JP2001338199A - Server for managing customer reward point and system for managing customer reward point using the same - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a point system which adds points obtained by reading and transactions on the Internet and points obtained by visiting a store for transactions together and manages them and also exchanges the points with those of another point system. SOLUTION: In this customer reward point management system, a computer system for mediating the client terminal of a user, a member company for providing merchandise/service or information and a virtual store WWW server operated by the member company and adding a customer reward point in the point account of the consumer and managing them each time intermediation is performed consists of a point managing device provided in a point management operation provider, the Web server of a member company/group, member store terminal machines used for the settlement of the member company/group and the computer system of another point management operation provider, and the point managing device performs intermediary management, also receives settlement information from member store terminal machines which are installed in the storefronts of the member stores for providing merchandise/service and used for price settlement and adds a customer reward point that corresponds to a settlement amount.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a system for managing customer reward points (scores) via the Internet, and more particularly, to a system for managing points for browsing and trading on the Internet and points for over-the-counter transactions. .

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Virtual shops that can search for goods and services that can be used 24 hours a day and apply for purchase from anywhere, as long as the terminal is connected to a communication line using the Internet, have become widespread rapidly. Website has been established. These homepage sites employ a so-called point member method of giving a customer reward points on condition of member registration in order to activate and repeatedly use the browsing of the user.

[0003] The point member method is employed by individual companies and industries, and it is cumbersome for users to register as a member, and the inconvenience of disclosing personal information to sites that are unlikely to be used frequently. There was a problem that prevented member registration.

[0004] Furthermore, instead of a virtual shop or a company's announcement advertisement homepage on the Internet, conventional passenger transport companies, credit card operators or department stores,
In the case where payment is made in a shopping street or the like, there is a problem that points of individual point members of the company or the shopping street or the like are added and a range of using the score is limited, and there is little attractiveness.

[0005] Very large customer information can be obtained by combining the company homepage and the member registration information of the company that manages point member management. There is a problem in that there is no mechanism for sharing the memberships of these companies and businesses.

[0006] In addition, due to the spread of the debit card system in which payment is made immediately within the range of deposits, payment for small and medium-sized shops and companies is also made using a common card with financial institutions.
There has been a demand for customer service that integrates online transactions and over-the-counter transactions.

[0007] In particular, in small and medium-sized stores and companies, it is difficult to provide individual point member management and customer reward services, and it has been required to bear expenses according to the frequency of use and the transaction amount.

[0008]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and has a client terminal of a user via the Internet and a virtual store of a member company that provides goods, services or information. A web server machine of a member company or a group that mediates with the town WWW server, adds and manages customer reward points to the user's point account at each mediation, and provides goods, services or information via the Internet Another object of the present invention is to provide a customer reward point management system that links a member store terminal used for settlement of the member company or its group with computer systems of various point issuing and operating companies.

[0009] Further, by receiving payment information from a member store terminal installed at the store of a member store that provides goods, services or information and used for payment, the customer reward points corresponding to the payment amount are added. It is another object of the present invention to provide a customer reward point management system for adding and managing customer reward points to a point account of a user visiting a store.

[0010]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, a customer reward point management server of the present invention is provided with a product or service provided by a provider of goods or services from a terminal via a communication network.
In a system in which a reward point is given to a customer who has accessed an eb page, a customer reward point management server for managing information on the reward point for each customer, the information about the customer and the reward acquired by the customer. The system includes a database in which customer point information relating to points is associated with each other, and conversion means for converting the reward points into different reward points provided by different providers.

Further, the database updates the customer point information every time reward points are given to the customer.

[0012] Further, the different reward points provided by the different providing entities have a value that can be exchanged for goods or services provided by the different entities.

[0013] The reward points are awarded when the customer accesses the Web page.

[0014] Further, the reward points are given each time the customer purchases a product or service posted on the Web page.

