JP3533116B2 - Electronic gift brokerage system - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention communicates with an external computer that has been accessed via the Internet.
The present invention relates to an electronic gift intermediation system that functions as a WW server and that setstles a price related to gifts of a product with an electronic coupon that can be equivalently exchanged for a product equivalent to points.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In Japan, it is customary to give gifts to people who are familiar with the occasion such as "mid-year gifts" and "year-end gifts". There are also gift-giving habits of foreign origin, such as "Valentine's Day" and "White Day." Usually, in order to present a purchased product to a person, the presenter purchases the product by designating a delivery destination at the store. As a result, the item is delivered from the store side to the person (receiver) to be presented via an appropriate delivery company. Specifically, fill in the delivery slip with personal information such as the name, address, and phone number of the giver in the store, the product name and the code number for identifying the product, and the personal information of the recipient of the product. , Attach the slip and pay the price related to the gifts such as the price of goods and shipping fee. However, in the gift-giving season, every store is crowded, and a great deal of effort is required to purchase and deliver products. Moreover, when a certain amount of time is required and the user is busy, it is not possible to slowly set the items.

[0003] In view of the recent widespread use of Internet users, an increasing number of sellers are offering a service for purchasing and delivering products via a WWW server published on the Internet. The electronic gift intermediary system that executes this service communicates with an external computer that has accessed via the Internet, and delivers the screen composition data of the product delivery application form for writing who will give what to whom as desired. To do. This application form is provided with entry fields for entering the personal information of the donor, the personal information of the recipient, and the product code for specifying the product.
When each piece of information entered in this field is returned from an external computer, a product delivery request form is created that describes who will give what to whom by correlating the required data extracted from these information. . Then, the reception number or the like is notified to the external computer as necessary. Payment for products and shipping charges are paid by appropriate procedures such as credit card payment and bank transfer. In the case of credit card payment, you can enter the credit card number online when you return the information to fill out the product application form, or you can contact the vendor by phone and the money will be automatically transferred from the account of this card. Be paid. In bank transfer, the receipt number and personal information of the gift giver are written on the transfer slip and transferred to the account of the business operator. When the payment is confirmed, the product delivery request form is output to a computer managed by the product delivery department or the like, and appropriate processing is performed to reflect it in the actual delivery operation.

[0004]

It is undeniable that the above-mentioned habitual gifts may be given between people who are close to each other or may be performed ritually as an obligatory habit. Therefore, during the gift-giving season, there may be cases where a large number of products that cannot be processed are received, the same products are duplicated, or unnecessary products are received. In such cases, we may "transfer" this product to a third party, but we have to bring the received product to the delivery company or its agent and carry out the delivery procedure to the transfer destination. It is troublesome. Further, when the gift is a fresh food, if the same gift is on the recipient side, the delivered gift cannot be processed immediately. Therefore, there is a possibility that the gifts presented will be spoiled and wasted. If it does not last long, it cannot be transferred.

Recently, many people give gift certificates that can be redeemed equivalently and can be exchanged for gifts.
However, I think that it is important for gifts to select gifts with the feeling of “who should be given what should be given” and to give and return those feelings. Therefore, it is hard to convey that feeling on the gift certificate and it is dull. On the contrary, in ritualized gifts, it is significant to give gifts instead of gift certificates.

[0006] In the conventional electronic gift mediation system,
Although it has the advantage that it does not take time and effort to purchase and send products, it cannot solve the above problems.

[0007] Therefore, the present inventor puts the gift into the original gift on the assumption that the recipient can freely set the delivery timing of the gift or that the gift is not always pleased by the recipient. I wondered if there was a way to give gifts that would convey the feelings of being given to the recipient. Of course, we would like to simplify the procedure for purchasing and sending gifts, taking into consideration the advantages of the conventional electronic gift mediation system.

[0008]

[Means for Solving the Problems] The present invention aims to harmonize the significance of gifts and the current situation as described above, and simplifies various procedures such as purchase and delivery of gifts using the Internet. It is an electronic gift-giving intermediary system.

