JP2006048137A - Prize providing server and prize providing method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a prize providing server and a prize providing method for giving the visual impressions of merchandise to an applicant, and for improving probability according to the trial-and-error of the applicant, and for evoking the motivation of the applicant to a prize. <P>SOLUTION: A prize executor prepares and discloses an image 20 for advertisement from the image of merchandise 30 to be provided. An applicant searches the merchandise 30 projected on an image 20 for advertisement being an answer, and prepares an application image 34 by photographing it in contrast with the image 20 for advertisement. An application image 34 is transmitted from an applicant terminal 16 to a prize providing server 12, and collated with the image 20 for advertisement. Then, the decision of election is operated based on the collation result. When the election is decided, the election probability of the application image 34 which is more similar to the image 20 for advertisement is made higher. Also, when the image 20 for advertisement is collated with the application image 34, only the part of the merchandise 30 may be collated, and the whole parts including the backgrounds may be collated. Also, a collation range 32 is preliminarily set, and the collation ranges 32 of both the images may be collated. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a prize providing server and a prize providing method, and more particularly to a prize providing server and a prize providing method used in a prize system for implementing a prize related to a product or service provided by a prize winner.

  Companies that provide products or services sometimes give sweepstakes in order to stimulate consumers' desire to purchase or to increase advertising effectiveness. Conventionally, a technique for providing such a prize has been proposed. For example, in Patent Document 1, a barcode including a prize ID attached to a product and product identification information is read and transmitted to a prize support server using a communication terminal such as a mobile phone. Based on the above, a prize application support system for accepting a prize application is disclosed.

Further, in Patent Document 2, when an access to a homepage by a user is detected, an entertaining prize providing process is activated, and a prize that allows a user to win a prize with a predetermined probability upon completion of the prize providing process. A providing method is disclosed.
JP 2003-150745 A JP 2002-99664 A

  However, in the prize application support system disclosed in the above-mentioned Patent Document 1, the barcode attached to the product purchased by the applicant is a requirement for applying for the prize. Directed to. For this reason, there was no effect of giving the applicant a visual impression of the product, and it was insufficient in terms of encouraging the applicant to purchase and improving the advertising effect.

  Also, in the prize providing method disclosed in Patent Document 2 above, the winning probability of the prize is determined in advance, and it is left to the user to decide whether or not to win the prize, so the winning probability is determined by trial and error of the user. It was a passive prize for users that could not be changed.

  The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and it is possible to give the applicant a visual impression of the product and to improve the winning probability by trial and error of the applicant, to the applicant's sweepstakes It is an object of the present invention to provide a prize providing server and a prize providing method capable of stimulating motivation.

  In order to achieve the above object, the server for providing prizes according to claim 1 includes answer image registration means for registering an answer image, which is a requirement for applicants to apply for the prize, and an image of the subject of the answer image by the applicant. Application image receiving means for receiving an application image created by acquiring the image, image matching means for comparing the answer image and the application image, and winning determination means for determining the winning of the application image based on the comparison result It is characterized by providing.

  According to the prize providing server according to claim 1, since the image of the product is a requirement for applying for the prize, it is possible to give the applicant a visual impression of the product and to increase the advertising effect. Can do.

  As shown in claim 2, in the prize providing server according to claim 1, a collation range to be collated with the application image is set in advance in the answer image, and the image collating unit is configured to extract the application image from the application image. A range corresponding to the collation range is extracted and collated with the collation range.

  According to the prize providing server according to the second aspect, by setting the product name or a pattern such as a pattern characteristic of the product as the collation range, the applicant can have a more visual impression of the product.

  As shown in claim 3, in the prize providing server according to claim 1 or 2, the winner identification information for authenticating the winner and delivering the prize is transmitted to the applicant terminal and the prize winner terminal of the winner. And a winner identification information transmitting means.

  According to the prize providing server according to claim 3, the authentication procedure of the winner can be simplified.

  As shown in claim 4, in the prize providing server according to claims 1 to 3, further comprising an approximation degree calculating means for comparing the answer image and the application image to calculate an approximation degree of the answer image and the application image, The winning determination means is characterized in that an application image having a degree of approximation equal to or greater than a predetermined value is determined as winning.

  According to the prize providing server according to claim 4, since the possibility of winning the prize is increased as the application image is closer to the answer image, the motivation to apply for the prize can be increased, and the advertising effect can be further improved.

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the server for providing prizes according to the fourth aspect, the approximation degree calculating means is at least one of hue, color density, brightness, outline of the subject, size, or angle of reflection. A feature amount is extracted from the answer image and the application image, and the degree of approximation is calculated based on the difference in the feature amount.

