JP2004295266A - Program and method for internet connection contract office work - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a program for Internet connection contract office work for automatically inducing a connection service member who wants to cancel an Internet connection contract to switch the contract contents to those of a contents providing contract. <P>SOLUTION: A customer management database 141 stores not only the personal identification information of a member but also a flag for discriminating whether the member is a connection service member or a contents provision service member. A CPU 11 of a server device 1 which has received a request for the cancellation of an Internet connection contract from the connection service member transmits, to the terminal, the data of a guidance picture for making the member select whether to become a contents providing service member, including service contents to be provided when the member becomes the contents providing service member. In response to an application for the contents providing service member from the terminal to which the data have been transmitted, the flag is changed to a status showing the contents providing service member. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a program and a method for automating the work of an Internet connection contract between an Internet service provider (ISP) that provides an Internet connection service and a content providing service to a terminal operated by a user and the user. About.
[0002]
[Prior art]
As is well known, an Internet service provider (ISP) provides an Internet connection service for connecting a company or home computer, which is a user, to the Internet through a telephone line, an ISDN line, a dedicated line for data communication, and the like as a main business. are doing. Then, the ISP generally provides a user (hereinafter, “connection service member”) who has made a contract (hereinafter, “connection service member”) for giving and receiving the Internet connection service as an additional service accompanying the contract. Also, a content providing service for accessing various pay contents is being implemented.
[0003]
Paid content provided to the connection service member through such a content providing service includes original content created by the ISP itself, content created by a content creator, and the like. Each ISP strives to acquire connection service members by providing more attractive content.
[0004]
In recent years, many businesses have been operating as ISPs, and with the intensification of price competition among the ISPs, each ISP has acquired a new connection service member (that is, a new user and an Internet connection). Signing a contract) is not always easy. Furthermore, the connection service member once obtained by each ISP often cancels the contract with the other ISP in order to make an Internet connection contract with the other ISP, and in such a case, the original connection service member loses the former connection service member. The likelihood of renewing the contract was extremely low.
[0005]
Therefore, various ISPs are not limited to the connection service members who have made Internet connection contracts, but also users who have made contracts for only the enjoyment of content provision services (hereinafter, referred to as “content provision contracts”) (hereinafter, “content provision contracts”). The content providing service member is also provided with these paid contents at a lower fee than the membership fee charged to the connection service member (that is, the fee for the service). In this case, the content service member can connect to the Internet using another ISP, access the ISP via the Internet (gateway connection), and use the provided content.
[0006]
In the system as described above, if a content providing service member wants to use paid content provided by an ISP, the content is provided at a lower fee even if an Internet connection contract is not made with the ISP. There is an advantage that it can be used. In addition, the ISP provides the content providing service member with services and benefits (that is, advertisement of the Internet connection service) that can be enjoyed when the content of the contract is changed to that of the Internet connection contract. There is an advantage that it can be notified via.
[0007]
That is, the ISP can advertise the Internet connection service to the user who has signed the content provision contract, and can change the content of the contract from the content provision contract to the Internet connection contract. it can. Therefore, each ISP strives to acquire a content providing member (that is, make a content providing contract with a new user) as a next best business strategy.
[0008]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in recent years, as the types of contents and service contents provided by each ISP increase, it has become difficult even for the ISP to acquire a content providing service member.
[0009]
In addition, since there is almost no opportunity to contact the user who has canceled the Internet connection contract with the ISP as described above, there is a possibility that these users will conclude a content provision contract with the ISP. It was very low.
[0010]
The present invention solves the above-described conventional problem, and automatically provides a connection service member who wishes to cancel an Internet connection contract to switch the contents of the contract from an Internet connection contract to a content provision contract. The task is to provide an Internet connection contract business program and an Internet connection contract business device that can be invited.