=== First Invention === The first invention has the following requirements (1) to (5). (1) An information processing system including a WWW server disclosed on the Internet, in which an electronic coupon that communicates with an external computer that has accessed to exchange the gift price of a product equivalent to a product equivalent to points It is an electronic gift intermediary system that makes payment by. (2) A point database in which personal information such as name and contact information for each person who uses the system as a coupon holder and the number of points held by the electronic coupon are stored in association with each other, product description information for each handled product, and the product A product database that stores the required number of points required for purchase in association with each other, a delivery slip database that stores a product delivery slip that describes who gives what to whom, and a format for presenting information to an external computer It has a format database that stores data and the like. (3) Communicate with the accessed external computer to deliver the screen configuration data of the product exchange application. The application form includes an entry field for entering information for identifying the gift giver, information for identifying the product, and personal information for the recipient of the product in the external computer, and the entry field And an instruction input unit for returning the input information from the external computer. (4) Upon receipt of the return data from the external computer, the respective databases are accessed, and the voucher creating means extracts appropriate data from the personal information of the presenter and the personal information of the product and creates it in the product delivery voucher. A product description that is stored in the delivery slip database, and that includes product description information corresponding to the product description creating means and a designated input section for inquiring the recipient whether or not to accept the product as a physical product. Screen storage data of the document is created and stored in the format database, and the product deposit notification means has a specific URL corresponding to the storage position of the screen layout data of the product description and a predetermined item extracted from the personal information of the presenter. Create a standard e-mail with the above description and send this e-mail to the e-mail address entered as the contact information of the recipient of the product. Cement update means from the use point of the presentation's by deduction the required point of the product to update the point database. (5) Communicate with an external computer that has accessed by designating the specific URL to deliver the screen configuration data of the relevant product description. When a predetermined instruction operation is performed on the designated input unit by the external computer, and information on whether or not to actually receive the product is returned, the information is acquired. When the data indicating that the corresponding product is received is acquired, the delivery slip database updating means appropriately outputs the product delivery slip and deletes the product delivery slip from the delivery slip database in a timely manner to indicate that the corresponding product is not received. When the input information is acquired, the product delivery slip is stored in the delivery slip database.

=== Second Invention === The electronic gift mediating system according to the first invention, wherein the product description created by the product description creating means is equivalent to the gift description without receiving the gift product. Including a designated input section for returning the product of the above item to the presenter, and other screen configuration data delivered to the external computer in response to the return of the screen configuration data of the instruction manual or the above-mentioned return of the designated input Entry field for inputting information for specifying the item is added, and when the item identification information entered in the entry field is returned, the recipient and the gift on the delivery slip will be presented. The exchange relationship with the person is exchanged, and at the same time, a product delivery slip that specifies the returned product is created and appropriately output.

=== Third Invention === In the electronic gift-sending intermediary system according to the first invention, the product description is not received, but is received instead of another product equivalent thereto. Information for specifying the exchanged product in the screen configuration data of the instruction manual or other screen configuration data delivered to the external computer in response to the return of the specification input for the product exchange. An entry field for entering is added, and when the exchange product identification information entered in the entry field is returned, a product delivery voucher will be created in which the product of the corresponding product delivery voucher is this exchange product. And output appropriately.

=== Fourth Invention === The electronic gift-giving mediation system according to the first invention, wherein the electronic gift-giving mediation system according to claim 1 receives the product in the product description. Instead of the corresponding product or another product equivalent to this product, including a specification input section for transferring and presenting the product to a third party, and inputting the screen configuration data of the instruction manual or the transfer gift specification input. In the other screen configuration data transmitted to the external computer in response to the return of, the entry field for entering the personal information of the third party or the entry field for entering the personal information of the third party An entry field for entering information for specifying the exchanged product is added, and when the third party's personal information entered in the entry field is returned, the corresponding delivery slip is accepted. Accepting the relevant product with the payer as the presenter A product delivery slip to the effect that the payer is the third party is created and appropriately output.

