KR20120137561A - Electronic coupons circulation system and method of controlling the same - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: An electronic coupon distribution system and control method thereof are provided to enable a small store to effectively operate an electronic coupon service by enabling a user to manage issued electronic coupons through the on-line. CONSTITUTION: An issuer terminal(300) requests for creating and registering electronic coupons issued from a store through a network. A user terminal(200) receives the electronic coupons from the store. The user terminal transmits electronic coupon information for the electronic coupons. An electronic coupon distribution management server(100) creates the electronic coupons including a store ID(identification) information according to a request of the issuer terminal. The electronic coupon distribution management server extracts the store ID information from the received electronic coupon information. [Reference numerals] (100) Coupon distribution management server; (300) Issuer terminal; (AA) Network; (BB) User terminal

Description

Electronic coupon distribution system and its control method {ELECTRONIC COUPONS CIRCULATION SYSTEM AND METHOD OF CONTROLLING THE SAME}

The present invention relates to an electronic coupon distribution system and a control method thereof, and more particularly, to generate and provide an electronic coupon unique to each store and to store and store an electronic coupon of a user issued at each store online. By doing so, it is possible to easily operate the electronic coupon service in a small private store and the user relates to an electronic coupon distribution system and control method that can facilitate the accumulation and management of electronic coupons. In addition, the present invention by relaying the electronic coupon holding information of the users having different types of electronic coupons to exchange the electronic coupons required between users, by increasing the use opportunity electronics that can activate the distribution of electronic coupons The present invention relates to a coupon distribution system and a control method thereof.

Stores that sell goods or services offer coupon services as part of promoting purchase and securing loyal customers. The coupon service is to allow buyers to earn coupons such as stamps and stickers according to the number of purchases or the amount of purchase, and to use the accumulated coupons to get a discount or to exchange a free gift.

For the coupon service, the store issues a paper coupon card or paper coupon for printing a stamp or sticker, or a mileage card in the form of a magnetic plastic card. Accordingly, the coupon issuer has a cost burden such as printing a coupon, or issuing a mileage card and providing a terminal for processing the coupon.

In addition, when using a paper coupon or mileage card, there is a risk of loss or damage is not easy to manage, there is an inconvenience that can be used only when the user has a coupon state.

In addition, a user who is issued a coupon at a store that has low preference for a product or has low accessibility may be less likely to use the coupon, while a user who needs the coupon may not be able to use the coupon due to insufficient credit. have. However, the coupon service according to the prior art has a problem that the overall distribution efficiency of the electronic coupon is lowered because there is no condition for sharing such information among users.

Accordingly, a technology for issuing electronic coupons through an Internet server has been developed. The electronic coupon service is provided by generating an electronic coupon having a unique number in the Internet server and issuing it to each user's e-mail or mobile terminal. Electronic coupon service has the advantage of low risk of loss or damage and ease of use, but has the disadvantage that a complex system is required to maintain the integrity of the electronic coupon and authenticate the use for the creation, management and distribution of the electronic coupon.

Therefore, in the case of a small private store, it is virtually impossible to provide an electronic coupon service independently, and there is a problem in that a cost burden for using and maintaining the system is large to use a professional company that issues an electronic coupon.

On the other hand, as the functions of the user terminal are diversified, more and more user terminals basically support camera functions and support short-range communication functions. Accordingly, it is possible to input an image to a user terminal using a camera or to transmit / receive data with another user terminal using a short range communication function.

The present invention has been made in order to solve the above problems, by generating a unique electronic coupon for each store to provide to the store and to earn and manage the electronic coupon of the user issued in each store online, small individuals E-coupon service can be easily operated in stores, and users can easily accumulate and manage e-coupons while relaying e-coupon holding information of users with different types of e-coupons. There is a technical problem to provide an electronic coupon distribution system and a control method thereof that enable the exchange of coupons, thereby enabling the distribution of electronic coupons.

Electronic coupon distribution system of the present invention for achieving the above object, the issuer terminal for requesting the generation and registration of the electronic coupon to be issued in the store over the network; A user terminal that receives the electronic coupon at the store and transmits electronic coupon information about the electronic coupon; And at the request of the issuer terminal, generates an electronic coupon including store identification information for identifying the store, extracts the store identification information from the electronic coupon information received from the user terminal, and holds the coupon of the user terminal. Includes an electronic coupon distribution management server to process earned in the details.

Here, the electronic coupon may be issued in the form of a visual image.

The electronic coupon distribution management server may receive a designated image from the issuer terminal and generate an electronic coupon including the designated image.

