Advertisement output device, advertisement output method, and program

Abstract

To solve the problem in which a proper advertisement could not be presented to users before performing a search.SOLUTION: A proper advertisement can be presented to a user before performing a search by an advertisement output device 1 comprising: an input reception part 121 which receives input information to a search box before a search; a coupon acquisition part 132 which acquires advertisement information corresponding to advertisement conditions met by the input information that the input reception part 121 received, from an advertisement management part 111 storing one or more pieces of advertisement information corresponding to the advertisement conditions including input conditions related to the input information; and an advertisement output part 141 which outputs the advertisement information that the coupon acquisition part 132 acquired.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an advertisement output device for outputting advertisements. [Background technology]

[0002] In the past, there were search engines that would output advertisements along with the search results when a term was entered into a search box and a search button was pressed, or a return code was entered (see, for example, non-patent document 1). [Prior art documents] [Non-patent literature]

[0003] [Non-Patent Document 1] “google”, [online], [searched on April 4, 2023], Internet [URL: https: / / www.google.co.jp / ] Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, in the conventional technology, it is not possible to present an appropriate advertisement to a user before a search is performed. Note that before a search is performed can be defined as, for example, in the middle of inputting a character string for a search, before a character string for a search is finalized, or before a search button is pressed. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] The advertising output device of the first invention is an advertising output device including: an input accepting unit that accepts input information into a search box before a search; an advertising acquisition unit that acquires advertising information corresponding to advertising conditions satisfied by the input information accepted by the input accepting unit from an advertising management unit that stores one or more pieces of advertising information corresponding to advertising conditions including input conditions related to the input information; and an advertising output unit that outputs the advertising information acquired by the advertising acquisition unit.

[0006] With this configuration, appropriate advertisements can be presented to the user before conducting a search.

[0007] Furthermore, in the advertising output device of the second invention, compared to the first invention, the advertising conditions also include conditions related to operation information based on a user's operation, the input receiving unit receives one or more pieces of operation information based on an operation performed by the user who inputs the input information, and the advertising acquisition unit acquires, from the advertising management unit, advertising information corresponding to the advertising conditions satisfied by the input information and the one or more pieces of operation information.

[0008] With this configuration, more appropriate advertisements can be presented to the user before conducting a search.

[0009] Moreover, the advertisement output device of the third invention is an advertisement output device in which the one or more pieces of operation information include current operation information that is information on an operation in a current access, in contrast to the second invention.

[0010] With this configuration, more appropriate advertisements can be presented to the user before conducting a search.

[0011] Moreover, in the advertisement output device of the fourth invention, in comparison with the third invention, the current operation information includes product information on a product currently in the cart.

[0012] With this configuration, more appropriate advertisements can be presented to the user before conducting a search.

[0013] Moreover, in the advertisement output device of the fifth invention, in contrast to the second invention, the one or more pieces of operation information include past operation information that is information on operations in past accesses by the user.

[0014] With this configuration, more appropriate advertisements can be presented to the user before conducting a search.

[0015] Further, in the advertisement output device of the sixth invention, in comparison with the fifth invention, the past operation information currently includes product information on an abandoned product in a cart.

[0016] With this configuration, more appropriate advertisements can be presented to the user before conducting a search.

[0017] Furthermore, the advertising output device of the seventh invention is an advertising output device in which, compared to any one of the first to sixth inventions, the advertising management unit stores two or more pieces of advertising information corresponding to one advertising condition, and the two or more pieces of advertising information are associated with charge information that determines an amount to be charged for outputting the advertising information or for operating on the outputted advertising information, and the advertising acquisition unit acquires advertising information from the two or more pieces of advertising information corresponding to one advertising condition satisfied by the input information accepted by the input accepting unit, using the charge information corresponding to the two or more pieces of advertising information.

[0018] With this configuration, a plurality of pieces of charge information and a plurality of pieces of advertising information can be managed for one advertising condition, and as a result, bidding can be made for one advertising condition.

[0019] In addition, the advertisement output device of the eighth invention is an advertisement output device according to any one of the first to seventh inventions, further comprising a coupon acquisition unit that acquires coupon information, and the advertisement output unit outputs the advertisement information and the coupon information.

[0020] With this configuration, appropriate coupons can be presented to the user before conducting a search.

[0021] Further, in the advertisement output device of the ninth aspect of the present invention, in comparison with the eighth aspect of the present invention, the coupon acquisition section acquires different coupon information depending on the input information.

[0022] With this configuration, more appropriate coupons can be presented to the user before conducting a search.

[0023] In addition, the advertising output device of the tenth invention is an advertising output device in which, compared to the eighth invention, the coupon acquisition unit refers to a user management unit in which user information including one or more user attribute values ​​of one or more users is stored, and acquires different coupon information according to the one or more user attribute values.

[0024] With this configuration, more appropriate coupons can be presented to the user before conducting a search.

[0025] In addition, the advertisement output device of the eleventh invention is the advertisement output device of the eighth invention, in which the coupon acquisition unit acquires the RFM of a user from one or more pieces of past operation information, and acquires different coupon information according to the RFM.

[0026] With this configuration, more appropriate coupons can be presented to the user before conducting a search.

[0027] In addition, the advertising output device of the twelfth invention is an advertising output device in which, compared to the eighth invention, the coupon acquisition unit refers to an inventory management unit in which inventory information for one or more products is stored, and acquires different coupon information depending on the inventory information.

[0028] With this configuration, more appropriate coupons can be presented to the user before conducting a search.

[0029] In addition, the advertising output device of the thirteenth invention is an advertising output device in which, compared to the eighth invention, the coupon acquisition unit acquires page information related to the web page that the user previously viewed, and acquires different coupon information depending on the page information.

[0030] With this configuration, more appropriate coupons can be presented to the user before conducting a search.

[0031] In addition, the advertising output device of the fourteenth invention is an advertising output device according to any one of the first to thirteenth inventions, further comprising a charging management unit in which each of the one or more input conditions corresponds to an advertiser identifier, and charging amount information corresponding to the input conditions is stored, and a charging unit that obtains from the charging management unit the charging amount information corresponding to the input condition corresponding to each of the one or more advertiser identifiers, and performs charging processing using the charging amount information for each of the one or more advertiser identifiers.

[0032] With this configuration, appropriate charges can be made according to the advertisement output. Effect of the Invention

[0033] According to the advertisement output device of the present invention, appropriate advertisements can be presented to a user before the user performs a search. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0034] [Figure 1] Conceptual diagram of information system A in embodiment 1. [Diagram 2] Block diagram of Information System A [Diagram 3] A flowchart illustrating an example of the operation of the advertisement output device 1. [Figure 4] A flowchart illustrating an example of the advertisement acquisition process. [Diagram 5] A flowchart illustrating an example of the coupon acquisition process. [Figure 6] A flowchart illustrating an example of the charging process. [Figure 7] A flowchart for explaining an example of the operation of the user terminal 2 [Figure 8] A diagram showing the advertising management table [Figure 9] A diagram showing the advertising conditions management table [Figure 10] User management display diagram [Figure 11] A diagram showing the inventory management table [Figure 12] A diagram showing the coupon management table [Figure 13] A diagram showing the coupon condition management table [Figure 14] FIG. 2 shows the billing amount information management table. [Figure 15] FIG. 2 shows the billing amount information management table. [Figure 16] Output image [Figure 17] Output image [Figure 18] Output image [Figure 19] Overview of the computer system [Figure 20] Block diagram of the computer system DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0035] Hereinafter, an embodiment of an advertisement output device and the like will be described with reference to the drawings. Note that, in the embodiments, components with the same reference numerals perform similar operations, so that repeated description may be omitted.

[0036] (Embodiment 1) In this embodiment, an advertisement output device that acquires and outputs advertisement information corresponding to user input information at the stage of input into a search box and before a search will be described.

[0037] In addition, in this embodiment, an advertisement output device that acquires and outputs different advertisement information according to operation information based on a user's operation will be described. Note that the operation information is, for example, current operation information that is information on an operation in a current access, or past operation information that is information on an operation in a past access.

[0038] In this embodiment, an advertisement output device that also outputs coupon information will be described. It is preferable that the coupon information is output at the same time as the advertisement information is output.

[0039] In the present embodiment, an advertisement output device that obtains and outputs different coupon information depending on input information, for example, will be described.

[0040] Furthermore, in this embodiment, an advertisement output device capable of charging an advertiser an appropriate amount according to input conditions will be described. Note that the advertiser is a party that provides advertisements, and may be called a business operator or the like.

[0041] In this specification, information X being associated with information Y means that information Y can be obtained from information X, or information X can be obtained from information Y, and the method of association is not important. Information X and information Y may be linked, may exist in the same buffer, information X may be included in information Y, or information Y may be included in information X, etc.

[0042] 1 is a conceptual diagram of an information system A according to the present embodiment. The information system A includes an advertisement output device 1 and one or more user terminals 2.

