JP2011248506A - Management method of value with validity term and monetary value, value management device and value management program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To realize management of values imparted with different lengths of validity terms, when managing values with the validity terms.SOLUTION: A value management device associates a value with the validity term of the value as one value block, and stores a combination of more than one value block and an identifier for identifying the combination as a value block group. The device receives the identifier, the value to impart, and validity term of the value to impart. The device specifies the value block group identified by the identifier, and adds new value block generated by associating the specified value block with the value to impart and the validity term. So that the value blocks with different lengths of validity terms can coexist in the same value block group.

Description

  The present invention relates to management of a value having an expiration date, which is an electronic value having a monetary value such as electronic money, points, and coupons (hereinafter referred to as “value” as appropriate).

  Generally, when a value is recorded and managed, an expiration date is set for the value in order to promote consumption. Therefore, when managing the value, it is necessary to manage the expiration date of the value. In general, expiration date management is a method in which all values are invalidated when a predetermined expiration date expires, or if no new value is granted for a certain period from the latest value grant date, There is a way to disable it.

  However, when these management methods are adopted, the value users (hereinafter referred to as “users” where appropriate) accumulate all the values at once, so the convenience for the users is low, and the users benefit from using the values. However, there was a problem that it was difficult to acquire customers by using value.

  In view of such a problem, for example, there is a technique as described in Patent Document 1. Specifically, this is a management method in which an expiration date is set in accordance with the time when a value is given, and a plurality of expiration dates are set for the entire value, which are sequentially invalidated. For example, when the total is 500 points, management is performed in such a way that 300 points given last year are invalidated at the end of the current fiscal year, and 200 points given this year are invalidated at the end of the next fiscal year (see, for example, Patent Document 1). ).

JP 2004-227200 A

  By using the technique as described above, the problem that all the above-mentioned values are invalidated at once is solved. However, in order to use the above-described technique, it is necessary to separately manage the expiration date in addition to the value management. By separately managing the value and the expiration date, the processing becomes complicated, and it is difficult to perform detailed and flexible expiration date management.

  Further, as is clear from the description of paragraph [0009] and paragraph [0042] of the specification of Patent Document 1, in the technique as described above, the length of the expiration date of the value is a preset fixed value, All issued points have the same expiration date. In other words, it was not possible to manage values having different lengths of validity.

  Therefore, the present invention is able to manage a value having an expiration date and a monetary value when managing a value having an expiration date, and managing a value having an expiration date of a different length. It is an object to provide a method, a value management apparatus, and a value management program.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, management of “value” that is connected to each of a terminal used by a user and a site connected to the terminal and has an expiration date and a monetary value. In the value management device that performs the above, the value and the expiration date of the value are linked to form one value block, a combination of one or more of the value blocks, and an identifier for identifying the combination A value management storing means for storing as a value block group; a first receiving means for receiving from the site the identifier, a value value to be assigned, and an expiration date of the value value to be given; The value identified by the identifier by searching the value management storage unit using the identifier received by the receiving unit as a key A first value management function unit that identifies a lock group and adds a new value block generated by associating the value value to be assigned and an expiration date to the identified value block group, and There is provided a value management apparatus characterized in that the value blocks having different expiration dates can be mixed in the same value block group.

  According to the second aspect of the present invention, in the site connected to the value management apparatus, any one or all of the value provision processing, use processing, and expiration date management in the site are performed. A site characterized by what a value management device does is provided.

  According to the third aspect of the present invention, the “value” that is connected to each of the terminal used by the user and the site connected to the terminal is managed with an expiration date and a monetary value. In the value management method performed by the device, the value and the expiration date of the value are linked to form one value block, and a combination of one or more of the value blocks and a combination of the values are identified. A value management storing step of storing an identifier as a value block group, a first receiving step of receiving, from the site, the identifier, a value value to be assigned, and an expiration date of the value value to be assigned; By searching the value management storage unit using the identifier received in the first receiving step as a key, the identifier is obtained. A first value management function step of identifying a value block group to be identified, and adding a new value block generated by associating the value value to be assigned and an expiration date to the identified value block group; , And the value blocks having different validity periods can be mixed in the same value block group.