In addition, the electronic coupon may be issued in the form of an electronic tag capable of short-range wireless reception.

In addition, the electronic coupon distribution management server, at the request of the issuer terminal or the user terminal, can be exhausted to the coupon holding history of the user terminal.

The electronic coupon distribution management server receives an electronic coupon exchange request including an exchange condition from the user terminals, searches for user terminals matching the exchange condition, and provides a matching result to the matched user terminals. can do.

Electronic coupon distribution management server of the present invention for achieving the above object, Coupon generation unit for generating an electronic coupon containing the store identification information for identification of the issued store; Coupon recognition unit for extracting the store identification information from the electronic coupon information received through the network; Retention information storage unit for storing the user information and the coupon holding history of the user; And generating and registering the electronic coupon by controlling the coupon generation unit according to a request of the coupon issuer received through the network, and when the user information and electronic coupon information are received through the network, through the coupon recognition unit. And extracting the store identification information and retrieving the user information from the holding information storage unit and accumulating the coupon information in the user's coupon holding history.

Here, the coupon generation unit may generate an electronic coupon in the form of a visual image.

The coupon generator may generate an electronic coupon including a designated image received from the coupon issuer.

The coupon generation unit may generate an electronic coupon in the form of an electronic tag capable of short-range wireless reception.

When the user information and the electronic coupon information are received together with the coupon exhaustion request through the network, the server controller extracts the store identification information through the coupon recognition unit and stores the user information in the holding information storage unit. Search and exhaust the user's coupon holding information.

Meanwhile, when an electronic coupon exchange request including an exchange condition is received from the user terminals through the network, a coupon transaction relay that searches for the user terminals matching the exchange condition and provides a matching result to the matched user terminals. The module may further include.

Here, the coupon transaction relay module may preferentially recommend user terminals located at a short distance based on the location information of the matching user terminals.

The server control unit may receive coupon holding information of users who exchange electronic coupons and change the coupon holding of the user of the holding information storage unit.

The control method of the electronic coupon distribution system of the present invention for achieving the above object comprises the steps of receiving a request for the creation and registration of an electronic coupon via a network; Generating an electronic coupon including store identification information for identifying an issued store of the electronic coupon; Receiving electronic coupon information and user information on the electronic coupon from a user terminal having issued the electronic coupon at the store; Extracting the store identification information from the received electronic coupon information; And accumulating the electronic coupon of the identified store in the coupon storage history of the user.

Here, the generating of the electronic coupon may include generating the electronic coupon in the form of a visual image.

And receiving a request for generation and registration of an electronic coupon via the network, receiving a request for generation and registration of an electronic coupon including a designated image; Generating the electronic coupon may include generating an electronic coupon including the designated image.

The generating of the electronic coupon may include generating an electronic coupon in the form of an electronic tag capable of short-range wireless reception.

Receiving the user information and the electronic coupon information together with the coupon exhaustion request through the network; Extracting the store identification information from the received electronic coupon information; And exhausting the electronic coupon of the identified store in the coupon storage history of the user.

Meanwhile, receiving an electronic coupon exchange request including an exchange condition from user terminals through the network; Searching for user terminals matching the exchange condition; And providing a matching result to the matched user terminals.

The providing of the matching result to the matched user terminals may include preferentially recommending user terminals located at a short distance based on the location information of the matched user terminals.

The method may further include receiving coupon holding information of users who exchange electronic coupons and changing the coupon holding of the user in the holding information storage unit.

As described above, the electronic coupon distribution system of the present invention and a control method thereof generate a unique electronic coupon for each store, provide it to the corresponding store, and allow the electronic coupon of the user issued at each store to be accumulated and managed online. In addition, the electronic coupon service can be easily operated even in small private stores, and the user can easily earn and manage the electronic coupon, while relaying the electronic coupon holding information of users who have different types of electronic coupons. By allowing the electronic coupons required to be exchanged with each other, an electronic coupon distribution system and a method of controlling the same can be provided.

1 is a block diagram of an electronic coupon distribution system according to an embodiment of the present invention,
2 is a control block diagram of an electronic coupon distribution management server according to an embodiment of the present invention;
3 is a control block diagram of a user terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention;
4 is a control block diagram of an issuer terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention;
5 is a control flow chart of the electronic coupon distribution management method according to an embodiment of the present invention,
6 is a control flowchart of the electronic coupon distribution management method according to another embodiment of the present invention;
7 is an electronic coupon distribution state diagram according to an embodiment of the present invention.

