JP2016173624A - Digital book sales mediation system and program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a mechanism for preferentially treating the provision of a digital book corresponding to a paper book for an owner of the paper book.SOLUTION: A system for mediating sales of a digital book comprises: user information storage means which stores first user identification information that identifies a user and second user identification information for the user to utilize a digital book sales system in association with each other; book information storage means which stores book identification information and information for identifying whether a corresponding digital book can be purchased with preferential treatment in association with each other; discrimination means for discriminating whether the digital book can be purchased with preferential treatment on the basis of the information for identifying the possibility of the purchase with preferential treatment being stored while being associated with book identification information that is received from an operation terminal; and order request transmission means by which, when it is discriminated that the purchase with preferential treatment is possible, the second user identification information and an order request for ordering the purchase of the digital book with preferential treatment to the sales system that is utilized using the second user identification information.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

  The present invention relates to a system and program for mediating sales of electronic books.

  With the spread of mobile terminals such as smartphones and tablet PCs in recent years, reading styles such as reading a book with the same title as a paper book in some cases and reading an electronic book in a terminal in some cases are beginning to be oriented.

  On the other hand, for the purpose of providing a new way of enjoying a book, Patent Document 1 discloses content data related to the content of the book on the terminal of the user who purchased the book based on the authentication information of the card attached to the book. Disclosed is a method for providing content.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above prior art, and an object of the present invention is to provide a mechanism for preferentially providing an electronic book corresponding to the paper book to the owner of the paper book. And

  As a result of earnestly examining the mechanism for preferentially providing the electronic book corresponding to the paper book to the owner of the paper book, the inventor arrived at the present invention by conceiving the following configuration.

  That is, according to the present invention, the system is configured by one or more information processing apparatuses and mediates sales of electronic books, and each user using the system uses the system when the user uses the system. User information storage means for storing the first user identification information used for the user and the second user identification information used when the user uses the sales system for selling the electronic book, and the paper book The user is identified from the book information storage means for storing the book identification information for identifying and the information for specifying whether or not the preferential purchase of the electronic book corresponding to the paper book is associated, and the operation terminal. Receiving means for receiving the first user identification information and book identification information for uniquely identifying a paper book; and the book associated with the book identification information received by the receiving means Judgment means for judging whether or not the preferential purchase of the electronic book corresponding to the paper book identified by the book identification information is possible based on the information for specifying whether or not the preferential purchase is stored in the information storage means And the second user identification information stored in the user information storage means in association with the first user identification information received by the reception means when the determination means determines that the preferential purchase is possible, An order request transmitting means for transmitting an order request for preferential purchase of an electronic book corresponding to a paper book identified by the book identifying information received by the receiving means to the sales system; and the order request transmitting means A settlement result receiving means for receiving a settlement result transmitted from the sales system in response to the preferential purchase of the electronic book by an order based on the order request transmitted by , Based on the settlement result received in payment result receiving unit, and a charging information updating means for updating the charging information for charging the provider providing the sales system, the system is provided.

  As described above, according to the present invention, a mechanism for mediating purchase of an electronic book corresponding to the paper book is provided to the owner of the paper book.

The figure which shows the network system containing the electronic book sales mediation system of this embodiment. The hardware block diagram of the apparatus which comprises the network system of this embodiment. The functional block diagram of the electronic book sales mediation system of this embodiment. The sequence diagram which shows the process performed at the time of publication of a paper version book. The figure which shows a book information management table. The figure which shows the paper version book which printed the book individual ID encoded. The sequence diagram which shows the process performed when a paper version book is sold at fixed price in a new publication bookstore. The figure which shows a user registration screen. The figure which shows a user information registration table. The sequence diagram which shows the process performed in additional purchase. The sequence diagram which shows the process performed in additional purchase. The figure which shows the login screen etc. which are displayed on a smart phone. The figure which shows the message screen displayed on a smart phone. The figure which shows the sales agency selection screen etc. which are displayed on a smart phone. The sequence diagram which shows the process performed in the case of purchase and sale in a used bookstore. The sequence diagram which shows the process performed in exchange purchase. The sequence diagram which shows the process performed in exchange purchase. The sequence diagram which shows the process performed in exchange purchase. The figure which shows a book collection condition management table. The figure which shows the exchange reservation acceptance completion screen displayed on a smart phone. The figure which shows the sales agency selection screen etc. which are displayed on a smart phone. The figure which shows an accounting information management table.

  Hereinafter, although this invention is demonstrated with embodiment, this invention is not limited to embodiment mentioned later. In the drawings referred to below, the same reference numerals are used for common elements, and the description thereof is omitted as appropriate.

  FIG. 1 shows a network system 1000 constituted by an electronic book sales brokerage system 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention and a partner company that operates a business platform provided by the system. As shown in FIG. 1, a network system 1000 includes an electronic book sales brokerage system 100 according to the present embodiment, a server 20 that constructs an electronic book sales system that functions as an electronic book sales store on the Web, and sales of newly published books. It includes a server 30 installed in a store (new bookstore), a server 40 installed in a used book store (an old bookstore), and a server 50 installed in a book collection center. Each device is connected to be able to communicate with each other via a network 60 referred to as the Internet or VPN. Here, each server including the electronic book sales mediation system 100 may be configured as a single computer or a plurality of computers. In the following, for convenience of explanation, the server 20, the server 30, the server 40, and the server 50 are referred to as “electronic book store”, “new book store”, “old book store”, and “book collection center”, respectively. There is a case.

  Here, before describing the specific contents of the present embodiment, the significance of the business platform provided by the electronic book sales mediation system 100 of the present embodiment will be described.

  This system provides a mechanism for giving a book owner the right to purchase a digital content of the book at a preferential price or the right to receive it free of charge. In the following, digital content of a paper book is referred to as an “electronic book”, and the paper book is referred to as a “paper book” in order to distinguish it from an electronic book.

  First, in the business platform provided by the system, if the owner of a paper book wishes to purchase an electronic book corresponding to the paper book (that is, the digital content of the paper book) The owner is given the right to purchase the electronic book at a preferential price or the right to receive it free of charge. The preferential price here may include free of charge. (The same applies hereinafter.)

  Second, the business platform provided by the system provides the electronic book to the owner at a preferential price, provided that the owner of the printed book gives up the ownership of the printed book and accepts the collection. The right to purchase or receive free of charge is granted.

  The business platform provided by this system is operated and maintained with the cooperation of “Publisher”, “Printer”, “Electronic Book Store”, “New Book Store”, “Old Book Store” and “Book Collection Center” Each entity obtains tangible and intangible benefits from the business model using the business platform. On the other hand, the operating entity of the electronic book sales brokerage system 100 collects the consideration for providing the business platform from other partners. In addition, the mechanism in which the management subject of the electronic book sales mediation system 100 collects consideration from other partners will be described later.

  Next, the hardware configuration of each device constituting the network system 1000 will be described based on the hardware configuration diagram shown in FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 2A, a computer constituting each server including the electronic book sales mediation system 100 includes a processor 200, a ROM 202, a RAM 204, an auxiliary storage device 206, and an input / output device interface 208. The network interface 210 is provided.

