JPH05233657A - System for providing and settling information service - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide the information service system easy-to use by an information service user. CONSTITUTION:This system provides and settles an information service to an information service user B having a will to use the information service by the number peculiar to a credit card obtained by concluding a contract of a credit transaction in advance and the number peculiar to the information service mentioned in a card or printed matter, etc. The system is provided with a confirming means (a) for confirming a will to use the information service from the information service user B, a recognizing means (b) for recognizing the information service user B, a service providing means (c) for executing the information service, a subtracting means (d) for subtracting frequency corresponding to a degree of using the information service from frequency set to the card in advance, and an output means (g) for outputting data of the information service user.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a system which is effective when the center side accepts usage fees and commodity prices for various information services from users online and collects the fees in cooperation with a card company.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, not only telephones but also facsimiles, personal computers, family computers, etc. have become widespread, and various information services can be provided using these communication means. For example, dial Q
The information service by 2 and the information service by communication by a personal computer have already been generalized.

However, with the recent increasing importance of information services and the widespread use of computers and the like, it has become possible for many people to handle computers relatively easily. There are many requests not only for information services at home, but also for services that are more closely related to daily life, such as wanting to know every hour about the sky of a golf course that is about to start, or changing the appointment time on the go. I'm getting asked.

In order to meet such a demand, an information utilization card in which a unique number is written on the card in advance and the number of times of use and the period of use are determined is commercially available. This card is capable of recording or playing back messages, weather forecasts for golf courses, etc. Then, if you want to record or play a message, check the weather forecast, etc., the user who purchased it can call the computer center affiliated with the vendor of the card and enter the unique number from the phone. The center side recognizes this and responds to the type of the card, that is, it is possible to hear the recording of the message and the weather forecast.

[0005]

By the way, in the above-mentioned card for recording or reproducing a message, weather forecast of a golf course, etc., the price for using the information service is prepaid at the time of purchase. . However, with such a prepaid card, there is a complain that it is necessary to go to a store etc. and purchase it before using it again when it is used up, and it is not always enough for the user. The reality is that it is not easy to use.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide an information service system that is easy for an information service user to use.

[0007]

According to the information service provision and settlement system of the present invention, the information service is intended to be used by the credit card unique number and the information service unique number, which are pre-signed for margin trading. A system for providing an information service to a person B and making a payment therefor, wherein the confirmation of the intention of the information service user B to use the information service is unique to a credit card from the user terminal of the information service user B. When the confirmation means a performed by receiving the input of the number and the signal of the information service use from the information service user B after the confirmation of the intention to use are received, the information service user B is identified by the information service unique number. Corresponding to the recognition means b for recognizing and the information service use request from the information service user recognized by this recognition means When responding to a request for information service use from the information service user B and the service providing means c for performing an information service, the frequency corresponding to the degree of information service use is calculated from the frequency preset in the card. Subtraction means d for subtracting, warning frequency recognition means e for recognizing when the frequency set on the card reaches a preset warning frequency, and the information service user receiving the warning frequency recognition means e The means for solving the above-mentioned problem is provided with means f for issuing a warning to the user and output means g for outputting the data of the information service user confirmed by the confirmation means a.

[0008]

According to the information service provision and settlement system of the present invention, the information service user B, who has a card with which a credit transaction contract is made in advance, communicates with the computer center D by the terminal C, and is unique to the information service. By entering the number and then the credit card unique number,
By means of the confirmation means a of the computer center D, the member can be registered. Further, at the time of subsequent use, the recognition means b is recognized by inputting the information service unique number, and the service providing means c recognizes the membership. Can be received. Further, the billing request to the user B confirmed by the confirming means a is output to the card company A by the output means g, so that the user B can automatically pay the fee.

The above-mentioned "means for solving the problem"
Although the present invention has been described with reference to the symbols shown in FIG. 1 in the section of “Operation”, it is needless to say that the present invention is not limited to the configuration shown in FIG.

[0010]

The present invention will be described in detail below. The information service provision and settlement system of the present invention provides the information service to the information service user who intends to use the information service by distributing to the contractor a card having a credit card unique number with which a credit transaction contract has been made in advance. And the system that makes the payment.

An outline of this system is shown in FIG. In FIG. 2, reference numeral 1 is a host computer in the computer center D, and a plurality of personal computers 2 ... Are connected to the host computer 1 through a line or the like. The personal computer 2, ... Is connected to the terminal C (telephone in this example) of the information service user B by a public line such as a telephone line. The host computer 1 includes a confirmation means a including a CPU, a recognition means b, a subtraction means d, and a warning frequency recognition means e.
Is further provided, and the card company A is further provided with an output means g for outputting sales data about the information service user. Here, as the output means g, a means for outputting a signal online by connecting a dedicated line to the card company A, a means for sending a floppy disk or MT tape into which data has been input are adopted.