[0043] The advertisement output device 1 is a device that outputs advertisements. Here, the advertisement output device 1 is usually a server, but may be a terminal. The advertisement output device 1 is, for example, a cloud server or an ASP server, but the type does not matter. If the advertisement output device 1 is a terminal, the information system A does not need a user terminal 2.

[0044] The user terminal 2 is a terminal used by a user. The user is a person who performs a search. Advertisements are output to the user terminal. Coupons are output to the user terminal. The user terminal 2 is, for example, a so-called personal computer, a smartphone, or a tablet terminal, but the type is not important.

[0045] The advertisement output device 1 and one or more user terminals 2 are capable of communicating with each other via a network such as the Internet.

[0046] 2 is a block diagram of an information system A in this embodiment. The advertisement output device 1 includes a storage unit 11, a reception unit 12, a processing unit 13, and an output unit 14. The storage unit 11 includes an advertisement management unit 111, a user management unit 112, an inventory management unit 113, a coupon management unit 114, and a billing management unit 115. The reception unit 12 includes an input reception unit 121. The processing unit 13 includes an advertisement acquisition unit 131, a coupon acquisition unit 132, a search unit 133, and a billing unit 134. The output unit 14 includes an advertisement output unit 141.

[0047] The user terminal 2 includes a terminal storage unit 21, a terminal reception unit 22, a terminal processing unit 23, a terminal transmission unit 24, a terminal reception unit 25, and a terminal output unit .

[0048] Various types of information are stored in the storage unit 11 constituting the advertisement output device 1. The various types of information are, for example, advertisement information (to be described later), user information (to be described later), inventory information (to be described later), coupon information (to be described later), charge amount information (to be described later), product information, and one or more web pages.

[0049] Product information is information about a product. Product information has, for example, a product identifier and one or more product attribute values. Product information is the subject of a search. A product identifier is information that identifies a product. The product identifier is, for example, a product ID or product name. The one or more product attribute values ​​are, for example, a product type, price, color, size, etc. The product information may be stored in the inventory management unit 113. In such a case, the one or more product attribute values ​​have a stock quantity.

[0050] The webpage may be, for example, a webpage of an EC site, but the content of the webpage is not important. It is preferable that the webpage has a search box. The webpage in the storage unit 11 is written in, for example, HTML, but may be written in other scripts such as XML. The means for realizing the webpage is not important. In this specification, the output page is also called a webpage.

[0051] The advertisement management unit 111, the user management unit 112, the inventory management unit 113, the coupon management unit 114, and the billing management unit 115 may exist in an external device (not shown).

[0052] The advertisement management unit 111 stores one or more pieces of advertisement information. Each of the one or more pieces of advertisement information is associated with an advertisement condition. It is preferable that each of the one or more pieces of advertisement information is associated with an advertiser identifier. Associating the advertiser identifier with the advertisement information may also mean associating the advertiser identifier with the advertisement condition.

[0053] Two or more pieces of advertising information may be stored in association with one advertising condition in the advertising management unit 111. It is also preferable that each of the two or more pieces of advertising information associated with one advertising condition in the advertising management unit 111 is associated with billing amount information, which will be described later.

[0054] The advertisement condition is a condition for selecting an advertisement. The advertisement condition includes an input condition. The advertisement condition may include an operation condition and an environmental condition. The operation condition usually includes one or more conditions of a current operation condition and a past operation condition.

[0055] An input condition is a condition related to a user's input. An input condition is a condition related to input information. An input condition is usually a condition related to a character string. An input condition may be the character string itself. A character string in an input condition is, for example, a word, or one or more characters. A character string may be a single alphabet for constructing Japanese. It is preferable that the input information here also includes a character string in the middle of being converted into Japanese. It is preferable that the input condition is a forward match of the input information, but a partial match of the input information or a complete match of the input information may also be acceptable.

[0056] An operation condition is a condition related to a user operation. An operation condition is a condition related to one or more pieces of operation information. An operation condition may be a condition based on both current operation information and past operation information. Note that a user operation is, for example, an operation on a web page. A user operation is, for example, an operation for browsing a web page, an operation for adding a product to a cart, or an operation for purchasing a product. However, it goes without saying that any operation is acceptable.

[0057] The operation information is information based on a user's operation. The operation information is information based on an operation performed by a user who inputs input information.

[0058] The operation information may be information input by the user itself, or information acquired from information input by the user. The operation information may be, for example, current operation information or past operation information.

[0059] Current operation information is information about operations during the current access. Operations during the current access are, for example, operations performed after logging in and before logging out. Operations during the current access are, for example, operations performed after accessing a website that includes a webpage that includes a search box and before inputting information into the search box. Operations during the current access are, for example, operations performed after accessing a website that includes a webpage that includes a search box and before moving to another website.

[0060] Current operation information is, for example, information indicating that a user has added a product to their cart, product information about the products added to the cart, information indicating that a user has purchased a product, product information about the products purchased by the user, web page browsing history, and product information about products added to favorites.

[0061] The past operation information is information on operations performed by the user in the past accesses, such as product information on abandoned items in the cart, the number of visits to the site, the total purchase amount, RFM, returns, and product information on returned items.

[0062] RFM refers to one or more of the following information: last purchase date, number of purchases, and total purchase amount. The R in RFM stands for "Recency," which is the last purchase date. The F in RFM stands for "Frequency," which is the number of purchases. The M in RFM stands for "Monetary," which is the cumulative amount used.

[0063] Environmental conditions are conditions related to environmental information. Environmental information is information related to the environment. Environmental information is, for example, information related to the time, information related to the time period, information related to temperature, information related to the weather, information specifying whether or not a campaign is in progress, and information specifying whether or not a campaign is in progress. Environmental conditions may also include inventory conditions. Inventory conditions are information related to the inventory status of a product. Information related to the inventory status is, for example, the number of items in stock and whether or not there is inventory.

[0064] The advertiser identifier is information for identifying the advertiser placing the advertisement. The advertiser identifier is, for example, the advertiser's ID, the advertiser's name, the email address of the advertiser's person in charge, or the telephone number of the advertiser's person in charge.

[0065] The user management unit 112 stores one or more pieces of user information. User information is information about a user. The user information has, for example, a user identifier and one or more user attribute values. The user information has, for example, one or more pieces of operation information related to operations performed by the user. The user attribute values ​​are, for example, the age, generation, sex, and address of the user. A user is, for example, a person who searches for product information or purchases a product.

[0066] The inventory management unit 113 stores one or more pieces of inventory information. The inventory information is information related to the inventory of a product. The inventory information is usually associated with a product identifier. The inventory information includes, for example, the number of items in stock.

[0067] One or more coupon information items are stored in the coupon management unit 114. Of the one or more coupon information items, it is preferable that each of the one or more coupon information items corresponds to a coupon condition.

[0068] The coupon conditions are conditions for obtaining a coupon. The coupon conditions include, for example, input conditions. The coupon conditions may include operation conditions and environmental conditions. The environmental conditions here may include inventory conditions.

[0069] The stock condition is a condition related to stock information, for example, that coupon information for a product whose stock quantity is equal to or less than a threshold value is not to be acquired.

[0070] The charge management unit 115 stores one or more pieces of charge amount information. The charge amount information corresponds to, for example, an advertiser identifier. The charge amount information corresponds to, for example, advertisement information. Two or more pieces of advertisement information may correspond to one piece of charge amount information.

[0071] The charge amount information is information for determining the charge amount to be charged to an advertiser. The charge amount information is, for example, information for determining the amount to be charged for outputting advertisement information or for an operation on the outputted advertisement information. The charge amount information is, for example, information indicating an amount for a certain period of time. The charge amount information is, for example, the charge amount for one output of advertisement information (e.g., 5 yen / one output) and the charge amount for one operation on advertisement information (e.g., 8 yen / one operation). An operation on advertisement information is, for example, a click on advertisement information, an operation to purchase a product corresponding to advertisement information, an operation to put a product corresponding to advertisement information in a cart, etc. The charge amount information is, for example, information corresponding to an input condition. The charge amount information corresponding to the input condition of "1 character" is, for example, "10,000 yen / month" and "3 yen per time." "3 yen per time" means that the cost of outputting advertisement information once is 3 yen.

[0072] The reception unit 12 receives various instructions and information, such as input information, operation information, search instructions, access instructions, and bid information.

[0073] A search instruction is an instruction to search. A search instruction is an instruction to search for information using the information entered in the search box as a key. A search instruction includes the character string entered in the search box. Note that a search instruction is based on, for example, pressing a search button or inputting a return code. The trigger for accepting a search instruction does not matter. In addition, the information entered in the search box, including the information immediately before the search instruction is entered, is also input information.

[0074] An access instruction is an instruction to access a web page. An access instruction usually includes a URL or a URI. It is preferable that a web page corresponding to an access instruction is stored in storage unit 11, but it may be stored in another device (not shown).

