Enterprise club management device, method, and computer program

Abstract

The invention provides an enthusiast club management device, method, and computer program. The satisfaction degree of the enthusiasts can be improved in general through the operation of the enthusiasts club. A server, which is a management device for a lover club, transmits, to a user who wants to join the lover club, share data representing shares that imply the status or rights of a member of the lover club. During the initial recruitment period, stock data about one stock is transmitted to the member who joins the enthusiast club. The first member can introduce candidates of the second member to the enthusiast club, the second member can introduce candidates of the third member to the enthusiast club, and the n-1 member can introduce candidates of the n member to the enthusiast club. The purchase price per share purchased by the n-order members in order to join the club with the enthusiasts is lower than that of the (n-1)-order members.

Description

[0001] This application is a divisional application of the application with the application number 202410954481.3, the invention title of "Enthusiast Club Management Device, Method, and Computer Program", and the application date of July 17, 2024. Technical Field

[0002] The present invention relates to a technique for managing an enthusiast club that is a group of enthusiasts as creators. Background Art

[0003] In the present application, a "creator" is defined as a person (including a group consisting of multiple people, of course) who provides the following creations that can be digitized and published to users (users are people who enjoy (or consume) the following creations, such as readers, viewers, etc.): creations using poems, novels, and other texts as expression media, creations using comics, posters, and other still images as expression media, creations using music videos, movies, and other videos as expression media, creations using music, stand-up comedy, and other voices as expression media.

[0004] In the past, the main source of income for creators was the sale of tangible objects on which the above creations were recorded. For example, for creators such as novelists and comic artists, they earned income by selling books as creations, and for musicians, they earned income by selling videos of music videos as creations or CD-ROMs (Compact Disc - Read only memory) or DVD-ROMs (Digital Versatile Disc - Readonly memory) that recorded music as creations.

[0005] However, with the development of digital technology, the way of enjoying or consuming creations based on users has changed.

[0006] For example, taking the case where the creation is music as an example, the way listeners listen to music has changed from listening to music on CDs to streaming via the network. As a result, it is well known that the sales volume of CDs has decreased significantly. As a result, the business model of creators whose creations are music and whose income source was CD sales has collapsed. Similarly, the business models that were once considered common sense for past creators, such as increasing profits by selling tangible objects such as CDs, DVDs, single volumes, pocket books, comic magazines, and comic books, have all had to be scaled back.

[0007] This gives rise to problems that go beyond the issues of individual creators. For example, in the case where the creator is a musician, the above problems become issues for the entire music industry. Funds no longer flow into the music industry, thus cooling the overall business climate of the music industry.

[0008] There are many other similar cases, but for the time being, let's take the case where the creator is a musician as an example. The business model mainly relying on CD sales has collapsed, so the main source of income for current creators has shifted to ticket sales for live performances in front of the audience and merchandise sales that often accompany live performances.

[0009] Among them, by providing various benefits to the members of the fan club from the creator or the fan club, it is possible to improve the satisfaction of the members of the fan club towards the creator, thus increasing the motivation of the members to participate in live performances and purchase merchandise.

[0010] Therefore, fan clubs are very important for current creators, and it can be said that it is crucial to make a large number of fans become members of the fan club and improve the satisfaction of the members of the fan club. Summary of the Invention

[0011] However, most of the previous fan clubs were operated on a membership fee basis as described above.

[0012] Of course, although tickets for live performances and merchandise are also sold through fan clubs, in the current situation, the money that members of the fan club pay to the fan club is basically only the membership fee and not as consideration for other goods and services.

[0013] On the other hand, in recent years in Japan, the term "support activities" has been widely used. "Support activities" refer to general behaviors of appreciating or supporting one's favorite creator (but not limited to creators, and in some cases, two-dimensional characters in anime are also popular targets). For example, support can include cases without financial expenditure such as deeply understanding one's favorite creator or making the creator widely known to the world through SNS, as well as cases with financial expenditure such as participating in live performances or purchasing merchandise.

[0014] In recent years, on video distribution sites such as YouTube (trademark), functions such as "tipping" (trademark) have been installed for viewers to tip video distributors. Tipping becomes a source of support for video distributors. On the other hand, for viewers, it satisfies their desire to support popular creators, so it is a win-win situation for both video distributors and viewers.

[0015] If a video distributor (creator) receives a tip for the video posted, the capital for creating the next creation (for example, if the creator is a musician, the creation is a piece of music) is sufficient, so the satisfaction that fans receive from the next creation also increases, which has a positive effect on the relationship between the creator and the fans or the industry to which the creator belongs.

[0016] The object of the invention of the present application is to provide a technology for managing a fan club that can generally improve the satisfaction of fans through the operation of the fan club.

[0017] To solve the above problems, the inventors of the present application have proposed the following invention.

[0018] The invention of the present application is a fan club management device that manages the fan club by combining with a plurality of user terminals respectively used by a plurality of users who are connected to a predetermined network and can communicate via the network, and by allocating shares of members of the fan club, which symbolizes a group of fans who support a predetermined creator, to the users.

[0019] Moreover, the fan club management device includes: a transmission / reception mechanism capable of communicating via the network; a rule recording unit that records the rules of the fan club; a member information recording unit that records information related to the shares held by each member; and an information processing unit that uses data sent from the user terminal via the network by the transmission / reception mechanism and performs information processing based on the rules recorded in the rule recording unit.

[0020] In addition, the information processing unit in the fan club management device includes: a primary share management unit that, during an initial fundraising period which is a predetermined period from the start of recruiting the members, receives from the user who is not a member, via the user terminal and the network, an expression of intention to purchase the shares at a price of X1 per share and data indicating the number of shares the user wishes to purchase, and when the fan club has been paid the price calculated by multiplying X1 by the number of shares the user wishes to purchase, determines, according to the rules recorded in the rule recording unit, to issue to the user the number of primary shares, which is a type of the shares, that the user wishes to purchase, and records that the user is a primary member and the number of the primary shares issued to the user in the member information recording unit; a secondary share management unit that, when defining a user introduced by a primary member as a candidate for a secondary member, a user introduced by a secondary member as a candidate for a tertiary member, …, and a user introduced by an n - 1th member as a candidate for an nth member (where n is a natural number greater than or equal to 2 and less than or equal to N, and N is a predetermined natural number greater than or equal to 3), after the end of the initial fundraising period, receives from the user who is a candidate for an nth member introduced by an n - 1th member, via the user terminal and the network, an expression of intention to purchase the shares at a price of X n per share and data indicating the number of shares the user wishes to purchase, and when the fan club has been paid the price calculated by multiplying X n by the number of shares the user wishes to purchase, determines, according to the rules recorded in the rule recording unit, to issue to the user the number of nth shares, which is a type of the shares, that the user wishes to purchase, and records that the user is an nth member, the number of the nth shares issued to the user, and information identifying the member who introduced the user in the member information recording unit; and a share data generation unit that generates share data corresponding to the primary shares determined by the primary share management unit to be issued to the user or corresponding to the nth shares determined by the secondary share management unit to be issued to the user, and sends the share data to the user terminal of the user who should become the owner of the shares corresponding to the share data via the sending and receiving mechanism and the network. In addition, according to the rules recorded in the rule recording unit, the price of the shares satisfies X1 ≥ X2 and, when n is greater than or equal to 2, X n ≥ X n+1conditions. The fan club management device includes a rights management department that generates rights data corresponding to the right to provide data of a creation provided by the creator to the user who is a member based on the data recorded in the member information recording department, and sends the generated rights data to the user terminal of the user who is a member via the sending and receiving mechanism and the network.

[0021] The fan club management device is used in combination with a user terminal. The user terminal is a user terminal owned by a user who is a member of a fan club of a certain creator managed by the fan club management device. The user terminal is set to be able to communicate via a network, such as a smart phone, a mobile phone, or a personal computer. The fan club management device is connected to the user terminal via a predetermined network. The network is typically the Internet, but may also include other networks such as a LAN (Local Area Network) in a part thereof.

[0022] The fan club management device manages the fan club by allocating shares symbolizing membership in the fan club, which is a group of fans of a creator to be supported, to users. The definition of a creator has been described as a person who provides the following creations that can be digitized and published to users: creations using poems, novels, and other texts as expression media, creations using comics, posters, and other still images as expression media, creations using music videos, movies, and other videos as expression media, and creations using music, stand-up comedy, and other voices as expression media. In addition, the "shares" referred to in this application are different from the status or rights of a member (shareholder) of a joint-stock company, and mean the status or rights of a person recognized as a member of the fan club provided by the fan club management device involved in the invention of this application. In addition, sometimes the shares in this application are accompanied by the following status or rights. That is, the "shares" described in this application are not securities such as ordinary marketable securities that are investment targets, but always certificates like membership cards symbolizing membership in the fan club. On the other hand, although a user has the nature of a membership card, the user can own multiple shares.

[0023] The fan club management device includes: a sending and receiving mechanism set to be able to communicate via a network; a rule recording department that records the rules of the fan club; a member information recording department that records information related to the shares held by each member; and an information processing department that uses the data sent from the user terminal via the network by the sending and receiving mechanism to perform information processing based on the rules recorded in the rule recording department.

[0024] The information processing department has a primary share management department, a subordinate share management department, and a share data generation department, or the information processing department functions as a primary share management department, a subordinate share management department, and a share data generation department.

[0025] The primary share management department has the function of managing the shares issued during the initial fundraising period, which is a predetermined period from the start of member recruitment. During the initial fundraising period, when the primary share management department receives from a non-member user via the user terminal and the network a statement of intention to purchase shares at a price of X1 per share and data indicating the number of shares the user wishes to purchase, and the user has paid the price calculated by multiplying X1 by the number of shares the user wishes to purchase to the fan club, the primary share management department decides, in accordance with the rules recorded in the rule recording department, to issue to the user the number of primary shares, which is a type of share, that the user wishes to purchase. If such a decision is made, the primary share management department records that the user is a primary member and the number of primary shares issued to the user in the member information recording department.

[0026] That is, the primary share management department has the function of recognizing the issuance of primary shares to a user when the user has a statement of intention to purchase shares, including the number of shares to be purchased, and has paid the price therefor. In addition, the primary share management department records in the member information recording department the number of primary shares issued to which user.

[0027] The primary share management department has the function of deciding whether to issue primary shares, while the subordinate share management department has the function of deciding whether to issue secondary shares to secondary members, tertiary shares to tertiary members,..., and nth shares to nth members (where n is a natural number greater than or equal to 2 and less than or equal to N, and N is a predetermined natural number greater than or equal to 3). A user introduced by a primary member is a candidate for a secondary member who becomes a secondary member after meeting the predetermined conditions, a user introduced by a secondary member is a candidate for a tertiary member who becomes a tertiary member after meeting the predetermined conditions, and a user introduced by an (n - 1)th member is a candidate for an nth member who becomes an nth member after meeting the predetermined conditions.

[0028] After the end of the initial fundraising period, the subordinate share management department receives from a user who is a candidate for an nth member introduced by an (n - 1)th member via the user terminal and the network a statement of intention to purchase shares at a price of X n and data indicating the number of shares the user wishes to purchase, and the user has paid the price calculated by multiplying X nIn the case of the price calculated by multiplying the number of shares the user wishes to purchase, according to the rules recorded in the rule recording unit, the number of n - th share issues (which is a type of share) that the user wishes to purchase is determined for the user, and the information that the user is an n - th member, the number of n - th shares issued to the user, and the information of the member who introduced the user is recorded in the member information recording unit.

[0029] That is, the lower - layer share management unit has the following functions. When there is an explicit indication of a referrer from a certain user and an intention to purchase shares (indicating how many shares to purchase) and the price has been paid, and when the shares held by the referrer are (n - 1) - th shares, the issuance of n - th shares is recognized for that user. In addition, the lower - layer share management unit records in the member information recording unit how many n - th shares have been issued to which user. Furthermore, shares after the second - layer shares are collectively referred to as "lower - layer shares", and members after the second - layer members are collectively referred to as "lower - layer members". In addition, in this application, sometimes the numerical parts such as "1", "2", "n" in "first - layer shares", "second - layer shares", "n - th shares", etc., and the numerical parts such as "1", "2", "n" in "first - layer members", "second - layer members", "n - th members", etc. are called the "number of times" of the shares and members.

[0030] The share data generation unit generates share data corresponding to the shares (first - layer shares or n - th shares) determined to be issued by the first - layer share management unit or the lower - layer share management unit. The generated share data is sent to the sending and receiving mechanism and is sent to the user terminals of each user via the network. The status or rights of the user as a member of the fan club are guaranteed by this share data. For example, the share data can be set as data that enables the fan club to confirm that a certain user is a member of the fan club. This data can also be, for example, data of a barcode such as a two - dimensional barcode. The user displays the barcode based on the share data on the display of their own smart phone, and the relevant personnel of the fan club read the barcode with a barcode reader, so that the fan club can confirm whether the user is a member of the fan club (in some cases, which level of member of the fan club the user is, and in addition, how many shares of which level the user holds, etc.). Such a method of using barcodes is not so much unknown as it is well - known, so further explanation is omitted.

[0031] In addition, in the present invention of this application, the price of the shares satisfies the conditions of X1≥X2 and, when n is 2 or more, X n ≥X n+1 according to the rules recorded in the rule recording unit. That is, in the present invention of this application, the price per share of the first - layer shares is the same as or higher than the price per share of the second - layer shares. Among the second - layer shares or shares after the second - layer shares, the price per share of the n - th shares is the same as or lower than the price of the (n - 1) - th shares.

[0032] The fan club operated by the fan club management device as described above complies with the following rules.

[0033] (Rule 1) Sell shares once during the initial fundraising period. Users who purchase shares once become first-time members.

[0034] (Rule 2) First-time members can introduce users who are candidates for second-time members to the fan club after the end of the initial fundraising period.

[0035] (Rule 3) Users introduced to the fan club by first-time members can purchase second-time shares, and users who purchase second-time shares become second-time members.

[0036] (Rule 4) Second-time members can introduce users who are candidates for third-time members to the fan club after the end of the initial fundraising period.

[0037] (Rule 5) Users introduced to the fan club by second-time members can purchase third-time shares, and users who purchase third-time shares become third-time members.

[0038] (Rule 6) Similarly, hereafter, (n - 1)-time members can introduce users who are candidates for n-time members to the fan club.

[0039] (Rule 7) Users introduced to the fan club by (n - 1)-time members can purchase n-time shares, and users who purchase n-time shares become n-time members.

[0040] (Rule 8) First-time members to (N - 1)-time members can introduce users who are candidates for members to the fan club, but N-time members cannot introduce users who are candidates for members to the fan club.

[0041] (Rule 9) The price per share of the first-time shares is the same as or higher than that of the second-time shares. Among the second-time shares and subsequent shares, the price per share of the n-time shares is the same as or lower than that of the (n - 1)-time shares.

[0042] The fan club management device includes a rights management department that generates rights data corresponding to the right to provide data of the creation provided by the creator to the user as the member based on the data recorded in the member information recording department, and transmits the generated rights data to the user terminal of the user as the member via the sending and receiving mechanism and the network.

[0043] In the fan club management device of the present application, the above rules are recorded in the rule recording unit directly or in an indirect manner rewritten in a way that applies the above rules.

[0044] When using the fan club management device of the present application, the fan club is operated in accordance with the above rules, thereby producing the following effects.

[0045] First of all, whether it is a first-time member or a lower-level member after the second time, they can purchase the number of shares they want.

[0046] In addition, the first-time member and lower-level members other than the Nth member can introduce new fans (users) into the fan club by making introductions. As described above, in the minds of fans, they hope that the creators they like will be widely known to the world. Therefore, such an introduction system conforms to the psychology of such fans, so it satisfies the idea of fans hoping to support the creator. In addition, by fans actively persuading new fan candidates, the number of members of the fan club can be increased.

[0047] In addition, the above (Rule 9) of "the price per share of the first-time shares is the same as or higher than that of the second-time shares, and among the shares after the second-time shares or the shares after the second-time shares, the price per share of the nth shares is the same as or lower than that of the (n - 1)th shares" has the effect of improving the satisfaction of the first-time members. The reason is that the fact that oneself is the first fan and oneself has spent a higher amount per share than other members (among the members after the second time, there may be someone who raises the same amount per share as oneself as a first-time member, but there is at least no one among the members after the second time who raises a higher amount per share than oneself) satisfies the self-esteem of the first-time members who have strongly hoped to support the creator since the beginning of the operation of the fan club. In order to make the mood of the first-time members more satisfied, the price of the above shares can satisfy the conditions of X1 > X2 and, when n is 2 or more, X n ≥X n+1 In this case, the above (Rule 9) is "the price per share of the first-time shares must be higher than that of the second-time shares, and among the shares after the second-time shares or the shares after the second-time shares, the price per share of the nth shares is the same as or lower than that of the (n - 1)th shares".

[0048] In addition, the price of the shares after the second share offering is the same as or lower than the price of the first share offering. Thus, especially when the price of the shares after the second share offering is lower than the price of the first share offering, it is easier for the members after the second membership to join the fan club. Even if the price of the shares after the second share offering is the same as the price of the first share offering, the members after the second membership will at least not have difficulty joining the fan club. If we assume that the price per share when purchasing shares for the members after the second membership to join the fan club is gradually decreased, from the perspective of the fan club, even at the stage when it is difficult to obtain new members due to a certain degree of increase in members, it is still relatively easy to obtain new members.

[0049] Furthermore, such a mechanism is clearly different from the mechanism of ordinary shares. The reason is that when a new joint-stock company, such as a new venture capital enterprise, is established, those who can obtain shares at the lowest cost (the cheapest price per share) are usually the investors who participate in the capital contribution of the venture capital enterprise at its establishment. After that, for example, those who want to obtain shares through a third-party allotment by investing in the venture capital enterprise can only purchase shares at a higher amount per share than the investors at the start of the venture capital enterprise. In this way, the shares in the joint-stock company system where the price per share becomes higher when generally wanting to obtain shares later and the shares as described in this application have opposite properties.

[0050] In addition, both the first share and the lower-layer shares as described in this application correspond to the shares as described in this application. Moreover, an upper limit can also be set on the number of shares that can be issued. Thereby, it is possible to provide users with a motivation for purchasing shares.

[0051] In this case, in addition to (Rule 1) to (Rule 9), the following (Rule 10) is also recorded in the rule recording unit.

[0052] (Rule 10) The maximum number of shares that can be issued is z.

[0053] In this way, the fan club management device can set an upper limit on the number of shares that can be issued.

[0054] In particular, when the fan club management device sets an upper limit on the number of shares that can be issued, it is useful to limit the number of first shares that can be purchased by one user. By preventing a specific user from hoarding first shares, it is possible to prevent the non-issuance of lower-layer shares and the direct shares described later. Similarly, the number of shares that can be purchased by one user can also be limited for the lower-layer shares and the direct shares described later.