Further, the customer reward point management system of the present invention is a user client capable of purchasing or browsing goods / services or information on a Web page screen via the Internet and receiving reward points for the purchase or browsing. A member company Web that can be purchased on a terminal and a homepage established by a member company that provides reward points to users who purchase or browse products or services or information
A server machine, a computer terminal of a member company to which the member company can connect to a public telephone line by wire or wirelessly, and those member companies cooperate to display a virtual shopping mall on a Web page, where goods, services or information is displayed. Member server that can be purchased, and the virtual member store, each member company server device, member company computer terminal, and the client terminal, and the client terminal is rewarded to the point account of the user every time the member terminal is brokered. A customer reward point management system including at least a reward point mediation device including a Web server for adding and managing points, wherein the reward point mediation device includes a user registration database of a purchaser who uses reward points, Corporate member database, virtual member store member database, user point issue database , A database apparatus comprising a charging database, when receiving any of the purchase request data products and services or information in the mediation device from the user client terminal, the user's name, address · E
-Add the marketing information data to the mail address and record it in the user registration database, calculate the points to be provided to the user, add them to the user point account, record the points in the user point issuance database, and A user registration means for distributing the result by e-mail, and receiving the participation of a virtual member store by the mediation device from the computer terminal of the member company, confirming the membership in the member store member database, and checking the virtual member store Web A virtual member store that transmits to the server machine, performs registration processing, receives the registration result from the virtual member store Web server machine, records the result in the virtual member store member database, and distributes the result to the member company by e-mail. Registration means for receiving purchase request data from the user client terminal and, if registered, the mediation device To display the Web page, the We
When the URL of the virtual member store is clicked on the page b, the virtual member store on the Web page of the virtual member store Web server is displayed on the user client terminal, and the user operates the virtual member store in the virtual member store. In addition to enabling the purchase, the set point amount proportional to the number of accesses within the Web page screen is sent from the virtual member store Web machine to the mediation device, and the points proportional to the number of accesses based on the amount are set as the book points. A virtual member store display / access means for issuing points from the intermediary device to the user's terminal, and, when the user clicks at a store in the virtual member store and purchases there, a point fee corresponding to the purchase price is paid. It is sent from the virtual member store Web machine to the mediation device, and based on the amount, points are transferred from the mediation device to the user's terminal according to the purchase amount. Characterized in that at least and a virtual merchant purchase means for issuing cement.

Also, the user client terminal,
In addition to member company Web server machines, virtual member store Web server machines, and reward point mediation devices, various point issuing Web server machines of the computer system of the point issuing business including credit card points, shopping mall points, and airline mileage points Wherein the reward point mediation device accesses a catalog of various points on its Web page screen for a point exchange request from the user client terminal to the mediation device. Then, when the signal is received, the point issuing Web server machine is called, and a point exchange means for exchanging points for customer reward points with a predetermined conversion coefficient to convert to points of another company or for sending out desired goods is further provided. It is characterized by having.

Further, the user client terminal includes:
It is a mobile wireless telephone having a function capable of connecting to the Internet and having a browser, a personal computer (PC) having a Web browser, or a personal computer with a mobile wireless telephone (PC).

The computer terminal of the member company is connected to a settlement information center and a public telephone line by wire or wireless communication to make a payment for goods / services or information and to set the transaction contents and the settlement amount to the above. It is transmitted to a reward point mediation device.

The reward point intermediary device accepts a distribution request to the user client terminal address and a distribution request signal including the fee for the advertisement from the member company or the virtual member store Web server machine to the user. In addition, a search is made for a user's E-mail address according to the contents of distribution, and the search is performed, and a customer reward point is added to the user of the client terminal of the distribution destination.

[0020]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A customer reward point management system according to the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a customer reward point management system 100 according to the present invention.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 3 denotes a user client terminal, which is a terminal capable of purchasing goods / services or information on a Web page screen via the Internet 2 and receiving reward points for the purchase.
Reference numeral 3 'denotes a mobile radio telephone having a browser connected to the Internet, for example, an i-mode mobile telephone of NTT DoCoMo. Reference numeral 3 "denotes a personal computer with a portable telephone, which can be wirelessly connected to the Internet 2. All 3 ', 3" wirelessly connect to the Internet 2 via the base station 8.

Reference numeral 5 denotes a Web server of a member company, which can be purchased on a homepage established by a member company that provides reward points to users who have purchased goods, services or information. Reference numeral 5 'denotes a computer terminal of a member company which can be connected to the public telephone line 9.

Reference numeral 4 denotes a virtual member store Web server machine, on which the member companies cooperate and display a virtual shopping mall on a Web page, where they can purchase goods / services or information.

Reference numeral 1 denotes a reward point mediation device, which mediates between the virtual member store, each of the member company server devices 4 and 5, and the member company computer terminal 5 'and the client terminal 3, and is used every time the mediation is performed. Is an intermediary device that includes at least a Web server that adds and manages customer reward points to a point account of an individual.

Reference numeral 6 denotes a Web server for issuing various points. When point catalog data is requested on the Web page screen to request a point exchange from the user terminal 3 to the intermediary apparatus 1, the intermediary apparatus 1 performs various operations. The point issuance Web server 6 is called, and points are exchanged for customer reward points with a predetermined conversion coefficient, and exchanged for other companies' points or desired goods are shipped.

