Management method, computer-readable recording medium, and management system

Abstract

The present invention aims to facilitate inventory management of items provided based on actual sales information. A program is used to manage the provision status of items provided to users on condition that they are paid for, wherein each item corresponds to a category involved in a game. The program causes a computer to perform the following processing: obtaining first item information related to items that have been provided to users; deriving second item information related to items that have not been provided to users based on the obtained first item information; and presenting the first item information and the second item information for each category corresponding to the item.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a program, a recording medium, and a management system, and more particularly to a technology for improving the efficiency of manufacturing and supplying articles. Background Art

[0002] There is a device for collecting sales data such as the number of times a device is used in order to reduce the manual work of a person involved in collecting sales data in an entertainment device. Patent document 1 discloses a sales data collecting device that stores information such as the identification number of the device, the number of times coins are inserted, and the date and time when these information are collected for an entertainment device installed in a store, etc., and prints out a sales data receipt.

[0003] Prior art literature

[0004] Patent Literature

[0005] Patent Document 1: Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 58-47480 Summary of the invention

[0006] Problem that the invention aims to solve

[0007] However, the sales data counting device of Patent Document 1 mentioned above is only a device for counting and printing the sales in the entertainment device, and is not a device that can use the sales data to efficiently manufacture and supply goods.

[0008] An object of the present invention is to provide a program, a recording medium, and a management system that facilitates inventory management of articles provided based on actual sales information.

[0009] Solutions for solving problems

[0010] The program of the present invention is used to manage the provision status of items provided to users on the condition that payment of a price is required, and each of the items corresponds to a category involved in the game. The program enables a computer to perform the following processing: obtaining first item information related to items that have been provided to users; deriving second item information related to items that have not been provided to users based on the obtained first item information; and presenting the first item information and the second item information for each category corresponding to the item.

[0011] Effects of the Invention

[0012] With such a configuration, according to the present invention, it is possible to facilitate inventory management of items provided based on actual sales information. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0013] Figure 1 This is a diagram showing a system configuration of a management system according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

[0014] Figure 2 It is a block diagram showing the functional configuration of the management server 100 according to the embodiment and the modified example of the present invention.

[0015] Figure 3 It is a block diagram showing the functional structure of the game device 200 according to the embodiment and the modified example of the present invention.

[0016] Figure 4 It is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of a user terminal 300 according to the embodiment and modification examples of the present invention.

[0017] Figure 5 It is a diagram showing an example of presentation of various information related to provision of articles, which is realized by the management application according to the embodiment and the modified example of the present invention.

[0018] Figure 6 This is a flowchart illustrating each process of the information update process implemented by the management system according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

[0019] Figure 7 The flowchart exemplifies each process of the information presentation process implemented by the management system according to the embodiment and the modified example of the present invention.

[0020] Figure 8 It is a diagram showing a system configuration of a management system according to Modification 1 of the present invention.

[0021] Fig. 9 This is a diagram showing a system configuration of a management system according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention.

[0022] Fig.10 This is a block diagram showing the functional structure of the card sales device 900 according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

[0023] Fig.11 It is a diagram showing an example of data structure of various information used in the management system according to the embodiment and modified examples of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0024] [Embodiment 1] Hereinafter, an exemplary embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In addition, one embodiment described below is an example of applying the present invention to a system that manages the number of cards provided to a user by using a game device and the number of cards that are not provided but exist in stock, as an example of a management system, and application software that implements the system. However, the present invention can be applied to any system that can manage the number of items provided to a user and the number of items that have not been provided for a specified game item and present such information.

[0025] The structure of the management system Figure 1 1 is a system diagram showing the system structure of the management system involved in this embodiment. As shown in the figure, the management system is configured so that the management server 100 can communicate with multiple game devices 200 respectively through the network 400, and the management server 100 can communicate with one or more user terminals 300 respectively.

[0026] In the management system of this embodiment, the game device 200 is configured to provide a game playing experience of a game involving different game contents, and to provide game items associated with the game with payment of consideration as a prerequisite. The game device 200 may be a device installed in, for example, a game center, a shopping mall, a home appliance retail store, a toy store, etc.

[0027] The management server 100 is configured to acquire information about game items provided in the game device 200 connected to the management server 100 for communication, and to manage the number of items actually provided to the user (actual number provided). In addition, the management server 100 is configured to manage the current number of inventory of game items, i.e., the number of inventory after the provision is completed in each game device 200, based on the information about the inventory number of game items stored in advance and the information about the actual number provided. The information managed by the management server 100 is configured to be transmitted to the user terminal 300 in response to a presentation request from the user terminal 300, and presented on the display device of the user terminal 300.

[0028] In addition, the user terminal 300 can display various information for managing game items on the display device by executing the application (management application) involved in the management system, and present the various information to the user of the user terminal 300. In the present embodiment, the user terminal 300 can provide not only the function of managing the actual supply quantity and inventory quantity of game items for each game title or for each store equipped with the game device 200, but also various functions used by the user of the management source of the game device 200, such as order management and sales forecast of game items, by executing the management application. In the present embodiment, the description is made assuming that the user who uses the management application is the user of the management source of the game device 200. However, in the implementation of the present invention, the user terminal 300 does not need to be a terminal that provides all the functions described below by executing the management application, but can be a terminal that uses information managed in the management server 100 to provide part of the functions described below, such as order management in a store equipped with the game device 200.

[0029] The game items provided by the game device 200 of the present embodiment are cards associated with game content that provides a game play experience in the game device 200 for explanation. The card can also be configured to be given information so that it can be used as an element that obtains information when playing the game and affects the progress of the game in any game device 200 that provides a game play experience of the same game as the provided game device 200. Alternatively, the card can be used in a game device 200 that provides a game play experience of other games instead of the provided game device 200, or it can be used in a so-called simulated tabletop card game that can play the game without a game device. In either case, in the present invention, for the management classification in the management system, the card corresponds to, for example, the game content (game title) that can use the card, the game content that provides a game play experience using the game device that provides the card, and the type of game involved.

[0030] In addition, in the present embodiment, the game items are pre-printed ready-made cards for explanation, but the implementation of the present invention is not limited to this. In the structure in which the game device 200 has a built-in printer capable of generating cards, the game items can also be cards generated by so-called on-demand printing. In addition, the game items are not limited to cards, for example, they can also be figures, toys, key chains and other shaped objects with the appearance of game elements involved in the game content, paper media other than cards, stickers and other arbitrary items. In other words, the present invention is a device for managing information on whether game items have been provided to users, so what the game items are has nothing to do with the implementation of the present invention.

[0031] Next, use Figure 2 The functional structure of the management server 100 involved in this embodiment is described with reference to the block diagram.