  As shown in claim 6, in the prize providing server according to claim 4 or 5, the winning determination means changes the predetermined value in accordance with the distribution of the degree of approximation of the application images, and adjusts the number of the winners It is characterized by doing.

  According to the prize providing server according to claim 6, the number of winners can be easily adjusted.

  In the prize providing server according to any one of claims 1 to 6, the answer image includes fraud detection information, the answer image is acquired by the applicant terminal, and the answer image is applied. And further comprising fraud determination means for detecting the fraud detection information from the application image and determining that the application image has been acquired illegally when transmitted as an image, wherein the winning determination means The application image acquired in the above is excluded from the determination of winning.

  According to the prize providing server according to claim 7, it is possible to prevent the application image created by diverting the answer image from winning.

  As shown in claim 8, in the prize providing server according to claim 7, the fraud detection information is a coordinate value at a predetermined position of the answer image and a predetermined pixel value inserted at a position indicated by the coordinate value. It is characterized by being.

  According to the prize providing server according to the eighth aspect, it is easy to embed fraud detection information and collate with the application image.

  In the prize providing server according to claim 1 to claim 9, when the winning candidate is selected from the applicants by comparing the answer image with the application image by the winning determination means, The image processing means further comprises a public means for making the second candidate image public to the winning candidate, wherein the image collating means returns the second application image and the second answer image returned from the candidate terminal of the winning candidate. And the winning determination means selects a winning candidate by repeating a predetermined number of times based on the matching result.

  According to the prize providing server according to the ninth aspect, the advertisement effect can be further enhanced by allowing the applicant to acquire and apply for images of a plurality of products.

  The prize providing method according to claim 10 includes: (a) a step of registering an answer image, which is an application requirement for the applicant, and (b) the applicant acquires an image of a subject of the answer image. Receiving the created application image; (c) comparing the answer image with the application image; and (d) determining the winning of the application image based on the verification result of the answer image and the application image. It is characterized by providing.

As shown in claim 11, in the prize providing method according to claim 10, (e) publishing a second answer image to the applicant determined to be a winner in the step (d), and (f) the step Selecting a winner by repeating (a) to (e) a predetermined number of times;
Is further provided.

  As shown in claim 12, in the prize providing method according to claim 10 or 11, the method further comprises (g) calculating the degree of approximation between the answer image and the application image by comparing the answer image with the application image, In the step (d), it is characterized in that an application image having the degree of approximation equal to or greater than a predetermined value is determined to be a winner.

  As shown in claim 13, in the prize providing method according to claims 10 to 12, (h) embedding fraud detection information in the answer image registered in step (a), and (i) by the applicant terminal When the answer image is acquired and the answer image is transmitted as an application image, if the fraud detection information is detected from the application image, it is determined that the application image is acquired illegally. And the step of excluding the illegally acquired application image from the object of determination of winning.

  According to the present invention, since an image obtained by photographing a product is a requirement for applying for a sweepstakes, it is possible to give the applicant a visual impression of the product and to improve the advertising effect. In addition, since the application image closer to the answer image is more likely to win a sweepstakes, unlike the prize-winning sweepstakes, the applicant will increase the chances of winning the sweepstakes by trial and error in the shooting method of the product. Can do. As a result, the motivation for applying for the sweepstakes can be increased, and the advertising effect can be improved. Furthermore, according to the present invention, since the prize providing server automatically processes the prize winning determination, the burden on the prize winner can be reduced.

  Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of a prize system, a prize providing server, and a prize providing method according to the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a prize system according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, the prize system 10 according to the present embodiment includes a prize providing server 12, an applicant terminal 16 that can communicate with the prize providing server 12 via a communication network 14, and a prize performer terminal 18. Is included.

  The prize providing server 12 is a device for accepting a prize from an applicant and selecting a winner, and includes a communication unit 22, a storage unit 24, an image matching unit 26, and a winning determination unit 28.

  The communication unit 22 is an interface for connecting to the communication line network 14. The memory | storage part 24 is an apparatus which memorize | stores the answer image and winning criteria transmitted from the prize winner. The image collation unit 26 is a device that collates the answer image and the application image transmitted from the applicant, and the winning determination unit 28 is a device that selects a winner based on the collation result by the image collation unit 26.

  The applicant terminal 16 is a device including a photographing device and a communication terminal capable of communicating via the communication line network 14, and is, for example, a camera-equipped mobile phone, a personal computer, a personal digital assistant (PDA), or the like.

  The prize performer terminal 18 is an apparatus for creating a promotional image 20 that is a requirement for the prize winner to apply for the prize.