[0011]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
An Internet connection contract administration program according to the present invention devised to solve the above-mentioned problems is provided in such a manner that each user exchanges an Internet connection contract with the service provider, which includes providing a connection service from the service provider. Is connected to a storage device that stores contract information indicating whether or not the service provider has signed a content provision contract to receive the provision of the content provision service without receiving the provision of the connection service. A request for canceling the Internet connection contract from a terminal operated by a user indicated in the contract information indicating that an Internet connection contract has been made with the service provider for a computer accessible from the terminal. When the connection contract cancellation request is received, the user When data representing the content of the service that can be enjoyed by making a content provision contract is transmitted to the terminal, and a response indicating that the content provision contract is made is received from the terminal that has received the data, the content of the contract information is transmitted. If the user changes the content providing contract to a state indicating that the content providing contract has been exchanged with the service provider, and does not receive a response indicating that the content providing contract has been exchanged, the content of the contract information is changed by the user. It is characterized in that the two contracts are changed to a state indicating that they have not signed with the service provider.
[0012]
An Internet connection contract administration method of the present invention devised to solve the above problem is an Internet connection contract administration method using a server device accessible from a terminal via a network, wherein each user is connected from a service provider. Do you have an Internet connection contract with the service provider that describes the provision of the service, or enter into a content provision contract with the service provider to receive the content provision service without receiving the connection service? Is stored in the storage device, and it is canceled from the terminal operated by the user indicated in the contract information that the Internet connection contract is signed with the service provider. Receiving a request to cancel your Internet connection contract, When the user transmits data representing the contents of a service that can be enjoyed by making the content provision contract to the terminal, and receives a response from the terminal that has received the data that the content provision contract is made, The content of the information is changed to a state indicating that the user has signed the content providing contract with the service provider, and if a response to the effect of signing the content providing contract is not received, the content of the contract information is changed. And changing the state to a state indicating that the user has not signed the two contracts with the service provider.
[0013]
When the computer executes the processing according to such a program, a user who has an Internet connection contract enjoys receiving a new contract for providing a content when the user attempts to cancel the Internet connection contract. The data of the screen displaying the contents of the service that can be performed is transmitted to the terminal operated by the user.
[0014]
Therefore, according to the present invention, it is possible to automatically invite a connection service member who wishes to cancel an Internet connection contract to switch the contents of the contract from an Internet connection contract to a content provision contract.
[0015]
Note that changing the user to a state indicating that the two contracts are not signed with the service provider also includes deleting the contract information from the storage device.
[0016]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, an embodiment of an Internet connection contract business system according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
[0017]
FIG. 1 shows a schematic configuration of a network system in which an Internet connection contract business program and an Internet connection contract business method according to the present embodiment are implemented. This network system includes one server device 1 and a number of client terminals 2 (only one is shown in FIG. 1) connected to each other via the Internet N. The server device 1 is managed and operated by an Internet service provider (ISP), which is a service provider, and is a device that publishes web contents (HTML data and other digital contents) on the Internet. In FIG. 1, the server device 1 is illustrated as one computer for convenience of description, but each function assumed to be possessed by the server device 1 can be transferred to a separate computer operated by a service provider. The functions may be shared, or individual functions may be distributed and realized by a plurality of computers.
[0018]
The Internet N connecting the server device 1 and the client terminal 2 is a computer network supported by the HTTP protocol, the TCP / IP protocol, and the like. Hereinafter, the hardware configuration and the software configuration of the server device 1 and the client terminal 2 will be described respectively.
First, the server device 1 has a CPU 11, a communication adapter 12, a RAM 13, and a hard disk 14 interconnected by a bus (data bus and system bus) B. Among these, the CPU 11 is a central processing unit that controls the entire server device 1. The communication adapter 12 is a communication device that interfaces with a line (Internet backbone) on which the Internet N is constructed. The RAM 13 is a main storage device (memory as a temporary storage device) in which a work area is expanded when the CPU 11 executes various processes.
