JP2003323519A - Ticket information service system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To integrate ticket information provided by a plurality of service providers, efficiently provide ticket information of the service providers and service dealers with low cost, and allow a user to accurately acquire desired information in a short period of time. <P>SOLUTION: The system includes a service providing host system 11 for preparing ticket information, an information management server 31 for managing the ticket information, and an information transmitting means. The system further includes a ticket information center 30 connected to the service providing host system 11 via a network 35, and an information receiver 40 of a user 40 connected to the ticket information center 30 via a network 36. <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 a ticket information service system.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in order to provide a user with a ticket for using a service such as a boarding pass for boarding a vehicle as a transportation means such as an airplane, a train, and a ship, and related information. As a system, a ticket information service that can provide various information about the ticket such as the operating status of the vehicle that the user has booked or applied for, the procedure and conditions when canceling the ticket, etc. Has been done.

In this case, for example, a user who has applied for or purchased a ticket for boarding an airplane goes to a window of a sales branch such as a travel agency as a service sales agent or calls the sales branch. Information such as flight delays, flight boarding details, deadline for boarding procedures, information on transportation from the airport to the destination, weather information around the destination, and tourist information. Various information can be obtained. In addition, if the user wants to cancel the ticket, information such as a cancellation fee, a cancelable period, and a specific procedure for canceling the ticket can be obtained.

[0004]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional ticket information service,
Various types of information regarding tickets are provided in a so-called pull type, and it is necessary for the user to take an action to obtain the information. For example, when obtaining information about a ticket for boarding an airplane, the user first had to go to a window of a business branch such as a travel agency or call the business branch. However,
If the user neglects to go to the window of a sales branch such as a travel agency or make a phone call to the sales branch, the user cannot obtain the necessary information and purchase the purchased ticket. You may not be able to use it.

For example, if the ticket is a boarding pass for an airplane, the boarding procedure may be closed earlier than the departure time. In this case, a user who does not know the deadline for boarding procedures may arrive at the procedure window after the deadline and may not be able to board the airplane. In addition, due to bad weather etc., the departure of the plane is canceled,
If the departure time is significantly delayed, a user who does not know the operating status of an air flight in advance will be kept waiting at the airport for a long time.

[0006] Further, the information regarding the ticket is separately provided by each service provider. Therefore, the means for obtaining the information and the contents of the information are varied, and it is difficult for the user to obtain the desired information accurately.

[0007] For example, each airline as a service provider publishes its own flight schedule (timetable) on a dedicated home page, but other airlines have flight schedules. Not posted. Therefore, when trying to select an flight that arrives at a desired destination or airport at a time that is convenient for you, the user needs to access the website of each airline to obtain each flight schedule. So
It takes time and is annoying.

[0008] Further, since the information regarding the ticket is provided to the service sales agent separately by each service provider, the service sales agent's business is confused.

[0009] For example, since information regarding the procedure for canceling a ticket and the amount of the cancellation fee is separately provided by each service provider,
When a request for ticket cancellation is received from a user, the service sales agent cannot respond promptly. Therefore, a trouble may occur with the user.

The present invention solves the above conventional problems,
It is possible to integrate the information about tickets provided by multiple service providers, streamline the work related to providing information about tickets for service providers and service sales agents, and reduce costs, and It is an object of the present invention to provide a ticket information service system capable of accurately obtaining desired information in a short time.

[0011]

To this end, the ticket information service system of the present invention comprises a service providing host system for creating information about a ticket, an information management server for managing the information, and an information transmitting means, The service providing host system comprises a ticket information center system connected to the service providing host system via a network, and a user information receiving device connected to the ticket information center system via the network. Specify the destination and send the information to the ticket information center system,
The ticket information center system edits the information and sends it to the information receiving device of the user registered in advance.

[0012] In another ticket information service system of the present invention, the service providing host system further periodically transmits the information to the ticket information center system, and the ticket information center system issues the ticket. Information to be transmitted is extracted based on the data and transmitted to the information receiving device at a predetermined time.

In still another ticket information service system of the present invention, the ticket information service system further comprises an information distribution server which creates ticket related information and transmits the ticket related information to the ticket information center system via a network.