  According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, management of “value” that is connected to each of a terminal used by a user and a site connected to the terminal, and has an expiration date and a monetary value. In the value management program incorporated in the value management device that performs the above, the value and the expiration date of the value are linked to form one value block, and a combination of one or more of the value blocks and a combination of the values are identified. First management means for receiving the identifier, the value value to be assigned, and the expiration date of the value value to be assigned from the site. And searching the value management storage means using the identifier received by the first receiving means as a key. A first value management function that identifies a value block group identified by the identifier and adds a new value block generated by associating the value value to be assigned and an expiration date to the identified value block group And a value management program for causing a computer to function as a value management device capable of mixing the value blocks having different expiration dates in the same value block group. Is provided.

  According to the present invention, management is performed using a value block that is a set of a value of the value and the expiration date of the value. Therefore, when managing a value having an expiration date, expiration dates of different lengths are assigned. It is possible to realize the management of the value that is being used.

It is a figure showing the basic composition of the whole embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure showing the basic composition of the value management system in the embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure showing about the management method of the value in embodiment of this invention. It is a figure showing the fundamental structure of the user terminal in embodiment of this invention. It is a sequence diagram showing the fundamental operation | movement at the time of the provision of the value of the whole embodiment of this invention. It is a sequence diagram showing the fundamental operation | movement at the time of utilizing the value of the whole embodiment of this invention. It is a sequence diagram showing the fundamental operation | movement at the time of confirming the state of the value of the whole embodiment of this invention spontaneously.

  Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the entire embodiment. Referring to FIG. 1, the present embodiment includes a value management device 100, a user terminal 200, a value use site 300, and a network 900.

  The value management apparatus 100 is a system for managing a value given to a user.

  The user terminal 200 is a terminal used directly by the user, and is connected to each of the value management apparatus 100 and the value use site 300 via the network 900. Then, the user terminal 200 communicates with the value management apparatus 100 to confirm and use the value at the time of purchasing and business transactions through the network such as electronic commerce.

  Further, value is given and used by the user terminal 200 performing electronic commerce with the value use site 300. Specifically, the user terminal 200 may be realized by any device, for example, a personal computer or a mobile phone.

  The value use site 300 is a site provided by the electronic commerce company side, and is a site for conducting electronic commerce such as sales of goods and contents through a network. In the value use site 300, the trader side at the time of electronic commerce gives a value to the user. Note that the site 300 is actually realized by browsing a document on a network, for example, a Web server, using a Web browser included in the user terminal 200.

  The network 900 is, for example, the Internet network, a mobile communication network, a next generation communication network, or the like, but is not limited thereto. Further, the communication method with which the network 900 is compliant is not particularly limited. Also, whether the network 900 is a wired connection or a wireless connection is not particularly limited.

  Next, value management in the present embodiment will be described.

  The user has a value ID that can uniquely identify the type of value held by the user. Then, the value management apparatus 100 manages the value type and the value value using the value ID as a key.

  A user can have a plurality of value IDs at the same time or different times, and can have a plurality of types of values at the same time or different times.

  The user can use the value through the network, but the application range of the present embodiment is not limited to this. For example, it is possible to use a value using an actual store by using a card or a mobile phone in which a value ID is recorded.

  The user connects to a value use site 300 provided by a value issuing company (hereinafter referred to as “business person” as appropriate) having the value management apparatus 100, or performs electronic commerce with the user in cooperation with the business person, The value of the user is increased by giving the value by performing electronic commerce, appropriating the value using the user's credit card, etc., or receiving the gift of the value from another user. The user associates the value ID possessed by the user with the value managed by the value management apparatus 100 through the value use site 300 and specifies the value ID as an object to be granted.

  Next, the value management apparatus 100 will be described in detail with reference to FIG. Referring to FIG. 2, the value management device 100 includes a main storage device 110, an arithmetic processing unit 120, a transmission / reception unit 130, an auxiliary storage device 140, a value management function unit 150, an expiration date management scheduler 160, and a value management storage unit 170.