  The processor 200 is an arithmetic device that controls the operation of the entire apparatus. The ROM 202 is a non-volatile memory that stores a boot program such as BIOS and a firmware program. The RAM 204 is a non-volatile memory that provides an execution space for executing a program. The auxiliary storage device 206 is a large-capacity HDD that stores an operating system (OS), various applications, and the like. The input / output device interface 208 is an interface for connecting an input device such as a mouse, a keyboard, and a touch panel, and an output device such as a display device. The network interface 210 is an interface for connecting to the network 60. The computer implements each functional unit described later by expanding and executing the program under the management of an appropriate OS.

  On the other hand, the user terminal 10 shown in FIG. 1 is a personal computer, preferably a mobile information terminal. Hereinafter, an embodiment in which a smartphone is used as the user terminal 10 will be described. As illustrated in FIG. 2B, the smartphone 10 includes a processor 300, a ROM 302, a RAM 304, an auxiliary storage device 306, a touch panel display 308, and a wireless I / F 310.

  The processor 300 is an arithmetic device that controls the operation of the entire apparatus. The ROM 302 is a non-volatile memory that stores a boot program such as BIOS and a firmware program. The RAM 304 is a non-volatile memory that provides an execution space for executing a program. The auxiliary storage device 306 is a large-capacity flash memory that stores an operating system (OS), various applications, and the like. The touch panel display 308 is a display device that accepts user operation input. The wireless I / F 310 inputs and outputs wireless signals through the antenna 312. Hereinafter, the touch panel display 308 is simply referred to as a display 308.

  Next, the functional configuration of the electronic book sales mediation system 100 of the present embodiment will be described based on the functional block diagram shown in FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the electronic book sales mediation system 100 according to the present embodiment includes a book individual ID issuing unit 101, a paper book information management unit 102, a book individual ID acquisition unit 103, and a user information registration unit 104. The electronic book order receiving unit 105, the proxy order unit 106, the payment confirmation unit 108, the billing information update unit 109, and the user authentication unit 110 are configured.

  The book individual ID issuing unit 101 is a functional unit for issuing a book individual ID, which is an identifier for uniquely identifying a paper book individual. The paper version book information management unit 102 is a functional unit for centrally managing information related to a paper version book including a book individual ID. The user information registration unit 104 is a functional unit for centrally managing information about the user including account information of an electronic book store where the user has an account.

  The book individual ID acquisition unit 103 is a functional unit for acquiring a book individual ID assigned to a paper version book from a user terminal of a user who desires to purchase an electronic book. The electronic book order receiving unit 105 is a functional means for receiving an electronic book order corresponding to a paper version book owned by the user.

  The proxy ordering unit 106 is a functional means for proxy-ordering an electronic book that has been accepted from the user to an electronic book store on behalf of the user. Here, the proxy ordering unit 106 includes a proxy authentication unit 107 which is a functional unit for logging in to the electronic book store by proxy authentication using the account information registered in the user information registration unit 104.

  The payment confirmation unit 108 is a functional unit for acquiring the payment result of the ordered electronic book from the electronic book store. The billing information update unit 109 is a functional unit for updating billing information based on the settlement result acquired from the electronic book store. The user authentication unit 110 is a functional unit for executing an authentication process for a user who uses the electronic book sales mediation system 100.

  Each functional unit described above is realized by installing a predetermined program in a computer. In the present embodiment, each functional unit may be realized on one computer, or each functional unit may be realized by being distributed and arranged in two or more computers on a network in an appropriate unit.

  The functional units constituting the electronic book sales mediation system 100 according to the present embodiment have been outlined above, but in the following, the contents of the processes executed by the functional units described above will be described as more specific examples. In the following description, FIGS. 1 and 3 will be referred to as appropriate.

  First, processing executed by a publisher when a paper book is published will be described with reference to a sequence diagram shown in FIG.

  The publisher requests the electronic book sales intermediary system 100 to issue a book individual ID prior to requesting the print shop to print a paper book. Specifically, the publisher sends a request including “paper book item identification information”, “number of copies to be issued” and “upper limit number of digitization” to the electronic book sales brokerage system 100 (S1). Note that the publisher may transmit the request via a predetermined input form provided by the electronic book sales mediation system 100, or send the request to a predetermined dedicated e-mail address designated by the electronic book sales mediation system 100. The content of the request may be sent by e-mail.

  Here, “item identification information of a paper version book” means identification information for uniquely identifying an item of a paper version book, and a specific example is ISBN (International Standard Book Number). Next, the “number of copies to be issued” means information indicating the number of paper books to be printed, and may be a number indicating the number of books, or an identifier that allows the print shop to specify the number of books. There may be. The “upper digitization number” means the upper limit of the number of times of digitization permitted for one paper book. In this embodiment, publishers participating in the business platform provided by this system are A predetermined value (for example, “1” or “2”) is set for each item of the paper book according to the platform usage rule. If the publisher does not allow digitization, the “upper digitization number” can be set to “0”.

  In the following, an embodiment in which ISBN (International Standard Book Number) is adopted as “item identification information of a paper book” notified to the electronic book sales mediation system 100 will be described.

  In response to the reception of the request transmitted from the publisher by the electronic book sales mediation system 100, the book individual ID issuing unit 101 issues the same number of “book individual IDs” as the received scheduled issue number (S2). Here, “book individual ID” means not an item of a book but an identifier for uniquely identifying each individual of a paper edition book, and the item of the relevant item for one type of paper edition book item. The same number of book individual IDs as the total number of copies is issued. As a practical method of issuing a book individual ID, a method of adding a branch number to the end of a numerical sequence constituting the ISBN can be mentioned. For example, if the branch number is 7 digits, it is possible to cover up to 10 million books per item of paper edition books.

  In the following, for convenience of explanation, an embodiment is described in which a book individual ID is issued by a method in which a branch number is applied to the end of ISBN. However, the present invention does not limit the method of issuing a book individual ID. Needless to say.

  Subsequently, the paper version book information management unit 102 registers the book individual ID issued by the book individual ID issuing unit 101 and information related thereto in the book information management table 500 exemplarily shown in FIG. 5 (S3). As shown in FIG. 5, the book information management table 500 includes a field 501 for storing a book individual ID, a field 502 for storing ISBN, and a field for storing an activation flag value (ON / OFF). 503, a field 504 for storing the number of times of digitization, and a field 505 for storing the maximum number of digitization are provided.

  Here, at the time of newly registering N book individual IDs, N rows are added to the end of the book information management table 500, and one newly issued book individual ID is added to the field 501 of each added row. The ISBN notified from the publisher in S1 is stored in the field 502 of all the added rows.

  On the other hand, when the book individual ID is newly registered, the value of the activation flag (field 503) is uniformly OFF, and the value of the number of times of digitization (field 504) is uniformly zero. The computerization upper limit number (field 505) stores the computerization upper limit number notified from the publisher in S1. Here, the activation flag is a flag indicating whether or not the system can be used, and a specific role played by the activation flag will be described later.