[0019]
The hard disk 14 is a storage medium that stores various programs and various data that are read and executed by the CPU 11. The programs stored in the hard disk 14 include a server program (not shown) for implementing the Internet connection contract business system of the present invention, and various databases (customer management database 141, content management database 142, usage right, The management database 143) is stored.
[0020]
FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a specific data structure of the customer management database 141. As shown in FIG. 2, a record is registered in the customer management database 141 for each user (connection service member or content providing service member) who has made an Internet connection contract or a content providing contract with the ISP. I have. Each record has a “user ID” uniquely indicating a user managed by the record, a “password” associated with the “user ID”, and “name” and “sex” as personal information of the user. , "Age", "resident prefecture name (address)", "connection service start date" indicating the date on which the user has made an Internet connection contract with the ISP, and When the content of the contract between the service provider and the user is changed from the contract as a connection service member to a contract as a content providing service member, the "connection service stop date" indicating the date and the user is a connection service member “Connection service member flag (that is, if on, indicates connection service member; if off, indicates content provision service member) ) "(Corresponding to the contract information) and a" connection service restart flag indicating whether the user as a connection member has been a content providing service member in the past. (Corresponding to the history of the contract).
[0021]
FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a specific data structure of the content management database 142. As shown in FIG. 3, the content management database 142 is suitable for each attribute (gender, age, and residence / prefecture name) information of each user registered in the ISP (that is, a user having the same attribute). This is configured by registering a record indicating one or a plurality of contents. In this way, by classifying the content by attribute (gender, age, and residence prefecture), information having different preferences for each user attribute (for example, information that differs depending on gender includes car information and cosmetics information). Information that differs depending on the age, information on entertainers and information on insurance, and information that differs depending on the name of the prefecture of residence includes sightseeing spot information for each prefecture) can be associated.
[0022]
FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a specific data structure of the usage right management database 143. As shown in FIG. 4, the usage right management database 143 stores a period during which the user has signed a contract as a connection service member (that is, the number of years of membership registration as a connection service member calculated from the “connection service start date”). ) Is registered by registering a record indicating a usage right (amount of content that can be used free of charge [yen]).
[0023]
The client terminal 2 shown in FIG. 1 is a general Internet-accessible personal computer, and includes a CPU 21, a communication adapter 22, a RAM 23, a hard disk 24, an input device 25, and a display 26 connected to each other by a bus B. It is configured.
[0024]
Among these, the CPU 21 is a processing device that sequentially reads out various programs stored in the hard disk 24 onto the RAM 23 and executes them to display the processing results on the display 26. The communication adapter 22 is a communication device serving as an interface with the Internet N. The input device 25 includes a keyboard and a mouse.
[0025]
The programs read by the CPU 21 onto the RAM 23 and executed include a browser program (not shown). The browser program is read and executed by the CPU 21 to transmit an HTTP request message storing information input or specified via the input device 25 to the server device 1 via the Internet N, and to execute the HTTP request message. A screen is displayed on the display 26 based on the Web content (HTML data or the like) stored in the message.
(Processing content)
Next, a process executed by the CPU 11 of the server device 1 based on each database described above will be described based on the flowcharts of FIGS. 5 and 6 and screen examples of FIGS. 7 to 12. In addition, in the screen examples of FIGS. 7 to 12, for convenience (to make it easier for a user who sees the display on which the screen is displayed), the terms “unsubscribe” and “rejoin” are used. Indicates cancellation (including changing the content of the contract to that of the content providing contract) and re-contracting of the Internet connection contract (including changing the content of the contract from that of the content providing contract).
[0026]
First, a process when the connection service member desires to cancel the Internet connection contract will be described.
