JP2003308468A - Point processing system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a point processing system having many advantages on various points in comparison with a conventional system. <P>SOLUTION: This point processing system comprises a point center system for consolidating the management of points individually issued by each company, directly or after conversion while applying the customer specific information as a key, and a plurality of company point system for performing the point processing for every company or shop, and at least a first company point system issuing or consuming the points, and a second company point system cooperating to the point consumption are included as the plurality of company point systems. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a point processing system for processing points issued by various companies for sales promotion and the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, as a point processing system, a card operator issues cards according to the amount of credit card usage, a passenger airline company issues points according to miles used, and a chain store operator. There are various types of systems, such as those that issue points according to the purchase price at chain stores. In many of such point processing systems, a business that issues points gives a customer a profit according to the points.

However, since the system is managed and operated on a business unit basis, the customer has to collect points for each type of points, points are distributed to a plurality of systems, and points-based services are sufficiently provided. I can't receive it.

In order to solve such inconvenience, it has already been proposed to exchange a point of a certain system with a common point or a point of another system (eg, a point of a common system).
JP 2001-250170 A, JP 2002-2472 A
4).

[0005]

By the way, from the point of view of the point processing system provider, it is not clear when the points are used when the points are accumulated, and there is great financial concern. Therefore, early consumption of points is preferable.

The above point-exchangeable system can contribute to the early consumption of points, but if the minimum number of points to be used is fixed, the consumption timing will be delayed to some extent. I can't avoid it.

[0007] Further, the consumption of points is limited to the products or services sold by the business issuing the points,
Even if points can be exchanged, the products and services that customers desire do not always exist, and in this respect, point consumption is suppressed.

Further, the point exchange system is
When the number of redeemable points increases, how to authenticate customers becomes a problem. Generally, each type of point issuer has separate customer information, which makes adjustment processing difficult. In addition, when the number of points that can be exchanged increases, there arises a problem of how to use a device that performs exchange processing.

Furthermore, the point exchangeable system is a fusion of a plurality of types of point processing systems, but it is only responsible for the point exchange function. The processing advantage is small.

The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a point processing system capable of solving at least one or more of the above-mentioned problems.

[0011]

In order to solve such a problem, in the point processing system of the present invention as claimed in claim 1, the points individually issued by each company are directly or converted and the centralized management is performed by using the customer specifying information as a key. The first corporate body point system for issuing points and / or consuming points as the plurality of corporate body point systems, comprising: It is characterized by including at least a store system 2 or 3 of the embodiment or the like and a second corporate body point system cooperating with point consumption (corresponding to the content providing system 6 or the like of the embodiment). .

In the point processing system of the present invention according to claim 2, in claim 1, the proxy server for proxying the point server included in the point center system has at least one proxy server for authenticating a customer when the number of points fluctuates. The above-mentioned proxy server is characterized in that it performs notification of the proxy processing at a predetermined time or for a predetermined period, and collectively for a plurality of them.

A point processing system according to a third aspect of the present invention is the point processing system according to the second aspect, wherein the point server transfers information necessary for the proxy server to perform processing to the proxy server. .

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the point processing system according to the second or third aspect, wherein the server within the enterprise point system also functions as the proxy server.

A point processing system according to a fifth aspect of the present invention is characterized in that, in any one of the second to fourth aspects, a server determined by a combination of a region and a business type is provided as the proxy server.

The point processing system of the present invention according to claim 6 is the point processing system according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the point processing system has a customer terminal carried by a customer and uses the information related to the customer terminal as customer specifying information. It is characterized by

A point processing system according to the present invention of claim 7 is the point processing system according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the second corporate body point system stores contents in the customer terminal or the first corporate body point system. It is characterized by being a system that executes point consumption by distributing it.

The point processing system of the present invention according to claim 8 is, in any one of claims 1 to 7, for evaluating a result of a game executed on the customer terminal or the first corporate body point system or karaoke. Accordingly, it is characterized by having means for increasing and / or subtracting the points managed by the point center system.

According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the point processing system according to the eighth aspect, wherein the music information of the game or karaoke executed on the customer terminal or the first enterprise point system is the second enterprise. Characterized by being provided from the body point system.

According to the point processing system of the present invention of claim 10, in any one of claims 1 to 9, information usable for marketing is obtained from the point issuance information and the point consumption information of each customer managed by the point center system. It has a means to form.

The point processing system of the present invention according to claim 11 is the point processing system according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the point center system includes individual points for each company.
It is characterized by having conversion means between common points common to a plurality of companies.

A point processing system according to a twelfth aspect of the present invention is the point processing system according to the eleventh aspect, in which the individual points are converted into the common points and / or the common points are converted into the individual points. Is specified in advance, and the conversion means permits conversion only in a range satisfying the constraint.

The point processing system of the present invention according to claim 13 is the point processing system according to any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein the point center system is the number of points issued and the point consumption for each predetermined period of each company that manages points. It is characterized by having a settlement means for performing settlement with each company according to the number of points difference from the number.

A point processing system of the present invention according to claim 14 is the point processing system according to claim 13, wherein the settlement means, if the difference point number is positive, from the financial account of the company to a financial account common to the entire system. Make a money transfer to
If the number of difference points is negative, it is characterized in that money is transferred from a financial account common to the entire system to the financial account of the company.

[0025]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION (A) One Embodiment Hereinafter, one embodiment of a point processing system of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

(A-1) Configuration of Embodiment FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the overall configuration of a point processing system according to one embodiment.

In FIG. 1, the point processing system 1 of the embodiment comprises a plurality of first type store systems 2, a plurality of second type store systems 3, a customer terminal 4, a point center system 5, a content providing system 6 and It has a center agency system 7, etc.

The customer terminal 4 can be connected to the point center system 5 and the center proxy system 7 via the mobile telephone network 8, and the second type store system 3 is connected via the Internet network 9. The point center system 5 and the center proxy system 7 can be connected. The customer terminal 4 is capable of communicating with the first type store system 2, the second type store system 3, and other customer terminals 4 by the short-distance wireless communication function.

The first type store system 2 and the second type store system 3 are enterprise point systems that perform point processing (point issuance and / or consumption) for each company and / or store. The content providing system 6 is also a corporate entity point system that consumes points of customer members by providing content.

Although the detailed structure of the customer terminal 4 is omitted, the customer terminal 4 is a mobile terminal having a browser function for Web pages, an e-mail receiving function, a short-range wireless communication function, etc. (a mobile phone is particularly intended). is there. The short-distance wireless communication function of the customer terminal 4 may comply with the Bluetooth system, but it is preferable to use infrared rays having a narrower directional range than that. The customer terminal 4 has a function as a payment terminal, a function as an information terminal, and a member registration function by exchanging Web pages with the point center system 5.

The customer terminal 4 has a function as a point payment terminal, such as a function for authenticating a customer like a credit card, a function for confirming the number of points available via electronic mail, and a predetermined number of points. It is responsible for taking out and consuming items. In connection with the consumption function, the customer obtains goods and receives services. The data used for authentication may be a mobile phone number, an e-mail address of the terminal or a password, or a combination thereof.

As functions of the information terminal, the customer terminal 4 has a service receiving function such as reception of information contents (for example, notification of news and discount sale) and reception of a point consuming game, and inquiry and retrieval of a point consuming place. It is responsible for navigation functions.

