JP2005157702A - Client/server system with time error calculating function - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To solve the problem that a user unintentionally receives his or her service limit since there is any error unintended by the user between the system clock of a client terminal to be used by a user and the system clock of a server to be used by a service provider at the time of performing service limit in a system for providing an on-line service using a network for executing service limit based on a time. <P>SOLUTION: This system decides whether to execute service limit to a user based on a value obtained by calculating the level and direction of a time error between the system clock of a client terminal and the system clock of a server and the allowable value of the level and direction of a time error preliminarily set at the server side. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an online service system using a network having a service restriction based on a time when a user accesses a server.

  In the conventional online service method mainly using a communication line such as the Internet, when the service provided based on the time when the user accesses the server is limited, the system clock of the server or the external time server is mainly used. The access time of the user is determined based on the standard time to be provided, and is used to determine whether or not to limit the service.

  Further, in a conventional client server system, as a countermeasure when there is an error between the system clock of the client terminal and the system clock of the server, for example, as described in JP-A-2003-131958, As described in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2002-140238, there is a method of overcoming the time difference by converting a specific one of the system clock of the client terminal and the system clock of the server into the other local time.

JP 2003-131958 A JP 2002-140238 A

  In the conventional online service method, the system clock of the server, the standard time provided by an external time server (hereinafter referred to as server time), and the system clock of the client terminal used by the user (hereinafter referred to as client time). There is no relief for the user if there is an error between The above-mentioned time synchronization method has the problem that the client time cannot be changed without the user's consent when an unspecified number of client terminals are connected to the server at the user's discretion as in the online service. Inappropriate due to differences in models and settings. Further, since the method for overcoming the above time difference is only the time difference, it does not become a means for overcoming the error between the client time and the server time when the client terminal is located in the same area as the server, for example. For this reason, for example, the client time is later than the server time, so that inconvenience that the user cannot receive the service in time for the service provision deadline occurs.

  When the user accesses outside the service provision time based on the server time, it is determined whether the user is accessing within the service provision time based on the client time. If so, the client time is delayed from the server time. A difference value (hereinafter referred to as a time error) indicating whether or not the time is advanced is calculated, and it is determined whether or not the calculated time error satisfies an allowable value for the degree and direction of the time error. provide.

  According to the present invention, for example, an online shopping service for a product with a limited purchase period in the embodiment requires a service restriction according to time, but a service that does not necessarily require a strict time restriction, the convenience of the product purchaser is improved. Can improve and increase the profits of service providers.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In addition, the same code | symbol in the figure of each Example shows the same thing or an equivalent, and the overlapping description is abbreviate | omitted. First, the system configuration of the present invention and each function provided in the system will be described with reference to FIG. 1, FIG. 4, and FIG.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an embodiment in which the client server system with a time error calculation function of the present invention is used as an online shopping system. As shown in FIG. 1, the client server system with a time error calculation function in this embodiment includes a client device 100 and a server device 200 connected via the Internet or the like, and a card 110 connected to the client device 100.

  The client device 100 is a PC terminal used when a product purchaser purchases a product. The client device 100 displays an input unit 101 such as a keyboard or a mouse used as a data input unit at the time of product purchase, and a processing result, for example. Output means 102, which is a PC screen, a control device 103 that controls the entire client device 100, client time data 104 that retains time information, a communication means 105 for communicating with the outside, and reading and writing information to and from the card Card reading / writing means 106 is provided. The client time data 104 is stored, for example, in the format of “2003/08/02 12:00: 00” (meaning August 2, 2003, 12:00:00).

  The card 110 is a membership card for an online shopping service such as an IC card or a magnetic stripe card. The control device 103 reads data included in the card 110 using the card read / write means 106 when information about the product purchaser is necessary, such as when purchasing the product.

  Data included in the card 110 will be described with reference to FIG. As shown in FIG. 4, the card 110 includes purchaser information 111, and the purchaser information 111 has data such as a purchaser ID and a purchaser name for uniquely identifying the purchaser of the product. In the example of FIG. 4, the purchaser ID of the owner of the card 110 is 10300281, and the purchaser name is Kametaro Umiyama.

  The server device 200 is a server that provides an online shopping service to a terminal such as the client device 100 via the Internet 300. The time error tolerance 201 used when the product purchaser determines whether or not the product can be purchased, Product information 202 representing information such as the product name and price of the product, a control device 203 that controls the entire server device 200, server time data 204 that holds time information, and communication means 205 for communicating with the outside , An access history 206 that is an access history of each product purchaser is provided.