[0027]
When the client terminal 2 on which the Web browser is activated transmits a request message designating the URL of the withdrawal confirmation screen (online withdrawal page), the CPU 11 activates the server program to execute the processing shown in the flowchart of FIG. Start. In the first step S001 after the start of this process, the CPU 11 responds to the client terminal 2 with Web page data (HTML data) for displaying a cancellation confirmation page as shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 7, this Web page data includes a description for displaying a “unsubscribe” button 71 and a “clear” button 72, and a description of the button clicked when any of the buttons is clicked. An action for transmitting the type as a parameter to the server device 1 is incorporated.
[0028]
In the next step S002, the CPU 11 waits for a response from the client terminal 2 that has transmitted the Web page data, and upon receiving a response from the client terminal 2, checks the type of the clicked button. If the “clear” button 72 has been clicked, the CPU 11 ends the processing. On the other hand, if the “withdraw” button 71 has been clicked (corresponding to an Internet connection contract cancellation request), the CPU 11 advances the processing to S003.
[0029]
In S003, the CPU 11 transmits Web page data for displaying the ID input screen to the client terminal 2. In this Web page data, an “ID” field, a “password” field, and a “send” button are displayed, and when the “send” button is clicked, the “ID” field and the “password” field are entered. A tag for transmitting the two character strings to the server device 1 as a member ID and a password is incorporated. Then, upon receiving the ID and the password from the client terminal 2 that transmitted the Web page data for displaying the ID input screen in S003, the CPU 11 advances the processing to S004.
[0030]
In the next step S004, the CPU 11 reads out customer information (record) corresponding to the transmitted combination of the ID and the password from the information registered in the customer management database 141, and temporarily stores it in the RAM 13.
[0031]
Then, in the next S005, the CPU 11 checks the connection service restart flag in the customer information. If the connection service restart flag is ON, the CPU 11 deletes the customer information stored in the RAM 13 and proceeds to S008 described below. If the connection service restart flag is off, the CPU 11 advances the processing to S006.
[0032]
Then, in S006, the CPU 11 determines the date (date) registered in the connection service start date and time in the customer management database 141 and the current date (date) as a connection service member of the user. The member registration period is calculated, the usage right corresponding to the user's registration period (X) in the usage right management database 143 is checked, and Web page data for displaying a guidance screen as shown in FIG. Transmit to terminal 2. As shown in FIG. 8, in the Web page data of this guide screen, a user who has signed a contract as a connection service member updates the contents of the contract to a contract as a content providing service member without changing the ID. Display that the user can do so, the contents of the service that the user can enjoy by renewing the contract (that is, the display of the usage right amount), and a “switch” button 81 and a “do not switch” button 82 are displayed. In addition to the description for causing the server device 1 to transmit the type of the clicked button as a parameter to the server device 1 when any one of the buttons is clicked, is incorporated. Note that the content of the service displayed here is not limited to the usage right for using the content free of charge, but can be arbitrarily set by the ISP.
[0033]
In the next step S007, the CPU 11 waits for a response from the client terminal 2 that has transmitted the Web page data, and upon receiving a response from the client terminal 2, checks the type of the clicked button. When the “do not switch” button 82 is clicked on the client terminal 2, the server device 1 advances the processing to S 008, and transmits Web page data for displaying the unsubscription completion screen as shown in FIG. Then, after deleting the member record in the customer management database, the process is completed. On the other hand, if the “switch” button 81 has been clicked on the client terminal 2, the server device 1 advances the processing to S009.
[0034]
In S009, the CPU 11 searches the content in the content management database 142 for content corresponding to the attribute information in the customer information temporarily stored in the RAM 13 in S005, and displays a list screen as shown in FIG. The Web page data to be displayed as is generated and transmitted to the client device 2. As shown in FIG. 10, the list screen includes a list of content names corresponding to the attribute information of the connection service member and a description for displaying a “next” button 101, and “list”. When the "button 101" is clicked, an action for transmitting the fact that the "advance" button 101 is clicked to the server device 1 is incorporated. Then, when the response from the client device 2 is received by clicking the “advance” button 101, the CPU 11 advances the processing to S010.