Numeral 7 denotes a settlement information center, and the member company computer terminal 5 'is connected to the settlement information center 7 and the public line 9 by wire or wireless communication to carry out payment for goods / services or information and to carry out the transaction. The contents and the payment amount are transmitted to the reward point mediation apparatus 1.

Next, referring to FIG.
Will be described in detail.

The reward point mediation device 1 has at least W
It comprises an eb server 13, a public communication line connection circuit 14, a database server 11 for managing the database 12, and a reward point business process control server 10.

Here, the database 12 is a user registration database 12a of a purchaser who uses reward points,
Member company member database 12b, virtual member store member database 12c, user point issue database 12
d, a charging database 12e.

The reward point business process control server 1
0 is user registration means 10a, virtual member store registration means 10
b, virtual member store display / access means 10c, virtual member store purchase means 10d, and point exchange means 10e.

Here, when the user registration means 10a receives the purchase request data of any product / service or information from the user client terminal by the mediation device 1, the user registration means 10a reads the name / address of the user. Add the marketing information data to the E-mail address and record it in the user registration database 12a, calculate the points to be provided to the user, add them to the user point account, and record them in the user point issuing database 12d. Then, the result is transmitted to an e-mail.

The virtual member store registration means 10b receives the participation of the virtual member store from the computer terminal 4 of the member company by the mediation device 1, confirms that the member is a member in the member store member database 12b, and checks the virtual member store Web. The data is transmitted to the server machine 4, where the registration processing is performed and the registration result from the virtual member store Web server machine 4 is received and recorded in the virtual member store member database 12c, and the result is sent to the member company by E-mai.
Perform l distribution.

The virtual member store display / access means 10c comprises:
When the purchase request data from the user client terminal is received and registered, the Web page of the mediation device is displayed, and when the URL of the virtual member store is clicked on the Web page screen, The user client terminal 3 displays the virtual member store street of the Web page of the virtual member store Web server machine 4 so that the user can purchase the virtual member store in the virtual member store town and accesses the virtual member store in the Web page screen. The set point amount proportional to the number of times the user has been sent is sent from the virtual member store Web machine 4 to the mediation device 1, and a point proportional to the number of accesses based on the amount is pointed from the mediation device 1 to the user terminal 3. Issue.

The virtual member store purchasing means 10d, when the user clicks at a store in the virtual member store and makes a purchase there, gives a point fee corresponding to the purchase amount to the virtual member store W
The points are sent from the eb machine 4 to the present intermediary apparatus 1 and points are issued from the intermediary apparatus 1 to the user's terminal 3 in accordance with the purchase amount based on the amount.

The various point exchange means 10e accesses the catalog of various points on its Web page screen and requests the point exchange request from the user client terminal to the mediation device 1, and receives the signal.
The point issuance Web server 6 is called, the points are exchanged with the customer reward points with a predetermined conversion coefficient, and the points are converted into points of another company, or the desired product is sent.

Next, the operation flow of the customer reward point management system will be described with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 3 shows the flow of virtual member store registration.

The reward point mediation device 1 receives participation of a virtual member store from the member company computer terminal 5 '(S3).
1).

After confirming the membership in the member store member database 12b, the member store is transmitted to the virtual member store Web server machine 4, where the registration process is performed, and the member store is added to one of the virtual member store towns (S32). .

Next, the reward point mediation device 1 receives the registration result from the virtual member store Web server machine 4 and records it in the virtual member store member database 12c (S33).

Next, an e-mail distribution of the result to the member company computer terminal 5 'which has requested participation is performed (S
34).

FIGS. 4 and 5 show the flow between the user and the virtual member store through the intermediation of the intermediary company.

The reward request mediation device 1 receives purchase request data of any one of merchandise / service or information from the user client terminal 3 (S41).

The user's name, address, E-mail address, and necessary data as marketing information data are added and recorded in the user registration database 12a (so that necessary data can be input to HP) (S4).
2).

The predetermined points at the time of registration provided to the user are added to the user point account, the user point issuance database 12d is recorded, and the result is transmitted to the user by e-mail (S43). .

When the purchase request data is received from the user client terminal 3 and registered, the mediation device 1
Is displayed and the URL of the virtual member store is clicked on the Web page screen, the virtual member store town is displayed on the user client terminal 3 on the Web page of the virtual member store Web server device ( S44).

