KR20020011207A - Method and system for providing discount service by point using internet - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: A cash-back service method and system is provided to accumulate points according to a rule in the case that a user accesses an internet site and does an action, e.g. clicking on an advertisement banner, and to offer a cash-back service after assessing the accumulated points. CONSTITUTION: The method comprises steps of a user accessing a web server of a point offering service company over the internet, and passing a user authentication process, the user clicking on an advertisement displayed on the web page in the case of the user selecting an advertisement browsing service(S210), the server displaying contents of the advertisement and asking questions of the user(S220), checking if a code, in relation with the advertisement, exists at a database in the case that the user responds to the question(S230), the server checks if the response is a correct answer in the case that the code does not exist(S240), and the server offering a point to the user in the case that the response is a correct answer(S300).

Description

Method and system for providing point-based discount service using the internet {Method and system for providing discount service by point using internet}

The present invention relates to a method and system for providing a point earning discount service using the Internet. More specifically, when Internet users access a web site and perform a predetermined action, points are earned according to a predetermined criterion for such an action. In addition, the present invention relates to a method and system for evaluating accumulated points to provide a discount service on the website or to provide a predetermined discount service in another system to which the user is subscribed.

The so-called cash-back service is a system that points and accumulates a predetermined service or item purchase behavior, and gives a user a predetermined reward or benefit in response to the accumulated points, such as a gas station, a department store, It is widely used in mobile communication service companies.

The point-earning discount service (hereinafter, used in conjunction with the term cashback service) is being used not only in the above-mentioned offline companies but also in the online companies such as the Internet. For example, in an e-commerce company such as an internet shopping mall, a user ID is assigned and a point of act of purchasing an item by accessing a shopping mall site is used to accumulate points for each ID and to use the accumulated points on the shopping mall site. Alternatively, when a predetermined point is more than a predetermined point, the cash is paid directly at a predetermined rate for the point.

Another example is an advertising method on the Internet. Of course, the cashback service is not directly provided, but the method of accumulating points and using points by accessing a web site, viewing or listening to advertisements, etc. is widely used.

However, such a conventional cashback service is limited to the website of the service provider that provides the points to the range that can be used for the accumulated points does not provide a special motivation for users who do not want to use the points in the service provider. This, in turn, reduces the number of web site users, which is a burden for web service companies that require site users, or members.

The present invention is to solve the above problems, when the Internet users to access a web site and perform a predetermined action for these actions earn points according to a predetermined criterion, by evaluating the accumulated points An object of the present invention is to provide a method and system for providing a discount service on a site or providing a predetermined discount service in another system to which a user is subscribed.

That is, the present invention integrates the accumulated points with not only a point providing web site but also a billing system of another service company so that users can use the points in other service companies other than the point providing web site. And to provide a system.

1 is a block diagram showing the overall configuration of a system according to the present invention;

2 is an example of a specific configuration of the database 4,

3 is an example of a specific configuration of the database 8,

4 is a flow chart of one embodiment of a method according to the present invention;

5 is a flowchart illustrating a case where a user selects an advertisement reading service;

6 is a flowchart illustrating a case where a user selects a shopping mall service;

7 is a flowchart illustrating a case where a user selects a high speed network subscription service.

<Description of Drawing Major Symbols>

1 ... user, 2 ... point provider

3 ... web server, 4 ... database,

5 ... point management system,

6 ... third party service providers;

7 ... web server, 8 ... database,

9 ... billing system.

The system according to the present invention includes a web server accessible to a user through the Internet, a database storing predetermined user information for each user, and a point management system for managing points for each user based on the data of the database. Point service provider server; And a third service provider server including a database storing predetermined user information for each user and a billing system for billing for each user based on the data of the database. Points are assigned to predetermined actions after the user connects through the web server, and points are calculated for each user from the database at predetermined intervals, so that the user is paid in cash at a predetermined rate corresponding to the points. If you want to transfer the amount of cash corresponding to the user-specific points through the financial institution's account, or if the user wants to use the points at a third-party service provider, other than the point provider , Points and related data The third service provider server is transferred to the third service provider server, and the third service provider server reflects the received points and related data by a billing program by the billing system, and bills for each user. .

