID (identification information), it is possible to acquire information such as which recommended web server link information was used to purchase the product from the e-commerce web server in the past. These are stored in an e-commerce web server or an external device in association with this ID.

The "reward calculation unit" (0203) calculates the reward to be paid by the recommended web using terminal for the recommended web used in the past when the purchase information is received from the recommended web using terminal. For example, the reward is paid in a rate of 10% or 20% of the sales amount.

<Second Embodiment>

Next, a second embodiment will be described.

The second embodiment is an affiliate system.

As shown in FIG. 3, this affiliate system includes a browsing terminal 0300 and a recommendation web server 03.
02 and an e-commerce web server 0301, which is an affiliate system.

The "recommended web server" (0302) includes a link information posting section 0316 and a browsing information transmission section 0317.
And.

The "link information posting section" (0316) posts the link information to the e-commerce web on the recommended web. “Link information” refers to information for linking to an e-commerce website, and is, for example, a GUI button such as a banner advertisement.

The "browsing information transmitting unit" (0317) transmits browsing information including information indicating that the user browses the recommended web browsing terminal, which is a browsing terminal that browses the recommended web. This "browsing information" may be any information as long as it is information indicating that the information of the recommended web server 0302 has been browsed. For example, a cookie or the like including identification information for identifying the recommended web server 0302 is applicable.

"E-Commerce Web Server" (0301)
Is a purchase reception unit 0311 and a browsing information acquisition unit 0312.
And a history information transmission unit 0313 and a history information acquisition unit 031
4 and a reward calculation unit 0315.

The "purchase acceptance section" (0311) accepts purchase information transmitted from the browsing terminal 0300, which is an indication of intention to purchase a product. The purchase information has already been described and will not be repeated. The browsing terminal 0300 is assumed to be, for example, a personal computer installed in a general home. However, the interpretation is not limited to this.

The "browsing information acquisition unit" (0312) acquires browsing information from the browsing terminal 0300. For example, as described above, the cookie or the like held by the browsing terminal and transmitted from the recommendation web server 0302 is acquired.

The “history information transmitting unit” (0313) is a recommendation web server 030 for the browsing terminal that has transmitted the purchase information and is also the recommendation web browsing terminal.
2. The history information including information indicating that the terminal is a recommended web utilizing terminal, which is a terminal having a history of transmitting purchase information by browsing the e-commerce web based on the link information acquired from 2 is transmitted. Thus, even if the second and subsequent purchases of products that do not use the recommended web server 0302 are made, it is possible to recognize that the access is from a terminal that should pay the recommended web server 0302.
Also for this, for example, a cookie or the like can be used.

The "history information acquisition unit" (0314) acquires history information from the browsing terminal 0300. The function of this part is that the browsing terminal 0300 is particularly recommended by the recommended web server 0302.
This is effective when purchasing the second and subsequent products that have been accessed without using. This is because the e-commerce web server 0301 can use the recommended web server 0302 in the past and recognize that the terminal has purchased the product.

The "reward calculation unit" (0315) calculates the reward to be paid by the recommended web using terminal for the recommended web used in the past when the purchase information is received from the recommended web using terminal.

The "browsing terminal" (0300) is the browsing unit 03.
03, purchase information transmission unit 0304, and browsing information reception unit 0
305, a browsing information holding unit 0306, a browsing information transmitting unit 0307, a history information receiving unit 0308, a history information holding unit 0309, and a history information transmitting unit 0310.

The "browsing unit" (0303) provides a function for browsing the e-commerce web. For example, an internet browser is applicable.

The "purchase information transmission unit" (0304) transmits purchase information. The purchase information is a product specified when the product purchase information provided by the e-commerce web server 0301 is browsed to purchase a product that the user likes.
This information is used to identify the information required for payment and identify the purchaser.

The "browsing information receiving unit" (0305) acquires browsing information from the recommendation web. "Viewing information storage unit"
(0306) holds browsing information. The holding is stored in a hard disk drive, RAM, or the like. A non-volatile memory that does not turn off even when the power is turned off is preferable. The "browsing information transmitting unit" (0307) transmits the browsing information. The sender is the e-commerce web server 030
It is 1. For the e-commerce web server 0301,
This is to inform that there is a history of browsing the recommended web server. This is used later to pay a reward to the recommendation web server 0302.

The "history information receiving unit" (0308) acquires history information from the e-commerce web. The “history information holding unit” (0309) holds the history information. As described above, the background information is information for knowing whether the recommended web server 0302 actually contributed to the purchase of the product. This is sent from the e-commerce web server 0301.
The e-commerce web server 0301 can acquire the information of which recommended web server 0302 the browsing terminal 0300 has seen based on the browsing information. The e-commerce web server 0301 further has its browsing terminal 030.
Since it is possible to know from 0 that an actual product has been purchased, it is possible to generate biometric information indicating which recommended web server 0302 contributed to the product purchase. This biographical information is used again for the e-commerce web server 03.
When the product is purchased at 01, it is used to indicate that there is a past purchase record of the product via the recommended web server 0302. The “history information transmitting unit” (0310) transmits the history information. The background information is transmitted to the e-commerce web server 0301. This is for notifying the past purchase record of the product via the recommendation web server 0302.

