WO2005102884A1

WO2005102884A1 - Present stock management system

Info

Publication number: WO2005102884A1
Application number: PCT/JP2005/007510
Authority: WO
Inventors: Takako Fujita
Original assignee: Neo Promotion, Inc.
Priority date: 2004-04-21
Filing date: 2005-04-20
Publication date: 2005-11-03
Also published as: JP2005306555A

Abstract

In a quiz service in which a user selects a desired present and receives the present if the user correctly answers a quiz, there is provided a present stock management system capable of appropriately managing the present stock and allowing the maximum access from users to the presents without causing the state of out of stock. The system includes: a step for extracting only the present satisfying the condition of the stock number (N) in the database N ≥ 1 and transmitting the extracted present information to the client terminal; a step for acquiring data on the stock number (N) of the present selected from the client terminal, subtracting 1 from the stock number (N), accumulating the processing result as a new stock number (N - 1) in the database; a step used when information on incorrect answer to the quiz information is received, for acquiring the data on the stock number (N), adding 1 to the stock number (N), and accumulating the processing result as a new stock number (N + 1) in the database.

Description

Specification

Prize inventory management system

Technical field

The present invention relates to a prize inventory management system, and more particularly to a prize inventory management system related to a quiz 'service in which a prize is provided when a user selects a desired prize and answers the quiz correctly. Background art

[0002] With the development of network technologies such as the Internet, various services using networks have been provided. In particular, services such as online shopping and auctions that require the provision of products are strictly managed in inventory. It is essential.

As shown in Patent Literature 1 below, conventional inventory management involves always accessing a database storing actual product inventory quantities, and subtracting the quantity transacted from the inventory quantity each time a transaction is completed. In the form, the current stock quantity is grasped. Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2001-22825

[0003] On the other hand, there is also a service that provides a prize when a quiz is answered correctly, such as a quiz 'service "(registered trademark) Campaign Life" currently being carried out by the present applicant. This quiz service is a service that uses the information fee collection service “(Registered Trademark) Dial Q2” (hereinafter, the registered trademark is omitted) provided by Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation. Is to select a prize and then answer the quiz associated with the prize. Only when the quiz is answered correctly, the user can receive the prize, and the usage fee for the quiz 'service will be collected from the user as a dial Q2 service fee.

[0004] In such a quiz service, it is necessary to sufficiently secure the prizes expected by the user in order to secure many uses by the users. In the case of prizes selected by users, if they answer the quiz correctly, they must be provided, so more strict inventory management is required! / Puru.

In the applicant's service, inventory management is performed by a dedicated operator, When the prize stock becomes scarce, the provision of the prize information is stopped so that the user can also restrict access to the prize, and cannot provide the prize selected by the user. ! /, To avoid malfunctions.

[0005] However, even in the quiz service described above, if many users access at the same time, there is a high possibility that unexpected out-of-stock occurs, and users who use a large amount of access such as the Internet In the case of diversification, the risk of running out of stock becomes higher.

[0006] For this reason, to provide stable and reliable services, stricter inventory management is required.

Conventional inventory management, which is used in online shopping, as described above, changes the number of stocks only when a product transaction has been concluded, so the user first selects a product like the quiz 'service described above. However, if it is not possible to determine whether the product will be traded or not until the final answer to the quiz, the user will be allowed to access more than the number of stocks. Will occur.

[0007] On the other hand, in Patent Document 1 described above, reservation data is provided for inventory management, and when a user desires to purchase a product, the number of inventory is reduced and the number of reservations is increased by the same amount. If there is, an inventory management method for returning the reservation quantity to the inventory quantity is proposed.

However, access to the product is not restricted by users, and even if such an inventory management method is provided to the quiz service, the above-mentioned problem still cannot be solved.