In the case of this embodiment, the customers who can enjoy the merit of the point processing system 1 are limited to the member customers. The customer terminal 4 has a registration function for becoming a member. It should be noted that non-members may also be allowed to use the point processing system 1 or may be able to change the contents that can be used by members and non-members.

In the above description, any of the payment terminal function, the information terminal function, and the member registration function are executed when the function is executed.
Although it has been explained that the Web page is exchanged with the point center system 5, except for the member registration function, the software required for executing the settlement terminal function and the information terminal function is downloaded when processing the member registration function. Then, the stored software may be used to activate the subsequent payment terminal function and information terminal function.

The first type store system 2 is a system that is not compatible with the Internet network 9, and the second type store system 3 is a system that is compatible with the Internet network 9. The first type store system 2 communicates with the point center system 5 and the like via the customer terminal 4 and the mobile phone network 8.

The store system 2 or 3 is a convenience store, a supermarket, a discount store,
It is installed in a karaoke store, a game hall (a parlor that performs pachinko or the like, a game center), or any other store that has a point issuing function and / or a point consuming function. It should be noted that the store system 2 or 3 may be one that does not have a store building itself such as a vending machine or a parking lot.

The store system 2 or 3 has a detailed configuration which can execute a point issuing function and / or a point consuming function, although the detailed configuration is slightly different depending on the business of the business operator of the system, and the execution configuration of these functions is It is almost the same.

FIG. 2 shows a detailed configuration example of the first type store system 2 relating to the parlor, and FIG. 3 shows a detailed configuration example of the second type store system 3 relating to the parlor.
In these drawings, the same or corresponding parts are designated by the same reference numerals.

First-type store system 2 for parlors
2, as shown in FIG. 2, the store server 10 and the store terminal 1
1, the in-store device 12, the POS system 13, the subsystem 14, etc., and the second type store system 3 related to the parlor has the same components as the first type store system 2 as shown in FIG. In addition, it has a store gateway 15.

The store gateway 15 connects the second type store system 3 to the Internet network 9.

The other components will be described without distinguishing between the first type store system 2 and the second type store system 3.

The store server 10 controls and manages the entire store system 2 or 3 and, for example, a point issuing / aggregating function for issuing or totaling points, the point processing system 1 and / or A member management function for managing members of the store system (2 or 3),
A transmission function for transmitting points, member information, etc., a proxy authentication function and a proxy authorization function for authenticating customers and the issuance of points instead of the center server 20 (see FIG. 5) described later, and a function for grasping accumulated points Etc.

The proxy authentication function and the proxy approval function are provided in the store server 10 in order to measure the distribution of the functions of the center server 20, which will be described later, and realize the speeding up of point issuing and point consuming processing. You can The processing of the proxy authentication function and the proxy approval function is performed by, for example, batch processing, and then the center server 20 is notified.

As the information required for the proxy authentication function and proxy approval function, for example, not only the information of the center server 20 is used each time, but the information fixedly stored in the subsystem 14 is used, The information downloaded from the center server 20 and stored in the subsystem 14 is used.

In the parlor (game hall), many players enjoy the game and many players convert the prize ball (reward as a result of the game) into points. Moreover, such players,
Multiple people may occur at the same time. Therefore, the proxy authentication function and proxy approval function are useful functions.

The store terminal 11 has, for example, an execution unit (indicated as IrDA in FIGS. 2 and 3) for a short-distance communication function with the customer terminal 4, and an adapter device such as a card reader or a bar code reader. The store terminal 11 is the store server 10
Under the control of, the CPU mainly executes the point use function and the point consumption function.

The in-store device 12 corresponds to a gaming machine such as a pachinko gaming machine or a pachislot gaming machine, a sand machine installed between gaming machines, and a prepaid card issuing machine. All or a part of the in-store device 12 is, for example, an execution unit (Ir in FIGS. 2 and 3) of a short-distance communication function with the customer terminal 4.
Notated as DA). The in-store device 12 having the execution unit of the short-distance communication function with the customer terminal 4 can execute the consumption of points and the like under the control of the store server 10.
If the in-store device 12 is a pachinko gaming machine, a sand device, etc., it is possible to rent a game ball using accumulated points (balls), and if the in-store device 12 is a prepaid card issuing machine, accumulated points (balls) It is possible to issue a prepaid card using.

In the case of a game parlor, the POS system 13
Is used for processing a gift ball. In the case of this embodiment, the POS system 13 can convert the free gift balls into points under the control of the store server 10. Also,
The POS system 13 can also convert into a prize based on the points taken out from the point center system 5.

The subsystem 14 is composed of an application server, a database and the like. The subsystem 14 executes independent point processing for the store system 2 or 3, performs member processing related only to the game parlor, and relates to member information related to the game parlor and the point processing system 1 concerned. It is to align with the members.

The acquisition points (individual points) are
It is preferable for the customer to be able to select whether to process the points similarly to other points systems (on the common system) or to process the points as they are for individual businesses or services.

FIG. 4 shows a detailed configuration example of the first type store system 2 relating to a karaoke store, which is shown in FIG.
The same or corresponding portions as and are designated by the same reference numerals.

First type store system 2 of karaoke store
In this case, the in-store device (karaoke device) 12 itself does not include an execution unit for the short-distance communication function with the customer terminal 4, but the karaoke room terminal 16 executes the short-distance communication function with the customer terminal 4 (see FIG. 4). Has IrDA).

The karaoke room terminal 16 may have a function similar to that of the store terminal 11 installed at a reception desk or the like, and may further have an independent point consumption and issue function. The karaoke room terminal 16 collaborates with the customer terminal 4 for point consumption corresponding to the cost of performing a performance on the in-store device (karaoke device) 12, or the in-store device (karaoke device) 12 evaluates the point consumption. Performs a process of singing and accumulating high score singing evaluation values, or a process of consuming predetermined points to execute a game taken out from the point center system 5 side, and making a reward of the game result into points and accumulating. Or

Although not shown, in the store system 2 or 3 relating to convenience stores, supermarkets, discount stores, etc., the so-called cash register POS is used.
The (cash register POS terminal) may be provided as an in-store device (12) different from the store terminal (11), and the store terminal (11)
It may be provided as having a function of.

As described above, the store system 2 or 3 is
Depending on the business, the detailed configuration may differ slightly, but the customer terminal 4
It has a detailed configuration that can execute the customer authentication function, point issuing function, point consuming function, etc., which may use only the point issuing function depending on the system. It may be the one that is solely responsible (for example, a vending machine or a parking lot).

5 (A) and 5 (B) are block diagrams showing a detailed configuration example of the point center system 5.

The point center system 5 is shown in FIG.
As shown in (A), it has a center server 20, a customer member database (customer member DB) 21, a company member database (company member DB) 22, a marketing database (marketing DB) 23, and the like.

The center server 20 executes the center processing of the point processing system 1 and realizes various functions as described later.

The customer member database 21 is the customer terminal 4
Specific information (customer specific information; not only mobile phone number, e-mail address, password, etc., but may also include customer (customer member) name, address, membership expiration date, etc.)
The number of accumulated points, the history of point issuance and point consumption, content distribution desired information, and the like are stored in association with. That is, the customer member database 2
The reference numeral 1 centrally manages various kinds of information about points with the customer specifying information as a key.

