WO2013047535A1

WO2013047535A1 - Server device, coupon management method, communication system, and program

Info

Publication number: WO2013047535A1
Application number: PCT/JP2012/074597
Authority: WO
Inventors: 将人山田
Original assignee: 株式会社エヌ・ティ・ティ・ドコモ
Priority date: 2011-09-30
Filing date: 2012-09-25
Publication date: 2013-04-04
Also published as: JPWO2013047535A1; JP5661191B2

Abstract

The present invention provides electronic coupons so as not to surpass a desired number even when multiple electronic coupons are written by sharing a memory region in a terminal device. A storage unit (13) stores the number of un-used electronic coupons which were determined to be successfully written in a memory region (251), an undetermined number in which the success of the writing process is undetermined, and the remaining number of electronic coupons that can be newly provided to multiple terminal devices. A first updating unit (111) adds a number from which the total remaining number of first electronic coupons is subtracted to the undetermined numbers of the first electronic coupons. A second updating unit (113) commands a terminal device (20) to write the undetermined number of first electronic coupons. Subsequently, the second updating unit (113) sets the undetermined number of first electronic coupons as the number of un-used first electronic coupons once the terminal device (20) successfully accomplishes the writing process. Then, when the memory region (251) in which second electronic coupons are stored is overwritten with the first electronic coupons, the second updating unit (113) returns the number of un-used second electronic coupons to the remaining number.

Description

Server apparatus, coupon management method, communication system, and program

The present invention relates to a technique for managing electronic coupons stored and used in an IC (Integrated Circuit) chip or the like.

Services using electronic coupons (electronic coupons) are provided, for example, with shops and companies as service providers. In the electronic coupon service, an electronic coupon obtained in advance is stored in an IC chip such as a mobile FeliCa (registered trademark) of a terminal device such as a mobile phone terminal, and the user connects the terminal device to a reader / writer installed in the store. The electronic coupon can be used by holding it over. In this electronic coupon service, in light of the service provider's budget and the purpose of the service, for example, the total number of electronic coupons that can be provided and the upper limit of the number that can be used per user are determined. In some cases, the management for limiting the provision and use of electronic coupons requires accuracy.

For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a mechanism that prevents an electronic coupon from being used twice in a system including a user's mobile phone, a virtual store on the network, and a coupon management server that manages the usage status of the electronic coupon. Is disclosed. In the invention described in Patent Document 1, when the mobile phone reads the electronic coupon from the non-contact IC chip, the usage flag indicating whether or not the electronic coupon is stored stored in the mobile phone is rewritten, and the usage flag is set. The electronic coupon is not allowed to be used during a period indicating that it cannot be used. With this configuration, even when the communication between the mobile phone and the virtual store is disconnected when the electronic coupon is used, it is possible to avoid the electronic coupon being used twice. In Patent Document 2, the IC card on the customer side stores the number of times of use and the maximum number of times for each electronic coupon service, and the store terminal reads the number of times of use and the maximum number of times stored in the IC card, and compares them. , Limiting the use of electronic coupons. Patent Document 3 discloses a mechanism for preventing unlimited provision of electronic coupons accompanying redistribution of electronic coupons. In the invention described in Patent Document 1, the coupon issuing server is permitted to redistribute the user identification information of the mobile terminal that issues the electronic coupon and the user identification information and the electronic coupon from the mobile terminal. Redistribution of electronic coupons from the mobile terminal is permitted only when the database has a database associated with the user identification information of the terminal and the relationship of the association is satisfied.

JP 2008-225716 A JP 2006-221383 A JP 2007-72906 A

Patent document 1 and patent document 2 are based on the process at the time of providing an electronic coupon from the provider side server to the user side terminal device, and a plurality of terminal devices (for example, all terminals capable of acquiring coupons). No mechanism is disclosed for preventing electronic coupons from being provided beyond a predetermined number. By the way, if the memory area in which the electronic coupon is stored is divided for each service provider (in other words, for each electronic coupon) and each area is occupied by one service provider, the server on the provider side It is easy to manage electronic coupons stored in the terminal device on the user side. However, when trying to manage information about an electronic coupon by a mechanism that does not allocate an area to be occupied by the service provider, it seems that an electronic coupon was overwritten by another electronic coupon after it was written to the memory area. In such a case, it is difficult to accurately manage information related to the electronic coupon stored in the terminal device on the user side from the server on the provider side. If the information regarding the electronic coupon is not accurately managed on the server side, the electronic coupon may be provided beyond the expected number.
In addition, even if the possession status of each user of electronic coupons for which the number that can be provided is limited for each user is managed using a user ID that is a user-specific identifier, electronic coupons are used beyond the number that can be provided There is a possibility that. For example, when a malicious user performs member registration a plurality of times and a plurality of user IDs are assigned to one user, the user can acquire and use an electronic coupon using each user ID. . In a system in which one user ID can be strictly assigned to one user, if the user forgets the user ID or forgets the password required for user authentication using the user ID, the user ID is reissued Another problem arises that the procedure related to the above is complicated.
Therefore, the present invention is to provide an electronic coupon so as not to exceed the expected number even when a plurality of electronic coupons are written while sharing the memory area of the terminal device.

In order to solve the above-described problem, the server device of the present invention provides, for each electronic coupon provided to the terminal device and used in the terminal device, the number of unused electronic coupons provided to the terminal device, and the terminal One user that identifies the user of the terminal device in the first storage unit that stores the remaining number of electronic coupons that can be newly provided to the device and the terminal ID that identifies the terminal device on which the electronic coupon is provided When a second storage unit that stores IDs in association with each other and the electronic coupon is newly provided to the first terminal device, the terminal ID of the first terminal device and the user of the user of the first terminal device An acquisition unit that acquires an ID, a first update unit that updates the first storage unit so as to reduce the number of the electronic coupons provided to the first terminal device from the remaining number of the electronic coupons; A write instruction unit for instructing the first terminal device to execute a writing process to a memory area of the first terminal device for the number of electronic coupons reduced by the first update unit; When the execution of the writing process is instructed by the writing instruction unit, the writing unit that associates the acquired user ID with the acquired terminal ID in the second storage unit, and according to the instruction of the writing instruction unit And a second updating unit that updates the first storage unit so as to set the reduced number to the unused number of the electronic coupons after the success of the writing process is confirmed. .

In the server device of the present invention, when the electronic coupon is overwritten on another electronic coupon by the writing process in accordance with an instruction from the writing instruction unit, the second updating unit does not store the other electronic coupon. It is preferable to update the first storage unit so as to clear the unused number by adding the used number to the remaining number of the other electronic coupons.
In the server device of the present invention, the first update unit sets the number subtracted from the remaining number of the first electronic coupons to an unconfirmed number that is the number of electronic coupons for which the success of the writing process is unconfirmed. The second update unit stores the undetermined number of the electronic coupon, which is the reduced number, after the success of the writing process is confirmed. It is preferable to set the number of uses and clear the indefinite number.
In the server device of the present invention, when the first terminal device fails the writing process according to the instruction, the second updating unit adds the uncertain number to the remaining number of the electronic coupons, It is preferable to clear the indeterminate number.
In the server device of the present invention, the first storage unit stores the remaining number of electronic coupons that can be newly provided to one terminal device, and the number of electronic coupons used by the first terminal device. Based on the usage history acquired by the usage history acquisition unit and the usage history acquired by the usage history acquisition unit, the number of unused electronic coupons used and the remaining number for the one terminal device It is preferable to include a third update unit that updates the first storage unit so as to reduce the number of uses.
In the server device of the present invention, after receiving a notification that the writing process of writing the electronic coupon in the memory area is completed, the management server acquires the result of the writing process from the first terminal device. A processing result acquisition unit that inquires and acquires the result is provided, and the second update unit determines whether or not the writing process has been successful according to the result acquired by the processing result acquisition unit It is preferable to do.

In the server device of the present invention, the writing instruction unit, in the second storage unit, when a user ID different from the user ID acquired by the acquisition unit is not associated with the terminal ID acquired by the acquisition unit, Alternatively, when the user ID different from the acquired user ID is associated with the acquired terminal ID, it is preferable to perform the instruction when a predetermined condition is satisfied.
In the server device according to the present invention, the write instruction unit does not satisfy the condition when a user ID different from the acquired user ID is associated with the acquired terminal ID in the second storage unit. Sometimes it is preferable not to give the instructions.
In the server device of the present invention, the write instruction unit performs the instruction when the second storage unit associates the acquired terminal ID with a user ID different from the acquired user ID. The writing unit changes the user ID associated with the acquired terminal ID in the second storage unit when the instruction is given by the writing instruction unit when the condition is not satisfied. Preferably not.
In the server device of the present invention, when the acquisition unit acquires the terminal ID from the first terminal device but does not acquire the user ID, the acquisition unit stores any one of the terminal IDs in the second storage unit. When the user ID is associated, the user ID is acquired. When the terminal ID is not associated with any user ID in the second storage unit, a new user ID is issued and acquired. When the instruction is given by the writing instruction unit and the acquisition unit has acquired a user ID from the second storage unit, a user ID associated with the acquired terminal ID If the user ID is newly issued and acquired without changing the user ID, it is preferable to write the user ID in the second storage unit in association with the acquired terminal ID. There.
In the server device according to the present invention, it is preferable that the write instruction unit has the condition that a predetermined period has elapsed since the instruction was given.
In the server device of the present invention, it is preferable that the writing instruction unit sets the condition that an available period of the electronic coupon has passed.
In the server device according to the present invention, the writing instruction unit instructs the first terminal device to execute a writing process to a memory area of the first terminal device for a plurality of types of electronic coupons. In this case, it is preferable that the condition that the usable period of the electronic coupon having the latest end time elapses is used as the condition.
In the server device according to the present invention, when the terminal ID is stored in a memory area of the terminal device indicated by the terminal ID and an electronic coupon whose number that can be provided is limited for each user is provided, the memory area Instructing the reading of the terminal ID from the terminal, and providing the first terminal device with an electronic coupon whose number of provisions is not limited for each user, a reading instruction unit that does not instruct the reading of the terminal ID The acquisition unit acquires the terminal ID read from the memory area according to the instruction when the reading instruction unit instructs to read the terminal ID, and the write instruction unit When the reading instruction unit does not instruct reading of the terminal ID, an electronic coupon whose number that can be provided is not limited for each user is attached to the first terminal device. To perform a write process to the memory area having it is preferred that instructs the first terminal device.
In the server device of the present invention, in the second storage unit, when the acquired terminal ID is associated with a user ID different from the acquired user ID, and the condition is satisfied, the second storage unit And a deletion unit that deletes the association between the acquired user ID and the different terminal ID when the acquired user ID is associated with a terminal ID different from the acquired terminal ID. It is preferable.

The coupon management method of the present invention is newly provided to the terminal device and the number of unused electronic coupons provided to the terminal device for each electronic coupon provided to the terminal device and used in the terminal device. The first storage unit that stores the remaining number of possible electronic coupons and the terminal ID that identifies the terminal device provided with the electronic coupon are associated with one user ID that identifies the user of the terminal device. A coupon management method for a server device comprising a second storage unit, wherein when the electronic coupon is newly provided to a first terminal device, the terminal ID of the first terminal device and the first terminal device The first memory so as to subtract the number of the electronic coupons provided to the first terminal device from the acquisition step of acquiring the user ID of the user and the remaining number of the electronic coupons The first terminal device is configured to execute a writing process to the memory area of the first terminal device for the number of electronic coupons reduced in the first updating step. A writing instruction step for instructing, and a writing step for associating the acquired user ID with the acquired terminal ID in the second storage unit when execution of the writing process is instructed in the writing instruction step; After the success of the writing process according to the instruction in the writing instruction step is confirmed, the second update is performed to update the first storage unit to set the reduced number to the unused number of the electronic coupon. And a step.
In the coupon management method of the present invention, the first storage unit uses the number of unused electronic coupons for which the success of the writing process to the memory area of the terminal device is confirmed, and the unused number of electronic coupons provided to the terminal device. When the electronic coupon is overwritten on another electronic coupon by the writing process according to the instruction from the writing instruction unit, the second update step stores the number of unused electronic coupons that are not used. Is added to the remaining number of the other electronic coupons, and the first storage unit is preferably updated to clear the unused number.
In the coupon management method of the present invention, in the writing instruction step, in the second storage unit, a user ID different from the user ID acquired in the acquisition step is not associated with the terminal ID acquired in the acquisition step. Alternatively, when the user ID different from the acquired user ID is associated with the acquired terminal ID, the instruction is preferably performed when a predetermined condition is satisfied.

The communication system of the present invention is a communication system including a server device and a terminal device, and the server device is provided to the terminal device for each electronic coupon provided to the terminal device and used in the terminal device. A first storage unit that stores the number of unused electronic coupons, the remaining number of electronic coupons that can be newly provided to the terminal device, and a terminal ID that identifies the terminal device provided with the electronic coupon, When the second storage unit that stores one user ID that identifies the user of the terminal device in association with the electronic coupon is newly provided to the first terminal device, the terminal ID of the first terminal device The number of the electronic coupons provided to the first terminal device is subtracted from the acquisition unit that acquires the user ID of the user of the first terminal device and the remaining number of the electronic coupons. The first update unit for updating the first storage unit, and the write processing to the memory area of the first terminal device for the number of electronic coupons reduced by the first update unit, When the writing instruction unit instructing the first terminal device and execution of the writing process are instructed by the writing instruction unit, the acquired user ID is assigned to the acquired terminal ID in the second storage unit. The first storage unit configured to set the reduced number to the unused number of the electronic coupons after the writing unit to be associated and the success of the writing process according to the instruction of the writing instruction unit are confirmed A second updating unit that updates the number of electronic coupons to the memory area by the writing process according to an instruction of the writing instruction unit, and the writing process The server device And notifying the.
In the communication system of the present invention, the first storage unit determines the number of unused electronic coupons that have been successfully written to the memory area of the terminal device as the number of unused electronic coupons provided to the terminal device. And when the electronic coupon is overwritten on another electronic coupon by the writing process according to the instruction of the writing instruction unit, the second updating unit calculates the number of unused electronic coupons It is preferable to update the first storage unit so as to clear the unused number by adding to the remaining number of the other electronic coupons.

The program of the present invention can be newly provided to the terminal device and the number of unused electronic coupons provided to the terminal device for each electronic coupon provided to the terminal device and used in the terminal device. A first storage unit that stores the remaining number of electronic coupons and a terminal ID that identifies the terminal device provided with the electronic coupon are associated with one user ID that identifies the user of the terminal device, and the second is stored. When the electronic coupon is newly provided to the first terminal device to a computer including a storage unit, the terminal ID of the first terminal device and the user ID of the user of the first terminal device are acquired. And a first updating step of updating the first storage unit so as to subtract the number of electronic coupons provided to the first terminal device from the number of remaining electronic coupons. A writing instruction step for instructing the first terminal device to execute a writing process to the memory area of the first terminal device for the number of electronic coupons reduced in the first updating step; When the execution of the writing process is instructed in the writing instruction step, the writing step of associating the acquired user ID with the acquired terminal ID in the second storage unit, and the instruction in the writing instruction step After the success of the corresponding writing process is confirmed, a second update step of updating the first storage unit is executed so as to set the reduced number to the unused number of the electronic coupon.
In the program of the present invention, when the writing instruction step does not associate a user ID different from the user ID acquired in the acquisition step with the terminal ID acquired in the acquisition step in the second storage unit, or When the acquired terminal ID is associated with a user ID different from the acquired user ID, the instruction is preferably performed when a predetermined condition is satisfied.

According to the present invention, even when a plurality of electronic coupons are written while sharing the memory area of the terminal device, the electronic coupons can be provided so as not to exceed the expected number.

The figure which shows the whole structure of a communication system. The block diagram which shows the hardware constitutions of an ASP server. The figure which shows the data structure of a coupon management table. The figure which shows the data structure of a user management table. The figure which shows the data structure of a transaction management table. The figure which shows the data structure of a pending | holding list table. The block diagram which shows the hardware constitutions of a terminal device. The functional block diagram which shows the functional structure of the function regarding provision of an electronic coupon. The functional block diagram which shows the functional structure of the function regarding utilization of an electronic coupon. The sequence chart which shows the flow of the whole process of a communication system. The example of a screen when a terminal device is going to acquire an electronic coupon. The flowchart which shows the flow of a set start process. The figure which shows the mode of the update of a data table. The flowchart which shows the flow of a set confirmation process. The flowchart which shows the flow of a set confirmation process. The figure which shows the mode of the update of a data table. The figure which shows the mode of the update of a data table. The flowchart which shows the flow of a process at the time of use. The figure which shows the data structure of the data table which changes with a process at the time of use. The figure which shows the mode of the update of a data table. The figure which shows the mode of the update of a data table. The figure which shows the mode of the update of a data table. The figure which shows the mode of the update of a data table. The block diagram which shows the hardware constitutions of an ASP server. The figure which shows the structure of a coupon information table. The figure which shows the structure of a user management table. The figure which shows the structure of a holding condition management table. The functional block diagram which shows the functional structure of the function regarding management of an electronic coupon. The sequence chart which shows the flow of the whole process of a communication system. The figure which shows a coupon acquisition screen. The flowchart which shows the procedure of a terminal ID necessity determination process. The flowchart which shows the procedure of a terminal ID notification process. The flowchart which shows the procedure of a coupon provision determination process. The figure which shows the mode of the update of a user management table. The figure which shows the mode of the update of a user management table. The sequence chart which shows the procedure of the write-in process of an electronic coupon.

1. First Embodiment Hereinafter, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an overall configuration of the communication system 1.
The communication system 1 includes an ASP (Application Service Provider) server 10, a terminal device 20, a store management server 30, a store terminal 40, and an application management server 50. The ASP server 10 is a server device that provides an electronic coupon service to the terminal device 20. Here, the ASP server 10 provides the terminal device 20 with an electronic coupon service by a plurality of service providers in response to a request from the terminal device 20. The terminal device 20 is a smartphone here, and acquires the electronic coupon provided from the ASP server 10. However, the terminal device 20 is not limited to a smartphone, and may be another terminal device such as a mobile phone terminal, a tablet terminal, a personal computer, or a PDA (Personal Digital Assistant). When the electronic coupon is used by the terminal device 20, the store management server 30 transmits a usage history that is a usage history of the electronic coupon to the ASP server 10. The store terminal 40 is a computer device installed in a store where electronic coupons can be used. The store terminal 40 has a reader / writer 41 that performs wireless communication with a non-contact type IC card to read / write data, generates a usage history based on the data read by the reader / writer 41, and generates the usage history The usage history is transmitted to the store management server 30. The application management server 50 is a management server that manages management related to the electronic coupon writing process in the terminal device 20.