  The main storage device 110 is a storage device represented by a RAM (Random Access Memory). The arithmetic processing device 120 is an arithmetic device represented by a CPU (Central Processing Unit) or the like, and performs arithmetic processing. The transmission / reception unit 130 is a part for performing communication via the network 900.

  The auxiliary storage device 140 is a storage device represented by a hard disk drive (HDD) or a solid state drive (SSD), and stores various data and programs.

  The value management function unit 150 is a part that performs value increase / decrease, revocation processing, and the like. The expiration date management scheduler 160 is a part that monitors the expiration date of the value.

  The value management function unit 150 and the expiration date management scheduler 160 are unique to the present embodiment. In the value management function unit 150 and the expiration date management scheduler 160, the arithmetic processing unit 120 reads a program (software) stored in the auxiliary storage device 140, and performs arithmetic processing using the read program and the main storage device 110. It is realized by doing.

  The value management storage device 170 is a storage device for permanently storing the value, and specifically, is realized by an HDD or an SSD similarly to the auxiliary storage device 140. In FIG. 2, the value management storage device 170 and the auxiliary storage device 140 are illustrated as separate storage devices, but this is merely an example of the configuration. For example, the auxiliary storage device 140 may be included in the value management storage device 170. Further, either or both of the value management storage device 170 and the auxiliary storage device 140 may be provided outside the value management device 100. Further, either or both of the value management storage device 170 and the auxiliary storage device 140 may be made redundant by a plurality of storage devices.

  Next, a value management method by the value management function unit 150, the expiration date management scheduler 160, and the value management storage device 170 will be described.

  The value management method in the value management storage device 170 is managed in units of blocks as shown in FIG. Specifically, it is managed in units of blocks (hereinafter referred to as “value blocks” where appropriate) value values, which are the value of how much the assigned value has, and the expiration date. Is done. The accumulation of the value blocks is treated as the entire value. This entire value is called a value group. The value group is uniquely distinguished by the value ID.

  When a value is given to a value group, a value block with this expiration date is added.

  For example, a combination of a value of 100 points given at the time of product purchase and an effective period of one year after the 100 points are given is recorded as one block. By accumulating a plurality of blocks each having a value value and a validity period as a set, the entire value of the user is represented. The value value of the block is arbitrary, and there is no problem even if the value value of each block varies. When the specified validity period has passed and the value value becomes invalid, it becomes invalid for each block. Therefore, the entire value is not invalidated, and the management of the value and the management of the validity period can be performed simultaneously. When using the value, the block is used in order from the block with the closest valid period, and instead of using the block unit, the value value of the block is subtracted, and if the value value of the block becomes 0, the value of the next block It can be used across blocks to subtract values. For example, it is assumed that the user has a total of 300 points: 100 points that expire after one month (referred to as block A) and 200 points that expire after two months (referred to as block B). When the user wants to use 200 points, 100 points are first used from the block A having an expiry date. At this time, the remaining 100 points are necessary, but 100 points are subtracted from 200 points of block B here. As a result, the block B is changed to a block with an expiration date of 2 months at 100 points.

  Referring to the specific example of FIG. 3, as shown on the left side of FIG. 3, four value blocks are stacked in the value group to which “value ID: xxx” is assigned. The total of all values is 750. The right side of FIG. 3 shows a state where a value block is newly added. As the 120-point value block is newly stacked, the total of all the values becomes 870.

  The expiration date for each value block may be the same, but may be different.

  That is, in this embodiment, an expiration date can be set for each issuance of value, and for example, a value having an expiration date of 1 month and a value having an expiration date of 1 year can be mixed. In general, the number of valid points is fixed in advance, and the valid points of the issued points are all the same. Thus, for example, it is conceivable to manage a value with an expiration date of one year every time a value is issued, but this is merely a management method in which the old value at the time of issue is used sequentially.