[0075] The bidding information is information about a bid for one advertising condition. The bidding information is information associated with one advertising condition and includes charge information. The bidding information may include advertising information. The bidding information is associated with an advertiser identifier.

[0076] Here, acceptance means, for example, receiving information transmitted via a wired or wireless communication line, but it may also be a concept that includes acceptance of information input from an input device such as a keyboard, mouse, or touch panel, and acceptance of information read from a recording medium such as an optical disk, magnetic disk, or semiconductor memory.

[0077] The means for inputting various instructions and information may be any means, such as a touch panel, a keyboard, a mouse, or a menu screen.

[0078] The input receiving unit 121 receives input information into the search box before a search. The input information into the search box before a search is usually information that is input into the search box before a search instruction is received. The input information into the search box before a search is, for example, a portion of the total input information that is input into the search box before a search instruction is received. Before a search can be, for example, in the middle of inputting a character string for a search, before the character string for a search is finalized, in the middle of Japanese conversion, or before the search button is pressed.

[0079] A search box is a box that accepts input of a character string (which may be called a keyword) for searching. A search box may be called, for example, a search field.

[0080] The input receiving unit 121 receives one or more pieces of operation information. For example, the input receiving unit 121 receives one or more pieces of operation information from the user terminal 2. For example, the input receiving unit 121 receives one or more pieces of operation information from a user.

[0081] The processing unit 13 performs various types of processing. The various types of processing are, for example, processing performed by an advertisement acquisition unit 131, a coupon acquisition unit 132, a search unit 133, and a billing unit .

[0082] The processing unit 13 stores the charge amount information included in the bidding information received by the reception unit 12 in association with one advertising condition and an advertiser identifier. The processing unit 13 may also store the advertising information included in the bidding information received by the reception unit 12 in association with one advertising condition.

[0083] The advertisement acquisition unit 131 acquires advertisement information from the advertisement management unit 111. For example, the advertisement acquisition unit 131 acquires advertisement information corresponding to an advertisement condition satisfied by the input information accepted by the input acceptance unit 121 from the advertisement management unit 111. The advertisement acquisition unit 131 normally acquires one piece of advertisement information, but may acquire two or more pieces of advertisement information.

[0084] The advertisement acquisition unit 131 acquires, from the advertisement management unit 111, advertisement information associated with an advertisement condition that is satisfied by the input information accepted by the input acceptance unit 121 and one or more pieces of operation information, for example.

[0085] The advertising acquisition unit 131 acquires advertising information from two or more pieces of advertising information corresponding to one advertising condition satisfied by the input information accepted by the input acceptance unit 121, using charge amount information corresponding to the two or more pieces of advertising information.

[0086] Obtaining advertisement information using charge amount information means, for example, obtaining advertisement information paired with the highest charge amount information. Obtaining advertisement information using charge amount information means, for example, selecting one advertisement information according to the ratio of the charge amounts indicated by the charge amount information paired with each of the two or more advertisement information.

[0087] The advertisement acquisition unit 131 may, for example, acquire a click rate for each of the two or more pieces of advertisement information, and select one piece of advertisement information using the click rate and the amount indicated by the charge amount information. The advertisement acquisition unit 131 may, for example, acquire a click rate for each of the two or more pieces of advertisement information, and select advertisement information with the largest multiplication result of the click rate and the amount indicated by the charge amount information.

[0088] The advertisement acquisition unit 131 acquires, from the advertisement management unit 111, advertisement information associated with an advertisement condition that is satisfied by the input information accepted by the input acceptance unit 121 and one or more pieces of environmental information, for example.

[0089] The coupon acquisition unit 132 acquires coupon information. The coupon acquisition unit 132 normally acquires the coupon information from the coupon management unit 114. The coupon acquisition unit 132 normally acquires one piece of coupon information, but may acquire two or more pieces of coupon information.

[0090] It is preferable that the coupon acquisition unit 132 acquires different coupon information depending on the input information.

[0091] It is preferable that the coupon acquisition unit 132 acquires different coupon information depending on one or more user attribute values ​​stored in the user management unit 112 .

[0092] It is preferable that the coupon acquisition unit 132 acquires the RFM of the user from one or more pieces of past operation information, and acquires different coupon information according to the RFM.

[0093] The coupon acquisition unit 132 preferably acquires different coupon information depending on one or more pieces of inventory information from the inventory management unit 113 .

[0094] It is preferable that the coupon acquisition unit 132 acquires page information related to the web page that the user has previously viewed, and acquires different coupon information according to the page information. Note that the page information may be the web page itself or the URL of the web page.

[0095] The search unit 133 performs a search using as a key the character string included in the search instruction accepted by the acceptance unit 12. The search unit 133 searches, for example, one or more pieces of product information in the inventory management unit 113, and acquires one or more pieces of product information.

[0096] The billing unit 134 performs billing processing. The billing processing here is processing related to charging the advertiser for placing an advertisement. The billing processing is, for example, processing for debiting a credit card and processing for notifying the advertiser that settlement has been completed.

[0097] The charging unit 134, for example, acquires charge amount information corresponding to the input conditions from the charge management unit 115, and performs charging processing using the charge amount information for each of one or more advertiser identifiers.

[0098] The output unit 14 outputs various types of information, such as advertisement information, coupon information, and search results.

[0099] Output is a concept that includes displaying on a display, projecting using a projector, printing on a printer, outputting sound, transmitting to an external device, storing on a recording medium, and passing on the processing results to other processing devices or other programs.

[0100] The advertisement output unit 141 outputs advertisement information acquired by the advertisement acquisition unit 131. The advertisement output unit 141 may output coupon information acquired by the coupon acquisition unit 132. The advertisement output unit 141 outputs, for example, advertisement information and coupon information. Note that a coupon output unit (not shown) may output the coupon information.

[0101] Here, output means, for example, transmission to the user terminal 2. However, output may be a concept including display on a display, projection using a projector, printing on a printer, sound output, storage on a recording medium, delivery of processing results to another processing device, another program, etc.

[0102] Various types of information are stored in the terminal storage unit 21 constituting the user terminal 2. The various types of information are, for example, a user identifier. Note that the user identifier in the terminal storage unit 21 may be information input by a user and temporarily stored.

[0103] The user identifier is information for identifying a user. The user identifier may be information for identifying the user terminal 2. The user identifier may be, for example, a user ID, an email address, a telephone number, or an IP address of the user terminal 2, but is not limited thereto.

[0104] The terminal reception unit 22 receives various types of information, instructions, etc. Examples of the various types of information, instructions, etc. include input information, operation information, search instructions, and access instructions.

[0105] Here, reception is a concept that includes reception of information input from input devices such as a keyboard, mouse, or touch panel, reception of information transmitted via a wired or wireless communication line, and reception of information read from recording media such as an optical disk, magnetic disk, or semiconductor memory.

[0106] The means for inputting various information and instructions may be any means, such as a touch panel, a keyboard, a mouse, or a menu screen.

[0107] The terminal processing unit 23 performs various types of processing. For example, the various types of processing are processing for converting received information, instructions, etc. into information or instructions with a structure to be transmitted. For example, the various types of processing are processing for converting received information into information with a structure to be output.

[0108] The terminal transmission unit 24 transmits various types of information, instructions, etc. to the advertisement output device 1. The various types of information, instructions, etc. are, for example, input information, operation information, and search instructions.

[0109] The terminal receiving unit 25 receives various types of information from the advertisement output device 1. The various types of information are, for example, a web page, advertisement information, coupon information, and search results.

[0110] The terminal output unit 26 outputs various types of information. The various types of information are, for example, web pages, advertising information, coupon information, and search results. The web pages output by the terminal output unit 26 are pages that are constructed by interpreting the web pages (for example, HTML) received by the terminal receiving unit 25.

[0111] Here, output is a concept that includes display on a display, projection using a projector, printing on a printer, sound output, transmission to an external device, storage on a recording medium, and handing over the processing results to other processing devices or other programs, etc.

[0112] The storage unit 11, the advertising management unit 111, the user management unit 112, the inventory management unit 113, the coupon management unit 114, the billing management unit 115, and the terminal storage unit 21 are preferably non-volatile recording media, but can also be realized using volatile recording media.

[0113] There is no restriction on the process by which information is stored in the storage unit 11, etc. For example, information may be stored in the storage unit 11, etc. via a recording medium, information transmitted via a communication line, etc. may be stored in the storage unit 11, etc., or information inputted via an input device may be stored in the storage unit 11, etc.

[0114] It is preferable that the reception unit 12 and the input reception unit 121 are realized by wireless or wired communication means, but they may also be realized by a means for receiving broadcasts, a device driver for an input means such as a touch panel or keyboard, or control software for a menu screen.