In addition, the method according to the present invention comprises the steps of the user accessing the web server of the point providing service provider that evaluates the actions that the user stays on the web site and gives points to the user through the Internet and authenticates the user. ; If the user who has authenticated the user selects a service provided on the web page, providing the service to the user through the web page; When the user terminates the selected service, adding and updating a predetermined point, which is previously granted for the use of the service, in a user-specific database; Calculating a point for each user based on data of a database by a point management system provided to the point providing service company at predetermined intervals; And it is characterized in that the point earning discount service providing method using the Internet having a step of granting a predetermined benefit for the set point for each user.

Hereinafter, with reference to the accompanying drawings will be described in detail the configuration and operation of the present invention.

1 is a block diagram showing the overall configuration of a system according to the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 1, the user 1 is connected to the point providing service company 2 via the Internet. The user 1 accesses the web server 3 of the point providing service company 2 via a wired / wireless Internet access terminal such as a computer, a mobile communication terminal, or a PDA terminal, and provides the information to the company 2. It is provided with various web services.

The point providing service company 2 has a web server 3 for providing a web service, a database 4 for storing various data, and a point management system 5 for managing points for the user 1. It is provided.

The web server 3 is a general web server for providing various web services, such as transmitting a web page in response to a request of the user 1 in a WWW environment. On the other hand, the database 4 is for storing a variety of data related to point provision, the specific configuration of the database 4 is shown in FIG.

2 shows an example of a specific configuration of the database 4. As shown in FIG. 2, the database 4 basically needs basic personal information such as ID and password, name, address, and phone number for each user, and needs point information for the total points accumulated for each user. The point information includes the number of times that the user 1 visits the point providing service company 2 and the number of times for each service used to give the point information for each user 1 based on more objective criteria. It is preferable to provide data on all actions performed by connecting to (2).

In addition, the point management system 5 manages various points such as calculating, accumulating, and evaluating points granted to users 1 by accessing the point providing service company 2 and using various services. As a means for performing the above, it may be configured as a program module in the web server 3 or as a separate system as shown in FIG.

Meanwhile, the user 1 of FIG. 1 is in a state of being subscribed to a third service company 6 that collects a fee from a user according to a predetermined criterion such as a usage time such as a mobile communication service or a high speed communication network service. These third-party service provider 6 is a service provider completely separate from the point service provider 2, and the various identification information on the user 1 side is completely separate data. When the user 1 provides a web service from the third service company 6, the user 1 may access the company 6 through the Internet and receive various web services provided by the company 6. Of course.

The user subscription third service company 6 has a database 8 and a billing system 9 separate from the point provider service company 2 side. In the case of providing a web service, a web server 7 interworking with the database 8 and the billing system 9 may be further provided to provide the web service to the users 1. In addition to these, the third party service provider 6 may further include various components, but it should be noted that only components related to the system and method according to the present invention are listed in FIG.

The database 8 of the user subscription third service provider 6 stores various data about the user 1, and the detailed configuration is similar to that of the database 4 of FIG. 2, and an example thereof is shown in FIG. Indicated. As shown in FIG. 3, the database 8 includes basic personal information such as user ID (or other unique identification number), password, name, address, and telephone number, and type of service, membership, and usage time. Information such as service information such as billing data for the back is stored.

On the other hand, the billing system 9 is a system 9 for processing billing for the users 1 in cooperation with the database 8, a billing system for performing billing by its own billing program.

A feature of the present invention under such a configuration is that the user 1 connects to the point providing service company 2 to use various services, and the point management system 5 processes the points for the used services by using the database. The points for each user 1 stored in (4) and stored in the database 4 are linked to the billing system of the third service company 6 to which the user 1 is subscribed. The third company (6) other than the service provider (2) that provides a point to be given the benefits corresponding to the point.

In other words, the point management system 5 evaluates all the actions performed by the user 1 on the web server 3 in the point management system 5, stores them in the database 4, and determines them in advance at a predetermined time. Point-related data is transmitted to the third service provider 6, so that the billing system 9 and the database 8 interworked with the third service provider 6 can be used.

Hereinafter, a specific embodiment according to the present invention having such a feature will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 4.