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

1 is a block diagram of an electronic coupon distribution system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in Figure 1, the electronic coupon distribution system of the present invention, the issuer terminal 300 for requesting the generation and registration of the electronic coupon to be issued, and the electronic coupon information that is the information of the electronic coupon issued from the store network Coupon for providing an electronic coupon service by relaying an electronic coupon distribution between the user terminal 200 and the issuer terminal 300 and the user terminal 200 and the electronic coupon distribution between the user terminals 200 transmitted through (1). It includes a distribution management server (100).

The issuer terminal 300 is a terminal of a store owner who wants to issue an electronic coupon, and may include a computer, a laptop, a mobile phone, a smart phone, and the like, capable of accessing the network 1.

The store owner accesses the coupon distribution management server 100 through the issuer terminal 300 to join the electronic coupon service, and requests the coupon distribution management server 100 to generate and register an electronic coupon to be issued at his store. do. Here, the store owner may request the creation of an electronic coupon in the form of an image including a signboard, a logo, a mascot, a stamp, a trademark, a photograph of the store owner's face, or the electronic coupon in the form of an electronic tag capable of short-range wireless communication. have. For example, the electronic coupon may be generated in the form of an image such as a QR code, a barcode, a recognizable pattern, or an RF tag in a short range wireless communication such as NFC, Bluetooth, or RFID.

The electronic coupon generated by the coupon distribution management server 100 may be delivered to the store owner in an online manner such as an email or MMS, and may be delivered to the store owner through mail. Here, when the electronic coupon is issued in a short-range wireless communication method, it may also be delivered with the terminal for the RF tag communication.

Thus, the store owner may issue the electronic coupon image to the buyer by starting the electronic coupon image near the checkout of the store, or by printing the electronic coupon image on the receipt. In addition, the issuer terminal 300 may request the coupon distribution management server 100 to process the use of the electronic coupon in response to the user's electronic coupon use request so that the accumulated electronic coupon is exhausted.

The user terminal 200 is a terminal of a user who subscribes to an electronic coupon service provided by the coupon distribution management server 100, and a separate application for using a service may be installed in the user terminal 200. The user using the store can take an image of an electronic coupon issued by the store using the user terminal 200, or recognize the electronic tag and transmit the electronic coupon information to the coupon distribution management server 100 to earn the electronic coupon. Can be.

Then, if you want to use the accumulated electronic coupon, the user terminal 200 requests the use of the electronic coupon on the coupon distribution management server 100 to display the accumulated electronic coupon information to the store owner to the electronic coupon accumulated The corresponding reward can be obtained. In addition, the user terminal 200 may request an electronic coupon exchange from the coupon distribution management server 100 to receive a suitable counterpart, and may also exchange an electronic coupon with the counterpart.

The coupon distribution management server 100 stores issuer information and user information subscribed to the service. The coupon distribution management server 100 generates an electronic coupon image including the issuer-specific information at the request of the issuer terminal 300 and issues the electronic coupon image online or through mail. The electronic coupon image issued by the coupon distribution management server 100 may include an image of a trade name, a trademark, etc., a barcode, a QR code, an RF tag, and the like transmitted from the issuer terminal 300.

The coupon distribution management server 100 stores the electronic coupon information for each issuer, and then recognizes the store identification information from the electronic coupon information received from the user terminal 200 to recognize the store that issued the electronic coupon to the user. The coupon distribution management server 100 accumulates and manages an electronic coupon of each user based on the electronic coupon information received from each user terminal 200. In addition, when an electronic coupon use request is received from the issuer terminal 300 or the user terminal 200, the electronic coupon of the user may be exhausted.

When the coupon distribution management server 100 receives an electronic coupon exchange request from the user terminal 200, the coupon distribution management server 100 may recommend a user who can request a mutual exchange by checking the coupon holding of the users. Thus, when the movement of the electronic coupon between users occurs, the coupon distribution management server 100 may relay the electronic coupon distribution between the users by updating the coupon possession of the corresponding users.

2 is a control block diagram of the coupon distribution management server 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 2, the coupon distribution management server 100 includes a server communication unit 120, a server controller, a coupon use processing module 130, a coupon transaction relay module 140, and a coupon issuance processing module 150. Include.

The server communication unit 120 may transmit / receive data with the issuer terminal 300 and the user terminal 200 through the network 1. The server communication unit 120 receives an electronic coupon generation request from the issuer terminal 300 and an image to be used when generating the electronic coupon. The server communication unit 120 receives electronic coupon information and information of a user who transmits electronic coupon information from the user terminal 200. The server communication unit 120 may transmit the electronic coupon accumulation result according to the electronic coupon information reception to the corresponding user terminal 200, and may also provide electronic coupon exchange information to the user terminal 200.

