KR20240015558A - Multiple online subscription service platforms and methods - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to an online subscription service platform and method for using multiple online subscription services at low cost, wherein a subscriber selects multiple subscription services, distributes the proportion of use of each subscription service, and charges a fee according to the proportion of use. It is characterized by imposing.

Description

{Multiple online subscription service platforms and methods}

The present invention relates to a multiple online subscription service platform and method for simultaneously subscribing to and using two or more 'online subscription services'. More specifically, the 'service use' of a user who wants to use two or more 'online subscription services'. It relates to a multiple online subscription service platform and method of providing a multiple online subscription service that allows users to use multiple online subscription services by allocating 'available time' according to their needs.

Subscription services are a method of selling products to consumers on a regular basis through regular payments. There are 'regular delivery type (delivery of products on a regular basis, such as newspapers, food and beverage delivery, etc.)' and 'unlimited use type (unlimited use within a period, such as Netflix, Melon, etc.). Among the 'regular delivery types', the most frequently used services were in the order of food and beverage > publications, and among the 'unlimited use types', the most frequently used services were in the order of video content service > online shopping membership > music streaming service. appear. (Korea Research, Subscription Service Use Status and Consumption Propensity Survey, July 21, 2021)

The number of paid online subscription services reaches 70% of adults, and each person uses an average of 2.2 services (categories). In particular, many of the services used are ‘unlimited use’ and focus on video and audio content. The average monthly subscription fee for each service is 43,000 won. (Consumer Insight, Mobile Communications Planning Survey, March 24, 2022)

Korea's subscription service market is expected to reach 40.1 trillion won in 2020 and 100 trillion won in 2025. (KT Economic Management Research Institute)

Online subscription services have the advantage of generating stable sales for companies, so they are expected to continue to expand into various fields such as commerce and metaverse.

However, based on users, the service satisfaction rate is slightly decreasing compared to the past, and the future intention to use rate appears to be stagnant. The difference between the use rate and the intention to use rate is also not large, so the growth engine appears to be small. The most common reasons for reluctance to use the service are the burden of subscription fees and the absence of desired products. (Consumer Insight, Mobile Communications Planning Survey, March 24, 2022)

From the consumer's perspective, the illusory low prices of online subscription services may encourage unconscious overconsumption, and depending on income level, imbalance and inequality may occur in daily consumption, including cultural content.

In addition, consumers' choice should be guaranteed through healthy competition within the market, but the emergence of monopolists or the difficulty of latecomers entering the market may limit consumers' choice, and even cause damage such as price increases by monopolists.

From the perspective of subscription service providers, it is difficult to select an appropriate subscription price, the burden of demanding expansion of various services, and for latecomers, it is difficult to enter the market effectively due to the high cost structure for entering the market. Competition intensifies due to limited subscription demand, and monopolies may emerge. , customer management costs may increase to prevent customer churn.

Korean Patent No. 10-2017-0149542 (2017.11.10) Korean Patent No. 10-2021-0149672 (2021.11.03) Korean Patent No. 10-2020-0154743 (2020.11.18)

The purpose of the present invention is to solve the above problems, and to provide a multiple online subscription service platform that allows saving subscription fees by distributing the fee according to the proportion of subscription time used when subscribing to two or more online subscription services. There is.

A multiple online subscription service platform according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a relay unit that receives content from a subscription server providing a subscription service and relays it to a subscriber terminal; a subscription service information storage unit that stores fee information and content information provided by the subscription server; A subscription proportion distribution unit that provides an interface so that the subscriber can select a plurality of subscription services and distribute the subscription proportion, receives the subscription service and the subscription proportion from the subscriber terminal, and distributes the subscriber's subscription proportion; And when the subscriber terminal selects a plurality of subscription services and subscription proportions, the subscription fee is calculated by multiplying each subscription service fee by the ratio and adding them together, and the subscription fee is settled according to the calculated fee after the subscriber uses the subscription service. It is characterized by including a fee settlement unit.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the content recommendation unit may further include a content recommendation unit that recommends content to the subscriber based on the subscriber's usage history information and preferred content information input from the subscriber terminal.