[0032] The control unit 101 is, for example, a CPU, and controls the operation of each block of the management server 100. Specifically, the control unit 101 controls the operation of each module by, for example, reading an operation program of each block recorded in the recording medium 102, expanding the operation program in the memory 103, and executing the operation program.

[0033] The recording medium 102 is, for example, a nonvolatile memory, a HDD, or other recording device that can permanently store data. In addition to storing the operation programs of each block of the management server 100, the recording medium 102 also stores information such as parameters necessary for the operation of each block. The memory 103 is, for example, a storage device such as a volatile memory for temporary data storage. The memory 103 is used not only as a development area for the operation programs of each block, but also as a storage area for temporarily storing data output during the operation of each block.

[0034] The provision status DB 104 is a database for managing the provision status information of cards in the game device 200 that is configured to communicate with the management server 100. The details will be described later, but in the management system of this embodiment, for the presentation condition selected in the user terminal 300, in order to facilitate the presentation of the provision status information, the information related to the card provision obtained from each game device 200 each time is counted for each type corresponding to the card, and managed in the provision status DB 104.

[0035] The inventory management DB 105 is a database for managing the inventory status information of the cards that have not been provided according to the card provision status. The details will be described later, but similar to the provision status DB 104, the inventory management DB 105 manages the inventory status information for each type corresponding to the cards that have not been provided among the existing cards.

[0036] When the presentation control unit 106 completes the presentation request for at least one of the provision status and the inventory status from the user terminal 300, it constructs information that meets the requested presentation condition and returns it to control the presentation content in the user terminal 300. The returned information may be information constructed based on information managed in the provision status DB 104 and the inventory management DB 105.

[0037] The communication unit 107 is an interface for communicating with an external device that the management server 100 has. The communication unit 107 can be connected to an external device via a network 400 (regardless of whether it is wired or wireless), and can receive and send data. The network 400 can be a communication network such as the Internet, or a cable connecting devices. The communication unit 107, for example, converts information input as a transmission object into data in a prescribed format and sends it to an external device such as a game device 200 or a user terminal 300 via the network 400. In addition, when the communication unit 107 receives information from an external device, for example, via the network 400, the information is decrypted and stored in the memory 103.

[0038] <Structure of Game Device 200> Next, use Figure 3 The functional structure of the game device 200 according to the present embodiment is described with reference to the block diagram. In addition, in the description of the functional structure of the game device 200, the structure that realizes the same function as the structure of the management server 100 is indicated by adding the prefix "game" to strictly distinguish it from the structure of the management server 100.

[0039] The game control unit 201 is, for example, a CPU, and is used to control the actions of each block of the game device 200. Specifically, the game control unit 201 controls the actions of each block by, for example, reading an action program of each block recorded in the game recording medium 202, expanding the action program in the game memory 203, and executing the action program.

[0040] The game recording medium 202 is, for example, a recording device such as a nonvolatile memory or a HDD that can permanently store data. In addition to storing the action programs of each block of the game device 200, the game recording medium 202 also stores information such as parameters necessary for the action of each block and various graphic data used in the game executed by the game device 200. The game memory 203 is, for example, a storage device such as a volatile memory for temporary data storage. The game memory 203 is used not only as a development area for the action programs of each block, but also as a storage area for temporarily storing data outputted in the action of each block.

[0041] The game payment detection unit 204 detects whether a consideration payment has been made in the game device 200. The game device 200 of this embodiment is configured to be able to use physical currencies such as coins, coins equivalent to coins, and electronic money (electronic money) that performs settlement processing by means of communication with a specified chip to make a consideration payment, and the game payment detection unit 204 is configured to be able to detect whether the consideration payment has been completed for both parties. In more detail, when the game payment detection unit 204 detects that, for example, a specified amount of physical currency has been inserted into an unillustrated input port provided in the game device 200, a control signal indicating that the consideration payment has been completed is output to the game control unit 201. Alternatively, when the game payment detection unit 204 detects that, for example, a reader unillustrated provided in the game device 200 has obtained information about a chip related to the electronic currency, and the settlement processing of the specified amount for the chip has been completed, a control signal indicating that the consideration payment has been completed is also output to the game control unit 201.

[0042] The game presentation control unit 205 is responsible for controlling the presentation of various information to the user in the game device 200. In the game device 200 of the present embodiment, as a unit for presenting various information to the user, at least a game display unit 210 for displaying images (game screen, menu screen, etc.) is provided for explanation, but the unit for presenting information is not limited thereto and can be replaced or added, which is self-evident.

[0043] The game presentation control unit 205 includes, for example, a drawing device such as a GPU, and performs a predetermined drawing process when generating a screen to be displayed by the game display unit 210. Specifically, in each sequence in which the game device 200 is running, the game presentation control unit 205 performs necessary calculations on necessary drawing objects (graphic data) based on the processing and commands performed by the game control unit 201, and draws the screen. The generated screen is output to the game display unit 210, which is a display device that is in the same housing as the game device 200 or is connected to the outside of the game device 200 in a detachable manner.

[0044] The game operation input unit 206 is a user interface of the game device 200, such as an operation member for direction input, an operation member for decision input, and various sensors. When the game operation input unit 206 detects that an operation input is made to the operation member, it outputs a control signal corresponding to the operation input to the game control unit 201. In addition, in the present embodiment, the game device 200 is described as having various interfaces as physical operation members, but for example, it may also include a touch input detection sensor for detecting a touch input made on the screen of the game display unit 210.

[0045] The game provision control unit 207 performs various processes for providing cards in response to the consideration payment performed in the game device 200. The game device 200 of this embodiment has the following three methods for providing cards, each of which requires the payment of consideration to provide cards.

[0046] The first providing method as the first providing method involved in the present invention is: after the consideration payment is completed and the service is started, based on the mode of providing the game playing experience is selected, the card for the current game play is provided. That is, in this providing method, the game device 200 provides the game playing experience and one card for the consideration payment.

[0047] In addition, the second providing method as the second providing method involved in the present invention is: after the consideration payment is completed and the service is started, based on the selection of the card sales mode, the card is provided without providing the game playing experience. That is, in this providing method, the game device 200 provides one card for the consideration payment. In addition, in this sales mode, each time a prescribed amount of consideration is paid, the card can be provided until the upper limit of the number of cards provided is reached.

[0048] In addition, the third providing method as the third providing method involved in the present invention is: after the consideration payment is completed and the service is started, based on the selection of a mode of providing a game play experience and the additional consideration payment for a card different from the card provided by the first providing method, further card provision is performed. That is, in this providing method, when a game is to be played, in addition to the card provided for the game, a further card provision request is made, and the game device 200 provides the card with the additional consideration payment as a prerequisite. At this time, the additionally provided card is configured to be provided until the upper limit of the provision quantity is reached each time a prescribed amount of consideration is paid, similarly to the second providing method.

