JP2009266133A - Point use system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a new system that promotes effective consumption of points issued by a company. <P>SOLUTION: The system has a man-machine interface 50 browsable and manipulable on the screen of browsers and various terminals like a webpage which is available to a customer having points, a service providing means 56 for providing various information services including games and Internet shopping via the man-machine interface, and a point information updating means 58 for prompting the customer to use the service providing means and incrementing/decrementing the customer's points with the use. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a point use system for the purpose of actively consuming valuable points issued by each company to a customer who is the owner of the points.

At present, many companies are implementing point services that issue points according to the amount paid when selling goods or providing services. Since the points awarded to customers by the point service have aspects as liabilities to be paid if requested, provisions for the amount of the liabilities are required.
In addition, in order to promote consumption of issued points, a plurality of points issued by each company can be used together. At this time, since the monetary value of the points issued by each company is different, the points are settled based on a predetermined settlement rate (see Patent Document 1).
Japanese Patent No. 3401228

As described above, since the points issued by a company are a substantial debt for the company, it is desirable to clarify the balance for accounting purposes. On the other hand, since the points issued by a company are a liability for the company, it is an important issue for each company to increase the usage rate of points and reduce the outstanding balance.
This invention is invented in view of the said subject, Comprising: It aims at provision of the new system which consumes the point which the company issued effectively.

The present invention is a point use system that promotes the use of points having a monetary value issued by a company through a point service.
The present invention has a man-machine interface (50) that can be browsed and operated on a browser such as a web page that is permitted to be used by the customer who is the owner of the points or on the screens of various terminal devices. And it has the service provision means (56) which provides various information services including provision of a game, internet shopping, etc. via the said man-machine interface. Further, the present invention is characterized by having point information changing means (58) for causing the customer to use the service providing means and increasing / decreasing the points held by the customer with the use.

The present invention provides games and other services that motivate customers to use points even if they do not have as many points as they want to use to purchase goods. By doing so, it is possible to enjoy the use of points.
In addition, for companies that issue points, the points are equivalent to debts that must be repaid in the future, so that the points issued are used efficiently and the point issuance balance does not increase in the future. It is desirable to maintain it below a certain level. The present invention provides a service providing means provided with a motivation (incentive means) for using points to a customer, thereby maintaining an unconsumed balance of points below a certain level without increasing in the future. It has the effect of being able to.
A general case in which a consumer (customer) uses points is to accumulate points to some extent and then use them for product purchases. However, there are many cases where points are left unused for a long period of time, and for companies that have issued points, unused points will remain undigested, and the allowance corresponding to undigested points will be large. The situation is unavoidable. The present invention provides various contents according to the number of points that do not need to be accumulated, and further provides a system for giving an incentive that points, products, etc. will be awarded as the points are used. This has the effect of providing a motivation to instantly consume points without prompting and urging the consumption of points.

Hereinafter, the best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described.
First, point services currently being implemented by each company will be described. The point service is to issue points (hereinafter referred to as “points”) to a customer (Customer) according to payment of a price when selling goods or providing a service. Since the points can be exchanged for goods and services, they have a side as a pseudo currency having monetary value. The point service includes mileage services provided by airlines, and companies in various industries, not limited to retail, provide point services for the purpose of promoting sales activities.

Usually, each company issues a point card to a customer (Customer) as a premise for providing point services. The point card is a multi-functional card with a credit card function, a company-specific card that can be used only at a specific store such as a consumer electronics retailer, or a common card that can be used in common among multiple affiliated companies. There are point cards.
Various information related to points issued by the point service is managed by a point management server provided in each company in association with the point card. In addition, the operation form of this point management server is not uniform, and it is provided exclusively for point services, as well as comprehensive management that performs all operations such as customer management, product inventory management, orders received in Internet shopping, and settlement. It may be provided as part of the system.

In addition to the online type that can be used via the Internet, the point card may be an offline type that can be used only at a predetermined store or service counter.
In the case of an online type point card, a wide area network such as the Internet is used, and various types of information associated with the point card are stored in the point management server. For example, in order to access the point management server, card No, ID, password, owned points, and other personal information such as name, address, telephone number, and e-mail address are registered.
In the case of an offline type point card, a relatively small network connecting a terminal provided in a specific store and a point management server is used. In the point management server, a card No. The point balance associated with the card No is registered.