In the communication system 1, the ASP server 10, the terminal device 20, the store management server 30, and the application management server 50 are connected to the network NW. Here, the network NW is a communication network including a mobile communication network, a gateway, and the Internet. The store management server 30 and the store terminal 40 are connected by, for example, a dedicated communication line. Although only one terminal device 20 is illustrated in FIG. 1, there are actually a plurality of terminal devices 20 that can receive an electronic coupon service. One store management server 30 may be installed per store, one store may be installed per plurality of stores, or one may be installed for each service provider. The store terminal 40 is installed in each store where an electronic coupon can be used, and actually there are a larger number.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of the ASP server 10. As shown in FIG. 2, the ASP server 10 includes a control unit 11, a communication unit 12, and a storage unit 13.
The control unit 11 is a microprocessor including a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a ROM (Read Only Memory), and a RAM (Random Access Memory). The CPU controls each unit of the ASP server 10 by reading the program stored in the ROM or the storage unit 13 into the RAM and executing it. The communication unit 12 is an interface for connecting to the network NW. The control unit 11 communicates with an external device connected via the network NW by the communication unit 12. The storage unit 13 includes a hard disk device, for example, and stores a program necessary for providing an electronic coupon service executed by the control unit 11. The storage unit 13 also stores a coupon management table 131, a user management table 132, a transaction management table 133, and a hold list table 134.

In addition, the memory | storage part 13 has also memorize | stored the other information regarding provision of an electronic coupon service. For example, although the memory | storage part 13 memorize | stores the conditions (user attributes, such as age and sex) of the user made into the object which provides an electronic coupon, the period which provides an electronic coupon, the period which can use an electronic coupon, etc., In the embodiment, the description thereof is omitted. By the way, the electronic coupon of this embodiment is electronic data also called electronic value, and is not provided or used as a paper medium. However, in order to facilitate understanding of the following description, the minimum unit that can be provided or used for an electronic coupon is referred to as “sheet” in this embodiment, and the number of electronic coupons that are provided or used (that is, the number of units) is , Referred to as “number of sheets”.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a data structure of the coupon management table 131.
As shown in FIG. 3, the coupon management table 131 includes each piece of information indicated by “coupon ID”, “restricted number (total)”, “used number (total)”, and “remaining number (total)”. Is a data table associated with. “Coupon ID” is identification information for identifying an electronic coupon provided by the ASP server 10. The “restricted number (total)” is a limited number for all terminal devices 20 (that is, all users) for which electronic coupons are provided by the ASP server 10 (hereinafter referred to as “total limited number”). . In the ASP server 10, the total number of electronic coupons permitted to be used for all terminal devices 20 is managed so as not to exceed the total limit number. “Number of used sheets (total)” is the total number of electronic coupons that have already been used for all terminal devices 20 (hereinafter referred to as “total number of used sheets”). The total limit number can be said to be the upper limit of the total use number. The “remaining number (total)” is the remaining number of electronic coupons for all the terminal devices 20 (hereinafter referred to as “total remaining number”). The ASP server 10 manages the total number of electronic coupons to be provided for all terminal devices 20 so as not to exceed the total remaining number.

In the example shown in FIG. 3, information related to the electronic coupon A having the coupon ID “CID001” and the electronic coupon B having the coupon ID “CID002” is representatively shown. Here, the electronic coupon A with the coupon ID “CID001” and the electronic coupon B with the coupon ID “CID002” are electronic coupons provided by different service providers. In the record corresponding to the first row in FIG. 3, the total limit number of electronic coupons A with the coupon ID “CID001” is “1000”, the total use number is “0”, and the total remaining number is “ 1000 ”. In the record corresponding to the second row in FIG. 3, the total limit number of electronic coupons B of coupon ID “CID002” is “5000”, the total number of used coupons is “0”, and the total remaining number is “ 5000 ".

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating the data structure of the user management table 132.
As shown in FIG. 4, the user management table 132 includes “user ID”, “coupon ID”, “restricted number (individual)”, “set unconfirmed number”, and “set unused number”. , A data table in which pieces of information indicated by “used number (individual)” and “remaining number (individual)” are associated with each other. “User ID” is identification information for identifying the user of the terminal device 20 and identification information for identifying the terminal device 20.
The user ID of this embodiment is identification information assigned exclusively to each terminal device 20, and is, for example, terminal identification information, a telephone number, an arbitrary identification number, or the like specified from a SIM (Subscriber Identity Module) card. is there. Here, the user ID written in the user management table 132 corresponds to the user ID written in the later-described IC chip 25 (specifically, a predetermined memory area of the IC chip 25) of the terminal device 20. And Here, the user ID written in the IC chip 25 corresponding to the same user and the user ID written in the user management table 132 do not need to match. When the two user IDs are different, for example, the ASP server 10 stores a correspondence table in which the user IDs of the same user are associated with each other in the storage unit 13. And the ASP server 10 should just specify the correspondence of user IDs by collation of user ID using this correspondence table. With the configuration using this correspondence table, for example, even when the model of the terminal device 20 is changed, the ASP server 10 only needs to update the correspondence table, and updates the user ID in the user management table 132. It is not necessary.

“Coupon ID” is the same as the coupon ID written in the coupon management table 131. The “limit number (individual)” is the limit number (hereinafter referred to as “individual limit number”) for each user (that is, one terminal device 20) of the electronic coupon provided by the ASP server 10. In the ASP server 10, the number of electronic coupons permitted to be used is managed so as not to exceed the individual limit number per user. That is, it can be said that the individual limit number is the upper limit of the individual use number.

The “set unconfirmed number” is an electronic coupon provided to the terminal device 20, and an electronic coupon for which the success of a writing process (also referred to as “set”) to a memory area 251 described later of the IC chip 25 is unconfirmed. (The number of indeterminate). In other words, the set unconfirmed number of sheets indicates that the electronic coupon writing process has not ended, or the electronic coupon writing process has succeeded or failed, but this result has not been notified to the ASP server 10 (i.e., ASP This is the number of electronic coupons (the result of the writing process is not grasped by the server 10). The “set unused number” is an electronic coupon provided to the terminal device 20 and is the number of unused electronic coupons (unused number) for which the success of the writing process is confirmed. In other words, the set unused number is the number of electronic coupons grasped by the ASP server 10 when the electronic coupons are stored in the memory area 251. Therefore, the set and unused number of electronic coupons can be said to be electronic coupons that can be used by the terminal device 20.
The “number of used sheets (individual)” is the number of electronic coupons that have already been used by one user (hereinafter referred to as “number of individual used sheets”). The “remaining number (individual)” is the remaining number of electronic coupons for each user (hereinafter referred to as “individual remaining number”). In the ASP server 10, the number of electronic coupons to be provided is managed so as not to exceed the remaining number of individuals per user.

In the example shown in FIG. 4, information corresponding to the user with the user ID “UID001” is representatively shown, but similar information is written for each user who can receive provision of the electronic coupon service. For example, in the record corresponding to the first row in FIG. 4, in the user with the user ID “UID001”, the personal limited number of electronic coupons A with the coupon ID “CID001” is “10”, This means that the number of used and unused sheets is “0”, and the remaining number of individuals is “10”. The record corresponding to the second line in FIG. 4 may be interpreted in the same manner as the first line.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating the data structure of the transaction management table 133.
As shown in FIG. 5, the transaction management table 133 associates each piece of information indicated by “process ID”, “status”, and “write completion date / time”, and manages the write process result for each user. This is a data table. “Process ID” is identification information for identifying the electronic coupon writing process. “Status” is information indicating the result of the electronic coupon writing process, and indicates success, failure, or indefiniteness. When the writing process is successful, the status is “successful”, when the writing process is unsuccessful, the status is “failure”, and when the result of the writing process is unconfirmed, the status is “unconfirmed”.
When the electronic coupon writing process is successful in the terminal device 20, the electronic coupon is stored in the IC chip 25, but when the electronic coupon writing process is unsuccessful, the electronic coupon is stored in the IC chip 25. Is not remembered. When the electronic coupon writing process fails, if the electronic coupon is stored in the IC chip 25 before the writing process, the electronic coupon is stored as it is.

“Writing completion date and time” is information indicating the date and time when the electronic coupon writing process is completed. The write completion date and time is information defined only when the result of the writing process is successful. In the example of the transaction management table 133 shown in FIG. 5, no information is written, and each field is blank.
Note that the processing related to the provision of the electronic coupon executed in the communication system 1 can also be referred to as transaction processing including writing processing, and the information related to the electronic coupon managed by the ASP server 10 and the terminal device 20 is inconsistent. To be executed.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the data structure of the hold list table 134.
As illustrated in FIG. 6, the hold list table 134 is a data table in which pieces of information indicated by “coupon ID”, “use date / time”, and “use number” are associated with each other. “Process ID” is the same as the process ID written in the transaction management table 133. “Use date and time” is information indicating the date and time when the electronic coupon was used. “Used number” is the number of individuals using the electronic coupon. The number of used sheets here indicates how many of the same electronic coupon are used in one use. The combination of the coupon ID, the usage date and the number of usages written in one record of the hold list table 134 is the same as the usage history acquired from the store terminal 40 by the ASP server 10. As described above, the hold list table 134 is a data table in which a use history generated by one use of the electronic coupon by the terminal device 20 is written in one record.
In the example of the hold list table 134 of FIG. 6, no information is written, and each field is blank.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of the terminal device 20. As illustrated in FIG. 7, the terminal device 20 includes a control unit 21, a voice input / output unit 22, a wireless communication unit 23, a UI (User Interface) unit 24, an IC chip 25, and a storage unit 26. .
The control unit 21 includes a microprocessor having a CPU, a ROM, and a RAM. The CPU controls each unit of the terminal device 20 by reading the program stored in the ROM or the storage unit 26 into the RAM and executing it. The voice input / output unit 22 includes a microphone and a speaker, and realizes functions related to voice input / output in the terminal device 20. The wireless communication unit 23 includes a wireless communication circuit and an antenna, and is an interface for connecting to the network NW. The UI unit 24 includes, for example, a touch panel, accepts an operation from the user, and notifies information by an image.

The IC chip 25 has a memory area 251 used for reading and writing data, a processor, an antenna, and an IC chip for proximity contactless communication. The processor of the IC chip 25 accesses the memory area 251 in accordance with a signal received by the antenna or a signal from the control unit 21, and reads or writes data. The memory area 251 is a memory area in which an electronic coupon of any one of a plurality of service providers is written, in other words, a memory area shared by a plurality of service providers. That is, when an electronic coupon (second electronic coupon) of a certain service provider is stored in the memory area 251, an electronic coupon (first electronic coupon) of another service provider is newly written by overwriting processing. Are stored in the memory area 251. Therefore, the electronic coupon originally stored in the memory area 251 is deleted by the writing process. On the other hand, a plurality of electronic coupons of the same service provider are allowed to be stored in the memory area 251 at the same time. However, even in this case, the electronic coupon of the same service provider is written over the electronic coupon stored in the memory area 251. Further, the IC chip 25 stores the user ID assigned to the terminal device 20 in a predetermined memory area other than the memory area 251. Here, the user ID of the user of the terminal device 20 is “UID001”. The user ID is stored in an area that is not deleted by the electronic coupon writing process.

By the way, even when the electronic coupon in the memory area 251 is deleted by the writing process, the terminal device 20 always returns the electronic coupon to the memory area by inquiring the ASP server 10 by inquiring the ASP server 10. 251 can be written. This is because the ASP server 10 manages information related to provision and use of electronic coupons for each terminal device 20 by the user management table 132. In other words, when the electronic coupon is deleted from the memory area 251, the ASP server 10 refers to the user management table 132 to determine whether the electronic coupon has been deleted by a new electronic coupon writing process or by use. Can be determined.

Further, the configuration in which the electronic coupon writing process is executed by overwriting the electronic coupon in the memory area 251 also has a favorable situation for the service provider. For example, since the electronic coupons of a plurality of service providers are not stored in the terminal device 20 in a mixed manner, the burden on the user when using or discarding the electronic coupon is reduced. Also, for service providers, electronic coupons of a plurality of service providers are not mixed and displayed, which is preferable for reasons such as service differentiation from other service providers.

The storage unit 26 includes, for example, an EEPROM, and stores a coupon management application 261 in addition to a program executed by the control unit 21. By executing the coupon management application 261, the control unit 21 communicates with the application management server 50 to execute the electronic coupon writing process. In the terminal device 20, the coupon management application 261 is executed when receiving an electronic coupon provided by any service provider.
Next, a functional configuration of the control unit 11 of the ASP server 10 will be described. Hereinafter, the function related to the provision of the electronic coupon and the function related to the use of the electronic coupon will be described separately.

FIG. 8 is a functional block diagram showing a functional configuration of functions related to provision of an electronic coupon of the ASP server 10. As illustrated in FIG. 8, the control unit 11 of the ASP server 10 realizes functions corresponding to the first update unit 111, the write instruction unit 112, and the second update unit 113 by executing a program. .
When the first electronic coupon is newly provided to the terminal device 20, the first update unit 111 subtracts the number of first electronic coupons to be provided from the total remaining number of coupon management tables 131. More specifically, when the number of first electronic coupons to be provided is greater than the number of set unused unused electronic coupons in the coupon management table 131, the first update unit 111 determines the total number of remaining electronic coupons. The number of first electronic coupons to be provided is reduced, but if the number of set unused numbers is larger, the number of first electronic coupons to be provided is not reduced from the total remaining number. Then, the first update unit 111 sets the number of first electronic coupons to be provided (if the number to be provided is subtracted from the total remaining number, the number) as the number of set first electronic coupons. The user management table 132 is updated so that it is set as follows. Here, the 1st update part 111 starts the process which provides a 1st electronic coupon newly in response to having acquired the coupon acquisition request for acquiring a 1st electronic coupon from the terminal device 20 by the communication part 12. To do. The process in which the first update unit 111 sets the number subtracted from the total remaining number as the set unconfirmed number is equivalent to the process of adding the number subtracted from the total remaining number to the set unconfirmed number that is zero.

The writing instructing unit 112 performs a writing process of writing the undecided number of first electronic coupons into the memory area 251 after the coupon management table 131 and the user management table 132 are updated by the first updating unit 111. The terminal unit 20 is instructed by the communication unit 12. When this instruction is given, the write instruction unit 112 gives the process ID of the instructed write process, the status (here, blank), and the write completion date / time (here, blank). Correspondingly, the transaction management table 133 is written.

The processing result acquisition unit 114 receives a notification from the terminal device 20 that the writing process of writing the first electronic coupon in the memory area 251 according to the instruction of the writing instruction unit 112 is completed, and then the communication unit 12 The management server 50 is inquired and the result of this writing process is acquired.

The second update unit 113 communicates with the terminal device 20 through the communication unit 12 and updates each data table in the storage unit 13. At that time, the second updating unit 113 determines whether or not the writing process is successful based on the result of the writing process acquired by the processing result acquiring unit 114. The functions realized by the second update unit 113 are specifically as follows.
First, the second updating unit 113 sets the undetermined number of sets of the first electronic coupon after the success of the writing process of the first electronic coupon according to the instruction of the writing instruction unit 112 is confirmed. Set to the number of sheets and clear the set undecided number (that is, set to zero). Here, for example, when the set unused number of the first electronic coupon is “3”, the second updating unit 113 sets the unused number of the first electronic coupon that is “2”. When setting the number of sheets, the set unused number after setting is “2”.

Secondly, the second updating unit 113 sets the second electronic coupon when the terminal device 20 succeeds in the writing process of overwriting the first electronic coupon on the second electronic coupon stored in the memory area 251. The unused number is added to the total remaining number of second electronic coupons, and the set unused number is cleared. At that time, for the second electronic coupon in which the usage history is written in the hold list table 134, the second updating unit 113 obtains the total number obtained by subtracting the usage number included in the usage history from the set unused number. It may be added to the remaining number (that is, returned to the total remaining number). In addition, the second update unit 113 also includes, in the usage history, the number of already set unused numbers for electronic coupons other than the second electronic coupon (third electronic coupon) in which the usage history is written in the hold list table 134. The number obtained by subtracting the used number is added to the total remaining number.
On the other hand, when the failure of the electronic coupon writing process in accordance with the instruction from the writing instruction unit 112 is confirmed, the second updating unit 113 has a larger number of set unconfirmed electronic coupons than the set unused number. The difference between the set unconfirmed number and the set unused number is added to the total remaining number (that is, returned). The second updating unit 113 does not return the entire remaining number of sheets when the set unconfirmed number is equal to or less than the set unused number.

Third, when the result of the first electronic coupon writing process is confirmed, the second updating unit 113 writes the result in the transaction management table 133. Here, the second updating unit 113 rewrites the status to “successful” and writes the writing completion date and time for the writing process that has been confirmed as successful.
This is the end of the description of the functions related to the provision of the electronic coupon of the ASP server 10.

FIG. 9 is a functional block diagram showing a functional configuration of functions related to the use of the electronic coupon of the ASP server 10. As illustrated in FIG. 9, the control unit 11 of the ASP server 10 realizes functions corresponding to the usage history acquisition unit 115 and the third update unit 116 by executing a program.
When the terminal device 20 uses the first electronic coupon stored in the memory area 251 of the IC chip 25, the usage history acquisition unit 115 communicates with the store management server 30 through the communication unit 12, and the first electronic coupon Get usage results.

The 3rd update part 116 is the information which respond | corresponds to the terminal device 20 which used the electronic coupon among each data table memorize | stored in the memory | storage part 13 by the utilization log | history of the 1st electronic coupon which the utilization log | history acquisition part 115 acquired. Update.
First, the third update unit 116 refers to the transaction management table 133, and there is no write process whose result is indeterminate, and the usage date and time included in the usage history acquired by the usage history acquisition unit 115 is If it is after the latest writing completion date and time, the used number included in the use history is subtracted from the set unused number. On the other hand, the third update unit 116 does not subtract the used number from the set unused number when the use date is before the latest writing completion date.

Second, the third update unit 116 refers to the transaction management table 133, and when the usage date and time included in the usage history acquired by the usage history acquisition unit 115 is later than the latest writing completion date and time, When there is a writing process for which the result is indeterminate, the update of the number of usages included in the usage history is suspended and the usage history is written in the suspension list table 134. On the other hand, the third update unit 116 does not subtract the used number from the set unused number when the use date is before the latest writing completion date.

Third, the third update unit 116 refers to the transaction management table 133 and the hold list table 134, and after all the write processing results are confirmed, the use date and time included in the use history written in the hold list table 134 Is later than the latest write completion date and time, the number of used sheets included in this use history is subtracted from the set unused number of sheets. On the other hand, the third update unit 116 does not subtract the used number from the set unused number when the use date is before the latest writing completion date.
This is the end of the description of the functional configuration of the ASP server 10. Next, the operation of the communication system 1 will be described.