[0055] As described above, in the invention of this application, the price of the shares satisfies X1≥X2 according to the rules recorded in the rule recording unit, and X n ≥Xn+1 conditions

[0056] Here, when n is a natural number, the price of the shares can be set to X n >X n+1 . In this case, it also includes first-class shares and subordinate shares. Among all the shares, the price per share of the nth-class shares is lower than that of the (n - 1)th-class shares

[0057] In this case, as in the following Rule 9.1, amend the above Rule 9

[0058] (Rule 9.1) Regardless of first-class shares and subordinate shares, among all the shares, the price per share of the nth-class shares is lower than that of the (n - 1)th-class shares

[0059] Thus, it is possible to more reliably obtain the effect of "it is relatively easy to obtain new members even at a stage where the number of members who find it difficult to obtain new members has increased to a certain extent" among the above effects generated according to Rule 9

[0060] The fan club management device of the present application may also include a calculation unit that calculates points corresponding to a predetermined amount to be paid to a user who is an (n - 1)th-class member introducing a user who is a candidate for the nth-class member, based on the data recorded in the member information recording unit. Here, n is a natural number of 2 or more

[0061] These points are equivalent to so-called referral fees, giving users who have already become members of the fan club the motivation to introduce new member candidates to the fan club. As a result, the possibility of attracting new members to the fan club is increased

[0062] As an example of such data, for example, points that can only be used within the fan club can be cited. Points that can only be used within the fan club can be set, for example, to be used for the purchase (or exchange with creations) of goods and creations of creators provided by the fan club to its members. The points can be used for purposes other than purchasing items and services. For example, a user as a viewer can "tip" (trademark) a creator as a video publisher. The source of such a tip can also be provided to the introducing user as points equivalent to the referral fee

[0063] The calculation unit grasps from which (n - 1)th-class member the user who is a candidate for the new nth-class member is introduced, based on the data recorded in the member information recording unit, and thus determines how many points should be paid to which member. Points are paid to the user who is an (n - 1)th-class member by the fan club, but the payment method is free, and it is also free whether the fan club management device has a point payment function

[0064] In addition, it is also possible to appropriately determine how the calculation unit determines the amount of points. Rules related to points, such as the rules for determining the amount of points and when to calculate the point amount, can also be recorded in the rule recording unit.

[0065] For example, the calculation unit may calculate the amount of points paid to a user who is an (n - 1)-th member introducing a user who is a candidate for the n-th member to be higher than the amount of points paid to a user who is an n-th member introducing a user who is a candidate for the (n + 1)-th member. This means that users who become members of the fan club at an earlier stage can obtain a large referral fee when introducing new users to the fan club. According to such a method of determining points, it is possible to give users an incentive to become members of the fan club at an early stage (with a small number of times).

[0066] Regarding the amount of points, when the referral fee for an m-th member (where m is a natural number from 1 to N - 1) introducing an (m + 1)-th member is set as A m+1 and the number of users who become members through the introduction of a certain user (oneself) or users having a serial referral relationship with that user, i.e., the number of m-th members, is set as P m+1 in this case, it is also possible to obtain the amount calculated by the following formula (Formula 1).

[0067]

Formula 1

[0068]

[0069] The number of times of one's own membership

[0070] This is an example of the method for calculating points.

[0071] For example, assume the above case where N = 4 (i.e., the membership only recognizes up to the 4th member) and the user for whom points are received is a 1st member. In this case, the points that a certain 1st member can obtain become the amount obtained by multiplying A2 by the number P2 of 2nd members in an invitation relationship with this 1st member, the amount obtained by multiplying A3 by the number P3 of 3rd members in an invitation relationship with this 1st member, and the amount obtained by multiplying A4 by the number P4 of 4th members in an invitation relationship with this 1st member, combined. Similarly, in the case where N = 4 and the user for whom points are received is a 3rd member, the amount obtained by multiplying A4 by the number P4 of 4th members in an invitation relationship with this 3rd member becomes the amount of points.

[0072] Furthermore, it can also be set that A m > A m+1Thus, when introducing one enthusiast to the enthusiast club, an n - time member can receive more points as referral fees compared to an n + 1 - time member. This provides an incentive for users to join the enthusiast club at an earlier stage.

[0073] To set it as A m >A m+1 , for example, it can be as described below.

[0074] That is, when m is 3 or more, set it as A m = A2×B m-2 (where 0 < B < 1), A can be obtained m .

[0075] The enthusiast club management device may also include a direct share management department. After the end of the initial fundraising period, the direct share management department receives, from a user who is not a member, a statement of intention to purchase the shares at a price of Y per share and data indicating the number of shares the user wishes to purchase via the user terminal and the network. When the enthusiast club has been paid the price calculated by multiplying Y by the number of shares the user wishes to purchase, according to the rules recorded in the rule recording department, it determines to issue to the user the number of direct shares, which is a type of the shares, that the user wishes to purchase, and records the fact that the user is a direct member and the number of the direct shares issued to the user in the member information recording department. In this case, the share data generation department may also generate share data corresponding to the direct shares determined by the direct share management department to be issued to the user, and send the share data to the user terminal of the user who should become the owner of the shares corresponding to the share data via the sending and receiving mechanism and the network.

[0076] As described above, the shares issued by the enthusiast club management device of the present application are basically first - class shares and subordinate shares. Moreover, the first - class shares and subordinate shares that are not N - class shares confer on the members who hold them the right (right of introduction) to introduce other users who are not members of the enthusiast club to the enthusiast club.

[0077] However, among users, there may still be those who are already members of the enthusiast club but have no one around them who can introduce them to the enthusiast club as an introducer. By enabling users to purchase direct shares as described above after the end of the initial fundraising period, those who have no connections and want to become members of the enthusiast club as such subordinate members can also become members of the enthusiast club by directly obtaining shares from the enthusiast club. This becomes an opportunity for users without connections to become members of the enthusiast club.

[0078] In addition, members who hold direct shares do not have the right (right of introduction) to introduce other users who are not members of the fan club to the fan club.

[0079] The fan club management device of the present application may also include a right management unit that generates right data corresponding to the right to provide data of a creation provided by the creator to the user who is the member based on the data recorded in the member information recording unit, and transmits the generated right data to the user terminal of the user who is the member via the transmission / reception mechanism and the network.

[0080] The right data is data symbolizing the right to receive the provision of data carried by the creation provided by the creator. A person having this data can receive the provision of data of movies, music, comics, and other creations provided by the creator via the fan club management device or other devices that operate a voice delivery site or a video delivery site, etc. Of course, the user can enjoy (or consume) by viewing or listening to the creation based on the provided data.

[0081] This right can be granted regardless of the type of shares held by the user. The right data may or may not be sent to the user terminal simultaneously with the provision of data symbolizing shares to the user.

[0082] The creator may be a musician, and the right data may be audio-visual data corresponding to the right to view and listen to the music provided by the creator.

[0083] In addition, the content of the right data or the audio-visual data can also be changed according to the type of shares held by the user. Taking the case where the right data is audio-visual data as an example, for instance, a first-class member can view and listen to a certain piece of music earlier than a lower-class member, or an n-class member can view and listen to a greater variety of music than an n + 1-class member. If the content of the audio-visual data provided to a first-class member is more favorable compared to a lower-class member, or if the content of the audio-visual data provided to a higher-class member among lower-class members is more favorable, it can provide the user with the motivation to become a member of the fan club earlier. The same difference can also be given to the right data according to the type of shares held by the user.

[0084] Rules regarding the provision of the right data or the audio-visual data, such as the content of the right data or the audio-visual data provided to the user, the provision timing of the right data or the audio-visual data, etc., can also be recorded in the rule recording unit.

[0085] The fan club management device involved in the present application may also include a viewing management unit that generates viewing data corresponding to the right for the user, as a member, to watch the live performance provided by the creator based on the data recorded in the member information recording unit, and transmits the generated viewing data to the user terminal of the user, as a member, via the sending and receiving mechanism and the network.

[0086] The viewing data is data symbolizing the right to watch the live performance provided by the creator and is equivalent to the ticket for the live performance. A person having such data can watch the live performance provided by the creator they support.

[0087] This right can be granted regardless of the type of shares the user has. The viewing data may or may not be sent to the user terminal simultaneously with the data symbolizing the shares being provided to the user.

[0088] In addition, the content of the viewing data can also be changed according to the type of shares the user has. For example, it can be set that the content of the viewing data sent to the second - tier member is the same as or less favorable than the content of the viewing data sent to the first - tier member, and the content of the viewing data sent to the n - th tier member is the same as or less favorable than the content of the viewing data sent to the (n - 1) - th tier member. If the content of the viewing data provided to the first - tier member is more favorable than that provided to the lower - tier members or if the content of the viewing data provided to the higher - tier members among the lower - tier members is more favorable, it can provide the user with the motivation to become a member of the fan club earlier.

[0089] The rules related to the provision of the viewing data, such as the content of the viewing data provided to the user and the timing of the provision of the viewing data, can also be recorded in the rule recording unit.

[0090] The inventor of the present application also presents the method executed by the fan club management device as one aspect of the invention of the present application. The effects achieved by this method are equal to the effects of the fan club management device involved in the invention of the present application.

[0091] An example of the method is a method performed by an information processing unit in a fan club management device, wherein the fan club management device manages the fan club by assigning shares of members of a fan club that symbolizes a group of fans supporting a predetermined creator to a plurality of user terminals connected to a predetermined network and configured to be able to communicate via the network, the shares being symbolized as members of the fan club, the fan club management device comprising: a sending and receiving mechanism configured to be able to communicate via the network; a rule recording unit that records the rules of the fan club; a member information recording unit that records information related to the shares held by each member; and an information processing unit that uses data sent from the user terminal by the sending and receiving mechanism via the network to perform information processing based on the rules recorded in the rule recording unit.

[0092] Furthermore, the method includes the following process performed by the information processing unit: a primary share management process, in which, during an initial recruitment period which is a predetermined period from the start of recruitment of members, the user who is not the member sends data indicating an intention to purchase the shares at a price of X1 per share and the number of shares to be purchased via the user terminal and the network, and pays a price calculated by multiplying X1 by the number of shares the user wishes to purchase to the fan club, in accordance with the rule recorded in the rule recording unit, it is decided to issue primary shares as a type of the shares to the user in the number of shares the user wishes to purchase, and the user is The first-time member and the number of the first-time shares issued to the user are recorded in the member information recording unit; in the lower-level share management process, when the user introduced by the first-time member is defined as a candidate for the second-time member, the user introduced by the second-time member is defined as a candidate for the third-time member, ..., the user introduced by the n-1-time member is defined as a candidate for the n-time member (where n is a natural number greater than 2 and less than N, and N is a predetermined natural number greater than 3), after the initial fundraising period ends, the user who is the candidate for the n-time member introduced by the n-1-time member sends a share of X per share via the user terminal and the network. n The user indicates the user's intention to purchase the shares at a price of X and the number of shares to be purchased, and pays the fan club X nIn the case of the price calculated by multiplying the number of shares the user wishes to purchase, according to the rules recorded in the said rules recording section, it is determined, according to the said rules, that the number of the n-th shares, which is a kind of the said shares, to be issued to the user is the number the user wishes to purchase, and the information of the user being an n-th member, the number of the n-th shares issued to the user, and the member who introduced the user is recorded in the said member information recording section; and a share data generation process, which generates share data corresponding to the 1st shares determined to be issued to the user in the said 1st share management process or corresponding to the n-th shares determined to be issued to the user in the said lower-level share management process, and sends the said share data to the user terminal of the user who should become the owner of the shares corresponding to the said share data via the said sending and receiving means and the network.

[0093] In this method, according to the rules recorded in the said rules recording section, the price of the said shares satisfies the conditions of X1≥X2 and, when n is 2 or more, X n ≥X n+1 conditions.

[0094] The said fan club management device is provided with a rights management section, which generates rights data corresponding to the rights for the said user as a member to receive the provision of data on the creations provided by the said creator according to the data recorded in the said member information recording section, and sends the generated rights data to the user terminal of the said user as a member via the said sending and receiving means and the network.

[0095] The inventor of the present application also proposes, as one aspect of the present invention, a computer program for causing a predetermined general computer to function as a fan club management device. The effects achieved by the said computer program are equal to the effects of the fan club management device according to the present invention, and can cause a predetermined computer to function as the fan club management device according to the present invention.

[0096] The computer program, which serves as an example, causes a predetermined computer to function as a fan club management device. The fan club management device manages the fan club by combining with a plurality of user terminals respectively used by a plurality of users who are connected to a predetermined network and are capable of communicating via the network, and by allocating shares of membership in the fan club, which symbolizes a group of fans who support a predetermined creator, to the users. The fan club management device includes: a transmission / reception mechanism capable of communicating via the network; a rule recording unit that records the rules of the fan club; a member information recording unit that records information related to the shares held by each member; and an information processing unit that performs information processing based on the rules recorded in the rule recording unit using the data received from the user terminals via the network by means of the transmission / reception mechanism.

[0097] The computer program causes the information processing unit to execute: a first share management process. During an initial fundraising period, which is a predetermined period from the start of the recruitment of the members, if an intention expression to purchase the shares at a price of X1 per share and data indicating the number of shares the user wishes to purchase are sent from the user who is not a member via the user terminal and the network, and the fan club has received a payment of the price calculated by multiplying X1 by the number of shares the user wishes to purchase, then in accordance with the rules recorded in the rule recording unit, it is determined to issue to the user the number of first shares, which is a type of the shares, that the user wishes to purchase, and the user is recorded as a first member and the number of the first shares issued to the user is recorded in the member information recording unit; a lower-level share management process. When a user introduced by a first member is defined as a candidate for a second member, a user introduced by a second member is defined as a candidate for a third member,..., and a user introduced by an n - 1th member is defined as a candidate for an nth member (where n is a natural number greater than or equal to 2 and less than or equal to N, and N is a predetermined natural number greater than or equal to 3), after the end of the initial fundraising period, if an intention expression to purchase the shares at a price of X n per share and data indicating the number of shares the user wishes to purchase are sent from the user who is a candidate for an nth member introduced by an n - 1th member via the user terminal and the network, and the fan club has received a payment of the price calculated by multiplying X nIn the case of the price calculated by multiplying the number of shares the user wishes to purchase, according to the rules recorded in the rules recording unit, it is determined to issue to the user the number of n-th shares, which is a type of the shares, that the user wishes to purchase, and the information on the fact that the user is an n-th member, the number of the n-th shares issued to the user, and the member who introduced the user is recorded in the member information recording unit; and a share data generation process that generates share data corresponding to the first shares determined to be issued to the user in the first share management process or corresponding to the n-th shares determined to be issued to the user in the lower-level share management process, and sends the share data to the user terminal of the user who should become the owner of the shares corresponding to the share data via the sending and receiving mechanism and the network.

[0098] In addition, according to the rules recorded in the rules recording unit, this computer program causes the price of the shares to satisfy the conditions of X1≥X2 and, when n is 2 or more, X n ≥X n+1 conditions.

[0099] The fan club management device includes a rights management unit that generates rights data corresponding to the right to provide data of the creation provided by the creator to the user who is the member according to the data recorded in the member information recording unit, and sends the generated rights data to the user terminal of the user who is the member via the sending and receiving mechanism and the network. Description of the Drawings

[0100] Figure 1 is a diagram showing the overall structure of a fan club management system including a server as a fan club management device and a large number of terminals according to one embodiment.

[0101] Figure 2 is shown included in Figure 1 a diagram showing the appearance of the terminal of the system shown.

[0102] Figure 3 is shown included in Figure 1 a diagram showing the hardware structure of the terminal of the system shown.

[0103] Figure 4 is shown included in Figure 1 a diagram showing the block diagram of the functional blocks generated inside the terminal of the system shown.

[0104] Figure 5 is shown included in Figure 1 a diagram showing the block diagram of the functional blocks generated inside the server of the system shown.

[0105] Figure 6 This is a diagram showing an example of a login screen displayed on the monitor of a terminal when a user purchases shares once.

[0106] Figure 7 This is a diagram showing an example of an image displayed on the monitor of a terminal when a user purchases shares once and the state becomes logged in.

[0107] Figure 8 This is a diagram showing an example of an image displayed on the monitor of a terminal that prompts the payment of the purchase price of the shares purchased once by the user.

[0108] Figure 9 This is a diagram showing an example of data recorded in the member information recording section of the server included in the Figure 1 system shown when selling shares once.

[0109] Figure 10 This is a diagram showing an example of a login screen displayed on the monitor of a terminal when a user purchases lower-level shares.

[0110] Figure 11 This is a diagram showing an example of an image displayed on the monitor of a terminal when a user purchases lower-level shares and the state becomes logged in.

[0111] Figure 12 This is a diagram showing an example of an image displayed on the monitor of a terminal that prompts the payment of the purchase price of the lower-level shares purchased by the user.

[0112] Figure 13 This is a diagram showing an example of data recorded in the member information recording section of the server included in the Figure 1 system shown when selling lower-level shares.

[0113] Figure 14 This is a diagram showing an example of a login screen displayed on the monitor of a terminal when a user purchases direct shares.

[0114] Figure 15 This is a diagram showing an example of an image displayed on the monitor of a terminal when a user purchases direct shares and the state becomes logged in.

[0115] Figure 16 This is a diagram showing an example of data recorded in the member information recording section of the server included in the Figure 1 system shown when selling direct shares.

[0116] Figure 17It is a tree diagram showing the relationship of users who are "in an introduction relationship with those who become members due to their own introduction" starting from a certain user.

[0117] (Symbol Explanation)

[0118] 100: Terminal; 101: Display; 102: Input device; 121: Input unit; 122: Control unit; 123: Image generation unit; 124: Output unit; 125: Share data recording unit; 221: Input unit; 222: Control unit; 223A: Primary share management unit; 223B: Lower-level share management unit; 223C: Direct share management unit; 224: Share data generation unit; 225: Payment management unit; 226A: Member information recording unit; 226B: Rule recording unit; 227A: Audio-visual management unit; 227B: Viewing management unit; 228: Image control unit; 229: Output unit; 300: Point management unit. Detailed Embodiment

[0119] Hereinafter, with reference to the accompanying drawings, a preferred embodiment of the present invention and its modified examples will be described.

[0120] In the description of the embodiment and the modified examples, duplicate symbols are attached to duplicate objects, and duplicate descriptions are omitted as appropriate.

[0121] Figure 1 Schematically shows the overall structure of a preferred embodiment of a fan club management system including a fan club management device of the present invention.

[0122] The system according to the embodiment is configured to include a plurality of terminals 100-1 to 100-N (hereinafter sometimes simply referred to as "terminal 100") and a server 200. All of them are set to be connectable to the network 400.

[0123] The network 400 is the Internet in this embodiment, but it is not limited thereto. A part of the network 400 may include other networks such as a LAN (Local Area Network) and an intranet.

[0124] The terminal 100 in this embodiment corresponds to the user terminal referred to in this application.

[0125] The user terminal is owned by each user and used by each user. In addition, for example, as is commonly the case where one person connects to the same Internet site from a smartphone, a tablet, and a personal computer placed, there are cases where there are multiple devices of the terminal 100 used by the same user.

[0126] On the other hand, the server 200 in the present embodiment corresponds to the fan club management device described in this application. The server 200 and the terminals 100-1 to 100-N are set to be able to communicate with each other via the network 400.