[0049] When the prescribed card provision conditions are met during the service provision, the game provision control unit 207 sends a card provision command to the provision unit 220 to provide the card. The provision unit 220 may be composed of a card dispenser that is in the same housing as the game device 200 or is connected to the outside of the game device 200 in a manner that allows loading and unloading. The card dispenser may be a structure that has a storage box (not shown) that stacks cards in a vertical direction, for example, and has a mechanism that drives the card dispenser in accordance with a provision command issued by the game provision control unit 207 to provide a card held at the bottom of the storage box. In the case where the provision unit 220 is built into the same housing as the game device 200, the card can be removed by being guided to a removal port 221 (see FIG. 21 ) that can be accessed from the outside of the game device 200. Figure 1 ) to provide to users.

[0050] In addition, in the present embodiment, the game device 200 is not limited to a device that provides a game play experience of a specific game content, and may also be a device that provides a game play experience of any game content among multiple types of game content. In other words, the cards that can be provided in each game device 200 are different depending on the game content that provides the game play experience. In the management system of the present embodiment, the card provision status is managed for multiple types of game content or for a group of game devices 200 that provide game play experiences for multiple types of game content.

[0051] The game communication unit 208 is an interface that the game device 200 has for communicating with an external device. The game communication unit 208 can be connected to an external device via a network 400 (regardless of whether it is wired or wireless), and can receive and send data. The network 400 can be a communication network such as the Internet, or a cable connecting devices. The game communication unit 208, for example, converts information input as a transmission object into data in a prescribed format and sends it to an external device such as the management server 100 via the network 400. In addition, when the game communication unit 208 receives information from an external device, for example via the network 400, it decrypts the information and saves it in the game memory 203.

[0052] In the present embodiment, when providing cards, the game communication unit 208 sends information indicating that the cards have been provided to the management server 100, but this sending is only carried out when a communication connection is established between the game device 200 and the management server 100, which is self-evident. In the present embodiment, the sending of information is carried out when a communication connection is established between the management server 100 and the game device 200 when the service is started, and the moment of completing the card providing is carried out, but the implementation of the present invention is not limited to this. For example, it can also be a structure as follows: the information provided for the card provided during the prescribed period is maintained in the game memory 203, and the information involved in the card provided by these maintained multiple times is sent at the prescribed moment. Alternatively, it can also be a structure as follows: when the game device 200 is in an offline state, the game device 200 and the management server 100 cannot be connected to a communication state, and the information provided by the card during the state of being unable to be connected to a communication state is sent when the communication connection is restored.

[0053] In addition, in the present embodiment, the processing in the game device 200 is set as the main body, and the information indicating that the card has been provided is sent to the management server 100 together with the registration request for explanation, but it can also be a structure as follows: when the game device 200 receives an information acquisition request from the management server 100, the information indicating that the card has been provided is sent from the game device 200 to the management server 100. This is self-evident.

[0054] <User terminal 300> Next, use Figure 4 The functional structure of the user terminal 300 involved in this embodiment is described with reference to the block diagram. In addition, in the functional structure of the user terminal 300, the structure that realizes the same function as the structure of the management server 100 and the game device 200 is represented by adding the prefix "terminal" to strictly distinguish the structure from the management server 100 and the game device 200.

[0055] The terminal control unit 301 is, for example, a CPU, and is used to control the actions of each block of the game device 300. Specifically, the terminal control unit 301 controls the actions of each block by, for example, reading out the action program of each block recorded in the terminal recording medium 302 and the execution program involved in the above-mentioned management application, and then expanding and executing the action program and the execution program in the terminal memory 303.

[0056] The terminal recording medium 302 is, for example, a recording device such as a nonvolatile memory or HDD that can permanently store data. In addition to storing the action programs of each block and the execution programs of the management application program of the user terminal 300, the terminal recording medium 302 also stores parameters necessary for the action of each block, information required for statistical display in the management application program, etc. The terminal memory 303 is, for example, a storage device such as a volatile memory for temporary data storage. The terminal memory 303 is used not only as an expansion area for the action programs of each block and the execution programs of the management application program, but also as a storage area for temporarily storing data outputted in the action of each block.

[0057] The terminal presentation control unit 304 includes, for example, a rendering device such as a GPU, and performs a predetermined screen generation process when the terminal display unit 310 presents information. Specifically, during the execution of the management application, the terminal presentation control unit 304 obtains corresponding information from the management server 100 for the selected presentation condition, generates a screen based on the information, and transmits the screen to the terminal display unit 310 for display. The terminal display unit 310 may be, for example, a display device connected to the outside of the user terminal 300 in a detachable manner or a display device integrally formed with the user terminal 300, and is configured to present information to the user by displaying the data related to the screen in a predetermined display area when receiving the data related to the screen from the terminal presentation control unit 304.

[0058] The terminal operation input unit 305 is, for example, a user interface of the user terminal 300, such as a mouse and a keyboard. When the terminal operation input unit 305 detects that an operation input is performed on each user interface, it outputs a control signal corresponding to the operation input to the terminal control unit 301. In addition, in the present embodiment, the user terminal 300 is assumed to have various interfaces as physical operation members for explanation, but, for example, it may also include a touch input detection sensor for detecting a touch input performed on the screen of the terminal display unit 310.

[0059] The terminal communication unit 306 is an interface of the user terminal 300 for communicating with an external device. The terminal communication unit 306 can be connected to an external device via a network 400 (regardless of wired or wireless), and can receive and send data. The network 400 can be a communication network such as the Internet, or a cable connecting devices. The terminal communication unit 306, for example, converts information input as a transmission object into data in a prescribed format and sends it to an external device such as the management server 100 via the network 400. In addition, when the terminal communication unit 306 receives information from an external device, for example, via the network 400, it decrypts the information and saves it in the terminal memory 303.

[0060] <<Managed Information>> Next, various information processed or managed in the management system of this embodiment is described.

[0061] <Card provision information> First, the card provision information indicating that a card has been provided and sent from the game device 200 to the management server 100 is described. As described above, in the present embodiment, whenever a card is provided in the game device 200, the game control unit 201 constructs the card provision information and sends the card provision information together with the registration request to the management server 100 via the game communication unit 208 and the network 400.

[0062] Here, the game content that provides the game playing experience in the game device 200 is updated by adding new characters, stories, game modes, etc. to provide services so as to keep the user's interest. Similarly, with respect to the cards provided in the game device 200, the cards that can be used are also increased by adding in accordance with these updates. Generally speaking, the cards are used in the following manner: a new lineup of cards is provided during the period from one update to the next update, thereby keeping the user's interest. In the following description, for a series of card groups provided in accordance with the update of the game content, the provision period is identified as a "providing round". The providing round can be expressed as a 1st round, a 2nd round, ..., an Nth round, for example, by adding numbers to be able to identify the relationship between the providing periods.