[0035]
In the next S010, the CPU 11 transmits the Web page data for displaying the re-enrollment explanation screen as shown in FIG. 11 to the client device 2, and the “connection service suspension year” in the customer record in the customer management database. The current date (that is, the date on which the Web page data for displaying the re-entry explanation screen is transmitted) is registered in the "Date" field. Then, the "connection service member flag" is turned off, and the process is terminated. As shown in FIG. 11, on the re-enrollment explanation screen, the contents of services that can be enjoyed by the user by changing the contract from the contract as the content providing service member to the contract as the connection service member again are described. I have. This privilege can be set arbitrarily by the ISP.
Further, information on new services and the like that can be enjoyed by the connection service member can be provided to the user (content provision service member) who has changed the contract from the Internet connection contract to the content provision contract by means of e-mail or the like. Can be notified.
[0036]
Next, the user who has become a content providing service member according to the above procedure (that is, a content providing service member who has once made a contract as a connection service member) contacts the ISP in order to re-register as a connection service member. The process of the CPU 11 when changing the contract content between the two will be described.
[0037]
When the client terminal 2 on which the Web browser is activated transmits a request message designating the URL of the online re-enrollment screen, the CPU 11 activates the server program and starts the processing shown in the flowchart of FIG. In the first step S101 after the start of this process, the CPU 11 transmits to the client terminal 2 Web page data for displaying the ID input screen (Web page data of the online re-entry screen). This Web page data indicates that the content of the contract can be changed from a contract as a content providing service member to a contract as a connection service member without changing the ID, and a message asking whether or not to re-enter the Internet connection contract. , An “ID” column 121, a “password” column 122, a description for displaying a “Yes” button 123, and a “No” button 124, and a “Yes” button 123 when the “Yes” button 123 is clicked. A tag for transmitting the two character strings entered in the “ID” field 121 and the “password” field 122 to the server device 1 as an ID and a password, and a “No” button 124 when the “No” button 124 is clicked. And an action to transmit the click to the server device 1.
[0038]
Then, when receiving a response from the client terminal 2 that has transmitted the Web page data, the CPU 11 advances the processing to S102.
[0039]
In the next S102, the CPU 11 waits for a response from the client terminal 2 that transmitted the Web page data in S101, and upon receiving a response from the client terminal 2, checks the type of the clicked button. If the “No” button 124 has been clicked, the CPU 11 ends the processing. On the other hand, if the “Yes” button 123 has been clicked, the CPU 11 advances the processing to S103.
[0040]
In S103, the CPU 11 reads the customer information corresponding to the ID and the password transmitted from the client terminal 2 from the customer management database 141, and temporarily stores the customer information on the RAM 13.
[0041]
In the next S104, the CPU 11 sets the “connection service member flag” and the “connection service restart flag” in the customer information to ON, and advances the processing to S105. Then, in S105, the CPU 11 transmits Web page data for displaying a re-enrollment completion screen for notifying that the reconnection procedure of the Internet connection contract has been completed to the client terminal 2, and completes the processing.
[0042]
By performing the above processing, when a user who has registered as a connection service member intends to cancel the contract, predetermined guidance is displayed on the display 26 of the client terminal 2 operated by the user. (That is, a guide that the content of a fixed amount can be used free of charge if the contract content is changed to a contract as a content providing service member) is displayed. Therefore, the possibility that the connection service member changes the contract contents from the Internet connection contract to the contents provision contract increases. Therefore, even if the user who has canceled the Internet connection contract has a content provision contract with the user, an opportunity to contact the user can be obtained. Further, when the contract content is changed from the Internet connection contract to the content provision contract, the personal information such as the ID is not changed, so that the user does not feel troublesome.
[0043]
Further, as described above, since the content providing service member can advertise the Internet connection service via the content provided by the content providing service member and e-mail, the content of the contract is provided to the content providing member. You can change from a contract to an Internet connection contract.