[0115] The processing unit 13, advertisement acquisition unit 131, coupon acquisition unit 132, search unit 133, billing unit 134, and device processing unit 23 can usually be realized by a processor, memory, etc. The processing procedure of the processing unit 13, etc. is usually realized by software, and the software is recorded in a recording medium such as a ROM. However, it may be realized by hardware (dedicated circuit). The processor may be a CPU, MPU, GPU, etc., and the type is not important.

[0116] The output unit 14 and the advertisement output unit 141 are realized, for example, by wireless or wired communication means, but may also be realized by broadcasting means. The output unit 14 etc. may also be realized by driver software for an output device, or driver software for an output device and an output device etc.

[0117] The terminal reception unit 22 can be realized by a device driver for an input means such as a touch panel or a keyboard, or control software for a menu screen.

[0118] The terminal transmitting unit 24 is usually realized by a wireless or wired communication means, but may also be realized by a broadcasting means.

[0119] The terminal receiving unit 25 is usually realized by a wireless or wired communication means, but may be realized by a means for receiving a broadcast.

[0120] The terminal output unit 26 may be considered to include, or may not include, an output device such as a display, a speaker, etc. The terminal output unit 26 may be realized by driver software for an output device, or a combination of driver software for an output device and an output device, etc.

[0121] Next, an example of the operation of the advertisement output device 1 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

[0122] (Step S301) The reception unit 12 judges whether or not an access instruction has been received. If an access instruction has been received, the process proceeds to step S302, and if an access instruction has not been received, the process proceeds to step S304.

[0123] In this step, the reception unit 12 determines whether or not an access instruction has been received from the user terminal 2, for example.

[0124] (Step S302) Processing unit 13 acquires the web page specified by the access instruction. Note that processing unit 13 acquires the web page from storage unit 11, for example, but may acquire the web page from a web server (not shown).

[0125] (Step S303) The output unit 14 outputs the web page acquired in step S302. Then, the process returns to step S301.

[0126] In this step, the output unit 14 transmits a web page to the user terminal 2, for example.

[0127] (Step S304) Input reception unit 121 judges whether or not input information has been received. If input information has been received, the process proceeds to step S305, and if input information has not been received, the process proceeds to step S313.

[0128] In this step, the input receiving unit 121 determines, for example, whether or not input information has been received from the user terminal 2. In addition, the input information received by the input receiving unit 121 is associated with, for example, a user identifier.

[0129] (Step S305) The processing unit 13 stores the input information received in step S304 in a buffer (not shown) in a pair with the user identifier. As a result, the input information corresponding to the user identifier and input in the search box before the search is stored in the buffer.

[0130] (Step S306) Advertisement acquisition unit 131 performs advertisement acquisition processing using the input information accumulated in the buffer in step S305. An example of the advertisement acquisition processing will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

[0131] Here, advertisement acquisition unit 131 may perform advertisement acquisition processing using only the input information previously accepted in step S304, or may perform advertisement acquisition processing using the history of input information accumulated in the buffer in the current search. Note that using the history of input information means using one or more pieces of input information from when information starts to be entered into the search box until a search instruction is accepted.

[0132] (Step S307) The processing unit 13 judges whether or not one or more pieces of advertising information have been acquired in step S305. If advertising information has been acquired, the process proceeds to step S308, and if advertising information has not been acquired, the process proceeds to step S310.

[0133] (Step S308) The advertisement output unit 141 outputs one or more pieces of advertisement information acquired in step S305.

[0134] In this step, the advertisement output unit 141 transmits one or more pieces of advertisement information to the user terminal 2, for example.

[0135] (Step S309) The processing unit 13 acquires output information corresponding to the output advertisement information. Next, the processing unit 13 stores the output information in association with the output advertisement information. The output information may include, for example, the number of times the advertisement information was output, the date and time when the advertisement information was output, and the fact that the advertisement information was output.

[0136] (Step S310) The coupon acquisition unit 132 performs a coupon acquisition process. An example of the coupon acquisition process will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

[0137] (Step S311) The processing unit 13 judges whether or not one or more pieces of coupon information have been acquired in step S310. If coupon information has been acquired, the processing proceeds to step S312, and if coupon information has not been acquired, the processing returns to step S301.

[0138] In this step, the advertisement output unit 141 transmits, for example, one or more pieces of coupon information to the user terminal 2.

[0139] (Step S312) The advertisement output unit 141 outputs the one or more pieces of coupon information acquired in step S311.

[0140] (Step S313) The accepting unit 12 judges whether or not a search instruction has been accepted. If a search instruction has been accepted, the process proceeds to step S314, and if a search instruction has not been accepted, the process proceeds to step S317.

[0141] In this step, the reception unit 12 determines whether or not a search instruction has been received from the user terminal 2, for example.

[0142] (Step S314) The search unit 133 performs a search process based on the search instruction accepted in step S313, and acquires the search results.

[0143] (Step S315) The output unit 14 outputs the search result acquired in step S314.

[0144] In this step, the output unit 14 transmits the search results to the user terminal 2, for example.

[0145] (Step S316) The processing unit 13 deletes the input information in the buffer that is paired with the user identifier. Then, the process returns to step S301.

[0146] (Step S317) The input receiving unit 121 judges whether or not operation information has been received. If operation information has been received, the process proceeds to step S318, and if operation information has not been received, the process proceeds to step S321.

[0147] In this step, the reception unit 12 determines, for example, whether or not operation information has been received from the user terminal 2. In addition, the operation information is usually associated with a user identifier.

[0148] (Step S318) The processing unit 13 performs processing according to the operation information accepted in step S317.

[0149] (Step S319) The processing unit 13 acquires operation information to be stored by using the operation information accepted in step S317. The acquired operation information may be the same as the accepted operation information, or may be information acquired based on the accepted operation information. For example, the processing unit 13 may acquire a click rate of the advertisement information based on the operation "click" on the advertisement information, and may accumulate the click rate in association with the advertisement information.

[0150] (Step S320) The processing unit 13 stores the operation information acquired in step S319 in association with the user identifier. Then, the process returns to step S301.

[0151] It is preferable that the processing unit 13 stores the operation information associated with the user identifier in the user management unit 112 .

[0152] (Step S321) The billing unit 134 judges whether it is time to process billing for the advertiser. If it is time to process billing, the process proceeds to step S322, and if it is not time to process billing, the process proceeds to step S323.

[0153] The timing of the billing process may be, for example, when a specific time has come or when a billing instruction has been received, but this is not critical.

[0154] (Step S322) The accounting unit 134 performs accounting processing. Return to step S301. An example of the accounting processing will be described with reference to the flowchart in FIG.

[0155] (Step S323) The reception unit 12 judges whether or not the bidding information has been received. If the bidding information has been received, the process proceeds to step S324, and if the bid has not been received, the process returns to step S301. The bidding information includes, for example, one advertising condition and an advertiser identifier.

[0156] (Step S324) The processing unit 13 stores the charge amount information etc. included in the bid information accepted in step S323 in association with one advertisement condition and an advertiser identifier. Return to step S301. The charge amount information etc. is, for example, charge amount information, or charge amount information and advertisement information.

[0157] In the flowchart of FIG. 3, the process ends when the power is turned off or an interrupt occurs to end the process.

[0158] Next, an example of the advertisement acquisition process in step S306 will be described with reference to the flowchart in FIG.

[0159] (Step S401) The advertisement acquisition unit 131 acquires a user identifier corresponding to the input information accepted in step S304.

[0160] (Step S402) Advertisement acquisition unit 131 acquires input information paired with the user identifier acquired in step S401 from a buffer (not shown).

[0161] (Step S403) Advertisement acquisition unit 131 acquires from user management unit 112 one or more user attribute values ​​that are paired with the user identifier acquired in step S401.

[0162] (Step S404) Advertisement acquisition unit 131 acquires from user management unit 112 one or more pieces of operation information paired with the user identifier acquired in step S401.

[0163] (Step S405) The advertisement acquisition unit 131 assigns 1 to a counter i.

[0164] (Step S406) Advertisement acquisition unit 131 judges whether or not the i-th advertising condition exists in advertisement management unit 111. If the i-th advertising condition exists, the process proceeds to step S407, and if the i-th advertising condition does not exist, the process returns to the upper process.

[0165] (Step S407) The advertisement acquisition unit 131 acquires the i-th advertisement condition from the advertisement management unit 111.

[0166] (Step S408) The advertisement acquisition unit 131 judges whether or not the information including the input information acquired in step S402 satisfies the advertisement condition acquired in step S407. If the advertisement condition is satisfied, the process proceeds to step S409, and if the advertisement condition is not satisfied, the process proceeds to step S411.

[0167] The information including the input information is, for example, the information acquired in steps S403 and S404.

[0168] (Step S409) Advertisement acquisition unit 131 acquires from advertisement management unit 111 one or more pieces of advertisement information paired with the i-th advertising condition.