[0063] For example Fig.11 As shown in (a), the card providing information may include, in association with the device ID 1101 for identifying the game device 200 that provides the card: a content ID 1102, which indicates the game content for which the provided card corresponds; a providing round ID 1103, which indicates the providing round of the provided card in the game content; a store ID 1104, which is used to identify the store where the game device 200 that provides the card is installed; a providing time 1105, which indicates the time when the card is provided; a payment currency 1106, which indicates the type of currency used when paying the consideration involved in the card providing (either physical currency or electronic currency); and a providing method 1107, which indicates the providing method adopted when providing the card.

[0064] <Provision Status Information> Next, the provision status information managed by the provision status DB 104 of the present embodiment, which is formed by receiving such card provision information and performing prescribed processing, will be described. In the management system of the present embodiment, in order to ensure proper browsing when the management application is executed in the user terminal 300, the card provision information received in the management server 100 is counted in advance for the combination of game content, provision wheel, and store, and the card provision information is saved in the provision status DB 104 as provision status information. However, in the implementation of the present invention, it is also possible to have a structure in which the card provision information itself is saved and managed in the provision status DB 104 without converting the card provision information into provision status information having the following data structure, or it is also possible to have a structure in which the card provision information is saved and managed as information converted by other statistical methods.

[0065] For example Fig.11As shown in (b), in the provision status information, actual provision quantity information 1114 of the cards provided for the combination is managed in association with a combination of a content ID 1111 indicating the game content to which the cards are provided, a provision wheel ID 1112 indicating the provision wheel in the game content to which the cards are provided, and a store ID 1113 of a store in which the game device 200 providing the cards is installed. Here, the actual provision quantity information 1114 is configured to have the following information in association with a statistical period ID 1121 for identifying the statistical period for each statistical period, in order to be able to grasp the trend of the actual provision quantity in each predetermined statistical period such as a day, a week, or a month: the actual provision quantity 1122 of the cards provided in all the game devices 200, provision method details 1123 indicating the number of times each provision method is adopted, and payment currency details 1124 indicating the number of times each physical currency and electronic currency is used for consideration payment. In addition, the payment currency details 1124 may manage the total amount of payment consideration for each physical currency and electronic currency.

[0066] By counting the provision status information in this way, it is possible to construct the provision status information counted for each store, each round, each game content, or any combination thereof according to the presentation request, and to easily present the counted provision status information.

[0067] <Inventory Management Information> Next, the inventory management information managed by the inventory management DB 105 of the present embodiment, which is constructed based on the provision status information managed in the provision status DB 104, is described. In the management system of the present embodiment, when the application is executed in the user terminal 300, the inventory management information is constructed so that information such as the inventory status of the card can be browsed, and the inventory management information is stored in the inventory management DB 105.

[0068] For example Fig.11As shown in (c), in the inventory management information, inventory quantity information 1133 indicating the inventory quantity of cards involved in the combination and expected supply quantity information 1134 indicating the expected supply quantity of cards involved in the combination are managed in association with a combination of a content ID 1131 for identifying game content and a supply wheel ID 1132 for identifying a supply wheel in the game content. In the management system of this embodiment, in order to realize the efficiency of operations performed by the management source such as the card delivery procedure to the store where the game device 200 is installed and the ordering of card production to the factory by using the management application, the following two types of inventory are managed as the inventory quantity information 1133. The first type is the store inventory indicating the number of cards that have not been provided to users in each store at the distribution destination, which is included in the inventory quantity information 1133 as store inventory information 1141. The second type is the warehouse inventory (product inventory of the management source, circulation inventory, etc.) indicating the number of cards held by the management source that have not been wholesaled in circulation, which is included in the inventory quantity information 1133 as warehouse inventory information 1142.

[0069] Here, the store inventory information 1141 is managed for each store, so for example, as shown in the figure, for each store, the store inventory quantity 1152 indicating the number of cards that have not been provided to the user and are left in the store may be included in association with the store ID 1151 of the store. The store inventory quantity 1152 is derived by subtracting the actual number of cards (based on the provision status information) obtained from the game device 200 of the store from the number of cards delivered to the store by the management source, which is pre-acquired by adding at each delivery. That is, the store inventory quantity 1152 is updated when the management source delivers the card to the store and when the card is provided in the store.

[0070] On the other hand, the warehouse inventory information 1142 indicates the number of cards actually held by the management source without being delivered to the store where the game device 200 is installed, and therefore does not need to be managed for each store. For example, as shown in the figure, the warehouse inventory information 1142 only has a warehouse inventory quantity 1161. The warehouse inventory quantity 1161 is derived by subtracting the number of cards delivered to each store from the number of cards in the warehouse of the management source that is pre-acquired by adding at each delivery. That is, the warehouse inventory quantity 1161 is updated when a manufacturing order is placed with a factory that manufactures cards and the ordered cards are delivered, and when the cards are delivered to each store.

[0071] In addition, in the management system of the present embodiment, in order to appropriately perform the delivery business to the store and the card ordering business based on such information of the actual supply quantity, the store inventory quantity and the warehouse inventory quantity, the expected supply quantity information 1134 is included in the inventory management information. In the present embodiment, the expected supply quantity information 1134 is constituted as a number (expected supply quantity) indicating how many cards are expected to be provided in each store for one game content. Regarding the expected supply quantity information 1134, as shown in the figure, in order to grasp the trend of the actual supply quantity in each prescribed forecast period such as one day, one week, one month, etc., for each forecast period, the expected supply quantity 1173 is managed in association with the forecast period ID 1171 for identifying the forecast period and the store ID 1172 indicating the store to be predicted. The prediction of the expected number of offers in the store involved in the offer wheel ID 1132 can also be based on the following changes, for example: the change of the actual number of offers involved in the cards of the offer wheel in the store (the change history of the actual number of offers in each statistical period after the start of offers); the change of the actual number of offers in the past offer wheels involved in the same game content in the store (the actual number of offers in the past wheels, the actual number of offers in the same month in the past). Alternatively, the prediction of the expected number of offers can also be based on the change of the actual number of offers in all stores managed by the management system for the same game content, other stores with a similar customer base to the setting store, and can also be based on the change of the actual number of offers of other game content with similar styles, target age of users, and target gender.