[0044]
In addition, the customer information registered in the customer management database 141 includes a connection service restart flag, and has customer information for which the service restart flag is on (that is, once the content provision contract is changed to the Internet connection contract). When the user changes the contract contents from the Internet connection contract to the contents provision contract again (the user has changed the contract contents), the CPU 11 executes the predetermined processing (content provision without changing the ID). The contract is changed to a service member contract, and the process of granting the right to use a certain amount of content free of charge is not performed. Therefore, by repeating a series of loops in which the user changes the contents of the contract from that of the content provision contract to that of the Internet connection contract, and further changes from the Internet connection contract to that of the content provision contract Unauthorized use of content can be prevented.
[0045]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the Internet connection contract administration program and the Internet connection contract administration method of the present invention, the contents of the contract are changed from those of the Internet connection contract to the connection service members who wish to cancel the Internet connection contract. You can be automatically invited to switch to a content provision contract.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a network system according to an embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram illustrating a data structure of a customer management database.
FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram illustrating a data structure of a content management database.
FIG. 4 is a configuration diagram illustrating a data structure of a usage right management database.
FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing processing when a connection service member withdraws;
FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing processing when a connection service member re-joins.
FIG. 7 shows a cancellation confirmation screen.
FIG. 8 shows a guidance screen.
FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a withdrawal completion screen
FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a content list screen.
FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a re-enrollment explanation screen.
FIG. 12 is a diagram showing a re-enrollment screen.
[Explanation of symbols]
1 server device
11 CPU
13 RAM
14 Hard Disk
141 Customer Management Database
142 Content Management Database
143 Usage right management database
2 Client terminal
21 CPU
N Internet

Claims (3)

Whether each user has an Internet connection contract with the service provider that states that the service provider will provide the connection service, or a content provision contract for receiving the provision of the content provision service without receiving the connection service Is connected to a storage device that stores contract information indicating whether the service provider is exchanged with the service provider, and to a computer accessible from a terminal via a network,
Upon receiving an Internet connection contract cancellation request, which is a request to cancel the Internet connection contract, from a terminal operated by a user indicated in the contract information that an Internet connection contract has been signed with the service provider, Causes the terminal to transmit data representing the contents of a service that can be enjoyed by making the content provision contract,
When a response indicating that the content provision contract is to be received is received from the terminal that has received the data, the content of the contract information is changed to a state indicating that the user has exchanged the content provision contract with the service provider. And changing the content of the contract information to a state indicating that the user has not signed the two contracts with the service provider if the response to the effect of signing the content provision contract is not received. Internet connection contract administration program. For the computer connected to the storage device that stores the contract information that also indicates the history of the contract between each user and the service provider,
Canceling the Internet connection contract from a terminal operated by a user whose history indicating that the Internet connection service was exchanged with the service provider after having previously exchanged a content provision contract with the service provider is indicated in the contract information. 2. The Internet connection contract administration program according to claim 1, wherein when the request is received, the data is not transmitted to the terminal. An Internet connection contract administration method using a server device accessible from a terminal via a network,
Whether each user has an Internet connection contract with the service provider that states that the service provider will provide the connection service, or a content provision contract for receiving the provision of the content provision service without receiving the connection service Is stored in a storage device to indicate whether or not it is exchanged with the service provider,
Upon receiving an Internet connection contract cancellation request, which is a request to cancel the Internet connection contract, from a terminal operated by a user indicated in the contract information that an Internet connection contract has been signed with the service provider, Transmits to the terminal data representing the contents of services that can be enjoyed by making the content provision contract,
When a response indicating that the content provision contract is to be received is received from the terminal that has received the data, the content of the contract information is changed to a state indicating that the user has exchanged the content provision contract with the service provider. And changing the content of the contract information to a state indicating that the user has not signed the two contracts with the service provider if the response to the effect of signing the content provision contract is not received. Internet connection contract business method.

Images