[0127] The server 200 is the fan club management device described in this application. The fan club management device manages a fan club that is a collection of fans as creators. A "creator" is a person who provides the following creations that can be digitized and published, for example, via the Internet and other networks, to users (users are people who enjoy (or consume) the following creations): creations using poems, novels, and other texts as expression media, creations using comics, posters, and other still images as expression media, creations using music videos, movies, and other videos as expression media, creations using music, stand-up comedy, and other voices as expression media. Not limited to this, in the present embodiment, a creator is set to be a person (such as a singer or a musician) who provides creations related to music to users.

[0128] Next, the structure of the terminal 100 will be described. The structures of the terminals 100-1 to 100-N can be said to be the same in terms of their relationship with the fan club management device in the invention of this application. The terminal 100 includes a computer. More specifically, the terminal 100 in the present embodiment is composed of a general-purpose computer.

[0129] The terminal 100 is a smartphone, a tablet, a notebook personal computer, a desktop personal computer, a wearable terminal, etc. All of them are required to be able to communicate via the network 400, generate the following function blocks inside by installing the following computer program, and be able to execute the following processing. As long as these can be achieved, there are no special limitations on other specifications. The terminal 100 can be a publicly known or well-known example, and a commercially available terminal is sufficient.

[0130] For example, if the terminal 100 is a smartphone or a tablet, the terminal 100 as a smartphone can be, for example, the iPhone (trademark) manufactured and sold by Apple Japan Co., Ltd., and the terminal 100 as a tablet can be, for example, the iPad (trademark) manufactured and sold by Apple Japan Co., Ltd. If the terminal 100 is composed of a notebook personal computer, a desktop personal computer, a wearable terminal, etc., they can all be commercially available products. Hereinafter, it is assumed that the terminal 100 is a smartphone for description, but it is not limited to this.

[0131] Figure 2 An example of the appearance of the terminal 100 is shown.

[0132] The terminal 100 is equipped with a display 101. The display 101 is a device for displaying still images or videos, and well-known or commonly known examples can be used. For example, the display 101 is a liquid crystal display. When the terminal 100 is a desktop personal computer, the display 101 has an external structure. Even so, in this application, the terminal 100 is treated as a device equipped with the display 101. In addition, the terminal 100 is equipped with an input device 102. The input device 102 is a device for a user to make desired inputs to the terminal 100. Well-known or commonly known products can be used for the input device 102. The input device 102 of the terminal 100 in this embodiment is a button-type device, but it is not limited thereto, and numeric keys, keyboards, trackballs, mice, voice-to-text conversion input devices, touch keys, etc. can also be used. In particular, when the terminal 100 is a notebook personal computer, a desktop personal computer, or a wearable terminal, the input device 102 has an external structure such as a keyboard, a mouse, or a touch switch. Even so, in this application, the terminal 100 is treated as a device equipped with the input device 102. In addition, when the display 101 is a touch panel, the display 101 also has the function of the input device 102, which is set as such in this embodiment.

[0133] Figure 3 Shows the hardware structure of the terminal 100.

[0134] In terms of hardware, it includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 111, a ROM (ReadOnly Memory) 112, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 113, and an interface 114, which are interconnected through a bus 116.

[0135] The CPU 111 is an arithmetic device for performing operations. For example, the CPU 111 executes the processes described later by executing computer programs recorded in the ROM 112 or the RAM 113. Although not shown, the hardware may also include a large-capacity recording device such as an HDD (Hard Disk Drive) or an SSD (Solid State Drive), and the computer program may be recorded in the large-capacity recording device. In addition, the CPU 111 may be a GPU (Graphics Processing Unit) or a GPGPU (general purpose computing on GPU) in consideration of the improvement of future arithmetic processing capabilities. In this application, the so-called CPU is adopted as an example of the embodiment in the CPU 111.

[0136] In the computer program referred to herein, there is at least a computer program for causing the terminal 100 to execute the following processing (for example, processing for causing the terminal 100 to function as a user terminal according to the invention of the present application). This computer program can either be pre-installed in the terminal 100 or post-installed in the terminal 100. Regarding the installation of this computer program into the terminal 100, it can be carried out via a predetermined recording medium such as a memory card, or via a network such as a LAN or the Internet. In the computer program, there can also be data used when the CPU 111 performs information processing based on the instructions of the computer program.

[0137] The ROM 112 records the computer programs and data required for the CPU 111 to execute the following processing. As the computer programs recorded in the ROM 112, if the terminal 100 is a smart phone, there are recorded computer programs and data required for the terminal 100 to function as a smart phone, such as those for implementing functions like calls and emails, but not limited thereto. In addition, the terminal 100 is set to be able to also view a homepage according to the data received via the network 400, and a known web browser for enabling this is installed.

[0138] The RAM 113 is a type of memory that provides a working area required for the CPU 111 to perform processing. The RAM 113 can rewrite the recorded data. In the RAM 113, depending on the situation, the above-mentioned computer programs and data (a part thereof) can also be recorded. When the CPU 111 executes processing based on the following computer program, the computer program is expanded on the RAM 113.

[0139] Interface 114 exchanges data between the CPU 111, RAM 113, etc. connected by the bus 116 and the outside. The interface 114 is connected to the above-mentioned display 101 and input device 102. The operation content input from the input device 102 is input from the interface 114 to the bus 116. In addition, as is well known, the image data for displaying an image on the display 101 is sent from the bus 116 to the interface 114 and output from the interface 114 to the display 101. In addition, the interface 114 is connected to a well-known unit for communicating with the outside via the network 400 as the Internet, that is, a transmission and reception mechanism (not shown), whereby the terminal 100 can send data via the network 400 and receive data via the network 400. Regarding the transmission and reception of data via the above-mentioned network 400, there are cases where it is carried out in a wired manner but also cases where it is carried out in a wireless manner. For example, when the terminal 100 is a smart phone, the above-mentioned communication is usually carried out in a wireless manner. As long as it can be realized, the structure of the transmission and reception mechanism can be set as a well-known or well-known example. The data received by the transmission and reception mechanism from the network 400 is received by the interface 114, and the data delivered from the interface 114 to the transmission and reception mechanism is sent to the outside, such as the server 200, via the network 400 by the transmission and reception mechanism.

[0140] By executing a computer program by the CPU 111, function blocks as shown in Figure 4 are generated inside the terminal 100. In addition, the following function blocks can also be generated by the function of the above-mentioned computer program alone for enabling the terminal 100 to function as the user terminal of the present invention, but can also be generated by the cooperation of the above-mentioned computer program and computer programs such as the OS installed in the terminal 100.

[0141] Inside the terminal 100, an input unit 121, a control unit 122, an image generation unit 123, an output unit 124, and a share data recording unit 125 are generated according to the relationship with the functions of the present invention.

[0142] Among them, the control unit 122 and the image generation unit 123 correspond to the arithmetic device (CPU 111) as hardware, or are realized by the function of the arithmetic device that executes information processing according to the instructions of the above-mentioned computer program.

[0143] When the input unit 121 and the output unit 124 are regarded as hardware, they correspond to the interface 114, or are realized by the function of the interface 114. More specifically, the input unit 121 and the output unit 124 conceptually correspond to the connection parts of the interface 114 and the bus 116.

[0144] The share data recording unit 125 is realized as hardware by a recording device, that is, the RAM 113 or a mass storage device.

[0145] The information processing performed by all these functional blocks is implemented by the CPU 111.

[0146] The input unit 121 receives an input from the interface 114.

[0147] Among the inputs from the interface 114 to the input unit 121, there is an input from the input device 102. Among the inputs from the input device 102, for example, as will be described in detail later, there are data on the user ID, which is unique identification information for each user used to identify the user, and login data.

[0148] In addition, among the inputs from the input device 102, as will be described in detail later, there is purchase request data for requesting the purchase of shares from the server 200, which is an enthusiast club management device. The purchase request data is input together with the number of shares data. The number of shares data is data for determining the number of shares the user wishes to purchase. In addition, there is a case where introducer data, which will also be described later, is input from the input device 102.

[0149] In addition, among the data input from the interface 114 to the input unit 121, there is data input from the transmission and reception mechanism to the interface 114. The transmission and reception mechanism may receive data (such as share data and image control data described later) sent from the server 200 via the network 400.

[0150] In short, the input unit 121 sends the data received from the interface 114 to the control unit 122.

[0151] The control unit 122 controls the entire functional blocks generated within the terminal 100.

[0152] The control unit 122 has the following functions, for example.

[0153] Sometimes, data on the user ID and login data are input to the control unit 122. If these are received, the control unit 122 associates the data on the user ID and the login data, and then attaches data with the server 200 specified as the destination and sends it to the output unit 124. Sometimes, introducer data is input to the control unit 122. If these are received, the control unit 122 associates the login data, the data on the user ID, and the introducer data, and then attaches data with the server 200 specified as the destination and sends it to the output unit 124.

[0154] In addition, sometimes, purchase request data and number of shares data are input to the control unit 122. If these are received, the control unit 122 associates the purchase request data and the number of shares data, and then attaches data with the server 200 specified as the destination and sends it to the output unit 124.

[0155] In addition, the control unit 122 sometimes receives image control data. When the control unit 122 receives the image control data, it sends an instruction to generate image data for displaying an image based on the image control data on the display 101 of the terminal 100 to the image generation unit 123.

[0156] In addition, the control unit 122 sometimes receives share data. When the control unit 122 receives the share data, it sends the share data to the share data recording unit 125 and records it in the share data recording unit 125.

[0157] The image generation unit 123 sometimes receives an instruction to generate image data regarding an image based on the image control data. When the image generation unit 123 receives the image control data, it generates image data according to the image control data and sends it to the output unit 124.

[0158] Sometimes, as described above, the control unit 122 records the share data in the share data recording unit 125. That is, the share data recording unit 125 has the function of recording the share data.

[0159] The output unit 124 outputs the data generated by the functional blocks in the terminal 100 to the interface 114.

[0160] As described above, sometimes, data of the associated user ID and login data with the data of the destination - specified server 200 added are sent from the control unit 122 to the output unit 124. The output unit 124 that receives these sends these data to the sending - receiving mechanism via the interface 114. The sending - receiving mechanism sends the data of the user ID and login data to the server 200 via the network 400. As described above, sometimes, data of the associated user ID, login data, and introducer data with the data of the destination - specified server 200 added are sent from the control unit 122 to the output unit 124. The output unit 124 that receives these sends these data to the sending - receiving mechanism via the interface 114.

[0161] As described above, sometimes, data of the associated purchase request data and number - of - shares data with the data of the destination - specified server 200 added are sent from the control unit 122 to the output unit 124. The output unit 124 that receives these sends these data to the sending - receiving mechanism via the interface 114. The sending - receiving mechanism sends the purchase request data and number - of - shares data to the server 200 via the network 400.

[0162] In addition, sometimes, image data is sent from the image generation unit 123 to the output unit 124. The output unit 124 that receives it sends it to the interface 114. The image data is sent from the interface 114 to the display 101, and an image based on the image data is displayed on the display 101.

[0163] Next, the structure of the server 200 will be described.

[0164] When regarded as hardware, the server 200 can also be an existing well-known or well-understood server. That being said, by executing the computer program described later, the server 200 performs actions different from those of previous servers or server devices and exhibits functions different from those of previous servers or server devices.

[0165] The hardware structure of the server 200 can be a general example. Roughly speaking, it can follow the hardware structure of the terminal 100 that connects the CPU 111, ROM 112, RAM 113, and interface 114 with the bus 116. However, the server 200 generally usually has a large-capacity recording device such as an HDD or an SSD.

[0166] The structures and functions of the CPU, ROM, RAM, interface, bus, and large-capacity recording device of the server 200 are the same as those of these components in the terminal 100. In addition, a transmission and reception mechanism for communicating with devices outside the server 200 via the network 400, which is the same as the structure of the terminal 100, is connected to the interface of the server 200. The information (data) sent from the bus to the interface is sent to the transmission and reception mechanism and then sent to, for example, the terminal 100 via the network 400. In addition, the data sent from the terminal 100 via the network 400 and received by the transmission and reception mechanism is sent from the transmission and reception mechanism to the interface and then from the interface to the bus.

[0167] In addition, a display and an input device, which have the same structure as those of the terminal 100, can also be connected to the interface of the server 200. However, since they are not highly relevant to this application, their descriptions are omitted.

[0168] By executing a computer program recorded in the internal ROM, mass storage device, etc. of the server 200 that enables the server 200 to function as a fan club management device of the present invention, functional blocks as described below are generated inside the server 200. In addition, although the following functional blocks can also be generated by the function of a single computer program that enables the server 200 to function as a fan club management device of the present invention, they can also be generated by the cooperation of the above computer program and computer programs such as the OS installed in the server 200. In addition, although the above computer program can also be a program pre-installed in the server 200, it can also be a program post-installed in the server 200. In the case of post-installation, for installing the above computer program into the server 200, it can be performed via a predetermined recording medium such as a memory card, or via a network such as a LAN or the Internet. When the CPU executes processing based on the computer program, the computer program is expanded on the RAM. These matters are the same as those of the terminal 100.

[0169] Inside the server 200, an input unit 221, a control unit 222, a primary share management unit 223A, a lower-level share management unit 223B, a direct share management unit 223C, a share data generation unit 224, a payment management unit 225, a member information recording unit 226A, a rule recording unit 226B, an audiovisual management unit 227A, a viewing management unit 227B, an image control unit 228, an output unit 229, and a point management unit 300 are generated in relation to the functions of the present invention ( Figure 5 ).

[0170] Among them, the control unit 222, the primary share management unit 223A, the lower-level share management unit 223B, the direct share management unit 223C, the share data generation unit 224, the payment management unit 225, the audiovisual management unit 227A, the viewing management unit 227B, the image control unit 228, and the point management unit 300 correspond to a hardware computing device (not limited to this, the CPU in the description of the embodiment), or are realized by the function of a computing device that executes information processing using the instructions of the above computer program.

[0171] When the input unit 221 and the output unit 229 are regarded as hardware, they correspond to an interface, or are realized by the function of an interface. More specifically, conceptually, the input unit 221 and the output unit 229 correspond to the connection parts of the interface and the bus.

[0172] The member information recording unit 226A and the rule recording unit 226B are realized as hardware by a recording device, that is, the RAM, or a mass storage device. In some cases, the rule recording unit 226B is also realized by the ROM.

[0173] The input unit 221 receives input from the interface.

[0174] Data input from the interface to the input unit 221 is data sent from the terminal 100 via the network 400 and received by the transmission / reception mechanism of the server 200.

[0175] Among the data received by the transmission / reception mechanism from the terminal 100, as will be described in detail later, for example, there is data related to the user ID and login data that are correlated with each other, data related to the user ID that are correlated with each other, login data, and introducer data, purchase request data and share number data that are correlated with each other, etc. When these data are received from the interface, the input unit 221 sends each of these data to the control unit 222.

[0176] Among the data input from the transmission / reception mechanism, as will also be described in detail later, there is payment data. For example, payment data is sent from an external device that manages payments, such as a settlement device managed by an electronic settlement providing company such as a bank, a credit card company, or a prepaid payment means. The payment data becomes data that at least indicates how much each user has paid to the fan club.

[0177] The control unit 222 controls the entire generation of each functional block within the server 200.

[0178] The control unit 222 has a function of determining whether the current date and time correspond to the initial fundraising period. The initial fundraising period refers to a predetermined period starting from when the server 200, which is the fan club management device of the present application, starts selling shares. The start date and end date of the initial fundraising period are determined by the data recorded in the rule recording unit 226B described later. The length of the initial fundraising period can be set to about 3 months, for example. The control unit 222 has a function for grasping the current date and time, such as a clock function or a function of reading data related to the current date and time from an external device, and can use the data of the current date and time grasped by these well-known or well-known functions to determine whether the current date and time are within the initial fundraising period.

[0179] In addition, the control unit 222 has an authentication function for determining whether a user can log in to the server 200. The control unit 222 sometimes receives a pair of user ID data and login data from the input unit 221. The control unit 222 has the following function: when receiving the user ID data and login data that are correlated with each other, it authenticates the user with the user ID, and when the authentication is passed, it permits the user to log in to the service provided by the server 200 which is a fan club management device. The control unit 222 sometimes receives the correlated user ID data, login data, and introducer data from the input unit 221. The control unit 222 also authenticates the user with the user ID when receiving the correlated user ID data, login data, and introducer data. In addition, when receiving these three types of data, the control unit 222 has a function for determining which of the lower-level shares can be sold to the user. When making the above determination, the control unit 222 uses the data recorded in the member information recording unit 226A to make this determination, and the detailed content of this process will be described later.

[0180] For user authentication, the control unit 222 records the user IDs of the users assigned to all terminals 100. The user ID can also be recorded in the member information recording unit 226A, for example. The user ID is a unique identifier for each user, and is, for example, a list of at least one of characters, numbers, and symbols. Regarding the user ID for each user, it can be an example where the server 200 as a fan club management device issues it to each user, or an example where each user determines it and notifies the server 200 in advance. In short, referring to well-known techniques or common knowledge, it is easy to prepare many user IDs that are all unique in relation to others, and enable, for example, the control unit 222 of the server 200 or an appropriate recording device to hold these user IDs. Of course, in user authentication, the combination of a user ID and a password can also be used. In addition, user authentication can be performed using the physical or behavioral characteristics of the user such as fingerprints and irises without using a user ID. In short, in user authentication, appropriate well-known or common knowledge techniques can be applied. If the login is approved, an instruction to generate image control data is sent to the image control unit 228. The authentication process in this embodiment will be described in detail later.

[0181] The control unit 222 instructs the audiovisual management unit 227A to generate audiovisual data at a predetermined timing as described later. In addition, the control unit 222 instructs the viewing management unit 227B to generate viewing data at a predetermined timing as described later.

[0182] The control unit 222 instructs the image control unit 228 to generate image control data as described later at a predetermined timing as described later.

[0183] In addition, the control unit 222 has a function of determining the purchase amount per share of the shares purchased by the user, and has a function of determining the price of the shares that the user wishes to purchase. The purchase amount per share of the shares and the price of the shares that the user wishes to purchase are reflected in the image displayed on the display 101 of the terminal 100. In an instruction such as the generated image control data sent from the control unit 222 to the image control unit 228, sometimes content such as the correct purchase amount per share of the shares or the correct price of the shares that the user wishes to purchase is included in the image displayed on the display 101 of the terminal 100.

[0184] The control unit 222 also controls a first-stage share management unit 223A, a lower-tier share management unit 223B, and a direct share management unit 223C, which will be described later and have a function of determining the issuance of shares to the user.

[0185] As described later, the first-stage share management unit 223A, the lower-tier share management unit 223B, and the direct share management unit 223C each have a function of determining the issuance of first-stage shares, lower-tier shares, and direct shares. In the present embodiment, among the shares (share data) issued from the server 200, which is the fan club management device of the present application in the present embodiment, there are first-stage shares, lower-tier shares, and direct shares. However, among them, only the first-stage shares and the lower-tier shares are necessary for the issued shares, and the direct shares are not necessary. When the server 200 does not issue direct shares, the direct share management unit 223C is not required, and the control unit 222 does not need the function of controlling the direct share management unit 223C either.

[0186] The control unit 222 sometimes receives purchase request data and share quantity data that are correlated from the input unit 221. The control unit 222 sends these data to any one of the first-stage share management unit 223A, the lower-tier share management unit 223B, and the direct share management unit 223C. In other words, the control unit 222 distributes the correlated purchase request data and share quantity data to any one of the first-stage share management unit 223A, the lower-tier share management unit 223B, and the direct share management unit 223C.