  However, in the present embodiment, when there is a value whose expiration date expires first even if the value issuance time is later, it is possible to use it preferentially from the value whose expiration date expires first. it can. In other words, this embodiment does not simply use the old value at the time of issuance, but sequentially uses the value from which the expiration date has expired first, and can provide a user with a useful method of using the value. It is.

  In addition, in the case of performing increase / decrease in value as described above, a value writing process is performed in the value management storage device 170 through the value management function unit 150. Also, the expiration date management scheduler 160 periodically checks the expiration date of the value. If an expiration date is found at this time, the expiration date management scheduler 160 informs the value management function unit 150 to that effect and manages the value management. The functional unit 150 connects to the value management storage device 170, executes value revocation processing, and invalidates the value block whose validity period has expired.

  Next, the user terminal 200 will be described in detail with reference to FIG. In this case, it is assumed that the user terminal 200 is realized by a personal computer.

  The user terminal 200 includes a main storage device 210, an arithmetic processing device 220, a transmission / reception unit 230, an auxiliary storage device 240, an operation reception unit 250, and a display unit 260.

  The main storage device 210 is a storage device represented by a RAM. The arithmetic processing device 220 is an arithmetic device represented by a CPU or the like, and performs arithmetic processing. The transmission / reception unit 230 is a part for performing communication via the network 900.

  The auxiliary storage device 240 is a storage device represented by an HDD or SSD, and stores various data and programs.

  The operation accepting unit 250 is a part that accepts input from a user. Specifically, the operation accepting unit 250 is connected to input devices such as a keyboard, a mouse, and a touch panel, and accepts input information from these input devices.

  The display unit 260 is connected to a display device for presenting information to the user such as a display, and displays information on the display device.

  Next, an outline of the operation of this embodiment will be described.

  The operation of this embodiment will be described in detail with reference to the sequence diagrams of FIGS. 1 to 4 and FIGS. 5 to 7.

  First, a case where value is added will be described with reference to FIG.

  When giving value, the user first connects to the value use site 300 using the user terminal 200. Then, the user performs electronic commerce such as purchase of some article or content on the value use site 300. At the time of this electronic commerce, the user designates an arbitrary value ID held by the user and transmits it to the value use site 300 (step A11). One value ID may be assigned to one user terminal 200, or a plurality of value IDs may be assigned. A different value ID may be used for each value type. Further, each time the user connects to the value use site 300, the user may specify an arbitrary value ID that the user owns, or may be set in advance so that a certain value ID is automatically specified. Good.

  In the value use site 300, payment processing for electronic commerce such as purchase of goods / contents is performed, and value is added to the user according to the payment amount. At this time, the value use site 300 is connected to the value management apparatus 100. Then, the value ID received from the user using the user terminal 200 is transmitted to the value management apparatus 100, and at the same time, the number of values to be given to the user and the expiration date of the number of values are transmitted (step A12). The expiration date may be the same period in any case, but may be different periods. That is, the expiration date of the value given when purchasing a certain product can be set to one year, and the expiration date of the value given when purchasing another product can be set to six months. Moreover, you may make it an expiration date differ for every site, every transaction time, and every transaction content not only goods.

  The value management function unit 150 that has received the information related to the assigned value (value ID to which the value is to be assigned, the number of values, and the expiration date of the number of values) from the value use site 300 uses the received value ID as a key to store the value management. The device 170 is searched to identify a value group to which a value is to be given this time. Then, the value management function unit 150 creates a new value block based on the number of granted values and the expiration date acquired from the value use site 300, and writes the value management storage device 170 to add a new value block. (Step A13).

  When the processing is completed, the value management apparatus 100 sends a notification of completion of the value provision processing to the value use site 300 (step A14).

  The value use site 300 transmits a notification of completion of the purchase process and the value provision process to the user terminal 200 (step A15). Note that the notification of completion of the value provision processing in step A14 and step A15 may include information that is to be notified to the user. For example, the total number of all values after the grant process may be included, or a notification that there is a value block whose expiration date is approaching may be included. This point will be described below as a modification of the present embodiment.