First, the user 1 accesses the web server 3 of the point provider service company 2 via the Internet and goes through a user authentication step. (S100) The user authentication requires an ID and a password to be input. This is done by comparing the records stored in the database 4, and in the case of a non-subscribed user, by registering as a member by sending a membership registration web page. In user authentication, if necessary, the method may further include inquiring a credit status from a credit bureau of a financial institution. In this case, membership approval may not be immediately made online and may be delayed until a response indicates that the credit status is normal.

Next, the user 1 confirmed as a member reads the contents (contents) of the web page provided by the web server 3, and selects and uses various services provided by the web server 3 (S200). These services are all services that are pointed in advance. In the embodiment of FIG. 4, for example, an advertisement reading service, a shopping mall service, a high speed communication subscription service, and the like are provided.

After using the service, the point according to the use of the service is calculated and given to the user 1 (S300). The point assignment is performed by recording the point in the user-specific field in the database 4.

The case where the user 1 selects the advertisement reading service with respect to the above steps S200 and S300 will be described using FIG. 5 as an example.

The user 1 clicks on an advertisement posted on a web page (S210).

When the advertisement is clicked, the advertisement contents are displayed and a question about the advertisement contents is displayed at step S220.

When the user 1 responds to the question, it is checked whether the code associated with the advertisement is checked in the database 4 (S230). This is to prevent the overlapping of points.

If the code is not checked, it is checked whether the user 1's response to the question in step S220 is a correct answer (S240), and if the answer is correct, a predetermined point is given (S300), that is, a database. The points are added and recorded and stored, and if the answer is not correct, the process returns to the step S220 (S240).

6 is an example of the case where the user 1 selects the shopping mall service for the steps S200 and S300. The shopping mall service of FIG. 6 is a procedure performed in the general Internet shopping mall service. Importantly, in the last step of FIG. 6, when the purchase behavior of the user 1 is normally performed, points are accumulated.

FIG. 7 illustrates an example in which the user 1 selects a high speed communication network subscription service for the steps S200 and S300. High speed network provider is a service that provides general users in the home with high speed internet using tools other than dial-up modem. It usually provides speed of 1Mbps or more through ADSL, cable TV network and wired TV network. The number of users is increasing rapidly. The user 1 may be in either a state of being subscribed to a high speed network provider or a state of being not yet subscribed to.

First, the user 1 fills out a subscription application form displayed on a web page and transmits it to the web server 3 (S250).

The web server 3 stores the data of the user 1 recorded in the subscription application form in the subscription application database and simultaneously transmits the data to the user subscription third service company (high-speed network company) 6 (S260).

The high-speed communication network company 6 determines whether or not the subscription is possible according to a predetermined criterion, and if the subscription is not possible, notifies the web server 3 of the result along with the reasons thereof (S270). (3). (S280)

When the service is opened on the opening day, receiving the opening authentication signal from the user 1 or the high-speed communication network company 6 (S290), and gives a point to the user (S300).

The next step will be described again with reference to FIG. 4.

As described above, when points are granted, the point settlement operation is performed every predetermined period, for example, every month (S400). Point settlement is performed in the point management system 5. The point settlement operation is to calculate the accumulated points based on a predetermined time point and to determine a benefit that can be returned to the user 1. The point management system 5 calculates the points accumulated for each user from the database 4 and selects which users are given what benefits.

In the present embodiment, as a benefit to the selected users, for example, a method of directly cashing a point by cashing a point directly, and sending the point data to the user subscribing third service company 6, the third service company 6 A method of reflecting the billing system 9 of FIG. 9 is illustrated.

That is, when the user 1 wants to receive the points in cash, for example, the user 1 having a predetermined point or more is multiplied by a predetermined rate to transfer the amount of cash directly to the user's bank account. (S500) Of course, in this case, the database 4 should be stored in the sense that the user 1 wants to be paid in cash, and the account number of the user (1).

On the other hand, if the user 1 wants to use the points at the third service provider 6, the point providing service provider 2 transmits the points and other necessary data to the user subscription third service provider 6 side. (S600) Even in this case, the database 4 has a purpose that the user 1 wants to use the points at the third service provider 6, and is required to perform data transmission with the third service provider 6 side. Identification information (eg, IP address) must be stored.