  Next, a method for providing a prize by the prize system 10 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a method for providing a prize, and FIG. 3 is a diagram schematically showing a method for providing a prize.

  First, a method for creating an advertising image (steps S10 to S22 in FIG. 2) which is a requirement for applying for a prize will be described. First, the answer image is transmitted from the prize winner terminal 18 (step S10) and received by the prize providing server 12 (step S12). In addition, the winning conditions (for example, the lower limit value of the degree of approximation (described later) and the upper limit value of the number of winners) are transmitted by the prize winner terminal 18 (step S14) and received by the prize providing server 12 (step S16). .

  Next, the prize providing server 12 incorporates encryption information for fraud detection (hereinafter referred to as fraud detection information) into the answer image transmitted from the prize winner (step S18). Then, the answer image incorporating the fraud detection information is transmitted to the prize winner terminal 18 (step S20). The fraud detection information will be described later (see FIGS. 4 and 5).

  Then, an advertisement image (reference numeral 20 in FIG. 1) to be disclosed to the applicant is created by the prize winner (step S22). The advertising image 20 is released to the applicant along with the application procedure, for example, on an Internet site or a street poster, and so on. Here, the application procedure is an application method (address, etc.), application requirements, and precautions. In the sweepstakes system 10, the applicant purchases the product 30 of the promotional image 20, and captures and transmits an image as close to the promotional image 20 as possible. It includes precautions that prohibit the photographing of the advertisement image 20 as it is or the diversion of the image data of the advertisement image 20 on a site or e-mail.

  As shown by reference numerals 20a and 20b in FIG. 3, the advertising image of the present embodiment is an image of a product (photographic film) 30 sold by a prize winner, and as described above, an Internet site, a street poster, or an e-mail. It will be disclosed to applicants. An example of the advertisement image 20b will be described later (see step S34 in FIG. 2).

  When the advertising image 20 is published on a street poster, for example, a two-dimensional code (QR code) in which the URL or e-mail address of the prize winner's site is recorded is printed on the poster, An electronic device that photographs the two-dimensional code using the applicant terminal 16 (such as a mobile phone with a camera) and accesses the site on which the advertisement image 20 is posted, or requests the advertisement image 20 from the prize winner. You may enable it to receive the electronic mail to which the advertisement image 20 was attached by transmitting mail.

  In addition, although the prize winner terminal 18 and the prize providing server 12 can communicate with each other via the communication network 14, exchange of answer images or the like may be performed by, for example, media delivery.

  Next, the process from application to sweepstakes to winning determination (steps S24 to S44 in FIG. 2) will be described.

  First, as shown in FIG. 3, an applicant who applies for the sweepstakes purchases and shoots a product 30 shown in the publicized advertisement image 20. The image of the product 30 (application image 34) is transmitted by the applicant terminal 16 (step S24) and received by the prize providing server 12 (step S26).

  Next, the prize providing server 12 performs image recognition processing of the application image 34, and extracts feature points and outlines of the subject product 30 (step S28). Then, based on the feature points and contours extracted in step S28, image processing such as moving the position of the product 30 in the application image 34 and adjusting the scale is performed, so that the application image 34 and the advertisement image 20 are displayed. Position alignment is performed (step S30).

  Next, fraud determination is performed (step S32). In step S32, it is determined whether the application image 34 is not a photograph of the product 30 but the advertising image 20 is photographed or diverted (injustice determination).

  Here, the fraud determination method of step S32 is demonstrated with reference to FIG.4 and FIG.5. FIG. 4 is a diagram schematically illustrating an example of fraud detection information. For convenience of explanation, the xy axis is shown in FIG.

  In the advertising image 20 shown in FIG. 4, predetermined pixel values (RGB values) are incorporated at predetermined positions (three locations) as fraud detection information (step S18 in FIG. 2). The coordinates and pixel values in which the fraud detection information is incorporated are stored in the storage unit 24 of the prize providing server 12 (see step S18 in FIG. 2).

  Note that the position, number, area, and pixel value (for example, RGB value or CMYK value) at which fraud detection information is incorporated are not limited to those shown in FIG.

  FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the fraud determination step of step S32. First, the application image 34 and the advertisement image 20 are aligned based on the feature points and contours extracted in step S28 in FIG. 2 (step S50 (corresponding to step S30 in FIG. 2)) and stored. The fraud detection information (coordinate values and pixel values) registered in advance in the unit 24 is acquired (step S52).