[0187] As described above, the control unit 222 sometimes receives purchase request data and share quantity data that are correlated from the input unit 221. Regarding the correlated purchase request data and share quantity data, they may be sent to the control unit 222 during the initial fundraising period or after the end of the initial fundraising period.

[0188] The case of receiving the correlated purchase request data and share quantity data during the initial fundraising period means that, as described later, the user wishes to purchase first-stage shares.

[0189] On the other hand, the situation where associated purchase request data and share quantity data are received after the end of the initial offering period means, as described later, the situation where the user wishes to purchase subordinate shares or wishes to purchase direct shares.

[0190] In the case where associated purchase request data and share quantity data are received during the initial offering period, in order to indicate that the user wishes to issue first-stage shares, the control unit 222 sends the user ID data of the logged-in user and the share quantity data to the first-stage share management unit 223A.

[0191] In addition, at an appropriate timing after sending the user ID data and the share quantity data to the first-stage share management unit 223A, the control unit 222 sometimes receives paid data from the payment management unit 225 indicating that the purchase price for the first-stage shares that the user wishes to purchase has been paid. In the case where such paid data is received, the control unit 222 sends the paid data to the first-stage share management unit 223A.

[0192] The paid data is as follows.

[0193] As described above, payment data is sometimes input from the input unit 221 to the payment management unit 225. This is data indicating at least how much each user has paid to the fan club. The payment data is sent from a predetermined settlement device used by the user to pay money to the fan club, such as a settlement device managed by a bank, a credit card company, a provider of electronic settlement, etc., to the server 200. On the other hand, before and after the control unit 222 sends the user ID data and the share quantity data to the first-stage share management unit 223A, information about the purchase price awaiting payment (i.e., at least information determining the amount of the purchase price awaiting payment and the user who should pay the purchase price) is sent from the control unit 222 to the payment management unit 225. In the case where the payment data received by the payment management unit 225 is the purchase price of the shares and corresponds to the data in the state of awaiting payment, the payment management unit 225 generates paid data considering that the user has paid the purchase price of the shares and sends the generated paid data to the control unit 222. In this way, the payment management unit 225 has a function of collaborating with the control unit 222 to confirm whether the purchase price of the shares has been paid by the user. Such a function of confirming whether a certain price has been paid, that is, the so-called payment confirmation function, is of course well-known or well-known. Therefore, a well-known or well-known technology can be used to appropriately construct the payment confirmation function of the payment management unit 225 that functions in collaboration with the control unit 222.

[0194] When the control unit 222 receives associated purchase request data and share quantity data after the end of the initial offering period, as described above, the user wishes to purchase subordinate shares or wishes to purchase direct shares.

[0195] Here, the user who sends purchase request data and share quantity data from the terminal 100 first logs in to the server 200. When the user sends introducer data during login, the user wishes to purchase lower-level shares (specifically, shares of a specific number of times in the lower-level shares). When the user does not send introducer data during login, the user wishes to purchase direct shares.

[0196] When the control unit 222 receives the associated purchase request data and share quantity data from the terminal 100 that has previously sent introducer data after the end of the initial offering period, this indicates that the user wishes for the issuance of lower-level shares. Therefore, the control unit 222 associates the associated purchase request data and share quantity data with the previously received introducer data and sends these to the lower-level share management unit 223B.

[0197] In addition, at an appropriate timing after sending the user ID data, share quantity data, and introducer data to the lower-level share management unit 223B, the control unit 222 sometimes receives payment-completed data from the payment management unit 225 indicating that the purchase price for the lower-level shares the user wishes to purchase has been paid. When receiving such payment-completed data, the control unit 222 sends this payment-completed data to the lower-level share management unit 223B. The function undertaken by the payment management unit 225 when the user wishes to purchase lower-level shares is the same as in the case where the user wishes to purchase one-time shares.

[0198] When the control unit 222 receives the associated purchase request data and share quantity data from the terminal 100 that has never previously sent introducer data after the end of the initial offering period, this indicates that the user wishes for the issuance of direct shares. Therefore, the control unit 222 sends the user ID data of the logged-in user and the share quantity data to the direct share management unit 223C.

[0199] In addition, at an appropriate timing after sending the user ID data and share quantity data to the direct share management unit 223C, the control unit 222 sometimes receives payment-completed data from the payment management unit 225 indicating that the purchase price for the direct shares the user wishes to purchase has been paid. When receiving such payment-completed data, the control unit 222 sends this payment-completed data to the direct share management unit 223C. The function undertaken by the payment management unit 225 when the user wishes to purchase direct shares is the same as in the case where the user wishes to purchase one-time shares.

[0200] The one-time share management unit 223A has the function of determining how many one-time shares to issue to the user.

[0201] As described above, the one-time share management unit 223A sometimes receives the associated user ID data and share quantity data of the logged-in user from the control unit 222.

[0202] When the primary share management department 223A receives these data, the user wishes to purchase primary shares. Moreover, if payment data indicating that the purchase price for the primary shares the user wishes to purchase has been paid is sent from the control department 222, the primary share management department 223A determines to issue the number of primary shares the user wishes to purchase, which is determined by the share number data.

[0203] If the primary share management department 223A determines to issue primary shares, it sends the information (or data, not limited to this, in this embodiment, the data is set as the user ID) for determining the user to whom the primary shares are to be sent, the data for determining the class of shares allocated to the user (the shares issued in this case are primary shares), and the data indicating the number of shares the user holds to the member information recording department 226A in a mutually related state and records them in the member information recording department 226A. In addition, if the primary share management department 223A determines to issue primary shares, it sends the same data as that sent to the member information recording department 226A to the share data generation department 224.

[0204] The secondary share management department 223B has the function of determining how many secondary shares to issue to the user.

[0205] As described above, the secondary share management department 223B sometimes receives the user ID data, share number data, and introducer data of the logged-in users that are mutually related from the control department 222.

[0206] When the secondary share management department 223B receives these data, the user wishes to purchase secondary shares. Moreover, if payment data indicating that the purchase price for the secondary shares the user wishes to purchase has been paid is sent from the control department 222, the secondary share management department 223B determines to issue the number of secondary shares the user wishes to purchase, which is determined by the share number data.

[0207] Lower - tier Share Management Department 223B: If it decides to issue lower - tier shares, it sends the information (or data. Not limited to this, in this embodiment, the data is set as the user ID) for determining the user to whom the lower - tier shares are to be issued, the data for determining the class of shares allocated to the user (that is, which one of the second - tier shares to the N - tier shares), and the data indicating the number of shares issued to the user to the Member Information Recording Department 226A in a mutually - related state and records them in the Member Information Recording Department 226A. As will be described later, the writing of the above - mentioned data by the Lower - tier Share Management Department 223B to the Member Information Recording Department 226A is slightly different from the writing of the above - mentioned data by the First - tier Share Management Department 223A to the Member Information Recording Department 226A. When the Lower - tier Share Management Department 223B writes to the above - mentioned Member Information Recording Department 226A, it uses the introducer data received from the Control Department 222. In addition, if the Lower - tier Share Management Department 223B decides to issue lower - tier shares, it sends the data other than the introducer data among the data sent to the Member Information Recording Department 226A to the Share Data Generation Department 224.

[0208] The Direct Share Management Department 223C has the function of determining how many direct shares to issue to a user.

[0209] As described above, the Direct Share Management Department 223C sometimes receives the data of the user ID of the logged - in users related to each other and the number - of - shares data from the Control Department 222.

[0210] When the Direct Share Management Department 223C receives these data, the user wishes to purchase direct shares. Moreover, if the paid - data indicating that the purchase price for the direct shares the user wishes to purchase has been paid is sent from the Control Department 222, the Direct Share Management Department 223C decides to issue the number of direct shares the user wishes, which is determined by the number - of - shares data, to the user.

[0211] If the Direct Share Management Department 223C decides to issue direct shares, it sends the information (or data. Not limited to this, in this embodiment, the data is set as the user ID) for determining the user to whom the direct shares are to be issued, the data for determining the class of shares allocated to the user (in this case, the shares issued are direct shares), and the data indicating the number of shares the user holds to the Member Information Recording Department 226A in a mutually - related state and records them in the Member Information Recording Department 226A. In addition, if the Direct Share Management Department 223C decides to issue direct shares, it sends the same data as that sent to the Member Information Recording Department 226A to the Share Data Generation Department 224.

[0212] The share data generation unit 224 has a function of generating share data. The share data is data corresponding to the shares provided to the user. In addition, a share means the status or right as a member of the fan club provided to a person recognized as a member of the fan club by the fan club management device. However, sometimes other statuses or rights are attached to the shares as described later. As will be described later, in the present embodiment, sometimes the right to obtain viewing data and viewing history data is attached to the share data. The same applies to the data of the lower-level shares and the data of the direct shares, but the data format of the data of the first-level shares is free. However, the data of each share is preferably unique to each other.

[0213] The share data generation unit 224 sometimes receives the data of the user ID, the data determining the category of the issued shares as the first-level shares, and the number-of-shares data from the first-level share management unit 223A in a mutually related state. If these are received, the share data generation unit 224 generates share data corresponding to the shares to be provided to the user. The generated share data is share data regarding the first-level shares. In addition, the number of the generated share data is set to be the same as the number determined in the number-of-shares data. The share data generation unit 224 sends the generated share data together with the information of the terminal 100 of the user determined to be the destination to the output unit 229.

[0214] The share data generation unit 224 sometimes receives the data of the user ID, the data determining the category of the issued shares, and the number-of-shares data from the lower-level share management unit 223B in a mutually related state. If these are received, the share data generation unit 224 generates share data corresponding to the shares to be provided to the user. The generated share data is share data regarding the shares corresponding to the data determining the category of the shares (any one from the second-level shares to the Nth-level shares). In addition, the number of the generated share data is set to be the same as the number determined in the number-of-shares data. The share data generation unit 224 sends the generated share data together with the information of the terminal 100 of the user determined to be the destination to the output unit 229.

[0215] The share data generation unit 224 sometimes receives the data of the user ID, the data determining the category of the issued shares as the direct shares, and the number-of-shares data from the direct share management unit 223C in a mutually related state. If these are received, the share data generation unit 224 generates share data corresponding to the shares to be provided to the user. The generated share data is share data regarding the direct shares. In addition, the number of the generated share data is set to be the same as the number determined in the number-of-shares data. The share data generation unit 224 sends the generated share data together with the information of the terminal 100 of the user determined to be the destination to the output unit 229.

[0216] The Audio-Visual Management Department 227A has the function of generating audio-visual data. The Audio-Visual Management Department 227A corresponds to the audio-visual management department as an example of the rights management department of the present invention. The rights management department has a function of generating rights data, which is data corresponding to the right to provide data of a creation provided by a creator to a user who is a member of an enthusiast club, based on the data recorded in the member information recording department 226A. This rights data is sent to the terminal 100 used by the user through the sending and receiving mechanism and the network 400. In this embodiment, as described above, the creator is a musician. Therefore, the above-mentioned rights data is set as audio-visual data corresponding to the rights of the music provided by the audio-visual creator, and the rights management department is set as the Audio-Visual Management Department 227A. As a kind of rights data, the audio-visual data is sent to the terminal 100 used by the user via the sending and receiving mechanism and the network 400 as the above-mentioned audio-visual data is operated.

[0217] When an instruction to generate audio-visual data is given by the control unit 222, the Audio-Visual Management Department 227A generates audio-visual data.

[0218] As described above, the audio-visual data is data corresponding to the rights of the music provided by the creator to be audio-visually supported by the members of the enthusiast club. As described above, the audio-visual data is provided to the members of the enthusiast club who have shares.

[0219] When generating the audio-visual data, the Audio-Visual Management Department 227A refers to the data recorded in the member information recording department 226A and generates the audio-visual data based on the data recorded in the member information recording department 226A. The method of generating the audio-visual data will be described in detail later. The data format of the audio-visual data is free, but each audio-visual data is preferably unique data.

[0220] After generating the audio-visual data, the Audio-Visual Management Department 227A attaches the destination of the terminal 100 of the user to whom the audio-visual data should be sent to the audio-visual data and sends it to the output unit 229. Information on the destination is provided to the Audio-Visual Management Department 227A from the control unit 222, for example.

[0221] The Viewing Management Department 227B has the function of generating viewing data.

[0222] When an instruction to generate viewing data is given by the control unit 222, the Viewing Management Department 227B generates viewing data.

[0223] The viewing data is data corresponding to the right of the members of the enthusiast club to watch the live performance provided by the creator they support. The viewing data is provided to the members of the enthusiast club who have shares.

[0224] When generating viewing data, the viewing management unit 227B refers to the data recorded in the member information recording unit 226A and generates viewing data based on the data recorded in the member information recording unit 226A. Subsequently, the method for generating viewing data will be described in detail. The data format of the viewing data is free, but each viewing data is preferably unique data respectively.

[0225] After generating the viewing data, the viewing management unit 227B attaches the transmission destination of the terminal 100 of the user to whom the viewing data should be sent to the viewing data and sends it to the output unit 229. Information on the transmission destination is provided to the viewing management unit 227B from the control unit 222, for example.

[0226] In addition, the same applies to the audio-visual management unit 227A, but it is not necessary for the viewing management unit 227B.

[0227] The image control unit 228 has a function of generating image control data.

[0228] The image control data is data for controlling the image displayed on the display 101 of the terminal 100 operated by the user. Therefore, the image control data is sent from the server 200 to the terminal 100 via the network 400.

[0229] When the control unit 222 gives an instruction to generate image control data, the image control unit 228 generates image control data. In this instruction, an instruction on what kind of image control data to generate is included.

[0230] After generating the image control data, the image control unit 228 attaches the transmission destination of the terminal 100 of the user to whom the image control data should be sent to the image control data and sends it to the output unit 229. Information on the transmission destination is provided to the image control unit 228 from the control unit 222, for example.

[0231] The output unit 229 has a function of a transmission and reception mechanism that sends the data sent from the share data generation unit 224, the audio-visual management unit 227A, the viewing management unit 227B, and the image control unit 228 to the transmission and reception mechanism of the server 200 via the interface.

[0232] Share data on primary shares, subordinate shares, or direct shares is sent from the share data generation unit 224. Audio-visual data is sent from the audio-visual management unit 227A, viewing data is sent from the viewing management unit 227B, and image control data is sent from the image control unit 228.

[0233] For the share data, audio-visual data, viewing data, and image control data, information (data) determining the terminal 100 that becomes their transmission destination is attached as described above. These data are sent from the output unit 229 to the transmission and reception mechanism together with the information determining the transmission destination.

[0234] The sending and receiving mechanism sends these share data, audiovisual data, viewing data, and image control data to the terminal 100 determined by the information for determining the destination via the network 400.

[0235] Rules for issuing shares are recorded in the rule recording unit 226B. In addition, in the present embodiment, rules for providing audiovisual data to the user and rules for providing viewing data to the user are also recorded in the rule recording unit 226B.

[0236] Each of the functional blocks described above formed within the server 200, particularly the control unit 222, the primary share management unit 223A, the lower-level share management unit 223B, the direct share management unit 223C, the share data generation unit 224, the payment management unit 225, the member information recording unit 226A, the audiovisual management unit 227A, and the viewing management unit 227B read the rules from the rule recording unit 226B as needed and perform information processing in accordance with the read rules. In view of this point, in Figure 5 In the figure, arrows indicating the provision of data from the rule recording unit 226B to the above-mentioned large number of functional blocks should originally be described, but since the drawing would become too complex, the description of the arrows is omitted.

[0237] The rules recorded in the rule recording unit 226B are, for example, the rules exemplified below. However, the rules recorded in the rule recording unit 226B are not limited to the following rules themselves, and as long as the following rules can be used to cause each functional block to perform processing such as share issuance, the following rules can also be rewritten in an indirect manner.

[0238] As rules related to share issuance, the following examples can be cited. In addition, in the following rules, rules for controlling the direct share management unit 223C, the audiovisual management unit 227A, and the viewing management unit 227B are not included, but rules for controlling them can also be recorded in the rule recording unit 226B, as is the case in the present embodiment.

[0239] (Rule 1) Sell primary shares during the initial fundraising period. Users who purchase primary shares become primary members.

[0240] (Rule 2) A primary member can introduce users who are candidates to become secondary members to the fan club after the end of the initial fundraising period.

[0241] (Rule 3) Users introduced to the fan club by a primary member can purchase secondary shares, and users who purchase secondary shares become secondary members.

[0242] (Rule 4) A secondary member can introduce users who are candidates to become tertiary members to the fan club after the end of the initial fundraising period.

[0243] (Rule 5) Users who are introduced to the fan club twice can purchase 3 shares, and users who purchase 3 shares become 3rd-level members.

[0244] (Rule 6) Similarly, hereafter, n-1th-level members can introduce users who are candidates for becoming nth-level members to the fan club.

[0245] (Rule 7) Users who are introduced to the fan club by n-1th-level members can purchase n shares, and users who purchase n shares become nth-level members.

[0246] (Rule 8) Users from 1st-level members to N-1th-level members can introduce users who are candidates for becoming members to the fan club, but Nth-level members cannot introduce users who are candidates for becoming members to the fan club.

[0247] (Rule 9) The price per share of 1st-level shares must be higher than that of 2nd-level shares. Among the 2nd-level shares and subsequent shares, the price per share of nth-level shares is the same as or lower than that of n-1th-level shares.

[0248] (Rule 10) The maximum number of shares that can be issued is z.

[0249] In addition, for example, the above Rule 9 can also be “The price per share of 1st-level shares is the same as or higher than that of 2nd-level shares. Among the 2nd-level shares and subsequent shares, the price per share of nth-level shares is the same as or lower than that of n-1th-level shares.”

[0250] In the mechanism of the fan club operated by the server 200 equivalent to the fan club management device of the present application in this embodiment, 1st-level members who are owners of 1st-level shares and lower-level members (except Nth-level members) who are owners of lower-level shares can introduce new users to the fan club.

[0251] Moreover, in this embodiment, points with the nature of referral fees are paid to members who introduce new users to the fan club, but it is not limited to this.

[0252] The point management unit 300 has a function of determining the amount of such points. The point management unit 300 is equivalent to the calculation unit referred to in the present application.

[0253] The calculation method of the amount of points and the timing for obtaining the amount of points will be described later.

[0254] The point management unit 300 is set to have the function of obtaining the amount of points as a must, but it is not necessary to set the function of paying points to users. This point will also be described later.

[0255] Next, the usage method and operation of the fan club management system including the server 200 and the terminal 100 described above will be described.

[0256] <The user purchases one-time shares>

[0257] During the initial fundraising period, which is a predetermined period from the start of selling shares, the server 200 sells one-time shares, and the user can purchase one-time shares only during the initial fundraising period. For example, the fact that one-time shares are sold is advertised on the homepage of the fan club provided by the server 200, whereby the user learns that a fan club of a certain creator is recruiting members or selling one-time shares.

[0258] As described above, the control unit 222 has a function of determining whether the current date and time is within the initial fundraising period. During the period when the control unit 222 determines that the current date and time is within the initial fundraising period, only before the control unit 222 determines that the initial fundraising period ends, the following process of explaining the purchase of one-time shares by the user is executed.