The coupon issuance processing module 150 may generate an electronic coupon in the form of an image or an electronic coupon in the form of an electronic tag according to an electronic coupon issuing method requested by the store owner. When the electronic coupon is generated in the form of an image, the electronic coupon may be generated as a QR code, a barcode, a recognizable pattern, or an image desired by the store owner. When the electronic coupon is generated in the form of an electronic tag, a short-range communication terminal for sending an electronic tag may be supported for the store owner.

The coupon issuance processing module 150 includes an issuer information storage unit, a coupon generation unit 152, and a coupon information storage unit 154.

The issuer information storage unit stores issuer authentication information for authenticating the issuer who issued the electronic coupon and store information such as the store location of the issuer and the type of the store. In addition, information related to issuance of an electronic coupon, such as an electronic coupon processing rule designated by each issuer and the number of electronic coupons currently in circulation, is stored.

The coupon generation unit 152 generates an electronic coupon including store identification information for identifying each store by using the information received from the issuer. The coupon generation unit 152 may generate an electronic coupon including store identification information using an image provided by the issuer, a QR code, a barcode, a pattern code, an electronic tag, and the like.

The coupon information storage unit 154 stores store identification information for identifying the issuer of the electronic coupon. The store identification information is for recognizing the issuing store of the electronic coupon information received from the user terminal 200. The electronic coupon information may be the image of the electronic coupon itself, or may be information obtained by interpreting the electronic coupon image. Coupon information storage unit 154 may be stored so that the unique information of the issued electronic coupons correspond to the issuer ID.

Coupon use processing module 130 accumulates the electronic coupon obtained by each user, the used electronic coupon is exhausted. The coupon use processing module 130 includes a user information storage unit 132, coupon recognition unit 134, holding information storage unit 136.

The user information storage unit 132 stores user authentication information for authenticating a user who has subscribed to an electronic coupon service, user terminal 200 information, and user information such as a living area, a moving area, and the like of the user.

The coupon recognition unit 134 extracts store identification information by analyzing the electronic coupon information received from the user terminal 200 according to a corresponding processing method.

The holding information storage unit 136 stores the coupon holding history of the electronic coupon held by each user. The possession of the electronic coupon may be stored to correspond to each user ID.

The coupon transaction relay module 140 relays the exchange procedure by combining a set of users who can exchange electronic coupons. The coupon transaction relay module 140 searches for coupons held by the users stored in the holding information storage unit 136 to search for users who meet the exchange conditions of the user who requested the electronic coupon exchange.

The coupon transaction relay module 140 may recommend an electronic coupon exchange counterpart by prioritizing a user in a nearby area in consideration of characteristics of a user's living area and a moving area. In addition, it is also possible to combine the electronic coupon exchangers so that users who want different electronic coupons can exchange the desired electronic coupons in a multiple exchange method.

Coupon transaction relay module 140 is the first time the user participates in the electronic coupon exchange, or if you want to trade electronic coupons that can not measure the value, coupon transaction relay module 140 analyzes the transaction history of each electronic coupon exchange By measuring the rate and indexing seasons, regions, times, etc., it is possible to provide and recommend the most reasonable exchange rate of electronic coupons.

The electronic coupon exchanger combination function of the coupon transaction relay module 140 may be integrated with the server control unit, and may be implemented through the DB search function of the holding information storage unit 136.

The server controller 110 generates an electronic coupon including identification information of the issuer store and stores the electronic coupon in the electronic coupon information storage unit 156 according to a request of the issuer terminal 300 received by the server communication unit 120. Here, the generated electronic coupon may be generated in the form of a visual image or an electronic tag, and the generated electronic coupon may be transmitted to the issuer through the network 1 or may be delivered through offline mail.

The server controller 110 receives electronic coupon information from the user terminal 200 according to a request of the user terminal 200 received by the server communication unit 120. The server controller 110 recognizes the store identification information of the electronic coupon information through the coupon recognition unit 134 and accumulates the user's coupon holding information according to the recognized store identification information. Here, the server controller 110 may notify the electronic coupon accumulation result to the user terminal 200 side through the server communication unit 120, or may notify the electronic coupon issuance result to the issuer terminal 300 side. Do.