[0072] In addition, in the management system of the present embodiment, in order to present the expected supply quantity in a manner that can be compared with the actual supply quantity of the supply status information, the prediction period is set to have the same time width as the statistical period of the actual supply quantity for explanation, but in the embodiment of the present invention, it is not necessary to define the statistical period and the prediction period with the same time width. In addition, in order to make this comparison possible, the expected supply quantity information predicted in the past can also be maintained in the inventory management information. In addition, the expected supply quantity can also be corrected based on the actual supply quantity for the target supply round. For example, for one supply round, the expected supply quantity 1173 before the start of the supply and the expected supply quantity 1173 predicted at the time of every specified number of days or a predetermined time (every Monday after the first day of statistics, etc.) after the start of the supply can be included in the expected supply quantity information 1134. In this case, the expected supply quantity before the start of the supply can be predicted based on the information of the actual supply quantity for the past supply round, and the expected supply quantity after the start of the supply can be predicted based on the information of the actual supply quantity for the target supply round at the predicted time and the information of the actual supply quantity for the past supply round.

[0073] By constructing the inventory management information in advance in this way, it is possible to construct the inventory quantity and expected supply quantity for each store, each round, each game content, or any combination thereof according to the presentation request, and easily present the inventory quantity and expected supply quantity.

[0074] <<Information Presentation Method>> Next, the method of presenting the information managed in the provision status DB 104 and the inventory management DB 105 of the management server 100 will be described using the drawings. The information presentation shown below is performed when the management application is executed in the user terminal 300 and the presentation condition is selected, and the presentation control unit 106 composes the information for presentation that meets the condition based on the provision status information and the inventory management information and sends it to the user terminal 300.

[0075] The presentation conditions that can be selected in the management application may include, for example, a condition that can compare the actual number of offers between game contents or between the offering rounds of the same game content. Figure 5 In the example shown in (a), the supply start date (initial statistical period) of each supply round is unified as the initial value (first day) of the time axis so that the actual supply quantity of each supply round can be compared, and the actual supply quantity of each consecutive statistical period is shown in a line graph. In the example shown in the figure, for the items of the first round of game content A, the fourth round of game content B, and the second and third rounds of game content C, the time transition of the actual supply quantity involved in setting up the entire store is shown in area 500.

[0076] In addition, by operating the GUIs 501 to 504 presented simultaneously, the information to be presented can be switched for each presentation item. For example, GUI 501 is used to switch to the presentation of the time-lapse of the inventory quantity, and when the GUI is selected, the presentation content in area 500 is switched to the inventory quantity of each item. The display of the inventory quantity can be configured in a manner that allows the store inventory and the warehouse inventory to be distinguished, or in a manner that allows them to be compared.

[0077] In addition, for example, GUI 502 is used to change the time lapse of the actual provided quantity from Figure 5 The time transition indicating the daily statistical results shown in (a) is switched to the time transition indicating the daily transition of the total actual provided quantity (the sum of the actual provided quantity since the start of the provided period).

[0078] In addition, for example, GUI 503 is used to switch to statistical results of the actual provision quantity for each type of currency used for payment, and each time a selection operation is performed on the GUI, the presentation content of area 500 is switched in sequence: presentation of the actual provision quantity without distinguishing the used currency → presentation of the actual provision quantity of only physical currency → presentation of the actual provision quantity of only electronic currency → presentation that can compare the actual provision quantity involving physical currency with the actual provision quantity involving electronic currency, respectively.

[0079] In addition, for example, GUI 504 is used to switch to the statistical results of the actual number of provisions for each provision method of the card, and each time a selection operation is performed on the GUI, the presentation content of area 500 is switched in sequence to: presentation of the actual number of provisions based on the first provision method → ​​presentation of the actual number of provisions based on the second provision method → ​​presentation of the actual number of provisions based on the third provision method, and a presentation that can compare the actual number of provisions based on each provision method.

[0080] In addition, the presentation conditions that can be selected in the management application may include, for example, a condition that enables comparison between the actual number of provided games and the expected number of provided games in the game content provision round. Figure 5 In the example shown in (b), in order to compare the actual supply quantity with the expected supply quantity for one supply round, so that the actual supply quantity for each statistical period and the expected supply quantity predicted for the prediction period corresponding to the statistical period are arranged on the same time axis, a line graph of each item is displayed in area 500. In the example shown in the figure, for the 5th round of game content A, the time passage of the actual supply quantity for the 5th round of game content A, the time passage of the expected supply quantity predicted before the start of supply, the time passage of the expected supply quantity after the actual supply quantity on the first operation day (the start day of supply) and the forecast correction, and the time passage of the expected supply quantity after the actual supply quantity on the first Monday and the forecast correction are respectively shown.

[0081] In this embodiment, as a method of presenting provision status information and inventory management information through the management application, two provision conditions are used as an example. Figure 5 This has been described, but the implementation of the present invention is not limited to this.

[0082] As described above, the provision status information manages the information on the change in the actual provision quantity for each combination of game content, provision round, and store, so the presentation control unit 106 can also construct the information for presentation in the following manner, which is, for example, capable of confirming the change in the actual provision quantity for the entire provision period of the game content (the entire provision round), comparing the actual provision quantity between stores, and comparing the actual provision quantity between game contents in one store.

[0083] Similarly, the inventory management information manages the store inventory quantity of each store, the warehouse inventory quantity of the management source, and the expected supply quantity of each store for the combination of game content and provision rounds. Therefore, the presentation control unit 106 can also construct the information for presentation in the following manner, which is, for example, capable of comparing the changes in store inventory quantities between stores, comparing the changes in warehouse inventory quantities between game contents or between provision rounds, and comparing the changes in expected supply quantities between game contents.

[0084] In addition, it is self-evident that other presentation conditions can be set for the presentation of information managed by providing status information and inventory management information. That is, the combination of information to be presented, the change of statistical items, and the presentation method (not limited to line graphs, but also bar graphs or total value tables, etc.) are not necessarily limited to the following. Figure 5 The above-described embodiment can be modified as appropriate. The presentation control unit 106 may configure presentation information according to the desired presentation condition selected by the user terminal 300 , and transmit the presentation information to the user terminal 300 via the communication unit 107 .

[0085] <Notification function> As described above, the management system of this embodiment manages inventory management information, and is thus configured to be able to grasp information on store inventory of each store where the game device 200 is installed and information on warehouse inventory held by the management source. In addition, since the inventory management information also includes information on the expected supply quantity, it is possible to determine based on predictions whether the store inventory or warehouse inventory of cards may be insufficient.

[0086] Therefore, the management server 100 of this embodiment has the following function (notification function): the control unit 101 determines whether the inventory is likely to be insufficient for each game content supply round or each store of the supply round based on the store inventory information, warehouse inventory information and expected supply quantity of the inventory management information, and if it is determined that the inventory is likely to be insufficient, it notifies the management application. The management application of this embodiment has the following two notification functions.