  Next, a value expiration check performed by the value management apparatus 100 will be described.

  The expiration check of the value is realized by the expiration date management scheduler 160 periodically checking the expiration date recorded in each block of each value group in the value management storage device 170. The check cycle can be arbitrarily set.

  If a block whose expiration date has expired is found, the expiration date management scheduler 160 notifies the value management function unit 150 that the target value block has expired. Upon receiving the notification, the value management function unit 150 accesses the value management storage device 170 and executes processing for invalidating the target value block.

  Depending on the setting cycle of the schedule, the expiration date check of the expiration date management scheduler 160 and the actual expiration date may deviate, and a situation may occur in which the value block is valid although it should have expired. . In order to prevent the occurrence of such a situation, it is preferable to separately check the expiration date immediately before using the value. This immediately preceding expiration date check will be described in detail below as the operation in step A23.

  Next, a case where value is used will be described with reference to FIG.

  When using value, the user first connects to the value use site 300 using the user terminal 200. The user performs electronic commerce such as purchase of some article or content on the value use site 300. At the time of conducting the electronic commerce, the user designates an arbitrary value ID held by the user and transmits the value number to be used to the value use site 300 (step A21).

  The value use site 300 transmits the value ID and the number of used values received from the user terminal 200 to the value management apparatus 100, and executes the value use processing (step A22).

  The value management function unit 150 of the value management apparatus 100 that has received information (value ID and number of used values) on the used value from the value using site 300 searches the value management storage device 170 using the received value ID as a key. The value group to which the value is to be assigned is specified.

  All the value blocks included in the target value group are targeted, and the expiration date of the value recorded in the value block is checked. As a result of the check, if there is a block that has expired compared to the current date, the block is expired and treated as invalid (step A23). At this time, if all the values have expired, a result indicating that there is no usable value in the value use site 300 is returned. Although it is possible to adopt a configuration in which the expiration date check in step A23 is not performed, as described above, there may occur a situation in which the expiration date has expired but it has become valid as a value block. Considering this, it is preferable that the expiration date check in step A23 is always performed.

  If there is a usable value in step A23, it is confirmed whether the number of values held satisfies the designated number of values used (step A24). If the number of values held is less than the specified number of values, the value is not usable and the result is returned to the value use site 300.

  If the number of values held satisfies the number of values used, value subtraction processing is performed. The value subtraction process is performed in order from the value block with the closest expiration date. The value block having the closest expiration date is searched for, and the number of available values is subtracted from the value number of that block. When the number of values of the target value block is smaller than the number of used values, the value number of the target value block is all subtracted to zero. Also, the number of used values is subtracted by the number of values of the subtracted value block, and the remaining number of used values is calculated. Next, a value block with an expiry date is searched, and the remaining number of values used is subtracted from the value number of the value block. If the number of values in the value block is less than the number of uses again, the same processing is repeated until the number of values used reaches zero (step A25).

  When the value subtraction process is completed, the value management apparatus 100 transmits a value subtraction completion notification to the value use site 300 (step A26).

  Upon receiving the value subtraction process completion notification, the value use site 300 considers the value use amount and performs a settlement process for electronic commerce such as purchase of a user's goods / contents.

  At this time, if the value use site wants to add a new value, a value adding process is performed here (steps A12 to A14). When all the processes are completed, the value use site 300 transmits a process completion notification to the user terminal 100 (step A27). Note that the notification of completion in step A26 and step A27 may include information to be notified to the user as in step A14 and step A15. This point will be described below as a modification of the present embodiment.

  Next, with reference to FIG. 7, an operation for spontaneously checking the value state when the user wants to check the value state will be described.

  When the user wants to check the status of his / her value, the user uses the user terminal 200 to connect to the value management apparatus 100. At this time, the value ID of the value group whose state is to be confirmed is transmitted (step A31). It should be noted that the state to be confirmed may be specifically pointed out as inquiry contents.

  The value management function unit 150 of the value management device 100 that has received the value ID from the user terminal 200 searches the value management storage device 170 using the received value ID as a key, and finds the value group that is the target of the information search this time. Specify (step A32).