  Next, the pixel value at the position corresponding to the coordinate value of the fraud detection information on the application image 34 is acquired (step S54) and compared with the pixel value of the fraud detection information (step S56). When the pixel value acquired in step S54 matches the pixel value of the fraud detection information, it is determined that the application image 34 has been applied by diverting the advertising image 20, and the application image 34 is Winning judgment is not performed. On the other hand, if the pixel value acquired in step S54 does not match the pixel value of the fraud detection information, it is determined that the application image 34 has not been applied by diverting the advertising image 20, and the winning determination is performed. Is called.

  Returning to the description of the flowchart of FIG. 2, the process then proceeds to step S <b> 34, and when the collation range (reference numeral 32 in FIG. 3) for collation with the application image 34 is set in the advertising image 20, the application image 34. A portion corresponding to the collation range 32 is extracted. Here, as the collation range 32, for example, a portion that the prize winner wishes to visually impress the applicant, such as a range in which the product name of the product 30 is displayed, a range including a characteristic pattern, or the like is set. It is preferable.

  When the collation range 32 is set, as shown in the advertisement image 20b shown in FIG. 3, an image obtained by removing the collation range 32 (product name) from the advertisement image 20 is disclosed, and the advertisement image 20 is displayed. A quiz-type prize that allows the applicant to search for the product 30 from the features of other parts may be used.

  When the collation range 32 is not set, the collation is performed for the entire range including the region where the product 30 is reflected in the application image 34 or the background.

  Next, the collation range of the application image 34 extracted in step S34 and the collation range 32 of the advertisement image 20 are compared, and a quantitative approximation is calculated (step S36).

  Here, a method for calculating the degree of approximation will be described. FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the approximation calculation step in step S36. First, when a collation range is extracted and inputted from the application image 34 (step S60), luminance conversion processing (step S62) and feature amount extraction processing are performed for the collation range (step S64). Here, the feature amount refers to a color balance adjustment for adjusting the color tone and color density at the time of shooting the application image 34, an image density adjustment, a contrast adjustment, or an image brightness, an outline of a subject (product 30), It refers to area, length, etc.

  Then, the image collating unit 26 of the prize providing server 12 refers to the identification dictionary database (DB) and numerically calculates the degree of approximation between the application image 34 and the advertisement image 20 (step S66). The identification dictionary DB stores the feature amount of the advertisement image 20, and the degree of approximation is calculated based on the feature amount of the identification dictionary DB and the feature amount extracted in step S64. In step S66, the degree of approximation is quantified by performing the above-described feature amount normalization process and calculating the distance relationship between the feature amounts. When calculating the distance relationship between the feature amounts, for example, the Euclidean distance or the Mahalanobis distance can be used.

  FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of an application image. As shown in FIG. 7, the application image 34 is different in hue, color density, brightness, contour line, size, reflection angle, etc. of the product 30. With regard to these application images 34, the degree of approximation is higher as the application image 34 is closer to the advertisement image 20 with the advertisement image 20 (the degree of approximation is higher).

  In the present embodiment, when the advertising image 20 and the application image 34 are collated, only the product 30 shown in both images is not collated, for example, a specific background (color, place, etc.) is used. The product 30 may be photographed on the back, and the background and the like may be collated.

  Returning again to the description of the flowchart of FIG. 2, the process then proceeds to step S <b> 38, and the winning determination unit 28 of the prize providing server 12 determines the winning. FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the winning determination process in step S38. First, a frequency distribution of the degree of approximation of the application image 34 received by the prize providing server 12 is created (step S70). Then, the winning conditions (for example, the lower limit value of the degree of approximation and the upper limit value of the number of winners) input to the prize providing server 12 in step S16 in FIG. 2 are acquired (step S72), and a winning determination is performed (step S74). ).

  FIG. 9 is a graph for explaining the winning determination method. In step S74, for example, as shown in FIG. 9A, a lower limit value of the approximation degree (passed approximation degree line 40) is set as the winning condition, and the approximation degree calculated in step S36 is a predetermined value or more. The application image 34 (on the right side in the drawing of the pass approximation line 40) is determined to be winning. Note that, as shown in FIG. 9B, the number of winners may be set in advance as a winning condition, and winning may be performed in descending order of approximation.

  Returning to the description of the flowchart of FIG. 2, the process then proceeds to step S40, and the result of the winning determination in step S38 is transmitted to the applicant terminal 16 and the prize winner terminal 18 (steps S42 and S44). In steps S42 and S44, identification information for authenticating the winner and delivering prizes may be sent to the applicant terminal 16 and the prize winner terminal 18, respectively.

  According to the present embodiment, since an image obtained by photographing the product 30 is an entry requirement for the sweepstakes, it is possible to give the applicant a visual impression of the product 30 and to improve the advertising effect. Further, the applicant can increase the motivation of the applicant for the prize application because the possibility of winning the prize is increased by increasing the degree of approximation of the application image 34 through trial and error such as the photographing method.