As the accumulated point number, not only the accumulated number of points common to the entire point processing system 1 (hereinafter referred to as common point) but also the accumulated number of individual points relating to a certain company or enterprise is separately stored. deep. In addition,
It may be a system in which a single point is integrated and stored. The content distribution desired information is, for example, information that the news information is desired to be distributed every day or that the advertising content server is desired to be distributed from a predetermined store or an arbitrary store.

The corporate member database 22 is associated with the specific information of the point issuing entity of a store, a company, a corporate body, etc. (corporate member), conversion information to points, an exchange rate between individual points and common points, It includes information on the number of points issued and consumed on the day for each common point and individual points, settlement amount, settlement account information, point changes and settlement history.

Further, the corporate member database 22 stores the number of points consumed on the day of each point consumption specialized company (the one that also serves as the point issuing entity is the same as above; this is also a corporate member), the settlement amount, the settlement account information, It includes information such as the history of point changes.

Further, the company member database 22 stores the total accumulated number of common points over stores, companies, enterprises, etc., settlement account information related to the point processing system 1, point changes, settlement history, etc. Contains information.

The marketing database 23 stores the marketing data obtained by processing the information of the point issuing store and the point consuming store of each customer in the customer member database 21 described above.

The center server 20 is executed, for example, when the store system 2 or 3 side gives information such as sales amount before conversion to points and accumulation (issuance) of points is requested, or it is executed. Point value conversion function 20a that converts the value of each point into the number of points, and point exchange function 2 that exchanges between individual points and common points
0b and so on. In addition, exchange between individual points is
This can be done through the exchange of individual points (A) for common points and the exchange of common points for individual points (B).

The center server 20 also has a monetary settlement function 20c for issuing points and consuming points. For example, in the case of closing within one day, for a corporate member whose number of issued points is greater than the number of consumed points, only the amount of money corresponding to the difference between the number of issued points and the number of consumed points is changed from the settlement account of that corporate member to the system. For corporate members whose consumption points are greater than the number of issued points by performing the transfer process to the entire settlement account, only the money equivalent to the difference point number of consumption points-issued points is transferred from the settlement account of the entire system. Transfer processing of corporate members to the settlement account.

Further, the center server 20 has a member management function 20d for customer members and company members. The customer member management function manages registration and deletion as a customer member, point management, management of marketing related information, and management of whether or not content is sent by mail. The corporate member management function performs registration and deletion as a corporate member, setting and updating of exchange rate, application management of exchange conditions, point management, sale information management, and the like.

The exchange conditions and the like are, for example, the setting of an upper limit value that can be exchanged for common points among individual points at the time of one-time grant regarding the corporate member, and conversely, the individual points that are not allowed to be exchanged for common points. Says settings such as limit values. By setting such conditions, it becomes possible to reflect the intentions of corporate members, such as ensuring a minimum point consumption at the point issuing company.

Furthermore, the center server 20 has a content distribution management function 20e. In the case of this embodiment, content distribution is roughly divided into three modes. First, there is a mode in which a corporate member distributes content such as his own advertisement. The second is a mode in which a customer member consumes predetermined points to perform news distribution, music distribution, simple game distribution, and the like. The third is similar to the second mode, but the customer member consumes a predetermined number of points to pay a reward (hereinafter referred to as a point game).
Is a mode of delivering.

The center server 20 also has a purchase acceptance function 20f such as a mail order function and a purchase application acceptance function. Here, the mail order function is a function in which a customer member consumes accumulated points to purchase an item and sends the item to a designated destination such as a customer's address. However, this is a function of consuming the accumulated points, applying for the purchase of an article, and having the customer's member come to pick up the article to prepare it at a designated store.

Further, the center server 20 has a marketing function 20g. The marketing function stratifies customer members by age group, gender, monthly consumption amount, etc., and how (or where) who (or where) earned points for each customer.
Information that can be used for marketing by applying rules that can grasp customer's taste and tendency to point change history, such as associating whether points were consumed, etc., and organizing that information at each layer I will get it.

The center server 20 appropriately downloads the Web page (Web page for mobile phone) required by the customer terminal 4 to the customer terminal 4 when executing the above-mentioned functions.

The center server 20, for example, causes another server to appropriately execute (on behalf of) some of its functions.
It is responsible for the transfer between other servers.

The center server 20 may be constructed by a plurality of servers in terms of hardware as an actual product.
Then, generally, different functions are assigned to each hardware server. FIG. 5B shows an example of a case where the center server (server group) 20 has a distributed server configuration according to functions.

In the example shown in FIG. 5 (B), the center server (server group) 20 has a point totaling server 20-1 relating to functions related to point totaling management, points relating to functions such as point games and other content distribution. The game server 20-2, the mobile phone network server 20-3 related to the communication function via the mobile phone network, the internet network server 20-4 related to the communication function via the internet network, the mail order server 20-related to the mail order function, etc. 5 and the like, and these 5 servers distribute and bear the above-mentioned various functions 20a to 20g.

The content providing system 6 has the above-mentioned 3
There are three types of systems 6A, 6B, and 6C, which are roughly classified so as to be able to support content distribution in any form. Although the detailed configuration is not shown in any of the systems 6A to 6C, a storage unit that stores content and a delivery execution unit that delivers the stored content autonomously or in response to a request from the outside are provided. Have.

The first contents providing system 6A functions when a corporate member distributes contents such as his own advertisement.

The second content providing system 6B is for performing news distribution, music distribution, simple game distribution, etc., which the customer member has obtained by consuming predetermined points.

The third content providing system 6C is for distributing a point game that a customer member has consumed after consuming predetermined points.

That is, the second and third content providing systems 6B and 6C are corporate entity point systems that cooperate in point consumption, and the first content providing system 6A also notifies the customer member of an advertisement notification fee. If points are consumed, it is a corporate entity point system that cooperates with point consumption.

In FIG. 1, the center server 20 intervenes in all the content distribution to the customer terminal 4 and the like, but the content server is activated by the center server 20.
However, the center server 20 may not be involved in the transfer of the content.

The center proxy system 7 is composed of a proxy server and a database, although the detailed structure is not shown. The proxy server acts as a proxy for a part of the functions of the center server 20.

When the point processing system 1 becomes large in scale, a plurality of center servers 20 may be provided to handle it. In addition, for example, a proxy server (that is, a distributed processing server for each region and industry) may be provided for each region and industry. In an industry with many store servers such as a game parlor, the proxy server acts on behalf of the center server to perform the authentication function, the authentication approval, and the point confirmation. The proxy server appropriately cooperates with the center server 20. For example, when the point upper limit is exceeded, the center server 20 confirms and approves all the points of other industries and the like, and notifies the center server 20 of the approval later (even if the point upper limit is exceeded. (Corresponding to the case where an exceptional condition is given to approve when the point processing system 1 is rarely used).

As described above, the shop server 10 itself may be a part of the function of the center server 20.

When the number of servers acting on behalf of the center server 20 increases, the center server 20 may designate one or a plurality of proxy servers, and control the data transfer with one or a plurality of proxy servers. May be.