Disclosure of the invention

Problems to be solved by the invention

[0008] The present invention has been made in order to solve the above problems, and when a user selects a desired prize and answers the quiz correctly, a quiz service for receiving the prize is provided. In addition, it is an object of the present invention to provide a prize inventory management system that enables appropriate inventory management of prizes and allows a user who has no stockout of prizes to access a prize to the maximum. Means for solving the problem

[0009] The invention according to claim 1 is characterized in that when a user selects a desired prize and answers the quiz correctly, the user uses the prize inventory management system for a quiz service in which the prize is provided. A client terminal connected to the client terminal via a network and providing quiz information; and a database connected to the server and managing prize stock information. The number of stocks (N) for each prize and information that divides the prize into a plurality of groups are stored, and the server performs the following steps.

Receiving a signal for selecting one group from the plurality of groups from the client terminal;

Extracting only prizes whose stock quantity (N) of the database satisfies the condition of N≥1 from the group selected from the client terminal, and transmitting the extracted prize information to the client terminal;

Receiving a signal for selecting one prize from the prize information by the client terminal;

The data of the stock number N of the prize selected from the client terminal is acquired, a process of subtracting 1 from the stock number (N) is performed, and the processing result is set as a new stock number (N-1). Step 4 to accumulate

Transmitting quiz information to the client terminal and receiving information on the correct or incorrect answer of the quiz information also including the client terminal power;

When the information regarding the incorrect answer of the quiz information is received, the data of the stock number (N) is obtained, the process of adding 1 to the stock number (N) is performed, and the processing result is added to the new stock number (N). Step 6 of storing in the database as N + 1).

[0010] Further, the invention according to claim 2 provides a prize inventory management system according to a quiz 'service in which, when a user selects a desired prize and answers the quiz correctly, the prize is provided. A client terminal used by the user, a sano connected to the client terminal via a network and providing quiz information, and a database connected to the server and managing prize stock information. Inventory quantity for each prize ( N) and information that divides the prize into a plurality of groups are stored, and the server performs the following steps.

Step 2 of obtaining data of the number of stocks N of each extracted prize, performing a process of subtracting 1 from the number of stocks (N), and storing the processing result as a new number of stocks (N-1) in the database. 'When,

For the prizes not selected by the client terminal, the data of the stock number (N) is obtained, and the process of adding 1 to the stock number (N) is performed! ヽ, and the processed result is added to the new stock number (N). Step 3, which is stored in the database as N + 1),

[0011] Further, according to the invention of claim 3, in the prize stock management system according to claim 1 or 2, the step 2 of processing by the server is such that the stock quantity (N) of the database is N <1. It is characterized in that a prize that satisfies the above condition is sent to the client terminal with a specific display.

[0012] Further, according to the invention of claim 4, in the prize stock management system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, the stock quantity (N) of each prize in step 2 processed by the server is actually The present invention is characterized in that a value obtained by multiplying the stock number of the prize by a correction coefficient set for each prize or each group is used. [0013] In the invention according to claim 5, in the prize inventory management system according to claim 4, the difficulty of the quiz information is set for each group, and the correction coefficient corresponds to the difficulty. It is characterized by using the correct answer rate.

[0014] In the invention according to claim 6, in the premium inventory management system according to any one of claims 1 to 5, the difficulty level of the quiz information is set for each group, After the elapse of the period, when the number of stocks is equal to or more than a predetermined number, a processing step 7 of moving the prize to a group having a lower difficulty level is provided.

The invention's effect

[0015] According to the invention of claim 1, the prize is divided into a plurality of groups, and the user can access the group, so that even when the stock of a specific prize in the group is exhausted, the prize in the group is lost. As long as other prizes can be provided, access from the user can be made possible, and a stable quiz 'service can always be provided.

Also, when the user selects a prize, the number of stocks is reduced and the user is allowed to access the prizes as long as the number of stocks exists. There is no out-of-stock problem. In addition, in the case of an incorrect answer to the quiz, the number of stocks is immediately restored and new users are allowed access, so it is possible to always manage stock properly without having excess stocks.