FIG. 10 is a sequence chart showing the overall processing flow of the communication system 1.
When the terminal device 20 tries to acquire an electronic coupon, the terminal device 20 accesses the ASP server 10 and performs processing necessary for the acquisition using a browser. Here, the terminal device 20 transmits a coupon acquisition request including the coupon ID indicating the electronic coupon to be acquired and the number of acquired electronic coupons to the ASP server 10 (step Sa1). FIG. 11 is a screen example displayed on the UI unit 24 when the terminal device 20 attempts to acquire an electronic coupon. The user operates the UI unit 24, selects the number of electronic coupons to be acquired using the pull-down menus Pa1 and Pa2, and selects the soft button Ba labeled “Acquire coupon”.

Next, when the ASP server 10 receives a coupon acquisition request from the terminal device 20, the ASP server 10 executes a set start process (step Sa2). The set start process is a process until the ASP server 10 instructs the terminal device 20 to write the electronic coupon. Next, the ASP server 10 requests the application management server 50 to process the electronic coupon writing process, and requests generation of an inquiry ID (step Sa3). The application management server 50 transmits the inquiry ID generated in response to the processing request in step Sa2 to the ASP server 10 (step Sa4). Here, the processing request includes information about an electronic coupon (hereinafter referred to as “coupon information”) to be written in the memory area 251 of the IC chip 25. More specifically, the processing request includes information that can specify the same electronic coupon ID and the number of electronic coupons acquired as the coupon acquisition request. The inquiry ID is identification information for identifying a processing request.

Next, the ASP server 10 transmits a write instruction for instructing a write process corresponding to the set start process to the terminal device 20 (step Sa5). Here, the ASP server 10 transmits a write instruction including the inquiry ID received from the application management server 50.
When receiving the write instruction from the ASP server 10, the terminal device 20 executes the coupon management application 261 and transmits the inquiry ID included in the write instruction to the application management server 50 (step Sa6). The application management server 50 transmits coupon information used for the writing process to the terminal device 20 in accordance with the processing request corresponding to the inquiry ID received from the terminal device 20 (step Sa7). The terminal device 20 executes an electronic coupon writing process based on the coupon information received from the application management server 50 (step Sa8). Here, even when the electronic coupon is already stored in the memory area 251, the terminal device 20 stores a new electronic coupon in the memory area 251 by the writing process by overwriting the electronic coupon. It becomes.

Next, the terminal device 20 transmits a result notification indicating the result of the writing process to the application management server 50 (step Sa9). Here, the terminal device 20 transmits a result notification including information indicating whether the result of the writing process is success or failure, and the writing completion date of the writing process. Next, the terminal device 20 transmits to the ASP server 10 an end notification indicating that the writing process of writing the electronic coupon in the memory area 251 has ended (step Sa10).

After accepting the end notification transmitted from the terminal device 20, the ASP server 10 inquires of the application management server 50 and requests the notification of the result of the writing process in the terminal device 20 that is the transmission source of the end notification (step Sa11). ). In response to the inquiry from the ASP server 10, the application management server 50 transmits the result of the writing process (that is, a result notification) to the ASP server 10 (step Sa12). The result of the writing process notified by the application management server 50 is either success, failure or unknown. The ASP server 10 can determine the result of the writing process when accepting the result of the writing process of success or failure, but can accept the result of the writing process when accepting the result of unknown. Leave indeterminate. The ASP server 10 writes the result of the writing process in the status field of the transaction management table 133 in accordance with the result notification transmitted and accepted in step Sa12.

When accepting the result notification from the terminal device 20, the ASP server 10 executes a set confirmation process (step Sa13). The set confirmation process is a process for the ASP server 10 to update each data table in accordance with the result of the electronic coupon writing process in the terminal device 20.
As described above, the terminal device 20 transmits the writing result to the application management server 50 and transmits the end notification to the ASP server 10 as soon as the electronic coupon is used (that is, in real time). In other words, the ASP server 10 starts the set confirmation process immediately after the electronic coupon writing process of the terminal device 20 is completed. However, after the terminal device 20 performs the writing process, the terminal device 20 cannot move to the application management server 50 because it moves out of the communicable area or transmits an end notification to the ASP server 10. If it is not possible, the start of the set confirmation process is delayed. For example, if the ASP server 10 does not receive the end notification, the ASP server 10 cannot know that the writing process has ended in the terminal device 20, and thus operates when the writing process is in progress. In this case, since the time when the ASP server 10 acquires the result of the writing process is delayed, the start of the set confirmation process is also delayed accordingly.
The reason why the terminal device 20 cannot transmit the end notification or the result notification is not limited to the terminal device 20 being outside the communicable area. For example, in the terminal device 20, execution of the coupon management application 261 is forcibly terminated (execution of the coupon management application 261 is terminated, power is turned off, etc.), or the terminal device 20 is out of battery. .

When the terminal device 20 is in a state in which the coupon management application 261 is executed, the terminal device 20 repeatedly tries to transmit the result notification and the end notification until the transmission of the result notification and the end notification is completed (that is, retry). On the other hand, when the browser or the coupon management application 261 is forcibly terminated or the terminal device 20 is powered off, the result notification and the termination notification are not transmitted even if the terminal device 20 becomes communicable. There is. Therefore, if the ASP server 10 does not receive the end notification for a predetermined time after transmitting the coupon information, the ASP server 10 voluntarily inquires the result of the writing process to the application management server 50 in the process of step Sa11. The result notification is not transmitted from the terminal device 20 to the application management server 50. Therefore, the application management server 50 voluntarily determines that the result of the writing process is unknown or unsuccessful when the result notification is not accepted even after a predetermined time has elapsed since the coupon information was transmitted.
The flow of processing when the ASP server 10 tries to provide an electronic coupon to the terminal device 20 is as described above. The subsequent processing shows a processing flow of the communication system 1 when the terminal device 20 uses the electronic coupon.

When the terminal device 20 intends to use the electronic coupon stored in the memory area 251, the user carrying the terminal device 20 is interested in the store where the store terminal 40 is installed, and uses the terminal device 20 for the reader / writer 41. Hold it over. The reader / writer 41 of the store terminal 40 reads the electronic coupon stored in the IC chip 25 and reads / writes data from / to the IC chip 25.
The store terminal 40 determines whether or not the number of electronic coupons stored in the IC chip 25 remains, and executes a process of reflecting the result in the settlement. The operation of the store terminal 40 here may not have a special configuration in the present invention.

The store management server 30 generates a use history of the electronic coupons used by the terminal device 20 based on information such as data read / write results and settlement information with respect to the memory area 251 by the store terminal 40, and uses it for the ASP server 10 A history is transmitted (step Sa14). Here, the store management server 30 transmits the usage history as soon as the electronic coupon is used (in real time).

When the ASP server 10 obtains the usage history from the store management server 30 by communication, the ASP server 10 executes a process at the time of use according to the usage history (step Sa15). The in-use process is a process for the ASP server 10 to update each data table in accordance with the use of the electronic coupon in the terminal device 20.
Thereafter, the process related to the acquisition of the electronic coupon and the process related to the use of the electronic coupon are executed in the same procedure as described above. Further, in the communication system 1, processing is not necessarily executed according to the flow shown in FIG. For example, when the usage history is acquired immediately after the ASP server 10 executes the set start process and transmits the write instruction, the use time process is executed. Further, when the ASP server 10 receives a notification of the result of the writing process immediately after the use process, the ASP server 10 executes a set confirmation process.

The operation of the ASP server 10 will be described in detail using a specific example. Here, the operation of the ASP server 10 will be described in accordance with a story composed of the following (event 1) to (event 12). The time on the left side of the following “-” (hyphen) is the occurrence time of each event (the start time in the case of processing of the ASP server 10), and the right side of “-” indicates the content of the event.

(Event 1) 2011/6/29 10:04-Set start processing to provide 5 electronic coupons A (Event 2) 2011/6/29 10:05-Electronic coupon A set confirmation processing (Event 3) 2011/6/29 11:00-Use 3 coupons A (first time)
(Event 4) 2011/6/29 12:00-Use one electronic coupon A (second time)
(Event 5) 2011/6/29 15:00-Set start processing to provide 10 electronic coupons B (Event 6) 2011/6/29 16:00-Acquisition of electronic coupon A usage history (first time) )
(Event 7) 2011/6/29 17:00-Use 5 electronic coupons B (first time)
(Event 8) 2011/6/29 18:00-Get electronic coupon B usage history (first time)
(Event 9) 2011/6/29 19:00-Set confirmation of electronic coupon B (Event 10) 2011/6/29 20:00-Use one electronic coupon B (second time)
(Event 11) 2011/6/29 21:00-Acquisition of electronic coupon B usage history (second time)
(Event 12) 2011/6/29 22:00-Acquire electronic coupon A usage history (second time)

(Event 1) 2011/6/29 10: 04—Set Start Processing for Providing Five Electronic Coupons A First, (Event 1) will be described.
FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing the flow of the set start process. FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating how each data table is updated. Before the set start processing, each data table stored in the storage unit 13 is assumed to have the data structure shown in FIGS. In addition, in the figure explaining the update state of the data table in FIG. 13 and the like, the field that has changed due to the update is represented by a thick frame, and the number of electronic coupons that have changed is represented by a numerical value in “O”. .
The ASP server 10 starts the set start process when receiving the coupon acquisition request transmitted in the process of step Sa1. This coupon acquisition request includes the coupon ID “CID001” of the electronic coupon A and the acquired number “5”.

First, the ASP server 10 refers to the transaction management table 133 to determine whether or not there is a writing process whose status is “indeterminate” (step Sa21). Here, the ASP server 10 determines whether or not there is a writing process in which the result of the writing process is not determined to be either success or failure. As shown in FIG. 5, since there is no writing process with the status “unconfirmed”, the ASP server 10 determines “NO” in the process of step Sa21, and proceeds to the process of step Sa22.

Next, the ASP server 10 determines whether or not the total remaining number of electronic coupons A and the remaining number of individuals are equal to or greater than the number of acquisitions included in the coupon acquisition request (step Sa22). The ASP server 10 compares each of the total remaining number written in the coupon management table 131 and the individual remaining number written in the user management table 132 with the acquired number, and electronically responds to the coupon acquisition request. It is determined whether or not the coupon A can be provided.

In the present embodiment, the total remaining number satisfies the relationship of the following formula (1).
Total remaining number of sheets = Total number of limited sheets−Σ {Personal use number + MAX (set unused number, set unconfirmed number) −total number of use in the hold list table 134} (1)
However, “Σ” is a code meaning the total sum of all terminal devices 20 (all users). MAX (A, B) means taking the larger value of A and B.

In the present embodiment, the remaining number of individuals satisfies the relationship of the following formula (2).
Remaining number of individuals = Limit number of individuals-Number of individuals used (2)

The maximum number of images that can be set by the terminal device 20 satisfies the relationship of the following equation (3).
Maximum number of acquired sheets = MIN {remaining individual number, total remaining number + MAX (set unused number, set undetermined number)} (3)
However, MIN (A, B) means taking the smaller value of A and B.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, since the total remaining number of electronic coupons A is “1000” and the remaining number of individuals is “10”, each exceeds the acquired number “5”. Therefore, the ASP server 10 determines “YES” in the process of step Sa22, and proceeds to the process of step Sa23.

Next, the ASP server 10 sets the status of the writing process instructed to the terminal device 20 to “indeterminate” and updates the transaction management table 133 (step Sa23). As shown in FIG. 13A, the ASP server 10 assigns a process ID “TsA” to this write process, associates it with the status “unconfirmed”, and newly writes it in the transaction management table 133. At this time, the writing completion date / time field is blank.

Next, the ASP server 10 updates the coupon management table 131 and the user management table 132 so that the number of electronic coupons A acquired is set to the set unconfirmed number (step Sa24). As shown in FIG. 13B, the ASP server 10 subtracts “5”, which is the acquired number, from “1000”, which is the total remaining number, for the electronic coupon A having the coupon ID “CID001”, The coupon management table 131 is updated so that the number of sheets is “995”. Further, the ASP server 10 updates the user management table 132 so as to set “5”, which is the acquired number obtained by subtracting from the total remaining number, to the set unconfirmed number for the electronic coupon A.
The acquired number of electronic coupons set by the ASP server 10 as the set undetermined number in the process of step Sa24 is an electronic coupon that has not yet been written to the IC chip 25, and the result of the writing process is confirmed. It is an electronic coupon that has not been done. However, since the electronic coupon is subtracted from the total remaining number of sheets, the electronic coupon for the number of acquired sheets is not acquired by the terminal device 20 of another user.

If the ASP server 10 determines that there is a writing process with the status “unconfirmed” in the process of step Sa21 (step Sa21; YES), it ends the set start process. In this embodiment, in order to simplify the description of the management of the number of electronic coupons, the ASP server 10 does not perform a new set start process for the terminal device 20 that has a write process whose status is unconfirmed. To. If the ASP server 10 determines in the process of step Sa22 that the total remaining number or the remaining number of individuals is less than the acquired number (step Sa22; NO), the set start process ends. Since the ASP server 10 provides the electronic coupon with the obtained number of sheets that does not exceed the total remaining number of sheets and the remaining number of individuals, the set start process is terminated here so that the electronic coupon is not excessively provided.

(Event 2) 2011/6/29 10:05-Electronic coupon A set confirmation process Next, (Event 2) will be described.
14 and 15 are flowcharts showing the flow of the set confirmation process. FIG. 16 is a diagram illustrating how each data table is updated.
Before the start of the set confirmation process here, the data structure of the data tables other than the hold list table 134 is as shown in FIG. Prior to the set confirmation process, the event notification is received by the ASP server 10 in accordance with the process of step Sa12, and the set of (event 1) is started at the write completion date “2011/6/29 10:05”. It is assumed that the writing process instructed according to the process is completed. Here, the ASP server 10 associates the status “success” with the write completion date and time “2011/6/29 10:05” to the process ID “TsA” that identifies the write process that has been confirmed with success. The data is written in the transaction management table 133 (see FIG. 16A).

In the set confirmation process, the ASP server 10 first determines whether or not the writing process that triggered the start of the set confirmation process is successful (step Sa1301). Here, if the ASP server 10 determines that the writing process has been confirmed as successful (step Sa1301; YES), it proceeds to the process of step Sa1302. Next, the ASP server 10 updates the user management table 132 so as to clear all the set unused number associated with the user ID “UID001” (step Sa1302). Since the terminal device 20 performs the writing process of the electronic coupon by overwriting, the ASP server 10 clears the set unused number of electronic coupons stored in the memory area 251 and the total remaining number of electronic coupons. Is added to (ie, sent back). Here, there is no particular change in the user management table 132 because there is no electronic coupon to be returned.

Next, the ASP server 10 sets the set unconfirmed number of electronic coupons A as the set unused number, and updates the user management table 132 so as to clear the set unconfirmed number (step Sa1303). As shown in FIG. 16B, the ASP server 10 sets the set unconfirmed number of “5” as the set unused number to “5” and clears the set unconfirmed number of “ From “5” to “0”. As a result, the ASP server 10 matches (synchronizes) the number of electronic coupons A written in the memory area 251 with the set unused number of electronic coupons A in the user management table 132. The ASP server 10 changes the total remaining number here because the number of electronic coupons A to be provided has been subtracted from the total remaining number in advance (that is, reserved) in the process of step Sa24 of the set start process. There is nothing.
Since the electronic coupon A in which the success of the writing process is determined in this way is not acquired by another user at the stage of the set starting process, it has been set in the set determining process after the set starting process is executed. The electronic coupon A is not acquired by another user during the period until it is added to the unused number.

Next, the ASP server 10 determines whether or not a usage history is written in the hold list table 134 (step Sa1304). As shown in FIG. 6, here, the ASP server 10 determines that the usage history is not written in the hold list table 134 (step Sa1304; NO), and ends the set confirmation processing.
Note that the operation when the ASP server 10 determines that the writing process has failed in the process of step Sa1301 or when the usage history is written in the hold list table 134 will be described later.

(Event 3) 2011/6/29 11:00-Three electronic coupons A are used (first time)
After the (event 2) set confirmation process, it is assumed that “3” electronic coupons A are used by the terminal device 20 at “2011/6/29 11:00”. With this use, the remaining number of electronic coupons A stored in the memory area 251 is reduced from “5” to “2”. The ASP server 10 should originally acquire the usage history immediately from the store management server 30 with this use as an opportunity. However, here, it is assumed that the store management server 30 does not transmit the usage history to the ASP server 10 due to some cause such as a failure of the store terminal 40 or the store management server 30 or a communication failure in the network NW. In this case, in the user management table 132, since the set unused number of coupons A remains “5”, the ASP server 10 and the terminal device 20 grasp that the coupon A is stored in the memory area 251. There are “3” differences in the existing electronic coupon A. Originally, the set unused number in the user management table 132 should be “2”. However, since the ASP server 10 does not update the user management table 132 based on the usage history, the set unused number remains “5”.

(Event 4) 2011/6/29 12:00-Use one electronic coupon A (second time)
After (Event 3), it is assumed that “1” electronic coupons A are used by the terminal device 20 at “2011/6/29 12:00”. As a result, the remaining number of electronic coupons A stored in the memory area 251 is reduced from “2” to “1”. Here, it is assumed that the store management server 30 has not transmitted the usage history to the ASP server 10. In this case, in the user management table 132, since the set unused number of coupons A remains “5”, the ASP server 10 and the terminal device 20 grasp that the coupon A is stored in the memory area 251. There are “4” differences in the existing electronic coupon A. Originally, the set unused number in the user management table 132 should be “1”. However, since the ASP server 10 does not update the user management table 132 based on the usage history, the set unused number is still “5”.

(Event 5) 2011/6/29 15: 00-Set Start Processing for Providing Ten Electronic Coupons B Next, (Event 5) will be described.
Also in the set start process for providing ten electronic coupons B, the process flow is basically the same as the contents described in the above (event 1). Therefore, the flow of processing will be described while omitting the setting start processing here as appropriate with reference to FIG. FIG. 17 is a diagram showing how each data table is updated. The ASP server 10 starts the set start process when receiving the coupon acquisition request transmitted in the process of step Sa1. This coupon acquisition request includes “CID002” as the coupon ID of the electronic coupon B and “10” as the number of acquisitions.
When the ASP server 10 receives the coupon acquisition request, the ASP server 10 refers to the transaction management table 133 and determines whether or not there is a writing process whose status is indeterminate (step Sa21). As shown in FIG. 16A, here, there is no writing process of the status “indeterminate”. Therefore, the ASP server 10 determines “NO” in the process of step Sa21, and proceeds to the process of step Sa22.