When the electronic coupon exchange request is received from the user terminal 200, the server controller 110 may request a relay process from the coupon transaction relay module 140. The server controller 110 provides the processing result of the coupon transaction relay module 140 to the user terminal 200 requesting the electronic coupon exchange. Here, the coupon transaction relay module 140 may recommend an electronic coupon exchange counterpart by giving priority to a user in a nearby area in consideration of characteristics of a living area, a moving area, etc. of users who want to exchange.

When the coupon use request is received from the user terminal 200, the server controller 110 may provide electronic coupon use confirmation information to the user terminal 200. Thus, when the store owner or the user confirms the electronic coupon use confirmation information received by the user terminal 200, the server controller 110 may process the electronic coupon as exhausted. In addition, by allowing the issuer terminal 300 of the store owner who pays the reward for the electronic coupon to request the use process for the electronic coupon of the specific user, the electronic coupon of the user may be treated as exhausted. In the case where the store owner handles the use of the electronic coupon, the server controller 110 may also request the approval of the user terminal 200 to authenticate the use of the electronic coupon.

When the electronic coupon exchange request is received from the user terminal 200, the server controller 110 may provide an exchange condition to the coupon transaction relay module 140 to control the combination of the electronic coupon exchanger set. The server controller 110 may relay the electronic coupon exchange between users by providing the user terminal 200 with the result of the exchanger set combination of the coupon transaction relay module 140.

The server controller 110 may receive an electronic coupon exchange result between the user terminals 200, update electronic coupon holding information of each user, and notify each user terminal 200 whether the electronic coupon exchange is successful.

The configuration of the coupon distribution management server 100 described above is one embodiment, and various modifications can be made thereto. That is, according to the system design method, a plurality of components may be integrated into one, or may be further subdivided, and may implement a function of the coupon distribution management server 100 using a plurality of servers.

3 is a control block diagram of a user terminal 200 according to an embodiment of the present invention. As the user terminal 200 according to an embodiment of the present invention, a portable terminal having a network 1 connection function and an electronic coupon image input function may be applied. For example, a smartphone may be used as the user terminal 200. .

As shown in FIG. 3, the user terminal 200 includes a terminal communication unit 220, a camera unit 230, a user interface 240, a coupon storage unit 250, and a user terminal control unit 210.

The terminal communication unit 220 includes a short range wireless communication unit 222 for receiving electronic coupon information and an internet communication unit 224 for communication with the coupon distribution management server 100. The short range wireless communication unit 222 may receive electronic coupon information provided by a communication method such as NFC. In addition, the short-range wireless communication unit 222 may be used when exchanging electronic coupons between the user terminal 200. The internet communication unit 224 may transmit an electronic coupon image issued to the coupon distribution management server 100 or receive a message of the coupon distribution management server 100. This, the Internet communication unit 224 may transmit and receive data in a wired or wireless Internet communication method.

The camera unit 230 receives an electronic coupon in the form of a visual image provided by the store.

The user interface 240 includes a touch panel or keypad for user input and a display unit for user output. The information input through the user interface 240 is transferred to the user terminal controller, and the user terminal controller displays the result according to the user input on the user interface 240. Thus, the user can select the execution of the application installed for the electronic coupon management through the user interface 240, and can check the earning results, use results, electronic coupon exchanger information, electronic coupon exchange results, etc. of the electronic coupon. .

The coupon storage unit 250 stores electronic coupon information received from another user or issued from an issuer.

The user terminal controller 210 may photograph the electronic coupon image through the camera unit 230 or receive the electronic coupon information through the short range wireless communication unit 222 to issue the electronic coupon at the store. The user terminal controller 210 may store the obtained electronic coupon information in the coupon storage unit 250 and transmit the obtained electronic coupon information and the user information to the coupon distribution management server 100 to request electronic coupon accumulation.

The user terminal controller 210 requests a coupon distribution management server 100 to use an electronic coupon or requests an electronic coupon exchange according to a user's selection, and receives a message from the coupon distribution management server 100 for the user interface ( To the user through 240).

The electronic coupon service using process may be provided through an application provided when the electronic coupon service subscription. Accordingly, the user terminal controller 210 may download and install an application provided when the service is subscribed, and process functions related to the accumulation, use, and exchange of an electronic coupon through the corresponding application.

The configuration of the user terminal 200 described above may be variously modified according to a system configuration method.

4 is a control block diagram of the issuer terminal 300 according to the embodiment of the present invention. As an issuer terminal 300 according to an embodiment of the present invention, terminals having a network 1 connection function may be applied. For example, a notebook, a computer, a smartphone, or the like may be used as the user terminal 200.