[0016] According to the invention of claim 2, when a prize in a group is extracted, the number of stocks of all the extracted prizes is reduced by one, so that while the user selects a prize, another user is selected. Even if there is access, it will be possible to provide a stable quiz 'service without displaying prizes with insufficient stock. In the case of prizes not selected, the number of stocks will be restored immediately, and it will be possible to always achieve proper stock management.

[0017] According to the invention of claim 3, even when there is an out-of-stock prize, by sending a specific display such as "sold out" or "out of stock" to the client terminal, the user's purchase desire and challenge can be improved. It can be expected to stimulate the spirit, motivate users to access next time, and increase the frequency of using the quiz service.

[0018] According to the invention as set forth in claim 4, the numerical value obtained by multiplying the stock quantity by the correction coefficient is input to the user by the user. By setting the number of stocks that can be accessed, for example, it is possible to allow only accesses below the number of stocks to respond to unexpected situations such as delays in receiving prizes or occurrence of defective products. In anticipation that replenishment is easy or that a certain percentage of wrong answerers will occur at all times, it is possible to provide a variety of quiz services, such as providing access to more than the number of stocks. Become.

[0019] According to the invention of claim 5, by using the correct answer rate of the quiz as the correction coefficient, for example, a numerical value obtained by dividing the stock quantity by the correct answer rate is used to make the stock quantity that can be accessed by the user power. By setting as, it is possible to allow more users access in anticipation of the correct answer rate.

[0020] According to the invention of claim 6, in order to automatically eliminate surplus inventory, prizes having a high degree of difficulty in a quiz are transferred to a group having a lower degree of difficulty, thereby increasing opportunities for a user to obtain a prize. In addition, it is possible to promote the elimination of surplus inventory.

Brief Description of Drawings

FIG. 1 is an overall schematic diagram of a data transmission / reception system with a timer according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a configuration of a stock database.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a processing flow relating to a prize inventory management system.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a processing flow according to the premium inventory management system, following FIG. 3;

Explanation of symbols

[0022] 1 network

2 Server

3 Database

4 Client terminal

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

The prize inventory management system according to the present invention will be described in detail below.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an outline of a quiz service system that uses a prize inventory management system. 1 is a network line such as the Internet, and the network 1 includes a server 2 and a client terminal 4. It is connected.

In Fig. 1, the power of the database 3 connected to the server 2 is not limited to this. It is also possible to incorporate the database 3 into a computer constituting the server 2.

As the client terminal, various communication devices that can be connected to the network 1 can be used, and for example, various terminals such as a personal computer, a mobile phone, and an Internet television can be used.

The function required for these client terminals is to access the server 2 via the network and to transmit and receive various data to and from the server 2. For example, the user can access the homepage provided by SANO2, download the content data of the homepage, display it on the display means (display, audio equipment, printing equipment, etc.) of the client terminal, and further display it on the homepage. The server 2 has a function of transmitting data selected from the selected contents and data input from input means (keyboard, mouse, touch panel, voice input device, etc.) of the client terminal to the server 2.

Next, the configurations of the server 2 and the database 3 will be described.

The server 2 controls input / output of data to / from the database 3 and transmits / receives signals to / from the client terminal 4 via the network.

In particular, the server 2 incorporates a prize inventory management system. The inventory management system may be composed of only the server 2, but if necessary, use the database 3 or use another server connected to the server 2 as a dedicated server for inventory management. Is also possible.

[0026] The prize stock management system according to the present invention proceeds with a predetermined program while constantly accessing the stock database storing data on the number of stocks for each prize. .

As shown in Fig. 2, the database for inventory is as follows, for each prize a, b, c, a, b, c.