The personal computer 2 has a built-in voice response system, and is further provided with a service providing means c and a warning issuing means f. In order to receive the information service provided by such a system, first, the card company A prints or attaches the credit card unique number and the information service unique number to the card applicant who has signed a contract for credit transaction with the card. ,
Or distribute printed materials. Of the card applicants who received this card, those who wish to use the information service based on the information service unique number shown on the card, that is, information service user B, are telephones, facsimiles, personal computers, family computers, etc. User terminal device C communicates with computer center D that is written on the card or printed matter, or designated as a guide when sending the card or printed matter, and specifically written on the guide. Call the phone number.

Then, the computer center D which provides the information service receives the communication from the user terminal C and confirms the intention to use the information service. In this case, the will confirmation is performed by the information service user (hereinafter, as shown in FIG. 3).
The information service unique number of the card received from the card company A by B is used as an input signal, and specifically, the information service unique number dialed by telephone (step SP1) is received, and the number is received. Is already registered as a member by checking with the checking means a of the computer whether it matches the number already registered and stored (step SP).
2). If membership registration has not been performed yet, the voice response system of the personal computer 2 guides the user to enter the credit card unique number, and after the guidance, the user B enters the credit card unique number to register the membership. Is performed (step SP3).

Even if membership registration has already been made, a trial calculation is made from the time of membership registration to determine whether or not it is within the expiration date (step SP4), and the membership registration user (user B) whose expiration date has expired. For, confirm whether to renew the registration. Here, the renewal registration procedure is performed by inputting the card unique number in accordance with the guidance of the voice response system as in the case of the member registration described above (step S
P5). In this way, the user B whose intention to use the information service is confirmed receives the information service such as the recording of the message and the weather forecast guidance of the specific area by following the instructions of the computer (step SP6).

In the next use, the user first communicates with the computer center and then inputs the information service unique number. Then, the computer collates and confirms the unique number with a number already recognized as a member number, and recognizes that the user is an existing member. That is, the computer stores the information service unique number of the existing member, and it is determined whether or not the received information service unique number is among the stored existing member numbers (step SP2). The part for determining whether or not the information service peculiar number is the existing member number is the recognition means b of the present invention.

After responding to such a request from the user B to use the information service, the subtraction means d subtracts the frequency corresponding to the degree of the information service usage from the frequency preset in the card. Specifically, when recording a message, for example, the frequency is set to 1 every minute, and the frequency corresponding to the recording time is set to the frequency preset in the card.
For example, it is subtracted from 150, and the obtained frequency is stored together with the membership number of the user.

When such use progresses and the frequency approaches zero and reaches a preset warning frequency, for example, 10, the computer recognizes this by the warning frequency recognizing means e. Then, according to this recognition, at the end of use or the like, a warning is issued by means of voice or the like through the communication means to inform the user that the set frequency has ended or is approaching the end. On the other hand, when using the information service, the computer stores the registration fee for each member registration and accumulates the registration fee within a preset period (for example, one month). Then, the computer outputs the price data accumulated and obtained within the period as a signal or a document, and transmits it to the terminal of the card company A or delivers it to the card company A.

Further, the card company A deducts the price of the information service from the account contracted to the user's card based on the price data sent from the computer center D. Therefore, according to the system of the present invention, the user is deducted from the account of the margin transaction card contracted separately in advance according to the number of times of member registration according to the system of the present invention. You can save the trouble of purchasing again after the usage frequency is over.

[0019]

As described above, in the information service provision and settlement system of the present invention, membership can be easily registered from a communication terminal such as a telephone by using a card sent under a margin trading contract. In addition, you can easily receive information services, and the payment of the price will be deducted from the account of the margin transaction card contracted separately beforehand according to the number of member registrations. As described above, it is possible to save the trouble of purchasing again after the usage frequency is finished, and it is possible to easily use the information service.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an outline of a system of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram of a system of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an outline of the system of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 A card company B information service user C terminal device D computer center a confirmation means b recognition means c service provision means d subtraction means e warning frequency recognition means f warning means g output means

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued Front Page (72) Inventor Kazuya Murata 3-24-1 Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo Misawa Van Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Masahiro Tanno 3-24-1 Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo Misawa Van Co., Ltd.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A system for providing an information service to an information service user who intends to use the information service and making a settlement thereof by using a credit card unique number and an information service unique number, which are pre-signed for a margin transaction. Confirmation means for confirming the intention to use the information service from the information service user by receiving the input of the credit card unique number from the user terminal of the information service user, and the information after confirming the intention to use the information. Receiving means for recognizing the information service user by the information service unique number when receiving the information service use signal from the service user, and information service use request from the information service user recognized by the recognizing means. Service providing means for providing information services corresponding to the above, and information from the information service user When responding to a service usage request, subtraction means for subtracting a frequency corresponding to the degree of information service usage from the frequency preset in the card each time, and a warning frequency preset in the card When it reaches, the warning frequency recognizing means for recognizing this, the means for issuing a warning to the information service user upon receiving the warning frequency recognizing means, and the data for the information service user confirmed by the confirming means are output. An information service provision and a payment system including the output means.