The user is ready to purchase at the desired store in the virtual member store. Access at each store,
The contents can be viewed (S45).

Points that are in proportion to the number of accesses during access to the store and whether to purchase goods / services or information are issued from the mediation apparatus 1 to the user terminal 3 (S51). .

When the user clicks at a store in the virtual member shopping district, selects goods / services or information in the store, and presses a purchase button, a point fee corresponding to the purchase price is added to the virtual member store. The data is sent from the shop Web machine 4 to the mediation device 1 (S52).

Next, based on the amount, points are issued from the mediation device 1 to the user's terminal 3 according to the purchase amount (S53).

FIG. 6A shows a flow of point exchange requested by the user to the mediation apparatus 1.

In order to request a point exchange from the user client terminal 3 to the mediation apparatus 1, the user requests the point exchange
The catalog of various points is accessed on the page screen, and the mediation apparatus 1 receives the request signal (S61).

The mediation apparatus 1 calls the various point issuing Web server machine 6 and exchanges points with customer reward points with a predetermined conversion coefficient to convert to points of another company or to send out desired goods (S62). ).

FIG. 6B shows a flow when a distribution is requested from a member company or a virtual member store to the mediation device 1.

A distribution request for advertisement for the user terminal 3 is received from the Web server machines 4 and 5 of the member company or the virtual member store to the intermediary apparatus 1 and, at the same time, a fee proportional to the number of distributions is received (S65).

Based on this request, the mediation device 1 distributes the message to the designated user's E-mail address (S6).
6).

A customer reward point is added to the user of the destination user terminal 3 (S67).

[0059]

According to the customer reward point management system of the present invention, the following effects can be obtained.

Intermediate between the client terminal of the user and the virtual store WWW server of the member company providing goods / services or information via the Internet, and each time the mediation is performed, customer reward points are stored in the point account of the user. A web server of a member company or organization that provides products, services or information via the Internet while managing the addition, and a member store terminal used for settlement of the member company or group,
It is possible to provide a customer reward point management system which can be linked with a computer system of various point issuing and operating companies.

Also, by receiving payment information from a member store terminal installed at the store of a member store that provides goods / services or information and used for payment, the customer reward points corresponding to the payment amount are added. In addition, customer reward points can be added and managed to the point account of the user who visits the store.

[0062] For a user who wants to receive the privilege of the customer reward points, the trouble of registering a member for each company or each industry that performs the customer reward points is reduced. In addition, it is possible to solve the problem that promotion of membership registration has been hindered by the resistance to disclosing personal information to sites that are unlikely to be used by users.

Further, the benefit of the customer reward points is not only the virtual shopping mall on the Internet and the notice advertisement homepage of the company, but also the settlement of the price at a conventional passenger transport company, a credit card operator or a department store, a shopping street, etc. Is performed, the points of the point members are added, the range of using the points is widened, and the points can be attractive.

According to the present invention, each company,
It becomes a mechanism to share members owned by the business, and it is possible to make very large customer information including the company homepage and the member registration information of the business that manages point member management.

Further, it is possible to provide customer service by merging in-store transactions such as debit cards and mall cards, which are rapidly spreading, with transactions on the Internet. In particular, even small and medium-sized stores and companies can perform the point member service with a small expense according to the use frequency and the transaction amount.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a customer reward point management system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a customer reward point mediation device of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an operation flow of the customer reward point management system of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an operation flow of the customer reward point management system of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is an operation flow of the customer reward point management system of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the operation of the customer reward point management system of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Reward Point Intermediary Device 2 Internet 3 User Client Terminal 3 'Mobile Wireless Phone with Browser Connected to the Internet 3 "Personal Computer with Mobile Phone 4 Virtual Merchant Web Server 5 Member Company Web Server 5' Public Phone A member company computer terminal that can be connected to the line 6 Various point issuing Web server machines 7 Payment information center 8 Base station 9 Public telephone line 10 Reward point business processing control server 10a User registration means 10b Virtual member store registration means 10c Virtual member store Display / access means 10d Virtual merchant purchase means 10e Point exchange means 11 Database server 12 Database 12a User registration database 12b Member company member database 12c Virtual member store member database 12d User Into issuing database 12e accounting database 13 Web server 14 public communication line connecting circuit part 100 customer reward points management system

Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI Theme coat II (Reference) G07G 1/12 321 G07G 1/12 321L 361 361E

Claims (10)