In an embodiment of the present invention, an affiliate fee settlement unit may be further included to settle fees to the subscription service provider.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the subscription proportion distribution unit may transmit an interface for modifying the subscription proportion to the subscriber terminal when the subscription proportion of a specific service among the subscription services selected by the subscriber exceeds a certain proportion of the distributed proportion. .

A method of providing multiple online subscription services according to an embodiment of the present invention includes the steps of providing an interface so that a multiple online subscription service platform can select a plurality of subscription services provided online to a subscriber terminal and distribute the subscription proportion; A subscription service selection step of selecting a subscription service and a subscription ratio of the subscription service at the subscriber terminal and transmitting the selection to the multiple online subscription service platform; And a subscription fee settlement step in which the multiple online subscription service platform receives the subscription service and the subscription ratio from the subscriber terminal, multiplies each subscription service fee by the subscription ratio, and adds them to calculate and settle the subscription fee. do.

In an embodiment of the present invention, an affiliate fee settlement step of settling the affiliate fee to the subscription service provider may be further included.

In an embodiment of the present invention, while the subscriber is using content, if the subscription proportion of a specific service among the subscription services selected by the subscriber exceeds a certain proportion of the distributed proportion, the step of transmitting an interface for modifying the subscription proportion to the subscriber terminal. It may further include.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the step of blocking subscription may be further included if the subscriber's content usage exceeds the subscription ratio of a specific service among the subscription services selected by the subscriber.

According to the present invention, it is possible to use multiple online subscription services at a cost similar to using one subscription service. Therefore, by allowing users to use multiple subscription services at a low cost, the imbalance or inequality in the consumption of cultural services according to income can be resolved.

In addition, according to the present invention, it has the effect of lowering the entry barrier for online subscription service latecomers to enter the market and strengthening consumer choice, preventing the emergence of monopolies and enabling healthy market competition.

In addition, according to the present invention, it has the effect of reducing the cost of customer management for online subscription service companies and strengthening the competitiveness of individual subscription services by encouraging the development of differentiated content.

Figure 1 shows a system configuration diagram of a multiple online subscription service platform according to an embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 2 shows a configuration diagram of a multiple online subscription service platform according to an embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 3 shows an embodiment of a subscription proportion adjustment interface.
Figure 4 briefly illustrates the concepts of subscription fee settlement and affiliate fee settlement.
Figure 5 shows a method of providing multiple online subscription services according to an embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 6 shows the relationship between a subscription server, platform, and subscriber terminal in a method for providing multiple online subscription services according to an embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 7 shows a method for modifying the subscription ratio and blocking content according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Since the present invention can make various changes and have various embodiments, specific embodiments will be illustrated in the drawings and described in detail in the detailed description. However, this is not intended to limit the present invention to specific embodiments, and should be understood to include all changes, equivalents, and substitutes included in the spirit and technical scope of the present invention. In describing the present invention, if it is determined that a detailed description of related known technologies may obscure the gist of the present invention, the detailed description will be omitted.

Hereinafter, a preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail based on the attached drawings.

Prior to this, it is specified that the terms described below are defined in consideration of their functions in the present invention, and should be interpreted as concepts consistent with the technical idea of the present invention and meanings commonly used or commonly recognized in the relevant technical field.

Additionally, if it is determined that a detailed description of a known function or configuration related to the present invention may obscure the gist of the present invention, the detailed description will be omitted.

Here, the attached drawings show some parts exaggerated or simplified for convenience and clarity in explaining and understanding the composition and operation of the technology, and each component does not exactly match the actual size.