[0169] (Step S410) The advertisement acquisition unit 131 judges whether or not two or more pieces of advertisement information have been acquired in step S409. If two or more pieces of advertisement information have been acquired, the process proceeds to step S411, and if two or more pieces of advertisement information have not been acquired, the process returns to the upper process.

[0170] (Step S411) Advertisement acquisition unit 131 acquires charge amount information paired with each of two or more pieces of advertisement information. Advertisement acquisition unit 131 acquires one piece of advertisement information using two or more pieces of charge amount information.

[0171] (Step S412) The advertisement acquiring unit 131 increments the counter i by 1. The process returns to step S406.

[0172] In the flowchart of FIG. 4, advertisement acquisition unit 131 may acquire one or more pieces of environmental information and use the environmental information to determine whether or not the advertisement conditions are met.

[0173] Also, in the flowchart of FIG. 4, only one piece of advertisement information is output, but two or more pieces of advertisement information may be output.

[0174] Next, an example of the coupon acquisition process in step S310 will be described with reference to the flowchart in FIG.

[0175] (Step S501) The coupon obtaining unit 132 obtains the user identifier corresponding to the input information accepted in step S304.

[0176] (Step S502) The coupon obtaining unit 132 obtains input information paired with the user identifier obtained in step S501 from a buffer (not shown).

[0177] (Step S503) The coupon acquisition unit 132 acquires from the user management unit 112 one or more user attribute values ​​that are paired with the user identifier acquired in step S501.

[0178] (Step S504) The coupon obtaining unit 132 obtains from the user management unit 112 one or more pieces of operation information paired with the user identifier obtained in step S501.

[0179] (Step S505) The coupon obtaining unit 132 assigns 1 to the counter i.

[0180] (Step S506) Coupon acquisition unit 132 determines whether or not the i-th coupon condition exists in coupon management unit 114. If the i-th coupon condition exists, the process proceeds to step S507, and if the i-th coupon condition does not exist, the process returns to the upper process.

[0181] (Step S507) The coupon obtaining unit 132 obtains the i-th coupon condition from the coupon management unit 114.

[0182] (Step S508) The coupon acquisition unit 132 acquires information used to determine the i-th coupon condition. This information includes any of the information acquired in steps S501 to S504. Next, the coupon acquisition unit 132 judges whether the acquired information satisfies the coupon condition acquired in step S507. If the coupon condition is satisfied, the process proceeds to step S509, and if the coupon condition is not satisfied, the process proceeds to step S511.

[0183] (Step S509) The coupon acquisition unit 132 acquires one or more pieces of coupon information paired with the i-th coupon condition from the advertisement management unit 111. Note that, when there are two or more pieces of coupon information paired with the i-th coupon condition, the coupon acquisition unit 132 may select one piece of coupon information from the two or more pieces of coupon information.

[0184] (Step S510) The coupon acquisition unit 132 judges whether or not it is acceptable to output other coupon information. If it is acceptable to output other coupon information, the process proceeds to step S511. If it is not acceptable to output other coupon information, the process returns to the upper process.

[0185] It should be noted that whether only one coupon information item is output or two or more coupon information items may be output is determined in advance, for example.

[0186] (Step S511) The coupon obtaining unit 132 increments the counter i by 1. The process returns to step S506.

[0187] In the flowchart of FIG. 5, the coupon acquisition unit 132 may acquire one or more pieces of environmental information and use the environmental information to determine whether or not the coupon conditions are met.

[0188] Next, an example of the billing process in step S322 will be described with reference to the flowchart in FIG.

[0189] (Step S601) The accounting unit 134 assigns 1 to a counter i.

[0190] (Step S602) Billing unit 134 judges whether or not the i-th advertiser identifier exists in storage unit 11, billing management unit 115. If the i-th advertiser identifier exists, the process proceeds to step S603, and if the i-th advertiser identifier does not exist, the process returns to the upper process.

[0191] (Step S603) The accounting unit 134 assigns 1 to a counter j.

[0192] (Step S604) The billing unit 134 judges whether or not the jth advertising information paired with the ith advertiser identifier exists in the advertising management unit 111. If the jth advertising information exists, the process proceeds to step S605, and if the jth advertising information does not exist, the process proceeds to step S609.

[0193] (Step S605) The charging unit 134 acquires from the advertisement management unit 111 an input condition paired with the j-th advertisement information.

[0194] (Step S606) Billing unit 134 acquires billing amount information that corresponds to the input condition from billing management unit 115.

[0195] (Step S607) The charging unit 134 uses the charge amount information to obtain the charge amount for the j-th advertisement information paired with the i-th advertiser identifier.

[0196] (Step S608) The accounting unit 134 increments the counter j by 1. The process returns to step S604.

[0197] (Step S609) The charging unit 134 accumulates the total charge amount, which is the sum of the one or more charge amounts acquired in step S607, in association with the i-th advertiser identifier.

[0198] (Step S610) The billing unit 134 performs processing to bill the advertiser identified by the i-th advertiser identifier for the total billing amount acquired in step S609.

[0199] (Step S611) The accounting unit 134 increments the counter i by 1. The process returns to step S602.

[0200] Next, an example of the operation of the user terminal 2 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

[0201] (Step S701) The terminal reception unit 22 judges whether or not an access instruction has been received from a user. If an access instruction has been received, the process proceeds to step S702. If an access instruction has not been received, the process proceeds to step S705. The access instruction includes, for example, a URL.

[0202] (Step S702) The device processing unit 23 acquires a user identifier from the terminal storage unit 21. The device processing unit 23 configures an access instruction corresponding to the user identifier. The terminal transmission unit 24 transmits the access instruction corresponding to the user identifier to the advertisement output device 1.

[0203] (Step S703) The terminal receiving unit 25 judges whether or not a web page corresponding to the access instruction has been received. If a web page has been received, the process proceeds to step S704, and if a web page has not been received, the process returns to step S703.

[0204] (Step S704) The device processing unit 23 composes a web page to be output from the received web page. The terminal output unit 26 outputs the web page. Return to step S701.

[0205] (Step S705) The terminal reception unit 22 judges whether or not input information into the search box has been received from the user. If input information has been received, the process proceeds to step S706, and if input information has not been received, the process proceeds to step S707.

[0206] (Step S706) The device processing unit 23 acquires a user identifier from the terminal storage unit 21. The device processing unit 23 configures input information corresponding to the user identifier. The terminal transmitting unit 24 transmits the input information corresponding to the user identifier to the advertisement output device 1. Return to step S701.

[0207] (Step S707) The terminal reception unit 22 judges whether or not a search instruction has been received from the user. If a search instruction has been received, the process proceeds to step S708, and if a search instruction has not been received, the process proceeds to step S711.

[0208] (Step S708) The device processing unit 23 acquires a user identifier from the terminal storage unit 21. The device processing unit 23 configures a search instruction corresponding to the user identifier. The terminal transmission unit 24 transmits the search instruction corresponding to the user identifier.

[0209] (Step S709) The terminal receiving unit 25 judges whether or not a search result corresponding to the search instruction has been received. If a search result has been received, the process proceeds to step S710, and if a web page has not been received, the process returns to step S709.

[0210] (Step S710) The device processing unit 23 composes a search result to be output from the received search result. The terminal output unit 26 outputs the search result. Return to step S701.

[0211] (Step S711) The terminal reception unit 22 judges whether or not operation information has been received from the user. If operation information has been received, the process proceeds to step S712, and if operation information has not been received, the process proceeds to step S713.

[0212] (Step S712) The device processing unit 23 acquires a user identifier from the terminal storage unit 21. The device processing unit 23 configures operation information corresponding to the user identifier. The terminal transmitting unit 24 transmits the operation information corresponding to the user identifier to the advertisement output device 1. Return to step S701.

[0213] (Step S713) The terminal receiving unit 25 judges whether or not information has been received. If information has been received, the process proceeds to step S714, and if information has not been received, the process returns to step S701. The information here is, for example, advertising information or coupon information.

[0214] (Step S714) The terminal processing unit 23 composes information to be output from the received information. The terminal output unit 26 outputs the information. Return to step S701.

[0215] In the flowchart of FIG. 7, the process ends when the power is turned off or an interrupt is issued to end the process.

[0216] A specific example of the operation of the information system A in this embodiment will be described below.

[0217] Now, the advertisement management table shown in FIG. 8 is stored in the advertisement management unit 111 of the advertisement output device 1. The advertisement management table is a table for managing advertisement information. The advertisement management table manages one or more records having "ID", "advertising identifier", "advertising information file", "advertising condition identifier", "output count", "advertiser identifier", "product identifier", and "click rate". "ID" is information for identifying a record. "Advertising identifier" is information for identifying advertisement information. "Advertising information file" is a file name in which advertisement information is stored here. It is assumed that a file corresponding to the file name is stored in the advertisement management unit 111. In addition, the advertisement information is a still image or a video here, but may be a character string or the like, and data type does not matter. "Advertising condition identifier" is information for identifying advertisement conditions. "Output count" is the number of times the advertisement information is output. "Advertiser identifier" is an identifier of an advertiser. "Product identifier" here is information for identifying a product corresponding to the advertisement information. "Click rate" is the rate at which advertisement information is clicked after it is output. "Click rate" is "number of clicks / number of outputs".