[Claims] In a system in which a first reward point is given to a customer who accesses a Web page provided by a provider of a product or service from a terminal via a communication network, information on the reward point is provided for each customer. A customer reward point management server for managing, a database in which information relating to a customer and customer point information relating to a first reward point acquired by the customer are associated with each other, and the first reward point is a second reward point. A customer reward point management server having a conversion means for converting the value into a value. 2. The customer reward point management server according to claim 1, wherein said database updates said customer point information each time a first reward point is given to said customer. 3. The customer reward point management server according to claim 1, wherein the second reward point has a value that can be exchanged for a product or service provided by an entity different from the providing entity. 4. The customer reward point management server according to claim 1, wherein said first reward point is given when said customer accesses said Web page. 5. The customer reward point management server according to claim 1, wherein the first reward point is given each time the customer purchases a product or service posted on the Web page. 6. A user client terminal capable of purchasing or browsing goods / services or information on a Web page screen via the Internet and receiving a reward point for the purchase / browsing, and a product / service / information. A member company Web server that can be purchased on a website established by a member company that provides reward points to users who have purchased or browsed, a member company computer terminal that the member company can connect to a public telephone line by wire or wireless, These member companies tie up to create a virtual shopping street
A virtual member store Web server that can be displayed on a page and purchase goods / services or information therefrom, mediates the virtual member store, each member company server and member company computer terminal and the client terminal,
A reward point mediation device comprising at least a web server for adding and managing customer reward points to a user's point account at each mediation, wherein the reward point mediation device comprises: A database device consisting of a user registration database, a member company member database, a virtual member store member database, a user point issuing database, and a billing database of a purchasing user who uses the product.
When the purchase request data of any service or information is received, the marketing information data is added to the name, address, and E-mail address of the user and recorded in the user registration database and provided to the user. The points to be calculated are calculated, added to the user point account, recorded in the user point issuance database, and the result is stored in E
User registration means for performing mail distribution; receiving the participation of the virtual member store by the mediation device from the computer terminal of the member company; confirming the membership in the member store member database; and transmitting to the virtual member store Web server device A virtual member store registration means for performing registration processing therefrom, receiving the registration result from the virtual member store Web server machine, recording the result in the virtual member store member database, and delivering the result to the member company by e-mail; When the purchase request data from the user client terminal is received and registered, the Web page of the mediation device is displayed, and when the URL of the virtual member store is clicked on the Web page screen, Then, the virtual affiliated store street on the web page of the virtual affiliated store Web server is displayed on the user client terminal, and the user can purchase at the virtual affiliated store street. In addition, a set point amount proportional to the number of accesses on the Web page screen is transmitted from the virtual member store Web machine to the mediation device, and a point proportional to the number of accesses based on the amount is set as the main brokerage value. Display of virtual affiliated stores that issue points from the device to the user's terminal /
When the user clicks at a store in the virtual member store and purchases there, a point fee according to the purchase amount is sent from the virtual member store Web machine to the mediation device, and the access means and the user are clicked. And a virtual member store purchasing means for issuing points from the mediation device to the user's terminal in accordance with the purchase amount. 7. The user client terminal, a member company Web server, a virtual member store Web server,
A customer reward point management system comprising, in addition to a reward point mediation device, various point issuing Web server machines of a computer system of a point issuing entity including a credit card point, a shopping mall point, and an air mileage point, The reward point intermediary device accesses the catalog of various points on its Web page screen to receive a point exchange request from the user client terminal to the present intermediary device, and receives the signal from the point issuing Web server device. 7. The customer reward points according to claim 6, further comprising: a point exchange means for calling points and exchanging points with customer reward points with a predetermined conversion coefficient to convert to points of another company or for sending out desired products. Management system. 8. The user client terminal has a function capable of connecting to the Internet and has a function of a portable radio telephone equipped with a browser, a personal computer (PC) equipped with a Web browser, and a personal computer (PC) with a portable radio telephone. 8. The customer reward point management system according to claim 6, wherein: 9. The member company's computer terminal is connected to a settlement information center and a public telephone line by wire or wireless communication to perform payment for goods / services or information, and to set the transaction contents and the payment amount. 9. The customer reward point management system according to claim 6, wherein the reward point management apparatus transmits the reward reward point to the reward point mediating device. 10. The reward point intermediary device accepts a distribution request to a user client terminal address and a distribution request signal including the fee for advertisement from a member company or a virtual member store Web server machine to a user. 7. The method according to claim 6, further comprising: searching for an E-mail address of the user in accordance with the contents of the distribution, distributing the contents, and adding a customer reward point to the user of the client terminal of the distribution destination.
7. The customer reward point management system according to 7, 8, or 9.