<Third Embodiment Processing Flow>

FIG. 4 shows a processing flow of the present invention. First, as a premise, there is a purchase acceptance step (S0401) for accepting purchase information, which is a method of using an e-commerce web server for selling a product by communicating with a browsing terminal, which is an intention to purchase a product transmitted from the browsing terminal, and a browsing terminal. Is a terminal that has a history of transmitting purchase information by browsing the e-commerce web based on the link information acquired from the recommendation web server in the past, and acquires history information including information indicating whether the terminal is a recommended web use terminal The method includes a step (S0402) and a reward calculation step (S0403) of calculating a reward to be paid by the recommended web using terminal for the recommended web used in the past when the purchase information is received from the recommended web using terminal.

[0046]

As described above, according to the present invention, unlike the conventional affiliate system, the recommender who once contributed to the purchase of the merchandise, that is, the recommended web server, can be used by the subsequent customer. Will be paid even if your purchase does not go through the recommendation web server.

By continuing to pay the rewards to the recommenders who have achieved a track record, the recommenders are beneficial to those who sell the products in an effort to lock in customers.

On the other hand, the recommender is not only paid once, and thereafter, the payer is continuously paid for the purchase of the merchandise of the customer, which is advantageous.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of functional blocks of an e-commerce web server of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of functional blocks of an affiliate system of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a processing flow of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

0200 e-commerce web server 0201 Purchase acceptance section 0202 History information acquisition unit 0203 Compensation Department

[Procedure amendment]

[Submission date] April 3, 2002 (2002.4.3)

[Procedure Amendment 1]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Name of item to be amended] Title of invention

[Correction method] Change

[Correction content]

[Title of Invention] Affiliate system

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A product is sold by communication with a browsing terminal.
A commerce web server, which is a commerce web server, receives a purchase information, which is an indication of product purchase intention sent from a browsing terminal, and an e-commerce web server based on link information acquired by a browsing terminal from a recommendation web server in the past. A history information acquisition unit that obtains background information including information indicating whether the terminal has a history of transmitting purchase information by browsing and is a terminal using recommended web, and using recommended web when receiving purchase information from the terminal using recommended web An e-commerce web server including: a reward calculation unit that calculates a reward to be paid for a recommended web that the terminal has used in the past. 2. An affiliate system comprising a browsing terminal, a recommendation web server, and an e-commerce web server, wherein the recommendation web server posts a link information linking to the e-commerce web on the recommendation web. The e-commerce web has an information display unit and a browsing information transmission unit that transmits browsing information including information indicating that the user has browsed itself to a recommended Web browsing terminal that is a browsing terminal that browses the recommended Web. The server is a purchase reception unit that receives purchase information, which is an indication of intention to purchase a product transmitted from the browsing terminal, a browsing information acquisition unit that acquires browsing information from the browsing terminal, and a browsing terminal that transmits the purchase information, Also, by browsing the e-commerce web based on the link information acquired from the recommendation web server for the terminal that is also the recommendation web browsing terminal Recommendation Web, which is a terminal that has a history of transmitting entry information, a history information transmission unit that transmits history information including information indicating that the terminal is a usage terminal, a history information acquisition unit that acquires history information from a browsing terminal, and a recommendation Web And a reward calculator that calculates a reward to be paid for a recommended web that the recommended web user terminal has used in the past when receiving purchase information from the user terminal, and the browsing terminal has a recommendation web and an e-commerce web. A browsing unit for browsing, a purchase information transmitting unit for transmitting purchasing information, a browsing information receiving unit for acquiring browsing information from the recommendation web, a browsing information holding unit for holding browsing information, and transmitting browsing information A browsing information transmitting unit, a history information receiving unit for acquiring history information from the e-commerce web, a history information holding unit for holding history information, and a history information for transmitting history information. Affiliate system comprising a signal unit. 3. The product is sold by communication with the browsing terminal.
A method of using a commerce web server, the purchase acceptance step of accepting purchase information, which is an indication of intention to purchase a product, transmitted from a browsing terminal, and an e-commerce based on link information that the browsing terminal has acquired from a recommendation web server in the past. A history information acquisition step of acquiring history information including information indicating whether the terminal has a history of transmitting purchase information by browsing the web, and a recommendation when the purchase information is received from the recommended web terminal. A method of using an e-commerce web server, comprising: a reward calculating step of calculating a reward paid by a web using terminal for a recommended web used in the past.