  The value management apparatus 100 transmits value information requested by the user terminal 100 such as a value balance and an expiration date to the user terminal 200 (step A33).

  Next, a modified example in which the above-described embodiment is partially modified will be described.

  In this modification, in addition to the configuration of the above-described embodiment, the value management function unit 150 further has a notification function.

  Next, the operation of this modification will be described.

  In the value expiration date check and value invalidation processing by the expiration date management scheduler 160 shown in the description of the operation of the embodiment described above, if it is determined that the value has expired, an email is sent to the user The notification is made using any notification means such as messaging, SMS of a mobile phone, or mail.

  Similarly, in step A13 in FIG. 5, when the value expiration date is checked and the value is invalidated due to the expiration date, the user is notified that the value expiration date has expired.

  Not only when the expiration date has actually expired, but also when the expiration date expires after the specified period, for example, when the expiration date of the value expires after one month, the user is notified that the expiration date is near . In this case, the expiration date management scheduler 160 checks the value that expires within the specified period, separately from the normal expiration date check, and the value that expires after the specified period as described above. Notification to the user is performed. By notifying the user of the expiration date in advance, the use of the user's value can be promoted, the activation of the distribution of the value is promoted, and the convenience of the user is improved.

  The effects of the embodiment of the present invention described above will be described. The value management system according to the present embodiment records and manages a value, which is an electronically recorded value such as electronic money and points held by the user. At this time, as a value recording method, management is performed using a value block in which the value value and the expiration date of the value are set. By managing the value block in which the value value and the expiration date are recorded, the value expiration date can be managed in units of value blocks.

  This also has the effect of solving the problem caused by performing the value expiration date in a lump.

  Furthermore, by managing the value value and the expiration date as a set, the management of how many value values are the expiration date is simplified, and there is an effect that it is freed from complicated expiration date management. .

  In addition, when multiple expiration dates are set for the value, it is necessary to consume from the one with the nearest expiration date, and its management was complicated, but it is managed in units of blocks, and the expiration date is near By consuming from the block, there is an effect that management of value consumption becomes easy. In addition, since the value use site also has a higher degree of freedom for the expiration date set for each value to be assigned without imposing a burden on the value management system, it is possible to differentiate services from other e-commerce sites. There is an effect that it can be planned.

  Although the value management apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention can be realized by hardware, the computer reads a program for causing the computer to function as the value management apparatus from a computer-readable recording medium. It can also be realized by executing.

  Further, the value management method according to the embodiment of the present invention can be realized by hardware, but the computer reads a program for causing the computer to execute the method from a computer-readable recording medium and executes the program. Can also be realized.

  Moreover, although the above-described embodiment is a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the scope of the present invention is not limited only to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications are made without departing from the gist of the present invention. Implementation in the form is possible.

  A part or all of the above-described embodiment can be described as in the following supplementary notes, but is not limited thereto.

(Supplementary Note 1) In a value management apparatus that is connected to each of a terminal used by a user and a site connected to the terminal and manages “value” having an expiration date and a monetary value,
A value that stores the value and the expiration date of the value as one value block, and stores a combination of one or more of the value blocks and an identifier for identifying the combination as a value block group Management storage means;
First receiving means for receiving, from the site, the identifier, a value value to be assigned, and an expiration date of the value value to be assigned;
A value block group identified by the identifier is specified by searching the value management storage unit using the identifier received by the first receiving unit as a key, and the value to be given to the specified value block group A first value management function means for adding a new value block generated by associating a value and an expiration date;
With
The value management apparatus characterized in that the value blocks having different expiration dates can be mixed in the same value block group.

(Supplementary Note 2) In the value management device described in Supplementary Note 1,
Second receiving means for receiving the identifier and the value to be used from the site;
When a value block group identified by the identifier is specified by searching the value management storage unit using the identifier received by the second receiving unit as a key, and a value included in the specified value block group is used In addition, a second value management function means that uses preferentially from the value possessed by the value block close to the expiration date,
A first transmission means for notifying a processing result of the use process to the site after the use process in the second value management function means is completed;
Further comprising: a value management device.