1 1 1 2 2 2 The stock numbers N, Ν, Ν, Ν, Ν, Ν are accumulated. Al bl cl a2 b2 c2 to which the present invention is suitably applied

In the quiz service, prizes to be provided to quiz correct answerers are divided into multiple groups according to the type and difficulty of the quiz, and in Fig. 2 prizes a, b, c Prizes a, b, and c form another group.

2 2 2

[0027] In addition, in the stock database, a correction coefficient m, m, m ゃ for each prize for each group a b c

Correction coefficient m, etc., and as described later, control of access Multiply the actual stock quantity by the correction coefficient without using N, which is the stock quantity of the prize

al

It is also possible to use the virtual stock number that has been set.

Next, the processing flow of the prize inventory management system will be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS. 3 and 4.

First, the client terminal 4 accesses a homepage or the like provided by the server 2 via the Internet or the like, and transmits a quiz start signal. In the quiz service, the quiz start signal is transmitted by clicking a predetermined icon such as “participate in quiz” on the home page.

When the server 2 receives the quiz start signal, the server 2 presents a quiz group listing various quiz services according to the type and difficulty of the quiz or the difference in the cost of participating in the quiz. The presentation of such a quiz 'group may be displayed on the top screen of the homepage in advance without waiting for the quiz start signal from the client terminal 4 and may be set so that the user can select it appropriately.

With the presentation of the quiz 'group, information on the quiz' group is transmitted from the server 2 and displayed on the client terminal. The user selects an arbitrary group from the quiz 'groups displayed on the display means of the client terminal 4 and transmits a group selection signal to the server 2.

[0030] Upon receiving the group selection signal, the server 2 extracts, from the prize data in the selected group, those having a stock number (N) of 1 or more, and a list of prizes that can be selected by the user at the present time. And transmits the extracted premium data.

The user selects a desired prize from the received prize data, and transmits a prize selection signal to the client terminal 4 server 2.

When the server 2 receives the client terminal 4 prize selection signal, the server 2 performs a process A for reducing the number of stocks indicated by a dotted frame A.

Inventory reduction processing A is for securing the prize selected from the client terminal card in advance in preparation for the correct answer of the quiz. Specifically, the inventory number N of the corresponding prize is obtained from the inventory database. Then, 1 is subtracted from the stock number N, and the calculation result "N-1" is stored in the stock database as a new stock number. [0032] By performing the process A for reducing the number of stocks, the client of another user can be used from the selection of the prize by the currently accessed client terminal to the receipt of the prize by the correct answer of the quiz. Even if the terminal tries to access the same prize, if the inventory number N is less than 1 due to the above reduction process, the prize data will not be extracted and access to the prize will be impossible. It is possible to provide an extremely stable quiz service.

The server 2 extracts the quiz information to be set after the above-described stock quantity reduction processing A, and presents the quiz information to the client terminal 4.

The quiz information is stored in advance in the database 3 or the like by classifying each quiz 'group, and according to the selected group, the quiz information within the group is extracted in a predetermined order or arbitrarily. Sent to the client terminal. In addition to the questions to be asked, the quiz information includes options to be answered and correct answer data, and a program for displaying questions and alternatives, and a program for judging correct or incorrect answers. Then, the data is transmitted to the client terminal 4.

When the client terminal 4 acquires the quiz information, the client terminal 4 sequentially displays quiz questions, answer options, and the like, and inputs a quiz answer using the input means of the client terminal.

After inputting the quiz answer, the client terminal 4 determines the correct answer or incorrect answer of the quiz answer by a program for determining the correct answer / incorrect answer included in the quiz information, and the result is used as a correct answer signal or an incorrect answer signal. Send to server 2.

Note that the process of answering the quiz is not limited to a series of processes in the client terminal as described above.For example, transmission of a quiz question, transmission of an option, transmission of a determination of an incorrect answer, etc. It is also possible to proceed sequentially by communication between the server 2 and the client terminal 4.

When the server 2 receives the correct answer signal, the server 2 proceeds as indicated by a broken line D, and shifts to a process of ending the process, a process of sending a prize to a correct answerer (not shown), and the like. .