Although not shown in FIG. 1, the center server 20 is connected to a processing device of a financial institution, for example, via CAFIS (Zenkinkyo Net), and if necessary, an information processing device of a transportation company. It is also connected to an information processing device of a mobile phone network operating company.

For example, when a system, such as an information processing device of a transportation company, cooperates in mail order sales using point consumption, the system is a corporate entity point system that cooperates in point consumption.

Further, an information processing terminal (for example, a personal computer) provided at the customer's home or the like may be a component of the point processing system 1.

(A-2) Operation of Embodiment (A-2-1) Customer Member Admission Operation (Registration Operation) A customer who desires a member of the point processing system 1 is
You can register as a member by the following two methods.

That is, as shown in FIG. 6 (A), a method of directly providing necessary information from the customer terminal 4 to the center server 20 via the mobile telephone network 8 to register it, and as shown in FIG. 6 (B). In addition, from the customer terminal 4 to the store terminal 11 (other device which can execute short-distance wireless communication with the customer terminal 4) and the center server 2 via the Internet 9.
There is a method of directly giving necessary information to 0 and registering.

FIG. 7 shows a sequence diagram in the former case. The customer (customer terminal 4) accesses the center server 20 side via the mobile phone network 8 and downloads a registration input screen such as a Web page or screen information (S).
1, S2). The customer (customer terminal 4) inputs necessary information on the displayed registration input screen (S3), and transmits registration required information to the center server 20 side (S4). The center server 20 secures a record for the customer member in the customer member database 21 and stores the given information (S5), and returns a registered reply to the customer terminal 4, which the customer terminal 4 indicates to that effect. Display (S6, S7).

Even when the customer terminal 4 and the center server 20 are connected via the shop terminal 11 and the Internet network 9, the connection route is different from the above-mentioned case, but the customer member is registered in the same sequence (sequence diagram is omitted). Is executed.

The registration input screen (program) is
The mobile phone number or the mail address thereof may be a person who automatically takes in what the customer terminal 4 holds without allowing the customer to input it. In addition, the center server 20 stores the customer's name, address, etc.
The mobile phone number, mail address, or the like may be automatically taken as a key from the information processing device (not shown) of the operating company (if the operating company of the mobile phone network 8 permits).

By reducing the input items in this way, it is possible to expect an increase in the number of customers who register as members.

(A-2-2) Point Issuing Operation (A-2-2-1) General Point Issuing Operation at the Time of Purchasing a Product Next, general operation at the time of purchasing a product or receiving a service The point acquisition operation of the customer member by the typical point issuing act will be described.

There are two types of flow of the point acquisition operation as a whole of the point processing system 1 as shown in FIG.

FIG. 8A is a concept of the flow of point acquisition operation related to the store system 2 that is not compatible with the Internet network 9.

When a customer member pays the price (may use a credit card or debit card), receives a product, is provided with a service, and the point issuance condition is satisfied. Is given point acquisition information from the store terminal 11 to the customer terminal 4 via short-distance wireless communication by an operation of a customer or a store employee,
The customer terminal 4 uses the given point acquisition information as its own terminal 4
The customer specific information such as the mobile phone number and the mail address is added, and the added point acquisition information is given to the center server 20 via the mobile phone network 8 to update the point information of the customer member.

FIG. 8B is a concept of the flow of the point acquisition operation according to the store system 3 corresponding to the Internet network 9.

When the customer member pays the price, receives the merchandise, receives the service, and the point issuance condition is satisfied, the store terminal 11 operates according to the operation of the customer or the store employee. Reads out the customer identification information such as the mobile phone number and the mail address from the customer terminal 4 by the short-distance wireless communication, and uses the point acquisition information formed by itself as
Customer identification information such as a mobile phone number or a mail address of the customer terminal 4 is added, and the point acquisition information after the addition is obtained by using the Internet network 9 (store server 10 or store gateway 1
5) The information is given to the center server 20 via 5) to update the point information and the like of the customer member.

FIG. 9 is a sequence diagram corresponding to the point acquisition operation shown in FIG.

As described above, when the customer member pays the price and receives the merchandise or receives the service to satisfy the point issuance condition, the customer or the store employee operates the The point acquisition information is transmitted from the store terminal 11 to the customer terminal 4 by short-range wireless communication (S11). The point acquisition information at this time is specific information of the store (or company) or product, purchase amount information (or converted individual point or common point information), necessity of exchange for common point, common point It is information such as the ratio of the amount of money to be exchanged, and only the customer identification information is missing.

The customer terminal 4 adds the customer identification information such as the cell phone number and the mail address of the terminal 4 to the given point acquisition information, and the point acquisition information after the addition is added via the cell phone network 8. Send to the center server 20 (S
12, S13).

When the center server 20 receives the point acquisition information, whether or not to authenticate the customer member specified by the customer specifying information in the point acquisition information, and whether various incidental conditions related to the point acquisition this time can be approved. It is determined whether or not (S1
4, S15).

The customer member specified by the customer specifying information of the received point acquisition information is a legitimate person registered in the customer member database 21 (can be authenticated), and whether or not the points need to be exchanged is shared. If the condition defined by the information such as the percentage of the amount of money to be exchanged for points can be approved, the center server 20 updates the contents of the customer member database 21 and the corporate member database 22 according to the received point acquisition information. (S16), the fact that the point acquisition processing is completed is returned to the customer terminal 4 (S1).
7).

The customer terminal 4 displays that the point acquisition processing is completed and transfers the received information to the store terminal 11 (S18). The store terminal 11 displays that the point acquisition process has been completed (S19).

On the other hand, the customer member specified by the customer specifying information of the received point acquisition information is not a person registered in the customer member database 21 (cannot be authenticated), or the customer member is a regular person, If conditions or the like defined by information such as necessity of exchange for common points or ratio of amount of exchange for common points cannot be approved, the center server 20 updates the customer member database 21 and the corporate member database 22. Without reply, the fact that the point acquisition (point accumulation) is rejected is returned to the customer terminal 4 with the reason (S20).

The customer terminal 4 displays that the point acquisition (point accumulation) is rejected and transfers the received information to the store terminal 11 (S21).
It is displayed that the point acquisition (point accumulation) is rejected (S22).

FIG. 10 is a sequence diagram corresponding to the point acquisition operation shown in FIG. 8B described above.

As described above, when the customer member pays the price and receives the goods or receives the service to satisfy the point issuance condition, the customer or the store employee operates the The store terminal 11 requests the customer identification information to the customer terminal 4 by short-range wireless communication (S31),
The customer terminal 4 returns the customer identification information to the store terminal 11 (S32). The store terminal 11 completes the point acquisition information including the received customer identification information, and the Internet network 9
It transmits to the center server 20 via (S33).

Upon receiving the point acquisition information, the center server 20 can approve whether or not to authenticate the customer member specified by the customer specifying information in the point acquisition information and various incidental conditions related to the point acquisition this time. Whether or not it is determined (S3
4, S35).

The customer member specified by the customer specifying information of the received point acquisition information is a legitimate person registered in the customer member database 21 (can be authenticated), and whether or not it is necessary to exchange for a common point If the condition defined by the information such as the percentage of the amount of money to be exchanged for points can be approved, the center server 20 updates the contents of the customer member database 21 and the corporate member database 22 according to the received point acquisition information. (S36), the fact that the point acquisition process has been completed is returned to the store terminal 11 (S36).
37).