(Supplementary Note 3) In the value management device described in Supplementary Note 2,
A first valid period in which the validity period of each value block included in each value block group stored in the value management storage means is confirmed at a predetermined cycle, and a value block that has already expired is invalidated A deadline scheduler;
When the second value management function means uses the value, a second expiration date scheduler that confirms the expiration date of the value to be used and invalidates a value block that has already expired;
Further comprising: a value management device.

(Appendix 4) In the value management device according to any one of appendices 1 to 3,
Third receiving means for receiving the identifier and an inquiry about the value block group from a terminal used by the user;
The value management storage unit is searched using the identifier received by the third receiving unit as a key to identify a value block group identified by the identifier, and the inquiry is performed by confirming the contents of the value block group A third value management function means for creating a response to
Second transmission means for transmitting the response to the terminal used by the user;
Further comprising: a value management device.

(Supplementary note 5) In the value management device according to any one of supplementary notes 1 to 4,
A value management apparatus, further comprising a third transmission unit configured to transmit a total value of values included in all value blocks included in the value block group to a terminal used by the site or the user. .

(Appendix 6) In the value management device according to any one of appendices 1 to 5,
The length of the warning period is determined in advance, and if there is a value block whose length until the expiration date of the value block included in the value block group is shorter than the length of the warning period, the expiration date Value management further comprising fourth transmission means for transmitting to the terminal used by the user or the site that there is a value block whose length is shorter than the length of the warning period apparatus.

(Supplementary note 7) In the site connected to the value management device according to any one of supplementary notes 1 to 6,
A site characterized in that the value management apparatus performs any one or all of the value assignment processing, use processing, and expiration date management in the site.

(Supplementary Note 8) Value management performed by a device that manages a “value” having an expiration date and a monetary value, connected to each of a terminal used by a user and a site connected to the terminal. In the method
A value that stores the value and the expiration date of the value as one value block, and stores a combination of one or more of the value blocks and an identifier for identifying the combination as a value block group Providing a management storage means;
A first receiving step of receiving, from the site, the identifier, a value value to be assigned, and an expiration date of the value value to be assigned;
A value block group identified by the identifier is identified by searching the value management storage unit using the identifier received in the first reception step as a key, and the value to be given to the identified value block group A first value management function step of adding a new value block generated by associating a value and an expiration date;
With
The value management method characterized in that the value blocks having different validity periods can be mixed in the same value block group.

(Additional remark 9) It is connected with each of the terminal which a user uses, and the site connected to the said terminal, and it incorporates in the value management apparatus which manages "value" with an expiration date and a monetary value Value management program
A value that stores the value and the expiration date of the value as one value block, and stores a combination of one or more of the value blocks and an identifier for identifying the combination as a value block group Management storage means;
First receiving means for receiving, from the site, the identifier, a value value to be assigned, and an expiration date of the value value to be assigned;
A value block group identified by the identifier is specified by searching the value management storage unit using the identifier received by the first receiving unit as a key, and the value to be given to the specified value block group A first value management function means for adding a new value block generated by associating a value and an expiration date;
With
A value management program for causing a computer to function as a value management device capable of coexisting the value blocks having different expiration dates in the same value block group.

  The present invention is, for example, a field that requires value management such as points and electronic money in the electronic payment market in the Internet network, mobile network network, next-generation network network, etc. It is suitable for use in the field in which the points are managed and operated, and in the fields such as electronic money remittance and point exchange, point gift, value delivery such as electronic coupon distribution, and exchange field.