[0087] One is a notification for a specific store when the expected supply quantity exceeds the store inventory quantity involved in the store, which is used to notify the user terminal 300 capable of executing the management application that cards need to be delivered to the store from the management source in order to replenish the store inventory. In more detail, the control unit 101, for example, notifies the delivery quantity and delivery period of cards to be delivered from the warehouse inventory to the target store when it is determined that the expected supply quantity may exceed the store inventory quantity after a specified number of days. In this embodiment, in the notification related to the store inventory, the delivery quantity and delivery period of the cards are notified for explanation, but in a method such as pre-determining the day of the week for delivery, only the delivery quantity may be notified, and in a method such as pre-determining the number of cards to be delivered to the store at one time, only the delivery period may be notified.

[0088] Another is a notification made when it is judged that the warehouse inventory quantity may be insufficient when the cards of the provision round are delivered to each store based on the expected provision quantity for a provision round of specific game content, and the notification is used to notify the user terminal 300 capable of executing the management application that it is necessary to order the manufacturing card from the manufacturing factory in order to replenish the warehouse inventory for the provision round. In more detail, the control unit 101 can, for example, notify the manufacturing order quantity of the manufactured cards to be ordered from the manufacturing factory when it is judged that the warehouse inventory may become less than the specified quantity when the cards are delivered to each store based on the expected provision quantity. In this embodiment, in the notification related to the warehouse inventory, it is set to be explained as the manufacturing order quantity of the notified card, but since there is also a period required for manufacturing the card and delivering the card as the warehouse inventory, etc., it is also possible to add a manufacturing order period that takes this into consideration in advance to make the notification. In addition, in a method in which the manufacturing order quantity is fixed once, it is also possible to notify only the manufacturing order period based on the order quantity.

[0089] In addition, in the management system of the present embodiment, in order to properly manage the provision status and inventory, information is obtained from each game device 200 via the network 400. However, in the case where there is a game device 200 that is in a state where communication is not possible, it may be impossible to achieve appropriate management. Therefore, for example, the game device 200 can also be configured to regularly send card provision information regardless of the use status. When the control unit 101 determines that there is a game device 200 that has not obtained the card provision information within a prescribed period, it notifies the user terminal 300 that can execute the management application that there is a game device 200 in a state where information cannot be obtained or which store has such a game device 200. In addition, depending on the store, the game device 200 is sometimes operated in a manner that does not use the communication function, so for such a game device 200, it can also be excluded from the objects of information collection, prediction of the expected provision quantity, and inventory management.

[0090] <Information Update Processing> For the information update processing of updating various information in the management system of this embodiment having such a structure, use Figure 6 The specific processing is described with reference to the flowchart. The processing corresponding to the flowchart can be realized by the control unit of each device related to the management system reading out the corresponding processing program stored in each recording medium, for example, and then expanding and executing the processing program in RAM. In addition, it is assumed that this information update processing starts when a card is provided in the game device 200, for example.

[0091] In S601 , the game control unit 201 forms card provision information for the performed card provision, transfers the card provision information to the game communication unit 208 , and transmits it to the management server 100 via the network 400 .

[0092] In S602, the control unit 101 determines whether card provision information transmitted from the game device 200 has been received. If the control unit 101 determines that the card provision information has been received, the process proceeds to S603, and if the control unit 101 determines that the card provision information has not been received, the process of this step is repeated.

[0093] In S603, the control unit 101 updates the corresponding provision status information managed in the provision status DB 104 based on the received card provision information. At this time, if the corresponding provision status information does not yet exist in the provision status DB 104, the control unit 101 constructs the provision status information based on the received card provision information and newly saves the provision status information in the provision status DB 104.

[0094] In S604, the control unit 101 updates the corresponding inventory management information managed in the inventory management DB 105 based on the updated provision status information. Here, the updated inventory management information may be only the store inventory information 1141 in the inventory quantity information 1133.

[0095] In S605, the control unit 101 determines whether it is time to perform a prediction of the expected number of cards to be provided. The prediction of the expected number of cards to be provided does not have to be performed every time a card is provided, and can be performed at a predetermined time such as once a week as described above. If the control unit 101 determines that it is time to perform a prediction of the expected number of cards to be provided, the processing is transferred to S606, and if it is determined that it is not time to perform a prediction, the information update processing is terminated.

[0096] In S606, the control unit 101 updates the expected supply quantity information 1134 included in the inventory management information based on the supply status information managed in the supply status DB 104, and completes this information update process.

[0097] In this way, in the management system of the present embodiment, based on the card provision performed in any of the game devices 200 , the provision status information and the inventory management information can be updated.

[0098] Next, for the information presentation processing performed in the management system of this embodiment in connection with various information presentations in the management application, use Figure 7 The specific processing is described with reference to the flowchart. The processing corresponding to the flowchart can be realized by the control unit of each device related to the management system reading out the corresponding processing program stored in each recording medium, for example, and then expanding and executing the processing program in RAM. In addition, the information presentation processing is described as starting when, for example, the management application is executed in the user terminal 300 and the presentation conditions are set.

[0099] In S701 , the terminal control unit 301 acquires information of presentation conditions selected for information presentation, and then transmits the information of the presentation conditions to the terminal communication unit 306 and to the management server 100 via the network 400 .

[0100] In S702, control unit 101 determines whether presentation condition information is received from game device 200. If control unit 101 determines that presentation condition information is received, it shifts the process to S703, and if control unit 101 determines that presentation condition information is not received, it repeats the process of this step.

[0101] In S703, the presentation control unit 106, under the control of the control unit 101, constructs presentation information corresponding to the received presentation condition information based on the managed provision status information and inventory management information, and transmits it to the communication unit 107, and returns it to the user terminal 300 that received the presentation condition information via the network 400.

[0102] In S704, the terminal control unit 301 determines whether presentation information corresponding to the presentation condition has been received. If the terminal control unit 301 determines that presentation information has been received, the process proceeds to S705, and if the terminal control unit 301 determines that presentation information has not been received, the process of this step is repeated.

[0103] In S705 , the terminal presentation control unit 304 , under the control of the terminal control unit 301 , generates a display screen related to the management application based on the received presentation information, and displays the display screen on the terminal display unit 310 , thereby completing the information presentation process.

[0104] In this way, in the management system of this embodiment, it is possible to use the provision status information managed in the provision status DB 104 and the inventory management information managed in the inventory management DB 105 to construct information corresponding to the presentation conditions selected in the management application, and display the information on the terminal display unit 310 of the user terminal 300.

[0105] As described above, according to the management system of this embodiment, it is possible to facilitate the inventory management of articles provided based on actual sales information.