As shown in FIG. 4, the issuer terminal 300 includes an issuer communication unit 320, an issuer UI 340, and a coupon input / output unit 330.

The issuer communication unit 320 includes a short range wireless communication unit 322 for short range wireless communication and an internet communication unit 324 for communication with the coupon distribution management server 100. The short range wireless communication unit 322 may transmit electronic coupon information provided by a communication method such as NFC. The internet communication unit 324 may request generation and issuance of an electronic coupon image from the coupon distribution management server 100 or may receive a message from the coupon distribution management server 100. The internet communication unit 324 may transmit / receive data in a wired / wireless internet communication method such as wireless LAN, Wi-Fi, and wired LAN.

The issuer UI 340 includes a touch panel or keypad for inputting a store owner and a display unit for output. The information input through the issuer UI 340 is transferred to the issuer terminal controller 310, and the issuer terminal controller 310 displays the result according to the input. Accordingly, the store owner may request the electronic coupon issuance by requesting the connection of the coupon distribution management server 100 through the issuer UI 340, or request the electronic coupon use processing, the message provided by the coupon distribution management server 100 You can check it.

The coupon input / output unit 330 may receive an image to be used by the store owner as an electronic coupon image, or may receive an electronic coupon image for use displayed on the user terminal 200. In addition, the coupon input / output unit 330 may display an electronic coupon image received from the coupon distribution management server 100 to provide the electronic coupon image to the user terminal 200.

The issuer terminal controller 310 may request the generation of the electronic coupon image by accessing the coupon distribution management server 100 through the internet communication unit 324 according to the selection of the store owner inputted by the issuer UI, and the coupon input / output unit 330. The electronic coupon image for use can be transmitted to the coupon distribution management server 100 to control the electronic coupon of the user to be exhausted.

The configuration of the issuer terminal 300 illustrated above may be variously modified according to a system configuration method.

5 is a control flowchart of the electronic coupon distribution management method according to an embodiment of the present invention, illustrating a process in which the electronic coupon is issued and distributed.

The store owner applies for an electronic coupon issuance to the coupon distribution management server 100 through the issuer terminal 300 (S110).

Coupon distribution management server 100 generates and stores the electronic coupon requested by the issuer terminal (300) (S112). Here, the electronic coupon includes store identification information, and may be generated in the form of a visual image or in the form of an electronic tag. The electronic coupon in the form of a visual image may include a specific image requested by the store owner, and may include a barcode, a QR code, a pattern code, etc. for issuer identification.

Coupon distribution management server 100 issues an electronic coupon generated on the issuer terminal 300 (S114). Here, the coupon distribution management server 100 may issue an electronic coupon in the form of an email or a multi-mail, or may be issued through an offline mail.

Electronic coupon information may be stored in the issuer terminal 300 (S116). The issuer terminal 300 may store the electronic coupon in the form of a visual image and distribute the electronic coupon image to the user through the coupon input / output unit 330. In addition, when the electronic coupon is received through a medium other than the issuer terminal 300, the electronic coupon image may be started or distributed through a short distance communication terminal according to the convenience of the store owner.

The electronic coupon image or electronic tag issued to the issuer terminal 300 is distributed to the user terminals 1 and 2 (S118). Here, the user terminals 1 and 2 may acquire an electronic coupon image at a corresponding store by photographing the electronic coupon image disclosed in the issuer terminal 300 or photographing the electronic coupon image disclosed in an arbitrary place. In addition, the electronic coupon in the form of RF tag can be obtained by short-range wireless reception.

User terminals 1 and 2 transmit the obtained electronic coupon information to the coupon distribution management server 100 (S120). Thus, the coupon distribution management server 100 may collect the electronic coupon issuance information, and earn and process the electronic coupon of each user.

The user terminals 1 and 2 may exchange the electronic coupon information to distribute the electronic coupon (S122). Here, the coupon distribution matching information may be provided from the coupon distribution management server 100 in order to find a counterpart to exchange the electronic coupons 1,2 of the user terminals.

User terminals 1 and 2 also transmit the distribution information according to the electronic coupon exchange to the coupon distribution management server 100 (S124). Thus, the coupon distribution management server 100 may collect the electronic coupon distribution information, it is possible to change the coupon holding history of each user.

When the user terminal 2 requests the use of the electronic coupon (S126), the issuer terminal 300 and the user terminal 2 transmit the electronic coupon usage information to the coupon distribution management server 100 (S128). Thus, the coupon distribution management server 100 may exhaust the electronic coupon information of the user terminal 2.