  When the registration of the issued book individual ID and the related information is completed, the paper version book information management unit 102 transmits the issued book individual ID to the publisher (S4). In response to this, the publisher notifies the print shop of the ISBN of the paper version book, the number of copies issued, and the number of book individual IDs equal to the number of copies issued, and requests the printing of the paper version book (S5). The publisher may send a print request to the printing shop via a predetermined input form provided by the electronic book sales mediation system 100, or a predetermined dedicated mail address designated by the electronic book sales mediation system 100. A print request to the print shop may be sent to the e-mail address.

  Upon receiving a print request from the publisher, the printing shop gives the notified book individual ID to each individual when printing the notified number of paper books (S6). In addition, in the “granting book individual ID” here, in addition to a mode in which the book individual ID is directly printed on the main body or cover of the paper version book, a sticker printed with the book individual ID is attached to the main body or cover of the paper version book The mode to stick is included.

  The book individual ID is printed in accordance with a predetermined method. The simplest possible method is a method of printing the book individual ID (several sequences) as text as it is, but considering the workability later, the book can be automatically read by the device. It is preferable to print an individual ID (sequence) encoded by an arbitrary method. In this case, the encoding may be performed by the printing shop, or may be performed by the publisher, and the encoded book individual ID may be provided to the printing shop. The system 100 may provide the publisher with the encoded book individual ID.

  FIG. 6 exemplarily shows a paper book on which a coded book individual ID is printed. In the example shown in FIG. 6, the book individual ID is printed in the lower right corner of the back cover of the paper version book in a state where it is converted into a QR code (registered trademark; the same applies hereinafter). Note that the book individual ID encoding method is not limited to the QR code, but may be other codes (other two-dimensional codes, one-dimensional codes such as barcodes), and the print position is also the front cover and back. It may be an arbitrary place such as a cover or imprint.

  As mentioned above, although the process performed at the time of publication of a paper version book was demonstrated, the paper version book published by the procedure mentioned above distributes various sales channels, is supplied to a new publication bookstore, and waits for a user's purchase. Therefore, in the following, a process executed when a paper book is sold at a fixed price at a new bookstore will be described based on a sequence diagram shown in FIG. In the following, for convenience of explanation, an embodiment in which a book individual ID is printed on a paper book as a QR code will be described. However, it goes without saying that the present invention does not limit the method of assigning a book individual ID. Absent.

  When the user selects a desired new book (paper book) at the new bookstore and offers to the cashier to purchase the book (S1), the store clerk at the new bookstore decodes the QR code printed on the paper book with a dedicated device. The book individual ID is acquired (S2). The new bookstore transmits a flag validation request including the acquired book individual ID and the authentication information of the new bookstore to the electronic book sales mediation system 100 (S3).

  In response to the electronic book sales mediation system 100 receiving the flag validation request, the paper book information management unit 102 creates a new publication of the transmission source based on the authentication information of the new bookstore included in the received flag validation request. An authentication process for confirming the legitimacy of the bookstore is executed (S4). After the authenticity of the new bookstore of the transmission source is confirmed by the authentication process, the paper book information management unit 102 uses the book information management table 500 (see FIG. 5) with the book individual ID included in the flag validation request as a key. Search is performed, and the value of the activation flag (field 503) associated with the book individual ID is switched from OFF to ON (S5). Thereafter, the paper book information management unit 102 notifies the new bookstore that flag validation has been completed (S6). In the new bookstore, the completion of flag validation is displayed by an appropriate method, and the clerk of the new bookstore confirms the display and then transfers the paper book to the user at a fixed price (S7).

  Instead of acquiring the book individual ID by decoding the QR code on the new bookstore side, the book individual ID may be acquired by decoding the QR code on the electronic book sales mediation system 100 side. In this case, the store clerk of the new bookstore takes a QR code printed on a paper version book in response to a purchase request from the user. Then, the new bookstore transmits a flag validation request including the captured image of the QR code and the authentication information of the new bookstore to the electronic book sales brokerage system 100. The electronic book sales mediation system 100 that has received the flag validation request from the new bookstore analyzes the captured image of the QR code included in the received flag validation request and acquires the book individual ID.

  As mentioned above, the processing executed when the paper book is sold at a fixed price in the new bookstore has been described. Here, the processing executed at the time of user registration of the electronic book sales mediation system 100 will be described.

  At the time of user registration of the electronic book sales mediation system 100, the user information registration unit 104 provides a predetermined user registration screen. FIG. 8 exemplarily shows a user registration screen provided by the user information registration unit 104. As shown in FIG. 8A, first, a list of electronic book sales stores (Web stores) that use the electronic book sales mediation system 100 is displayed on the user registration screen in a selectable manner. The user selects one or more electronic book stores that the user already has an account from among the electronic book stores listed on the user registration screen.

  When the selection of the electronic book store is completed, the user registration screen transitions to the account information input screen shown in FIG. The user inputs account information (user ID, password) of the selected electronic book store on the account information input screen. When the input of the account information is completed, the user registration screen is changed to a mail address input screen shown in FIG. The user inputs his / her contact mail address on the mail address input screen.

  When selection / input of necessary information is completed, the user information registration unit 104 registers the information selected / input by the user in the user information registration table 600 illustrated in FIG. Here, as shown in FIG. 9, the user information registration table 600 includes a field 601 for storing a user ID, a field 602 for storing identification information (name, etc.) of an electronic book store, an electronic book store. Field 603 for storing user account information (user ID and password), a field 604 for storing the URL of the electronic book store, and a field 605 for storing the user's mail address. From the user information registration table 600 shown in FIG. 9, a user having a user ID of “user1” is 4 companies “A company”, “B company”, “C company”, “D company” as electronic book purchase destination candidates. It can be seen that one electronic book store (Web store) is registered.

  The processing executed at the time of user registration of the electronic book sales mediation system 100 has been described above. Subsequently, the processing executed in the scenario where the owner of the paper version book purchases the electronic book corresponding to the paper version book. Will be described based on the sequence diagrams shown in FIGS. Hereinafter, such a purchase method is referred to as “additional purchase”.

  A user who wants to purchase an electronic book corresponding to a paper book previously purchased at a fixed price at a new bookstore at a preferential price logs in the electronic book sales brokerage system 100 by operating the smartphone 10 (S1). FIG. 8A exemplarily shows a login screen displayed on the display 308 of the smartphone 10. When the user inputs the user ID and password on the login screen shown in FIG. 8A and touches the login button, the smartphone 10 transmits a login request including the input user ID and password to the electronic book sales brokerage system 100. (S2).

  When the electronic book sales mediation system 100 receives the login request transmitted from the smartphone 10, the user authentication unit 110 performs user authentication based on the user ID and password included in the received login request (S3). And if authentication is successful, the electronic book order reception part 105 will transmit a service menu screen to the smart phone 10 (S4).

  When the smartphone 10 receives the service menu screen transmitted from the electronic book order receiving unit 105, the smartphone 10 displays the received service menu screen on the display 308 (S5). FIG. 8B exemplarily shows a service menu screen displayed on the display 308 of the smartphone 10. On the service menu screen shown in FIG. 8B, two menus “additional purchase” and “replacement purchase” are displayed so as to be alternatively selectable by radio buttons. When the user selects “additional purchase” and touches the OK button (S6), the screen of the smartphone 10 transitions to a QR code reading screen using the QR code reading function (S7). FIG. 8C exemplarily shows a QR code reading screen displayed on the display 308 of the smartphone 10.