When the user subscription third service provider 6 receives the points and necessary data to the point providing service company 2, the third service provider 6 transfers the data to the billing system 9 to process the data using a billing program provided in advance (S700). Of course, in order to billing processing, the point providing service provider 2 and the user subscription third service provider 6 should have a preliminary appointment for data processing and a program therefor.

When the billing process is completed due to the data processing, the third user service provider 6 subscribing to the user 1 charges the discounted amount by reflecting the points to the user 1.

In this way, a third service company in which the user 1 is directly paid cash for the points granted by accessing the point providing service company 2 or subscribed by a user 1 other than the point providing service company 2. In (6), the point can be used.

As described above with reference to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations are possible in the embodiment.

For example, in the above embodiment, a high-speed network provider is taken as an example, but it is obvious that all service providers having similar billing systems are applicable.

In addition, in the above embodiment, as a service provided by the point providing service company 2, examples of services such as shopping malls, advertisements, high-speed communication network subscription, etc., but other services other than those exemplified above may be provided. Of course it can be included.

According to the present invention, when Internet users access a web site and perform predetermined actions, points are earned according to a predetermined criterion for such actions, and the discounted points are evaluated to provide discount services or users. It is possible to provide a method and system that can be used to transfer points to other systems that are subscribed to. Therefore, the user can more freely utilize the points earned on the Internet, thereby allowing the users to continuously attract to the web site.

Claims (7)

In the point earning discount service providing system using the Internet, A point providing service company-side server including a web server accessible to a user through the Internet, a database storing predetermined user information for each user, and a point management system for managing points for each user based on the data of the database; And A third service company server including a database for storing predetermined user information for each user and a billing system for billing for each user based on the data of the database. Consists of, The point management system of the point providing service company assigns points to predetermined actions after the user connects through the web server, calculates user points from the database at predetermined intervals, and the user If the user wants to be paid in a corresponding proportion of cash, the amount of cash corresponding to the user-specific points is transferred through the account of the financial institution, or the user is a third service to which a user other than the point service provider is subscribed. If the company wants to use the point, the point and related data are transferred to the third service provider server, and the third service provider server transmits the received point and related data by the billing system. By user's billing program, by user Point earning type discount service providing system using the Internet, characterized in that for billing. The method of claim 1, The point providing service provider's database includes a user's personal information including user ID and password, name, address, phone number, and point information accumulated for each user. . The method of claim 1, The database of the third service provider includes user's personal information including user ID, password, name, address, and phone number, and billing data on the type, service, and usage time of the service used by the user. Point earning discount service providing system using the Internet, characterized in that the service information. Connecting the user through the Internet and authenticating the user to a point providing service company-side web server that evaluates an act while the user stays on the web site and gives a point; If the user who has authenticated the user selects a service provided on the web page, providing the service to the user through the web page; When the user terminates the selected service, adding and updating a predetermined point, which is previously granted for the use of the service, in a user-specific database; Calculating a point for each user based on data of a database by a point management system provided to the point providing service company at predetermined intervals; And Granting a predetermined benefit to the settled points for each user; Point earning discount service providing method using the Internet provided with. The method of claim 4, wherein Granting the predetermined benefit, If the user wants to be paid at a predetermined rate of cash corresponding to the point, the predetermined amount of cash corresponding to the point is transferred through the account of the financial institution, or If the user wants to use the point at a third service provider to which a user other than the point providing service provider is subscribed, the point providing service provider transmits the point and other necessary data to the third service provider. 3 The service provider provides a point earning discount service using the Internet, characterized in that the billing system provided in the processing of the received points and necessary data to give the user a predetermined billing benefit corresponding to the point. The method of claim 4, wherein In the step of authenticating the user, the method of providing a point earning discount service using the Internet, characterized in that it further comprises the step of querying the credit status to the credit rating agency of the financial sector. The method according to any one of claims 4 to 6, The service provided through the web page from the point service provider, Method for providing a point earning discount service using the Internet, characterized in that the service includes a service that points to the user when viewing the advertisement provided on the web page, an Internet shopping mall service for purchasing goods on the Internet, and a high-speed network subscription service .