[0259] The processes for the user to purchase one-time shares include the process of logging in to the server 200 via the terminal 100 (login process) and the process of purchasing one-time shares (one-time share purchase process).

[0260] In addition, an upper limit can be set for the number of issuable shares of the shares issued by the server 200 as a fan club management device. For example, an upper limit can also be set for the number of issuable shares of one-time shares, lower-level shares, and direct shares respectively, to set an upper limit for the total number of shares distributed by the server 200. In addition, an upper limit can be set for the number of issuable shares instead of setting an upper limit for the number of issuable shares of one-time shares, lower-level shares, and direct shares respectively. In the server 200 of the present embodiment, an upper limit is set for the number of issuable shares instead of setting an upper limit for the number of issuable shares of one-time shares, lower-level shares, and direct shares respectively, but it is not limited thereto.

[0261] In addition, in the present embodiment, an upper limit is set for the number of one-time shares, lower-level shares, and direct shares that can be purchased by one user, but it is not limited thereto. The upper limit of the number of shares of each share purchased can be the same for all shares or different, but in the present embodiment, the upper limit of the purchase number is set to 5 shares for any share.

[0262] (Login process)

[0263] The login process is performed as follows.

[0264] However, before performing the login process, each user notifies their own user ID to the server 200 via their own terminal 100 and pre-registers the user ID in the server 200. In the present embodiment, the user ID of each user is recorded in the member information recording unit 226A by the control unit 222, but it is not limited thereto.

[0265] In addition, the login process described below is only an example, and of course, the generally existing login processes can be applied.

[0266] Although the terminal 100 can also use a dedicated viewer provided by a computer program installed in the terminal 100 to access the server 200, it is not limited thereto. In the present embodiment, the terminal 100 can use a web browser to access the server 200 via the network 400.

[0267] First, the user accesses the server 200 by entering the URL of the server 200 in, for example, the address bar of the web browser. The URL is input using the input device 102. The data of the URL is sent from the input device 102 to the control unit 122 via the interface 114 and the input unit 121.

[0268] The control unit 122 attaches the data of the URL to the data of the access request and sends it to the sending and receiving mechanism via the output unit 124 and the interface 114. The sending and receiving mechanism of the terminal 100 sends the data of the access request to the server 200 specified by the URL via the network 400.

[0269] The server 200 receives the data of the access request using its sending and receiving mechanism. The data of the access request is sent from the sending and receiving mechanism to the control unit 222 via the interface and the input unit 221.

[0270] The control unit 222 sends a command to the image control unit 228 to generate image data corresponding to the login screen together with the data identifying the terminal 100 to which the access request is sent as the destination. The image control unit 228 generates image control data for causing an image corresponding to the command from the control unit 222 to be displayed on the display 101 of the terminal 100.

[0271] The image control unit 228 sends the generated image control data to the sending and receiving mechanism via the output unit 229 together with the data identifying the destination of the data.

[0272] The sending and receiving mechanism sends the image control data to the terminal 100 determined by the data identifying the destination of the data via the network 400, that is, the terminal 100 that sent the access request to the server 200.

[0273] The terminal 100 receives the image control data using its sending and receiving mechanism.

[0274] The image control data is sent to the control unit 122 via the interface 114 and the input unit 121, and further sent from the control unit 122 to the image generation unit 123. The image generation unit 123 generates image data for displaying an image based on the image control data on the display 101.

[0275] The image generation unit 123 sends the generated image data to the output unit 124. The image data is sent from the output unit 124 to the display 101 via the interface 114. An image based on the image data is displayed on the display 101.

[0276] Figure 6 (A) shows an example of an image displayed on the display 101. It is a so-called login screen.

[0277] In the image displayed on the display 101 of the terminal 100, as shown in the figure, it includes text 501 such as "User ID", a box 502 for input directly below it, and a button 503 written as "Send".

[0278] The box 502 directly below the text 501 such as User ID is a space for the user to input the user ID required for the login process. The button 503 written as Send is a so-called confirmation button. By the user pressing (clicking, the same hereinafter) this button 503, the user ID displayed in the box 502 at that time is determined as the input user ID.

[0279] In the case of logging in, the user, as Figure 6 (B) shows, inputs the unique user ID of each user into the box 502 under the text 501 such as User ID. Of course, each user usually knows their own user ID, so they can input the user ID. The input device 102 is used to input the user ID. The user ID is, for example, English letters, numbers, or a combination thereof, and the user can input the user ID from the input device 102 using known or well-known methods.

[0280] The user inputs the user ID into the box 502 and presses the button 503 written as "Send". When the user presses the button 503 written as "Send", login data is input together with the user ID data corresponding to the user ID written in the box 502 from the input device 102. The login data and the user ID data are sent from the input device 102 to the control unit 122 via the interface 114 and the input unit 121.

[0281] The control unit 122 correlates the login data with the user ID data, attaches it as data for the destination-specifying server 200, and sends it to the output unit 124. The correlated login data and user ID data are sent to the transmission / reception mechanism via the output unit 124 and the interface 114, and then sent to the server 200 via the network 400. Thus, in the server 200, user authentication processing is performed using the user ID.

[0282] The server 200 receives the correlated login data and user ID data using its transmission / reception mechanism. The login data and user ID data are sent from the interface to the control unit 222 via the input unit 221.

[0283] The control unit 222 that has received this data performs user authentication processing. The control unit 222 determines whether there is data in the member information recording unit 226A that records all user IDs that is consistent with the user ID sent from the terminal 100. If the user ID data sent from the terminal 100 is consistent with one of the user IDs recorded in the member information recording unit 226A, the user of the terminal 100 using the sent user ID is authenticated as a legitimate user with that user ID, and the user is allowed to use the fan club management service hereafter. On the other hand, if the user ID sent from the terminal 100 is not the user ID recorded in the member information recording unit 226A, the above authentication is not performed, and the user is not allowed to use the fan club management service.

[0284] In addition, as described above, information such as a password can also be used in the authentication.

[0285] In the case where authentication has been performed, the control unit 222 instructs the image control unit 228 to generate the next image control data. The image control unit 228 generates the next image control data. This image control data is sent to the terminal 100 in the same manner as the image control data for displaying the login screen on the display 101 of the terminal 100.

[0286] In the terminal 100, in the same manner as when the login screen is displayed on the display 101 of the terminal 100, the image generation unit 123 generates image data based on the image control data, and the generated image data is sent from the image generation unit 123 to the display 101. Thus, on the display of the terminal 100, an image as shown in Figure 7 (A) is displayed.

[0287] At the stage when this image is displayed on the screen of the display 101, the login process ends.

[0288] (First share purchase process)

[0289] The first share purchase process is performed as follows.

[0290] As shown Figure 7 (A), on the screen of the display 101, text 511 such as "Welcome, Mr. / Ms. 111aaaa" is displayed. The part such as "111aaaa" in this text is of course only an example and is the user ID of the logged-in user.

[0291] On the screen of the display 101, text 512 such as "The purchase price for 1 share of the one-time share that can be purchased is X1" is also displayed. Thus, the user can understand that the shares that the user can purchase are one-time shares and the price per share is X1.

[0292] Here, the control unit 222 in the server 200 determines the price per share of the one-time share to be displayed on the screen of the display 101 according to the rules recorded in the rule recording unit 226B. The control unit 222 sends an instruction to generate an image including the price X1 determined by the control unit 222 to the image control unit 228 within the server 200. The image control unit 228 generates image control data according to this instruction. Therefore, the image data generated by the image generation unit 123 of the terminal 100 based on this image control data includes the price per share of the one-time share such as X1.

[0293] Under the text 512, text 513 such as "Please enter the number of shares to be purchased" and a box 514 for the user to enter the number of shares to be purchased are displayed. Further, below it, a button 515 written as "Send" is displayed.

[0294] As shown Figure 7 (B), the user uses the input device 102 to enter the quantity of the one-time shares that the user wishes to purchase in the box 514. In Figure 7 (B), the user wishes to purchase 3 shares of the one-time share. And if it is decided to purchase that quantity of the one-time share, the button 515 recorded as "Send" is pressed. The button 515 has the nature of a so-called confirmation button in the same way as the button 503. In addition, in this embodiment, the upper limit of the quantity of the one-time shares that one user can purchase is set to 5. Therefore, the quantity that the user can enter into the box 514 can be any one of 1 to 5. This means that, for example, it can be notified to the user in the image shown in Figure 7 (A), or measures such as displaying an error message can be taken when a quantity of 6 or more is entered in the box 514.

[0295] When the user inputs the quantity of the primary shares they wish to purchase into box 514 and presses the button 515 labeled "Send", a purchase request data is generated and input from the input device 102 together with the share quantity data which is the data determining the number (such as the number 3 in this case) input into box 514. The purchase request data and the share quantity data are sent from the input device 102 to the control unit 122 via the interface 114 and the input section 121.

[0296] The control unit 122 correlates the purchase request data and the share quantity data, attaches the data of the destination-specified server 200, and sends them to the output section 124. These correlated data are sent to the sending and receiving mechanism via the output section 124 and the interface 114, and then sent to the server 200 via the network 400.

[0297] The server 200 receives, via its sending and receiving mechanism, the correlated purchase request data and share quantity data sent via the network 400. These data are sent from the sending and receiving mechanism to the control unit 222 via the interface and the input section 221.

[0298] When receiving the correlated purchase request data and share quantity data during the initial offering period, the control unit 222 correlates the data of the user ID of the logged-in user and the share quantity data and sends them to the primary share management section 223A.

[0299] The primary share management section 223A becomes in a state of holding the data of the user ID and the share quantity data. In this case, the primary shares of the quantity determined by the share quantity data that the user determined by the user ID wishes to purchase, for example, become in a state of waiting for payment.

[0300] On the other hand, the control unit 222 determines (calculates) the purchase price of the primary shares of the quantity that the user wishes to purchase. Since the control unit 222 knows that the price per share of the primary shares is X1, it can calculate the price of the primary shares that the user should pay by simply multiplying the price per share by the quantity determined by the share quantity data. In the case of this example, this price becomes 3 × X1.

[0301] After calculating the purchase price of the primary shares that the user should pay, the control unit 222 promptly sends the purchase price of the primary shares and the information (such as the data of the user ID) of the user used to determine the payment of this price to the payment management section 225. This is equivalent to the information of the price waiting for payment as described above.

[0302] In addition, the control unit 222 instructs the image control unit 228 to generate the next image control data. This instruction includes information on the purchase price of the primary shares that the user wishes to purchase. The image control unit 228 generates the next image control data. This image control data is sent to the terminal 100 in the same manner as the image control data for displaying the login screen on the display 101 of the terminal 100.

[0303] In the terminal 100, in the same manner as when the login screen is displayed on the display 101 of the terminal 100, the image generation unit 123 generates image data based on the image control data, and sends the generated image data from the image generation unit 123 to the display 101. Thus, on the display 101 of the terminal 100, an image as shown in Figure 8 is displayed.

[0304] At the stage when this image is displayed on the screen of the display 101, it becomes a state where the user has provisionally ordered 3 primary shares.

[0305] As shown in Figure 8 , on the screen of the display 101, a text 521 such as "Welcome, Mr. / Ms. 111aaaa" is displayed. The part such as "111aaaa" in this text is the user ID of the logged-in user in the same manner as the text 511.

[0306] On the screen of the display 101, a text 522 such as "The purchase amount for 3 primary shares is 3 × X1" is also displayed. That is, the image displayed on the display 101 becomes an image reflecting the price of the shares that the user wishes to purchase. Thus, the user can identify the purchase price of the 3 primary shares that they have purchased.

[0307] In addition, on the screen of the display 101, a text 523 such as "When paying the purchase amount within 1 day / Issuing shares / Payment method is, ○○" is displayed. Through this text, the user can identify the payment deadline and payment method for the purchase price of the shares. Of course, the payment deadline is not limited to 1 day. In addition, there can be multiple payment methods.

[0308] The user makes a payment to the fan club before the payment deadline.

[0309] The payment method can follow the prior art. For example, payment can be made by credit card or electronic settlement service. In addition, payment can be made by bank transfer.

[0310] After paying the price of one share, payment data, which is data indicating at least which user has paid how much to the fan club, is input from a settlement device managed by an external device that manages payments, such as a bank, a credit card company, or a company that provides electronic settlement, to the payment management unit 225. The payment data is sent to the server 200 via, for example, the network 400, is received by the sending and receiving mechanism of the server 200, and is received by the payment management unit 225 via the interface, the input unit 221, and the control unit 222.

[0311] If the user indicated by the received payment data and the payment amount to the fan club match the user and the price in the state of waiting for payment that was previously received by the control unit 222, the payment management unit 225 regards the price of one share in the state of waiting for payment as paid and generates paid data indicating the same.

[0312] The paid data is sent from the payment management unit 225 to the one-share management unit 223A via the control unit 222. In the case where the user does not make a proper payment before the payment deadline, the payment management unit 225 that has not received the payment data does not generate the paid data. Therefore, the following processing is not executed, so the one-share management unit 223A decides not to issue one share, and the user also does not receive the issuance of share data regarding one share. Such matters in the case where the user does not make a proper payment before the payment deadline are the same in the case where the user wishes to issue lower-level shares or direct shares.

[0313] When receiving the paid data, the one-share management unit 223A decides to issue to the user corresponding to the payment the number of one shares corresponding to the number of share data sent by the user.

[0314] If the above decision is made, the one-share management unit 223A sends the user ID of the user who obtains one share, the data (hereinafter referred to as share type data) that determines the category of the shares (one share) assigned to the user, and the share number data that is the data determining the number of shares the user has in a correlated state to the member information recording unit 226A and the share data generation unit 224.

[0315] The member information recording unit 226A records the user ID, the share type data, and the share number data in a correlated state. Figure 9 (A) shows an example of the data recorded in the member information recording unit 226A.

[0316] The share data generation unit 224 that has received the user ID, the share type data, and the share number data generates share data as data corresponding to the shares issued to the user. The number of the generated share data is set to the number determined by the share number data. The share data can be created by any method. In the present embodiment, the share data is generated as follows.

[0317] In the example described above, the user with the user ID "111aaaa" wants to purchase 3 shares corresponding to the share quantity data of the share type data "primary shares". In such a case, the share data generation unit 224 generates the first share data among the 3 share data by obtaining a hash through a predetermined operation on a string such as "111aaaa / primary / 1st". Similarly, the share data generation unit 224 sets the hash obtained through a predetermined operation on a string such as "111aaaa / primary / 2nd" as the second share data, and sets the hash obtained through a predetermined operation on a string such as "111aaaa / primary / 3rd" as the third share data. That is, in this example, the share data is generated as a hash obtained from a string such as "user ID / share type data / generation order of share data". The "user ID" is unique among each user, and the "generation order of share data" is unique among the shares held by the same user. Therefore, if such a share data generation method is adopted, all the share data provided to all users are basically all unique. If one does not want to generate the same share data, then by appending a hash obtained from a string such as "user ID / share type data / generation order of share data" to a plaintext string such as "user ID / share type data / generation order of share data", etc., it is possible to make all the share data provided to all users become mutually unique data.

[0318] If the share data generation unit 224 generates share data regarding primary shares, it sends the generated share data to the output unit 229 in an associated state together with the information determining the user's terminal 100 that is the destination.

[0319] The output unit 229 sends the share data and the information determining the destination to the sending and receiving mechanism via the interface. The sending and receiving mechanism sends the share data to the user's terminal 100 determined by the information determining the destination via the network 400, that is, the terminal 100 of the logged-in user.

[0320] The logged-in user uses this terminal 100, and more specifically, uses the sending and receiving mechanism of the terminal 100 to receive the share data.

[0321] The share data is sent from the sending and receiving mechanism to the control unit 122 via the interface 114 and the input unit 121. The control unit 122 sends the share data to the share data recording unit 125 and records the share data in the share data recording unit 125.

[0322] Thereby, the user has primary shares, and more precisely, the share data regarding primary shares that symbolizes primary shares, and becomes in a state of having the rights of a member of the fan club.

[0323] Although not limited to share data regarding first - class shares, the share data may also be data for displaying two - dimensional barcodes and other barcodes on the display 101 of the terminal 100, or data including data for displaying barcodes. In this case, the barcode displayed on the display 101 of the terminal 100 based on the share data can be set as data indicating that the user who displays the barcode on the display 101 based on the share data, that is, the user having the share data, is a member of the fan club. The barcode can include not only that the user is a member of the fan club, but also information such as what kind of shares the user has (which class of member the user is), how many shares the user has, etc. The barcode can also include information about the user ID of the user. For example, the person in charge of the fan club can also, when the creator conducts a certain activity, etc., use an appropriate barcode reader to read the barcode displayed on the display 101 of the terminal 100 by the user, so as to be able to grasp whether the user has shares in the fan club, and in addition, if possible, what kind of shares the user has and how many shares the user has, etc. necessary information.

[0324] In any case, through the above - mentioned process, a large number of users purchase first - class shares. By a large number of users purchasing first - class shares, in the member information recording unit 226A, groups of the above - mentioned three data are written. Thus, a database indicating which member (user) has how many shares of which shares starts to be constructed within the member information recording unit 226A. Figure 9 (B) shows an example of the data recorded in the member information recording unit 226A.

[0325] At this time point when it is still within the initial fundraising period, only first - class shares are sold.

[0326] After that, if the initial fundraising period ends, the control unit 222 determines that the initial fundraising period has ended. Thus, the initial fundraising period for selling first - class shares ends, and the sale of lower - layer shares and direct shares begins.

[0327] <Purchased by the user: lower - layer shares>

[0328] After the end of the initial fundraising period, the subordinate shares are sold through the server 200. For example, advertising the fact of selling subordinate shares on the homepage of the fan club provided by the server 200 enables users to learn that a certain creator's fan club is recruiting members or selling subordinate shares. In addition, users with first-class shares (members of the fan club) and users with subordinate shares up to the (N - 1)-th class of shares when there are subordinate shares up to the N-th class of shares can invite new users who are not yet members of the fan club to the fan club as new members. Therefore, through being invited by members, users can also learn that a certain creator's fan club is recruiting members or selling subordinate shares.

[0329] As described above, the control unit 222 has a function of determining whether the current date and time is within the initial fundraising period. After the control unit 222 determines that the current date and time is after the end of the initial fundraising period, the following processing regarding the purchase of subordinate shares by the user is executed.

[0330] The processing that the user performs to purchase subordinate shares includes the processing of logging in to the server 200 via the terminal 100 (login processing) and the processing of purchasing subordinate shares (subordinate share purchase processing).

[0331] In addition, in the present embodiment, the subordinate shares are from the second-class shares to the N-th class shares (N is a predetermined natural number of 3 or more). Of course, although not limited thereto, in the present embodiment, N is set to 5. That is, the subordinate shares are from the second-class shares to the fifth-class shares. Members with first-class to fourth-class shares have the right to invite new users to the fan club, while members with fifth-class shares do not have such a right. That is, N-th class members with N-th class shares do not have the right to invite other users to the fan club.

[0332] (Login processing)

[0333] The login processing is performed as follows.

[0334] In this case, the user who is a candidate for becoming a new member executes the login processing. Similar to the user who wishes to purchase first-class shares, each user needs to notify the server 200 of their user ID via their own terminal 100 and pre-register the user ID with the server 200 before executing the login processing.