[0014]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the configuration of a ticket information service system according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

In the figure, reference numeral 10 is a service providing company, and 11 is a service providing host system as a computer system used by the service providing company 10 for performing business. In the present embodiment, the service provider 10 is, for example, a facility such as a theater, movie theater, theme park, stadium, exhibition hall, amusement park, station, airfield,
Transportation vehicles such as airplanes, trains, buses, and ships,
A person who operates accommodation facilities such as hotels and inns, restaurants that provide drinks, meals, sports facilities such as golf courses and ski resorts, and individuals who provide various services It may be any company, public interest group, or the like.

Here, the service provider 10 is
There are several, and they are used to perform each work.
A service providing host system 11 constructed exclusively is provided. The service provider 10 may be a person who performs the same type of business or a person who performs a different type of business. For example, all the service providers 10 may be airlines, or some of the service providers 10 may be airlines and some may be railway companies. And
The service providing host system 11 includes a CPU and an MP.
A computing unit such as U, a semiconductor memory, a storage unit such as a magnetic disk, a server as a computer including an input / output interface, a host device such as a host, and a computing device such as a CPU and MPU connected to the host device via a network Means, a semiconductor memory, a storage means such as a magnetic disk, an input means such as a keyboard and a mouse, a display means such as a CRT and a liquid crystal display, a printer, a business terminal as a computer including an input / output interface and the like.

In the present embodiment, the service providing host system 11 accepts ticket reservations, applications, etc. for using the services provided by the service provider 10, and issues data for issuing the tickets. To create. It should be noted that the tickets are vacant seats such as seat-designated boarding tickets for vehicles such as airplanes, trains, buses, and ships, entrance tickets for facilities such as theaters and movie theaters, and tickets for accommodation facilities such as hotels and inns. In the case of a ticket for using a service with a limited number of vacant rooms, that is, a service with a limited number that can be provided, the service providing host system 11 provides at present the same as the number of vacant seats. The number of possible services, that is, the stock status of the services is checked, and data for issuing a ticket is created according to the stock status.

Further, the service providing host system 11 creates ticket information as ticket information. Here, the information on the ticket includes the price of the ticket, information on the ticket sales of the selling agent, the procedure for canceling the ticket, the cancelable period, the cancellation fee, etc. In addition to the information, it also includes the service provision status, information that seems useful for using the service, and the like. For example, when the ticket is an airplane boarding pass, the operating status such as delay of air flight, details of the airplane boarding procedure, deadline time of the airplane boarding procedure, information about transportation means from the airport to the destination, and the destination. It also includes various information such as surrounding weather information and tourist information. In addition, a part or all of various information related to the ticket may be created by a related information provider 60 described later.

Reference numeral 40 denotes a user who uses the service, which is generally an individual, but may be a corporation, a profit-making enterprise, a public interest organization, or any other type. The user 40 has an information receiving device 41 such as an Internet connection terminal such as a stationary telephone, a mobile telephone, a facsimile device, and a personal computer, and can acquire various information related to the ticket. It is desirable that the information receiving device 41 has a function of transmitting information. In the figure, the user 40
Only one person is shown in the figure, but there may be a plurality of people.

Reference numeral 45 denotes a designated receiver as a user who is registered in advance by the user 40, and can obtain the same information as that of the user 40. Here, the designated recipient 45 is usually a family member, a relative, a friend, or the like of the user 40. Then, for example, when the ticket is a boarding pass for an airplane, the family, relatives, friends, etc. of the user 40 are designated as the designated recipients 45 so that the family, relatives, friends, etc. Since it is possible to obtain the operating status such as the delay of the airmail used by, it is possible to meet at the airport at an appropriate time.
Further, the designated recipient 45 has an information receiving device 46 such as a stationary telephone, a mobile telephone, a facsimile machine, and an Internet connection terminal such as a personal computer, and can acquire various information related to the ticket.

Reference numeral 60 denotes a related information provider that creates and provides a part or all of the ticket related information as various information related to the ticket such as traffic information and weather information among the information related to the ticket. . Here, the related information provider 60 may be a service sales agent such as a travel agent or a ticket agency. Then, the related information provider 60 concludes a contract with each of the service providers 10 in advance, and a part of various information related to the ticket for using the service provided by the service provider 10 or All may be created and provided. Further, although only one related information provider 60 is shown in the figure, a plurality of related information providers 60 may be provided.

In the present embodiment, the related information provider 60 comprises an information distribution server 61. Here, the information distribution server 61 is a calculation unit such as a CPU or MPU,
It is a server as a computer including a storage means such as a semiconductor memory and a magnetic disk, an input / output interface, etc., and creates a part or all of the ticket-related information.