[0106] [Variant 1] In the above-mentioned Embodiment 1, the card provision information is transmitted from the game device 200 to the management server 100 based on the card provision in the game device 200, but the implementation of the present invention is not limited to this. For example, depending on the store, sometimes a plurality of game devices 200 managed by the management system are set up. When performing information management for the store, the structure of independently obtaining the card provision information from all game devices 200 may become inefficient depending on the number of game devices 200 running at the same time. Therefore, it is also possible to Figure 8 The structure shown is as follows: a collection server 800 is provided for collecting card provision information from game devices 200 installed in the same store, and the card provision information is sent from the collection server 800 to the management server 100 at a predetermined time interval. In addition, a structure may be as follows: a statistical function is provided in the collection server 800, and one or more card provision information received from a plurality of game devices 200 within a predetermined time is converted into information equivalent to provision status information, and the information is sent to the management server 100.

[0107] [Implementation 2] In the management system of the above-mentioned implementation 1, the device for providing cards is assumed to be a game device 200 that can provide a game playing experience, but the implementation of the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the device for providing cards may also be a device that does not have the function of providing a game playing experience. In this implementation, a card sales device 900 that does not have the function of providing a game playing experience but has a card sales function is used as an example for description.

[0108] The structure of the management system Fig. 9 As shown, in the management system of this embodiment, in order to acquire card provision information from a plurality of card sales devices 900 installed in a store or the like, each card sales device 900 is configured to be able to communicate with the management server 100 via the network 400 .

[0109] The card sales device 900 is different from the management server 100. As described above, the card sales device 900 does not have the function of providing a game playing experience, and can only provide cards when a consideration is paid. That is, if a user uses the card sales device 900, compared with the case of using the game device 200 to obtain cards, there is no need to select a mode, play games, or perform complicated operations to obtain cards.

[0110] <Structure of Card Sales Device 900> Next, use Fig.10 The functional structure of the card sales device 900 of this embodiment is described with reference to the block diagram. In addition, in the description of the functional structure of the card sales device 900, the structure that realizes the same function as the structure of the management server 100, the game device 200 or the user terminal 300 is indicated by adding the prefix "sales" to strictly distinguish it from these structures.

[0111] The sales control unit 901 is, for example, a CPU, and controls the operation of each block of the card sales device 900. The operation control of each block can be realized by, for example, reading a program stored in the sales recording medium 902, expanding it in the sales memory 903, and executing it.

[0112] The sales recording medium 902 is a recording device capable of permanently storing data, such as a nonvolatile memory or HDD. The sales recording medium 902 stores information such as parameters necessary for the operation of each block in addition to the operation program of each block of the card sales device 900. The sales memory 903 is a storage device for temporary data storage, such as a volatile memory. The sales memory 903 is used not only as an expansion area for the operation program of each block, but also as a storage area for temporarily storing data outputted during the operation of each block.

[0113] The sales payment detection unit 904 detects whether the consideration payment has been made in the card sales device 900. The card sales device 900 of this embodiment is configured to be able to use both physical currency and electronic currency for consideration payment, similarly to the game device 200, and the sales payment detection unit 904 is configured to be able to detect whether the consideration payment has been made for both. However, in the implementation of the present invention, the payment method of the consideration provided for the card sales device 900 is not limited to having both.

[0114] The sales provision control unit 905 performs various processes for providing a card in response to the consideration payment made in the card sales device 900. The card sales device 900 of this embodiment controls the sales provision unit 910 to be in a state where the card can be provided based on the sales payment detection unit 904 detecting that the consideration payment has been made. More specifically, when the consideration payment is detected, the sales provision control unit 905 controls the sales provision unit 910 to be in a state where the card can be provided, and controls the sales operation input unit 906 to be in a state where the operation input can be received.

[0115] The sales supply unit 910 is a card dispenser provided in the housing of the card sales device 900. The sales supply unit 910 is configured to have a drive mechanism that is driven according to an operation input to the sales operation input unit 906 and supplies a card held at the bottom of a storage box of the card dispenser.

[0116] The sales operation input unit 906 may be, for example, a handle that is rotatably provided, and is configured to accept a rotation operation when the operation input is in a state where the operation input is possible. The sales operation input unit 906 may also be configured so that the rotation operation directly transmits power to the driving mechanism of the sales provision unit 910. In this case, the sales provision unit 910 can provide cards without the need for power supply.

[0117] The sales communication unit 907 is an interface for communicating with an external device provided in the card sales device 900. The sales communication unit 907 can be connected to an external device via the network 400 and can receive and send data. The network 400 can be a communication network such as the Internet or a cable connecting devices. The sales communication unit 907, for example, converts information input as a transmission object into data in a prescribed format and then sends it to an external device such as the management server 100 via the network 400. In addition, when the sales communication unit 907 receives information from an external device via the network 400, for example, it decrypts the information and saves it in the sales memory 903.

[0118] In the present embodiment, the sales communication unit 907 sends the card provision information to the management server 100, but it is self-evident that the sending is performed only when a communication connection is established between the card sales device 900 and the management server 100. In the present embodiment, the sending of information is performed after a communication connection is established between the management server 100 and the card sales device 900 when the information sending moment set in a manner with a prescribed time interval is reached, but the implementation of the present invention is not limited to this. For example, similar to the above-mentioned game device 200, the card sales device 900 can also be configured to send the card provision information whenever a card is provided. Alternatively, it can also be a structure as follows: when the card sales device 900 is in an offline state, such as a state where the card sales device 900 and the management server 100 cannot be connected to each other for communication, the card provision information performed during the state where the communication connection cannot be established is sent when the communication connection is restored.

[0119] In addition, since the card sales device 900 is not configured to provide a game play experience, the information on which card to be provided corresponds to which provision round of which game content is recorded in the sales recording medium 902 through a prescribed device setting operation or the like.

[0120] In such a structure, the information of the cards provided in the card sales device 900 is stored in the sales memory 903 until the time when the information is sent, and the actual number of cards provided since the last time of sending is counted. And, when the card provision information with the counted actual number of cards provided is sent, Figure 6 Similarly, the information update process can be executed at the moment when the control unit 101 detects the reception of information in S602, and the processes involved in the update of the provision status information can be managed in the same manner. At this time, when the game device 200 and the card sales device 900 are installed in the same store, the provision status information can also be managed separately for the two devices.

[0121] [Variant 2] In the above-mentioned embodiments 1 and 2, the method of using the game device 200 and the card sales device 900 is described, wherein the game device 200 and the card sales device 900 detect whether a consideration payment has been made, and based on the detection of the consideration payment, the device itself provides a card and establishes a communication connection with the management server 100 to send the card provision information, but the implementation of the present invention is not limited to this.