[0335] The user who purchases subordinate shares also uses their own terminal 100 to access the server 200. Although not limited thereto, in this case, the terminal 100 also uses a web browser to access the server 200 via the network 400.

[0336] In the same manner as when purchasing shares once, the user accesses the server 200 by entering the URL of the server 200 in the address bar of a web browser, for example.

[0337] Thereby, in the same manner as when purchasing shares once, the data of the access request is sent from the terminal 100 to the server 200, and the image control data is sent back from the server 200 to the terminal 100 that sent the access request.

[0338] On the screen of the display 101 of the terminal 100, as described in the case of purchasing shares once, an image of the image data generated by the image generation unit 123 is displayed according to the image control data. Figure 10 (A) shows an example of the image displayed on the display 101. This is a so-called login screen.

[0339] The image displayed on the display 101 of the terminal 100 is basically the same as the login screen in the case where the user wants to purchase shares once. As shown in the figure, it includes the text 501 such as "User ID", the input box 502 directly below it, and the button 503 written as "Send". Their meanings and functions are the same as those described in the login screen in the case where the user wants to purchase shares once.

[0340] However, on the image in this case, the text 504 such as "Referrer's User ID" and the input box 505 directly below it are displayed. In the box 505, there is a column for entering the user ID of the user who becomes the referrer, which is an example of the information for determining the user who refers the user who will log in to the fan club. The user attempting to log in can easily obtain the user ID of the referrer by being notified of the user ID of the referrer by the referrer by methods such as orally or by email.

[0341] In the case where there is no referrer, the user does not need to enter the referrer's user ID into the box 505, but in the case where there is a referrer, the user enters the referrer's user ID into the box 505. In addition, in the case where the referrer is an n - 1 - time member, the user who wants to log in becomes a candidate for an n - time member. Also, the referrer is a member of the fan club from a 1 - time member to an N - 1 - time member (a 4 - time member in this embodiment).

[0342] Figure 10 (B) shows the state where the user enters their own user ID in the box 502 for entering their own user ID and enters the referrer's user ID in the box 505 for entering the referrer's user ID. Of course, although not limited to this, in Figure 10In (B), the user ID of the introducer input to box 505 becomes "111aaaa", which is the user ID of the user who purchased the shares once in the above example where the purchase of the shares once was explained. The user ID of the user who wants to log in is "222aabb".

[0343] If the user inputs their own user ID in box 502 and the user ID of the introducer in box 505, then the user presses button 503 labeled "Send". When the user presses button 503 labeled "Send", login data is input together with the data of the user ID corresponding to the user ID written in box 502 and the data of the user ID corresponding to the user ID of the introducer written in box 505 from the input device 102. The login data, the data of one's own user ID, and the data of the introducer's user ID are sent from the input device 102 to the control unit 122 via the interface 114 and the input section 121. In addition, the data of the introducer's user ID is data for identifying the introducer and is the introducer data that also appeared in the previous explanation.

[0344] The control unit 122 correlates the login data with the data of the two user IDs, attaches it as data for the destination-specifying server 200, and sends it to the output section 124. The correlated login data and the data of the two user IDs are sent via the output section 124 and the interface 114 to the transmission-reception mechanism and then sent to the server 200 via the network 400. Thus, in the server 200, user authentication processing is performed using the user ID.

[0345] The server 200 receives the correlated login data and the data of the two user IDs with its transmission-reception mechanism. The login data and the data of the two user IDs are sent from the interface to the control unit 222 via the input section 221.

[0346] The control unit 222 that has received these data performs user authentication processing in the same manner as in the case of purchasing the shares once. Two user IDs are sent from the terminal 100 to the server 200, but the user ID used by the control unit 222 for authentication is of course the user ID of the user who is logging in, that is, the user ID input to box 502 in the login screen. As described above, in the case where the user is authenticated as a legitimate user, the user is permitted to use the fan club management service hereafter, while in the case where the user is not authenticated, the user is not permitted to use the fan club management service.

[0347] In the case where authentication has been performed, the control unit 222 instructs the image control unit 228 to generate the next image control data. The image control unit 228 generates the next image control data. This image control data is sent to the terminal 100 in the same manner as the image control data for displaying the login screen on the display 101 of the terminal 100.

[0348] Before the image control unit 228 generates the next image control data, the control unit 222 determines which of the lower-level shares that the user requesting registration can purchase is from the second-level shares to the N-level shares (in this embodiment, as described above, N = 5). That is, the control unit 222 determines which of the lower-level shares can be sold to the user.

[0349] When making this determination, the control unit 222 uses the user ID of the introducer among the two user IDs sent from the input unit 221 and the data recorded in the member information recording unit 226A. The control unit 222 uses the user ID of the introducer as a search term to search for the user ID registered in the member information recording unit 226A. Moreover, if there is a user ID that is the same as the user ID of the introducer, the share type data associated with that user ID is read out. If the user ID of the introducer is "111aaaa", then as can be seen from Figure 9 (B), the share type data such as "first-level" is read out.

[0350] As described above, when the introducer is an (n - 1)-level member, the user who wants to log in becomes a candidate for an n-level member. That is, in the case of selling lower-level shares, the logged-in user can purchase the lower-level shares of the number of times obtained by adding 1 to the number of times of the shares determined by the read share type data. The control unit 222 determines the lower-level shares that the logged-in user can purchase as the shares obtained by adding 1 to the number of times of the shares determined by the read share type data. In addition, the control unit 222 determines the price per share of this share. The price per share of each lower-level share is recorded in the rule recording unit 226B. The control unit 222 reads out the price per share of the n-level shares (where n is a natural number of 2 or more and N (= 5) or less) that the user can purchase from the rule recording unit 226B, and determines the read price as the price of the n-level shares that the user can purchase.

[0351] In addition, according to the rules recorded in the rule recording unit 226B, the price X1 of the first-level shares and the price of the n-level shares satisfy the condition of "X1 > X2 and when n is 2 or more, X n ≥ X n+1 . Furthermore, in this embodiment, although not necessarily limited thereto, according to the data recorded in the rule recording unit 226B, "when n is a natural number, X n > X n+1 ". That is, in this embodiment, it is set that regardless of whether it is the first-level shares or the lower-level shares, the (n + 1)-level shares are always cheaper than the n-level shares, but it is not limited to this.

[0352] The price of the n-level shares is X nAs described above, in the example described previously, the shares that a user who wants to purchase shares can purchase are secondary shares. Therefore, the control unit 222 determines the price of the secondary shares as X2.

[0353] In the instruction for generating the image control data sent to the image control unit 228 by the control unit 222, it includes the category of shares that the logged-in user can purchase (which one from secondary shares to N (= 5) -th shares) and data related to the price per share of the shares. Therefore, according to the image control data generated by the image control unit 228, these information are subsequently reflected on the image displayed on the display 101 of the terminal 100.

[0354] In addition, when Rule 9 is that "the price per share of the primary shares is the same as or higher than that of the secondary shares, and among the shares after the secondary shares or subsequent to the secondary shares, the price per share of the n -th shares is the same as or lower than that of the (n - 1) -th shares", the price X1 of the primary shares and the price of the n -th shares are "satisfying the conditions of X1≥X2 and when n is 2 or more, X n ≥X n+1 ". In this case, it can also be set that when n is 2 or more, X n >X n+1 . The overall rule can be set like this.

[0355] Similar to when the user purchases primary shares, the image control data generated by the image control unit 228 is sent from the server 200 to the terminal 100 of the logged-in user.

[0356] Moreover, similar to when the user purchases primary shares, within the terminal 100, according to the image data generated by the image generation unit 123 based on the image control data and sent from the image generation unit 123 to the display 101, an image is displayed on the display 101 of the terminal 100. Figure 11 (A) shows an example of the image displayed on the display 101 of the terminal 100 at this time.

[0357] At the stage when this image is displayed on the screen of the display 101, the login process ends.

[0358] (Lower - layer share purchase process)

[0359] Similar to the primary share purchase process, the lower - layer share purchase process is executed.

[0360] Figure 11 (A) The login screen shown is the same as Figure 7 (A) The login screen when purchasing primary shares shown, except for the parts described as differences below.

[0361] On the display 101, text 511 including the user ID of the logged-in user such as "Welcome, Mr. / Ms. 222aabb" is displayed.

[0362] In addition, on the screen of the display 101, text 512 such as "The purchase price for 2nd-class shares per share is X2" is also displayed. This is a display that notifies the user that the shares the user can purchase are 2nd-class shares and the price per share is X2. In the login screen for purchasing lower-tier shares and the login screen for purchasing 1st-class shares, this part becomes a difference. In addition, when the shares the user can purchase are nth-class shares, text 512 becomes an example like "The purchase price for nth-class shares per share is X n ".

[0363] On the login screen for the case of purchasing lower-tier shares, similar to the login screen for the case of purchasing 1st-class shares, under text 512, text 513 saying "Please enter the number of shares to be purchased" and a box 514 for the user to enter the number of shares to be purchased are displayed. Additionally, further below, a button 515 written as "Send" is displayed.

[0364] The user, in the same way as when purchasing 1st-class shares, as Figure 11 (B) shows, uses the input device 102 to enter the number of nth-class shares (in this case, 2nd-class shares) the user wishes to purchase in box 514. In Figure 11 (B), the user wishes to purchase 4 shares of 2nd-class shares. And if the user decides to purchase that number of 2nd-class shares, the button 515 written as "Send" is pressed. In addition, the number that can be entered into box 514 is limited to 5 or less, the same as in the case of purchasing 1st-class shares.

[0365] When the user enters the number of shares to be purchased in box 514 and presses the button 515 written as "Send", a purchase request data is generated and, together with the share number data which is the data determining the number entered into box 514 (in this case, a number like 4), is input from the input device 102. The purchase request data and the share number data are sent from the input device 102 to the control unit 122 via the interface 114 and the input section 121.

[0366] The control unit 122 correlates the purchase request data and the share number data, attaches the data for the destination-specified server 200, and sends it to the output section 124. These correlated data are sent to the sending and receiving mechanism via the output section 124 and the interface 114, and then sent to the server 200 via the network 400.

[0367] Server 200 receives, via its transmission and reception mechanism, the correlated purchase request data and share quantity data sent via network 400. These data are sent from the transmission and reception mechanism to control unit 222 via the interface and input unit 221.

[0368] After the end of the initial offering period, when the correlated purchase request data and share quantity data are received from the terminal 100 of the logged-in user, and when the user has previously sent introducer data, control unit 222 correlates the introducer data (i.e., the user ID of the introducer) that has been previously received with the correlated purchase request data and share quantity data, and sends them to lower-level share management unit 223B.

[0369] As a result, lower-level share management unit 223B is in a state of holding data of the user ID, share quantity data, and introducer data.

[0370] In addition, lower-level share management unit 223B uses the received introducer data, i.e., the user ID of the introducer, as a search keyword, and similarly to control unit 222 just now, retrieves and reads out share type data such as "once" in member information recording unit 226A, and then adds "1" to this number of times, so as to determine that the shares the user wants to purchase are second-time shares. In this way, lower-level share management unit 223B can use the introducer data and the data recorded in member information recording unit 226A to determine the category of the shares the user wants to purchase (which one from second-time shares to N (= 5)-th shares). However, lower-level share management unit 223B may also receive, from control unit 222, share type data indicating the category of the shares the user wants to purchase as information that control unit 222 has already held, without having to perform again the determination of the category of the shares the user wants to purchase that has already been performed by control unit 222.

[0371] In short, in the state where the share type data is determined, lower-level share management unit 223B is in a state of holding data of the user ID of the user who wants to purchase shares, share type data indicating the category of the shares the user wants to purchase, share quantity data indicating the number of shares the user wants to purchase, and introducer data indicating the introducer.

[0372] In this state, the shares represented by the share type data with the quantity determined by the share quantity data that the user determined by the user ID hopes to purchase, for example, are in a state of waiting for payment.

[0373] On the other hand, control unit 222 determines (calculates) the purchase price of the n-th shares of the quantity that the user hopes to purchase, as it does in the case of purchasing first-time shares. Control unit 222 knows that the price per share of the n-th shares is X n(In this example, the price per share of the second - tier shares is X2), so by simply multiplying the price per share by the quantity determined from the share - number data, the price of the n - tier shares that the user should pay can be obtained. In the case of this example, this price becomes 4 × X2.

[0374] After calculating the price of the n - tier shares (second - tier shares in this example) that the user should pay, the control unit 222 promptly sends the price of the n - tier shares and the information of the user (such as the data of the user ID) used to determine the user who pays this price to the payment management unit 225. As described above, this corresponds to the information of the price waiting to be paid.

[0375] In addition, the control unit 222 instructs the image control unit 228 to generate the next image control data. Similar to the case of purchasing first - tier shares, this instruction includes information about the price of the n - tier shares that the user wants to purchase. The image control unit 228 generates the next image control data. Similar to the case of the image control data for displaying the login screen on the display 101 of the terminal 100, this image control data is sent to the terminal 100.

[0376] In the terminal 100, similar to the case of displaying the login screen on the display 101 of the terminal 100, the image generation unit 123 generates image data according to the image control data, and sends the generated image data from the image generation unit 123 to the display 101. Thus, the image as shown in Figure 12 is displayed on the display 101 of the terminal 100.

[0377] At the stage when this image is displayed on the screen of the display 101, it becomes a state where the user has provisionally ordered 4 shares of the second - tier shares.

[0378] As shown in Figure 12 on the screen of the display 101, the text 521 "Welcome, Mr. / Ms. 222aabb" is displayed. This is the user ID of the logged - in user, similar to the case shown in Figure 8 shown.

[0379] On the screen of the display 101, the text 522 "The purchase amount of 4 shares of the second - tier shares is 4 × X2" is also displayed. That is, the image displayed on the display 101 becomes an image reflecting the price of the shares that the user wants to purchase. Thus, the user can identify the purchase price of the 4 shares of the second - tier shares that they have purchased.

[0380] On the screen of the display 101, the text 523 indicating the payment deadline and payment method of the purchase price of the shares is also displayed.

[0381] The user makes a payment to the fan club before the payment deadline.

[0382] The processing related to payment is the same in the case of purchasing first - tier shares and the case of purchasing lower - tier shares.

[0383] When the user makes a payment, the payment management department 225 receives payment data. If the payment is made normally, the payment management department 225 generates paid - data.

[0384] The paid - data is sent from the payment management department 225 to the lower - tier share management department 223B via the control department 222.

[0385] When receiving the paid - data, the lower - tier share management department 223B determines to issue to the user corresponding to the payment shares of the share type determined by the number of share type data corresponding to the number of share data sent by the user.

[0386] If the above determination is made, the lower - tier share management department 223B sends the user ID of the user who has obtained the n - th tier shares, the share type data that determines the category of the shares allocated to the user (the second - tier shares in the example described), the share number data that is the data determining the number of shares the user has, and the introducer data to the member information recording department 226A in an associated state. In addition, the lower - tier share management department 223B sends the data obtained by removing the introducer data from these four data to the share data generation department 224.

[0387] In the member information recording department 226A, the user ID, the share type data, and the share number data are recorded in an associated state. Figure 13 (A) shows an example of the data recorded in the member information recording department 226A. In the case of lower - tier shares, in addition to the three types of data in the case of first - tier shares, the introducer data (the data of the introducer's user ID) is added, so a total of four data are recorded in an associated state.

[0388] The share data generation department 224 that has received the user ID, the share type data, and the share number data generates share data as data corresponding to the shares issued to the user. The number of the generated share data is set to be the same as the number determined by the share number data. Similarly to the case of first - tier shares, in the case of lower - tier shares, share data can also be made by some method. In the present embodiment, share data is generated in the same method as in the case of first - tier shares.

[0389] That is, regarding lower - tier shares, share data for lower - tier shares is also generated as a hash obtained from a string such as "user ID / share type data / generation order of share data", or by appending a hash obtained from a string such as "user ID / share type data / generation order of share data" to a plain - text string such as "user ID / share type data / generation order of share data".

[0390] If the share data generation unit 224 generates share data for the lower-level shares, the generated share data is sent to the output unit 229 in an associated state together with the information of the user terminal 100 determined to be the destination.

[0391] Similar to the case of the primary shares, the share data for the lower-level shares is sent from the server 200 to the terminal 100 via the network 400 and recorded in the share data recording unit 125 of the terminal 100 in the same way as the case of the primary shares.

[0392] As a result, the user has the lower-level shares, or rather, the share data for the lower-level shares symbolizing the lower-level shares, and becomes in a state of having the right to be a member of the fan club.

[0393] Through the above-mentioned processing, a large number of users purchase the lower-level shares. By a large number of users purchasing the lower-level shares, a group of four data, namely a large number of user IDs, share type data, share quantity data, and introducer data, is written into the member information recording unit 226A. As a result, in the member information recording unit 226A, a database is started to be constructed indicating which member (user) holds how many shares of which shares, and furthermore, who the introducer is when a certain user is a lower-level member. Figure 13 (B) shows an example of the data recorded in the member information recording unit 226A.

[0394] In the process of selling the lower-level shares, the sales of the secondary shares to the N (= 5) -th shares are carried out in parallel.

[0395] In Figure 13 (B), the user with the user ID "222aabb" as a secondary member joins the fan club through the introduction of the user with the user ID "111aaaa" as a primary member. Similarly, the user with the user ID "456oopp" as a tertiary member joins the fan club through the introduction of the user with the user ID "222aabb" as a secondary member, the user with the user ID "450cccc" as a quaternary member joins the fan club through the introduction of the user with the user ID "456oopp" as a tertiary member, and the user with the user ID "225baab" as a quinary member joins the fan club through the introduction of the user with the user ID "450cccc" as a quaternary member.

[0396] The users with the user IDs "111aaaa", "222aabb", "456oopp", "450cccc", and "225baab" respectively form a serial introduction relationship where the users in the front introduce the users in the back to the fan club in the above order. In addition, in Figure 13(B) Several user IDs and introducer data are enclosed in a box, which is used to indicate the users in the above introduction relationship and has no other intention.

[0397] In this way, the new member invites the members of the next session to the fan club. Moreover, in this embodiment, the later the user joins the fan club, the lower the price per share of the shares purchased for joining the fan club. As a result, a large number of users join the fan club operated by the server 200 as the fan club management device.

[0398] In addition, similar to other share data, the lower-layer share data can also be data for displaying a two-dimensional barcode and other barcodes on the display 101 of the terminal 100, or data including data for displaying barcodes. In this case, the information included in the barcode displayed on the display 101 of the terminal 100 based on the share data can be set to be the same as other share data. The information included in the barcode can be, for example, the user ID related to the user having the share data, the share type data related to the shares held by the user, the number of shares data, and the introducer data. The person in charge of the fan club can access the information included in the barcode using an appropriate barcode reader, as already described.

[0399] <Direct shares purchased by users>

[0400] Similar to the sale of lower-layer shares, after the end of the initial fundraising period, direct shares are sold through the server 200. After the control unit 222 determines that the current date and time is after the end of the initial fundraising period, the following processing for the purchase of direct shares by users is executed.

[0401] For example, the fact that direct shares are sold is advertised on the homepage of the fan club provided by the server 200, etc., so that users can learn that a certain creator's fan club is recruiting members or selling direct shares.