In the figure, reference numeral 20 denotes a ticket center for issuing a ticket, which has a ticket center system including a ticket issuing data management server 21. A ticket information center 30 has a ticket information center system including an information management server 31 and a web server 32. Here, the ticket issuing data management server 21, the information management server 31, and the web server 32 are each a CP.
It is a server as a computer including a computing means such as U and MPU, a storage means such as a semiconductor memory and a magnetic disk, an input / output interface, etc., and is communicably connected to each other. The ticket issuing data management server 21, the information management server 31, and the web server 32 are respectively
It may be configured independently or integrally. For example, the ticket issuing data management server 21,
Each of the information management server 31 and the web server 32 may be a part of a plurality of systems built on a large-scale general-purpose computer, or each may organically combine a plurality of servers. It may be a distributed server. Furthermore, the ticket center 20 and the ticket information center 30 may be integrally configured.

The person who operates the ticket center 20 and the ticket information center 30 may be any person, corporation, commercial enterprise, public interest group, etc., and the service provider 10 and the related information provider 60. Has signed a contract with each of them in advance. The person who operates the ticket center 20 and the ticket information center 30 may be the same person as the service provider 10 or the related information provider 60.

In the present embodiment, the ticket center system is communicably connected to the respective service providing host system 11 and the information distribution server 61 via the network 35, and the service providing host system 11 and the information distribution server are connected. Data for issuing the ticket created by 61 and information regarding the ticket are received. Here, the network 35
Is a wireless or wired dedicated communication line network or public communication line network, Internet, LAN (Local Area).
Network), WAN (Wide Area Ne)
Any of the above may be used. The network 35 is preferably a dedicated network, but a VPN (Vir) using a public communication network is used.
It is also possible to use a private private network). The service providing host system 11 and the information distribution server 61 are communicably connected to each other via the network 35.

Then, the ticket issuing data management server 21
Controls electronic documents based on the data for issuing a ticket received from the service providing host system 11 according to the type of ticket for using the service provided by each service provider 10. Then, the ticket face is edited as a ticket form, and the data for issuing the ticket is managed.

The data for issuing the ticket and the information regarding the ticket are transmitted by the protocol different for each service providing host system 11 and by the protocol different for each information distribution server 61. Therefore, the ticket center 20
Has ticket issuing information receiving means (not shown) capable of receiving the data for issuing the ticket and the information related to the ticket according to the protocol of each service providing host system 11 and the protocol of each information distribution server 61.

The ticket information center system of the ticket information center 30 receives the ticket-related information via the ticket issuing information receiving means of the ticket center 20. Here, the information management server 31 of the ticket information center 30 collects, integrates, edits, and manages the information regarding the ticket. Also, the web server 32
Controls to transmit the information about the ticket edited by the information management server 31 to the information receiving device 41 of the user 40 and the information receiving device 46 of the designated receiver 45. For example, when the information receiving device 41 and the information receiving device 46 are stationary telephones, mobile phones, etc., the message is transmitted in the form of voice call, and the information receiving device 41 and the information receiving device 46 are facsimile devices. Is transmitted according to the facsimile protocol, and the information receiving device 4
1 and the information receiving device 46 are internet connection terminals such as personal computers, control is performed so as to transmit in the form of electronic mail.

The information receiving device 41 of the user 40
The information receiving device 46 of the designated recipient 45 is communicatively connected to the ticket center system via the network 36 to receive the message from the web server 32. Here, the network 36, like the network 35, is a wireless or wired dedicated communication line network or public communication line network, Internet, LAN, WAN, VPN.
Etc., but may be a wired or wireless telephone network.

Next, the operation of the ticket information service system having the above configuration will be described.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the operation of the ticket information service system according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

First, the service providing host system 11 of each service providing company 10 sends ticket issuing data as ticket issuing data to the ticket center 20. The service provider 10 accepts ticket reservations, applications, etc. from the user 40 in advance and inputs them to the service providing host system 11.
In the present embodiment, the method of accepting ticket reservations, applications, etc. and inputting them to the service providing host system 11 is a normal method, and the description thereof is omitted. Also,
When the reservation, application, etc. of the ticket are input, the service providing host system 11 creates data for issuing the ticket, that is, ticket issuing data. Here, when the ticket is a ticket for using a service whose quantity that can be provided is limited, the service providing host system 11 checks the stock status of the service, and checks the stock status of the service according to the stock status. Although the ticket issuing data is created, the method of creating the ticket issuing data is an ordinary method, and the description thereof is omitted.