Next, the ASP server 10 determines whether or not the total remaining number of electronic coupons B and the remaining number of individuals are each equal to or greater than the acquired number (step Sa22). As shown in FIG. 13B, the total remaining number is “5000”, the individual remaining number is “25”, and the acquired number is “10”. Therefore, the ASP server 10 determines “YES” in the process of step Sa22, and proceeds to the process of step Sa23.
Next, the ASP server 10 sets the status of the writing process to be instructed to “indeterminate” and updates the transaction management table 133 (step Sa23). Here, as shown in FIG. 17A, the ASP server 10 assigns a processing ID “TsB”, associates it with the status “unconfirmed”, and newly writes it in the transaction management table 133.

Next, the ASP server 10 updates the coupon management table 131 and the user management table 132 so as to set the acquired number of electronic coupons B to the set unconfirmed number (step Sa24). As shown in FIG. 17B, the ASP server 10 subtracts the total remaining number from “5000” by “10” as the acquired number for the electronic coupon B having the coupon ID “CID002” to obtain “4990”. And Also, the ASP server 10 sets “10”, which is the acquired number obtained by subtracting from the total remaining number, to the set unconfirmed number of sheets, and sets the set unconfirmed number of sheets to “10”.
This is the end of the set start process.

(Event 6) 2011/6/29 16:00-Get electronic coupon A usage history (first time)
Next, (event 6) will be described.
FIG. 18 is a flowchart showing the flow of processing at the time of use. FIG. 19 is a diagram showing how each data table is updated.
The ASP server 10 executes the processing at the time of use when the usage history of the electronic coupon A used in (Event 3) is acquired from the store management server 30 at “2011/6/29 16:00”. . As an example in which the in-use process is started later than the original, it is conceivable that the store management server 30 is restored at this time, or the failure of the network NW has been resolved. Here, the ASP server 10 acquires a usage history including the coupon ID “CID001”, the usage date “2011/6/29 11:00”, and the usage number “3”.

First, the ASP server 10 refers to the transaction management table 133 to determine whether or not there is a writing process whose status is “indeterminate” (step Sa151). As shown in FIG. 17A, here, the result (status) of the writing process with the process ID “TsB” is unconfirmed. Therefore, the ASP server 10 determines “YES” in the process of step Sa151, and proceeds to the process of step Sa152.

Next, the ASP server 10 compares the use date and time included in the use history acquired from the store management server 30 with the latest write completion date and time in the transaction management table 133, and the use date and time is from the latest write completion date and time. Is determined later (step Sa152). As shown in FIG. 17A, the latest write completion date and time here is “2011/6/29 10:05”. Therefore, the ASP server 10 determines “YES” in the process of step Sa152, and proceeds to the process of step Sa153. Then, the ASP server 10 suspends the update of the set unused number based on the use history (that is, does not update), and writes this use history in the hold list table 134 (step Sa153).

In the process of step Sa3, the ASP server 10 has an electronic coupon due to both delays, namely, a delay in finalizing the result of the write process and a delay in acquiring the usage history, because there is a write process whose status is not finalized. The processing based on the usage history is temporarily suspended so that information on A is not mistakenly managed. Specifically, when the ASP server 10 obtains the usage history with a delay and the writing process with the status “unconfirmed” remains, the ASP server 10 does not store the memory area until the result of the writing process is fixed. The time when the information on the electronic coupon A is rewritten in 251 is unknown. Therefore, in the case of the ASP server 10, whether the acquired usage history is used from the electronic coupon A written by the writing process, or the usage history of the electronic coupon A stored before that is delayed. It is not possible to accurately determine whether the data has been transmitted at this time. For this reason, the ASP server 10 suspends processing based on the usage history until this determination can be made accurately. The hold list table 134 after the process of step Sa153 is as shown in FIG.

Next, the ASP server 10 subtracts the number of usage histories held in the process of step Sa153 from the remaining number of individuals and adds the number of usage histories to the number of personal usage (step Sa154). As shown in FIG. 19B, here, the ASP server 10 adds “3” to the number of personal use to change from “0” to “3”, and from the remaining personal number of “10” to “3”. The user management table 132 is updated so that “3” is reduced to “7”.
Due to the processing of the ASP server 10 described above, duplicate acquisition by other users of the electronic coupon B due to the delay in acquiring the usage history in (event 3) and the delay in determining the result of the writing processing of the electronic coupon B Is avoided.
Note that the operation performed when the ASP server 10 determines that there is no unconfirmed status writing process in the process of step Sa151 will be described later.

(Event 7) 2011/6/29 17:00-Use 5 electronic coupons B (first time)
It is assumed that “5” electronic coupons B are used by the terminal device 20 at “2011/6/29 17:00” after execution of the (event 6) usage process. With this use, the remaining number of electronic coupons B stored in the memory area 251 is reduced from “10” to “5”. Here, it is assumed that the store management server 30 has not transmitted the usage history to the ASP server 10. In this case, since the set unused number of coupons B remains “0” in the user management table 132, the ASP server 10 and the terminal device 20 grasp that the coupon B is stored in the memory area 251. There are “5” differences in the existing electronic coupon B. Originally, the set unused number in the user management table 132 should be “5”. However, since the ASP server 10 has not updated the user management table 132 with the usage history, the set unused number remains “0”.

(Event 8) 2011/6/29 18:00-Get electronic coupon B usage history (first time)
Next, (event 8) will be described. Since the flow of the use process here is basically the same as the content described in the above (event 6), it will be briefly simplified with reference to FIG. FIG. 20 is a diagram illustrating how each data table is updated. Here, the ASP server 10 executes the on-use process at “2011/6/29 18:00” based on the use history of the electronic coupon B used in (event 7). Here, the ASP server 10 acquires the usage history of coupon ID “CID002”, usage date “2011/6/29 17:00”, and usage number “5”.

First, the ASP server 10 determines whether or not there is a writing process whose status is indeterminate (step Sa151). Here, as shown in FIG. 17A, the status of the writing process with the process ID “TsB” is “indeterminate”. Therefore, the ASP server 10 determines “YES” in the process of step Sa151, and proceeds to the process of step Sa152. Next, the ASP server 10 refers to the transaction management table 133 to determine whether or not the usage date and time included in the usage history acquired from the store management server 30 is later than the latest writing completion date and time ( Step Sa152). Here, since the latest write completion date / time is “2011/6/29 10:05”, the ASP server 10 determines “YES” in the process of step Sa152 and writes the usage history to the hold list table 134. (Step Sa153). The hold list table 134 after the process of step Sa153 is as shown in FIG.

Next, the ASP server 10 subtracts the number of usage histories from the number of remaining individuals, and further adds the number of usage histories to the number of personal usage (step Sa154). As shown in FIG. 20B, the ASP server 10 subtracts “5” from the remaining number “25” of the individual to “20” and adds “5” to the number of personal use “0”. To "5".
By the processing of the ASP server 10 described above, duplicate acquisition of the electronic coupon B due to a delay in determining the result of the writing processing of the electronic coupon B is avoided.
The processing at the time of use here is the above.

(Event 9) 2011/6/29 19:00-Electronic Coupon B Set Confirmation Process Next, (Event 9) will be described. The procedure of the set confirmation process will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 21 is a diagram showing how each data table is updated.
At the start of the set confirmation process described below, the data structure of the table is as shown in FIG. Prior to this set confirmation processing, it is assumed that the writing processing is completed at the writing completion date and time “2011/6/29 15:01” by the result notification received by the ASP server 10 in accordance with the processing of step Sa12. In this case, the ASP server 10 associates the status “success” with the write completion date and time “2011/6/29 15:01” to the process ID “TsB” that identifies the write process for which success has been confirmed. The data is written in the transaction management table 133 (see FIG. 21A).

First, the ASP server 10 determines whether or not the writing process that triggered the start of the set confirmation process is successful (step Sa1301). When the ASP server 10 determines that the writing process has been confirmed as successful (step Sa1301; YES), it proceeds to the process of step Sa1302. Next, the ASP server 10 clears all the set unused number of each electronic coupon associated with the user ID “UID001”, and adds the set unused number to each remaining number. Return (step Sa1302). Here, the ASP server 10 returns the set remaining unused number “5” of the electronic coupon A with the coupon ID “CID001” to the total remaining number and sets the total remaining number to “1000”. On the other hand, since the set unused number of the electronic coupon B with the coupon ID “CID002” is “0”, the total remaining number remains “4990” here.

Next, the ASP server 10 sets the set unconfirmed number of electronic coupons B as the set unused number, and updates the user management table 132 to clear the set unconfirmed number (step Sa1303). As illustrated in FIG. 21B, the ASP server 10 sets “10”, which is the set undetermined number, to the set unused number for the electronic coupon B with the coupon ID “CID002”. And clear the set undetermined number from “10” to “0”.

Next, the ASP server 10 determines whether or not a usage history is written in the hold list table 134 (step Sa1304). As shown in FIG. 20A, the ASP server 10 determines that the use history is written in the hold list table 134 (step Sa1304; YES), and proceeds to the process of step Sa1305.
Next, the ASP server 10 extracts one use history from the hold list table 134 (step Sa1305). Here, the ASP server 10 extracts the usage history with the latest usage date and time, but any of them may be extracted. Next, the ASP server 10 determines whether or not the usage date and time of the extracted usage history is later than the latest writing completion date and time (step Sa1306). Here, the latest writing completion date and time is “2011/6/29 15:01” with respect to the usage history of coupon ID “CID002”, usage date and time “2011/6/29 17:00” and usage number “5”. It is. Therefore, the ASP server 10 determines that the usage date is later (step Sa1306; YES), and subtracts the usage number of the extracted usage history from the set unused number (step Sa1307). As shown in FIG. 21C, the ASP server 10 subtracts the used number “5” from the set unused number “10” and sets the set unused number to “5”. Then, the ASP server 10 deletes the usage history extracted in the process of step Sa1305 from the hold list table 134 (step Sa1308).

Next, the ASP server 10 determines whether or not a usage history remains in the hold list table 134 (step Sa1309). Here, since the usage history of the coupon ID “CID001” remains, the ASP server 10 determines “YES” in the process of step Sa1309 and returns to the process of step Sa1305. Next, the ASP server 10 extracts one use history from the hold list table 134 (step Sa1305). The ASP server 10 determines whether or not the usage date and time of the extracted usage history is later than the latest writing completion date and time (step Sa1306). Here, the latest writing completion date and time is “2011/6/29 15:01” for the usage history of coupon ID “CID001”, usage date and time “2011/6/29 11:00” and usage number “3”. It is. When the ASP server 10 determines that the usage date is earlier (step Sa1306; NO), the ASP server 10 deletes the usage history usage number from the total remaining number and then deletes it (step Sa1308). Here, for the electronic coupon A, the ASP server 10 subtracts “3”, which is the number of used cards included in the hold list table 134, from “1000”, which is the total remaining number of electronic coupons A, and sets it to “997”. The usage history extracted from the hold list table 134 is deleted (step Sa1308).

The reason why the ASP server 10 reduced the number of used sheets included in the hold list table 134 from the total remaining number in the process of step Sa1308 will be described. The fact that the usage history has been written in the hold list table 134 means that the number of electronic coupons specified from the usage history has actually been used, but it is determined as “NO” in the process of step Sa1306. In this case, the number of used sheets has not yet been subtracted from the set unused number of sheets. Therefore, if the set unused number is returned as it is to the remaining remaining number as it is, there is a risk that this used number will be excessively returned and the electronic coupon for this used number will be duplicated by other users. There is. For this reason, the ASP server 10 subtracts “3”, which is the usage number included in the usage history of the hold list table 134, from “1000”, which is the total remaining number, to obtain “997”. As shown in FIG. 21 (d), as a result of this subtraction, the ASP server 10 is included in the usage history of the hold list table 134 from “5”, which is the set unused number of electronic coupons A. That is, “2”, which is the number obtained by subtracting “2”, which is the number of used sheets, is returned to the entire remaining number of electronic coupons A.
If the ASP server 10 determines that no use history remains in the hold list table 134 (step Sa1309; NO), the ASP server 10 ends the use-time process.
With the above processing, the set unused number after use of (event 3) is correctly reflected in the ASP server 10.

(Event 10) 2011/6/29 20:00-Use one electronic coupon B (second time)
It is assumed that after the set determination process of (Event 9), “1” electronic coupons B are used by the terminal device 20 at “2011/6/29 20:00”. As a result, the remaining number of electronic coupons B stored in the memory area 251 is reduced from “5” to “4”. At this time, in the user management table 132, since the set unused number of coupons B remains “5”, it is understood that the ASP server 10 and the terminal device 20 are stored in the memory area 251. There is a difference of “1” in the existing electronic coupon B.

(Event 11) 2011/6/29 21:00-Acquisition of electronic coupon B usage history (second time)
Next, (event 11) will be described. Here, the processing at the time of use when the ASP server 10 acquires the use history of the electronic coupon of (event 10) at “2011/6/29 21:00” will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 22 is a diagram illustrating how each data table is updated. In this case, the ASP server 10 acquires a usage history of coupon ID “CID002”, usage date “2011/6/29 20:00”, and usage number “1”.

First, the ASP server 10 refers to the transaction management table 133 to determine whether or not there is a writing process whose status is “indeterminate” (step Sa151). As shown in FIG. 21A, the ASP server 10 determines that there is no writing process whose status is indeterminate (step Sa151; NO), and proceeds to the process of step Sa155.
Then, the ASP server 10 determines whether or not the use date and time included in the use history acquired from the store management server 30 is later than the latest write completion date and time (step Sa155). As shown in FIG. 21A, here, the latest write completion date and time is “201/6/29 15:01”. Therefore, the ASP server 10 determines “YES” in the process of step Sa155, and subtracts the used number included in the use history from each of the remaining personal number and the set unused number (step Sa156). As illustrated in FIG. 22, the ASP server 10 reduces the remaining number of individuals by “1” from “20” to “19” for the electronic coupon B with the coupon ID “CID002”, and is set unused. The number of sheets is decreased from “5” by “1” to “4”. Then, the ASP server 10 adds “1”, which is the number of used sheets, to “5”, which is the number of used persons, and sets the number of used persons to “6” (step Sa157).
By the above process, duplicate acquisition of the electronic coupon B due to the use of the electronic coupon B in (event 11) is avoided.

(Event 12) 2011/6/29 22:00-Acquire electronic coupon A usage history (second time)
Next, (event 12) will be described. Here, the use time process when the ASP server 10 acquires the use history of the electronic coupon A in (event 4) from the store management server 30 at “2011/6/29 22:00” will be described. The ASP server 10 acquires the usage history that should have been acquired when (Event 4) is executed, and executes the usage process. The ASP server 10 acquires a usage history of coupon ID “CID001”, usage date “2011/6/29 12:00”, and usage count “1”.

The in-use process will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 23 is a diagram showing how each data table is updated. The ASP server 10 determines whether or not there is a writing process whose status is “indeterminate” (step Sa151). Here, as shown in FIG. 21A, when the ASP server 10 determines that there is no writing process whose status is undetermined (step Sa151; NO), the ASP server 10 is included in the usage history acquired from the store management server 30. It is determined whether or not the use date and time is later than the latest write completion date and time (step Sa155). As shown in FIG. 21A, the latest write completion date and time is “201/6/29 15:01” with reference to the transaction management table 133, so that the ASP server 10 performs “NO” in the process of step Sa155. " Then, the ASP server 10 adds the usage number in the usage history to the individual usage number (step Sa157). As shown in FIG. 23A, the ASP server 10 adds “1” to the electronic coupon A with the coupon ID “CID001” so that the number of personal use is changed from “3” to “4”. The remaining number “7” of the individual is reduced by “1” to “6”, and the remaining remaining number “997” is decreased by “1” to “996”.
By this processing, the electronic coupon A for “1”, which was excessively returned to the total remaining number even though it was actually used in (event 9), is subtracted from the total remaining number. Thus, the error of the total remaining number is solved here.

Note that, in the set confirmation process described above, even when the ASP server 10 determines that the writing process has failed in the process of step Sa1301 (“NO” in step Sa1301 in FIG. 14), it is basically the same as when it succeeded. To work. Specifically, it is as follows.
The ASP server 10 determines whether or not a usage history is written in the hold list table 134 (step Sa1310). When the ASP server 10 determines that the usage history is written in the hold list table 134 (step Sa1310; YES), the ASP server 10 extracts one use history from the hold list table 134 (step Sa1311). Next, the ASP server 10 determines whether or not the usage date and time of the extracted usage history is the previous writing process and is later than the writing completion date and time of the latest writing process (step Sa1312). If the ASP server 10 determines that the usage date is later (step Sa1312; YES), the ASP server 10 subtracts the usage number of the extracted usage history from the set unused number (step Sa1313). Then, the ASP server 10 deletes the extracted use history from the hold list table 134 (step Sa1314), and determines whether or not the use history remains in the hold list table 134 (step Sa1315). When the ASP server 10 determines that the usage history remains (step Sa1315; YES), the ASP server 10 returns to the processing of step Sa1311. On the other hand, when the ASP server 10 determines that the usage history does not remain in the hold list table 134, the ASP server 10 clears the set unconfirmed number (step Sa1316) and ends the set confirmation processing. In the processing of step Sa1316, if the set unconfirmed number is larger than the set unused number, the ASP server 10 adds the difference between the set unconfirmed number and the set unused number to the total remaining number.

By the way, if the ASP server 10 determines that the usage date / time of the usage history extracted in the processing of step Sa1312 is the previous writing processing and is earlier than the latest writing completion date / time (step Sa1312; NO), the extracted usage The history is deleted from the hold list table 134 (step Sa1314). If the ASP server 10 determines that the use history is not written in the hold list table 134 in the process of step Sa1310 (step Sa1310; NO), the ASP server 10 executes the process of step Sa1316 and then ends the set confirmation process.
As described above, even if the result of the writing process is unsuccessful, the ASP server 10 clears the set undetermined number by adding the set undetermined number to the total remaining number in the process of step Sa1316. Except for executing the processing to be performed, the operation may be the same as when the writing processing is successful.
The above is description of the process which the ASP server 10 performs in the said story.