The coupon distribution management server 100 may collect and store electronic coupon distribution related information received from the user terminals 1 and 2 and the issuer terminal 300 to store and manage the coupon holding history of each user (S130).

6 is a control flowchart of the electronic coupon distribution management method according to another embodiment of the present invention, illustrating a process in which electronic coupons are exchanged between users.

Users having an electronic coupon may request electronic coupon exchange from the coupon distribution management server 100 using their user terminal (S210). When the electronic coupon exchange request, the user terminal 1, 2 provides the type and quantity of the electronic coupon to be obtained and the type and quantity of the electronic coupon to be provided by the user.

The coupon distribution management server 100 matches the exchange conditions between the users by collecting the exchange requests of each user (S212). Here, the use coupon distribution management server 100 may recommend an electronic coupon exchange counterpart by combining a set of users who can exchange electronic coupons. Combination of Electronic Coupon Exchangers It may be combined in a one-to-one exchange manner as shown in (a) of FIG. 7 or may be combined so as to be exchanged in a mutual circulation manner as shown in (b). As described above, the electronic coupons having different values (2A = 2B = C) may be combined to be exchanged in a multilateral exchange method in which several people transfer together and then exchange different electronic coupons.

Coupon distribution management server 100 notifies each user terminal of the matching result of the users who want to exchange the electronic coupon (S214).

Accordingly, the user terminals 1 and 2 may exchange and distribute the electronic coupon according to the user's intention (S210).

When the electronic coupon exchange is established, each of the user terminals 1 and 2 transmits the exchange result to the coupon distribution management server 100 (S218). Thus, the coupon distribution management server 100 may recognize the change in the electronic coupon holding amount of each user through the electronic coupon distribution information.

Coupon distribution management server 100 reflects the result of the electronic coupon exchange, and updates and manages the coupon holding history of each user (S220).

As described above, the electronic coupon distribution system and the control method according to the present invention, by providing the electronic coupon to be issued in the personal store in the form of an image or electronic tag to provide an electronic coupon service in a small personal store easily. In the case of an electronic coupon in the form of a visual image, the advertisement effect of the electronic coupon can be increased by generating a characteristic electronic coupon image by reflecting the image desired by the store owner.

In addition, by allowing the user to obtain the electronic coupon issued by the store through a terminal such as a smartphone to earn and manage online, it is possible to prevent the loss and damage of the electronic coupon and provide convenience for use.

And, by collecting the electronic coupon exchange information of the users who want to obtain or deliver a specific electronic coupon, by matching the appropriate users, it is possible to activate the use of the electronic coupon.

Thus, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. It is therefore to be understood that the embodiments described above are to be considered in all respects only as illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the present invention is defined by the appended claims rather than the detailed description and all changes or modifications derived from the meaning and scope of the claims and their equivalents are to be construed as being included within the scope of the present invention do.

Electronic coupon distribution system and control method of the present invention, by generating a unique electronic coupon for each store to provide to the store, and to earn and manage the electronic coupon of the user issued in each store online, small personal stores E-coupon service can be easily operated and users can easily accumulate and manage electronic coupons while relaying electronic coupon holding information of users with different types of electronic coupons. By enabling mutual exchange, the distribution of electronic coupons can be activated.

100: electronic coupon distribution management server 110: server control unit
120: server communication unit 130: coupon use processing module
132: user information storage unit 134: coupon recognition unit
136: holding information storage unit 140: coupon transaction relay module
150: coupon issuance processing module 152: coupon generation unit
154: coupon information storage unit 200: user terminal
210: user terminal control unit 220: terminal communication unit
222: short-range wireless communication unit 224: Internet communication unit
230: camera unit 240: user interface
250: coupon storage unit 300: issuer terminal
310: issuer terminal control unit 320: issuer communication unit
322: Near field communication unit 324: Internet communication unit
330: coupon input and output unit 340: issuer UI

Claims (22)