  The server time data 204 is stored in the format of, for example, “2003/08/02 12: 00: 00: 00” (meaning 12:00:00 on August 2, 2003) in the same manner as the client time data 104. .

  A detailed description of the time error allowable value 201, the product information 202, and the access history 206 provided in the server device will be given with reference to FIG. The server device 200 stores each data in a format such as a setting file format or a database table.

  The time error tolerance 201 is a reference value used when determining whether or not the user has intentionally operated the client time based on the degree and direction of the time error, and the product purchaser can purchase based on the server time data 204 The item of [advance] that becomes the reference value when accessed earlier than the start of the period, and the item of [delay] that becomes the reference value when the product purchaser accesses after the end of the purchase available period based on the server time data 204 With items. In the example in the figure, the setting value of the [advance] item of the time error allowable value 201 is 00 minutes 00 seconds, and the setting value of the [delay] item is 05 minutes 00 seconds. In this case, when the merchandise purchaser accesses earlier than the start of the purchase available period, if the time error is up to +00: 00 (the client time data 104 must be more than 0 minutes 0 seconds ahead of the server time data 204) B) It is determined that the time error tolerance is satisfied. When each set value of the time error allowable value 201 is 00 minutes 00 seconds, since the client time data 104 and the server time data 204 have the same value, the product purchaser accessed earlier than the start of the purchase available period in this setting. This means that it is determined that the time error allowable value is not satisfied. Further, when the product purchaser accesses after the end of the purchase available period, if the time error is up to −05: 00 (the client time data 104 is not more than 5 minutes 0 seconds later than the server time data 204). ) It is determined that the time error tolerance is satisfied.

  The product information 202 is unique information for each product that is referred to by the control device 203 when purchasing the product. As shown in FIG. 5, the product name is a main key, the price indicating the product price per product, and the Consists of the product purchase period.

  In the example of the product name banana in the figure, the price per banana is 150 yen, and the available purchase period is from 2003/08/02 12:00:00 to 2003/08/12 12:00:00.

  The access history 206 is past access information of each product purchaser, and is used when determining whether the product purchaser has intentionally delayed the client time. As shown in FIG. 5, the access history 206 is composed of the purchaser ID as a main key and the purchaser's past access date and time error at that time. The access date / time is the server time data 204 at the time of access by the product purchaser, and the time error is a difference value indicating how much the client time data 104 is delayed or advanced from the server time data 204. .

  In the example of the product purchaser with purchaser ID 10300221 in the figure, the product purchaser is based on the server time data 204, 2002/04/12 11:03:34, 2002/12/10 05:08:22, 2003/06/10 01:08:37 and 2003/08/12 12:31:10 are accessed to the server device 200 for purchase of goods, and each time error is −18 seconds, −50 The client time data 104 at that time is 2002/04/12 11:03:16, 2002/12/10 05:07:32, 2003/06/10 01, respectively. : 09:17, and 2003/08/12 12:29:10.

  In the present embodiment, the client device 100 is assumed to be a PC terminal. However, for example, the functions specified in the present embodiment can be specified in a mobile phone, a PDA terminal, a POS terminal, a kiosk terminal, a cable TV set top box, and the like. Anything provided is acceptable.

  In this embodiment, a keyboard and a mouse are used as the input unit 101. However, any device may be used as long as it can be used as a data input unit such as a touch panel, a remote controller, and a voice input device when purchasing a product.

  In this embodiment, the output means 102 uses a PC screen. However, if the output means 102 has a function of displaying a result of processing performed by the control device 103 in the client device 100 such as a television screen or a mobile phone screen, for example. anything is fine.

  In this embodiment, the card read / write means 106 is a part of the main body of the client apparatus 100. However, the card read / write means 106 may be a device externally attached to the client apparatus 100 such as a card reader / writer and capable of reading / writing information from / to the card.

  Note that the card 110 may have a credit card function in order to facilitate settlement after the purchase of goods.

  In this embodiment, the server device 200 includes the access history 206, but the card 110 may include the access history 206.

  In the present embodiment, the server time data 204 is provided in the server device 200, but may be provided in an external time server that provides a standard time.

  In this embodiment, the time error allowable value 201 has a unique setting value for all products and product buyers. However, by providing different setting values for each product and each purchaser ID, for example, the number of products It is possible to provide more detailed services such as setting narrower time error tolerances for regular products than for regular products, and setting wider time error tolerances for good customers than for regular customers. .