As a result, the store terminal 11 displays that the point acquisition process has been completed (S38).

On the other hand, the customer member specified by the customer specifying information of the received point acquisition information is not a person registered in the customer member database 21 (cannot be authenticated), or the customer member is a regular person, If conditions or the like defined by information such as necessity of exchange for common points or ratio of money to be exchanged for common points cannot be approved, the center server 20 updates the customer member database 21 and the corporate member database 22. Without reply, the fact that the point acquisition (point accumulation) is rejected is returned to the store terminal 11 with the reason (S39).

As a result, the store terminal 11 displays that the point acquisition (point accumulation) is rejected (S4).
0).

The point acquisition information may be transmitted to the proxy server of the center proxy system 7 instead of the center server 20. In this case, the proxy server performs authentication, approval, etc., and the specified time of day (for example, 2:00 am)
Alternatively, a plurality of point acquisition information or information obtained by updating the point acquisition information may be collectively transferred to the center server 20.

Further, although different from the flow of FIGS. 9 and 10, the store server 10 of the store system 2 or 3 performs authentication, approval, etc., and the point acquisition information after this process is individually or collectively stored in the center server 20. You may make it transfer it.

Further, the processing of the store terminal 11 shown in FIGS. 9 and 10 may be performed by the in-store device 12 or another terminal capable of performing near field communication with the customer terminal 4.

Customer member database 2 when points are acquired
The update of 1 is mainly the cumulative update of the point information, but the update history is also added. For example, when given as monetary information from the store system 2 or 3, the conversion process to individual points or common points is performed according to the conversion rate of the store (corporate member). In addition, individual points are converted to common points according to the conversion rate to the common points specified by the customer and the conversion rate to the common points that has been established for the store (corporate member) (from money to common points. It may be converted).

Corporate Member Database 2 at Point Acquisition
The second update is mainly the additional update of the number of points issued on the day.

(A-2-2-2) Special Point Issuing Operation Next, the special point issuing operation will be described. That is, the point issuing operation when the product is not purchased or the service is not provided will be described.

First, the point issuing operation in the game parlor will be described. In a game parlor, a so-called reward ball, which is a result ball of a game of a pachinko game machine or a pachislot game machine, is stored to a member player for the subsequent game and the subsequent prize exchange. There is a parlor who admits.

A game parlor POS system 13 (see FIG. 2).
Or refer to FIG. 3), the information on the number of premium balls counted by
The point acquisition information in the above-described general point issuing operation can be processed in the same manner as described above. In addition, the center server 20 manages points related to the number of prize balls as individual points, converts the points into common points when acquiring articles by points, and allows reconversion into game balls only from the individual points. Is also good.

Next, a point issuing operation at a karaoke store will be briefly described. Some karaoke devices 12 (see FIG. 4) display song evaluation points. When the singing evaluation score is "90 to 95" and "96 to 100"
A predetermined number of points may be given to each of the points, and in this case, the karaoke room terminal 16 transmits the point acquisition information to the center server 20.

Details of the point issuing operation at the karaoke shop are the same as the issuing operation in the section of point consumption / issuing operation at the karaoke shop described later.

(A-2-3) Point-consumption operation (A-2-3-1) General point-consumption operation such as conversion to an article Next, an article is obtained by accumulating points or a predetermined service is provided. A general point consumption operation such as receiving a call will be described.

There are two types of the flow of the point consuming operation of the point processing system 1 as a whole as shown in FIG.

FIG. 11A is a concept of the flow of the point consumption operation in the store system 2 which is not compatible with the Internet network 9.

[0129] When a customer member wants to obtain goods or receive a predetermined service by accumulating points, a short distance from the store terminal 11 to the customer terminal 4 is operated by a customer or a store employee. The point consumption information is given via wireless communication, and the customer terminal 4 adds the customer identification information such as the mobile phone number and the mail address of the own terminal 4 to the given point consumption information, and the point consumption information after the addition is given. , And gives it to the center server 20 via the mobile phone network 8 to update the point information and the like of the customer member.

FIG. 11B is a concept of the flow of the point consumption operation in the store system 3 corresponding to the internet network 9.

When a customer member wants to obtain an article or receive a predetermined service by accumulating points, the store terminal 11 operates the short-distance wireless communication according to the operation of the customer or a store employee. The customer specific information such as the mobile phone number and the mail address is taken out from the customer terminal 4 by the
The customer specific information such as the mobile phone number and the mail address of the customer is added, and the point consumption information after the addition is given to the center server 20 through the Internet network 9 (the shop server 10 and the shop gateway 15), and the customer member Update point information etc.

FIG. 12 is a sequence diagram corresponding to the case of the point consumption operation shown in FIG.

As described above, when the customer member wants to obtain the goods by the accumulation points or receive the provision of the predetermined service, the customer or the store employee operates the customer from the store terminal 11 by the operation. The point consumption information is transmitted to the terminal 4 by short-range wireless communication (S5).
1). The point consumption information at this time is the store (or company)
Or specific information of goods (or services), original monetary information of the goods (or services) (or converted individual points or common points information), information on the type of points used, or multiple types of points When used, it is information such as the percentage of the amount paid, and only the customer identification information is missing.

The customer terminal 4 adds the customer specific information such as the mobile phone number and the mail address of the own terminal 4 to the given point consumption information, and the added point consumption information is added via the mobile phone network 8. Send to the center server 20 (S
52, S53).

When the center server 20 receives the point consumption information, whether or not to authenticate the customer member specified by the customer specifying information in the point consumption information and whether to approve various incidental conditions related to the point consumption this time. Whether or not it is determined (S5
4, S55).

If the customer member specified by the customer specifying information of the received point consumption information is a legitimate person registered in the customer member database 21 (can be authenticated) and point consumption is possible, The server 20 updates the contents of the customer member database 21 and the company member database 22 according to the received point consumption information (S
56), the fact that the point acquisition processing has been completed is returned to the customer terminal 4 (S57).

The customer terminal 4 displays that the point consumption processing is completed and transfers the received information to the store terminal 11 (S58). The store terminal 11 displays that the point consumption processing has been completed (S59).

On the other hand, the customer member specified by the customer specifying information of the received point consumption information is not a person registered in the customer member database 21 (cannot be authenticated), or the customer member is a regular person, If points cannot be consumed due to a shortage of accumulated points, the center server 20 does not update the customer member database 21 or the corporate member database 22 and adds a reason for refusing point consumption to the customer terminal 4 Reply to (S6
0).

The customer terminal 4 displays that the point consumption has been rejected and transfers the received information to the store terminal 11 (S61), and the store terminal 11 displays that the point consumption has been refused ( S62).

FIG. 13 is a sequence diagram corresponding to the case of the point consumption operation shown in FIG.

As described above, when a customer member wants to obtain an item by accumulating points or receive a predetermined service, the store terminal 11 operates as a customer by operating the customer or a store employee. The customer identification information is requested to the terminal 4 by short-distance wireless communication (S71), and the customer terminal 4 returns the customer identification information to the store terminal 11 (S7).
2). The store terminal 11 completes the point consumption information including the received customer identification information and transmits it to the center server 20 via the Internet 9 (S73).

