JP4236490B2 - Electronic coupon utilization system and computer program and method for realizing the same - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a system for searching for an electronic coupon that can be used on a driving route together with the driving route when driving in an automobile.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In recent years, car navigation devices have begun to spread widely. By using this, even if a driver of a car or the like does not know the route to the destination, the car navigation device automatically enters the destination by simply entering the destination address or telephone number into the car navigation device. The location of the vehicle is detected, the route to the destination is searched, and the driver is guided to the driving driver (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
On the other hand, recently, the use of electronic coupons (a digitalized coupon coupon that can be used in restaurants, etc.) is also progressing. In order to use the electronic coupon, for example, a mobile phone or the like is used to access the store's homepage, and the electronic coupon is downloaded to the mobile phone. Then, if the downloaded electronic coupon is displayed on the display screen of the mobile phone and the display contents are shown to the store clerk, anyone can easily receive a service such as a discount on the fee (for example, patents) Reference 2).
[0003]
[Patent Document 1]
JP-A-6-66590 [Patent Document 2]
JP 2000-195471 A
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
Thus, the car navigation device and the electronic coupon are very convenient, and both are expected to be widely used in the future.
However, since the car navigation technology and the electronic coupon technology have been used separately so far, there are cases where it is very inconvenient when it is desired to use a coupon at a store along the road while driving. For example, the driving route must be searched using a car navigation device, and the electronic coupons that can be used on the driving route must be searched separately using a mobile phone or a personal computer, which is very troublesome. In particular, it is not easy to find out what coupon of which store is on the drive route, and there is a need for means to solve this.
The present invention has been made in view of such a problem, and relates to a system that can easily search for a coupon that can be used on a drive route and that can easily obtain and carry an electronic coupon.
[0005]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The present invention provides the following system, method for performing the following processing, and computer program.
The portable means includes a portable means for carrying an electronic coupon, the portable means receives route-related information including a route and an electronic coupon that can be used in the route, and the portable means is provided with the electronic coupon. The information is stored in a storage means, and the route is transferred to a navigation means that informs the driver of the route.
[0006]
First Embodiment of the Invention
A first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing hardware necessary for implementing the present invention and the connection of the hardware.
These hardware components include a server 1, a navigation device 2 (car navigation device), and a mobile phone 3.
The server 1 and the navigation device 2 can transmit and receive data via the Internet 4 (or other communication means). Both the server 1 and the mobile phone 3 are connected to the Internet 4 (or other communication means). Therefore, data can be transmitted and received. The navigation device 2 and the mobile phone 3 can transmit and receive data by infrared communication (or other communication means).
The server 1, the navigation device 2, and the mobile phone 3 each have a built-in storage device (storage device as storage means) for storing data, a data transmission unit and a data reception unit for transmitting and receiving data, and using them. Send and receive data.
Each storage device stores a computer program and predetermined data for realizing the present invention, and the server 1, the navigation device 2, and the mobile phone 3 perform predetermined processing in accordance with processing instructions of the computer program. The car navigation device 2 can browse a WEB site via the Internet 4 and includes a display monitor 11 for displaying data, an input means 12 for inputting data, and a speaker 13. The mobile phone 3 displays data. A display monitor 21 for inputting data and an input means 22 for inputting data.
In the present embodiment, the server 1 serves as an electronic coupon providing unit, the navigation device 2 serves as a navigation unit, and the mobile phone 3 serves as a portable unit.
[0007]
Next, a processing procedure for realizing the present invention will be described. The processing procedure of the present invention is as shown in FIG. 2. <Select drive route: STEP 1> → <Route file search: STEP 2> → <Coupon search: STEP 3> → <Coupon download: STEP 4> → <Coupon transfer: STEP 5> → <Coupon notification / display: STEP 6> Hereinafter, these processes will be described.
[0008]
<Select drive route: STEP1>
Mr. Kazuo Mita, who lives in Tokyo, enjoys driving and has arrived in a city where he has been driving again. Mita wants to visit several sightseeing points in the future. Mita's car is equipped with a navigation device 2, and Mita used the navigation device 2 to access the WEB site that introduces the drive course. As a result, the contents introducing the drive course are displayed on the display monitor 11 (FIG. 3).
Mr. Mita likes the course (Course No .: 3) that goes around “XX Station → XX Temple → XX Memorial Hall”. In the course entry area at the bottom of the screen, “Course No. 3: Scheduled Drive: April 5, 2003 I entered "AM AM 11:00" and clicked Send. As a result, the course selection data “Course number: 3, Drive schedule: April 5, 2003 AM 11:00” is transmitted from the navigation device 2 to the server 1. In the present embodiment, this course selection data serves as route request information, and the drive schedule serves as driving.