  In response to the display of the QR code reading screen on the display 308, the user operates the smartphone 10 to photograph the QR code printed on the paper book previously purchased at the new bookstore (S8). The QR code reading function of the smartphone 10 acquires the book individual ID by decoding the photographed QR code (S9). Then, the smartphone 10 generates an electronic book purchase request including the acquired book individual ID and the selected purchase method (in this case, “addition”), and transmits the generated electronic book purchase request to the electronic book sales mediation system 100. (S10).

  In response to the electronic book sales brokerage system 100 receiving an electronic book purchase request from the smartphone 10, the electronic book order receiving unit 105 uses the book individual ID included in the electronic book purchase request as a key as a book information management table 500 ( Search (see FIG. 5) (S11). Next, it is determined whether or not the value of the activation flag (field 503) associated with the retrieved book individual ID is ON (S12). Here, as a result of the determination, if the value of the activation flag is not ON, the electronic book order receiving unit 105 generates a message indicating that handling is not possible, and transmits the generated message to the smartphone 10. The smartphone 10 displays the received message on the display 308. FIG. 13A exemplarily shows a message screen displayed on the display 308 of the smartphone 10 in that case.

  Here, the role played by the activation flag will be described. As can be understood from the above description, in the present embodiment, the activation flag associated with the book individual ID related to the newly published book is displayed in the electronic book sales mediation system 100 while the newly published book is displayed in the store. Is maintained OFF. Therefore, even if a malicious third party photographs a QR code of a new book that has not been purchased, acquires a book individual ID, and transmits the acquired electronic book purchase request to the electronic book sales brokerage system 100, the above-described The request is rejected through the determination in S11. That is, in the present embodiment, unauthorized use of the system is prevented by the presence of the activation flag.

  On the other hand, when the value of the activation flag associated with the book individual ID included in the electronic book purchase request received from the smartphone 10 is ON, the electronic book order reception unit 105 receives the electronic book purchase request received from the smartphone 10. The book information management table 500 (see FIG. 5) is searched using the book individual ID included in the ID as a key, and the value of the number of times of digitization (field 504) associated with the book individual ID is the value of the maximum number of digitization (field 505). Is determined (S13). As a result, when the number of times of digitization has reached the digitization upper limit number, the electronic book order receiving unit 105 generates a message indicating that the electronic book cannot be sold at a preferential price, and transmits the generated message to the smartphone 10. . Then, the smartphone 10 displays the received message on the display 308. FIG. 13B exemplarily shows a message screen displayed on the display 308 of the smartphone 10 in that case.

  On the other hand, when the number of times of digitization associated with the book individual ID does not reach the maximum number of digitization, the electronic book order receiving unit 105 acquires the ISBN from the book individual ID included in the electronic book purchase request received from the smartphone 10. (S14). Specifically, the first 13-digit number sequence of the book individual ID (number sequence) is extracted as ISBN. Thereafter, the electronic book order receiving unit 105 generates an inquiry about the electronic book including the extracted ISBN and the purchase method selected by the user (in this case, “add”), and transmits the generated electronic book inquiry to the electronic book purchase request. The data is transmitted to one or more electronic book sales stores (Web stores) registered in advance by the original user (S15). Here, an inquiry about an electronic book refers to information (contents) of an electronic book that an electronic book store (Web store) participating in a business platform provided by this system sells at a preferential price based on the terms of the platform. The electronic book order receiving unit 105 determines an electronic book inquiry destination with reference to the user information registration table 600 (see FIG. 9), and makes an inquiry about the electronic book to the inquiry destination. Send.

  Here, when the user ID of the transmission source user of the electronic book purchase request in S10 is “user1”, the electronic book order receiving unit 105 searches the user information registration table 600 using “user1” as a key. , An inquiry about an electronic book is transmitted to the URLs of four electronic book sales stores (A company, B company, C company, and D company) linked to “user1”.

  Each e-book retailer stores the ISBN of the e-book corresponding to the ISBN included in the received e-book inquiry (the ISBN of the e-book is given a unique value different from that of the paper book) A preferential price corresponding to the purchase method (in this case, “addition”) included in the inquiry is searched (S16). Then, each electronic book store transmits the searched preferential price as a search result to the electronic book sales brokerage system 100 (S17).

  In response to the electronic book sales mediation system 100 receiving a search result from each electronic book sales store, the electronic book order receiving unit 105 generates a sales source selection screen based on the search result (S18). Next, the electronic book order reception part 105 transmits the produced sales agency selection screen to the smart phone 10 (S19). Then, the smartphone 10 displays the seller selection screen transmitted from the electronic book order receiving unit 105 on the display 308 (S20).

  FIG. 14A exemplarily shows a vendor selection screen displayed on the smartphone 10. In the seller selection screen shown in FIG. 14A, four electronic book sales stores (Company A, Company B, Company C, Company D) are displayed together with preferential prices for electronic books, and the user compares prices. Thus, a desired electronic book store can be alternatively selected with a radio button.

  The description will be continued based on FIG. Here, when the user selects “Company B” presenting the lowest price on the seller selection screen as the seller of the electronic book and touches the OK button (S20), the smartphone 10 selects the seller “ "Company B" is notified to the electronic book sales mediation system 100 (S21).

  When the electronic book sales mediation system 100 receives the notification of the seller from the smartphone 10, the proxy ordering unit 106 uses the user ID of the user of the notification source and the notified seller as a key to the user information registration table 600. (See FIG. 9) and information necessary for proxy authentication is acquired (S22). Specifically, the user information registration table 600 is searched using the user ID (in this case, user1) and the notified vendor (in this case, “Company B”) as a key, and the account of “Company B” associated therewith. Information (user ID: USER1, password: Abcd1234) and URL of "Company B" (http: //www.bbb.co.jp / ...) are acquired.

  Subsequently, the proxy authentication unit 107 transmits a login request including the acquired account information (user ID: USER1, password: Abcd1234) to the URL of “Company B” (S23). In response, “Company B” performs user authentication based on the account information included in the login request (S24), and returns a successful login (authentication ticket) to the proxy authentication unit 107 (S25).

  In response to successful login by proxy authentication unit 107, proxy order unit 106 transmits electronic book order information to "Company B" (S26). The order information includes the ISBN of the electronic book (in this case, “history of XXΔ □”), the book individual ID assigned to the paper book that is the basis for the additional purchase, and discount instruction information. . The discount instruction information in this embodiment includes a purchase method (in this case, “addition”) selected by the user and a certificate that proves that the logged-in user has the right to purchase an electronic book at a preferential price. .

  “Company B” confirms the existence of the certificate and the purchase method (in this case, “add”) from the contents of the discount instruction information included in the order information received from the electronic book sales mediation system 100 (S27). Order reception processing according to the purchase method is executed (S28). The order receiving process here means a process of putting the ordered product (in this case, “history of ○ × △ □ (electronic book version))” into a so-called “shopping basket”. ”Executes a process of putting“ OxΔ □ history (electronic book version) ”with a normal price of 500 yen into a“ shopping basket ”at a preferential price“ 100 yen ”by additional purchase.