[0402] Neither the first-time members nor the lower-layer members participate in the sale of direct shares. Users purchase direct shares directly from the fan club or from the server 200, which is the fan club management device operating the fan club. The role of direct shares is to form a way for users who cannot find an introducer but hope to join the fan club to purchase shares and join the fan club after the sale of the first-time shares ends.

[0403] The processing for users to purchase direct shares includes the processing of logging in to the server 200 via the terminal 100 (login processing) and the processing of purchasing direct shares (direct share purchase processing).

[0404] (Login processing)

[0405] The login process is carried out as described below.

[0406] In the case of carrying out the login process, the user accesses the server 200 via the terminal 100 in the same manner as when purchasing the lower-tier shares.

[0407] As a result, on the display 101 of the user's terminal 100, the same login screen as when purchasing the lower-tier shares is displayed. The login screen is the same as the screen Figure 10 shown in (A) in the description when purchasing the lower-tier shares.

[0408] The image displayed on the display 101 of the terminal 100 includes the text 501 such as "User ID", and the input box 502 directly below it, the button 503 written as "Send", the text 504 such as "Referrer's User ID", and the input box 505 directly below it.

[0409] The user who purchases the direct shares has no referrer, so no input is made in the referrer column.

[0410] In Figure 14 , it is shown that the user inputs their own user ID in the box 502 for entering their own user ID, and the box 505 for entering the referrer's user ID remains empty as it is. The user ID of the user who wants to log in is "852qrss".

[0411] With the user ID entered in the box 502 and the box 505 remaining empty as it is, the user presses the button 503 written as "Send". When the user presses the button 503 written as "Send", the login data is input together with the user ID data corresponding to the user ID written in the box 502 from the input device 102. The login data and the user's own user ID data are sent from the input device 102 via the interface 114 and the input unit 121 to the control unit 122.

[0412] After that, it is the same as the case of purchasing the lower-tier shares.

[0413] The login data and the user's own user ID data are sent from the terminal 100 to the server 200 via the network 400. Thus, in the server 200, the user authentication process is carried out by the user ID.

[0414] The server 200 receives the interrelated login data and user ID data with its sending and receiving mechanism. The login data and the user ID data are sent to the control unit 222 as can be seen from the previous description.

[0415] The control unit 222 that has received this data performs user authentication processing in the same manner as in the case of purchasing first - stage shares. As described above, when the user is authenticated as a legitimate user, subsequent use of the fan club management service by that user is permitted. On the other hand, when the user is not authenticated, use of the fan club management service by that user is not permitted.

[0416] When authentication has been performed, the control unit 222 instructs the image control unit 228 to generate the next image control data. The image control unit 228 generates the next image control data. This image control data is sent to the terminal 100 in the same manner as the image control data for displaying the login screen on the display 101 of the terminal 100.

[0417] After the sale of the first - stage shares is completed, the control unit 222 treats a user who has requested login without sending introducer data as a user who requests to purchase direct shares.

[0418] Before the image control unit 228 generates the next image control data, the control unit 222 determines the price per share of the direct shares, which are the shares that a user requesting login can purchase. In this embodiment, the price of the direct shares is Y. Data corresponding to the price of the direct shares is recorded in the rule record unit 226B. The control unit 222 determines the price read from the rule record unit 226B as the price per share of the direct shares.

[0419] In the instruction to generate the image control data sent to the image control unit 228, the control unit 222 includes the category of shares (direct shares) that the logged - in user can purchase and data related to the price per share of such shares. Therefore, based on the image control data generated by the image control unit 228, these pieces of information are subsequently reflected in the image displayed on the display 101 of the terminal 100.

[0420] Similar to when the user purchases first - stage shares, the image control data generated by the image control unit 228 is sent from the server 200 to the terminal 100 of the logged - in user.

[0421] Moreover, similar to when the user purchases first - stage shares, within the terminal 100, image data is generated by the image generation unit 123 based on the image control data and sent from the image generation unit 123 to the display 101, and an image is displayed on the display 101 of the terminal 100. Figure 15 (A) shows an example of the image displayed on the display 101 of the terminal 100 at this time.

[0422] At the stage when this image is displayed on the screen of the display 101, the login process ends.

[0423] (Direct Share Purchase Processing)

[0424] Execute the direct share purchase process in the same way as the first share purchase process.

[0425] Figure 15 The login screen shown in (A) is the same as Figure 7 the login screen when purchasing the first shares shown in (A), except for the parts described as differences below.

[0426] On the display 101, display the text 541 including the user ID of the logged-in user, such as "Welcome, Mr. / Ms. 852qrss".

[0427] In addition, on the screen of the display 101, the text 542 "Direct shares can be purchased / The purchase price per share is Y" is also displayed. This is a display that notifies the user that the shares the user can purchase are direct shares and the price per share is Y. This part becomes a difference between the login screen when purchasing direct shares and the login screen when purchasing the first shares.

[0428] On the login screen for the case of purchasing direct shares, similar to the login screen for the case of purchasing the first shares, under the text 542, the text 543 "Please enter the number of shares to be purchased" and the box 544 for the user to enter the number of shares to be purchased are displayed. In addition, further below, the button 545 labeled "Send" is displayed.

[0429] The user, in the same way as when purchasing the first shares, as Figure 15 shown in (B), uses the input device 102 to enter the quantity of direct shares the user wishes to purchase into the box 544. In Figure 15 (B), the user wishes to purchase 1 direct share. And if the user decides to purchase that quantity of direct shares, press the button 545 labeled "Send". In addition, the quantity that can be entered into the box 544 is limited to 5 or less, the same as in the case of purchasing the first shares.

[0430] When the user enters the quantity of direct shares the user wishes to purchase into the box 544 and presses the button 545 labeled "Send", purchase request data is generated and input from the input device 102 together with the share quantity data that determines the number entered into the box 544 (a number such as 1 in this case).

[0431] Similar to the case of purchasing the first shares, the purchase request data and the share quantity data are sent from the terminal 100 to the server 200 via the network 400 in an associated state.

[0432] The server 200 receives the associated purchase request data and share quantity data sent via the network 400 using its sending and receiving mechanism. These data are sent from the sending and receiving mechanism to the control unit 222 via the interface and the input unit 221.

[0433] After the end of the initial solicitation period, when the control unit 222 receives the correlated purchase request data and the number of shares data from the terminal 100 of the logged-in user, and when the user has not previously sent the introducer data, the control unit 222 sends the correlated purchase request data and the number of shares data to the direct share management unit 223C.

[0434] As a result, the direct share management unit 223C comes to hold the user ID data and the number of shares data. In this case, the direct shares of the quantity determined by the number of shares data that the user wishes to purchase, as determined by the user ID, for example, come to be in a state of waiting for payment.

[0435] On the other hand, the control unit 222 determines (calculates) the purchase price of the direct shares of the quantity that the user wishes to purchase. Since the control unit 222 knows that the price per share of the direct shares is Y, by simply multiplying the price per share by the quantity determined by the number of shares data, the purchase price of the direct shares that the user should pay can be obtained. In the case of this example, this price becomes Y.

[0436] After the control unit 222 obtains the purchase price of the direct shares that the user should pay, it promptly sends the purchase price of the direct shares and the user ID data as the information for identifying the user for paying this price to the payment management unit 225. This corresponds to the information of the price waiting for payment as described above.

[0437] In addition, the control unit 222 instructs the image control unit 228 to generate the next image control data. In this instruction, the information on the purchase price of the direct shares that the user wants to purchase is included. The image control unit 228 generates the next image control data. This image control data is sent to the terminal 100 in the same manner as the image control data for displaying the login screen on the display 101 of the terminal 100.

[0438] In the terminal 100, the image generation unit 123 generates image data based on the image control data, and sends the generated image data from the image generation unit 123 to the display 101. As a result, on the display 101 of the terminal 100, the Figure 8 image in the case of purchasing 1 share of direct shares for reference Figure 12 is displayed.

[0439] At the stage when this image is displayed on the screen of the display 101, it becomes a state where the user has provisionally ordered 1 share of direct shares.

[0440] The user can identify from the image displayed on the display 101 the purchase price of the 1 share of direct shares that the user has purchased, and can also know the payment deadline and payment method of the purchase price of the shares.

[0441] The user makes a payment to the fan club before the payment deadline.

[0442] The processing related to the payment is the same as in the case of purchasing first-time shares.

[0443] When the user makes a payment, the payment management department 225 receives the payment data. If the payment is made normally, the payment management department 225 generates the paid data. The paid data is sent from the payment management department 225 to the direct share management department 223C via the control department 222.

[0444] When receiving the paid data, the direct share management department 223C determines to issue to the user corresponding to the payment a quantity of direct shares corresponding to the number-of-shares data sent by the user.

[0445] If the above determination is made, the direct share management department 223C sends the user ID of the user who has obtained the direct shares, the share type data that determines the category (direct shares) of the shares allocated to the user, and the number-of-shares data that is the data determining the quantity of shares the user has, in a correlated state, to the member information recording department 226A. In addition, the direct share management department 223C sends these three data to the share data generation department 224.

[0446] The member information recording department 226A records the user ID, the share type data, and the number-of-shares data in a correlated state. Figure 16 An example of the data recorded in the member information recording department 226A is shown.

[0447] The share data generation department 224 that has received the user ID, the share type data, and the number-of-shares data generates share data as data corresponding to the shares issued to the user. Similarly to the case of first-time shares, the quantity of the generated share data is determined based on the number-of-shares data. Similarly to the case of first-time shares, in the case of direct shares, the share data can also be made by some method. In this embodiment, the share data is generated in the same way as in the case of first-time shares.

[0448] That is, regarding direct shares, the share data for direct shares is also generated as a hash obtained from a string such as "user ID / share type data / generation order of share data", or by appending a hash obtained from a string such as "user ID / share type data / generation order of share data" to a plaintext string such as "user ID / share type data / generation order of share data".

[0449] If the share data generation department 224 generates the share data for direct shares, it sends the generated share data to the output department 229 in a correlated state together with the information of the terminal 100 of the user determined to be the destination.

[0450] In the same manner as in the case of the first - class shares, the share data regarding the direct shares is sent from the server 200 to the terminal 100 via the network 400 and, in the same manner as in the case of the first - class shares, is recorded in the share data recording unit 125 of the terminal 100.

[0451] As a result, the user has the direct shares, or rather, the share data regarding the direct shares that symbolizes the direct shares, and becomes in a state of having the right to be a member of the fan club.

[0452] Through the above - mentioned processing, a large number of users purchase direct shares. By a large number of users purchasing direct shares, a group of three data, namely, a large number of user IDs, share type data, and share number data, is written in the member information recording unit 226A. These three data are, for example, appended to Figure 13 the data shown in (B).

[0453] Since the sale of direct shares is carried out in parallel with the sale of the lower - layer shares, the above - mentioned three - data group regarding the direct shares can also be appended to Figure 13 the data shown in (B) in a state where it co - exists mixed with the four - data group regarding the lower - layer shares.

[0454] In addition, the holders of direct shares cannot introduce other users to the fan club.

[0455] For example, consider that after the end of the initial fundraising period, the user enters their own user ID in the box 502 and, as the introducer, enters the user ID of the user who is the holder of the direct shares in the box 505 in the login screen shown in (A), and then presses the button 503, so that the user ID of the user who is the holder of the direct shares, together with the login data and their own user ID, is sent to the server 200, which is the fan - club management device. In such a case, the server 200 can execute a process of sending an error message back to the terminal 100 that requests login, regarding the introducer as inappropriate. For example, the control unit 222 of the server 200 can determine whether the introducer is appropriate. Figure 10

[0456] In addition, in the present embodiment, as described above, the upper limit of the issuable number of the shares that combines the first - class shares, the lower - layer shares, and the direct shares is determined to be z, for example. In the present embodiment, the control unit 222 always monitors the total number of shares held by each user recorded in the member information recording unit 226A, but is not limited to this. If the total number of shares held by each user reaches z, the control unit 222 performs a process of suspending subsequent share sales.

[0457] <Pay points to the introducer>

[0458] As described above, the 1st-time member who is the owner of the 1st-time share and the lower-level member who is the owner of the lower-level share (but excluding the N-time member) can introduce new users to the fan club.

[0459] Furthermore, in the present embodiment, points having the nature of referral fees are paid to members who introduce new users to the fan club, but the present invention is not limited to this.

[0460] The timing at which the points management unit 300 calculates the amount of points paid to each user can be set, for example, every time the data of the lower-level member is input to the member information recording unit 226A. Inputting the data of the lower-level member into the member information recording unit 226A means that a new lower-level member is born. In this embodiment, there must be an introducer when a lower-level member is born, so it is reasonable to calculate the amount of points at this timing. In this case, for example, the points management unit 300 can constantly monitor the member information recording unit 226A to see whether there is a registration of a lower-level member.

[0461] However, if the amount of points is calculated every time the data of a new lower-level member is input into the member information recording unit 226A, the processing becomes complicated. In order to prevent the processing from becoming complicated, the amount of points may be determined by batch processing such as once a week or once a month. In this case, for example, the control unit 222 having a clock function may send an instruction to calculate the amount of points to the point management unit 300 at each predetermined timing.

[0462] The point management unit 300 calculates the point amount for a user who introduces a new user to the fan club, for example, as described below.

[0463] As an example of such data, for example, points that can be used only within the fan club can be cited. Points that can only be used within the fan club can be set to be used, for example, to purchase the creator's goods and creations provided by the fan club to the fan club members (or exchange with creations). In addition, "points" can be set to a form that can be used as a source of "rewards" (trademarks) from viewers, i.e., users, to creators who publish videos. For example, the point management unit 300 can also calculate the amount of points to be paid by a user who is an n-1-time member who introduced a user who is a candidate for n-time member higher than the amount of points to be paid by a user who is an n-1-time member who introduced a user who is a candidate for n+1-time member. Such rules for determining points can also be recorded in advance in the rule recording unit 226B. The rules for determining the points recorded in the rule recording unit 226B are read out and appropriately used by the point management unit 300 at an appropriate timing such as when the point management unit 300 determines the points.

[0464] The referral fee for the membership management department 300 when an m - level member (where m is a natural number from 1 to N - 1) refers m + 1 members is set as A m+1 And the number of users who become members through the referral of a certain user (oneself), or users who have a referral relationship in series with that user, that is, the number of m - level members is set as P m+1 In this case, the amount of points can also be calculated as the amount calculated by the following formula (Formula 1).

[0465]

Formula 1

[0466]

[0467] Here, "having a referral relationship with a person who becomes a member due to one's own referral" means, for example, users with user IDs such as Figure 13 the user ID "111aaaa", user ID "222aabb", user ID "456oopp", user ID "450cccc", user ID "225baab" described in B, who have a series referral relationship and joined the enthusiast club after oneself.

[0468] For example, when looking from the user with the user ID "111aaaa", users with user IDs such as "222aabb", "456oopp", "450cccc", "225baab" are users "having a referral relationship with a person who becomes a member due to one's own referral". Also, when looking from the user with the user ID "456oopp", users with user IDs such as "450cccc", "225baab" are users "having a referral relationship with a person who becomes a member due to one's own referral".

[0469] To explain in more detail. Figure 17 Show the user IDs of users "having a referral relationship with a person who becomes a member due to one's own referral" starting from the user with the user ID "111aaaa" as a 1 - level member. Figure 17 Show that the user with the user ID recorded at the base of the arrow refers the user with the ID recorded at the tip of the arrow to the enthusiast club. Of course, Figure 17 the records are only examples. In Figure 17 , of course, the number of 1 - level members as the starting point is 1, the number of 2 - level members is 2, the number of 3 - level members is 6, the number of 4 - level members is 7, and the number of 5 - level members is 12.

[0470] When applying Formula 1 to the 1 - level member with the user ID "111aaaa", Formula 1 becomes the following (Formula 2).

[0471]

Formula 2

[0472]

[0473] That is, by A2×(number of 2 - time members = 2)+A3×(number of 3 - time members = 6)+A4×(number of 4 - time members = 7)+A5×(number of 5 - time members = 12), calculate the amount of points that the 1 - time member with user ID “111aaaa” should receive.

[0474] In addition, in Figure 17 when starting from the user who is a 2 - time member with user ID “222aabb”, the users who are “in an introduction relationship with those who became members due to their own introduction” are each user within the range surrounded by the dotted line. In this case, of course, the number of 2 - time members who are the starting point is 1, the number of 3 - time members is 4, the number of 4 - time members is 3, and the number of 5 - time members is 6.

[0475] In this case, when applying Formula 1 to the 2 - time member with user ID “222aabb”, Formula 1 becomes the following (Formula 3).

[0476]

Formula 3

[0477]

[0478] That is, by A3×(number of 3 - time members = 4)+A4×(number of 4 - time members = 3)+A5×(number of 5 - time members = 6), calculate the amount of points that the 2 - time member with user ID “222aabb” should receive.

[0479] Here, A m+1 is the referral fee per person when an m - time member refers an m + 1 - time member.

[0480] At this time, it can be set that A m >A m+1 . Thus, the more upstream (lower the number of times) the member is, the larger the amount of points that can be obtained when inviting the next 1 member to the enthusiast club, so it is possible to provide users with the motivation to join the enthusiast club at an earlier stage.

[0481] In order to set A m >A m+1 , for example, the following conditions can be adopted.

[0482] When m is 3 or more, A m =A2×B m-2 (where 0 < B < 1)

[0483] Thus, the greater the number of referrals of a user, the smaller the referral fee decreases by a predetermined ratio.

[0484] The integrated management unit 300 can also calculate the amount of points as described above according to the rules recorded in the rule recording unit 226B, as in this embodiment.

[0485] The integrated management unit 300 is required to have the function of calculating the amount of points, but it is not necessary to set the function of paying points to users.

[0486] The integrated management unit 300 performs operations as described above at a predetermined timing to determine the amount of points. The integrated management unit 300 generates data corresponding to the amount of points for each user obtained as a result, that is, point amount data, associates it with the user ID of the user who should receive the points determined by the point amount data, and sends the point amount data to the output unit 229.

[0487] The output unit 229 sends the mutually associated point amount data and user ID to a predetermined device for settlement via a transmission and reception mechanism, such as a settlement device managed by a bank, a credit card company, a provider company for electronic settlement, etc. Thus, the settlement device pays the amount determined by the point amount data to the user determined by the user ID from the fan club. Thus, each user can receive point payments with the nature of referral fees from the fan club.

[0488] In this way, the integrated management unit 300 can also only calculate the amount of points, and the server 200 as the fan club management device does not have the function of paying points to each user. For example, a device (such as a server device) that provides points to each user or allows each user to use points to purchase items and services and has the function of managing the number of points currently held by each user is more well-known than currently publicly known and is used in various retail industries, travel agencies, airlines, etc. In the case where the server 200 does not have the function of paying points, for example, the server 200 sends data indicating the above-mentioned amount of points calculated for each user to the above-mentioned device having the function of managing points via the Internet or the like. Thus, the above-mentioned device having the function of managing points manages the number of points held by each user, and thus each user has points and can use the points held to purchase items and services.