Figure 1 shows a configuration diagram of a multiple online subscription service platform according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The multiple online subscription service system according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a plurality of subscription servers 10 that provide an online subscription service, a subscriber terminal 20, and a multiple online subscription service system that provides content provided by a plurality of subscription servers to the subscriber terminal. It consists of a subscription service platform (100).

The subscription server 10 is a subscription server that provides a subscription service, and may be a variety of servers that provide a subscription service as well as an OTT server that has been widely used recently. For example, car subscription services have also been provided recently, and the present invention can be applied to car subscription services as well. When providing music streaming such as Melon, there is a possibility of overlapping use with other subscription services, so it is not suitable as a subscription server provided by this platform.

The subscriber terminal 20 may include a set-top box, a smart terminal, a PC, etc. capable of connecting to a wired or wireless network.

A wired or wireless network refers to a connection structure that allows information to be exchanged between nodes such as a plurality of terminals and servers. Examples of such networks include the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) network and the Long Term Evolution (LTE) network. , 5G network, WIMAX (World Interoperability for Microwave Access) network, Internet, LAN (Local Area Network), Wireless LAN (Wireless Local Area Network), WAN (Wide Area Network), PAN (Personal Area Network), Bluetooth (Bluetooth) network, satellite broadcasting network, analog broadcasting network, DMB (Digital Multimedia Broadcasting) network, etc., but is not limited thereto.

The multiple online subscription service platform 100 includes a subscription service storage unit 110, a relay unit 120, a subscription proportion distribution unit 130, a subscription fee settlement unit 140, a content recommendation unit 150, and an affiliate fee settlement unit. It may include a unit 160 and a payment unit 170.

The subscription service storage unit 110 stores fee information and content information provided by the subscription server. The subscription service storage unit 110 stores information necessary for the subscriber to select content, such as a content list provided by the subscription server and an introduction to the content.

The relay unit 120 receives content from a subscription server that provides a subscription service and relays it to the subscriber terminal. The relay unit 120 checks the content request signal received from the subscriber terminal and searches for a subscription server that provides the content, or checks the subscription server selected by the subscriber and connects the subscriber terminal to the corresponding subscription server. When the subscriber terminal is connected to the subscription server, the relay unit connects the subscriber terminal to the content channel of the subscription server for the corresponding content and transmits content data to the subscriber terminal according to an execution signal from the subscriber terminal. A list of subscription services stored in the subscription service storage unit can be provided to the subscriber terminal through the relay unit 120, and the subscriber terminal device can select a desired subscription service.

The subscription proportion distribution unit 130 provides an interface so that the subscriber can select a plurality of subscription services and distribute the subscription proportion, and distributes the subscriber's subscription proportion by receiving the subscription service and the subscription proportion from the subscriber terminal. Distribution of subscription proportions is to allocate proportions within the range of total usage time, so adding up all distributed subscription proportions adds up to 100%.

Figure 3 shows an example of a distribution interface.

For example, when four subscription services are selected, the subscription service may provide a bar-shaped interface to select the proportion of the four subscription services, as shown. Subscription services are listed sequentially and a distribution bar 310 is displayed between each subscription service so that subscribers can adjust the proportion by sliding.

By adjusting the distribution bar 310, you can adjust it to 20% for A subscription service, 40% for B subscription service, 30% for C subscription service, and 10% for D subscription service. Even with this adjustment, all A, B, C, and D subscription services can be adjusted. The sum adds up to 100%.

Figure 3 shows an example of an interface, and is not limited thereto. For example, you can provide an interface that lists selected subscription services and directly inputs the proportion of each subscription service as a number.

The subscriber terminal adjusts the subscription proportion by adjusting the distribution bar 310 and transmits this to the platform 100.

Upon receiving the subscription ratio from the subscriber terminal, the subscription ratio distribution unit 130 sets the subscription ratio of the subscriber accordingly and allows content provided by each subscription server to be played according to the subscription ratio.