According to embodiment described above, there exist the following effects regarding management of an electronic coupon.
First, the electronic coupon can be prevented from being duplicated by other users due to the processing at the time of providing the coupon in the ASP server 10. In the set start process, when the ASP server 10 newly provides an electronic coupon to the terminal device 20, the ASP server 10 sets the number of subtracted from the total remaining number as the set undetermined number, and then sets the undetermined number of electronic coupons. Is instructed to the terminal device 20. Then, after the ASP server 10 determines that the writing process executed by the terminal device 20 is successful, the ASP server 10 sets the set unconfirmed number of sheets as the set unused number. Thereby, after successful writing processing, it is possible to avoid duplicate acquisition of electronic coupons, which may occur when the acquired number of sheets subtracted from the total remaining number is directly set as the set unused number. Furthermore, if the writing process is a process of overwriting the electronic coupon in the memory area 251 with a new electronic coupon, the ASP server 10 sets the unconfirmed set when the set unconfirmed number is larger than the set unused number. The difference between the number of sheets and the set unused number is added (returned) to the total remaining number. As a result, it is possible to avoid overlapping acquisition of electronic coupons that may occur when the acquired number of sheets subtracted from the total remaining number of sheets before the writing process is set directly as the set unused number. Specifically, when the ASP server 10 performs a writing process by overwriting and an already stored electronic coupon is to be deleted, the electronic coupon is stored in the memory area 251 due to the failure of the writing process. Even when this is left, this electronic coupon can be prevented from being duplicated.

Second, electronic coupons can be prevented from being duplicated by other users due to processing at the time of using electronic coupons in the ASP server 10. The ASP server 10 stores the writing completion date and time when the success of the writing process is confirmed. Then, when the terminal device 20 acquires the usage history using the electronic coupon, the ASP server 10 compares the usage date and time included in the usage history with the latest writing completion date and time. When the usage date is later than the latest writing completion date, the ASP server 10 subtracts the usage number from the set unused number, while the usage date is earlier than the latest writing completion date. , Do not subtract the used number from the set unused number. As described above, the ASP server 10 does not reduce the used number based on the use history from the set unused number corresponding to the electronic coupon stored in the memory area 251 in the past. Thus, as described in (Event 9), when the ASP server 10 returns the electronic coupon, the number of used sheets included in the usage history corresponding to the electronic coupon actually used is reduced. If this is the case, it is possible to prevent the electronic coupons corresponding to the number of used sheets from being returned by the set confirmation process and being duplicated by other users.

Thirdly, in the second case, the ASP server 10 sets the unused state when there is a writing process whose result is indeterminate when the usage date is later than the latest writing completion date. The update of the number is suspended and the usage history is stored. Then, the ASP server 10 determines that the use date and time included in the stored use history is later than the latest write completion date and time after the result of the writing process whose result has not been decided is confirmed. If the used number is subtracted from the set unused number, while the use date is earlier than the latest writing completion date, the used number is not subtracted from the set unused number. Thereby, even if the ASP server 10 delays the finalization of the result of the writing process due to the delay of the result notification, the process based on the usage history is performed after the result of the writing process is finalized. Thus, it is possible to prevent the electronic coupons from being excessively returned and the electronic coupons thus returned to be duplicated by other users.

Furthermore, in the communication system 1, the ASP server 10 and the application management server 50 are realized by independent server devices, and the coupon management application 261 does not operate without the ASP server 10. This is because the terminal device 20 is intended to prevent the coupon management application 261 from being illegally used. Specifically, since the electronic device coupon is not written in the IC chip 25 in the terminal device 20 only when the ASP server 10 requests the application management server 50 by signature communication, the coupon management Unauthorized use of the application 261 can be prevented.

2. Modification of First Embodiment The present invention can be implemented in a form different from the above-described embodiment. The present invention can also be implemented in the following forms, for example. In addition, the following modifications may be combined as appropriate.

[Modification 1]
In the communication system 1 of the above-described embodiment, an electronic coupon is handled in which the minimum unit that can be provided or used is “sheets” and the number of electronic coupons that are provided or used (number of units) is “number”. It was. On the other hand, the minimum number of units that can be provided or used for electronic coupons is not limited to this. It is good also as a unit. Even in this case, it is only necessary to replace the “number of electronic coupons” of the above-described embodiment with a unit of money such as “yen” or “dollar”. In addition, the minimum number of units that can be provided or used for the electronic coupon may be “point” (point), “number of times” (number of times of use), or the like.

[Modification 2]
In the above-described embodiment, the ASP server 10 executes both the set start process and the set confirmation process related to the provision of the electronic coupon, and the use time process related to the use of the electronic coupon. (ASP server) may execute. In this case, the ASP server on the side that executes the set start process and the set confirmation process does not need to realize the function shown in FIG. Further, in the communication system 1, when there is an environment in which the notification of the result of the writing process is not delayed (or an environment in which there is almost no delay), the communication is performed so that the ASP server 10 does not execute the process based on the hold list table 134. It is also conceivable to configure the system 1. In this case, the total remaining number of sheets in the above-described embodiment is replaced by the following formula (4). There is no change in the remaining number of individuals.
Total remaining number of sheets = Total number of restricted sheets−Σ {Personal use number + MAX (set unused number, set unconfirmed number)} (4)

Also, the total remaining number satisfies the relationship of the above-described formula (1) or formula (4), and the remaining number of individuals satisfies the relationship of the above-described formula (2). Even if the ASP server 10 does not store the total remaining number corresponding to the left side of each expression and the individual remaining number itself, for example, if the ASP server 10 stores data corresponding to the right side, for example, the total remaining number It is equivalent to memorizing the remaining number of persons and individuals.

[Modification 3]
In the embodiment described above, the ASP server 10 acquires the usage history from the store management server 30 as soon as the electronic coupon is used. On the other hand, the ASP server 10 may acquire the usage history from the store management server 30 at a predetermined period or when a predetermined acquisition time has arrived. In this case, the date and time when the ASP server 10 acquires the usage history is delayed to some extent from the usage date and time of the electronic coupon. Acquisition is avoided.

[Modification 4]
In the embodiment described above, data tables corresponding to the coupon management table 131 and the user management table 132 may be independent for each service provider. The reason will be described.
An electronic coupon a of a certain service provider A is written in the IC chip 25 of the terminal device 20, and an electronic coupon b of another service provider B is written in the IC chip 25 by overwriting the coupon a. Then, in the IC chip 25, the electronic coupon a of the service provider A is deleted. However, the ASP server returns the electronic coupon that the set unused number of the electronic coupon a of the service provider A is added to the total remaining number to clear the set unused number in accordance with the writing process. Can not do. Thereby, in the ASP server, the electronic coupon deleted from the IC chip 25 remains as a set unused number. However, when this terminal device 20 next executes the writing process of the electronic coupon of the service provider A, the set unused number of electronic coupons a remaining in the ASP server is added to the total remaining number. Since the set unused number is cleared, there is no particular problem. In this case, since the electronic coupon a is not stored in the IC chip 25 until the set unused unused number of the electronic coupon a is cleared in the ASP server, it remains as the set unused unused number. It becomes an electronic coupon that no one can get.
For the reasons described above, it is not necessary to refer to a common data table even if the ASP server is divided for each service provider. In addition, since the electronic coupon of the service provider B is written in the IC chip 25, it is possible to avoid the occurrence of an event linked across the service providers that the electronic coupon of the service provider A is returned. . From the viewpoint of avoiding user confusion and corporate branding, it is possible to hide from common users that different service providers (such as companies) share the same system (mechanism).

[Modification 5]
The above-described embodiment can be modified as follows.
Here, the following (Premise 1) and (Premise 2) are adopted as the premise of this modification.
(Premise 1) The information corresponding to the “undefined number of sets” is not written in the user management table 132, and the ASP server 10 does not execute processing related to the undefined number of sets.
(Assumption 2) In the coupon management table 131, information corresponding to “distributed number (total)” is written instead of “remaining number (total)”. The number of distributions (total) is the number of electronic coupons distributed (that is, provided) to the entire terminal device 20 (hereinafter also referred to as “total number of distributions”). )
Remaining number (total) = Limit number (total)-Number of distributions (total) (5)

Next, the functional configuration of the ASP server 10 according to the present modification will be described focusing on differences from the above-described embodiment.
The 1st update part 111 provides a new 1st electronic coupon to the terminal device 20 triggered by having acquired the coupon acquisition request for acquiring a 1st electronic coupon by communication with the terminal device 20 by the communication part 12. To start the process. First, the first update unit 111 adds the number of acquired first electronic coupons specified in the coupon acquisition request to the total number of distributions in the coupon management table 131. However, the first updating unit 111 adds only the number exceeding the set unused number of the first electronic coupon written in the user management table 132 before the writing process to the total number of distributions. That is, when the first electronic coupon is already stored in the memory area 251, the first update unit 111 executes the writing process by overwriting for the same first electronic coupon, and thus the writing process starts from the acquired number. The number obtained by subtracting the previously set unused number is added to the total distribution number and added.

Second, the first updating unit 111 adds the number of acquired first electronic coupons specified in the coupon acquisition request to the set unused number of first electronic coupons. Here, the first updating unit 111 adds only the number exceeding the set unused number written in the user management table 132 before the writing process to the set unused number.
The description of the first update unit 111 is as described above.

The second updating unit 113 executes the following processing according to the result of the writing process acquired by the processing result acquiring unit 114 after the writing instruction by the writing instruction unit 112 is performed. When the result of the writing process is determined to be successful, the second update unit 113 subtracts the set unused number of other electronic coupons (second electronic coupons) from the total distribution number and sets the set unused number. To clear. On the other hand, when the result of the writing process is determined to be unsuccessful, the second updating unit 113 uses the number added to the total number of distributions by the first updating unit 111 as a whole distribution after being updated by the first updating unit 111. While subtracting from the number of sheets, the number added to the set unused number by the first updating unit 111 is subtracted from the set unused number after being updated by the first updating unit 111.

Even in the configuration of the communication system 1 of the present modification, the description of the above-described embodiment is based on the relationship of Expression (5). If it is read as ")", it is possible to enjoy the same operational effects as the above-described embodiment.
Moreover, this modification can also be modified to a configuration that does not employ (Premise 2). In this case, the description “addition / subtraction to the total number of distributions” in this modification may be read as “subtraction / addition to the total number of remaining distributions”.

As described above, when the explanations of the present modification and the modification 2 are combined, even if the ASP server 10 does not store the information “the total remaining number”, the “total remaining number” is indirectly derived. If it has the structure which memorize | stores the information which can be performed, while being contained in the range of this invention, it can enjoy the effect equivalent to embodiment mentioned above. This can be explained in the same way for the remaining number of individuals.

[Modification 6]
In the embodiment described above, the ASP server 10 acquires a usage history from the store terminal 40 in order to grasp the number of electronic coupons used. There is a possibility that inconsistency occurs in the remaining number of sheets, and multiple electronic coupons are acquired. Therefore, in the communication system 1, in a predetermined period from when the set start process is started, the terminal device 20 is not allowed to acquire another electronic coupon until the ASP server 10 acquires the usage history. Good. That is, the ASP server 10 may not execute the set start process. According to this configuration, if the ASP server 10 can acquire a usage history during a period in which another electronic coupon is not acquired, it is possible to avoid redundant acquisition of the electronic coupon due to this problem.

[Modification 7]
In the embodiment described above, the ASP server 10 acquires the usage history from the store terminal 40 in order to grasp the number of used electronic coupons. However, when the usage history transmission by the store management server 30 is delayed, the ASP server 10 uses If another electronic coupon writing process is performed before the history is acquired, the total number of remaining coins may be inconsistent, and the electronic coupon may be acquired in duplicate. That is, after the electronic coupon is used, when the terminal device 20 acquires another electronic coupon before the usage history is transmitted, the used electronic coupon that has already been deleted from the memory area 251 remains in the memory area 251. If so, the ASP server 10 misidentifies, and the entire remaining number of electronic coupons is returned to the used electronic coupon. However, in reality, since the electronic coupon remains in the memory area 251, there is a possibility that this is duplicated. Therefore, the ASP server 10 may delay the return of the set unused number that is cleared at the time of the set confirmation process to the entire remaining number by a predetermined period. In this way, if the ASP server 10 can acquire the usage history during the period of waiting for the return to the total remaining number, it is possible to avoid duplicate acquisition due to this problem.

[Modification 8]
In the communication system 1 of the above-described embodiment, the store management server 30 and the store terminal 40 are separate devices, but a device in which these are integrated may be used. Examples of the integrated device include a personal computer having a reader / writer function, a smartphone, and a POS (Point of sale) terminal.
Further, the ASP server 10 may acquire the usage history from the terminal device 20 instead of the store management server 30.
In the above-described embodiment, the ASP server 10 ends the set start process when it is determined that there is a write process whose status is “indeterminate” with reference to the transaction management table 133. However, the present invention does not require such a premise, and if there is no problem in the management of the number of electronic coupons, the set start process is continued when there is a writing process whose status is “indeterminate” Is also possible.
Each function realized by the control unit 11 of the ASP server 10 can be realized by a combination of a plurality of programs, or can be realized by cooperation of a plurality of hardware resources.
Moreover, this invention can also be grasped | ascertained as the program and coupon management method which ASP server 10 performs.

3. Second Embodiment Hereinafter, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
The overall configuration of the communication system according to the present embodiment is the same as that of the first embodiment. Therefore, description of the overall configuration of the communication system is omitted.

The hardware configuration of the ASP server according to the present embodiment is the same as that of the first embodiment. Therefore, description of the hardware configuration of the ASP server is omitted. However, the storage unit 13 of the ASP server 10 according to the present embodiment replaces the coupon management table 131, the user management table 132, the transaction management table 133, and the hold list table 134 with a coupon information table as shown in FIG. 135, a user management table 136 and a holding status management table 137 are stored.

FIG. 25 is a diagram showing the configuration of the coupon information table 135. As shown in FIG. 25, the coupon information table 135 includes a “coupon ID”, “coupon name”, “restricted number of sheets provided per user”, “available period (start date and time)”, and “available for use”. It is a data table in which each piece of information indicated by “period (end date and time)” is associated.
“Coupon ID” is an identifier for identifying an electronic coupon provided by the ASP server 10. The coupon ID is different for each type of electronic coupon. The “restricted number of provisions per user” is an upper limit number of electronic coupons that can be provided to one user when the number of provisionable electronic coupons is limited for each user. In other words, the provision limit number per user is the upper limit number of electronic coupons that can be acquired by the terminal device 20 of one user. “Available period (start date and time)” is a date and time indicating the start time of a period in which the electronic coupon can be used. “Available period (end date and time)” is a date and time indicating the end time of a period in which the electronic coupon can be used.
In the coupon information table 135 having the above configuration, the provision limit number and the usable period per user are set corresponding to each electronic coupon. However, not all of the electronic coupons are provided with the limited number of coupons available per user and the period of use, and there are electronic coupons for which either one is not set, or for which both are not set. There are also coupons.

In the coupon information table 135 shown in FIG. 25, information on electronic coupons with coupon IDs “CID001” to “CID003” is shown. The coupon ID “CID001” indicates an electronic coupon having a limited number of provisions per user of “5”, the usable period (start date and time) is “2012/02/01 09: 0”, and the usable period (end) Date and time) is “2012/02/29 23:59”. The coupon ID “CID002” indicates an electronic coupon in which the provision limit number per user is not set. That is, the user can obtain an unlimited number of electronic coupons with coupon ID “CID002”. The electronic coupon with coupon ID “CID002” has an available period (start date / time) of “2012/02/01 09: 0” and an available period (end date / time) of “2012/02/29 23:59”. . Coupon ID “CID003” indicates an electronic coupon with a limited number of provisions per user of “10”, and no available period is set. An electronic coupon for which no available period is set is an electronic coupon that can be used at any time regardless of the time.
In the present embodiment, the electronic coupons with coupon IDs “CID001” to “CID003” are assumed to be electronic coupons provided by the same service provider. However, the coupon information table 135 may store information on electronic coupons provided by a plurality of service providers.

FIG. 26 is a diagram showing the configuration of the user management table 136.
As shown in FIG. 26, the user management table 136 is a data table in which pieces of information indicated by “terminal ID”, “user ID”, and “expiration date” are associated with each other. The “terminal ID” is an identifier unique to the terminal device 20 that identifies the terminal device 20, and corresponds to the terminal ID stored in the IC chip of the terminal device 20. The user ID is a user-specific identifier that identifies the user of the terminal device 20. In the user management table 136, only one user ID is associated with one terminal ID. The user ID of the present embodiment is an identifier assigned to the user of the terminal device 20 by the ASP server 10 by member registration with the ASP server 10. The expiration date is a date when the association between the terminal ID and the user ID in the user management table 136 is valid. Although details will be described later, the association between the terminal ID and the user ID after the expiration date has expired becomes invalid. For the invalid association, the control unit 11 may change the user ID to another user ID.
For example, when the ASP server 10 provides an electronic coupon to the terminal device 20, the user management table 136 having the above configuration is referred to in order to determine whether or not the provision is possible.

26, the terminal ID “abcde00001” and the user ID “UID0001” are associated with each other, and the validity period of this association is “2012/02/29 23:59”. The fact that such association is stored in the user management table 136 means that the user ID “UID0001” has already been assigned to the user of the terminal device 20 indicated by the terminal ID “abcde00001”, and the ASP server 10 has This means that the terminal device 20 has been provided with an electronic coupon. In the example illustrated in FIG. 26, the terminal ID “abcde00002” and the user ID “UID0002” are associated with each other, and the validity period of the association is “2012/02/29 23:59”.

FIG. 27 is a diagram showing the configuration of the possession status management table 137.
As shown in FIG. 27, the possession status management table 137 includes “user ID”, “coupon ID”, “acquired unused number”, “used number”, and “remaining number”. It is the data table which matched information. The “user ID” and “coupon ID” are information as already described. The “acquired unused number” is the number of electronic coupons not yet used among the electronic coupons provided to the terminal device 20 and written in the IC chip. In other words, the acquired unused number is the number of electronic coupons that have been acquired and can be used by the terminal device 20. “Used number” is the number of electronic coupons already used among the electronic coupons provided to the terminal device 20 and written in the IC chip. The “remaining number of sheets” is the remaining number of electronic coupons that can be provided to the terminal device 20. This remaining number is equal to the number obtained by subtracting the number of used sheets from the limited number of sheets provided per user. In the case of an electronic coupon for which the provision limit number per user is not set, information “none” is stored in the “remaining number” field.
The holding status management table 137 having the above configuration is a data table storing the holding status of the electronic coupon for each user of the terminal device 20.

The hardware configuration of the terminal device according to the present embodiment is the same as that of the first embodiment. Therefore, the description about the hardware configuration of the terminal device is omitted.