When the ticketing data is received from the service providing host system 11 at the ticket center 20, the ticketing data management server 21 uses the service provided by each service provider 10 based on the ticketing data. Depending on the type of ticket, the electronic document is controlled, the face of the ticket as a form is edited, and the data for issuing the ticket is managed.

In the present embodiment, the user 40 can use the broad message service that allows the latest information created and provided by the service provider 10 to be enjoyed in real time. It is assumed that the user 40 has previously obtained a ticket such as a boarding pass for an airplane by applying to the service provider 10. In this case, the user 40 operates the information receiving device 41 to access the ticket information center 30 as shown by an arrow in FIG. 2 and applies for the use of the broad message service to register. Further, contact information such as a telephone number and an electronic mail address of the information receiving device 41 is also registered. As a result, the information is transmitted from the ticket information center 30 to the information receiving device 41 of the user 40. At this time, the designated recipient 45 can be registered.

Here, the designated recipient 45 is usually a family member, a relative, a friend, or the like of the user 40, but may be any person, and it is desirable that the number of people is not limited. Then, the designated recipient 45 is also registered with the telephone number of the information receiving device 46 such as a stationary telephone, a mobile telephone, a facsimile device, an internet connection terminal such as a personal computer, and a contact address such as an e-mail address. As a result, the information transmitted from the ticket information center 30 to the information receiving device 41 of the user 40 is also transmitted to the information receiving device 46 of the designated recipient 45.

Next, the service providing host system 11 of the service providing company 10 creates ticket-related information as ticket information. Here, the information regarding the ticket includes the service provision status,
Includes information that may be useful for using the service. Here, a case will be described in which the ticket is a boarding pass for an airplane, and various pieces of information related to the ticket include an operation status such as delay of an air flight.

The information regarding the ticket is transmitted from the service providing host system 11 and received by the ticket information center 30 as indicated by the arrow in FIG. In this case, it is desirable that the delivery destination of the information regarding the ticket is designated and transmitted. For example, when the information regarding the ticket is an operating status such as delay of an airmail, it is not necessary to deliver the information regarding the ticket to a person other than the person who purchased the ticket for the corresponding airmail. Therefore, the person who purchased the ticket for the relevant airmail is the delivery destination. As a result, the information regarding the ticket can be provided to the user 4 who needs it.
0 is surely delivered, and unrelated users 40
Therefore, the unrelated user 40 is not bothered by extra information. It should be noted that whether or not the person has purchased the ticket for the relevant airmail can be determined by accessing the ticketing data management server 21.

Subsequently, the information regarding the ticket is edited by the information management server 31, and then, as indicated by an arrow in FIG. 2, the information receiving device 41 and the designated recipient of the user 40 are input from the web server 32. It is transmitted to the information receiving device 46 of 45. The user 40 can also access the ticket information center 30 at any time to browse various information related to the ticket that has been individually edited by the information management server 31.

As described above, in the present embodiment, the user 40 can use the broad message service capable of enjoying the latest information created and provided by the service provider 10 in real time. it can. In this case, the latest information is provided in a so-called push type, and is automatically provided to the user 40 from the ticket information center 30 at a necessary timing. For example, when the latest information is information on the operating status such as delay of airmail, the user 40 can grasp the operating status and go to the airfield or the like without any confusion and waste time. There is nothing to do. In addition, when the designated recipient 45 is a family member, a relative, a friend, etc. of the user 40, it is possible to obtain the operating status such as delay of the air flight used by the user 40, so that the user can meet at the airport at an appropriate time. can go.

Further, it is possible to effectively avoid congestion and confusion in a place where a service is provided such as an airfield, so that the service provider 10 can smoothly carry out work.

Further, since the service provider 10 and the service sales agent do not have to respond to the information request from the user 40, the work can be made efficient and the cost can be reduced.

Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. Note that description of the same structure and operation as those of the first embodiment will be omitted.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the operation of the ticket information service system according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

In the present embodiment, the user 40 can use the reminder service that allows the service provider 10 to enjoy the important information created and provided for each node. In this case, first, the user 4
0 operates the information receiving device 41 to access the ticket information center 30 as shown by the arrow in FIG. 3 to apply for the reminder service and register. Then, the information regarding the ticket is periodically transmitted from the service providing host system 11 and received by the ticket information center 30 as indicated by the arrow in FIG.