[0218] In the advertisement management table, the correspondence between advertisement information and advertisement conditions may be one-to-one, one-to-many, many-to-one, or many-to-many.

[0219] The advertisement management unit 111 stores an advertisement condition management table shown in FIG. 9. The advertisement condition management table is a table for managing advertisement conditions. The advertisement condition management table manages one or more records having an "advertising condition identifier" and an "advertising condition". The "advertising condition" has an "input condition", a "current operation condition", a "past operation condition", and an "environmental condition". Here, each condition in the "advertising condition" is connected by AND. The attribute value "-" of a condition in the "advertising condition" indicates that the condition does not exist. The "advertising condition" may be an OR of two or more conditions, and can be freely set. The "input condition" is a condition based on one or more pieces of input information. The "current operation condition" is a condition based on one or more pieces of current operation information. The "past operation condition" is a condition based on one or more pieces of past operation information. The "environmental condition" is a condition based on one or more pieces of environmental information. The "advertising condition" may have a "referrer condition" to be described later.

[0220] The advertising condition of "ID=1" in the advertising condition management table (FIG. 9) is a condition that is satisfied when "s" is entered in the search box. The advertising condition of "ID=2" is a condition that is satisfied when "se" is entered. The advertising condition of "ID=5" is a condition that is satisfied when "s" is entered, and the type information of the product in the cart in the current operation information of the user is "XXX". The advertising condition of "ID=6" is a condition that is satisfied when "s" is entered, and the total amount in the past operation information of the user is "30,000 yen" or more. The advertising condition of "ID=7" is a condition that is satisfied when "s" is entered, and the time in the environment information is a value of "22:00 to 24:00". The advertising condition of "ID=8" is a condition that is satisfied when "s" is entered, and the type information of the product in the cart in the current operation information of the user is "XXX", and the number of site visits in the past operation information of the user is "10" or more.

[0221] Furthermore, the user management unit 112 stores a user management table shown in Fig. 10. The user management table is a table for managing one or more pieces of user information. The user management table manages one or more records having an "ID", "user identifier", "user static attribute value", and "operation information". The "user static attribute value" here has "age", "gender", and "place of residence". The "user static attribute value" is information that is accumulated, for example, during the user registration process.

[0222] "Operation information" includes "past operation information" and "current operation information." "Past operation information" includes "number of site visits," "RFM," and "abandoned cart product identifier." "RFM" includes "last purchase date," "number of purchases," and "total amount." "Current operation information" includes "purchased product identifier," "cart product identifier," and "purchase flag." "ID" is information that identifies a record. "User static attribute value" is a static attribute value of a user. "Abandoned cart product identifier" is the product identifier of a product that was abandoned in the cart. "Purchased product identifier" is the product identifier of a product purchased by the user. "Cart product identifier" is the product identifier of a product that the user put in the cart. "Purchase flag" is a flag that indicates whether the user has purchased a product ("1") or not ("0") during this visit to the site. "Past operation information" and "current operation information" are information that are accumulated when operation information is received.

[0223] Furthermore, the inventory management unit 113 stores an inventory management table shown in Fig. 11. The inventory management table is a table that manages product information including stock quantities. The inventory management table manages one or more records that have an "ID," "product identifier," and "product attribute value." The "product attribute value" has "type information," "price," and "stock quantity." "Type information" is information that identifies the type of product.

[0224] Furthermore, coupon management unit 114 stores a coupon management table shown in FIG. 12. The coupon management table is a table for managing one or more pieces of coupon information. The coupon management table manages one or more records having an "ID", "coupon identifier", "product identifier", "coupon information", and "coupon condition identifier". The "ID" is information for identifying a record. The "coupon identifier" is information for identifying coupon information. The "product identifier" is the product identifier of a product to which the coupon information is applied. Note that coupon information corresponding to the product identifier "-(NULL)" is coupon information that is not limited to a product corresponding to advertisement information. The "coupon condition identifier" is information for identifying a coupon condition.

[0225] The coupon management unit 114 stores a coupon condition management table shown in FIG. 13. The coupon condition management table is a table for managing one or more coupon conditions. The coupon condition management table manages one or more records having an "ID", a "coupon condition identifier", and a "coupon condition". The "coupon condition" has an "input condition", a "user attribute value condition", an "RFM condition", an "inventory condition", and a "referrer condition". Each condition in the "coupon condition" is connected by AND. The "user attribute value condition" is a condition related to one or more user attribute values. The "RFM condition" is a condition related to RFM. The "inventory condition" is a condition related to the number of products in stock. The "referrer condition" is a condition related to the referrer. The referrer is the page from which the user linked to the website. The "referrer condition" is, for example, a URL or a URI.

[0226] The coupon condition for "ID=1" in the coupon condition management table (Figure 13) is the condition that is met when "s" is entered in the search box and the user's age is under 30. The coupon condition for "ID=2" is the condition that is met when "wash" is entered in the search box and the stock quantity (stock quantity of the product) paired with the product identifier corresponding to the advertising information is 10 or more. The coupon condition for "ID=3" is the condition that is met when the user has made 5 or more purchases and the total amount is 10,000 yen or more. The coupon condition for "ID=4" is the condition that is met when "se" is entered in the search box and the user has passed through a web page with the URL "http: / / www...." before coming to the web page.

[0227] The charge management unit 115 also stores a charge information management table shown in FIG. 14. The charge information management table is a table that manages one or more pieces of charge information. The charge information management table (FIG. 14) manages one or more records that have an "ID," "charge information," and "advertising conditions." The "charge information" is charge information that is information for determining the amount to be charged to an advertiser. Here, the charge information is information based on the number of times the advertising information is output, or monthly information, although this is not important. The "advertising conditions" are information for identifying the advertising conditions, and here, are information for matching the advertising conditions, or advertising condition identifiers, although this expression is not important.

[0228] The record with "ID=1" in the charge information management table (Figure 14) indicates that if the advertising condition is one alphabetic character, the advertiser will pay "10 yen x number of outputs." The record with "ID=2" indicates that if the advertising condition is one hiragana character, the advertiser will pay 5,000 yen per month. The record with "ID=3" indicates that if the advertising condition is one kanji character, the advertiser will pay 3,000 yen per month. The record with "ID=4" indicates that for advertising condition identifier "ac03," the advertiser will pay "3 yen x number of outputs." The record with "ID=5" indicates that for advertising condition identifier "ac05," the advertiser will pay 2,000 yen per month.

[0229] Furthermore, the charge management unit 115 may store a charge information management table shown in FIG. 15 instead of the charge information management table shown in FIG. 14. The charge information management table (FIG. 15) manages one or more records having an "ID," "advertising condition identifier," "advertising identifier," and "charge information." The "charge information" has "output" and "click." "Output" is the amount charged for one output of advertising information. "Click" is the amount charged for one click of advertising information. The charge information in the charge information management table in FIG. 15 is information accumulated when advertisers bid on advertising conditions.

[0230] In the above situation, the following two specific examples will be described. In specific example 1, the charge information management table shown in Fig. 14 is used. In specific example 2, the charge information management table shown in Fig. 15 is used. In specific example 2, it is assumed that the advertisement management table (Fig. 8) does not have the attribute "advertising condition identifier."

[0231] (Example 1) It is assumed that a user inputs an access instruction to the user terminal 2 in order to access a server of an EC site. Then, the terminal reception unit 22 of the user terminal 2 receives the access instruction from the user. Next, the terminal processing unit 23 acquires the user identifier "U001" from the terminal storage unit 21. It is assumed that the user identifier "U001" is stored in the terminal storage unit 21. Next, the device processing unit 23 composes an access instruction corresponding to the user identifier. Next, the terminal transmission unit 24 transmits the access instruction corresponding to the user identifier. It is assumed that the server of the EC site may be the advertisement output device 1 or another device not shown.

[0232] The terminal receiving unit 25 then receives the web page corresponding to the access instruction. The device processing unit 23 then composes a web page to be output from the received web page. The terminal output unit 26 outputs the web page.

[0233] Then, the user performs an operation to search for a product that the user wants to purchase on the EC site. Then, a web page having a search box is output to the user terminal 2. The web page is, for example, a page for searching product information.

[0234] Next, assume that the user attempts to search for a "detergent" that he or she wishes to purchase by first entering "s" in the search box on the page.

[0235] Then, the terminal reception unit 22 of the user terminal 2 receives the input information "s" from the user. Next, the device processing unit 23 acquires the user identifier "U001" from the terminal storage unit 21. The device processing unit 23 configures input information corresponding to the user identifier. The terminal transmission unit 24 transmits the input information corresponding to the user identifier to the advertisement output device 1.