=== Fifth Invention === The electronic gift intermediary system according to the first invention, wherein the product delivery request form has an expiration date added to the product creation point as a starting point. The instruction manual includes a designation input section for holding the receipt without receiving the corresponding product, and input information for holding the receipt of the corresponding product from an external computer that has accessed by designating the specific URL. When returned, the slip database updating means stores the corresponding product delivery slip in the corresponding database until the expiration date expires, and when recognizing that the expiration date has passed, stores the corresponding product delivery slip in the delivery slip database. After deleting the notification, the point update means is notified to the point update means, and when the point update means receives this notification, the recipient is the coupon holder and the corresponding product The required points are transferred to the possessed points, and the point database is updated in association with the personal information of this person.

=== Sixth Invention === In the electronic gift intermediary system according to the first invention, the product description created by the product description creating means is pointed without receiving the corresponding product. When the designated input information indicating that the point is received is returned from the external computer that has accessed by designating the specific URL, the slip database updating means delivers the corresponding merchandise. The slip is deleted from the database, and the point updating means updates the point database by using the recipient as a coupon holder to transfer the required points of the corresponding product to the possessed points and associating the points with the personal information of the person.

=== Seventh Invention === In the electronic gift intermediation system according to the fifth or sixth invention, the point updating means purchases additional points by the coupon holder according to a predetermined procedure. Or, if you accept the product as holding points when you are appointed as the recipient of the product, add additional points to the holding points associated with the coupon holder and add the point database. Update.

=== Eighth Invention === The electronic gift intermediary system according to the first invention, wherein the gift giver and the recipient are the same from the external computer that has delivered the merchandise exchange application. When the input information to the effect is returned, the created product request form is appropriately output without creating the product manual and the product deposit notification e-mail.

[0017]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION === Network Configuration === FIG. 1 schematically shows a network configuration including an electronic gift intermediation system according to the present invention. The electronic gift giving intermediary system (hereinafter, intermediary system) 1 is an information processing system including a computer main body, a communication interface attached to the computer main body, a large-capacity data storage device, and the like, and stores data according to a program stored in the computer main body or the storage device. By processing, various functions are realized.

The intermediary system 1 is connected to a large number of external computers 10 via the Internet 20, and communicates with the computer 30 of the business operator operating the intermediary system 1 via a dedicated line or a local network. I do.

The intermediary system 1 connects with the external computer 10 that has accessed via the Internet 20 and HTTP.
(HyperText Transfer Protocol) and FTP (File Tran
sferProtocol) to perform data communication and function as a WWW server. Depending on the request from the external computer 10, a suitable HTML (HyperText Markup Languag
e) Deliver screen configuration data consisting of format data of the format and supplementary data such as images attached to the format.
When a form including an entry field for inputting a predetermined item in the external computer 10 and an operation input unit such as a button type image for giving an instruction to return the entry item is delivered to the external computer 10, The input information that has been input and returned will be received and processed accordingly.

However, the most important function in the intermediary system 1 is not the above-mentioned WWW server function, but a procedure for using the function to purchase a product online and deliver it to a predetermined destination. It is in the function of the electronic gift intermediary service on behalf of. Moreover, when a person gives a product to another person, the recipient of the product does not receive the product as an actual product and replaces it with another product, transfers it to a third party, or replaces it with another product. We have realized an advanced electronic gift-giving intermediary service such as returning it to the presenter. Hereinafter, the gift intermediation service function in the intermediary system 1 will be described.

=== Outline of Electronic Gift Intermediary System === <Outline of Electronic Coupon and Gift Intermediary Service> The gift intermediary service provided by the intermediary system is a product that distributes electronic currency instead of cash on the Internet. The payment for gifts such as purchases will be settled. In this embodiment,
Electronic coins called electronic coupons are specified, and points can be used to equivalently exchange commodities. A person who holds an electronic coupon (hereinafter referred to as a coupon) can apply for purchase of a product and a request for delivery online. At that time, a coupon is used as the purchase price of the product. Further, the recipient receives a notification from the presenter by e-mail that the gift is stored before the product reaches the delivery destination of the product. Then, the desire to receive the product can be communicated. If you wish to receive it, the product will be delivered, and if you do not wish to receive it, you can enjoy the service equivalent to the points of this product.