Then, the information management server 31 extracts the information to be transmitted based on the ticketing data stored in the ticketing data management server 21 and transmits it at a predetermined time. For example, the conditions regarding the ticket such as the date when the cancellation fee of the ticket purchased by the user 40 occurs, the date when the temporary reservation can be changed to the main reservation, the date when the ticket type can be changed, and the like can be changed. At such a time, that is, at a time corresponding to a turning point, reminder information for the user 40 is created. Here, the reminder information is information that reminds the user 40 of important matters. Subsequently, the reminder information is transmitted from the web server 32 to the information receiving device 41 of the user 40 at a predetermined time, as indicated by an arrow in FIG. Note that the user 40 can access the ticket information center 30 at any time to browse the information regarding the ticket individually edited by the information management server 31.

As described above, in the present embodiment, the user 40 can receive the reminder information for reminding an important item for each node. In this case, the reminder information is provided in a so-called push type,
It is automatically provided to the user 40 from the ticket information center 30 at a necessary timing. Therefore, the user 40 can surely obtain the important information, and he / she will not miss the time when the conditions regarding the ticket are changed. Further, since the service provider 10 and the service sales agent do not need to accept a request for changing the condition of a ticket which is delayed by a predetermined time from the user 40, the work efficiency and the cost can be reduced. .

Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described. It should be noted that description of the same structure and the same operation as those of the first and second embodiments will be omitted.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the operation of the ticket information service system according to the third embodiment of the present invention.

In the present embodiment, the user 40 and the designated receiver 45 can receive in real time the latest information created and provided by the service provider 10 or the related information provider 60. You can use the service. In this case, the user 40 operates the information receiving device 41, and as shown by the arrow in FIG.
Access and register to apply to use the information clip service. At this time, the designated recipient 45 can be registered. And, as shown by the arrow in FIG. 4, various additional information such as information about transportation from the airfield to the destination, weather information around the destination, and ticket-related information such as tourist information are provided as the service provision. It is transmitted from the service providing host system 11 of the business operator 10 or the information distribution server 61 of the related information provider 60,
It is received by the ticket information center 30.

Subsequently, the various additional information is shown in FIG.
As indicated by an arrow in (1), the information is transmitted from the web server 32 to the information receiving device 41 of the user 40 and the information receiving device 46 of the designated recipient 45. User 4
0 can access the ticket information center 30 at any time to browse the information regarding the ticket individually edited by the information management server 31.

As described above, in the present embodiment, the user 40 can receive various additional information as ticket-related information. In this case, the various additional information is provided in a so-called push type, and is automatically provided to the user 40 from the ticket information center 30.

Further, since the service provider 10 and the service sales agent do not need to respond to the information request from the user 40, the work can be made efficient and the cost can be reduced.

The present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiments, but can be variously modified within the scope of the present invention, and they are not excluded from the scope of the present invention.

[0055]

As described in detail above, according to the present invention, the service providing company and the service sales agent can be more efficient in providing the ticket information.
The cost can be reduced, and the user can accurately obtain desired information in a short time.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of a ticket information service system according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an operation of the ticket information service system according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an operation of a ticket information service system according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an operation of a ticket information service system according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

11 Service providing host system 30 Ticket Information Center 31 Information Management Server 35, 36 network 40 users 41,46 Information Receiving Device 45 Designated recipient 61 Information distribution server

   ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued front page    (72) Inventor Taichi Tsutsumi             1-7-12 Toranomon, Minato-ku, Tokyo Oki Electric             Industry Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Hideo Yata             1-7-12 Toranomon, Minato-ku, Tokyo Oki Electric             Industry Co., Ltd.

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A service-providing host system for creating information relating to a ticket, and (b) an information management server and information transmitting means for managing the information, which are connected to the service-providing host system via a network. Ticket information center system,
(C) a user information receiving device connected to the ticket information center system via a network; and (d) the service providing host system specifies a delivery destination to transfer the information to the ticket information center. A ticket information service system, characterized in that (e) the ticket information center system edits the information and sends it to an information receiving device of a user registered in advance. 2. The service providing host system periodically transmits the information to the ticket information center system, and the ticket information center system extracts information to be transmitted based on ticket issuing data. The ticket information service system according to claim 1, wherein the information is transmitted to the information receiving device at a predetermined time. 3. The ticket information service system according to claim 1, further comprising an information distribution server that creates ticket related information and transmits the ticket related information to the ticket information center system via a network.