[0122] That is, as a card provision method, for example, the following method is considered: a packaged product containing multiple cards is displayed in a store, and the user takes the product to the checkout counter to pay for the price, thereby completing the card provision. In this case, in a store or an office that manages multiple stores, sales history records are collected via a so-called POS machine (sales time point information management terminal), thereby being able to count the sales quantity, sales amount, etc. of each product. Since such information on the sales quantity (actual supply quantity) can also be provided to the supplier (management source) of the store, in the management system of this variant, the information on the sales status of the card counted using the sales time point information management terminal can also be sent or obtained as card provision information at a specified time determined by the store side, and reflected in the provision status information and inventory management information.

[0123] In addition, in Embodiment 2 and Modification 2, as a method of obtaining information on the provision status of cards, it is described that the card sales device 900 and the sales time point information management terminal can also be used. However, if the frequency of obtaining information on the use status of the game device, the use frequency of each device, the card provision frequency, etc. are preferably considered, the sending frequency of the game device side can also be controlled to be higher. For example, it can also be configured that the sending frequency of the card provision information counted by the card sales device 900 and the sales time point information management terminal is set to once a week, etc., while in contrast, the game device sends information every time the game is played, or sends information at least once a day.

[0124] [Other embodiments] The present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiments, and various changes and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. In addition, the management system involved in the present invention can also be implemented by a program that enables one or more computers to function as a device of at least a part of the management system. The program can be provided / published by recording it on a computer-readable recording medium or through an electrical communication line.

[0125] Description of Reference Numerals

[0126] 100: management server; 101: control unit; 102: recording medium; 103: memory; 104: provision status DB; 105: inventory management DB; 106: presentation control unit; 107: communication unit; 200: game device; 201: game control unit; 202: game recording medium; 203: game memory; 204: game payment detection unit; 205: game presentation control unit; 206: game operation input unit; 207: game provision control unit; 208: game communication unit; 210: game display unit; 220: provision unit; 300: User terminal; 301: terminal control unit; 302: terminal recording medium; 303: terminal memory; 304: terminal presentation control unit; 305: terminal operation input unit; 306: terminal communication unit; 310: terminal display unit; 400: network; 800: collection server; 900: card sales device; 901: sales control unit; 902: sales recording medium; 903: sales memory; 904: sales payment detection unit; 905: sales provision control unit; 906: sales operation input unit; 907: sales communication unit; 910: sales provision unit.

Claims

1. A management method for managing the provision of items provided to users subject to payment of consideration, wherein each of the items corresponds to a type involved in a game, the management method comprising: Acquire first item information related to the item that has been provided to the user; Based on the acquired first item information, deriving second item information related to the item that has not been provided to the user; as well as presenting the first item information and the second item information for each category corresponding to the item, The categories corresponding to the items include: a first category, which indicates game content associated with the item; and a second category, which indicates a provision period of the item determined for the game content. In the presenting process, the first article information of the article related to a currently ongoing provision period and the first article information of the article related to a past provision period are presented in a manner that allows comparison.

2. The management method according to claim 1, characterized in that: The item is an item provided to the user in a game device configured to provide game play, subject to payment of a consideration. The process of performing the acquisition is executed when the first item information transmitted from the game device based on the provision of the item in the game device is received.

3. The management method according to claim 2, characterized in that: The items are provided in different types of the game devices for each associated game content.

4. The management method according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that: The game device provides the item in the following three ways: a first method of providing the item based on playing the game; a second method of providing the item without requiring the game to be played; and a third method of providing the item based on an additional consideration paid when playing the game. In the presenting process, the first article information is presented separately for each of the three providing methods.

5. The management method according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that: The management method further includes notifying whether the first item information is in a state capable of being received from the game device.

6. The management method according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that: The item is an item provided to the user on condition that the user pays a consideration in an item sales device that does not provide game play, The process of acquiring the information is executed when the first item information transmitted from the item sales device based on the item being provided in the item sales device is received.

7. The management method according to claim 6, characterized in that: The item is handled as an item provided to the user on condition that the acquisition of the prescribed identification information and the settlement based on the payment of the consideration are completed in the information management terminal at the time of sale, The process of acquiring is performed when the first article information collected for the article in the point-of-sale information management terminal is received.

8. The management method according to claim 7, characterized in that: The frequency of transmission of the first item information by the game device is set to be higher than the frequency of transmission of the first item information by the item sales device or the sales time point information management terminal.

9. The management method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that: The first item information includes information indicating whether the consideration payment was completed with either physical currency or electronic currency when the item was provided. In the presenting process, the first article information is presented for each type of currency for which consideration has been paid.

10. The management method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that: The first item information includes information indicating the actual supply quantity of the item provided to the user in each statistical period set at a predetermined time interval. In the presenting process, the actual supply quantity is presented for each statistical period.

11. The management method according to claim 10, characterized in that: The second item information includes information indicating an expected supply quantity of the item predicted to be provided to the user in each prediction period set at predetermined time intervals. In the presenting process, the expected supply quantity is presented for each of the forecast periods.

12. The management method according to claim 11, characterized in that: The information on at least a part of the items included in the first item information and the second item information is associated with store information indicating a store that provides the items. In the process of presenting, the actual supply quantity and the expected supply quantity are presented for each store.

13. The management method according to claim 11 or 12, characterized in that: The management method further includes notifying at least any one of a manufacturing order quantity, a manufacturing order period, a delivery quantity, and a delivery period of the article based on the expected supply quantity included in the second article information. 14 . A computer-readable recording medium having recorded thereon a program for executing the management method according to claim 1 .

15. A management system comprising: A game device that provides game items to users in exchange for payment of a price, each game item corresponding to a type of game; and a first server that manages the provision status of the game items, wherein in the management system, The game device includes a transmission unit that transmits first item information related to the game item that has been provided to the user. The first server comprises: an acquisition unit, configured to acquire the first item information for a plurality of the game devices; an exporting unit for exporting second item information related to the game item that has not been provided to the user, based on the first item information acquired by the acquiring unit; as well as a presentation control unit configured to cause a presentation unit to present the first item information and the second item information for each type corresponding to the game item, The categories corresponding to the items include: a first category, which indicates game content associated with the item; and a second category, which indicates a provision period of the item determined for the game content. The presentation control unit presents the first article information of the article related to a currently ongoing provision period and the first article information of the article related to a past provision period in a manner that allows comparison.

16. The management system according to claim 15, characterized in that: The management system further includes a second server having a collecting unit for collecting the first item information sent from the plurality of game devices. The acquisition unit acquires the first item information of the plurality of game devices collected by the collection unit.

17. The management system according to claim 15 or 16, characterized in that: The management system further comprises a user terminal having the presenting unit. The presentation control unit causes the presentation unit to present the first item information and the second item information based on a request from the user terminal.

18. A computer program product comprising a computer program, which, when executed by a processor, performs the management method according to any one of claims 1 to 13.

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