  In the present embodiment, the product information 202 has different purchaseable period data for each product. However, by having unique purchaseable period data for all products, for example, it corresponds to a store closing sale or the like. be able to.

  Next, an example of screen transition when a product purchaser purchases a product with a limited purchase available period will be described with reference to FIG. Note that screens G01 to G04 in the figure are presented to the product purchaser using the output means 102.

  A screen G01 is a banana purchase screen as an example of a product purchase screen in the present embodiment, and displays a purchase possible period, a product name, a purchase quantity, and a price. The control device 203 accesses the product information 202 and uses the product name “banana” as a key, and the purchase period is 2003/08/02 12:00:00 to 2003/08/08/12 12:00, The price of 150 yen per banana bunch is referred to and displayed on the screen. The product purchaser selects the desired number of purchased bananas on the screen G01 and presses the purchase button. At this time, the control device 203 determines whether the time when the purchase button of the merchandise purchaser satisfies the banana purchase period, not only the server time data 204 but also the client time data 104 and the server time data 204. And the time error degree and direction between the client time data 104 and the client time data 104.

  When the server time data 204 when the purchase button is pressed satisfies the purchase available period, the control device 203 determines that the product purchaser can purchase bananas, and transitions to a purchase confirmation screen on the screen G02. Further, the server time data 204 when the purchase button is pressed does not satisfy the banana purchaseable period, but the client time data 104 satisfies the banana purchaseable period, and the degree of error between the server time data 204 and the client time data 104 Even when the direction satisfies the time error allowable value 201, the control device 203 determines that the product purchaser can purchase the banana and shifts to the purchase confirmation screen on the screen G02. When the control device 203 determines that the product purchaser can purchase bananas, the product purchaser performs final confirmation of banana purchase on the purchase confirmation screen of the screen G02. When the “Yes” button is pressed, the purchase is confirmed and the screen transitions to the screen G03. When the “No” button is pressed, the purchase is canceled and the screen returns to the screen G01. After the purchase is confirmed, the “return” button is pressed on the screen G03 to return to the screen G01.

  When both the server time data 204 and the client time data 104 when the purchase button is pressed do not satisfy the banana purchase period, the control device 203 determines that the product purchaser cannot purchase the banana, The screen transitions to the non-purchasable period access notification screen on the screen G04. Further, the server time data 204 when the purchase button is pressed does not satisfy the banana purchase period, but the client time data 104 satisfies the banana purchase period, and the degree and direction of the error between the server time data 204 and the client time data 104 Even if the time error allowable value 201 is not satisfied, the control device 203 determines that the product purchaser cannot purchase the banana, and transitions to the non-purchasable period access notification screen on the screen G04. After transitioning to the screen G04, the product purchaser presses a “return” button to return to the screen G01. Further, the product purchaser presses an “end” button on the screen G01 to end the product purchase.

  Next, an operation flow at the time of product purchase including a detailed description of the determination performed by the control device 203 will be described with reference to FIG. The operation flow start is triggered by the product purchaser accessing the screen G01 in order to purchase a banana.

  First, in step 1001, the product purchaser selects the desired number of purchased bananas on the screen G01 and makes a product purchase request by pressing the purchase button. In the present embodiment, the description proceeds with an example in which the number of purchased bananas selected by the product purchaser is two as shown in the screen G01.

  In step 1002, the control device 103 of the client device 100 determines the client time data 104 at the timing when the product purchaser presses the purchase button in step 1001, the number of bananas selected by the product purchaser in step 1001, and the card information. The purchaser ID data in the purchaser information 111 acquired via the reading means 106 is transmitted to the server device 200 via the communication means 105 and the Internet 300. In the present embodiment, description will be given by taking as an example a case where the client time data 104 and purchaser ID data acquired by the control device 103 are 2003/08/12 12:29:10 and 10300281, respectively.

  In step 1003, the control device 203 of the server device 200 receives the client time data 104, the purchased number of bananas, and the purchaser ID data transmitted by the client terminal 100 in step 1002 via the communication unit 205 and the Internet 300. The server time data 204 at the timing thus obtained is acquired. In the present embodiment, description will be given by taking as an example a case where the acquired server time data 204 is 2003/08/12 12:30:10.

  In step 1004, the control device 203 calculates a time error between the server time data 204 and the client time data 104 acquired in step 1003. As a method for calculating the time error, the client time data 104 is subtracted from the server time data 204, and the difference value is obtained. In this embodiment, since the client time data 104 is 2003/08/12 12:29:10 and the server time data 204 is 2003/08/12 12:30:10, the time error is −01 minutes 00. Second.