The present invention is a system in which points issued by the above-described point service can be used via a network such as the Internet as an example.
The system includes one function incorporated in the operation program of the point management server, an independent application program added into the operation program of the point management server, or the point management server directly or via the Internet or intranet. It is provided in the form of a dedicated server to be connected.

FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram relating to the implementation of a point reduction (reduction) system 1 according to the present invention.
FIG. 1 shows a management server 5a to 5e owned by a plurality of companies A to E connected to the network 3, a central management server 5f that centrally manages management servers of a plurality of companies, a customer x who is the owner of the point, The terminal devices 7x, 7y and 7z owned by y and z and the wireless terminal devices 7α and 7β owned by customers α and β are shown. The network 3 includes various types of networks such as the Internet, an intranet, a wireless LAN, and WiFi.

The company A shown as an example has a management server 5a connected to a network 3 such as the Internet. The management server 5a is also connected to a computer terminal (store / shop) 4 installed in the store.
The management server 5a includes a comprehensive management system 9a that performs general operations such as customer management, product inventory management, ordering in Internet shopping, and settlement, and one of the functions of the management system 9a is the point. It has a point management system 11a that performs management.
The management system 9a is provided with a point reduction system 1a that operates in cooperation with the point management system 11a. In the illustrated example in the present embodiment, the point use system 1a is provided as an additional program incorporated in the point management system 11a.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an outline of the point management system 11a and the point use system 1a.
The point management system 11a includes a customer database 20 for storing customer personal information acquired when a point card is issued, a point database 22 for mainly storing the remaining number of points held by each customer, and rewriting of data for the customer database and the point database. And a point management program 24 for performing various types of management.
Moreover, it has the database 28 which memorize | stores the data produced in connection with the other program 26 and the management system 9a which cooperate with the management system 9a.

The illustrated point management system 11 a includes a Web page 30 that functions as a man-machine interface that allows access from the customer via the network 3. The web page 30 is provided with a menu relating to the use of points, and provides an initial screen for accessing own information including the points. In the case of permitting access to own information including points, the point card number, ID, password, etc. are entered, and the security means 32 verifies the validity of the input contents. Yes.
The Web page 30 can also be accessed using the computer terminal 4 installed in the store. In this case, authentication by the security means 32 can be performed by causing a card reader (not shown) attached to the computer terminal 4 to read the membership card owned by the customer. When a password is set for the membership card, the security means 32 can be passed by inputting the password when authenticating the membership card. After passing through the security means 32, the point use system 1a according to the present invention can be used as in the case of accessing via the network 3.

The point use system 1a is roughly composed of four sections. That is, the interface section 40 located between the point management system 11a, the financial section 42 that stores information relating to input / output of points as financial information, and the central function in operating the point use system 1a. It can be divided into an engine section 44 and an incentive section 46 that provides specific contents using points. Note that the above sections do not function independently but each means operates in cooperation.

As the interface section 40, two interfaces (programs) are provided.
An interface 48 is provided between the engine section 44 and the point management program 24 (point management system 11a). The interface 48 is mainly configured by an API or a communication protocol, and is configured to process a large amount of data communication in a short time. The interface 48 is also a means for providing an interface for an administrator on the management system 9a, and can perform various settings of the point use system 1a.
Another interface 50 is a customer interface that provides a Web page that functions as a man-machine interface for customers. The interface 50 displays a predetermined screen on the terminal device 7 owned by the customer and provides various services to the customer after the security means 32 performs the predetermined authentication by ID, password, and the like. It has become. The provision of services to customers is performed via the interface 50, and security means for preventing unauthorized entry into the engine section 44 and other sections is also incorporated.