[0236] Next, the input receiving unit 121 of the advertisement output device 1 receives the input information "s" corresponding to the user identifier "U001" from the user terminal 2. Next, the processing unit 13 pairs the input information "s" with the user identifier "U001" and accumulates them in a buffer (not shown).

[0237] Next, the advertisement acquisition unit 131 acquires advertisement information by the advertisement acquisition process described using the flowchart of Fig. 4 using the input information "s" accumulated in the buffer. Here, the advertisement acquisition unit 131 determines that it matches the advertisement condition of "ID=1" in the advertisement condition management table (Fig. 9). Then, the advertisement acquisition unit 131 acquires the advertisement information file "ad_011.jpg" that pairs with the advertisement condition identifier "ac01" of "ID=1" from the advertisement management table (Fig. 8), and reads out the advertisement information in the advertisement information file from the advertisement management unit 111.

[0238] It is assumed that advertisement acquisition unit 131 has determined that the advertisement conditions after "ID=2" in the advertisement condition management table (FIG. 9) are not matched.

[0239] Next, the advertisement output unit 141 transmits the acquired advertisement information of “ad_011.jpg” to the user terminal 2.

[0240] Next, the terminal receiving unit 25 of the user terminal 2 receives the advertising information. Next, the device processing unit 23 composes advertising information to be output from the received advertising information. The terminal output unit 26 outputs the advertising information. Such an output image is shown in FIG. 16. In FIG. 16, 1600 is a web page. 1601 is a search box. 1602 is input information "s" entered by the user. 1603 is advertising information output to the user terminal 2. Advertising information 1603 is advertising information for a detergent.

[0241] Next, the coupon acquisition unit 132 acquires coupon information by the coupon acquisition process described using the flowchart in Fig. 5. Here, the coupon acquisition unit 132 determines that the coupon condition (Fig. 13) identified by the coupon condition identifier "cc01" of "ID=1" in the coupon management table (Fig. 12) is met. Then, the coupon acquisition unit 132 acquires the coupon information "￥1000OFF" that is paired with the coupon condition identifier "cc01" of "ID=1" from the coupon management table (Fig. 12).

[0242] Next, the advertisement output unit 141 transmits the acquired coupon information “¥1000 OFF” to the user terminal 2.

[0243] Next, the terminal receiving unit 25 of the user terminal 2 receives the coupon information. Next, the device processing unit 23 composes coupon information to be output from the received coupon information. The terminal output unit 26 outputs the coupon information. Such an output image is shown in FIG. 17. In FIG. 17, 1701 is the coupon information. The coupon information here is coupon information corresponding to the advertisement information 1603.

[0244] Then, when the user designates the advertisement information 1603 or the coupon information 1701, a page for purchasing the detergent indicated by the advertisement information 1603 at a 1000 yen discount is output to the user terminal 2. As a result, the user can purchase the detergent at a low price.

[0245] Next, it is assumed that the user inputs "e" into the search box of the user terminal 2. As a result, it is assumed that "se" is displayed in the search box.

[0246] Next, the terminal reception unit 22 of the user terminal 2 receives the input information "e" from the user. Then, the device processing unit 23 acquires the user identifier "U001" from the terminal storage unit 21. Next, the device processing unit 23 composes the input information "se" corresponding to the user identifier. Next, the terminal transmission unit 24 transmits the input information "se" corresponding to the user identifier "U001" to the advertisement output device 1. Note that here, the device processing unit 23 may acquire the input information "e" corresponding to the user identifier, and the terminal transmission unit 24 may transmit the input information "e" to the advertisement output device 1. In this case, the processing unit 13 of the advertisement output device 1 may compose "se" using the previously received "s" and the subsequently received "e".

[0247] Next, the input receiving unit 121 of the advertisement output device 1 receives the input information "se" corresponding to the user identifier "U001" from the user terminal 2. Next, the processing unit 13 pairs the input information "se" with the user identifier "U001" and accumulates it in a buffer (not shown).

[0248] Next, the advertisement acquisition unit 131 acquires advertisement information by the advertisement acquisition process described using the flowchart of FIG. 4 using the input information "se" accumulated in the buffer. Here, the advertisement acquisition unit 131 determines that the advertisement condition of "ID=2" in the advertisement condition management table (FIG. 9) is met. Then, the advertisement acquisition unit 131 acquires one advertisement information file "ad_021.gif" from the advertisement management table (FIG. 8) out of two advertisement information files "ad_021.gif" and "ad_022.jpg" that are paired with the advertisement condition identifier "ac02" of "ID=2", and reads out the advertisement information specified by the advertisement information file from the advertisement management unit 111. The advertisement acquisition unit 131 may randomly select advertisement information from the two pieces of advertisement information, may select advertisement information that is not the advertisement information selected last time, or may select advertisement information based on a user attribute value, operation information, or the like.

[0249] It is assumed that advertisement acquisition unit 131 has determined that the advertisement conditions of "ID=1" and "ID=3" and subsequent advertisement conditions in the advertisement condition management table (FIG. 9) are not matched.

[0250] Next, the advertisement output unit 141 transmits the acquired advertisement information of “ad_021.gif” to the user terminal 2.

[0251] Next, the terminal receiving unit 25 of the user terminal 2 receives the advertising information. Next, the terminal processing unit 23 composes advertising information to be output from the received advertising information. The terminal output unit 26 outputs the advertising information. An image of such output is shown in FIG. 18. In FIG. 18, the input information "se" is displayed in the search box 1801. 1802 is the newly received advertising information.

[0252] Next, it is assumed that the coupon acquisition unit 132 attempts to acquire coupon information through the coupon acquisition process described using the flowchart in FIG. 5, but is unable to acquire the coupon information.

[0253] Then, suppose that the user sees the advertisement information 1802 but is not interested, and inputs "detergent" into the search box, and then presses the search button 1703. Note that even during the input stage of "sen" from "se" to "detergent", advertisement information and / or coupon information may be transmitted from advertisement output device 1 to user terminal 2 and output on user terminal 2.

[0254] Next, a search instruction including "detergent" is transmitted from the user terminal 2 to the advertisement output device 1. Next, the advertisement output device 1 receives the search instruction, searches for one or more pieces of product information, and transmits a web page having the one or more pieces of product information to the user terminal 2. The user terminal 2 receives and outputs the web page.

[0255] (Example 2) In Example 2, it is assumed that the user performs the same operation as in Example 1, and a web page having a search box is output to the user terminal 2. Such a web page is, for example, a page for searching for product information.

[0256] Next, assume that the user attempts to search for a "detergent" that he or she wishes to purchase by first entering "s" in the search box on the page.

[0257] Then, the terminal reception unit 22 of the user terminal 2 receives the input information "s" from the user. Next, the device processing unit 23 acquires the user identifier "U001" from the terminal storage unit 21. The device processing unit 23 configures input information corresponding to the user identifier. The terminal transmission unit 24 transmits the input information corresponding to the user identifier to the advertisement output device 1.

[0258] Next, the input receiving unit 121 of the advertisement output device 1 receives the input information "s" corresponding to the user identifier "U001" from the user terminal 2. Next, the processing unit 13 pairs the input information "s" with the user identifier "U001" and accumulates them in a buffer (not shown).

[0259] Next, advertisement acquisition unit 131 acquires advertisement information by the advertisement acquisition process described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 4, using the input information "s" stored in the buffer.

[0260] Here, the advertisement acquisition unit 131 determines that it matches the advertisement condition of "ID=2" in the advertisement condition management table (FIG. 9). Next, the advertisement acquisition unit 131 acquires the advertisement identifiers "A008" and "A038" that are paired with the advertisement condition identifier "ac02" of "ID=2" from the charge amount information management table (FIG. 15). In addition, the advertisement acquisition unit 131 acquires the charge amount information that is paired with the advertisement identifiers "A008" and "A038" from the charge amount information management table (FIG. 15).

[0261] Then, the advertisement acquisition unit 131 acquires the advertisement identifier "A008" that is paired with the high amount "5 yen" by using the attribute values ​​"3 yen" and "5 yen" of the attribute "click" in the charge amount information that is paired with the advertisement identifiers "A008" and "A038". Next, the advertisement acquisition unit 131 refers to the advertisement management table (FIG. 8) and acquires the advertisement information in the advertisement information file that is paired with the advertisement identifier "A008".

[0262] Next, the advertisement output unit 141 transmits the acquired advertisement information to the user terminal 2.

[0263] Next, the terminal receiving unit 25 of the user terminal 2 receives the advertising information. Next, the terminal processing unit 23 composes advertising information to be output from the received advertising information. The terminal output unit 26 outputs the advertising information.