If the subscriber's subscription proportion exceeds the distributed proportion, the subscription to the corresponding subscription server can be blocked. In this case, it is desirable to block the subscription service after a certain period of time has elapsed.

When you set a subscription percentage and watch content, the percentage of a specific subscription service may initially be 100% and exceed the set percentage. For example, if Subscription Service A is set to 20%, if only dramas provided by Subscription Service A are watched for the first few days, it will become 100%, exceeding the set percentage. In this case, there is a risk of not being able to view the content at all, so content blocking based on subscription proportion should be checked at certain times after a certain period of time has elapsed. For example, you can check the subscription proportion on a weekly or ten-day basis, and if a specific subscription service exceeds the allocated proportion, viewing of that subscription service can be blocked.

The subscription proportion distribution unit 130 transmits an interface for modifying the subscription proportion to the subscriber terminal when the subscription proportion of a specific service among the subscription services selected by the subscriber exceeds a certain proportion of the distributed proportion, so that the subscriber can change the subscription proportion. Allows you to control .

While using a subscription service, if a subscriber is interested in the content provided by a specific subscription service and wants to watch a lot of it, he or she can watch the desired content without time restrictions by adjusting the subscription proportion.

When the subscriber terminal selects a plurality of subscription services and a subscription ratio, the subscription fee calculation unit 140 calculates the subscription fee by multiplying each subscription service fee by the ratio and adding them together, and calculates the subscription fee after the subscriber uses the subscription service. Subscription fees are calculated accordingly.

The content recommendation unit 150 may recommend content to the subscriber based on the subscriber's usage history information and preferred content information input from the subscriber terminal. Additionally, similar content can be recommended based on the subscriber's viewing history.

The content recommendation unit can recommend content using artificial intelligence based on the subscriber's gender, age, and preferences. The content recommendation unit organizes the preferred content by subscriber and the preferred content of the subscriber base and processes it into statistics to generate various statistical information such as preferred content by age, preferred content by gender, and preferred content by occupation. Subscriber-related information may be stored in a subscriber information storage unit (not shown).

The affiliate fee settlement unit 160 receives fee settlement from the subscriber and then settles the fee to the affiliate subscription service provider according to the subscriber's settlement details. The affiliate fee settlement unit 160 may settle the subscriber's subscription fee minus a predetermined fee according to the contract with the affiliate service provider.

Figure 4 explains fee settlement.

The subscription fee settlement department settles the subscriber's subscription fee according to the subscriber's subscription history, and the affiliate fee settlement department performs settlement with the affiliated subscription service provider according to the subscriber's subscription history.

Hereinafter, a method for providing multiple online subscription services according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described.

The method of providing multiple online subscription services according to the present invention includes a content introduction step (S110), an interface provision step (S120), a subscription service selection step (S130), a content use step (S140), a subscription fee settlement step (S150), and an affiliate fee. It may include a settlement step (S160).

The content introduction step (S110) may provide various information necessary for the subscriber to select content, such as the types of subscription services provided by multiple subscription servers, a list of content for each subscription service, introduction to the content, and fee information. The multiple online subscription service platform can receive this content information from the subscription server and transmit it to the subscriber terminal.

In the interface providing step (S120), the multiple online subscription service platform can select a plurality of subscription services through the subscriber terminal and distribute the subscription proportion. As seen above, an interface that allows the distribution bar to slide so that subscribers can easily select the subscription proportion can be provided.

In the subscription service selection step (S130), the subscriber terminal selects the subscription service and the subscription ratio of the corresponding subscription service and transmits the selection to the multiple online subscription service platform.

Service subscribers can watch multiple contents depending on the subscription ratio (S140).

In the subscription fee settlement step (S150), the multiple online subscription service platform receives the subscription service and subscription ratio from the subscriber terminal, multiplies each subscription service fee by the subscription ratio, adds them up to calculate the subscription fee, and adds the calculated fee to the subscription fee. You can settle the subscription service fee accordingly.