  Thereafter, “Company B” generates an order detail confirmation screen (S29), and transmits the URL of the order detail confirmation screen to the electronic book sales mediation system 100 that is the order information transmission source (S30). In response to this, the proxy ordering unit 106 generates a redirect instruction specifying the URL of the order details confirmation screen as a redirect destination, and transmits the authentication ticket received in S25 and the redirect instruction to the smartphone 10 (S31). The smartphone 10 that has received the redirect instruction transmits an authentication ticket to “Company B” and redirects it to the URL of the order details confirmation screen (S32). In response to this, “Company B” transmits the order details confirmation screen to the smartphone 10 (S33). The smartphone 10 displays the order details confirmation screen received from “Company B” on the display 308 (S34).

  FIG. 14B exemplarily shows an order detail confirmation screen displayed on the display 308 of the smartphone 10. In the order confirmation screen shown in FIG. 14 (b), the image of “History of ○ × △ □ (electronic book version)” and its price “¥ 100” has “History of ○ × △ □” now. It is a preferential price applied to those who are! "Is displayed with the message.

  When the user who has confirmed the order details confirmation screen displayed on the display 308 of the smartphone 10 touches the “Proceed to checkout” button, the payment screen for “Company B” is displayed on the smartphone 10. Here, when the user confirms the order of “history of XXΔ □ (electronic book version)” according to the guidance on the settlement screen displayed by “Company B” and executes an operation necessary for settlement (S35), the smartphone 10 The settlement information is transmitted from “Company B” to “Company B” (S36). In response to this, “Company B” executes the payment process (S37), and if the payment is successful, notifies the smartphone 10 to that effect (S38). Thereafter, the user accesses a predetermined download screen provided by “Company B” at a desired timing and downloads “History of XXΔ □ (electronic book version)”.

  In this embodiment, the electronic book sales mediation system 100 is not involved in any order confirmation and settlement after the proxy order unit 106 transmits the order information of the electronic book to “Company B”. In addition, the order confirmation and settlement of “OxΔ □ History (electronic book version)” in the shopping basket are made directly between the smartphone 10 and “Company B”.

  “Company B” will be associated with “History of XX △ □ (electronic book version)” at the end of the session with the user related to preferential discount sales of “History of XX △ □ (electronic book version)”. The settlement result is transmitted to the electronic book sales mediation system 100 (S39). Specifically, “Company B”, when the payment processing related to the sale is completed, sends the electronic book sales brokerage system 100 the payment result including the book individual ID related to the sale, the completion of payment, and the payment amount. Send to. On the other hand, if the settlement process is not completed due to cancellation of the order or other reasons, the settlement result including the book individual ID related to the sale and the fact that the settlement is incomplete is transmitted to the electronic book sales mediation system 100.

  In response to receipt of the settlement result by the electronic book sales mediation system 100, the settlement confirmation unit 108 confirms the settlement result and updates the book information management table 500 according to the content (S40). Specifically, when the settlement result is “unsettled”, the settlement confirmation unit 108 does not update the book information management table 500. On the other hand, when the settlement result is “settlement completed”, the settlement confirmation unit 108 searches the book information management table 500 using the book individual ID included in the settlement result as a key, and associates it with the book individual ID. The number of times of digitization (field 504) is incremented.

  Further, when the settlement result is “settlement complete”, the settlement confirmation unit 108 notifies the charging information update unit 109 of the fact and the settlement amount. In response to this, the charging information update unit 109 updates the charging information (S41). The details of the billing information will be described later.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, a new mechanism is provided that sells an electronic book at a preferential price to the owner of a paper book beyond the barrier of the seller. This mechanism is expected to create potential demand for electronic books.

  As mentioned above, although the process performed when a user purchases an electronic book by additional purchase was demonstrated, the application range of the electronic book discount sales scheme which this system provides can be extended to a used book. In the following, when the e-book discount sales scheme is applied to second-hand books, second-hand book stores (hereinafter referred to as secondhand bookstores) purchase paper-based books, and secondhand bookstores secondhand books (hereinafter referred to as secondhand books). The processing executed when selling will be described based on the sequence diagram shown in FIG.

  First, a process executed when an used bookstore purchases used books will be described.

  When the user applies for the purchase of a secondhand book at a secondhand bookstore (S1), the secondhand bookstore clerk decodes the QR code printed on the secondhand book (paper book) with a dedicated device to obtain a book individual ID (S2). . The secondhand bookstore transmits a flag invalidation request including the acquired book individual ID and secondhand bookstore authentication information to the electronic book sales mediation system 100 (S3).

  In response to the electronic book sales mediation system 100 receiving the flag invalidation request, the paper book information management unit 102 determines the validity of the transmission source based on the authentication information of the used book store included in the flag invalidation request. Is confirmed (S4). When the validity of the transmission source of the flag invalidation request is confirmed, the paper book information management unit 102 uses the book information management table 500 (see FIG. 5) with the book individual ID included in the flag invalidation request as a key. After searching and switching the value of the activation flag (field 503) associated with the book individual ID from ON to OFF (S5), the second-hand bookstore is notified that the flag invalidation has been completed (S6). At the secondhand bookstore, the completion of flag invalidation is displayed by an appropriate method, and after confirming the display, the secondhand bookstore clerk displays the secondhand book with the flag invalidated in the store for sale.

  Next, processing executed when the used bookstore sells used books will be described.

  When the user offers to purchase a secondhand book at the secondhand bookstore (S7), the secondhand bookstore clerk decodes the QR code printed on the secondhand book (paper book) with a dedicated device to obtain a book individual ID (S8). . The secondhand bookstore transmits a flag validation request including the acquired book individual ID and secondhand bookstore authentication information to the electronic book sales mediation system 100 (S9).

  In response to the electronic book sales mediation system 100 receiving the flag validation request, the paper book information management unit 102 determines the validity of the transmission source based on the authentication information of the used book store included in the flag validation request. Is confirmed (S10). When the validity of the transmission source of the flag validation request is confirmed, the paper book information management unit 102 uses the book information management table 500 (see FIG. 5) with the book individual ID included in the flag validation request as a key. After searching and switching the value of the activation flag (field 503) associated with the book individual ID from OFF to ON (S11), the old book store is notified that the flag has been activated (S12). In the used book store, the completion of the flag activation is displayed by an appropriate method, and after confirming the display, the used book store clerk transfers the used book (paper version book) to the user at a used price (S13).

  Thereafter, processing executed when a user who has purchased a used book (paper version book) at an used book store purchases an electronic book corresponding to the paper version book will be described based on the sequence diagrams shown in FIGS. 10 and 11. Since it is the same as that described above, further explanation is omitted here. That is, the processing shown in FIG. 15 is for eliminating unauthorized use of the system. By performing the above-described processing, the second-hand book is displayed in the store while the electronic book sales mediation system 100 is in operation. Then, since the activation flag associated with the book individual ID related to the used book (paper version book) is maintained OFF, a malicious third party steals the book individual ID from the QR code of the used book that has not been purchased. Even if an electronic book purchase request is transmitted to the electronic book sales mediation system 100, the request is rejected.