<Database> The mediation system includes various databases, and the databases cooperate with each other to appropriately update stored data or provide the data to the system user in a predetermined format to perform a gift mediation service. The database provided in the intermediary system and its stored data will be described below. 1 point database Data that associates personal information such as name and contact information with the number of points held by the electronic coupon for each person who uses the system as a coupon holder 2 Product database For product description information and product purchase Data that correlates with the required number of required points 3 Voucher database Merchandise delivery voucher that describes who gives what to who 4 Format database Format data to be delivered to an external computer and its accompanying data

<Procedure for Purchase of Electronic Coupon> In order to purchase a product using the service provided by the intermediary system, it is first necessary to obtain an electronic coupon for points corresponding to the price of the product. In the present embodiment, the electronic coupon purchase procedure can be performed on the Web page. First, when the URL of the WWW server included in the intermediary system is designated by an external computer connected to the Internet, the intermediary system delivers the screen configuration data of the home page in which the content of the service to be provided is described. This home page includes an input section for ordering screen configuration data of various application forms for carrying out various procedures related to the gift-giving mediation service online and screen configuration data carrying information on products handled.

The intermediary system delivers the screen configuration data of the coupon purchase application according to the designation input from the external computer. In this purchase application form, purchase points (1 point is equivalent to 1 yen in this embodiment), the name and address of the purchaser,
An entry field is provided for entering personal information such as a telephone number and an e-mail address for each predetermined item. When the information entered in this entry field is returned, the receipt number is generated and the screen configuration data in which the receipt number and the designated bank account are described is delivered, and the amount equivalent to the points of the electronic coupon is paid by bank transfer. Ask to pay the price. In addition, a coupon purchase copy that associates the receipt number, personal information, and purchase points is created and stored in the point database. At a later date, when confirming the payment from the person to whom the receipt number is added as a transfer person, the corresponding memorandum is referred to, the personal data is associated with the purchase points, and the memorandum is deleted to update the point database.

As the coupon selling method, other methods such as credit card payment and over-the-counter selling can be adopted. In the case of credit card payment, check the card number by providing a field for entering the card number in the coupon purchase application form or by adding the telephone number of the system operator and calling the number. If you approve, you can use the purchased coupon. When purchasing an electronic coupon at a store, for example, a computer that can access the point database of the intermediary system is installed in the store, and personal information of the purchaser and the purchase points of the electronic coupon are input to the computer to obtain the point database. Should be updated.

=== Operation of Electronic Gift Intermediary System === The intermediary system appropriately processes the data retrieved from each database based on the data communication with the accessing external computer and presents it as screen configuration data. Alternatively, the gift intermediary service is carried out while appropriately updating the data stored in each database.
FIG. 2 shows a procedure for performing the gift-giving mediation service, and schematically shows a data communication path with an external computer and an operation inside the system.

<Product Purchase and Sending Request> When a coupon holder presents a product to a person who has purchased it, it is necessary to first select the product. The products handled can be confirmed by the product catalog page provided by the WWW server of the intermediary system 1 or the catalog booklet distributed by the service provider. In each of these catalogs, a photograph, a description, required points (price), and a code number for ordering are described for each product. After completing the product confirmation work, the gift giver next applies for purchase and delivery of the product.

When the external computer 10a on the side of the presenter who has accessed via the Internet issues a request for sending the product exchange application form by designating a predetermined URL, the request is accepted and the screen configuration data of the product exchange application form is received. Are delivered (s1 to s3). This application form is provided with a product code, information for specifying the gift giver, information for specifying the product, and entry fields for inputting the personal information of the recipient. Further, when an external computer 10a is provided with an input unit for returning these pieces of information and predetermined items are entered and a predetermined operation input is made to this input unit,
The entry information is returned to the intermediary system 1 (s4).