[0009]
<Root file search: STEP2>
The route file “Course number: 1, Drive course: XX station → XX temple → XX cape, route: Road 1 → Road 4 → Road 6 / Course number: 2, drive course as shown in FIG. : XX station-> XX tower-> XX museum, route: road 1-> road 2-> road 8 / course number: 3, drive course: XX station-> XX temple-> XX memorial hall, route: road 1-> Road 4 → Road 5 / ... ”is stored.
The server 1 that has received the course selection data searches the route file based on “course number: 3” included in the course selection data, and specifies the course route. As a result, the route (drive route) that Mita drives is identified as “Road 1 → Road 4 → Road 5”. It is assumed that the streets of this city are configured as shown in FIG. The route mainly means a drive route from the departure point to the destination. Of these, the departure location may be the current location of Mita's car or a location other than the current location. Further, the route may be a so-called sightseeing route or a tour route.
[0010]
<Coupon search: STEP3>
The server 1 has a coupon file as shown in FIG. 6 (file consisting of a plurality of records in which a route and an electronic coupon that can be used in the route are associated with the available time) file) “road number: 1, coupon (coupon number ): Restaurant A free coffee ticket (A01), X1-Y1, Available: No limit / Road number: 1, Coupon (coupon number): Convenience store B rice ball 50 yen discount ticket (B01), X2-Y2 When available: No restriction / Road number: 2, Coupon (coupon number): Cinema C300 yen discount coupon (C01), X3-Y3, Available: No restriction / Road number: 3, Coupon (coupon number): Pan Shop D milk 1 free ticket (D01), X4-Y4, available: No restrictions / Road number: 4, Coupon (coupon number): Restaurant E
Morning set 100 yen discount ticket (E01), X5-Y5, Available: AM 7:00 to AM 9: 00 / Road number: 4, Coupon (coupon number): Restaurant E
Lunch 150 yen discount ticket (E02), X6-Y6, available: AM 11:00 to PM 2:00 / road number: 5, coupon (coupon number): Burger shop F hamburger 100 yen discount ticket (F01), X7 -Y7, available time: no restriction / road number: 6, coupon (coupon number): Museum G admission half-price ticket (G01), X8-Y8, available time: no restriction "is stored.
[0011]
The server 1 that has identified the route “Road 1 → Road 4 → Road 5” searches the coupon file based on “Drive schedule: April 5, 2003 AM 11:00” included in the route and course selection data. Search for coupons that can be used on the identified route. That is, the coupon “A01, B01” that can be used on the road 1, the coupon “E02” that can be used on the road 4, and the coupon “F01” that can be used on the road 5 are searched. The coupon “E01” can also be used on the road 4, but Mita ’s driving schedule “AM11: 00” is not included in “AM17: 00 to AM9: 00” when “E01” is available. Therefore, “E01” is not searched here.
[0012]
<Coupon download: STEP4>
Through these processes, the server 1 uses the first coupon data “road number: 1, coupon (coupon number): restaurant A coffee free ticket (A01), X1-Y1 / road number: 1, coupon (coupon number) as shown in FIG. ): Convenience store B rice ball 50 yen discount ticket (B01), X2-Y2 / Road number: 4, Coupon (coupon number): Restaurant E lunch 150 yen discount ticket (E02), X6-Y6 / Road number: 5, coupon (Coupon number): Burger shop F hamburger 100 yen discount ticket (F01), X7-Y7 "is created.
Also, route information “Departure point → Road 1 → Road 4 → Road 5 → Destination” as shown in FIG. 8 is created.
And the server 1 transmits this 1st coupon file and route information to the navigation apparatus 2, and the navigation apparatus 2 which received it memorize | stores them in a memory | storage device. In the present embodiment, data including the first coupon file and route information serves as route-related information, and a store position (such as “X1-Y1”) serves as store position information. Here, “X1” or the like means latitude and “Y1” or the like means longitude.
[0013]
<Coupon transfer: STEP5>
The navigation device 2 that has received the first coupon file uses the second coupon data “road number: 1, coupon (coupon number): restaurant A free coffee ticket (A01) / road number: 1, as shown in FIG. Coupon (coupon number): Convenience store B rice ball 50 yen discount ticket (B01) / Road number: 4, Coupon (coupon number): Restaurant E lunch 150 yen discount ticket (E02) / Road number: 5, Coupon (coupon number) : Burger shop F hamburger 100 yen discount ticket (F01) "and transfer (send) it to the mobile phone 3. And the mobile telephone 3 which received 2nd coupon data memorize | stores it in a memory | storage device.
[0014]
<Coupon notification / display: STEP6>
Mr. Mita, who downloaded the route and electronic coupons, departed for a drive.