The IC chip 25 has a memory area 251 used for reading and writing data, such as a processor, an antenna, and data, and is an IC chip for performing proximity contactless communication. The processor of the IC chip 25 reads / writes data by accessing the memory area 251 in response to a signal received by the antenna or an instruction from the control unit 21. In addition, the IC chip 25 stores the terminal ID of the terminal device 20 in the memory area 251.
By the way, the memory area 251 has a specification in which an electronic coupon of any one of a plurality of service providers is written. In other words, the memory area 251 is a memory area shared by a plurality of service providers. Therefore, when the electronic coupon of a certain service provider is stored in the memory area 251, the electronic coupon of another service provider is stored in the memory area 251 by the writing process by overwriting. That is, the electronic coupon originally stored in the memory area 251 is deleted by the writing process. Even in this case, when the terminal device 20 deletes the electronic coupon in the memory area 251 by the writing process by overwriting, the terminal device 20 always returns to the state before the deletion by inquiring to the ASP server 10 and has already been acquired. An electronic coupon can be written into the memory area 251. Specifically, since the ASP server 10 manages the holding status of the electronic coupon in the holding status management table 137, the ASP server 10 performs the electronic coupon writing process on the terminal device 20 according to the information stored in the holding status management table 137. Let it be done. On the other hand, a plurality of electronic coupons of the same service provider may be stored in the memory area 251 at the same time. For example, electronic coupons with coupon IDs “CID001” to “CID003” may be stored in the memory area 251 at the same time.
Note that the terminal ID stored in the memory area 251 is not lost by the writing process of writing the electronic coupon in the memory area 251.

Next, the functional configuration of the control unit 11 of the ASP server 10 will be described.

FIG. 28 is a functional block diagram illustrating a functional configuration of functions related to management of electronic coupons in the control unit 11 of the ASP server 10. As shown in FIG. 28, the control unit 11 of the ASP server 10 realizes functions corresponding to the read instruction unit 117, the acquisition unit 118, the providing unit 119, and the writing unit 120 by executing a program. To do.
When the reading instruction unit 117 provides an electronic coupon in which the number that can be provided is limited for each user (that is, an electronic coupon in which the provision limit number per user is set in the coupon information table 135), the terminal device 20 is instructed to read the terminal ID from the memory area 251 of the IC chip 25 of the IC 20. On the other hand, the read instruction unit 117 provides an electronic coupon in which the number that can be provided is not limited for each user (that is, an electronic coupon in which the provision limit number per user is not set in the coupon information table 135). Does not instruct reading of the terminal ID from the memory area 251.

The acquisition unit 118 acquires the terminal ID of the terminal device 20 and the user ID of the user of the terminal device 20 when newly providing an electronic coupon to the terminal device 20. When the reading instruction unit 117 instructs the reading of the terminal ID, the acquiring unit 118 acquires the terminal ID read from the memory area 251 in accordance with the instruction.

The providing unit 119 refers to the coupon information table 135, the user management table 136, and the holding status management table 137, and determines that the electronic coupon is newly provided based on the terminal ID and the user ID acquired by the acquiring unit 118. Performs processing for providing an electronic coupon to the terminal device 20 indicated by the terminal ID within the range of the provision limit number per user. Specifically, the providing unit 119 displays an electronic coupon when the user ID different from the user ID acquired by the acquisition unit 118 is not associated with the terminal ID acquired by the acquisition unit 118 in the user management table 136. Determine to provide. Also, the providing unit 119 satisfies a predetermined condition when a user ID different from the user ID acquired by the acquiring unit 118 is associated with the terminal ID acquired by the acquiring unit 118 in the user management table 136. The electronic coupon is determined to be provided. The condition here is that the expiration date set in the user management table 136 has passed and the association between the terminal ID and the user ID is invalid. The providing unit 119 also executes processing for providing an electronic coupon for which the provision limit number per user is not set.
In addition, the process for providing the electronic coupon which the provision part 119 performs is a process for making the terminal device 20 perform the writing process of an electronic coupon.

The writing unit 120 manages a process of writing data to the user management table 136 and the holding status management table 133 stored in the storage unit 13. For example, when the providing unit 119 executes a process for providing an electronic coupon, the writing unit 120 includes the user ID acquired by the acquiring unit 118 in the terminal ID acquired by the acquiring unit 118 in the user management table 136. Associate. Further, the writing unit 120 updates the holding status management table 133 according to the processing for providing the electronic coupon executed by the providing unit 119 and the usage history of the electronic coupon received from the store management server 30.
This is the end of the description of the functional configuration of the ASP server 10. Next, the operation of the communication system 1 will be described.

FIG. 29 is a sequence chart showing the overall processing flow of the communication system 1.
In the present embodiment, in order for the terminal device 20 to acquire an electronic coupon from the ASP server 10, it is necessary to perform member registration with respect to the ASP server 10 in advance. Specifically, the terminal device 20 displays a predetermined web page for executing membership registration by executing a web browser, and issues a user ID issuance request and user authentication using a user ID in accordance with a user operation. The password used in the process is transmitted to the ASP server 10 (step Sb1). When the ASP server 10 receives a user ID issuance request and password from the terminal device 20, the ASP server 10 issues only one user ID to be assigned to the user of the terminal device 20, and associates the issued user ID with the received password in association with the member. This member information is stored in the storage unit 13 as information (step Sb2). The ASP server 10 notifies the terminal device 20 of the user ID issued in the process of step Sb2 (step Sb3). Here, the terminal device 20 stores the user ID notified from the ASP server 10 in the storage unit 26 using a so-called cookie (a mechanism for temporarily writing and storing data in a visitor's computer through a web browser). Let me. However, the terminal device 20 may store the hash value (encrypted value) instead of storing the user ID as it is in order to suppress the possibility of spoofing by masquerade of cookie information by a third party. Further, the ASP server 10 according to the present embodiment rejects membership registration when a user ID is stored in the storage unit 26 using a cookie so as to assign only one user ID to the user of the terminal device 20. To do.
The above is the description of the member registration performed in advance by the terminal device 20. Next, an operation when the terminal device 20 tries to acquire an electronic coupon from the ASP server 10 will be described.

When the user of the terminal device 20 intends to download an electronic coupon, the user operates the terminal device 20 to execute a web browser and performs an operation of displaying a predetermined web page for acquiring the electronic coupon. The terminal device 20 transmits a page access request to the ASP server 10 in response to the user operation (step Sb4). When receiving the page access request, the ASP server 10 requests the terminal device 20 to transmit a user ID and a password to perform user authentication (step Sb5). When the ASP server 10 requests the user ID and password to be transmitted, the terminal device 20 displays a user ID and password input screen and prompts the user to input them. Here, the user inputs the user ID and password notified in the process of step Sb3. However, the terminal device 20 automatically inputs the user ID stored using the cookie for the user ID. However, if the cookie information has been deleted or the cookie information transmission refusal has been preset in the terminal device 20, the user of the terminal device 20 manually inputs the user ID. The terminal device 20 transmits the user ID and password to the ASP server 10 when the user ID and password are input and an operation for instructing transmission is performed by the user (step Sb6).

When the ASP server 10 receives the user ID and password transmitted in step Sb6, it performs user authentication (step Sb7). Here, the ASP server 10 collates the received user ID and password with the member information stored in the storage unit 13, and if there is member information whose user ID and password match, the user authentication is successful. It is determined that On the other hand, the ASP server 10 determines that user authentication has failed when there is no member information in which both the received user ID and password match. If the ASP server 10 determines that the user authentication has failed, the ASP server 10 notifies the terminal device 20 that the user authentication has failed without executing the remaining processes shown in FIG.
When the user ID is stored in the storage unit 26 of the terminal device 20 using a cookie, the terminal device 20 may transmit the user ID together with the page access request in the process of step Sb4. In this case, the ASP server 10 may determine that the user authentication corresponding to the process of step Sb7 has succeeded based on the user ID received together with the page access request. When such automatic authentication is performed, the processes of steps Sb5 and Sb6 described above are omitted, and the user of the terminal device 20 does not have to perform an input operation on the user ID and password input screen. Moreover, in order to suppress the possibility of impersonation by impersonation of the cookie information by a third party, the ASP server 10 is from when the user ID is issued or until the predetermined period elapses from when the previous user authentication was successful. Automatic authentication may be performed, and thereafter, the user of the terminal device 20 may perform an input operation using the user ID and password input screen.

If the user authentication is successful in the process of step Sb7, the ASP server 10 notifies the terminal device 20 that the user authentication is successful (step Sb8). Then, the terminal device 20 displays a predetermined web page (a coupon acquisition screen shown in FIG. 30) on the browser, and transmits a coupon acquisition request to the ASP server 10 in response to a user operation (step Sb9).

FIG. 30 is a diagram illustrating a coupon acquisition screen.
The user operates while looking at the UI unit 24 to select the type and number of electronic coupons to be acquired using the pull-down menus Pb1, Pb2, and Pb3. Select the soft button Bb. For example, when the user intends to acquire an electronic coupon with the coupon name “raise half price”, the user operates the pull-down menu Pb1 and sets the acquired number to “1” or more. The user may perform the same operation when trying to acquire another electronic coupon.
Note that the coupon name on the coupon acquisition screen shown in FIG. 30 corresponds to the coupon name stored in the coupon information table 135. In addition, the upper limit of the number of electronic coupons that can be set on the coupon acquisition screen is equal to or less than the remaining number of electronic coupons stored in the holding status management table 133.

When the soft button Bb on the coupon acquisition screen shown in FIG. 30 is selected, the terminal device 20 is able to specify the electronic coupon to be acquired and the number of acquisitions thereof (for example, a data set of coupon ID and acquisition number of copies). The coupon acquisition request including) is transmitted to the ASP server 10.
When receiving a coupon acquisition request from the terminal device 20, the ASP server 10 executes a terminal ID necessity determination process (step Sb10).

FIG. 31 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of terminal ID necessity determination processing.
First, the ASP server 10 determines whether an acquisition request for an electronic coupon in which the provision limit number per user is set is received (step Sb101). When the ASP server 10 receives a coupon acquisition request including an electronic coupon in which the provision limit number per user is set (step Sb101; YES), the ASP server 10 determines to execute the terminal ID notification process (step Sb102). For example, when the ASP server 10 receives a coupon acquisition request including an electronic coupon with the coupon ID “CID001” or “CID003”, the ASP server 10 determines to execute the terminal ID notification process.

On the other hand, if the ASP server 10 receives a coupon acquisition request that does not include an electronic coupon in which the provision limit number per user is set (step Sb101; NO), the ASP server 10 determines not to execute the terminal ID notification process (step Sb101). Sb103). For example, when the ASP server 10 receives an acquisition request for only the electronic coupon with the coupon ID “CID002”, the ASP server 10 determines to execute the terminal ID notification process.
As described above, the ASP server 10 determines whether or not the terminal ID of the terminal device 20 is necessary depending on whether or not the provision limit number per user is set in the coupon information table 135.

When the ASP server 10 ends the terminal ID necessity determination process (step Sb10 in FIG. 29), if it is determined to execute the terminal ID notification process, the ASP server 10 executes the terminal ID notification process (step Sb11). That is, the ASP server 10 executes a terminal ID notification process when the provision limit number per user is set in the electronic coupon. On the other hand, the ASP server 10 skips the process of step Sb11 when the provision limit number per user for the electronic coupon is not set and it is determined that the terminal ID notification process is not executed. The terminal ID notification process is not executed.

FIG. 32 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of terminal ID notification processing.
First, the ASP server 10 requests the application management server 50 to process a terminal ID notification and requests the generation of an inquiry ID (step Sb111). The application management server 50 generates a query ID in response to the processing request transmitted in the process of step Sb111, and transmits the generated query ID to the ASP server 10 (step Sb112). The inquiry ID is an identifier for identifying a processing request.

Upon receiving the inquiry ID from the application management server 50, the ASP server 10 transmits an instruction to execute the coupon management application 261 to the terminal device 20 (step Sb113). Here, the ASP server 10 transmits an execution instruction including the inquiry ID received from the application management server 50.
When receiving an execution instruction from the ASP server 10, the terminal device 20 reads and executes the coupon management application 261 stored in the storage unit 26. Then, according to the coupon management application 261, the terminal device 20 transmits the inquiry ID included in the execution instruction received from the ASP server 10 to the application management server 50 (step Sb114). In accordance with the processing request corresponding to the inquiry ID received from the terminal device 20, the application management server 50 transmits a terminal ID reading instruction to the terminal device 20 that is the transmission source of the inquiry ID (step Sb115).

The terminal device 20 causes the IC chip 25 to perform a reading process in accordance with the reading instruction received from the application management server 50 (step Sb116). In the process of step Sb116, the control unit 21 instructs the processor of the IC chip 25 to read the terminal ID in accordance with the reading instruction from the application management server 50. In accordance with this instruction, the processor of the IC chip 25 accesses the memory area 251 to read the terminal ID, and supplies the read terminal ID to the control unit 21.
The terminal device 20 transmits the terminal ID supplied from the IC chip 25 to the control unit 21 to the application management server 50 (step Sb117). Next, the terminal device 20 transmits an end notification indicating that the terminal ID reading process has ended to the ASP server 10 (step Sb118).
Note that the terminal device 20 executes the coupon management application 261 in accordance with the process of step Sb113 to the process of step Sb117 according to the coupon management application 261.

When the ASP server 10 receives the end notification transmitted from the terminal device 20, the ASP server 10 transmits an inquiry ID to the application management server 50 to inquire about the terminal ID of the terminal device 20 that is the transmission source of the end notification (step Sb119). In response to the inquiry from the ASP server 10, the application management server 50 transmits a terminal ID to the ASP server 10 (step Sb120). The ASP server 10 acquires the terminal ID transmitted from the application management server 50 in the process of step Sb120.
In the process of step Sb120, the application management server 50 may not transmit the terminal ID as it is, but may convert the terminal ID into another information that can be uniquely specified and transmit it. According to this configuration, for example, when the communication system 1 includes a plurality of ASP servers, if the conversion rule of the terminal ID is different for each ASP server, the first ASP server grasps the terminal ID of the user A. Even so, it does not match the terminal ID of user B for the second ASP server. Thereby, for example, even if the first ASP server and the second ASP server communicate with the common application management server 50 to acquire the terminal ID, the first ASP server is the second ASP server. It is possible to prevent the occurrence of fraud such as impersonating the terminal ID for the service to be provided.

As described above, when the ASP server 10 acquires the terminal ID from the terminal device 20, the ASP server 10 causes the terminal device 20 to execute the coupon management application 261 and from the memory area 251 of the terminal ID via the application management server 50. Instruct reading. The reason why the application management server 50 mediates the exchange of information between the ASP server 10 and the terminal device 20 is to prevent information from being rewritten illegally such as falsification of the terminal ID, and information using the terminal ID. This is to prevent the occurrence of management security problems.

When the ASP server 10 finishes the terminal ID notification process of step Sb11, the ASP server 10 executes a coupon provision determination process (step Sb12). The coupon provision determination process is a process of determining whether to provide an electronic coupon to the terminal device 20. However, in this embodiment, the ASP server 10 executes the coupon provision determination process when providing the electronic coupon in which the provision limit number per user is set, but the provision limit number per user is set. When providing an electronic coupon that has not been made, the coupon provision determination process is not executed.

FIG. 33 is a flowchart showing the procedure of the coupon provision determination process.
First, the ASP server 10 determines whether or not any user ID is associated with the terminal ID acquired in the terminal ID notification process in step Sb11 in the user management table 136 (step Sb121). When the ASP server 10 determines that no user ID is associated with the terminal ID acquired by the terminal ID notification process (for example, the terminal ID is not stored in the user management table 136) (step S1). Sb121; NO), the process proceeds to step Sb122. Then, the ASP server 10 writes the terminal ID and the user ID in the user management table 136 so that the user ID used in the user authentication in step Sb7 is associated with the terminal ID acquired in the terminal ID notification process (step Sb122). For example, when the user tries to download an electronic coupon for the first time after registering as a member, the association between the terminal ID acquired in the terminal ID notification process and the user ID used in the user authentication is stored in the user management table 136. It has not been.

Next, the ASP server 10 determines whether an electronic coupon can be provided to the terminal device 20 based on the possession status management table 137 (step Sb123). Here, the ASP server 10 determines whether or not an electronic coupon can be provided within a range not exceeding the provision limit number per user. For example, the ASP server 10 determines that an electronic coupon can be provided when the number of acquired electronic coupons specified in the coupon acquisition request is equal to or less than the remaining number of electronic coupons.

If the ASP server 10 determines that an electronic coupon can be provided (step Sb123; YES), the ASP server 10 sets an expiration date for association between the terminal ID and the user ID written in the user management table 136 in the process of step Sb122. (Step Sb124). Here, the ASP server 10 refers to the coupon information table 135 and sets the end date / time of the available period as the expiration date when the available period is set for the electronic coupon to be provided. In addition, when the usable period of the electronic coupon is not set, the ASP server 10 sets the expiration date after a predetermined period (here, 30 days) from the current date and time. In addition, when the ASP server 10 provides a plurality of types of electronic coupons of the same service provider to the terminal device 20, when an available period is set for each electronic coupon, the electronic coupon whose end time is the latest It is recommended to set the end time of the available period as the expiration date. Further, the ASP server 10 is effective when a plurality of types of electronic coupons of the same service provider are provided to the terminal device 20 when an electronic coupon for which a usable period is set and an electronic coupon for which the usage period is not set are mixed. The expiration date may be set based on the electronic coupon with the latest expiration date.
When the ASP server 10 sets an expiration date for association between the terminal ID and the user ID, the coupon provision determination process ends. In addition, when it determines with the ASP server 10 not being able to provide an electronic coupon by the process of step Sb123 (step Sb123; NO), it notifies an error (step Sb127), and complete | finishes a coupon provision determination process.

By the way, it is assumed that the ASP server 10 has acquired the terminal ID “abcde00001” in the terminal ID notification process in step Sb11. In this case, since the terminal ID “abcde00001” is associated with the user ID “UID0001” in the user management table 136 (see FIG. 26), the ASP server 10 determines “YES” in the process of step Sb121.
If it is determined “YES” in the process of step Sb121, the ASP server 10 determines whether or not the expiration date of the association including the terminal ID acquired in the terminal ID notification process is in the user management table 136 (step Sb125). ). Here, if the current date and time is “2012/2/16/12: 00”, the ASP server 10 determines that it is before the expiration date (step Sb125; YES), and proceeds to the process of step Sb126. Next, the ASP server 10 determines whether or not the user ID associated with the terminal ID acquired in the terminal ID notification process in the user management table 136 matches the user ID used for user authentication in step Sb7. (Step Sb126). If the ASP server 10 determines that the two user IDs do not match (step Sb126; NO), the ASP server 10 issues an error notification (step Sb127) and ends the coupon provision determination process.