Upon receiving the point consumption information, the center server 20 determines whether or not to authenticate the customer member specified by the customer specifying information in the point consumption information, and whether or not various conditions related to the point consumption this time can be approved. Whether or not (S74,
S75).

If the customer member specified by the customer specifying information of the received point consumption information is a legitimate person registered in the customer member database 21 (can be authenticated) and point consumption is possible, The server 20 updates the contents of the customer member database 21 and the company member database 22 according to the received point consumption information (S
76), the fact that the point consumption processing has been completed is returned to the store terminal 11 (S77).

As a result, the store terminal 11 displays that the point consumption processing has been completed (S78).

On the other hand, the customer member specified by the customer specifying information of the received point consumption information is not a person registered in the customer member database 21 (cannot be authenticated), or the customer member is a regular person, If points cannot be consumed due to a shortage of accumulated points, the center server 20 does not update the customer member database 21 or the corporate member database 22 and adds a reason for refusing point consumption to the store terminal 11 Reply to (S7
9).

As a result, the store terminal 11 displays that the point consumption has been rejected (S80).

The point consumption information may be transmitted to the proxy server of the center proxy system 7 instead of the center server 20. In this case, the proxy server performs authentication, approval, etc., and the specified time of day (for example, 2:00 am)
Alternatively, a plurality of point consumption information or information obtained by updating the point consumption information may be collectively transferred to the center server 20.

Although different from the flow of FIG. 12 and FIG. 13, the store server 10 of the store system 2 or 3 performs authentication, approval, etc., and the point consumption information after this processing is individually or collectively stored in the center server 20. You may make it transfer it.

Further, the store terminal 11 shown in FIGS.
The processing may be performed by the in-store device 12 or another terminal capable of performing near field communication with the customer terminal 4.

Customer member database 2 when points are consumed
The update of 1 is mainly the subtraction update of the point information, but the update history is also added. For example, when given as monetary information from the store system 2 or 3, the conversion process to individual points or common points is performed according to the conversion rate of the store (corporate member). In addition, individual points are converted to common points according to the conversion rate to the common points specified by the customer and the conversion rate to the common points that has been established for the store (corporate member) (from money to common points. It may be converted). Then, the subtraction process is performed. The conversion rate of money and points at the time of issuing points may be different from the conversion rate of money and points at the time of point consumption.

Corporate Member Database 2 at Point Consumption
The update of 2 is mainly the additional update of the number of points consumed on the day.

(A-2-3-2) Point Consumption Operation Using Mail Order Next, the point consumption operation using mail order (mail order) will be described with reference to the sequence diagram of FIG.

A customer who desires to convert the accumulated points into mail order goods requests the center server 20 to download mail order catalog information from the customer terminal 4 (S91). Based on the customer specifying information included in the information, it is authenticated whether the requesting customer is a member customer (S92).

If the member customer, the center server 20
Collects mail-order catalog information from an internal database or a database of an information processing device of a mail-order company that cooperates, and stores the number of accumulated points stored in the customer member database 21 (allowed for mail order). (If there is a limit to the number of points or their ratio, the number of points allowed
At the same time, it is transferred to the customer terminal 4 (S93). The catalog information may be transmitted part by part in response to the operation of the “next page” or the “previous page” performed by the customer on the customer terminal 4.

When the customer cannot be authenticated,
The center server 20 returns a message to that effect to the customer terminal 4, and the customer terminal 4 displays that fact (S94, S95).

The customer selects the desired article (or service; hereinafter referred to as article) from the displayed catalog information.
Then, the customer terminal 4 transmits the purchase instruction information by points (which may be accompanied information such as desired delivery date and time) to the center server 20 (S96).

The center server 20 compares the number of points required for the instructed article with the number of accumulated points, and determines whether or not the purchase by points is permitted (S97). At this time, the customer may be authenticated.

When permitting purchase by points,
Center server 20 is
The customer is requested to ship the item (S98), and the point consumption of the customer member database 21 is updated (S9).
9) replies that the mail order has been accepted to the customer terminal 4 (S
100), the customer terminal 4 displays that effect (S10).
1).

When refusing a purchase based on points such as a shortage of accumulated points, the center server 20 replies to the customer terminal 4 that the mail order is rejected (S102),
The customer terminal 4 displays that fact (S103).

The application for mail order using the above points is not limited to the customer terminal 4, but the customer terminal 4
The application may be made from the store terminal 11 that performs short-distance wireless communication with the customer, or from the terminal installed at the customer's home (for example, a personal computer). Even in the latter case, the authentication of the customer depends on the specific information of the customer terminal 4.

As a modification of the mail order, there is a method in which the customer applies from the customer terminal 4 for obtaining a predetermined item at a predetermined store where points are used, and goes to the store.

(A-2-3-3) Point consumption operation by content distribution Next, the point consumption operation by content distribution will be described with reference to FIG.
This will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. Note that FIG.
5 is a case where the center server 20 side autonomously distributes the content.

Content providing system 6B (see FIG. 1)
Gives the content (news) to the center server 20 when, for example, the content of the content to be distributed has changed. At this time, or at a predetermined time, the center server 20 autonomously activates the content distribution process shown in FIG.

First, the center server 20 retrieves the information of one customer member from the customer member database 21 (S111), and determines whether the customer member is the distribution target of this content (S112).

If it is a distribution target, the content is distributed to the mail address (hence customer terminal 4) and
The number of points is subtracted by a predetermined number (note that if the number of accumulated points is insufficient, distribution is not executed; S11
3).

If the delivery is not the delivery target or the delivery is completed, the center server 20 determines whether or not the delivery confirmation to all the customer members has been executed (S114). When the process returns to S111 and the delivery confirmation to all the customer members is executed for the next customer member, the series of processes shown in FIG. 15 is ended.

The content in the content distribution that only consumes points as described above may be not only news but also music, video, simple game, book information, advertisement information, and the like. In the distribution of the advertising content of the cooperating company, it is not necessary to execute the subtraction of points from the customer member.

(A-2-3-4) Other Point Consumption Operations Points managed by the center server 20 can be used for renting game balls at the game parlor and issuing prepaid cards. The series of the flow is similar to the flow of the general point consumption operation described above, but, for example, the transmission source of the point consumption information has a short-distance wireless communication function with the customer terminal 4 instead of the store terminal 11. It becomes an in-store device 11 such as a game machine main body, a sand machine, a prepaid card issuing machine. The center server 20 may also limit the use of individual points, rather than the common points, for renting game balls.

Since the player lends a game ball many times a day, when the center server 20 authenticates the customer at the time of the first lending when using the points, the customer Store system information such as point information 2
Alternatively, the information may be transferred to and provided to the three subsystems 14, and the store server 10 may perform the authentication at the time of lending based on the management information of the subsystem 11 in the second and subsequent lending on the day.

[0170] In addition, in the case where money is paid, the points managed by the center server 20 can be applied instead of money instead of money.

(A-2-4) Point Consumption Issuing Operation Next, a point consumption issuing operation in which a point consuming operation and a point increasing operation (issuing operation) can be included in a series of operations will be described.

The point consumption issuing operation relates to a game or a quiz (hereinafter referred to as “gaming”) having a prize, a reward giving function, karaoke for converting a high evaluation into points (other broadly defined games may be used), and the like.

There are, for example, three types of aspects relating to the point consumption issuing operation in gaming.