The navigation device 2 provides directions to Mita-san, and the location of the vehicle (Mita's vehicle) received from the artificial satellite (GPS) and the store location included in the first coupon file (for example, if the coupon is “A01”) If the store position “X1-Y1”) is periodically compared to determine whether both positions are within a certain distance (for example, within 500 meters), and it is determined that they are within a certain distance, Performs notification processing and display command processing. Hereinafter, these processes will be described.
[Notification Processing] The navigation device 2 sends a sound such as “I approached restaurant A where coupons can be used” from the speaker 13 to notify Mita that a store where coupons can be used is near. In this way, Mita can easily know that she has approached a store where coupons can be used.
[Display Command Processing] The navigation device 2 transmits a display command (for example, information such as “display command: A01”) of a store within a certain distance (a store where a coupon can be used) to the mobile phone 3. Upon receiving this, the mobile phone searches for an electronic coupon to be displayed in accordance with “display command: A01”, and displays the content of the searched coupon “A01” on the display monitor 21 of the mobile phone 3. In this way, Mr. Mita can bother to operate the mobile phone 3 and display the coupon.
The above is the first embodiment, and in this way, electronic coupons that can be used on the drive route can be easily retrieved and carried.
In this embodiment, the electronic coupon is transmitted to the mobile phone 3 in advance in <coupon transfer: STEP5>, but the <coupon transfer: STEP5> is not performed, and the electronic coupon to be displayed together with the display command is displayed. It may be transmitted every time it is emitted and displayed on the display monitor 21.
[0015]
Second Embodiment of the Invention
A second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the first embodiment described above, the data flow is in the order of the server 1 → the navigation device 2 → the mobile phone 3. However, in the second embodiment, the data flow is in the order of the server 1 → the mobile phone 3 → the navigation device 2. Hereinafter, these processes will be described. Since the processing contents are almost the same as those of the first embodiment, only the portions different from the first embodiment will be described.
[0016]
First, hardware used in this embodiment will be described. The hardware used in this embodiment is the same as that in the first embodiment (FIG. 1).
Next, a processing procedure for realizing the present invention will be described. The processing procedure of the present invention is the same as that of the first embodiment, and as shown in FIG. 2, <drive route selection: STEP 1> → <route file search: STEP 2> → <coupon search: STEP 3> → <coupon download: STEP 4> → < Coupon transfer: STEP5> → <Coupon notification / display: STEP6>
[0017]
<Select drive route: STEP1>
The process related to the selection of the drive route is almost the same as in the first embodiment. However, in the case of the present embodiment, access to the WEB site and transmission of course selection data are performed by the mobile phone 3 instead of the navigation device 2.
<Root file search: STEP2>
The root file search process is the same as in the first embodiment.
<Coupon search: STEP3>
The coupon search process is the same as in the first embodiment.
[0018]
<Coupon download: STEP4>
The coupon download process is almost the same as in the first embodiment. However, in the case of the present embodiment, the first coupon data (FIG. 7) and route information (FIG. 8) created by the server 1 are transmitted not to the navigation device 2 but to the mobile phone 3. The mobile phone 3 that has received them creates second coupon data (FIG. 9) based on the received information and stores it in the storage device. In the present embodiment, the route information serves as a route, and data including the first coupon file and route information serves as route-related information.
[0019]
<Coupon transfer: STEP5>
The mobile phone 3 transfers (sends) the first coupon data (FIG. 7) and route information (FIG. 8) downloaded from the server 1 to the navigation device 2, and the navigation device 2 that receives them stores them in the storage device. To do.
<Coupon notification / display: STEP6>
The coupon notification / display process is the same as in the first embodiment.
[0020]
In this way, the data flow can be made in the order of the server 1 → the mobile phone 3 → the navigation device 2.
[0021]
Third Embodiment of the Invention
A third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the first embodiment described above, route information is downloaded together with the electronic coupon, but in the present embodiment, only the electronic coupon is downloaded. That is, the route search is performed by the navigation device 2 and only the electronic coupons that can be used in the route are downloaded.
Hereinafter, these processes will be described. Since the processing contents are almost the same as those of the first embodiment, only the portions different from the first embodiment will be described.
[0022]
First, hardware used in this embodiment will be described. The hardware used in this embodiment is the same as that in the first embodiment (FIG. 1).
Next, a processing procedure for realizing the present invention will be described. The processing procedure of the present invention is slightly different from that of the first embodiment, as shown in FIG. 10 <Drive route search: STEP 1> → <Coupon search: STEP 2> → <Coupon download: STEP 3> → <Coupon transfer: STEP 4> → <Coupon notification -Display: The procedure is STEP5>.