On the other hand, when the server 2 receives the incorrect signal, the server 2 performs the inventory increase processing B described in the dotted frame B. This increase processing B is based on the fact that for users who are taking quizzes, it is no longer necessary to secure them for the prize quiz that was secured in advance due to incorrect answers. On the other hand, it has a role of post-processing.

Specifically, the current inventory number N of the relevant prize (the inventory number N always fluctuates depending on the access status from the user, and therefore matches the new inventory number stored in the inventory reduction process A). Is added, 1 is added to the stock number N, the process of “Ν +” is performed, and the result is stored as a new stock number in the stock database.

In addition, if the answer to the quiz is incorrect due to this inventory increase processing B, the inventory is immediately restored and new users are allowed access, so there is no surplus inventory and proper inventory management is always performed. Can be realized.

After the process of increasing the number of inventories, similar to the case of the correct answer signal, the process is terminated, or a message urging the quiz to be challenged again is transmitted from Sano to the client terminal. It is taken over by appropriate processing.

After performing the inventory reduction process A as described above, an unexpected situation such as disconnection of the network occurs, and a predetermined signal (correct or incorrect signal) can be received from the client terminal. In some cases, it may not be possible to execute inventory increase processing B. In such a case, if the server 2 does not receive a predetermined signal from the client terminal for a predetermined period of time, it is determined that the quiz service has not been properly completed, and automatically, It is also possible to incorporate it into the processing program to perform processing B for increasing the number of stocks.

The prize stock management system according to the present invention, in addition to the above, for example, when a prize in a group is extracted, at the time of * 1 in FIG. When reduction process A is performed and the client terminal power prize selection signal is received, inventory reduction is performed for all selected prizes instead of inventory reduction process A at * 2 in Fig. 3. It is also possible to perform processing B for increasing the number. With such processing, when the prizes in the group are extracted, the number of stocks of all the extracted prizes is reduced by one, so that while the user selects the prizes, other users have access. Even in this case, it is possible to provide a stable quiz 'service without displaying a prize with insufficient stock. For prizes that are not selected, the number of stocks will be restored immediately and it will be possible to always implement proper stock management.

[0038] Providing the user with a variety of information related to the prize may make the quiz service attractive. For example, when prize data within a group is extracted, the number of prizes in stock may be less than 1 in order to increase In this case, it is also possible to extract the prize, add a specific display such as "sold out", "out of stock", "popular rush", and transmit the prize to the client terminal. However, it goes without saying that these prizes are set to be unselectable by the client terminal.

[0039] The method of adding various types of information to the prize data is not limited to the above-described case of adding only prizes whose stock quantity is less than 1, but can be added to all prizes.

For example, when transmitting the prize data from the server to the client terminal, advertisement data relating to the prize itself is added, and when the prize data is displayed on the client terminal, an advertisement is necessarily displayed together. Advertising services of prize providers and the like can also be set to be incorporated into the quiz service. Also, the opportunity to transmit the advertisement data is not limited to the time of transmitting the above-mentioned premium data, and the advertisement data of the selected premium may be transmitted together with the quiz information. ,

For the method of displaying advertisements, various types of advertisement methods available on the ordinary Internet can be used. For example, display means such as banner advertisements and advertisements using videos that allow the user to use only passive advertisement methods There is also a method to ask for the active involvement of the user, such as not displaying the entire screen content! And not moving to the next processing step (eg, quiz start processing).

[0040] The prize provided by the quiz service may have an unexpected situation such as delay in arrival of the prize or occurrence of a defective product unless the prize is intangible such as electronic data or service. In such a case, it is preferable to set a smaller quantity in advance than the current stock quantity as the available stock quantity. In addition, in some cases, it is possible to access more than the number of stock in anticipation that prizes are easy to replenish or that a certain percentage of wrong answerers will occur.