  The processing executed when the e-book discount sales scheme of this system is applied to second-hand book sales has been described above. Subsequently, the owner of the paper book gives up the ownership of the paper book and collects it. The processing executed in the scenario for purchasing the electronic book corresponding to the paper book on the condition that the above is satisfied will be described based on the sequence diagrams shown in FIG. 16, FIG. 17, and FIG. Hereinafter, such a purchase method is referred to as “exchange purchase”.

  This will be described with reference to FIG. A user who wants to dispose of a paper book at hand and instead purchase an electronic book corresponding to the paper book at a preferential price logs in the electronic book sales mediation system 100 by operating the smartphone 10 (S1). ). In response to this, the smartphone 10 transmits a login request to the electronic book sales mediation system 100 (S2). The electronic book sales mediation system 100 performs user authentication in response to receiving the login request (S3), and when the authentication is successful, the electronic book order acceptance unit 105 transmits a service menu screen to the smartphone 10 (S4).

  In response, the smartphone 10 displays the service menu screen illustrated in FIG. 8B on the display 308 (S5). When the user selects “replacement purchase” and touches the OK button (S6), the smartphone 10 displays a QR code reading screen (S7).

  In response to the display of the QR code reading screen on the display 308, the user operates the smartphone 10 to photograph the QR code printed on the paper book owned by the user (S8). The QR code reading function of the smartphone 10 decodes the captured QR code to obtain a book individual ID (S9), and an electronic book including the book individual ID and the selected purchase method (in this case, “exchange”) A purchase request is generated and transmitted to the electronic book sales mediation system 100 (S10).

  In response to the electronic book sales mediation system 100 receiving the electronic book purchase request from the smartphone 10, the electronic book order receiving unit 105 transmits the book individual ID included in the electronic book purchase request and the transmission source of the electronic book purchase request. A paper book collection reservation request including the user ID of the user is generated and transmitted to the book collection center (S11). The book collection center associates the book ID and user ID included in the paper book collection reservation request received from the electronic book sales brokerage system 100 and registers them in the paper book collection reservation list (S12), and then the paper plate. The electronic book sales brokerage system 100 is notified that the book collection reservation has been completed (S13).

  In response to the electronic book sales mediation system 100 receiving the notification, the electronic book order receiving unit 105 exemplarily shows a book collection in which the user ID included in the paper book collection collection request transmitted in S11 is shown in FIG. Register in the status management table 700. Here, the book collection status management table 700 includes a field 701 for storing a user ID, a field 702 for storing a status, and a field 703 for storing a storage destination path of a sales source selection screen. As shown in FIG. 19A, the electronic book order receiving unit 105 stores the user ID (in this case, user1) in the field 701, and stores “book collection waiting” in the field 702 associated with user1 (S14). ).

  Thereafter, the electronic book order receiving unit 105 generates a replacement reservation reception completion screen (S15) and transmits it to the smartphone 10 (S16).

  The smartphone 10 displays the exchange reservation acceptance completion screen received from the electronic book sales mediation system 100 on the display 308 (S17). FIG. 20 exemplarily shows a replacement reservation acceptance completion screen displayed on the display 308 of the smartphone 10. In the example shown in FIG. 20, on the exchange reservation acceptance completion screen, a message “Reservation for exchange accepted” and a guide for the destination of the paper book are displayed.

  The description will be continued based on FIG. After confirming the acceptance of the exchange reservation on the display 308 of the smartphone 10, the user sends out the paper edition book to be exchanged to the guided book collection center (S18). The staff of the book collection center decodes the QR code printed on the arrived paper version book with a dedicated device to obtain the book individual ID, and the check column of the collection reservation list of the paper version book corresponding to the acquired book individual ID Is executed to collect a paper book that makes “Recovered” (S19). Then, the book collection center transmits paper book collection completion information including the book individual ID and the user ID associated therewith to the electronic book sales mediation system 100 in the collection reservation list of the paper book (S20).

  In response to the electronic book sales mediation system 100 receiving the paper book collection completion information from the book collection center, the electronic book order receiving unit 105 collects the book using the user ID included in the paper book collection completion information as a key. The status management table 700 is searched, and the value of the status (field 702) associated with the user ID is changed from “Waiting for book collection” to “Book collection completed” (S21). The number of times of digitization (field 504) associated with the book individual ID included in the version book collection completion information is initialized (reset to 0) (S22).

  Subsequently, the electronic book order receiving unit 105 acquires the ISBN from the book individual ID (S23), and generates an inquiry about the electronic book including the acquired ISBN and the purchase method (in this case, “exchange”) selected by the user. . The electronic book order receiving unit 105 transmits the generated inquiry to one or more electronic book sales stores (Web stores) registered by the user associated with the user ID included in the paper book collection completion information (S24).

  In this case, the electronic book order receiving unit 105 searches the user information registration table 600 (see FIG. 9) using “user1” as a key, and four electronic book sales stores (Company A, Company A) associated with “user1”. An inquiry about an electronic book is transmitted to the URL of Company B, Company C, Company D).

  Each electronic book store searches for the preferential price corresponding to the ISBN of the electronic book corresponding to the ISBN included in the received electronic book inquiry and the purchase method (in this case, “exchange”) included in the inquiry (S25). The result is transmitted to the electronic book sales mediation system 100 (S26).

  In response to the electronic book sales brokerage system 100 receiving the search result from each electronic book sales store, the electronic book order receiving unit 105 generates and stores a sales source selection screen based on the search result (S27). Then, the storage path of the seller selection screen is stored in the field 703 associated with the user ID “user1” of the book collection status management table 700 (S28).

  Thereafter, the electronic book order receiving unit 105 searches the user information registration table 600 (see FIG. 9) using “user1” as a key, and the email address of the smartphone 10 linked to “user1” (in this case, “user1 @ Email.com) is notified by e-mail that preparation for the purchase of the e-book has been completed (S29).

  The description will be continued based on FIG. The user who has received the e-book purchase preparation completion notification by e-mail operates the smartphone 10 to log in to the e-book sales mediation system 100 (S1). In response to this, the smartphone 10 transmits a login request to the electronic book sales mediation system 100 (S2). The electronic book sales mediation system 100 performs user authentication in response to receiving the login request (S3), and if the authentication is successful, the electronic book order receiving unit 105 displays the user ID of the login user (in this case, “user1”). ) As a key, the book collection status management table 700 is searched, and the save destination path of the seller selection screen stored in the field 703 associated with the user ID “user1” is acquired. The electronic book order reception part 105 accesses the acquired path, acquires a sales agency selection screen (S4), and transmits the sales agency selection screen to the smartphone 10 (S5).

  The smartphone 10 displays the seller selection screen received from the electronic book sales mediation system 100 on the display 308 (S6). FIGS. 21A and 21B exemplarily show a vendor selection screen displayed on the smartphone 10 in S6. In this example, first, as shown in FIG. 21A, the user can purchase “History of XX △ □ (electronic book version)” at a preferential price. The two menus “Buy now” and “Buy later” are displayed so that they can be selected alternatively by radio buttons. Here, when the user selects “Buy Now” and touches the OK button, the screen changes to a seller selection screen shown in FIG. Subsequently, when the user selects “Company C” presenting the lowest price on the seller selection screen and touches the OK button (S7), the smartphone 10 selects the seller “ "Company C" is notified to the electronic book sales mediation system 100 (S8).