An issuer terminal requesting generation and registration of an electronic coupon to be issued in a store through a network;
A user terminal that receives the electronic coupon at the store and transmits electronic coupon information about the electronic coupon; And
At the request of the issuer terminal, an electronic coupon including store identification information for identifying the store is generated, the store identification information is extracted from the electronic coupon information received from the user terminal, and the coupon possession history of the user terminal. Electronic coupon distribution system comprising an electronic coupon distribution management server to process.
The method of claim 1,
The electronic coupon distribution system, characterized in that issued in the form of a visual image.
The method of claim 2,
The electronic coupon distribution management server, the electronic coupon distribution system, characterized in that for receiving a designated image from the issuer terminal, to generate an electronic coupon containing the designated image.
The method of claim 1,
The electronic coupon is an electronic coupon distribution system, characterized in that issued in the form of an electronic tag capable of short-range wireless reception.
The method of claim 1,
The electronic coupon distribution management server,
At the request of the issuer terminal or the user terminal, the electronic coupon distribution system, characterized in that to exhaust the coupon holding history of the user terminal.
The method of claim 1,
The electronic coupon distribution management server,
Receiving an electronic coupon exchange request including an exchange condition from the user terminals, searching for user terminals matching the exchange condition, and providing a matching result to the matched user terminals.
Coupon generation unit for generating an electronic coupon including store identification information for identification of the issued store;
Coupon recognition unit for extracting the store identification information from the electronic coupon information received through the network;
Retention information storage unit for storing the user information and the coupon holding history of the user; And
According to a request of the coupon issuer received through the network, the coupon generation unit is controlled to generate and register the electronic coupon, and when the user information and the electronic coupon information are received through the network, the coupon recognition unit receives the Extracting the shop identification information, the electronic coupon distribution management server including a server control unit for retrieving the user information in the holding information storage unit and accumulates in the user's coupon holding history.
The method of claim 7, wherein
The coupon generation unit,
Electronic coupon distribution management server, characterized in that for generating an electronic coupon in the form of a visual image.
9. The method of claim 8,
The coupon generation unit,
Electronic coupon distribution management server, characterized in that for generating an electronic coupon containing a specified image received from the coupon issuer.
The method of claim 7, wherein
The coupon generation unit,
An electronic coupon distribution server, characterized in that to generate an electronic coupon in the form of an electronic tag capable of short-range wireless reception.
The method of claim 7, wherein
The server control unit,
When the user information and the electronic coupon information are received together with the coupon exhaustion request through the network, the store identification information is extracted through the coupon recognition unit, and the user information is retrieved from the holding information storage unit to hold the coupon of the user. Electronic coupon distribution management server, characterized in that the exhaustion processing on the details information.
The method of claim 7, wherein
When the electronic coupon exchange request including an exchange condition is received from the user terminals through the network, a coupon transaction relay module for searching for the user terminals matching the exchange conditions and providing a matching result to the matched user terminals Electronic coupon distribution management server further comprising.
The method of claim 12,
The coupon transaction relay module,
Electronic coupon distribution management server, characterized in that for preferentially recommending the user terminals located in the short distance based on the location information of the matching user terminals.
The method of claim 12,
The server control unit,
Electronic coupon distribution management server, characterized in that for changing the coupon possession of the user by receiving the coupon holding information of the users who exchanged the electronic coupon.
Receiving a request for generation and registration of an electronic coupon via a network;
Generating an electronic coupon including store identification information for identifying an issued store of the electronic coupon;
Receiving electronic coupon information and user information on the electronic coupon from a user terminal having issued the electronic coupon at the store;
Extracting the store identification information from the received electronic coupon information;
Controlling the electronic coupon distribution system comprising the step of accumulating the electronic coupon of the identified store in the coupon storage history of the user previously stored.
16. The method of claim 15,
Generating the electronic coupon,
The control method of the electronic coupon distribution system comprising the step of generating an electronic coupon in the form of a visual image.
16. The method of claim 15,
Receiving a request for creation and registration of an electronic coupon via the network, includes receiving a request for creation and registration of an electronic coupon including a designated image;
The generating of the electronic coupon may include generating an electronic coupon including the designated image.
16. The method of claim 15,
Generating the electronic coupon,
And generating an electronic coupon in the form of an electronic tag capable of short-range wireless reception.
16. The method of claim 15,
Receiving the user information and the electronic coupon information together with the coupon exhaustion request through the network;
Extracting the store identification information from the received electronic coupon information; And
And exhausting the electronic coupon of the identified store in the coupon storage history of the user.
16. The method of claim 15,
Receiving an electronic coupon exchange request including an exchange condition from user terminals through the network;
Searching for user terminals matching the exchange condition; And
And providing a matching result to the matched user terminals.
21. The method of claim 20,
Providing a matching result to the matched user terminals,
And firstly recommending user terminals located in a short distance based on the matching location information of the user terminals.
21. The method of claim 20,
And receiving coupon holding information of users who exchange electronic coupons and changing the coupon holding of the user of the holding information storage unit.

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