In the affiliate fee settlement step (S160), the subscription fee is settled in relation to the subscriber, and then the affiliate fee is settled to the subscription service provider using the settled fee. At the affiliate fee settlement stage, the subscriber's settlement fee minus a certain fee can be settled.

In addition, a step of adjusting the proportion of multiple subscription services before settling the subscription fee during content use may be further included.

In the step of adjusting the proportion of subscription services, it is determined whether the subscription proportion of a specific service among the subscription services selected by the subscriber is more than a certain percentage of the distributed proportion (S141) and a certain percentage (for example, subscription service A is set to 20%) In one case, if more than 90% of 20% has been viewed), an interface for modifying the subscription proportion may be transmitted to the subscriber terminal (S142).

Subscribers can use content according to the adjusted subscription proportion (S143).

During the subscriber's use of the content, it may include determining whether the subscription ratio of a specific service among the subscription services selected by the subscriber exceeds the subscription ratio (S144) and blocking the subscription if the subscription ratio exceeds the subscription ratio (S145).

As seen above, it is desirable to set the step of blocking subscriptions so that it can only be done after a certain period of time has elapsed after setting the subscription proportion.

If you set the subscription ratio as above and settle the fee according to the subscription ratio, you can use multiple subscription services at the cost of one subscription service or similar costs.

So far, the embodiments have mainly focused on subscription services for watching video content, but the same can be applied to other subscription services.

For example, if subscription service A is a subscription service from BMW, and subscription service B is a subscription service from Mercedes-Benz, and the subscriber uses two subscription services, the subscriber uses two cars for the cost of using one car. It can be used accordingly.

Although the above description focuses on the examples, this is only an example and does not limit the present invention, and those skilled in the art will be able to You will see that various variations and applications are possible. For example, each component specifically shown in the examples can be modified and implemented. And these variations and differences in application should be construed as being included in the scope of the present invention as defined in the appended claims.

Claims (6)

a relay unit that receives content from a subscription server providing a subscription service and relays it to the subscriber terminal;
a subscription service information storage unit that stores fee information and content information provided by the subscription server;
Provides an interface so that the subscriber can select multiple subscription services and allocate the subscription proportion for each subscription service in the total service usage time, and receives the subscription service and subscription proportion from the subscriber terminal and distributes the subscriber's subscription proportion. distribution department; and
When the subscriber terminal selects multiple subscription services and subscription ratios, the subscription fee is calculated by multiplying each subscription service fee by the ratio and adding them up, and the subscription fee is settled according to the calculated fee after the subscriber uses the subscription service. A multiple online subscription service platform characterized by including a settlement department.
According to paragraph 1,
A multiple online subscription service platform further comprising a content recommendation unit that recommends content to the subscriber based on the subscriber's usage history information and preferred content information input from the subscriber terminal.
According to paragraph 1,
A multiple online subscription service platform, further comprising an affiliate fee settlement unit that settles fees to the subscription service provider.
An interface provision step of providing an interface so that the multiple online subscription service platform can select a plurality of subscription services provided online to the subscriber terminal and distribute the subscription proportion for each subscription service in the total service usage time;
A subscription service selection step of selecting a subscription service and a subscription ratio of the subscription service at the subscriber terminal and transmitting the selection to the multiple online subscription service platform; and
A subscription fee settlement step in which the multiple online subscription service platform receives the subscription service and the subscription ratio from the subscriber terminal, multiplies each subscription service fee by the subscription ratio, and adds them to calculate and settle the subscription fee. How to provide online subscription services.
According to clause 4,
A method of providing multiple online subscription services, further comprising an affiliate fee settlement step of settling the affiliate fee using the settled fee to the subscription service provider.
According to clause 4,
A method of providing multiple online subscription services, further comprising blocking a subscription when the subscriber's content usage exceeds the proportion of subscriptions to a specific service among the subscription services selected by the subscriber.