  In the above-described embodiment, the application image 34 is transmitted only once. However, the present embodiment is not limited to this, and for example, an image with a high degree of approximation is acquired repeatedly. You may be able to challenge.

  In the above-described embodiment, the determination of the degree of approximation of the application image 34 is performed only once. For example, a winning candidate is selected in the first winning determination, and the second advertisement is given to the winning candidate. The final winner may be selected by transmitting a work image and repeating the above steps several times.

The block diagram which shows the prize system which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. Flow chart showing how to provide a sweepstakes A diagram schematically showing how to provide a sweepstakes The figure which shows the example of fraud detection information typically The flowchart which shows the fraud determination process of step S32 Flowchart showing the degree of approximation calculation step of step S36 Figure showing an example of an application image Flowchart showing the winning determination step of step S38 Graph to explain the winning judgment method

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Sweepstakes system, 12 ... Sweepstakes providing server, 16 ... Applicant terminal, 18 ... Sweepstakes person terminal, 20 ... Promotional image, 22 ... Communication part, 24 ... Storage part, 26 ... Image collation part, 28 ... Winning determination Part, 32 ... verification range, 34 ... application image

Claims (13)

An answer image registration means for registering an answer image, which is an entry requirement for the applicant's sweepstakes,
An application image receiving means for receiving an application image created by the applicant acquiring an image of the subject of the answer image;
Image collating means for collating the answer image with the application image;
Winning determination means for determining the winning of the application image based on the matching result;
A server for providing prizes. In the answer image, a collation range to be collated with the application image is set in advance,
2. The prize providing server according to claim 1, wherein the image collating unit extracts a range corresponding to the collation range from the application image and collates with the collation range.   The winner identification information transmitting means for transmitting the winner identification information for authenticating the winner and delivering the prize to the applicant terminal and the prize winner terminal of the winner. The server for providing prizes according to 2. It further comprises an approximation degree calculating means for comparing the answer image with the application image to calculate an approximation degree between the answer image and the application image,
The prize providing server according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the winning determination means determines that an application image having the degree of approximation equal to or greater than a predetermined value is winning.   The approximation degree calculating means extracts at least one feature amount from hue, color density, brightness, outline of the subject, size, or reflection angle from the answer image and the application image, and the feature amount 5. The prize providing server according to claim 4, wherein the degree of approximation is calculated based on the difference between the two.   6. The prize providing server according to claim 4, wherein the winning determination means changes the predetermined value in accordance with a distribution of the degree of approximation of the application images, and adjusts the number of the winners. The answer image includes fraud detection information,
When the answer image is acquired by the applicant terminal and the answer image is transmitted as an application image, the fraud detection information is detected from the application image, and the application image is acquired illegally. Further comprising fraud determination means for determining
The prize providing server according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the winning determination unit excludes the illegally acquired application image from a determination target of winning.   8. The prize providing server according to claim 7, wherein the fraud detection information is a coordinate value at a predetermined position of the answer image and a predetermined pixel value inserted at a position indicated by the coordinate value. When the winning determination means compares the answer image with the application image and selects a winning candidate from the applicants, the winning determining means further includes a public means for releasing the second answer image to the winning candidate. ,
The image collating unit collates the second application image returned from the applicant terminal of the winning candidate and the second answer image, and the winning determining unit selects the winning candidate based on the collation result. 9. The prize providing server according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the winner is selected by repeating the selection a predetermined number of times. (A) a step of registering an answer image, which is a requirement for applicants to enter the sweepstakes,
(B) receiving an application image created by the applicant by acquiring an image of a subject of the answer image;
(C) collating the answer image with the application image;
(D) determining the winning of the application image based on the result of matching the answer image and the application image;
A method for providing a prize, comprising: (E) publishing a second answer image to applicants determined to be winning in step (d);
(F) repeating the steps (a) to (e) a predetermined number of times to select a winner;
The prize providing method according to claim 10, further comprising: (G) further comprising the step of comparing the answer image with the application image and calculating the degree of approximation between the answer image and the application image;
12. The prize providing method according to claim 10 or 11, wherein, in the step (d), it is determined that an application image whose degree of approximation is equal to or greater than a predetermined value is a winner. (H) embedding fraud detection information in the answer image registered in step (a);
(I) When the answer image is acquired by the applicant terminal and the answer image is transmitted as an application image, if the fraud detection information is detected from the application image, the application image is acquired illegally. Determining that the application image was illegally obtained and excluding the application image acquired illegally from the object of determination;
The prize providing method according to any one of claims 10 to 12, further comprising:

Images