The fact that the user ID associated with the terminal ID acquired in the terminal ID notification process in the user management table 136 does not match the user ID used for user authentication indicates that the user of one terminal device 20 has a plurality of user IDs. Means that is assigned. Therefore, in this case, if the ASP server 10 provides an electronic coupon to the terminal device 20, the electronic coupon is acquired by the terminal device 20 using each user ID, and the number of acquisitions is limited per user. The possibility of exceeding the number of sheets arises. Therefore, in the user management table 136, the ASP server 10 performs error notification when a user ID different from the user ID used for user authentication is associated with the terminal ID acquired in the terminal ID notification process. The electronic coupon is not provided exceeding the provision limit number per user. Thereby, it is possible to prevent the electronic coupons from being used by one terminal device 20 exceeding the provision limit number per user.
In addition, as a case where a plurality of user IDs are assigned to a user of one terminal device 20, for example, information on cookies stored in the member registration storage unit 26 may be deleted. According to the above-described operation of the ASP server 10, even when the user deletes the cookie information and impersonates another user and performs membership registration a plurality of times, the electronic coupon exceeds the provision limit number per user. Can be prevented from being illegally acquired and used.

In the process of step Sb126, the ASP server 10 determines in the user management table 136 that the user ID associated with the terminal ID acquired in the terminal ID notification process matches the user ID used for user authentication in step Sb7. In the case (step Sb126; YES), the ASP server 10 proceeds to the process of step Sb123. In this case, since the ASP server 10 has acquired the same combination of the terminal ID and the user ID as when the previous electronic coupon was provided, it is assumed that the electronic coupon is not illegally acquired by the user. Can do. Therefore, the ASP server 10 performs the processing of steps Sb123 and Sb124 in the procedure already described, and determines that the electronic coupon can be provided within the range of the provision limit number per user.

Further, after determining “YES” in the process of step Sb121, if the ASP server 10 determines in the process of step Sb125 that the association is not before the expiration date, that is, the expiration date has passed (step Sb125; NO), step The process proceeds to Sb122. In this case, since the association including the terminal ID acquired in the terminal ID notification process in the user management table 136 is invalid, the ASP server 10 associates the user ID used for user authentication with this terminal ID.
For example, when the ASP server 10 is to provide an electronic coupon with a coupon ID “CID001” in which the provision limit number per user is set, the current date and time is more than the expiration date “2012/02/29 23:59”. Consider the case later. Here, when the terminal ID acquired in the process of step Sb11 is “abcde00001” and the user ID used for user authentication is the user ID “UID0003”, the ASP server 10 uses the user management table as shown in FIG. 136 is updated. Specifically, the ASP server 10 changes the user ID associated with the terminal ID “abcde00001” from “UID0001” to “UID0003” in the process of step Sb122. If the ASP server 10 determines “YES” in the process of step Sb123, the ASP server 10 sets the expiration date to the end date and time of the available period in the process of step Sb124. (Here, the expiration date remains “2012/02/29 23:59”.)

In addition, when the ASP server 10 intends to provide an electronic coupon with a coupon ID “CID003” for which no usable period is set, the current date and time is later than the expiration date “2012/02/29 23:59”. If the terminal ID is “abcde00001” and the user ID used for user authentication is the user ID “UID0003”, the ASP server 10 updates the user management table 136 as shown in FIG. Specifically, the ASP server 10 changes the user ID associated with the terminal ID “abcde00001” from “UID0001” to “UID0003”. If the ASP server 10 determines “YES” in the process of step Sb123, the ASP server 10 sets the expiration date after a predetermined period (for example, 30 days) from the current date and time in the process of step Sb124. (Here, the expiration date is “2012/04/03 19:04”.)
As described above, the ASP server 10 permits the change of the user ID included in the association when the expiration date of the association including the terminal ID acquired in the terminal ID notification process has elapsed. The reasons are as follows.

When a terminal device 20 owned by a certain user is transferred to another user, when both of these users register as members, the user of the terminal device 20 is not a user who intends to obtain an electronic coupon illegally. However, as a result, a plurality of user IDs are assigned to the user of one terminal device 20. In addition, when the user who has changed the model of the terminal device 20 has not recorded the assigned user, or when the user of the terminal device 20 forgets the user ID or password, it is unavoidable to register as a member multiple times. Even when the user ID is performed, a plurality of user IDs are assigned to the user of the terminal device 20 having one. Even in such a case, the ASP server 10 is persistent because the association between the terminal ID and the user ID in the user management table 136 is different from the combination of the terminal ID and the user ID acquired from the terminal device 20. If the provision of an electronic coupon is not permitted, the acquisition and use of an electronic coupon by a user who is not intended for unauthorized acquisition is hindered. Therefore, the ASP server 10 of this embodiment sets an expiration date for the association between the terminal ID and the user ID in the user management table 136, and after the expiration date has passed, the correspondence of the user management table 136 is set. Permits change of attachment.

As described above, when the usable period is set in the electronic coupon, the ASP server 10 sets the end date and time of the usable period as the expiration date of association. As a result, the ASP server 10 invalidates the association between the terminal ID and the user ID in the user management table 136 after a period when an electronic coupon can be used. Even when the terminal ID and the user ID are not acquired, the electronic coupon can be provided. In this case, even if a malicious user tries to illegally acquire the electronic coupon using a plurality of user IDs, the electronic coupon can be acquired only after the usable period. Even if an electronic coupon is acquired exceeding the number of sheets, the electronic coupon is not actually used. That is, even if the electronic coupon is illegally acquired, the service provider does not suffer the actual harm caused by it.

Moreover, when the useable period is not set to the electronic coupon, the ASP server 10 invalidates the association on the condition that a predetermined period has elapsed after executing the process of providing the electronic coupon. Thereby, even if a malicious user tries to obtain a fraud using a plurality of user IDs, the ASP server 10 updates the association only after the above period. It is not illegally acquired. However, if the period is too long, acquisition and use of legitimate users' electronic coupons are hindered. Conversely, if the period is too short, a malicious user uses a plurality of user IDs to obtain a large number of electronic coupons. The possibility of fraudulent acquisition increases, so it is desirable that the period is set appropriately in light of both circumstances.
As described above, for the purpose of coexistence of preventing illegal acquisition of electronic coupons and preventing the acquisition and use of electronic coupons even when a non-malicious user acquires multiple user IDs, an ASP server No. 10 gives an expiration date to the association between the user ID and the terminal ID, and invalidates the association after the expiration date.
The above is the description of the coupon provision determination process.

When it is determined “YES” in the process of step Sb123 and the expiration date is set in the process of step Sb124, the ASP server 10 writes the electronic coupon as a process for providing the electronic coupon after the coupon provision determination process. The terminal device 20 is caused to perform the loading process (step Sb13). Also in this case, the ASP server 10 causes the terminal device 20 to perform a writing process via the application management server 50.

FIG. 36 is a sequence chart showing the procedure of the electronic coupon writing process.
The ASP server 10 requests the application management server 50 to process the electronic coupon writing process and requests the generation of an inquiry ID (step Sb131). The application management server 50 transmits the inquiry ID generated in response to the processing request to the ASP server 10 (step Sb132). Here, the processing request includes information on the electronic coupon to be written in the memory area 251 of the IC chip 25. This information includes information that can specify the coupon ID of the electronic coupon and the number of acquired electronic coupons.

Next, the ASP server 10 transmits a write instruction for instructing execution of the write process to the terminal device 20 (step Sb133). Here, the ASP server 10 transmits a write instruction including the inquiry ID received from the application management server 50. When receiving the write instruction from the ASP server 10, the terminal device 20 executes the coupon management application 261 and transmits the inquiry ID included in the write instruction to the application management server 50 (step Sb134). In accordance with the processing request corresponding to the inquiry ID received from the terminal device 20, the application management server 50 transmits to the terminal device 20 the information necessary for writing the electronic coupon (hereinafter referred to as “write information”) (step Sb135). ). The terminal device 20 executes an electronic coupon writing process based on the writing information received from the application management server 50 (step Sb136).

Next, the terminal device 20 transmits a result notification indicating the result of the writing process to the application management server 50 (step Sb137). Next, the terminal device 20 transmits to the ASP server 10 an end notification indicating that the writing process for writing the electronic coupon in the memory area 251 has ended (step Sb138).
Note that the terminal device 20 executes the coupon management application 261 in accordance with the process in step Sb133 until the process in step Sb137 according to the coupon management application 261.

After accepting the end notification transmitted from the terminal device 20, the ASP server 10 transmits an inquiry ID to the application management server 50 and inquires about the result of the writing process in the terminal device 20 that is the source of the end notification (step). Sb139). In response to the inquiry from the ASP server 10, the application management server 50 transmits the write processing result (that is, the result notification) to the ASP server 10 (step Sb140).
When the ASP server 10 causes the terminal device 20 to perform the writing process, the reason for performing the process via the application management server 50 is to prevent the information from being illegally rewritten such as falsification of information related to the electronic coupon.
When the ASP server 10 provides an electronic coupon in which the provision limit number per user is not set, after the terminal ID necessity determination process of step Sb10, the process of steps Sb11 and Sb12 is skipped. The terminal device 20 is made to perform a writing process by the procedure of 36.

If the ASP server 10 determines that the writing process has succeeded in response to the result notification in step Sb140, the ASP server 10 updates the holding status management table 137 in accordance with the executed writing process (step Sb14 in FIG. 29). Here, the ASP server 10 adds the number of newly provided electronic coupons to the acquired unused number.

According to the embodiment described above, after storing the user ID and the terminal ID in the user management table 136 in association with each other, the ASP server 10 invalidates the association when the expiration date of the association has passed. Thereby, even if it is a case where several user ID is allocated to the user of the terminal device 20, possibility that an electronic coupon will be used exceeding a limit number can be suppressed. In addition, the configuration in which this association is invalidated by the ASP server 10 is realized by determining whether or not the ASP server 10 is after the expiration date. Therefore, in order to realize such a mechanism, it is not necessary to renovate a large-scale system, and there is no trouble in manually performing a procedure for invalidating the association by the user's offer.

Further, in the present embodiment, the ASP server 10 instructs reading of the terminal ID when the electronic coupon in which the provision limit number per user is set is set, and the provision limit number per user is set. When an electronic coupon that is not provided is provided, reading of the terminal ID is not instructed. Thereby, when the ASP server 10 provides an electronic coupon for which the provision limit number per user is not set, a terminal ID notification process (that is, the process shown in FIG. 31) that is unnecessary in the management of the electronic coupon is performed. Since it can be omitted, the time from when the user requests acquisition of an electronic coupon to when the electronic coupon is provided to the terminal device 20 can be shortened as compared to when the terminal ID is read at any time.

Furthermore, in the communication system 1, the ASP server 10 and the application management server 50 are realized by independent server devices, and the coupon management application 261 does not operate without the ASP server 10. This is because the terminal device 20 is intended to prevent the coupon management application 261 from being illegally used. Specifically, only when the ASP server 10 makes a processing request to the application management server 50 by signature communication, the terminal device 20 reads the terminal ID from the IC chip 25 or writes an electronic coupon to the IC chip 25. Therefore, unauthorized use of the coupon management application 261 can be prevented.

4). Modification of Second Embodiment The present invention can be implemented in a form different from the above-described embodiment. The present invention can also be implemented in the following forms, for example. In addition, the following modifications may be combined as appropriate.
(Modification 1)
When the user ID different from the user ID acquired from the terminal device 20 is stored in the user management table 136 in association with the terminal ID, the ASP server 10 did not provide the electronic coupon if it was before the expiration date. Instead, the ASP server 10 may provide an electronic coupon even when a user ID different from the user ID acquired from the terminal device 20 is associated with the terminal ID in the user management table 136. In this case, the ASP server 10 performs error notification in the process of step Sb127 after the process of step Sb126, and in accordance with a user instruction, the user ID of the user ID associated with the terminal ID in the user management table 136 is notified. What is necessary is just to perform the process for providing an electronic coupon with respect to a user. Also in this case, the ASP server 10 updates the holding status management table 137 according to the process of providing the electronic coupon in step Sb14, but does not change the association between the terminal ID and the user ID in the user management table 136. To.
With this configuration, even if the user ID is different from the user ID included in the association in the user management table 136, the ASP server 10 can provide the electronic coupon, so that the user can easily obtain the electronic coupon. As in the embodiment described above, it is possible to provide an electronic coupon within the range of the provision limit number per user.

(Modification 2)
In the embodiment described above, the ASP server 10 provides an electronic coupon to a user who has registered as a member. However, the ASP server 10 may provide an electronic coupon to a user who does not register as a member. In this case as well, the ASP server 10 may acquire the terminal ID and the user ID when newly providing an electronic coupon, and execute the process in the same procedure as in the above embodiment. As a configuration in which the ASP server 10 does not perform the process related to member registration and assigns a user ID to the user of the terminal device 20, for example, there are the following configuration example 1 and configuration example 2.

First, configuration example 1 will be described.
In the configuration example 1, the processing of steps Sb1 to Sb3 is omitted in the communication system 1, and the terminal device 20 transmits a page access request not including the user ID to the ASP server 10 in the processing of step Sb4. When the ASP server 10 receives the page access request, the ASP server 10 does not perform the processing corresponding to the above steps Sb5 and Sb6, but performs processing for newly issuing and acquiring a user ID instead of the user authentication in step Sb7. Then, the ASP server 10 writes the issued user ID in the user management table 136. Then, the ASP server 10 performs a process for storing the user ID using the cookie of the terminal device 20 instead of the process of step Sb8. The processing after step Sb9 may be the same as in the above-described embodiment.

Next, configuration example 2 will be described.
Also in the configuration example 2, steps Sb1 to Sb3 are omitted in the communication system 1, and the terminal device 20 transmits a page access request not including the user ID to the ASP server 10 in the process of step Sb4. When the ASP server 10 receives the page access request, the ASP server 10 displays the coupon acquisition screen shown in FIG. 30 on the terminal device 20 without executing the processing corresponding to steps Sb5 to Sb8. After displaying the coupon acquisition screen, the terminal device 20 executes a process corresponding to step Sb9 and transmits a coupon acquisition request to the ASP server 10.
Here, since the ASP server 10 cannot display a coupon acquisition screen for each user based on the possession status management table 137, for example, the upper limit of the number of acquisitions that can be set is the limited number of provisions per user. For example, a coupon acquisition screen common to a plurality of users is displayed.

Next, the ASP server 10 determines in step Sb10 that it is necessary to execute the terminal ID notification process unconditionally. And if the ASP server 10 acquires terminal ID by the terminal ID notification process of step Sb11, with reference to the user management table 136, it will confirm the presence or absence of the user ID matched with the acquired terminal ID. If there is no user ID associated with the terminal ID, the ASP server 10 performs a process of newly issuing and acquiring a user ID in the same manner as in the configuration example 1. Then, the ASP server 10 writes the issued user ID in the user management table 136 in association with the terminal ID acquired by the terminal ID notification process. Further, the ASP server 10 performs processing for storing the user ID in the terminal device 20 using the cookie. And the ASP server 10 will perform the coupon provision determination process of step Sb12.
On the other hand, when there is a user ID associated with the acquired terminal ID in the user management table 136, the ASP server 10 refers to the user management table 136 as in the first modification. The user ID associated with the terminal ID acquired in the terminal ID notification process is acquired, and a process for providing an electronic coupon to the user indicated by the acquired user ID is executed. That is, the ASP server 10 updates the holding status management table 137 according to the process of providing the electronic coupon in the process of step Sb14, but does not change the association between the terminal ID and the user ID in the user management table 136.

(Modification 3)
In the embodiment described above, the ASP server 10 provides the electronic coupon as with the electronic coupon in which the usable period is set, although the end time is set to the expiration date for the electronic coupon in which the usable period is set. The expiration date may be a time when a predetermined period has elapsed since the process was performed. If it does in this way, the user of terminal unit 20 will be able to acquire an electronic coupon within the usable period about the electronic coupon in which the usable period was set up.
In addition, the condition for invalidating the association between the terminal ID and the user ID by the ASP server 10 is not limited to the above-described conditions, and other conditions can be used as long as the association can be avoided permanently. Can also be applied.

(Modification 4)
In the embodiment described above, the ASP server 10 instructs the terminal device 20 to read the terminal ID when providing the electronic coupon in which the provision limit number per user is set, and the provision limitation per user. When providing an electronic coupon in which the number of sheets is not set, the terminal device 20 is not instructed to read the terminal ID. However, when any electronic coupon is provided, the reading may be instructed.
Further, the terminal ID may not be the terminal ID stored in the IC chip 25, and may be other information that can identify the terminal device 20 and is difficult to impersonate, for example. For example, the terminal ID of the present invention may be information such as a telephone number included in contract information grasped by a telecommunications carrier. The user ID may not be assigned by the ASP server 10.

(Modification 5)
The electronic coupon provided by the ASP server 10 may not be stored in the memory area 251 by the writing process in the IC chip 25 and read and used by the reader / writer. For example, an image indicating an electronic coupon provided by the terminal device 20 may be displayed on the UI unit 24, and a store employee may operate a POS (Point of sale) terminal to use the electronic coupon. In this case, the ASP server 10 performs a process of transmitting information for displaying an image meaning an electronic coupon to the terminal device 20 as a process of providing the electronic coupon.

(Modification 6)
In the communication system 1 of the above-described embodiment, an electronic coupon is handled in which the minimum unit that can be provided or used is “sheets” and the number of electronic coupons that are provided or used (number of units) is “number”. It was. On the other hand, the minimum number of units that can be provided or used for electronic coupons is not limited to this. It is good also as a unit. Even in this case, it is only necessary to replace the “number of electronic coupons” of the above-described embodiment with a unit of money such as “yen” or “dollar”. In addition, the minimum number of units that can be provided or used for the electronic coupon may be “point” (point), “number of times” (number of times of use), or the like.
In addition, when there is only one type of electronic coupon to be provided, the ASP server 10 determines whether or not each user has provided an electronic coupon, as in the case where the provision limit number per user is one. If the possession status of the electronic coupon can be managed, a configuration not storing data corresponding to the possession status management table 137 may be used. Thus, the present invention does not necessarily store data corresponding to the possession status management table 137.

(Modification 7)
The processing of the processing steps Sb4 to Sb7 related to user authentication performed by the ASP server 10 in the embodiment described above may be replaced with the following processing. In this modification, an external server (hereinafter referred to as “authentication server”) provided separately from the ASP server 10 performs user authentication using the user ID acquired from the terminal device 20. If the authentication server succeeds in user authentication, the authentication server requests the ASP server 10 to issue a one-time password after successful user authentication. At this time, it is assumed that the authentication server transmits the user ID used for user authentication to the ASP server 10 together with the request for issuing the one-time password. When the ASP server 10 accepts the one-time password issuance request, the ASP server 10 confirms the validity of the authentication server that is the request source by the transmission source IP address, the electronic signature, or the like. When the ASP server 10 determines that the request source is valid, the ASP server 10 issues a one-time password and associates the issued one-time password with the user ID received together with the issuance request, and stores them in the storage unit 13. Then, the ASP server 10 notifies the issued one-time password to the authentication server. Then, the authentication server sets and displays a hyperlink of the web page provided by the ASP server 10 on the web page displayed on the terminal device 20 after the successful user authentication. At this time, the authentication server provides the one-time password to the terminal device 20 by embedding the one-time password notified from the ASP server 10 in the hyperlink.
The ASP server 10 sets an expiration date for the issued one-time password, and invalidates the one-time password after the expiration date.