100 Value management device 110 Main storage device 120 Arithmetic processing unit 130 Transmission / reception unit 140 Auxiliary storage device 150 Value management function unit 160 Expiration date management scheduler 170 Value management storage unit 200 User terminal 210 Main storage device 220 Arithmetic processing unit 230 Transmission / reception unit 240 Auxiliary Storage device 250 Operation accepting unit 260 Display unit 300 Value using site 900 Network

Claims (9)

In a value management apparatus that manages a “value” that is connected to each of a terminal used by a user and a site that is connected to the terminal and has an expiration date and a monetary value,
A value that stores the value and the expiration date of the value as one value block, and stores a combination of one or more of the value blocks and an identifier for identifying the combination as a value block group Management storage means;
First receiving means for receiving, from the site, the identifier, a value value to be assigned, and an expiration date of the value value to be assigned;
A value block group identified by the identifier is specified by searching the value management storage unit using the identifier received by the first receiving unit as a key, and the value to be given to the specified value block group A first value management function means for adding a new value block generated by associating a value and an expiration date;
With
The value management apparatus characterized in that the value blocks having different expiration dates can be mixed in the same value block group. The value management device according to claim 1,
Second receiving means for receiving the identifier and the value to be used from the site;
When a value block group identified by the identifier is specified by searching the value management storage unit using the identifier received by the second receiving unit as a key, and a value included in the specified value block group is used In addition, a second value management function means that uses preferentially from the value possessed by the value block close to the expiration date,
A first transmission means for notifying a processing result of the use process to the site after the use process in the second value management function means is completed;
Further comprising: a value management device. The value management device according to claim 2,
A first valid period in which the validity period of each value block included in each value block group stored in the value management storage means is confirmed at a predetermined cycle, and a value block that has already expired is invalidated A deadline scheduler;
When the second value management function means uses the value, a second expiration date scheduler that confirms the expiration date of the value to be used and invalidates a value block that has already expired;
Further comprising: a value management device. The value management apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
Third receiving means for receiving the identifier and an inquiry about the value block group from a terminal used by the user;
The value management storage unit is searched using the identifier received by the third receiving unit as a key to identify a value block group identified by the identifier, and the inquiry is performed by confirming the contents of the value block group A third value management function means for creating a response to
Second transmission means for transmitting the response to the terminal used by the user;
Further comprising: a value management device. In the value management device according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
A value management apparatus, further comprising a third transmission unit configured to transmit a total value of values included in all value blocks included in the value block group to a terminal used by the site or the user. . The value management apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5,
The length of the warning period is determined in advance, and if there is a value block whose length until the expiration date of the value block included in the value block group is shorter than the length of the warning period, the expiration date Value management further comprising fourth transmission means for transmitting to the terminal used by the user or the site that there is a value block whose length is shorter than the length of the warning period apparatus. In the site connected to the value management device according to any one of claims 1 to 6,
A site characterized in that the value management apparatus performs any one or all of the value assignment processing, use processing, and expiration date management in the site. In a value management method performed by a device that manages a “value” having an expiration date and a monetary value, connected to each of a terminal used by a user and a site connected to the terminal,
A value that stores the value and the expiration date of the value as one value block, and stores a combination of one or more of the value blocks and an identifier for identifying the combination as a value block group Providing a management storage means;
A first receiving step of receiving, from the site, the identifier, a value value to be assigned, and an expiration date of the value value to be assigned;
A value block group identified by the identifier is identified by searching the value management storage unit using the identifier received in the first reception step as a key, and the value to be given to the identified value block group A first value management function step of adding a new value block generated by associating a value and an expiration date;
With
The value management method characterized in that the value blocks having different validity periods can be mixed in the same value block group. A value management program that is connected to each of a terminal used by a user and a site connected to the terminal, and is incorporated in a value management apparatus that manages “value” having an expiration date and a monetary value. In
A value that stores the value and the expiration date of the value as one value block, and stores a combination of one or more of the value blocks and an identifier for identifying the combination as a value block group Management storage means;
First receiving means for receiving, from the site, the identifier, a value value to be assigned, and an expiration date of the value value to be assigned;
A value block group identified by the identifier is specified by searching the value management storage unit using the identifier received by the first receiving unit as a key, and the value to be given to the specified value block group A first value management function means for adding a new value block generated by associating a value and an expiration date;
With
A value management program for causing a computer to function as a value management device capable of coexisting the value blocks having different expiration dates in the same value block group.

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