In this embodiment, the name and telephone number of the coupon holder are input as the presenter identification information. Of course, other personal information or all personal information may be entered. It is also possible to assign an ID to each coupon holder. For example, an ID is issued when a coupon is purchased, and the ID and personal information are associated with each other and stored in an appropriate storage resource. Thereby,
It is possible to acquire various data directly or indirectly associated with the ID as a key.

<Creation of Product Delivery Voucher and Settlement of Coupon Points> The intermediary system 1 receives the information entered in the product exchange application form by the external computer 10a (s5), and receives the point database. To extract predetermined items such as a name from the personal information of the coupon holder associated with the specific information of the presenter. Then, the predetermined item regarding the presenter, appropriate entry items such as name and contact information extracted from the personal information of the recipient, and the product code are associated with each other to create the product delivery slip (s
6). At this time, a predetermined product exchange period (described later) starting from the time of creating the slip is set, and the deadline is attached to the slip and stored in the slip database. Furthermore, the point database is searched based on the personal information of the gift giver, the product database is searched based on the product code number, and the required points for the purchased product are deducted from the points held by the corresponding coupon holder to settle the payment, The point database is updated (s7).

<Production of Product Manual and Contact to Recipient> Next, the intermediary system 1 searches each database based on the created delivery slip, and appropriately from the personal information of the presenter and the recipient. Attach the extracted data and the data corresponding to the photograph or description of the product to the specified format data and
The screen configuration data of the product description is prepared by adding a photograph of the gift product and explanation information to a message such as "The product given by X is the following" and stored in the format database (s8). Furthermore, enter a specific URL for specifying this storage location and appropriate personal information of the presenter,
For example, a message such as "I have received a gift from you from Mr. XX" is displayed as "http: //www.zou
Tou.co.jp/9906026.htm/ ”and the like, create a standard e-mail with a specific ULR added. Then, this electronic mail is sent to the Internet addressed to the electronic mail address described as the personal information of the recipient (s9).

<Confirmation and Handling of Presented Product> The above-mentioned e-mail is the well-known SMTP (Simple Male Transfer Protocol).
It is delivered to the external computer 10b operated by the recipient according to l) and POP (Post Office Protocol) (s10). When the external computer 10b connected to the Internet specifies the specific URL added to this e-mail, the WWW server of the intermediary system 1 delivers the screen configuration data of the above-mentioned product description (s11, s1).
2). This instruction manual is provided with the above-mentioned item description and an input section for designating a method of dealing with this item. In the present embodiment, the measures include receiving, holding, returning points, returning, transferring, and exchanging. Of course, some of these processes may be supported. The intermediary system 1 receives the designated input to the external computer 10a for coping with any of these (s13,
s14) The following processing is executed according to the designation.

<Reception (s15)> When the designated input for receipt is returned from the external computer 10b that has delivered the product description, the intermediary system 1 immediately returns the product delivery slip, which is the origin of the product description, to the product. It is output to a computer in a department or the like that performs delivery work, or this slip is printed out as appropriate to shift to the work for actually delivering the product (s30). Alternatively, instead of immediately moving to delivery business upon receipt designation, add the processed code to the relevant product delivery slip and once return it to the slip database, periodically search this database and take out the processed slip and deliver it. The output processing for shifting to the business may be performed.

It should be noted that a screen structure including an entry field for designating the delivery timing such as the delivery date and delivery time of the product in the product description, and an entry field for designating the delivery timing according to the designation of receipt. Data may be delivered. Then, the designated delivery date and time are entered in the product delivery slip. As a result, the delivery business department can arrange for the goods to be delivered at a predetermined date and time.