First, as shown in FIG. 16 (A), a game is played at a game terminal such as a game center (corresponding to the store terminal 11 or the in-store device 12 shown in FIGS. 2 and 3), and the result is the game. The terminal transmits to the center server 20 together with the customer identification information obtained from the customer terminal 4, and the center server 2
0 increases or decreases the points (individual points or common points) of the customer according to the game result.

Secondly, as shown in FIG. 16 (B), the customer terminal 4 retrieves the game information from the center server 20 side and plays the game on the customer terminal 4, and the result is the customer terminal 4's own. Center server 20 together with customer identification information
The center server 20 increases or decreases the points (individual points or common points) of the customer according to the game result.

Second, as shown in FIG. 16 (B), the customer terminal 4 retrieves the game information from the center server 20 side and plays the game on the customer terminal 4, and the result is the customer terminal 4's own. Center server 20 together with customer identification information
The center server 20 increases or decreases the points (individual points or common points) of the customer according to the game result.

Third, as shown in FIG. 16C, the first
Customer terminal 4 instructs the center server 20 side to download the competitive game information to the first and second customer terminals 4, or the first customer terminal 4 instructs the center server 20 side to the first customer terminal. 4 to download the competitive game information, and then transfer it to prepare the competitive game on the first and second customer terminals 4 and execute the competitive game between the first and second customer terminals 4. Then, the first and / or second customer terminal 4 sends the result to the center server 20 together with the customer identification information, and the center server 20 sends the customer of the first and / or second customer terminal 4 according to the game result. Increase or decrease the points (individual points or common points).

As an example, the point consumption issuing operation in gaming in the second mode will be described below with reference to the sequence diagram of FIG.

A customer who desires the game in the second mode,
The customer terminal 4 requests the center server 20 to download the game in the second mode (S121), and the center server 20 determines whether or not the requesting customer is a member customer based on the customer specifying information included in the request. Is authenticated (S12
2).

If it is a member customer, the center server 20
Collects the game from the internal database or from the database of the content providing system 6C which cooperates, and stores the number of accumulated points stored in the customer member database 21 (the number of points recognized in the game and the ratio thereof). If there is a limit, the number is transferred to the customer terminal 4 together with the allowable number of points (S123). The game type may be selected according to the operation of the “next page” or the “previous page” performed by the customer on the customer terminal 4.

If the customer cannot be authenticated,
The center server 20 returns a message to that effect to the customer terminal 4, and the customer terminal 4 displays that fact (S124, S125).

The customer executes the displayed game on the customer terminal 4 (S126), and when the game ends, the customer terminal 4
Transmits the game result to the center server 20 (S1
27).

The center server 20 increases or decreases the points of the customer according to the received game result (S12).
8). At this time, the customer may be authenticated.

The number of points corresponding to the participation fee may be subtracted for each game. Further, the game result may be transmitted only when the number of points is increased.

Further, the center server 20 does not intervene in each game, but the store server 10 increases / decreases points by each game while using the subsystem 14 to finish the game a predetermined number of times or finish the game. When there is a completion instruction or when it is automatically determined that the game is completed,
The store server 10 may transmit the accumulated game results to the center server 20 via the store terminal 11 or the customer terminal 4.

In the gaming in the first and third modes, the game execution device and the like are different from those in the second mode, but in terms of communication with the center server 20 and points in the center server 20. The operation is the same as in the case of the second aspect, and therefore its explanation is omitted.

[0187] Next, a point consumption issuing operation relating to karaoke (here, communication karaoke) for converting high evaluation into points will be described with reference to the sequence diagram of Fig. 18.

The customer, who has newly produced the desired song, performs an input operation on the karaoke room terminal 16 (S1).
31), the karaoke room terminal 16 outputs the desired song information,
It is given to the customer terminal 4 (S132), and the customer terminal 4 requests the center server 20 to download the desired song together with the customer identifying information (S133), and the center server 20 outputs the customer identifying information included in the request. Based on this, it is authenticated whether the requesting customer is a member customer (S134).

If the member customer, the center server 20
Retrieves desired song information from an internal database or from a database of a karaoke providing system (not shown) that cooperates with it, and transfers it to the customer terminal 4 (S
135), the number of points stored in the customer member database 21 is subtracted by one song (S136).

If the customer cannot be authenticated,
The center server 20 returns a message to that effect to the customer terminal 4, and the customer terminal 4 displays that fact (S137, S138).

The customer terminal 4 gives the received desired song information to the karaoke room terminal 16 and sends the karaoke equipment 12 (see FIG. 18).
Then, at the end of the performance, the karaoke room terminal 16 takes in the evaluation value obtained by evaluating the acoustic signal from the microphone from the karaoke equipment 12 and gives it to the customer terminal 4 (S140). , And transmits the evaluation value to the center server 20 (S141).

The center server 20 increases or decreases the points of the customer according to the received karaoke evaluation value (S1).
42). At this time, the customer may be authenticated.

The karaoke evaluation value may be transmitted only when the number of points is increased. Further, the center server 20 does not intervene for each song, but the store server 10 increases or decreases the points for each song while using the subsystem 14, and the predetermined number of times ends, or a karaoke completion instruction is given, When it is automatically determined that karaoke is completed, the store server 10 causes the karaoke room terminal 1
Alternatively, the accumulated evaluation value may be transmitted to the center server 20 via 6 or the customer terminal 4.

(A-2-5) Corporate Member Settlement Operation Next, the settlement operation associated with the issuance and consumption of points by a corporate member will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

The center server 20 autonomously activates the point settlement operation for corporate members shown in FIG. 19 at a predetermined time (11:00 pm every day), for example.

First, the center server 20 retrieves the information of one corporate member from the corporate member database 22 (S151), and calculates the difference point number between the issued point number and the consumed point number of that corporate member on the day. (S1
52), the sign is determined (S153).

If the difference point number is positive, the center server 20 moves only the money corresponding to the difference point number of issued points-consumed points from the settlement account of the company member to the settlement account of the entire system. Process (S
154) If the number of difference points is negative, only money equivalent to the number of difference points of consumption point number-issue point number is moved from the settlement account of the entire system to the settlement account of the company member (S155). ), If the number of difference points is 0, the amount transfer process is not executed. Note that the actual moving process is requested to a financial institution or the like.

When the process of a certain company member is completed, the center server 20 determines whether or not the point settlement process has been executed for all company members (S156). If not completed, the process returns to step S151 described above and the next step is performed. When the point settlement process for all corporate members is executed, the series of processes shown in FIG. 19 ends.

(A-2-6) Marketing Operation Next, an example of marketing operation for forming marketing information will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

The center server 20 autonomously operates, for example, at predetermined intervals (for example, at a fixed time once a month), as shown in FIG.
The marketing operation shown in 0 is activated.

First, the center server 20 retrieves the information of one customer member from the customer member database 21 (S161). Then, the history of the point acquisition reasons of the customer member is organized, the acquisition classification is determined (S162), the history of the point consumption reasons of the customer member is arranged, and the consumption classification is determined (S163). Such information may also be written in the customer member database 21.

Then, the marketing database 2
The information of the combination of the acquisition classification and the consumption classification of this time is reflected as the marketing information about the layer determined by the age or sex of the customer member in 3 (for example,
Increasing the total value; S164).