[0023]
<Drive route search: STEP1>
Processing related to the selection of the drive route is significantly different from that of the first embodiment. In this embodiment, first, Mita inputs destination information (address or telephone number, etc.) to the navigation device 2. Then, the navigation device 2 searches for a route from the departure place (where Mita is now) to the destination. For example, in the case of FIG. 5, the route becomes “Road 1 → Road 4 → Road 5”, and the route search result is displayed as shown in FIG. 11 (Note that nothing is input in the drive schedule at this time) Suppose it is not.) Mita enters the scheduled time “April 5, 2003 AM 11:00” in the drive schedule and clicks send. As a result, the navigation device 2 creates the course search data “Route: Road 1 → Road 4 → Road 5, Drive Schedule: April 5, 2003 AM 11:00” and transmits it to the server 1.
<Coupon search: STEP2>
The server 1 that has received the course search data searches the coupon file (FIG. 6) based on the route “Road 1 → Road 4 → Road 5” included in the course search data, and identifies a coupon that can be used in the drive route. The contents of this search process are the same as in the first embodiment.
[0024]
<Coupon download: STEP3>
The server 1 creates the second coupon data as shown in FIG. 9 based on the search result and transmits it to the navigation device 2.
<Coupon transfer: STEP4>
The navigation device 2 that has received the second coupon data transfers it to the mobile phone 3.
<Coupon notification / display: STEP5>
This coupon notification / display process is the same as in the first embodiment.
[0025]
As described above, the route search may be performed by the navigation device 2 and only the electronic coupon may be downloaded.
[0026]
Although specific cases have been described in the above embodiment, the present invention is not limited to these specific cases. For example, the following cases may be used.
(1) In the above embodiment, a specific electronic coupon has been described as an example. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and can be used for any electronic coupon. In addition, the available time is a time such as “AM 11:00 to PM 2:00”, but this may be a day of the week such as “Monday and Tuesday” (any other thing) I do not care).
(2) The content of the data is not limited to the data described in the embodiment. That is, any other data may be used as long as it can play the same role.
(3) The hardware is not limited to that described in the embodiment. That is, any other hardware may be used as long as it can play the same role. For example, the portable means is not limited to a mobile phone, and a PHS or a portable small computer may be used.
(4) The contents and procedure of the process are not limited to those described in the embodiment. That is, any other processing content / procedure may be used as long as it can play the same role.
(5) It is assumed that data (data items) of data (data records, files) appearing in the above-described embodiments are stored in association with (associated with) each other in principle. The same applies to what is shown in the drawings.
[0027]
【The invention's effect】
The present invention has the following effects.
(1) If this invention is utilized, the electronic coupon which can be utilized during a drive can be searched and acquired easily.
(2) In the present invention, since the electronic coupon is transferred from the navigation device to a mobile phone or the like, the electronic coupon can be easily carried. That is, it is possible to avoid the inconvenience of having to bring the navigation device to the store in order to use the electronic coupon.
(3) Since the portable means such as a mobile phone receives the route and the electronic coupon and transfers the route to the navigation device, the present invention can cope even if the navigation device cannot access the Internet (via the mobile phone). The route can be transferred and stored in the navigation device).
(4) Since the driver is informed that the store is close to an electronic coupon, the driver can easily know that the store is close and will pass the store without knowing that the coupon can be used. Inconvenience can be avoided.
(5) Since the contents of the electronic coupon are automatically displayed on the mobile phone when approaching a store where the electronic coupon can be used, it is possible to save time and effort for searching for the electronic coupon.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an outline of hardware used in the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a processing flow in the first embodiment.
FIG. 3 shows a drive route selection screen.
FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a root file.
FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a road map.
FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a coupon file.
FIG. 7 is a diagram showing first coupon data.
FIG. 8 is a diagram showing route information.
FIG. 9 is a diagram showing second coupon data.
FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a processing flow in the second embodiment.
FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a route search result.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Server 2 Navigation apparatus 3 Mobile phone 4 Internet 11 Display monitor 12 Input means 13 Speaker 21 Display monitor 22 Numeric keypad

Claims (3)

  The portable means includes a portable means for carrying an electronic coupon, the portable means receives route-related information including a route and an electronic coupon that can be used in the route, and the portable means is provided with the electronic coupon. An electronic coupon utilization system characterized in that it is stored in a storage means and the route is transferred to a navigation means that informs the driver of the route.   The portable means for carrying the electronic coupon is instructed to perform processing, the portable means is made to receive route-related information including a route and an electronic coupon that can be used in the route, and the electronic coupon is provided in the portable means. A computer program for using an electronic coupon, wherein the computer program is stored in a storage means, and the route is transferred to a navigation means for notifying a driver of the route.   The portable means for carrying the electronic coupon performs processing, and the portable means is made to receive route-related information including a route and an electronic coupon that can be used in the route, and the portable coupon is provided with the electronic coupon. A method for using an electronic coupon, comprising: storing in a storage means, and transferring the route to a navigation means for notifying a driver of a course.

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