  When the electronic book sales mediation system 100 receives the notification of the seller from the smartphone 10, the proxy ordering unit 106 uses the user ID of the user of the notification source and the notified seller as a key to the user information registration table 600. And information necessary for proxy authentication is acquired (S9). Specifically, the user information registration table 600 is searched using the sales company “C company” notified of the user ID “user1” as a key, and the account information of “C company” associated with them (user ID: user1 @ email .com, password: 12341234) and URL of "Company C" (http: //www.ccc.co.jp / ...).

  Subsequently, the proxy authentication unit 107 transmits a login request including the acquired account information (user ID: user1@email.com, password: 12341234) to the URL of “Company C” (S23). In response, “Company C” performs user authentication based on the account information included in the login request (S11), and returns a successful login (authentication ticket) to the proxy authentication unit 107 (S12).

  In response to successful login by proxy authentication unit 107, proxy order unit 106 transmits electronic book order information to "Company C" (S13). The order information includes the ISBN of the electronic book (in this case, “history of XXΔ □”), the book individual ID assigned to the paper book that is the basis for the discount, and discount instruction information. The discount instruction information includes a purchase method selected by the user (in this case, “exchange”) and a certificate that proves that the logged-in user has the right to purchase an electronic book at a preferential price.

  “Company C” confirms the existence of the certificate and the purchase method (in this case, “exchange”) from the contents of the discount instruction information included in the order information received from the electronic book sales mediation system 100 (S14). An order reception process is performed for placing the ordered product (in this case, “history of XXΔ □ (electronic book version))” according to the purchase method into a so-called “shopping basket” (S15). At this time, “Company C” executes a process of putting “OxΔ □□ history (electronic book version)” with a normal price of 500 yen into a “shopping basket” with a preferential price “10 yen” by replacement purchase.

  Thereafter, “Company C” generates an order detail confirmation screen (S16), and transmits it to the electronic book sales mediation system 100 that is the transmission source of the order information (S17). In response, the electronic book sales mediation system 100 generates a redirect instruction specifying the URL of the order details confirmation screen as a redirect destination, and transmits the authentication ticket received in S12 and the redirect instruction to the smartphone 10 (S18). ). The smartphone 10 that has received the redirect instruction transmits an authentication ticket to “Company C” and redirects it to the URL of the order content confirmation screen (S19). In response to this, “Company C” transmits the order content confirmation screen to the smartphone 10 (S20). In response, the smartphone 10 displays the order details confirmation screen received from “Company C” on the display 308 (S21). FIG. 21C shows an order details confirmation screen displayed on the display 308 of the smartphone 10 at this time. In the order confirmation screen shown in FIG. 21 (c), an image of “History of XX △ □ (electronic book version)” and its price “¥ 10” are applied to customers who exchange “paper edition books”. It is displayed with the message “Price is”. The procedure performed after this is the same as the contents (S35 to S41) described above with reference to FIG. 11, and further description is omitted here.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, a new mechanism is provided for realizing the exchange of paper edition books and electronic books beyond the boundaries of the seller. This mechanism is expected to generate potential demand for e-books and play a role in the collection of used books.

  Finally, accounting information (see S41 in FIG. 11) updated by the accounting information update unit 109 will be described. The billing information here refers to “publisher”, “print shop”, “electronic book store”, “new book store”, “old book store” and “book collection center” participating in the business platform provided by this system. It means information that is the basis for calculating charges for some or all. In addition, based on what billing information, who, what method, and what apportionment should be charged are design matters that can be arbitrarily determined according to the purpose of using the business platform. The present invention does not limit the contents. Here, the number of sales of electronic books mediated by the electronic book sales brokerage system 100 (the number of brokered sales) and the sales sales (brokered sales) are used as billing information, and the electronic book store is charged based on the billing information. Will be described.

  FIG. 22 exemplarily shows a charging information management table 800 updated by the charging information update unit 109. As shown in FIG. 22, the billing information management table 800 stores a field 801 for storing identification information (name, etc.) of an electronic book store, a field 802 for storing the number of brokered sales, and brokered sales. A field 803 for storing a billing contract form, and a field 805 for storing a billing amount.

  In this case, when the billing information updating unit 109 receives a notification of “settlement completion” and the settlement amount from the settlement confirmation unit 108, the number of brokered sales (field field) associated with the electronic book store that is the transmission result of the settlement result The value of 802) is incremented, and the notified settlement amount is added to the value of brokerage sales (field 803). In response, the value of the charge amount (field 605) is updated according to the content of the charge form (field 604). The operating entity of the electronic book sales brokerage system 100 totals the billing amount based on the billing information management table 800 for each predetermined date, and bills each electronic book store for the billed amount.

  Examples of the charging form include a form in which a fixed amount is charged for each number of brokered sales, and a form in which a predetermined amount is charged for the brokered sales. In addition, an individual contract for charging in a form such as a fixed monthly fee system or a pay-as-you-go system may be concluded with an electronic book store.

  Although the present invention has been described with the first and second embodiments, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments. For example, in the above-described embodiment, a mode in which a smartphone is used as the user terminal has been described. However, it is needless to say that the user terminal may be any information terminal such as a tablet PC or a notebook PC. Further, in the above-described embodiment, the mode in which the text or the conversion code is normally printed has been described as the method for assigning the book individual ID. A method of printing a tint block pattern in a region may be adopted.

  In the above-described embodiment, a mode has been described in which the book individual ID is obtained by decoding the conversion code of the book individual ID on the user terminal or the dedicated device side of the bookstore, but the book individual ID on the electronic book sales mediation system side. A configuration may be adopted that decodes. In this case, the user terminal or the like takes a photograph of the conversion code of the book individual ID and transmits it to the electronic book sales brokerage system, and the electronic book sales brokerage system analyzes the photograph and acquires the book individual ID. (The same applies to the above-described background pattern printing.) In addition, within the scope of embodiments that can be conceived by those skilled in the art, the present invention is included in the scope of the present invention as long as the operations and effects of the present invention are exhibited.