The financial section 42 includes a financial program 52 for storing all histories relating to consumption and grant of points performed by the point use system 1a, point databases 53 and 54 for storing histories, and the like. The point database 53 is means for accumulating records of points that flow from the point database 22 of the point management system 11a into the point use system 1a according to the present invention. The point database 54 is means for accumulating records of points that flow from the point use system 1a according to the present invention to the point database 22 of the point management system 11a.
As described above, since unused points will become a future debt for the company that issued the points, it is necessary to clarify the income and expenditure in the financial management of the company. Therefore, the financial program 52 uses the points database 53, 54, etc. to record the consumption or increase of points stored in the point database 22, the number of unconsumed points remaining and the number of points consumed or granted. The balance details are output in the form of printing, file output, etc. as necessary.
In addition, the financial program 52 outputs and stores data related to the balance statement to the point database 34 provided in the management system 9a as appropriate.

The engine section 44 is provided with a point use (reduction) program 56 that performs processing relating to the use (consumption) and addition of points that perform important functions of the point use system 1a at high speed. Further, calculation based on the rate considered at the time of increase / decrease of points and consumption and accumulation of the set points, change of points stored in the point databases 22 and 34 included in the point management system 11a, setting for incentive means, etc. Point information changing means (point / product management means) 58 is provided.
In addition, a data storage means 60 used at the time of calculation by the point use program 56 and a data storage means 62 used at the time of calculation by the point information changing means (point / product management means) 58 are provided.
Each means described in the engine section 44 operates integrally and in parallel with each means described in the incentive section 46 described below. In addition to the connection lines between the blocks shown in FIG. 2, connections for exchanging and synchronizing data between the means are performed. Omitted.

The incentive section 46 is provided with various content programs 70 provided on a Web page (interface 50) provided as a man-machine interface for the customer. There are various types of content provided by the content program 70. Free service games that do not require the use of points owned by customers, paid games that require use of points, and free gifts. A lottery for the purpose is provided. There are various contents provided by the point use system 1a according to the present invention. For example, a game (Game), an application (Application), entertainment (Entertainment (music, tv, movie etc.)), Advertising (Advertising), Education (Education (trivia, question / answer etc.)), Casino type game (Gaming / Casino technology), etc. In addition, various contents can be provided.
Each content provided by the content program 70 is an incentive means for urging use of points, but incentive means described below is also provided in order to further urge the use of points.

In the incentive section 46, a point accumulation program 72 is provided. The point accumulation program 72 accumulates a part of points owned by a plurality of customers when using the system little by little, and when a certain amount is reached, the points accumulated for one customer are: Or it has the function to give the product or service which substitutes for it.
The incentive section 46 includes an incentives & prizes storage means (Incentives & Prizes) 74 managed by the point storage program 72, a storage points storage means (Points Pool) 76, and a products & services storage means (Products & Services). 78 is provided.
The point accumulation program 72 includes a means for changing the winning probability so that a customer who uses more points wins points, products, and other prizes. In addition, there is a built-in means of changing the winning details, such that customers who use more points win the number of points, the value of the product, and higher value prizes. These means are also one of incentive means that motivate the use of the point use system 1a.

Next, how the customer enjoys the service using the points owned by the customer will be described using a simple example.
3 to 5 are created as web pages that can be accessed on a terminal device owned by each customer. These web pages are provided by the interface 30 controlled by the management server 5a or the interface 50 controlled by the point use program 56 as a man-machine interface.
FIG. 3A shows a comprehensive web page that provides various services for customers prepared by home electronics mass retailers and the like, and various menus are prepared as services. As an example of the menu, merchandise mail order, membership registration for using the web page, inquiry, provision of a game, and the like are prepared.
In addition, for customers who already have point cards with IDs and passwords registered, users can enter their IDs and passwords in the blanks indicated as “User ID” and “Password” to enable various services for members only. Can be received. The authentication of the ID and password is performed by the security unit 32 provided in the management server 5a.