<Holding (s16)> As described above, the product delivery slip has a predetermined product exchange period starting from the time of its creation. This period is the period set in consideration of the case where the gift product does not reach the recipient due to the product being discontinued, etc., and is the expiration date when the recipient can receive the product based on the relevant slip. is there. In this embodiment, the deadline is set to one year. Then, the intermediary system 1 monitors the elapsed time from the time when the relevant slip is generated.

When the hold designation input is returned from the external computer 10b, the merchandise delivery voucher is stored in the voucher database by the time the merchandise exchange period elapses. If the slip has not been deleted from the database even after the deadline, the slip is deleted (s40), and the personal information of the recipient and the required points of the corresponding product are associated as the possessed points of the recipient. Update the point database. Also, when the above-mentioned processes provided in the product description are not executed until the expiration date, the process of giving the required points to the recipient is similarly performed.

<Point return (s17)> When the designated input for point return is returned from the external computer 10b, immediately the personal information of the recipient and the required points of the article are delivered to the recipient based on the delivery slip for the delivery. The point database is updated by associating it with the holding points of the item and the slip is deleted (s40).

<Return (s18)> External computer 1
When the designated input for return is sent back from 0b, the screen configuration data of the return request including the entry field of the product code is delivered to this external computer (s21). This request form is also attached with link information to a page listing descriptive information of products with the same required points as the gifts.
The recipient selects the product to be returned by referring to this page, enters the code in the entry field of the return request form and returns it (s22). By exchanging the delivery relationship between the recipient and the recipient, a product delivery slip in which the code of the returned product is associated is created. Then, this voucher is output at a proper time to shift to delivery work (s30). The merchandise delivery voucher that is the original book is deleted when the returned merchandise delivery voucher is created (s40).

<Transfer (s19)> When the recipient gives the gift or other commodities corresponding to the gift to a third party, the transfer is designated and input. When the designated data is returned, the mediation system 1 delivers the screen configuration data of the transfer request including the personal information of the person who is the transfer destination and the entry field of the product code to the external computer 10b (s23). At the time when this request form is delivered, the code number of the gift product is entered in the product code entry field by default. Also, as with the return application form, link information to a list of products with the same points is also attached.

When the code number of the product to be transferred and the personal information of the transfer destination are entered in the predetermined entry fields and returned (s2
4) Create a product delivery slip in which the required data extracted from the personal information of the recipient and the transfer destination are associated with the code number of the transfer product. At this point, the product delivery slip that is the original book is deleted (s40), and this transfer slip is output at a suitable time to shift to the delivery business (s30).

<Exchange (s20)> When the recipient exchanges the presented merchandise for another merchandise equivalent to the merchandise and receives the merchandise, the exchange is designated and input. When the designated data is returned, the intermediation system 1 delivers the screen configuration data of the exchange request form including the product code entry field to the external computer 10b (s25). Note that this screen configuration data also includes link information to the product list of the same points as in the return application and transfer application.

When the code number of the commodity to be exchanged is entered in the prescribed entry field and returned (s26), the commodity code in the commodity delivery slip, which is the original book, is changed to that of the exchange commodity, and after the change. The product delivery slip is output to shift to delivery work (s30).

=== Example of Modification / Example of Application === There are cases where a plurality of products are presented to the recipient. And
If multiple gifts are received as points, the total number of required points for each product will be the points held by the recipient. This point may be used when the recipient gives the product to another person, or may be added to the possession point when the gift is designated to be exchanged so that the gift can be exchanged for a more expensive product. . Further, a coupon may be additionally purchased at the time of designation of exchange or at another occasion, and the points and required points for gifts may be summed up to be exchanged for another expensive commodity.

When issuing an ID for each coupon holder,
When the recipient receives the gift as points, if the ID is assigned to the recipient and stored in association with personal information, the recipient (the new coupon holder) is identified by the ID in the same manner as the recipient. It is possible to manage various information related to.