  Note that each function of the above-described embodiment can be realized by a device-executable program described in C, C ++, C #, Java (registered trademark), and the like. The program of this embodiment includes a hard disk device, a CD-ROM. , MO, DVD, flexible disk, EEPROM, EPROM and the like can be stored and distributed in a device-readable recording medium, and can be transmitted via a network in a format that other devices can.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Smartphone 20 ... Server 30 ... Server 40 ... Server 50 ... Server 60 ... Network 100 ... Electronic book sales mediation system 101 ... Book individual ID issuing part 102 ... Paper version book information management part 103 ... Book individual ID acquisition part 104 ... User Information registration unit 105 ... Electronic book order receiving unit 106 ... Proxy order unit 107 ... Proxy authentication unit 108 ... Settlement confirmation unit 109 ... Billing information update unit 110 ... User authentication unit 200 ... Processor 202 ... ROM
204 ... RAM
206 ... Auxiliary storage device 208 ... I / O device interface 210 ... Network interface 300 ... Processor 302 ... ROM
304 ... RAM
306 ... Auxiliary storage device 308 ... Touch panel display 310 ... Wireless I / F
312 ... Antenna 500 ... Book information management table 501, 502, 503, 504, 505 ... Field 600 ... User information registration table 601, 602, 603, 604, 605 ... Field 700 ... Book collection status management table 701, 702, 703 ... Field 800 ... billing information management table 801, 802, 803, 804, 805 ... field 1000 ... network system

JP 2011-165030 A

Claims (8)

A system configured by one or more information processing devices to mediate sales of electronic books,
For each user who uses the system, first user identification information used when the user uses the system, and second user identification information used when the user uses a sales system that sells electronic books. And user information storage means for storing in association with each other,
Book information storage means for storing book identification information for uniquely identifying a paper version book and information for specifying whether or not preferential purchase of an electronic book corresponding to the paper version book is possible;
Receiving means for receiving, from the operation terminal, the first user identification information for identifying a user and book identification information for uniquely identifying a paper book;
Corresponding to the paper-version book identified by the book identification information based on the information for specifying whether or not the preferential purchase is stored in the book information storage means in association with the book identification information received by the receiving means A determination means for determining whether or not the preferential purchase of the electronic book to be performed is possible,
The second user identification information stored in the user information storage means in association with the first user identification information received by the reception means when the determination means determines that preferential purchase is possible, and the reception An order request transmitting means for transmitting an order request for preferential purchase of an electronic book corresponding to the paper version book identified by the book identification information received by the means to the sales system;
A settlement result receiving means for receiving a settlement result transmitted from the sales system in response to the preferential purchase of the electronic book by an order based on the order request transmitted by the order request transmitting means;
Charging information updating means for updating charging information for charging the provider providing the sales system based on the payment result received by the payment result receiving means. The book information storage means includes
As information for specifying whether or not the preferential purchase is possible, the number of times of digitization that is incremented in response to reception of the settlement result is stored,
The determination means includes
When the number of times of digitization stored in association with the book identification information has reached a predetermined upper limit number, preferential purchase of an electronic book corresponding to a paper edition book identified by the book identification information is not possible To judge,
The system of claim 1. The book information storage means stores, as information for specifying whether or not the preferential purchase is possible, a flag that is activated / invalidated based on a request with a sender of a paper version book as a sender,
The determination means includes
When the flag stored in association with the book identification information is invalidated, it is determined that the preferential purchase of the electronic book corresponding to the paper version book identified by the book identification information is not possible.
The system according to claim 1 or 2. Computer
User information storage means for storing first user identification information for identifying a user in association with second user identification information for using the sales system for selling the electronic book by the user;
Book information storage means for storing book identification information for uniquely identifying a paper version book and information for specifying whether or not preferential purchase of an electronic book corresponding to the paper version book is possible;
Receiving means for receiving the first user identification information for identifying the user and the book identification information for uniquely identifying the paper edition book from the operation terminal;
Corresponding to the paper version book identified by the book identification information based on the information for specifying whether or not the preferential purchase is stored in the book information storage means in association with the book identification information received by the receiving means. Judgment means to judge whether preferential purchase of e-book is possible,
The second user identification information stored in the user information storage means in association with the first user identification information received by the reception means when the determination means determines that preferential purchase is possible, and the reception An order request transmitting means for transmitting an order request for preferential purchase of an electronic book corresponding to a paper version book identified by the book identification information received by the means to the sales system;
A settlement result receiving means for receiving a settlement result transmitted from the sales system in response to the preferential purchase of the electronic book by an order based on the order request transmitted by the order request transmitting means;
Charging information updating means for updating charging information for charging the provider providing the sales system based on the payment result received by the payment result receiving means;
A computer-executable program that functions as a computer. A system configured by one or more information processing devices to mediate sales of electronic books,
For each user who uses the system, first user identification information used when the user uses the system, and second user identification information used when the user uses a sales system that sells electronic books. And user information storage means for storing in association with each other,
Book information storage means for storing book identification information for uniquely identifying a paper book and information for specifying whether or not the paper book can be exchanged for an electronic book corresponding to the paper book When,
Receiving means for receiving, from the operation terminal, the first user identification information for identifying a user and book identification information for uniquely identifying a paper book;
The paper plate of the paper book identified by the book identification information based on the information for identifying whether or not exchange is possible, which is stored in the book information storage means in association with the book identification information received by the receiving means. A determination means for determining whether the electronic book corresponding to the book can be exchanged;
Received by the receiving means when receiving an input of information indicating that the paper book identified by the book identifying information received by the receiving means has been returned and the judging means can be exchanged The second user identification information stored in the user information storage means in association with the first user identification information and the electronic book corresponding to the paper book identified by the book identification information received by the receiving means Order request transmitting means for transmitting an order request for placing an exchange order to the sales system;
Distribution result receiving means for receiving a distribution result transmitted from the sales system in response to the electronic book being distributed to the user as an exchange by an order based on the order request transmitted by the order request transmitting means;
Charging information updating means for updating charging information for charging the provider providing the sales system based on the distribution result received by the distribution result receiving means. The book information storage means includes
As information for specifying whether or not the electronic book can be exchanged, the number of times of digitization that is incremented according to reception of the distribution result is stored,
The determination means includes
When the number of times of digitization stored in association with the book identification information has reached a predetermined upper limit, the paper version book identified by the book identification information is converted to the electronic book corresponding to the paper version book. Determine that the exchange is not possible,
The system according to claim 5. The book information storage means stores, as information for specifying whether or not the electronic book can be exchanged, a flag that is validated / invalidated based on a request with the seller of the paper version book as a sender,
The determination means includes
When the flag stored in association with the book identification information is invalidated, it is determined that the preferential purchase of the electronic book corresponding to the paper version book identified by the book identification information is not possible.
The system according to claim 5 or 6. Computer
User information storage means for storing first user identification information for identifying a user in association with second user identification information for using the sales system for selling the electronic book by the user;
Book information storage means for storing book identification information for uniquely identifying a paper book and information for specifying whether or not the paper book can be exchanged for an electronic book corresponding to the paper book ,
Receiving means for receiving the first user identification information for identifying the user and the book identification information for uniquely identifying the paper edition book from the operation terminal;
The paper plate of the paper book identified by the book identification information based on the information for identifying whether or not exchange is possible, which is stored in the book information storage means in association with the book identification information received by the receiving means. A determination means for determining whether the electronic book corresponding to the book can be exchanged,
Received by the receiving means when receiving an input of information indicating that the paper book identified by the book identifying information received by the receiving means has been returned and the judging means can be exchanged The second user identification information stored in the user information storage means in association with the first user identification information and the electronic book corresponding to the paper book identified by the book identification information received by the receiving means An order request for placing an exchange order, and an order request transmitting means for transmitting to the sales system;
A distribution result receiving means for receiving a distribution result transmitted from the sales system in response to the electronic book being distributed to the user as an exchange by an order based on the order request transmitted by the order request transmitting means;
Charging information updating means for updating charging information for charging the provider providing the sales system based on the distribution result received by the distribution result receiving means;
A computer-executable program that functions as a computer.