When the security means 32 authenticates the ID and password, the screen shown in FIG. 3B is displayed. All services for customers are performed via this screen, but only a part of them is displayed in this embodiment. Further, when logging in through ID and password authentication, the number of points owned by the user stored in the point database 22 is displayed by the function of the management server 5a. The method for displaying the number of points is not limited to this example.
In the screen shown in FIG. 3B, when “content” is selected from a list prepared as a menu, options “do not use points” and “use points” are displayed. This allows the customer to select whether to select content that does not use (consume) points owned by the customer in association with the point card or to select content that uses (consumes) points.
At this time, if “Do not use points” is selected and the process proceeds to the next screen, a free game prepared in the content program 70 is displayed via the interface 50 or a top page without a login screen. Migrate to

In addition, when “use points” is selected in FIG. 3B, the screen shown in FIG. 4A is displayed by the function of the management server 5a, and when “content” is selected from the menu, content is displayed. The entrance is displayed. As an example, the number of points owned by the customer is displayed on the screen.
At the entrance of the content, “No” or “Yes” is made to answer again whether or not the content understands that there is a point consumption condition. When “Yes” is selected, a content selection menu is displayed as shown in FIG. The game selection menu is the interface 50 described above, and a list of various contents such as games provided by the content program 70 is displayed. As an example, FIG. Game, 2. Application, 3 entertainment (movie, music, TV), 4. 4. advertisement Education (trivia, question / answer etc.), 6. 6. Casino type game A selection menu of other contents is displayed.
When “6. Casino type game” is selected from the contents displayed as a list in FIG. 4B, a screen representing “slot machine” shown in FIG. 5A is displayed as an example of the casino type game.

In countries where gambling (casino) is authorized, when a slot machine is executed, money is actually credited, and money can be consumed or compensated according to the state of the pattern. . In the case of the “slot machine” shown in FIG. 5A in the present embodiment, the above-described points are multiplied instead of cash so that points are redeemed as points consumed or paid according to the degree of pattern alignment. It has become.
The points to be multiplied are set by selecting from 2 to 20 points shown in the credit (Credit) column. The set points are displayed in the Credit Points column.
After crediting, when START is selected, the picture displayed on the center reel screen changes to rotate, and then automatically stops. And when a picture becomes a horizontal line and other specific arrangement | sequences, predetermined number of points are redeemed according to a predetermined credit point.

When points are acquired by redemption, the number of points is displayed in the Acquired Point column.
In the case of this embodiment, a point accumulation function is provided as one of the incentive means, and a certain percentage of points credited by unspecified participants is sequentially accumulated, and when a certain accumulation number is exceeded. Based on a certain probability, the accumulated points are redeemed to the winners. The point accumulation function is performed by a point accumulation program 72 shown in FIG. 2, and the “Incentives & Prizes” database 7
The points are stored in the storage point storage means 76 in FIG. FIG. 7 shows a processing flow relating to the accumulation of the points.
In the example shown in FIG. 5A, the number of accumulated points is displayed as “accumulated points”, and the number is 8000 points. This accumulated point is a big point because it is impossible to predict who will be reimbursed and is a big point, and it is a great incentive for customers to participate in the slot machine. The “accumulated points” cannot be predicted, but the means for changing the winning probability based on the number of used points increases the winning probability of customers who use many points. Is set to

  In the above example, points are accumulated to redeem the accumulated points for unspecified players. However, products and services having the same value as the accumulated points are redeemed. May be. As a matter of course, since products and services cannot be transmitted over the network, coupon-like information that enables the exchange of the products and services is transmitted to the player. Information regarding these products and services is stored in the product & service storage means 78 in the Incentives & Prizes database 74 shown in FIG.

  FIG. 5B shows a case where the accumulated points are won and redeemed by the customer who is the player, and the points given to the customers are displayed in the “acquired point column”. At the same time, the points accumulated in the accumulated point storage means 76 move to the point database 22 of the point management system 11a via the interface 48 and are added to the points held by the customer. Then, the number of points including the points added to the point database 22 is displayed in the “number of points” column at the upper right of the screen shown in FIG. This rewriting of information stored in the point database 22 is performed by the point information changing means 58.

In the above example, the case where points are acquired has been described. However, for example, if the slot machine does not obtain a winning result that leads to point-up such as a pattern being aligned, It is consumed as a usage fee and is subtracted from the points stored in the point database 22. When the points are credited, a part of the points is accumulated in the accumulated point storage means 76 by the point accumulation program 72 as described above.
In the above description, the slot machine has been described as an example. However, the point accumulation program 72 may be executed when a roulette game or other game is played.

  The rewriting of the information related to the points stored in the point database 22 described above is performed at high speed by the interaction of each means described in the engine section 44 and the incentive section 46.