After that, the center server 20 determines whether or not the marketing process for all the customer members has been executed (S165), and if not completed, the above-mentioned step S
Returning to step 161, when the marketing process for all the customer members is executed for the next customer member, the series of processes shown in FIG. 20 is ended.

As described above, the information on the acquisition classification and the consumption classification stored in the customer member database 21 may be used for determining the customer member who sends the advertisement (advertisement mail).

(A-2-7) Other Operations The operations of the center server 20 are not limited to the above operations, and other operations necessary for the point processing system 1 are also performed.

Since it is not possible to write all of them, if a part of them is written out, the operation of simply checking the number of points from the customer terminal 4 or the store terminal 11, the operation of converting between individual points and common points not related to the acquisition of goods, It also performs an operation of collecting an advertisement area to an advertiser company, an operation of paying a fee to a content providing company, and a navigation operation of providing position information of a company member (store). The information regarding the customer terminal 4 is also used as the customer specifying information required in these cases.

(A-3) Effects of the Embodiments According to the above embodiments, the settlement related to the issuance of points is executed in a short time, such as on the day, so that it is possible to eliminate the financial anxiety of corporate members. .

Further, according to the above-mentioned embodiment, various modes of point consumption can be expected, and speeding up of point consumption can be expected. For example, prize balls obtained from a pachinko gaming machine can be accumulated as points in the point center system 5, and points can be exchanged for goods (prize) at a department store, etc., desired goods can be easily found, and speeding up of point consumption can be expected. .

[0209] Furthermore, not only point issuing companies, but companies that contribute only to point consumption (content providing companies)
Can also be incorporated into corporate members, and the operability of the point processing system can be further enhanced.

Furthermore, even if many store systems (individual point processing systems) are included, the information relating to the portable customer terminal 4 is used as the customer identification information, so that many customer members have individual systems. You don't need to have a card. This can also be a major factor in encouraging membership registration.

[0211] Also, since many companies in many industries are corporate members and manage point issuance and point consumption, it is possible to obtain accurate marketing information from the point issuance history and point consumption history.

Furthermore, since a plurality of proxy servers, including the store server 10, that act for the center server 20 are provided, the system can be operated smoothly even if the number of member companies increases.

(B) Other Embodiments In the description of the above embodiment, various modified embodiments have been referred to, but further modified embodiments exemplified below can be mentioned.

A system in which a predetermined amount of membership fee is collected from a customer member or a corporate member every month may be used.

Point consumption items (store system)
As an example, donation items to a non-profit organization such as "Ashinaga Fund" may be provided.

Further, although obtaining the information for authenticating the customer from the customer terminal 4 has a great merit, a card or the like may be used together.

Furthermore, the type of network is not limited to that of the above embodiment. Further, the connection between the two elements may be appropriately made by a dedicated line.

[0218]

As described above, according to the point processing system of the present invention, various advantages can be obtained over the conventional system.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an overall configuration of a point processing system according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a detailed configuration example of a first type store system relating to the game parlor of the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a detailed configuration example of a second type store system according to the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a detailed configuration example of a first type store system related to the karaoke store of the embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a detailed configuration example of a point center system according to the embodiment.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of two types of member registration methods for a customer member according to the embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a sequence diagram showing a customer member registration operation according to the embodiment.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram of two types of point acquisition operations according to the embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a sequence diagram showing a first type of general point acquisition operation according to the embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a sequence diagram showing a second type of general point acquisition operation according to the embodiment.

FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram of two types of point consumption operations according to the embodiment.

FIG. 12 is a sequence diagram showing a first type of general point consumption operation according to the embodiment.

FIG. 13 is a sequence diagram showing a second type of general point consumption operation according to the embodiment.

FIG. 14 is a sequence diagram showing a point consumption operation for mail order use of the embodiment.

FIG. 15 is a flowchart showing a content distribution operation of the embodiment.

FIG. 16 is an explanatory diagram of a point consumption method by the game of the embodiment.

FIG. 17 is a sequence diagram of a point consumption issuing operation (second mode) according to the game of the embodiment.

FIG. 18 is a sequence diagram of a point consumption issuing operation by karaoke according to the embodiment.

FIG. 19 is a flowchart showing a settlement process of a corporate member according to the embodiment.

FIG. 20 is a flowchart showing a marketing operation according to the embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ... Point processing system, 2 ... First type store system, 3 ... Second type store system, 4 ... Customer terminal, 5 ...
Point Center system, 6 (6A to 6C) ... Content providing system, 7 ... Center proxy system, 8 ... Mobile phone network, 9 ... Internet network, 10 ... Store server,
11 ... Store terminal, 12 ... In-store device, 15 ... Karaoke room terminal.

Claims (14)

[Claims] 1. A point center system that directly or converts points issued individually by each company and centrally manages them using customer identification information as a key, and a plurality of corporate point systems that perform point processing for each company and / or store. The above-mentioned plurality of enterprise point systems include at least a first enterprise point system for issuing points and / or consuming points, and a second enterprise point system for cooperating with point consumption. Point processing system. 2. On behalf of the point server of the point center system, at least one proxy server for authenticating a customer when at least the number of points fluctuates is provided, and the proxy server sends a notification of the processing performed by the proxy server. The point processing system according to claim 1, wherein the point processing system is performed collectively at a predetermined time or for a predetermined period, and collectively for a plurality of times. 3. The point processing system according to claim 2, wherein the point server transfers information required by the proxy server for processing, to the proxy server. 4. The point processing system according to claim 2, wherein the server in the enterprise point system also functions as the proxy server. 5. The point processing system according to any one of claims 2 to 4, wherein a server that is determined by a combination of a region and a business type is provided as the proxy server. 6. The point processing system according to claim 1, further comprising a customer terminal carried by the customer, wherein information relating to the customer terminal is used as customer identification information. 7. The second corporate body point system,
7. A system for executing point consumption by distributing contents to the customer terminal or the first corporate body point system.
Point processing system according to any one of. 8. A means for increasing and / or subtracting points managed by the point center system according to a result of a game executed on the customer terminal or the first corporate body point system or evaluation of karaoke. The point processing system according to claim 1, wherein the point processing system is a point processing system. 9. The second corporate body point system provides the music information of the game or karaoke executed on the customer terminal or the first corporate body point system. Point processing system described in. 10. The method according to claim 1, further comprising means for forming information that can be used for marketing from point issue information and point consumption information of each customer managed by the point center system. Point processing system. 11. The point center system comprises conversion means between individual points of each company and common points common to a plurality of companies. The point processing system described in Crab. 12. Constraints when converting the individual points into the common points and / or constraints when converting the common points into the individual points are defined in advance, and the conversion means applies the restrictions. The point processing system according to claim 11, wherein the conversion is allowed only in a range where the point is satisfied. 13. The point center system includes a settlement means for performing settlement with each company according to a difference point number between the point issuance number and the point consumption number for each predetermined period of each company that manages points. It has, The point processing system in any one of Claims 1-12 characterized by the above-mentioned. 14. The settlement means, if the differential point number is positive, transfers money from the financial account of the company to a financial account common to the entire system, and the differential point number is negative. The point processing system according to claim 13, wherein, for example, money is transferred from a financial account common to the entire system to a financial account of the company.