  For example, when the client time data 104 is 2003/08/12 12:32:10 and the server time data 204 is 2003/08/12 12:30:10, the time error is +02 minutes 00 seconds. .

  In step 1005, the control device 203 refers to the product information 202 and acquires banana purchaseable period data. In the present embodiment, as shown in the screen G1, the case where the banana purchase period is 2003/08/02 12:00:00 to 2003/08/12 12:30: 00 will be described as an example. Proceed.

  In steps 1006, 1007, and 1009, the control device 203 uses the client time data 104, server time data 204, time error, and banana purchase period acquired in steps 1003 to 1005 to make the purchaser's access to purchase bananas. Judge whether the possible period is satisfied.

  In step 1006, the control device 203 determines whether the server time data 204 satisfies the purchaseable period data. If the server time data 204 satisfies the purchaseable period data, it is determined that the product purchaser can purchase bananas, and the process proceeds to step 1010. Otherwise, the process proceeds to step 1007. In this embodiment, the server time data 204 acquired in step 1003 is 2003/08/12 12:30:10, and the banana purchaseable period data acquired in step 1004 is 2003/08/02 12:00 Since it is -2003/08/12 12:30, it is determined that the server time data 204 does not satisfy the purchaseable period data because 10 seconds have passed, and the process proceeds to Step 1007.

  In step 1007, the control device 203 determines whether the client time data 104 satisfies the purchaseable period data. If the client time data 104 satisfies the purchaseable period data, the process proceeds to step 1008; otherwise, the control device 203 determines that the product purchaser cannot purchase the banana, and proceeds to step 1011. In this embodiment, the client time data 104 acquired in Step 1002 is 2003/08/12 12:29:10, and the banana purchaseable period data acquired in Step 1004 is “2003/08/02 12:00:00”. Since it is ˜2003 / 08/12 12:30 ”, the control device 203 determines that the purchaseable period data of the banana is satisfied, and proceeds to step 1008.

  In step 1008, the control device 203 acquires the time error allowable value 201. In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 5, the description will proceed by taking as an example a case where the set values of [advance] and [delay] of the time error allowable value 201 are 00 minutes 00 seconds and 0 minutes 00 seconds, respectively. .

  In step 1009, the control device 203 determines whether the degree of time error between the server time data 204 and the client time data 104 satisfies the time error allowable value 201. If the time error satisfies the time error allowable value 201, the control device 203 determines that the product purchaser can purchase the banana, and proceeds to step 1010. If not, the control device 203 The product purchaser determines that the banana cannot be purchased and proceeds to step 1011. In this embodiment, the time error calculated in Step 1004 is “−01 minutes 00 seconds”, the server time data 204 acquired in Step 1003 is 2003/08/12 12:30:10, and is acquired in Step 1004. The banana purchaseable period data is acquired at step 1008 because the purchaser period access time is 2003/08/12 12:30 pm, and the product purchaser is accessing after the banana purchaseable period end. In order to perform the determination using the set value of [05:00] of [delay] among the set values of the allowable time error value 201, the control device 203 determines that the time error satisfies the allowable time error value 201, and step 1010 Proceed to

  In step 1010, the control device 203 determines in steps 1006, 1007, and 1009 that the product purchaser can purchase bananas. Therefore, the purchase screens G02 and G03 explain the screen transition in FIG. Confirm purchase as described above.

  In step 1011, the control device 203 determines that the purchaser cannot purchase bananas in steps 1007 and 1009, so purchase as described above in the explanation of the screen transition of FIG. 2 on the purchase screen G 04. Notification of access outside the possible period.

  In step 1012, the control means 203 accesses the access history 206 and writes the purchaser ID and server time data 204 acquired in step 1003 and the time error calculated in step 1004. In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 5, 1030081, 2003/08/12 12:30:10, and -1 minute are written. After writing the data in the access history 206, the control means 203 ends the product purchase process.

  In this embodiment, the time error uses the value calculated by the controller 203 subtracting the client time data 104 from the server time data 204 in step 1004, but the server time data 204 is subtracted from the client time data 104. Or when the product purchaser accesses after the end time of the product purchase deadline, the client time data 104 and the server time data 204 are subtracted from the end time of the product purchase deadline. May be used, or when the product purchaser accesses earlier than the product purchase deadline, the client time data 104 and the server time data 204 are subtracted from the start time of the product purchase deadline. A value calculated by adding the values may be used.