In this way, when the amount of access from the user is limited by a quantity different from the actual stock quantity, a value (virtual stock quantity) obtained by multiplying the actual stock quantity by a specific correction coefficient is shown in the group in Fig. 3. It is preferable to use it as the stock number N at the time of prize data extraction.

An example in which a correction coefficient is used will be described with reference to FIG. The correction coefficient can be set as abc 2 as the correction coefficient m, m, m, the correction coefficient m for each group for each premium. When considering the circumstances depending on each prize, the correction coefficient for each prize is used, and when considering the difficulty of the quiz for each group, the correction coefficient for each group is used.

For example, if the occurrence rate of defective products of a specific prize is 10%, the correction coefficient by which the prize is multiplied by the stock quantity is 0.9.

If the accuracy rate of the quiz of the group is 50%, 2 which is the reciprocal of the accuracy rate is used as a correction coefficient.

Further, it is also possible to limit the amount of access according to more various situations by further multiplying the correction coefficient for each prize by the correction coefficient of the group to which the prize belongs.

[0042] When the quiz 'service is operated, prizes with low popularity and prizes with a high degree of difficulty in quizzes are likely to be stocked.

In order to eliminate such surplus inventory, the difficulty level of the quiz information is set in advance for each group, and, for example, by a processing program incorporated in the server 2 or the database 3, each day, every few weeks, The prize stock number is automatically acquired, a prize having a stock number larger than a predetermined stock number set for each group is extracted, and the group to which the prize belongs is less difficult than the current group. Move to a group.

By such processing of the server or the like, the opportunity for the user to obtain a prize increases, and the cancellation of the surplus inventory can be promoted.

Industrial applicability

As described above, according to the present invention, when the user selects a desired prize and answers the quiz correctly, the quiz 'service for receiving the prize enables proper inventory management of the prize. In addition, it is possible to provide a prize inventory management system that allows a user who has no stockout of a prize to access the prize to the maximum.

Claims

The scope of the claims

[1] When the user selects a desired prize and answers the quiz correctly, the prize is provided. In the prize inventory management system related to the quiz service,

A client terminal used by the user, a server connected to the client terminal via a network and providing quiz information, and a database connected to the server and managing prize stock information;

The database stores the number of stocks (N) for each of a plurality of prizes and information obtained by dividing the prizes into a plurality of groups.

The server performs a process of each of the following steps, a prize inventory management system.

The data of the stock number N of the prize selected from the client terminal is obtained, a process of subtracting 1 from the stock number (N) is performed, and the processing result is set as a new stock number (N-1). Step 4 to accumulate

[2] When the user selects the desired prize and answers the quiz correctly, the prize is provided. In the prize inventory management system related to the quiz service,

Client terminal used by the user, connected to the client terminal via a network A server that provides quiz information and a database that is connected to the server and manages prize stock information.

Step 2 of obtaining data of the stock number N of each extracted prize, subtracting 1 from the stock number (N), and storing the processing result as a new stock number (N-1) in the database. ,When,

In the prize inventory management system according to claim 1 or 2, in step 2 processed by the server, a specific indication is given to the prize in which the stock quantity (N) of the database satisfies the condition of N <1. A prize inventory management system, which sends the prizes to client terminals. [4] In the prize inventory management system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, the stock quantity (N) of each prize in Step 2 processed by the server is equal to the actual stock number of the prize or each prize. Is a prize inventory management system using numerical values multiplied by a correction coefficient set for each group.

[5] In the prize inventory management system according to claim 4, the correction coefficient is such that difficulty of quiz information is set for each group, and a correct answer rate corresponding to the difficulty is used. A featured prize inventory management system.

[6] The prize inventory management system according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the difficulty level of the quiz information is set for each group, and after a predetermined period has elapsed, the number of the inventory is equal to or more than a certain number. If there remains, a prize inventory management system having a processing step 7 of moving the prize to a group having a lower difficulty level.