[0264] In the above specific example, the advertisement acquisition unit 131 may determine the advertisement information to be output based on the larger value of "clicks (cost per click) x click rate" in the "charge amount information." That is, the advertisement acquisition unit 131 may acquire, for example, the advertisement information with the larger "clicks x click rate." That is, the advertisement acquisition unit 131 acquires "5 yen x c08" for the advertisement identifier "A008." Also, the advertisement acquisition unit 131 acquires "5 yen x c38" for the advertisement identifier "A038." Next, the advertisement acquisition unit 131 may compare "10 yen x c08" with "5 yen x c38" and acquire the advertisement information corresponding to the larger value.

[0265] Here, let us assume that the advertisement acquisition unit 131 determines that the advertisement matches the advertisement conditions of "ID=1" rather than the advertisement conditions of "ID=2" in the advertisement condition management table (FIG. 9). In this case, the advertisement acquisition unit 131 next acquires the advertisement identifiers "A001" and "A003" that are paired with the advertisement condition identifier "ac01" of "ID=1" from the charge amount information management table (FIG. 15). The advertisement acquisition unit 131 also acquires the charge amount information that is paired with the advertisement identifiers "A001" and "A003" from the charge amount information management table (FIG. 15).

[0266] Then, the advertisement acquisition unit 131 acquires the advertisement identifier "A003" that is paired with the high price of "5 yen" by using the attribute values ​​"3 yen" and "5 yen" of the attribute "output" in the billing amount information that is paired with the advertisement identifiers "A001" and "A003". Next, the advertisement acquisition unit 131 refers to the advertisement management table (FIG. 8) and acquires the advertisement information in the advertisement information file "ad_0031.jpg" that is paired with the advertisement identifier "A003".

[0267] Next, the advertisement output unit 141 transmits the acquired advertisement information of “ad_0031.jpg” to the user terminal 2.

[0268] Next, the terminal receiving unit 25 of the user terminal 2 receives the advertising information. Next, the terminal processing unit 23 composes advertising information to be output from the received advertising information. The terminal output unit 26 outputs the advertising information.

[0269] In the second specific example, similarly to the first specific example, a coupon acquisition process or the like may or may not be performed.

[0270] Also, in specific example 2, the advertisement acquisition unit 131 may determine the advertisement information to be output using both "output" and "click" from the "charge amount information". That is, the advertisement acquisition unit 131 may acquire the advertisement information with the larger "'output' + 'click' x click rate". That is, the advertisement acquisition unit 131 acquires "3 yen + 10 yen x c01" for the advertisement identifier "A001". Also, the advertisement acquisition unit 131 acquires "5 yen + 5 yen x c03" for the advertisement identifier "A003". Next, the advertisement acquisition unit 131 may compare "3 yen + 10 yen x c01" with "5 yen + 5 yen x c03" and acquire the advertisement information corresponding to the larger value.

[0271] As described above, according to this embodiment, it is possible to present an appropriate advertisement to a user before performing a search. Note that "before performing a search" refers to, for example, the time when a character string is being input in a search box.

[0272] Furthermore, according to this embodiment, appropriate coupons can be presented to the user before a search is performed.

[0273] Furthermore, according to this embodiment, appropriate charges can be made to advertisers. Furthermore, since a plurality of pieces of charge information and a plurality of pieces of advertising information can be managed for one advertising condition, bidding for one advertising condition can be made.

[0274] The process in this embodiment may be realized by software. This software may be distributed by software download or the like. This software may be recorded on a recording medium such as a CD-ROM and distributed. This also applies to other embodiments in this specification. The software for realizing the advertisement output device 1 in this embodiment is a program as follows. That is, this program is a program for making a computer function as an input receiving unit that receives input information into a search box before a search, an advertisement acquisition unit that acquires advertisement information corresponding to the advertisement conditions satisfied by the input information accepted by the input receiving unit from an advertisement management unit that stores one or more pieces of advertisement information corresponding to advertisement conditions including input conditions related to the input information, and an advertisement output unit that outputs the advertisement information acquired by the advertisement acquisition unit.

[0275] Fig. 19 shows the appearance of a computer that executes the program described in this specification to realize the advertisement output device 1 and the like of the various embodiments described above. The above-mentioned embodiments can be realized by computer hardware and a computer program executed thereon. Fig. 19 is an overview of this computer system 300, and Fig. 20 is a block diagram of the system 300.

[0276] In FIG. 19, a computer system 300 includes a computer 301 including a CD-ROM drive, a keyboard 302, a mouse 303, and a monitor 304.

[0277] 20, computer 301 includes, in addition to CD-ROM drive 3012, MPU 3013, bus 3014 connected to CD-ROM drive 3012 etc., ROM 3015 for storing programs such as a boot-up program, RAM 3016 connected to MPU 3013 for temporarily storing instructions of application programs and providing temporary storage space, and hard disk 3017 for storing application programs, system programs, and data. Although not shown here, computer 301 may further include a network card for providing connection to a LAN.

[0278] A program for causing computer system 300 to execute functions of advertisement output device 1 of the above-described embodiment may be stored on CD-ROM 3101, inserted into CD-ROM drive 3012, and further transferred to hard disk 3017. Alternatively, the program may be transmitted to computer 301 via a network (not shown) and stored on hard disk 3017. The program is loaded into RAM 3016 at the time of execution. The program may be loaded directly from CD-ROM 3101 or the network.

[0279] The program does not necessarily include an operating system (OS) or a third party program that causes the computer 301 to execute the functions of the advertisement output device 1 of the above-mentioned embodiment. The program only needs to include an instruction portion that calls appropriate functions (modules) in a controlled manner to obtain a desired result. How the computer system 300 operates is well known, and a detailed description will be omitted.

[0280] In addition, in the above program, the steps of transmitting information and receiving information do not include processing performed by hardware, such as processing performed by a modem or interface card in the transmitting step (processing that is performed only by hardware).

[0281] The program may be executed by a single computer or a plurality of computers. That is, the program may be executed by centralized processing or distributed processing.

[0282] Furthermore, in each of the above embodiments, it goes without saying that two or more communication means present in one device may be physically realized by one medium.

[0283] In each of the above embodiments, each process may be realized by centralized processing in a single device, or may be realized by distributed processing in a plurality of devices.

[0284] The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications are possible, and it goes without saying that these modifications are also included within the scope of the present invention. [Industrial Applicability]

[0285] As described above, the advertisement output device 1 according to the present invention has an effect of being able to present an appropriate advertisement to a user before a search is performed, and is useful as an advertisement server or the like. [Explanation of symbols]

[0286] A. Information Systems 1. Advertising output device 2. User terminal 11 Storage area 12 Reception 13 Processing section 14 Output section 21 Terminal storage section 22 Terminal Reception 23 Terminal Processing Section 24 Terminal transmitter 25 Terminal receiving section 26 Terminal Output Section 111 Advertising Management Department 112 User Management Department 113 Inventory Management Department 114 Coupon Management Department 115 Billing Management Department 121 Input reception section 131 Advertising Acquisition Department 132 Coupon Acquisition Department 133 Search Department 134 Billing Department 141 Advertising output section

Claims

1. An input receiving unit that receives information entered into the search box before the search, An advertising acquisition unit retrieves advertising information from an advertising management unit that stores one or more pieces of advertising information corresponding to advertising conditions including input conditions related to input information containing a string in the process of being converted to Japanese, which corresponds to the advertising conditions that the input information received by the input reception unit satisfies. An advertising output device comprising: an advertising output unit that outputs the advertising information acquired by the advertising acquisition unit.

2. The input conditions correspond to advertiser identifiers, The advertising output device according to claim 1, further comprising: a billing management unit which stores a billing management unit associated with a condition containing a string in the process of being converted to Japanese and billing amount information for determining the amount to be charged to the advertiser, and a billing unit which performs billing processing using the billing amount information associated with the condition in the billing management unit that matches the input information received by the input receiving unit, for the advertiser identified by the advertiser identifier associated with the input condition.

3. The aforementioned input receiving unit is It accepts one or more operation information and the information entered into the search box before the search. The aforementioned advertising management department, The system stores one or more advertising information items that correspond to advertising conditions that include the aforementioned input conditions and one or more conditions from among the following: current operation conditions, which are conditions related to the user's actions during the current access; past operation conditions, which are conditions related to the user's actions during past accesses; or referrer conditions, which are conditions related to the referrer, which is the page from which the user linked when they arrived at the website. The aforementioned advertising acquisition unit, The advertising output device according to claim 1, which obtains from the advertising management unit advertising information that corresponds to advertising conditions satisfied by the input information received by the input receiving unit and one or more current operation information based on one or more operation information received by the input receiving unit or one or more past operation information based on one or more operation information received by the input receiving unit or an acquired referrer.

4. An advertising output method that performs all processing performed by the advertising output device described in any one of claims 1 to 3.

5. Computers, A program for causing an advertising output device to function as described in any one of claims 1 to 3.

Images