The intermediary system 1 may accept return of the entry information of the merchandise exchange application form in which the presenter and the recipient are the same. In this case, if it is recognized that both are the same based on the giftee identification information and the recipient's personal information, the product delivery slip created without the product description and product deposit notification creation process is output. Shift to delivery business. Of course, the product exchange application form may be provided with an input unit for designating whether it is a gift or a simple purchase. With this, you only have to enter the giftee (product purchaser) specific information,
It is possible to omit the collation process between the product purchaser and the recipient.

The coupon holder may be allowed to confirm his / her own points. For example, when the intermediary system receives the information for identifying the coupon holder and the designation information for confirming the points from the external computer,
It is also possible to acquire the possessed points of the corresponding person from the point database and deliver the screen configuration data for confirming the points. Alternatively, the screen configuration data of the product list page that can be exchanged at the possession points may be delivered.

In the above-mentioned embodiment, each database is a combination of data associated with each other, and it is not necessary to store each database separately for each storage area. All you have to do is search.

[0048]

According to the electronic gift intermediation system of the present invention, a holder of an electronic coupon that can be equivalently exchanged for a product can purchase a product corresponding to the holding points and make a delivery request online. The beneficiary can confirm the notification that the product arrives and the details of the gift. Therefore, the delivery of the product can be postponed before the product is actually distributed.
Therefore, fresh food and the like can be obtained at useful times. The donor side does not have to confirm the recipient's home. Since the product is confirmed in advance in the product description, we can immediately thank you.

Further, the required points of the gifts to be presented can be received as desired other goods or electronic coupons, or can be diverted to gift-giving services such as return or transfer. Therefore, the recipient can confirm the feeling that the presenter has surely selected a certain product and tried to give it, and can then carry out a realistic process if the product does not meet the wish. In addition, the presenter is not forced to impose a gift that is unnecessary for the recipient and the recipient, and the presenter can easily select the gift.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a network configuration including an electronic gift intermediation system of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing distribution routes of electronic coupons and products in the electronic gift intermediation system.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Electronic Gift Intermediary System 10, 10a, 10b External computer

Continuation of the front page (56) Reference Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-240802 (JP, A) "Takashimaya Virtual Mall" Renovation "membership system popular, 10,000 people at the end of the year", Senken Shimbun, September 1998 25th, p. 15 “Japan Department Stores Association Opens Home Page. At Midday Gift Mall”, Nikkan Kogyo Shimbun, June 21, 1996, p. 30 (58) Fields surveyed (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) G06F 17/60 118 G06F 17/60 312 JISC file (JOIS)

Claims (8)