  In this embodiment, it is determined in step 1009 whether the degree of time error between the server time data 204 and the client time data 104 satisfies the time error allowable value 201. Instead of this determination, In addition to the determination, it is determined whether or not the product purchaser has intentionally delayed the client time by using the access date / time data of the past access and the transition of the degree and direction of the time error that the access history 206 has. You can go. As a determination method, the control device 203 calculates an absolute value of a difference value between the time error at the previous access included in the access history 206 and the time error at the current access acquired in Step 1004, and the access history 206 A difference value between the access date / time at the previous access and the access date / time at the current access acquired at step 1003 is calculated, and the absolute value of the difference value between the time errors is compared with the difference value at the access date / time. When the absolute value of the difference value between the time errors is smaller than the difference value of the access date and time, the control device 203 determines that the product purchaser can purchase a banana, and proceeds to step 1010. The merchandise purchaser determines that the banana cannot be purchased and proceeds to step 1011. For example, the purchaser of the purchaser ID 10200263 in FIG. 5 has a time error of −10 seconds at the time of access on 2002/11/17 15:08:19, but 2002/11/17 15 which is 5 minutes after the access. : Accessed again at 13:19 with a time error of -45 minutes. Since the absolute value of the difference value between the time errors at this time is 44 minutes 50 seconds and the difference value of the access date time is 5:00 seconds, the absolute value of the difference value between the time errors is the access date time. Therefore, the control device 203 determines that the product purchaser cannot purchase the banana and proceeds to step 1011.

  In this embodiment, the product information 202 includes one price and one purchase period for each product, and the product purchaser who has determined that the control device 203 accesses outside the purchase period purchases the product. However, the purchaser who has determined that access is outside the sales period at a certain price by subdividing the available purchase period into a plurality of periods and providing different prices for each period. Can purchase products at a different price, for example, providing a service such as a limited-time half-price sale, or setting the price of the product to increase over time to encourage immediate purchase by the product buyer A simple sales method.

  Although not specifically described in the present embodiment, if there is a time difference between the installation location of the client device 100 and the installation location of the server device 200, the control device 203, for example, includes the client time data 104 and the server time data 204. By providing a function that converts one specific time into the other local time, it is possible to accurately acquire a time error, and to provide services across countries.

It is a block diagram of a client server system with a time error calculation function of the present invention. It is a figure which shows the example of a screen transition at the time of utilizing this invention as an online shopping system. It is a figure which shows the operation | movement flow in which a goods purchaser purchases goods. It is a figure which shows the recording data with which a card | curd is provided. It is a figure which shows the recording data with which a server apparatus is provided.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 ... Client apparatus, 101 ... Input means, 102 ... Output means, 103 ... Control apparatus, 104 ... Client time data, 105 ... Communication means, 106 ... Card read / write means, 110 ... Card, 111 ... Purchaser information, 200 ... Server Device: 201 Time tolerance allowable value 202 Product information 203 Control device 203 Server time data 205 Communication means 206 Access history 300 Internet

Claims (3)

  In a client server system comprising a server connected via a network and at least one or more client terminals, the client terminals are input means, output means, control device 1, communication means 1, and time data generation. The server includes a control device 2, a communication unit 2, a time error tolerance, a time data generation unit 2, and a service provision time indicating a service available period, and a client terminal. The control device 1 transmits the service provision request input by the user using the input means and the client time data acquired from the time data generation means 1 to the server via the communication means 1, and the server control device 2 A first determination for determining whether or not the server time data acquired from the time data generation means 2 is within the service provision time range; Time between the second determination for determining whether the client time data is within the service provision time range, the server time data used in the first determination, and the client time data used in the second determination A third determination for calculating an error and determining whether or not the time error is within an allowable range indicated by the time error allowable value, and providing a service to the user based on the results of the first to third determinations It is determined whether or not to perform the restriction, and the content of the determination is transmitted to the client terminal via the communication unit 2, and the control device 1 of the client terminal displays the content of the determination to the user using the output unit. A featured client-server system.   The server time data and the time error are recorded for each user's access history, the difference between the server time data at the previous access and the current access, and the difference between the time error at the previous access and the current access. The absolute value is compared, and whether or not the difference value of the server time data is smaller than the absolute value of the difference value of the time error is determined instead of or in addition to the third determination. The client server system according to claim 1. In the third determination, when the user makes a service provision request to the server earlier than the service provision time range, and when the user makes a service provision request later than the service provision time range, the extent to which the time error differs 3. The client server system according to claim 1, wherein an allowable value for the direction is used.

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