Next, when an operation for selecting the hyperlink is performed by the user in the terminal device 20, the terminal device 20 transmits a page access request for displaying a web page corresponding to the hyperlink to the ASP server 10 (step). Equivalent to the processing of Sb4). As described above, since the one-time password is embedded in the hyperlink, the terminal device 20 transmits the one-time password included in the page access request. When the ASP server 10 receives the page access request, the one-time password included in the page access request is stored in the storage unit 13 and corresponds to step Sb7 depending on whether this one-time password is before the expiration date. Perform user authentication. When the ASP server 10 determines that the one-time password is stored in the storage unit 13 and this one-time password is before the expiration date, the user authentication is performed with the user ID associated with the one-time password in the storage unit 13. Thereafter, the processing after step Sb8 is performed in the same procedure as in the above-described embodiment.
Note that the ASP server 10 invalidates the one-time password that has been successfully authenticated.
According to this modification, user authentication is performed with a one-time password exchanged between the authentication server and the ASP server 10, and therefore, user authentication is performed by a third party in an unauthorized manner compared to the above-described embodiment. The possibility can be suppressed. If user authentication based on the user ID is performed in the authentication server, the ASP server 10 does not need to perform user authentication based on the user ID after the terminal device 20 transmits a page access request. This makes it unnecessary for the user of the terminal device 20 to input a user ID or password after the web page provided by the ASP server 10 is displayed on the terminal device 20, and at the time of obtaining an electronic coupon. Operation burden is reduced.

(Modification 8)
Further, the present invention instructs the terminal device 20 to read the terminal ID when providing an electronic coupon (first electronic coupon) in which the provision limit number per user is set. In the case of providing an electronic coupon (second electronic coupon) for which the limit number is not set, the configuration can be specified even if the terminal device 20 is not instructed to read the terminal ID. Therefore, in this invention, it is not necessary to have a mechanism for invalidating the user ID and terminal ID in the user management table 136. Even in the present invention, when providing an electronic coupon in which the provision limit number per user is not set, the terminal ID notification process (that is, the process shown in FIG. 31) that is unnecessary in the management of the electronic coupon is performed. Since it can be omitted, the time until the electronic coupon is provided to the terminal device 20 can be shortened as compared with the case where the terminal ID is read at any time.

The coupon management device according to the present invention provides a storage unit that stores a terminal ID that identifies a terminal device that has provided a first electronic coupon whose number that can be provided is limited for each user, and provides the first electronic coupon. Is instructed to read out the terminal ID stored in the memory area of the terminal device, and when providing the terminal device with a second electronic coupon for which the number that can be provided is not limited for each user, A reading instruction unit that does not instruct reading of the terminal ID; and an acquisition unit that acquires the terminal ID read from the memory area according to the instruction when reading of the terminal ID is instructed by the reading instruction unit; When it is determined that the electronic coupon is provided based on the terminal ID acquired by the acquisition unit with reference to the storage unit, the number does not exceed the number that can be provided. While the process for providing the first electronic coupon to the terminal device indicated by the terminal ID is executed, when the reading instruction unit is not instructed to read the terminal ID, the second electronic coupon is transferred to the terminal. And a providing unit that executes processing for providing to the apparatus.

(Modification 9)
In the communication system 1 of the above-described embodiment, the store management server 30 and the store terminal 40 are separate devices, but a device in which these are integrated may be used. Examples of the integrated device include a personal computer having a reader / writer function, a smartphone, and a POS terminal.
Each function realized by the control unit 11 of the ASP server 10 can be realized by a combination of a plurality of programs, or can be realized by cooperation of a plurality of hardware resources.
Moreover, this invention can also be grasped | ascertained as the program and coupon management method which ASP server 10 performs.

(Modification 10)
In the above embodiment, an expiration date is set for the association between the terminal ID and the user ID set in the user management table 132, and the association becomes invalid when the expiration date has passed. And the change of the said correlation (specifically change of user ID) is permitted (refer step Sb122 of FIG. 33). Therefore, even if the user of the terminal device 20 forgets his / her user ID and password and acquires another user ID, the expiration date for the association between the original user ID and the terminal ID has passed. An electronic coupon can be provided using a new user ID. Even if the terminal device 20 that has already been associated with another user ID is transferred and the model is changed to the terminal, the expiration date for the association between the user ID and the terminal ID elapses. The user who has received the transfer can receive an electronic coupon using his / her user ID.

However, in the case of the above-described embodiment, the newly changed user ID and the association between the user ID and the terminal ID that has been associated with the user ID remain without being deleted. For example, in the example shown in FIG. 26, when the user ID “UID0001” is newly associated with the terminal ID “abcde00002”, the user ID “UID0001” corresponds to the conventional user ID. The associated terminal ID “abcde00001” remains without being deleted. Therefore, in this example, the user who newly acquired the terminal device 20 identified by the terminal ID “abcde00001” can receive a coupon until the expiration date of association between the terminal ID and the user ID “UID0001” elapses. You will not be able to receive the offer.

Therefore, in the above embodiment, when the user ID is changed, the association between the changed user ID and the terminal ID that is conventionally associated with the user ID may be deleted. More specifically, immediately before or immediately after step Sb122 in FIG. 33 of the above embodiment, the user ID used for user authentication in step Sb7 in FIG. 29 and the terminal ID notification process in step Sb11 in FIG. When an ID different from the terminal ID is associated in the user management table 132, the association between the user ID and the different terminal ID may be deleted. According to such a configuration, the user who newly acquired the terminal device 20 identified by the terminal ID “abcde00001” in the above example has passed the expiration date of the association between the terminal ID and the user ID “UID0001”. You can receive coupons without waiting.

(Modification 11)
The second embodiment described above may be combined with the first embodiment described above. Specifically, the processing of steps Sb1 to Sb8 of FIG. 29 in the second embodiment may be executed before the processing of step Sa1 of FIG. 10 of the first embodiment.

Further, after the process of step Sa1 of FIG. 10 of the first embodiment and before the process of step Sa2, the processes of steps Sb10 to Sb12 of FIG. 29 of the second embodiment may be executed. In this case, in the coupon management table 131 according to the first embodiment, for each “coupon ID”, as in the coupon information table 135 according to the second embodiment, the “restricted number of sheets provided per user” is associated. Also good. The user management table 136 according to the second embodiment may be stored in the storage unit 13 of the ASP server 10 according to the first embodiment. In the coupon management table 131 according to the first embodiment, for each “coupon ID”, as in the coupon information table 135 according to the second embodiment, “available period (start date and time)” and “available period ( End date and time) ". Further, when executing the process of step Sb12, the ASP server 10 may refer to the user management table 132 according to the first embodiment instead of the possession status management table 137 according to the second embodiment. .

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Communication system, 10 ... ASP server, 11 ... Control part, 111 ... 1st update part, 112 ... Write instruction | indication part, 113 ... 2nd update part, 114 ... Processing result acquisition part, 115 ... Usage history acquisition part, 116: third updating unit, 117: reading instruction unit, 118: acquisition unit, 119 ... providing unit, 120 ... writing unit, 12: communication unit, 13 ... storage unit, 131 ... coupon management table, 132 ... user management table 133 ... Transaction management table, 134 ... Hold list table, 135 ... Coupon information table, 136 ... User management table, 137 ... Holding status management table, 20 ... Terminal device, 21 ... Control unit, 22 ... Voice input / output unit, 23 ... wireless communication unit, 24 ... UI unit, 25 ... IC chip, 251 ... memory area, 26 ... storage unit, 261 ... coupon management application, 30 ... Shop management server, 40 ... store terminal, 41 ... the reader / writer, 50 ... application management server.

Claims

For each electronic coupon provided to the terminal device and used in the terminal device, the number of unused electronic coupons provided to the terminal device and the remaining number of electronic coupons that can be newly provided to the terminal device A first storage unit for storing;
A second storage unit that stores a terminal ID that identifies the terminal device provided with the electronic coupon in association with one user ID that identifies the user of the terminal device;
When newly providing the electronic coupon to the first terminal device, an acquisition unit that acquires the terminal ID of the first terminal device and the user ID of the user of the first terminal device;
A first updating unit for updating the first storage unit so as to reduce the number of the electronic coupons provided to the first terminal device from the remaining number of the electronic coupons;
A write instructing unit for instructing the first terminal device to execute a writing process to a memory area of the first terminal device for the number of electronic coupons reduced by the first updating unit;
A writing unit that associates the acquired user ID with the acquired terminal ID in the second storage unit when the writing instruction unit instructs execution of the writing process;
A second update that updates the first storage unit to set the reduced number to the unused number of the electronic coupon after the success of the writing process according to the instruction of the writing instruction unit is confirmed. And a server device.
When the electronic coupon is overwritten on another electronic coupon by the writing process according to the instruction from the writing instruction unit, the second update unit calculates the unused number of the other electronic coupon as the other electronic The server device according to claim 1, wherein the first storage unit is updated so as to clear the unused number by adding to the remaining number of coupons.
The first update unit includes:
The number subtracted from the remaining number of the first electronic coupon is set to an unconfirmed number that is the number of electronic coupons whose success in the writing process is unconfirmed, and stored in the first storage unit,
The second update unit includes:
After the success of the writing process is confirmed, the undetermined number of the electronic coupon, which is the reduced number, is set to the unused number of the electronic coupon, and the undetermined number is cleared. The server device according to claim 1 or 2.
The second update unit includes:
The said undecided number is added to the remaining number of the said electronic coupon when the said 1st terminal device fails in the said writing process according to the said instruction | indication, The said undecided number is cleared. 4. The server device according to 3.
The first storage unit stores the remaining number of electronic coupons that can be newly provided to one terminal device,
A usage history acquisition unit that acquires a usage history including the number of usages of the electronic coupon used by the first terminal device;
Based on the usage history acquired by the usage history acquisition unit, the first storage unit reduces the usage number from each of the unused number of the used electronic coupons and the remaining number for the one terminal device. The server apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a third update unit that updates
After receiving the notification that the writing process for writing the electronic coupon to the memory area is completed, the management server that acquires the result of the writing process is inquired from the first terminal device to acquire the result. It has a processing result acquisition unit,
The second update unit includes:
6. The server device according to claim 1, wherein it is determined whether or not the success of the writing process is confirmed according to the result acquired by the processing result acquisition unit. .
In the second storage unit, when the user ID different from the user ID acquired by the acquisition unit is not associated with the terminal ID acquired by the acquisition unit in the second storage unit, or the acquired terminal ID The said instruction | indication is given when satisfy | filling predetermined conditions, when the user ID different from the said acquired user ID is matched with the acquired-User ID of any one of Claim 1 to 6 characterized by the above-mentioned. Server device.
The write instruction unit
The said 2nd memory | storage part WHEREIN: When the user ID different from the said acquired user ID is matched with the acquired terminal ID, when the said conditions are not satisfied, the said instruction | indication is not performed. 8. The server device according to 7.
The write instruction unit
In the second storage unit, when a user ID different from the acquired user ID is associated with the acquired terminal ID, the instruction is given,
The writing unit
The user ID associated with the acquired terminal ID is not changed in the second storage unit when the instruction is given by the writing instruction unit when the condition is not satisfied. Item 8. The server device according to Item 7.
The acquisition unit
When the terminal ID is acquired from the first terminal device but the user ID is not acquired, if any user ID is associated with the terminal ID in the second storage unit, the user ID When the terminal ID is not associated with any user ID in the second storage unit, a new user ID is issued and acquired,
The writing unit
When the instruction is given by the writing instruction unit and the acquisition unit acquires a user ID from the second storage unit, the user ID associated with the acquired terminal ID is not changed. 10. When the user ID is newly issued and acquired, the user ID is written in the second storage unit in association with the acquired terminal ID. 10. The server device described in 1.
The write instruction unit
The server device according to any one of claims 7 to 10, wherein the condition is that a predetermined period has elapsed since the instruction was given.
The write instruction unit
The server device according to any one of claims 7 to 11, wherein the condition is that an available period of the electronic coupon has elapsed.
The write instruction unit
When a plurality of types of electronic coupons are instructed to the first terminal device to execute the writing process to the memory area of the first terminal device, the electronic coupon having the latest end time can be used. The server device according to claim 12, wherein the condition is that a period has elapsed.
The terminal ID is stored in a memory area of the terminal device indicated by the terminal ID,
When providing an electronic coupon in which the number that can be provided is limited for each user, an instruction is given to read the terminal ID from the memory area, and an electronic coupon in which the number that can be provided is not limited for each user When providing to the first terminal device, comprising a read instruction unit that does not instruct to read the terminal ID,
The acquisition unit
When reading of the terminal ID is instructed by the reading instruction unit, the terminal ID read from the memory area according to the instruction is acquired;
The write instruction unit
When reading of the terminal ID is not instructed by the reading instruction unit, a writing process to the memory area of the first terminal device having an electronic coupon whose number that can be provided is not limited for each user The server device according to claim 7, wherein the first terminal device is instructed to execute the server device.
In the second storage unit, when the acquired terminal ID is associated with a user ID different from the acquired user ID and satisfies the condition, the acquired user ID is stored in the second storage unit. And a deletion unit that deletes the association between the acquired user ID and the different terminal ID when the acquired terminal ID is associated with a different terminal ID. The server device according to any one of 7 to 14.
For each electronic coupon provided to the terminal device and used in the terminal device, the number of unused electronic coupons provided to the terminal device and the remaining number of electronic coupons that can be newly provided to the terminal device A first storage unit for storing;
A coupon management method for a server device, comprising: a terminal ID for identifying a terminal device to which the electronic coupon is provided; and a second storage unit that stores one user ID for identifying a user of the terminal device in association with each other. ,
An acquisition step of acquiring the terminal ID of the first terminal device and the user ID of the user of the first terminal device when the electronic coupon is newly provided to the first terminal device;
A first updating step of updating the first storage unit so as to reduce the number of the electronic coupons provided to the first terminal device from the remaining number of the electronic coupons;
A writing instruction step for instructing the first terminal device to execute a writing process to the memory area of the first terminal device for the number of electronic coupons reduced in the first updating step;
When the execution of the writing process is instructed in the writing instruction step, a writing step of associating the acquired user ID with the acquired terminal ID in the second storage unit;
After the success of the writing process according to the instruction in the writing instruction step is confirmed, the second update is performed to update the first storage unit to set the reduced number to the unused number of the electronic coupon. A coupon management method comprising the steps of:
The first storage unit stores, as the number of unused electronic coupons provided to the terminal device, the number of unused electronic coupons that have been successfully written to the memory area of the terminal device.
In the second update step, when the electronic coupon is overwritten on another electronic coupon by the writing process according to the instruction of the writing instruction unit, the unused number of the other electronic coupon is set to the other electronic coupon. The coupon management method according to claim 16, wherein the first storage unit is updated so as to clear the unused number by adding to the remaining number of coupons.
In the writing instruction step, in the second storage unit, when the user ID different from the user ID acquired in the acquisition step is not associated with the terminal ID acquired in the acquisition step, or the acquired terminal ID The coupon management method according to claim 16 or 17, wherein the instruction is performed when a predetermined condition is satisfied when a user ID different from the acquired user ID is associated with the user ID.
A communication system comprising a server device and a terminal device,
The server device
For each electronic coupon provided to the terminal device and used in the terminal device, the number of unused electronic coupons provided to the terminal device and the remaining number of electronic coupons that can be newly provided to the terminal device A first storage unit for storing;
A second storage unit that stores a terminal ID that identifies the terminal device provided with the electronic coupon in association with one user ID that identifies the user of the terminal device;
When newly providing the electronic coupon to the first terminal device, an acquisition unit that acquires the terminal ID of the first terminal device and the user ID of the user of the first terminal device;
A first updating unit for updating the first storage unit so as to reduce the number of the electronic coupons provided to the first terminal device from the remaining number of the electronic coupons;
A write instructing unit for instructing the first terminal device to execute a writing process to a memory area of the first terminal device for the number of electronic coupons reduced by the first updating unit;
A writing unit that associates the acquired user ID with the acquired terminal ID in the second storage unit when the writing instruction unit instructs execution of the writing process;
A second update that updates the first storage unit to set the reduced number to the unused number of the electronic coupon after the success of the writing process according to the instruction of the writing instruction unit is confirmed. The department and
The terminal device
The communication is characterized by writing the unused number of electronic coupons in the memory area by the writing process according to the instruction of the writing instruction unit, and notifying the server device that the writing process has been completed. system.
The first storage unit stores, as the number of unused electronic coupons provided to the terminal device, the number of unused electronic coupons that have been successfully written to the memory area of the terminal device.
When the electronic coupon is overwritten on another electronic coupon by the writing process according to the instruction from the writing instruction unit, the second update unit calculates the unused number of the other electronic coupon as the other electronic The communication system according to claim 19, wherein the first storage unit is updated so as to clear the unused number by adding to the remaining number of coupons.
For each electronic coupon provided to the terminal device and used in the terminal device, the number of unused electronic coupons provided to the terminal device and the remaining number of electronic coupons that can be newly provided to the terminal device A first storage unit for storing;
A computer comprising: a second storage unit that stores a terminal ID that identifies a terminal device to which the electronic coupon is provided and a user ID that identifies a user of the terminal device;
An acquisition step of acquiring the terminal ID of the first terminal device and the user ID of the user of the first terminal device when the electronic coupon is newly provided to the first terminal device;
A first updating step of updating the first storage unit so as to reduce the number of the electronic coupons provided to the first terminal device from the remaining number of the electronic coupons;
A writing instruction step for instructing the first terminal device to execute a writing process to the memory area of the first terminal device for the number of electronic coupons reduced in the first updating step;
When the execution of the writing process is instructed in the writing instruction step, a writing step of associating the acquired user ID with the acquired terminal ID in the second storage unit;
After the success of the writing process according to the instruction in the writing instruction step is confirmed, the second update is performed to update the first storage unit to set the reduced number to the unused number of the electronic coupon. A program for executing steps and.
In the writing instruction step, in the second storage unit, when the user ID different from the user ID acquired in the acquisition step is not associated with the terminal ID acquired in the acquisition step, or the acquired terminal ID The program according to claim 21, wherein when the user ID different from the acquired user ID is associated with a predetermined condition, the instruction is given.