FIG. 6 mainly represents the concept of processing performed in the engine section 44 and the incentive section 46. And
FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing an outline of processing performed in the point accumulation program 72. Although not limited to this, the processing shown in FIG. 7 is mainly applied to customers accessing via the network 3.
The “selection of incentive means” process shown in FIG. 6 is a process in the point information changing means (point / product management means) 58 shown in FIG. 2 and has the above-described functions and means for making the following settings: It has become. That is, it is possible to set via the interface 48 whether the motivation given to the customer by the company is to be performed by the accumulation points described above or by providing a certain product or service. Of course, in addition to the accumulation points (76) and the provision of products and services (78), other means (80) that motivate the customer can be set.

Further, in the case of access using the computer terminal 4 installed in the store without using the network 3, products and various services as premiums are provided without providing the content program 70 mainly including visual information. An incentive means that motivates the winners may be provided. The processing flow in this case is shown in the processing flow shown in FIG. 8, and the incentive & prize data 74 and the product & service data 78 are controlled by other functions of the point accumulation program 72. Processes such as winning for various services are performed.
In addition, in the case where what is given to the customer as a prize is something other than the above, such as points, products, and various services, the incentive & award data 74 and other data can be obtained by other functions of the point accumulation program 72. 80 is controlled, and a process such as winning is performed so as to be given as a prize.

Next, another embodiment related to the embodiment of the point use system according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. 1 again.
In the case of the company B shown in FIG. 1, the point use system 1b according to the present invention is formed as an independent server. Then, the server is connected to the management server 5b of the company B via an intranet or an intranet, and a system similar to that shown in FIG. 2 is constructed. As described above, the point use system according to the present invention can be installed not only in the company management server but also independently of the company management server.

  In the case of companies C, D, and E shown in FIG. 1, the points issued by each company are interoperated such that the points issued by company C can be used by company E, etc. Explained. When each company interoperates with respect to points, a central point management server 5f for point management is provided as one form. By applying the point use system 1 according to the present invention to the management server 5f, the point use system 1 can be provided to a plurality of affiliated companies C, D, and E as a result. ing. In addition, when the value of the points issued by each company is not equivalent, when the point information is aggregated in the central point management server 5f, the value adjustment between the points is performed based on the set rate. Yes.

  INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY The present invention can be used for a point use system that allows a customer who is an owner to effectively use points issued by a company through a point service.

It is a conceptual diagram regarding embodiment of the point utilization system which concerns on this invention. It is a block diagram showing the outline | summary of the point utilization system which concerns on this invention. It is explanatory drawing regarding an example of the interface screen for customers of this invention. It is explanatory drawing regarding an example of the interface screen for customers of this invention. It is explanatory drawing regarding an example of the interface screen for customers of this invention. It is a conceptual diagram regarding the function of the main process part of this invention. It is a flowchart showing an example of the point accumulation | storage process of this invention. It is a flowchart showing an example of the process regarding premium (product / service) provision of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

1 Points Reduction System
3 Network
5a-5e Management server
5f Central management server
7x, 7y, 7z Terminal equipment 7α, 7β Wireless terminal equipment 9a Management system
11a Point management system
20 Customer database
22 Point database (Point data (Customer))
24 Point management program
26 Program (Other program)
28 Database (Other data)
30 Web page (Web page / gate way)
32 Security
40 INTERFACE Section
42 FINANCIAL Section
44 ENGINE Section
46 INCENTIVE Section
48 Interface (Interface Program)
50 Interface (Customer Interface)
52 Financial program
54 Point database (Point data (Enterprise))
56 Points Use / Point use system Program (engines)
58 Point information change means (Point / Products management program)
60 Data storage means (Other Data)
62 Data storage means (Point data (Enterprise))
70 Content Program & Applications
72 Point Accumulation Program
74 Incentives & Prizes
76 Points Pool
78 Products & Services

Claims (1)

A point use system that promotes the use of points issued by companies through point services,
A man-machine interface allowing the owner of the point to use;
A service providing means that can be used via the man-machine interface;
A point use system comprising point information changing means for increasing or decreasing the points held by the owner in accordance with use of the service providing means.

Images