[0489] However, it is also possible to enable the server 200 to have the function of paying points to each user. In addition, a structure for implementing "tipping" as one of the uses of points is well-known or well-known. The structure for implementing "tipping" can be installed on the server 200 or not installed on the server 200. In the latter case, the user can also be able to use the structure installed on other devices. The server 200 can install the function for managing points or implementing tipping.

[0490] <Granting Other Rights to Users with Shares>

[0491] The server 200, which is the fan club management device, grants other rights to users with shares. Here are some examples.

[0492] First, the server 200 sometimes sends viewing and listening data to users. The viewing and listening data is data symbolizing the rights of music provided by viewing and listening creators. Those who have this data can view and listen to the music provided by the creators they support via the fan club management device or other devices such as voice delivery sites or video delivery sites.

[0493] This right can be granted regardless of the type of shares the user has. It can also be the case that the viewing and listening data is sent to the terminal 100 at the same time as the data symbolizing the shares is provided to the user, or it may not be.

[0494] The viewing and listening management unit 227A generates the viewing and listening data. The viewing and listening management unit 227A generates the viewing and listening data when it receives an instruction to generate such data from the control unit 222. The control unit 222 gives the above instruction to the viewing and listening management unit 227A, for example, when a creator releases a new song.

[0495] When receiving the above instruction, the viewing and listening management unit 227A generates viewing and listening data for each user. The method of generating the viewing and listening data and the form of the viewing and listening data can be any examples. However, when generating the viewing and listening data, the viewing and listening management unit 227A refers to the data recorded in the member information recording unit 226A, referring to the user ID of each user and at least the type of shares each user has.

[0496] The content of the viewing and listening data generated by the viewing and listening management unit 227A sometimes changes according to the type of shares the user has. For example, the case where a first-class member can view and listen to a certain piece of music earlier than lower-class members, or an n-class member can view and listen to more types of music than an n + 1-class member. If the content of the viewing and listening data provided to a first-class member is more favorable compared to lower-class members, or if the content of the viewing and listening data provided to a higher-class member is more favorable among lower-class members, it can provide users with the motivation to become members of the fan club earlier. In addition, the viewing and listening data can be unique for each user, or it may not be.

[0497] When generating the viewing and listening data, the viewing and listening management unit 227A sends it to the output unit 229 in a state associated with the user ID of the user who should receive the viewing and listening data. The viewing and listening data is sent to the sending and receiving mechanism and then sent to the terminal 100 of each user via the network 400.

[0498] Each user receives audiovisual data through the terminal 100. The received audiovisual data is recorded in, for example, the stock data recording unit 125 of the terminal 100 in the same manner as when the terminal 100 receives stock data.

[0499] By sending the audiovisual data from the terminal 100 to other devices such as a fan club management device or an operating voice distribution site or a video distribution site, the user can view and listen to the music of the creator. The audiovisual data functions as a password for licensing the viewing and listening of the sound source or video of the music at this time. In addition, if the user views and listens to the music using the terminal 100 that records the stock data in its stock data recording unit 125, the terminal 100 also needs a function to play the sound data or video data and output the sound from a speaker or headphones, etc. To implement this function, it is sufficient to have a functional block such as a sound generation unit that refers to the image generation unit 123 in the terminal 100. Regarding the mechanism for outputting sound from a speaker or headphones, etc., it is well-known, so its description is omitted.

[0500] Rules related to the provision of audiovisual data, such as the content of the audiovisual data provided to the user and the provision timing of the audiovisual data, can also be pre-recorded in the rule recording unit 226B. In this case, the audiovisual management unit 227A can also generate audiovisual data in accordance with the rules recorded in the rule recording unit 226B.

[0501] In addition, the server 200 sometimes sends viewing data to the user. The viewing data is data symbolizing the right to watch a live performance provided by the creator, which is equivalent to a ticket for the live performance. The person having this data can watch the live performance provided by the creator they support.

[0502] This right can be granted regardless of the type of stock the user has. The viewing data can be sent to the terminal 100 either simultaneously with the provision of the data symbolizing the stock to the user or not.

[0503] The viewing management unit 227B generates the viewing data. The viewing management unit 227B generates the viewing data when it receives an instruction to generate the viewing data from the control unit 222. The control unit 222 gives the above instruction to the viewing management unit 227B, for example, at the timing when the creator announces a new live performance schedule.

[0504] When receiving the above instruction, the viewing management unit 227B generates the viewing data for each user. Both the generation method of the viewing data and the form of the viewing data can be any examples. However, when generating the viewing data, the viewing management unit 227B refers to the data recorded in the member information recording unit 226A, referring to the user ID of each user and at least the type of stock each user has.

[0505] The content of the viewing data generated by the viewing management unit 227B sometimes changes according to the category of shares held by the user. For example, it can be set that the content of the viewing data sent to second-time members is the same as or less favorable than the content of the viewing data sent to first-time members, and the content of the viewing data sent to n-time members is the same as or less favorable than the content of the viewing data sent to n-1-time members. If a more upstream (member with a smaller number of shares) member can receive the distribution of viewing data of more favorable or at least not less unfavorable content from the server 200 as the fan club management device, it is possible to provide users with the motivation to become members of the fan club earlier. In addition, the viewing data can be unique for each user or not.

[0506] The favorability or unfavorability of the content of the viewing data can be realized, for example, by the number of live performance viewings, the class of seats during the live performance, etc. Of course, during a live performance, the favorability or unfavorability of the content of the viewing data can also be realized by whether the right to access the backstage is granted, the right to obtain specific goods related to the creator, etc.

[0507] After generating the viewing data, the viewing management unit 227B sends it to the output unit 229 in a state associated with the user ID of the user who should receive the viewing data. The viewing data is sent to the sending and receiving mechanism and then sent to the terminal 100 of each user via the network 400.

[0508] Each user receives the viewing data through the terminal 100. The received viewing data is recorded in the share data recording unit 125 of the terminal 100 in the same way as when the terminal 100 receives share data.

[0509] Users use the viewing data when entering the live performance venue, for example. For example, by handing over the viewing data to the operator of the live performance using short-range wireless such as Wi-Fi (trademark), or by displaying a two-dimensional barcode based on the viewing data on the display 101 of the terminal 100 and handing it over to the operator of the live performance, the viewing data can be used as if it were a ticket for the live performance.

[0510] Rules related to the provision of viewing data, such as the content of the viewing data provided to users, the timing of providing the viewing data, etc., can also be pre-recorded in the rule recording unit 226B. In this case, the viewing management unit 227B can also generate the viewing data in accordance with the rules recorded in the rule recording unit 226B.

[0511] <Other>

[0512] Regardless of the category of shares, the share data issued and owned by each user can be the object of transfer.

[0513] For example, it is also possible to transfer share data at a price negotiated between the transferor and the transferee, in the same manner as shares regarding the status or rights of a member (shareholder) of a joint-stock company. In this case, by transferring the share data, all rights related to the share data can be transferred from the transferor to the transferee.

Claims

1. An enthusiast club management device, which is combined with a plurality of user terminals respectively used by a plurality of users who are connected to a predetermined network and are capable of communicating via the network, and manages the enthusiast club by allocating shares of membership in the enthusiast club, which symbolizes a group of enthusiasts who support a predetermined creator, to the users, wherein, The fan club management device includes: A sending and receiving mechanism configured to be able to communicate via the network; A rule recording unit that records the rules of the fan club; A member information recording unit that records, for each member, information related to the shares held by the member; And An information processing unit that uses the data sent from the user terminal via the network by the sending and receiving mechanism to perform information processing based on the rules recorded in the rule recording unit, and The information processing unit includes: A primary share management unit that, during the initial fundraising period which is a predetermined period from the start of recruiting the members, receives, from the user who is not a member, via the user terminal and the network, an expression of intention to purchase the shares at a price of X1 per share and data indicating the number of shares the user wishes to purchase, and when the fan club has received the price calculated by multiplying X1 by the number of shares the user wishes to purchase, decides, in accordance with the rules recorded in the rule recording unit, to issue to the user the number of primary shares, which is a type of the shares, that the user wishes to purchase, and records that the user is a primary member and the number of the primary shares issued to the user in the member information recording unit; The lower-level share management department, when defining a user introduced by a primary member as a candidate for a secondary member, a user introduced by a secondary member as a candidate for a tertiary member, and so on, and a user introduced by an (n - 1)th member as a candidate for an nth member, after the end of the initial fundraising period, receives from the user who is a candidate for an nth member introduced by an (n - 1)th member, via the user terminal and the network, an expression of intention to purchase the shares at a price of X per share n and data indicating the number of shares the user wishes to purchase, and the user pays to the fan club the price calculated by multiplying X n by the number of shares the user wishes to purchase. In this case, according to the rules recorded in the rule recording department, it is determined to issue to the user the number of nth shares, which is a type of the shares, that the user wishes to purchase, and the information that the user is an nth member, the number of the nth shares issued to the user, and the member who introduced the user is recorded in the member information recording department, where n is a natural number greater than or equal to 2 and less than or equal to N, and N is a predetermined natural number greater than or equal to 3; And A share data generation unit that generates share data corresponding to the primary shares decided by the primary share management unit to be issued to the user or corresponding to the nth - level shares decided by the lower - level share management unit to be issued to the user, sends the share data to the user terminal of the user who should become the owner of the shares corresponding to the share data via the sending and receiving mechanism and the network, and According to the rules recorded in the rules recording unit, the price of the shares satisfies the conditions of X1≥X2 and, when n is 2 or more, X n ≥X n+1 . The fan club management device includes a rights management unit that generates rights data corresponding to the right to provide the user, who is a member, with data of the creation provided by the creator, based on the data recorded in the member information recording unit, and sends the generated rights data to the user terminal of the user, who is a member, via the sending and receiving mechanism and the network.

2. The fan club management device according to claim 1, wherein, The price of the said shares satisfies the conditions that X1 > X2 and, when n is 2 or more, X n ≥ X n+1 .

3. The fan club management device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein, The price of the said shares is X when n is a natural number n >X n+1 .

4. The fan club management device according to claim 1, wherein, It includes a calculation unit that calculates, based on the data recorded in the member information recording unit, a predetermined amount of points that can only be used within the fan club and should be paid to the user who is an (n - 1)th - level member and has introduced a user who is a candidate for the nth - level member.

5. The fan club management device according to claim 4, wherein, The calculation unit calculates the amount of points to be paid to the user who is an (n - 1)th - level member and has introduced a user who is a candidate for the nth - level member to be higher than the amount of points to be paid to the user who is an nth - level member and has introduced a user who is a candidate for the (n + 1)th - level member.

6. The fan club management device according to claim 4, wherein, Regarding the amount of the integral, when m members introduce m + 1 members, the referral fee is set to A m+1 , and the number of members who become members through the introduction of a certain user himself or users with an introduction relationship in series from that user, that is, the number of m - level members, is set to P m+1 , in this case, it is calculated as the amount calculated by the following formula, that is, Formula 1, where m is a natural number from 1 to N - 1 【Formula 1】 7. The fan club management device according to claim 6, wherein, A m >A m+1 。 8. The fan club management device according to claim 7, wherein, When m is 3 or more, A m = A2 × B m-2 , where 0 < B < 1.

9. The fan club management device according to claim 1, wherein, it includes a direct share management department. After the end of the initial fundraising period, when the direct share management department receives, from the user who is not a member, a statement of intention to purchase the shares at a price of Y per share and data indicating the number of shares the user wishes to purchase via the user terminal and the network, and the user pays the price calculated by multiplying Y by the number of shares the user wishes to purchase to the fan club, it decides, in accordance with the rules recorded in the rule recording department, to issue to the user the number of direct shares, which is a type of the shares, that the user wishes to purchase, records that the user is a direct member and the number of the direct shares issued to the user in the member information recording department, and the share data generation department generates share data corresponding to the direct shares determined by the direct share management department to be issued to the user, and sends the share data to the user terminal of the user who should become the owner of the shares corresponding to the share data via the sending and receiving mechanism and the network.

10. The fan club management device according to claim 1, wherein, the creator is a musician, and the right data is viewing data corresponding to the right to view the music provided by the creator.

11. The fan club management device according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein, it includes a viewing management department. The viewing management department generates viewing data corresponding to the right for the user, who is a member, to view the live performance provided by the creator based on the data recorded in the member information recording department, and sends the generated viewing data to the user terminal of the user who is a member via the sending and receiving mechanism and the network.

12. The fan club management device according to claim 11, wherein, the content of the viewing data sent to the secondary members is set to be the same as or less favorable than the content of the viewing data sent to the primary members, and the content of the viewing data sent to the nth members is set to be the same as or less favorable than the content of the viewing data sent to the (n - 1)th members.

13. A method executed by the information processing department in a fan club management device, the fan club management device manages the fan club by combining with multiple user terminals respectively used by multiple users who are connected to a predetermined network and are capable of communicating via the network, and by allocating shares symbolizing membership in the fan club, which is a group of fans supporting a predetermined creator, to the users. The fan club management device includes: a sending and receiving mechanism capable of communicating via the network; A rule recording unit that records the rules of the fan club; The member information recording department records information related to the shares held by each member for each said member; and An information processing unit that uses the data sent from the user terminal via the network by the sending and receiving mechanism to perform information processing based on the rules recorded in the rule recording unit, where the information processing unit executes: A first share management process. During the initial fundraising period, which is a predetermined period from the start of recruiting members, if an intention expression to purchase the shares at a price of X1 per share and data indicating the number of shares the user wishes to purchase are sent from the user who is not a member via the user terminal and the network, and the fan club has received the price calculated by multiplying X1 by the number of shares the user wishes to purchase, then according to the rules recorded in the rule recording unit, it is determined that the number of first shares, which is a type of the shares, to be issued to the user is the number the user wishes to purchase, and the user is recorded as a first member and the number of the first shares issued to the user is recorded in the member information recording unit; In the process of managing the lower-level shares, when a user introduced by a first-level member is defined as a candidate for a second-level member, a user introduced by a second-level member is defined as a candidate for a third-level member, …, and a user introduced by an (n - 1)-level member is defined as a candidate for an n-level member, after the end of the initial fundraising period, a meaning expression of purchasing the shares at a price of X per share and data indicating the number of shares the user wishes to purchase are sent from the user who is a candidate for an n-level member introduced by an (n - 1)-level member via the user terminal and the network, and the user pays the price calculated by multiplying X by the number of shares the user wishes to purchase to the fan club. In this case, according to the rules recorded in the rule recording section, it is determined to issue the number of shares the user wishes to purchase as n-level shares, which are a type of the shares, to the user, and the information that the user is an n-level member, the number of n-level shares issued to the user, and the information identifying the member who introduced the user is recorded in the member information recording section, where n is a natural number greater than or equal to 2 and less than or equal to N, and N is a predetermined natural number greater than or equal to 3; and n per share. And n when the user pays the price calculated by multiplying X by the number of shares the user wishes to purchase to the fan club, according to the rules recorded in the rule recording section, it is determined to issue the number of shares the user wishes to purchase as n-level shares, which are a type of the shares, to the user, and the information that the user is an n-level member, the number of n-level shares issued to the user, and the information identifying the member who introduced the user is recorded in the member information recording section, where n is a natural number greater than or equal to 2 and less than or equal to N, and N is a predetermined natural number greater than or equal to 3; and A share data generation process that generates share data corresponding to the first shares determined to be issued to the user in the first share management process or the nth shares determined to be issued to the user in the lower-level share management process, and sends the share data to the user terminal of the user who should become the owner of the shares corresponding to the share data via the sending and receiving mechanism and the network. And According to the rules recorded in the rules recording unit, the price of the shares satisfies the conditions of X1≥X2 and, when n is 2 or more, X n ≥X n+1 ​ The fan club management device is equipped with a rights management unit that generates rights data corresponding to the right to provide the user, who is a member, with data on the creations provided by the creator, based on the data recorded in the member information recording unit, and sends the generated rights data to the user terminal of the user who is a member via the sending and receiving mechanism and the network.

14. A computer program for causing a predetermined computer to function as a fan club management device, which manages the fan club by assigning shares symbolizing membership in the fan club, which is a group of fans who support a predetermined creator, to the users in combination with a plurality of user terminals that are connected to a predetermined network and are each enabled to communicate via the network. The fan club management device includes: A sending and receiving mechanism that is enabled to communicate via the network; A rule recording unit that records the rules of the fan club; The member information recording department records information related to the shares held by each said member for each said member; and An information processing unit that uses the data sent from the user terminal via the network by the sending and receiving mechanism to perform information processing based on the rules recorded in the rule recording unit, where the computer program is for causing the information processing unit to execute: The first-stage share management process: During the initial fundraising period, which is a predetermined period starting from the commencement of the solicitation of the members, if an intention expression to purchase the shares at a price of X1 per share and data indicating the number of shares the user wishes to purchase are sent from the user who is not a member via the user terminal and the network, and the user has paid the price calculated by multiplying X1 by the number of shares the user wishes to purchase to the fan club, then in accordance with the rules recorded in the rule recording section, it is determined to issue the number of first-stage shares, which are a type of the shares, that the user wishes to purchase to the user, and the user is recorded as a first-stage member and the number of the first-stage shares issued to the user is recorded in the member information recording section; In the process of managing lower-level shares, when a user introduced by a primary member is defined as a candidate for a secondary member, a user introduced by a secondary member is defined as a candidate for a tertiary member, and so on, and a user introduced by an (n - 1)-th member is defined as a candidate for an n-th member, after the end of the initial fundraising period, from the user who is a candidate for an n-th member introduced by an (n - 1)-th member, a meaning expression of purchasing the shares at a price of X per share and data indicating the number of shares the user wishes to purchase are sent via the user terminal and the network, and the user pays the price calculated by multiplying X by the number of shares the user wishes to purchase to the fan club. In this case, according to the rules recorded in the rule recording section, it is determined to issue the number of shares the user wishes to purchase as the n-th shares, which are a type of the shares, to the user, and the information that the user is an n-th member, the number of the n-th shares issued to the user, and the member who introduced the user is recorded in the member information recording section, where n is a natural number greater than or equal to 2 and less than or equal to N, and N is a predetermined natural number greater than or equal to 3; and n per share n the price and the amount of the price calculated by multiplying the number of shares the user wishes to purchase, the rules recorded in the rule recording section are followed to determine to issue the number of shares the user wishes to purchase as the n-th shares, which are a type of the shares, to the user, and the information that the user is an n-th member, the number of the n-th shares issued to the user, and the member who introduced the user is recorded in the member information recording section, where n is a natural number greater than or equal to 2 and less than or equal to N, and N is a predetermined natural number greater than or equal to 3; and The share data generation process: Generate share data corresponding to the first-stage shares determined to be issued to the user in the first-stage share management process or corresponding to the nth-stage shares determined to be issued to the user in the lower-stage share management process, and send the share data to the user terminal of the user who should become the owner of the shares corresponding to the share data via the sending and receiving mechanism and the network; According to the rules recorded in the rules recording unit, make the price of the shares satisfy the conditions of X1≥X2 and, when n is 2 or more, X n ≥X n+1 ​ The fan club management device includes a rights management section. The rights management section generates rights data corresponding to the right to provide the user who is a member with data on the creations provided by the creator based on the data recorded in the member information recording section, and sends the generated rights data to the user terminal of the user who is a member via the sending and receiving mechanism and the network.

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