(57) [Claims] 1. An invention specified by the following items (1) to (5). (1) An information processing system including a WWW server disclosed on the Internet, in which an electronic coupon that communicates with an external computer that has accessed to exchange the gift price of a product equivalent to a product equivalent to points It is an electronic gift intermediary system that makes payment by. (2) A point database in which personal information such as name and contact information for each person who uses the system as a coupon holder and the number of points held by the electronic coupon are stored in association with each other, product description information for each handled product, and the product A product database that stores the required number of points required for purchase in association with each other, a delivery slip database that stores a product delivery slip that describes who gives what to whom, and a format for presenting information to an external computer It has a format database that stores data and the like. (3) Communicate with the accessed external computer to deliver the screen configuration data of the product exchange application. The application form includes an entry field for entering information for identifying the gift giver, information for identifying the product, and personal information for the recipient of the product in the external computer, and the entry field And an instruction input unit for returning the input information from the external computer. (4) Upon receipt of the return data from the external computer, the respective databases are accessed, and the voucher creating means extracts appropriate data from the personal information of the presenter and the personal information of the product and creates it in the product delivery voucher. A product description that is stored in the delivery slip database, and that includes product description information corresponding to the product description creating means and a designated input section for inquiring the recipient whether or not to accept the product as a physical product. Screen storage data of the document is created and stored in the format database, and the product deposit notification means has a specific URL corresponding to the storage position of the screen layout data of the product description and a predetermined item extracted from the personal information of the presenter. Create a standard e-mail with the above description and send this e-mail to the e-mail address entered as the contact information of the recipient of the product, Cement update means from the use point of the presentation's by deduction the required point of the product to update the point database. (5) Communicate with an external computer that has accessed by designating the specific URL to deliver the screen configuration data of the relevant product description. When a predetermined instruction operation is performed on the designated input unit by the external computer and information on whether or not to receive the product in kind is returned, the information is acquired. When the data indicating that the corresponding product is received is acquired, the delivery slip database updating means appropriately outputs the product delivery slip and deletes the product delivery slip from the delivery slip database in a timely manner to indicate that the corresponding product is not received. When the input information is acquired, the product delivery slip is stored in the delivery slip database. 2. The electronic gift intermediary system according to claim 1, wherein the product description created by the product description creating means does not receive the gift product and presents another product equivalent thereto to the presenter. In order to identify the returned product in the screen configuration data of the instruction manual or other screen configuration data delivered to the external computer in response to the return of the specified input of the return, including the specification input part for returning the product. When the item identification information entered in the corresponding entry field is returned, the delivery relationship between the recipient and the gift giver in the relevant delivery slip is returned. At the same time as exchanging, a product delivery slip that specifies the returned product is created and appropriately output. 3. The electronic gift intermediation system according to claim 1, wherein the product description includes a designation input unit for receiving the gift product instead of the gift product in exchange for another product equivalent thereto. An entry field for inputting information for specifying the exchanged product in the screen configuration data of the manual or other screen configuration data delivered to the external computer in response to the return of the designated input for the product exchange. Is added, and when the exchanged merchandise item identification information entered in the relevant entry field is returned, a merchandise item delivery voucher in which the merchandise item of the relevant merchandise item delivery voucher is used as this exchanged merchandise item is created and appropriately output. 4. The electronic gift intermediary system according to claim 1, wherein the product description is replaced with a corresponding product or another product equivalent to the product without receiving the product. The screen configuration data of the instruction manual or other screen configuration data delivered to the external computer in response to the return of the specification input of the transfer presentation is included in the above-mentioned An entry field for entering the personal information of the three parties, or an entry field for entering the personal information of the third party and an entry field for entering the information for specifying the exchanged product are added. If the personal information of the third party entered in the relevant entry field is returned, the recipient of the relevant product delivery slip will be the presenter and the recipient of the relevant product will be the third party. Create a product delivery slip and output it appropriately. 5. The electronic gift intermediary system according to claim 1, wherein the product delivery request form has an expiration date added to the product generation request point, and the product description describes the product. When the input information indicating that the receipt of the corresponding product is suspended is returned from the external computer that has accessed by specifying the specific URL, the slip database is included. The update method is
The corresponding merchandise delivery slip is stored in the corresponding database until the expiration date passes, and when the expiration date is recognized, the corresponding merchandise delivery slip is deleted from the delivery voucher database and the point updating means is provided. Upon receipt of this notification, the point updating means updates the point database by using the recipient as a coupon holder to transfer the required points of the corresponding product to the holding points and corresponding to the personal information of this person. . 6. The electronic gift intermediary system according to claim 1, wherein the product description created by the product description creating means is a designation input indicating that the corresponding product is not received but is received as points. When the designated input information indicating that it is received at the point is returned from an external computer that has accessed by specifying the specific URL, the slip database updating means deletes the corresponding product delivery slip from the database. The point updating means updates the point database by using the recipient as a coupon holder to transfer the required points of the corresponding product to the holding points and corresponding to the personal information of the person. 7. The electronic gift intermediary system according to claim 5 or 6, wherein the point updating means further purchases holding points by the coupon holder according to a predetermined procedure, or acts as a recipient of goods. If the item is accepted as a holding point when it is designated, the additional point is added to the holding point associated with the corresponding coupon holder to update the point database. 8. The electronic gift-giving mediation system according to claim 1, wherein the external computer that has delivered the merchandise exchange application returns input information to the effect that the presenter and the recipient are the same. Then, the created product request form is appropriately output without creating the product manual and the product deposit notification e-mail.