Information processing device, information processing method and information processing system

Abstract

To make more people vote easily.SOLUTION: An information processing device 20 includes an acquisition section 212 for acquiring voting information representing that a user votes for a competition, and a privilege assignment section 214 for, when the acquisition section 212 acquires a plurality of pieces of voting information representing that out of a plurality of users associated with a same group, two or more users have voted, assigning a privilege capable of giving preferential treatment in purchase of a product or use of service to one or more users out of the plurality of users associated with a group with which the two or more users are associated.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 8

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an information processing device, an information processing method, and an information processing system. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, there is known a system that can give benefits to voters who have placed bets on races such as bicycle races, horse races, or boat races. Patent Document 1 discloses a voting device that issues gift certificates in response to voters answering a questionnaire. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2020-91624 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] Conventional voting devices issue gift certificates to voters who have cast a vote. One possible purpose of providing benefits such as gift certificates is to motivate voters to vote again. However, even if a benefit is provided to a voter, it is not possible to motivate people other than the voter to vote, so there is a problem that the number of voters does not increase.

[0005] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to make it easier for more people to vote. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] An information processing device according to one embodiment of the present invention has an acquisition unit that acquires voting information indicating that a user has voted in a competition, and a bonus granting unit that, when the acquisition unit acquires multiple pieces of voting information indicating that two or more users out of a plurality of users associated with the same group have voted, grants a bonus that can give preferential treatment in purchasing a product or using a service to one or more users out of a plurality of users associated with the group to which the two or more users are associated. Effect of the Invention

[0007] The present invention has the effect of making it easier for more people to vote. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] 1 is a diagram showing a system configuration of an information processing system 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 2] FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining an overview of an information processing system 1 according to a first embodiment. [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a hardware configuration of a terminal 10. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of an information processing device 20. [Diagram 5] 4 is a diagram showing an example of information stored in a storage unit 22. FIG. [Figure 6] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a functional block configuration of a processor 11. [Figure 7] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a screen displayed on the terminal 10. [Figure 8] 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a functional block configuration of a processor 21 according to the first embodiment. FIG. [Figure 9] 4 is a flowchart showing a flow of processing by the processor 21 according to the first embodiment. [Figure 10] FIG. 11 is a diagram for explaining an overview of an information processing system 1 according to a second embodiment. [Figure 11] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of a screen displayed on the terminal 10b. [Figure 12] 13 is a flowchart showing a flow of processing by the processor 21 according to the second embodiment. [Figure 13] FIG. 11 is a diagram for explaining an overview of an information processing system 1 according to a third embodiment. [Figure 14] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of a screen displayed on the terminal 10c. [Figure 15] FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of benefit granting condition information displayed on the terminal 10 used by a user belonging to a first group. [Figure 16] 13 is a flowchart showing a flow of processing by the processor 21 according to the third embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0009] [System Configuration] Fig. 1 is a diagram showing a system configuration of an information processing system 1 according to this embodiment. The information processing system 1 shown in Fig. 1 includes a plurality of terminals 10 (10a, 10b) and an information processing device 20. The plurality of terminals 10 and the information processing device 20 are connected to each other so as to be able to communicate with each other via a communication network N such as the Internet, an intranet, a wireless LAN (Local Area Network), or a mobile communication network.

[0010] Terminal 10 is a terminal used by a voter (hereinafter referred to as "user") who uses information processing system 1 to vote for a competition, and is an information processing terminal such as a mobile phone (including a smartphone), a tablet terminal, or a personal computer. The competition is, for example, bicycle racing, auto racing, horse racing, or boat racing, and is a competition in which voting can be performed for a betting target. The competition is not limited to competitions performed by people or animals, but may be e-sports performed using a computer. The user can cast a vote for a betting target by operating terminal 10.

[0011] The terminal 10 displays a voting ticket on a display provided in the terminal 10 based on the voting object for which the user has voted and the predetermined value bet on the voting object. The voting ticket displayed by the terminal 10 shows one or more voting objects and the predetermined value bet on the voting object. The terminal 10 transmits voting information indicating the voting contents including the voting object and the predetermined value shown on the voting ticket to the information processing device 20.

[0012] The betting targets are, for example, "number 5 comes first, number 3 comes second" selected in the "double" bet, or "numbers 1, 2 and 5" selected in the "trifecta" bet. Note that a double bet is predicting the athletes (including athletes or animals) who will come first and second in the order of their finish, while a trifecta is predicting the athletes who will come first through third regardless of their order of finish.

[0013] The predetermined value may be money, or may be points that can be used in a predetermined service or game, etc. Furthermore, the points may be points that the user can receive free of charge (free points), or may be points that the user can receive in exchange for payment of money (paid points).

[0014] The information processing device 20 is, for example, a computer, and is configured from one or more physical servers. The information processing device 20 may be configured using a virtual server that operates on a hypervisor, or may be configured using a cloud server.

[0015] The information processing device 20 is a device that accepts votes for a competition in which voting is possible for a betting object. Specifically, the information processing device 20 is a device that supports a user of the terminal 10 to bet by betting a predetermined value on a contestant who is predicted to win the competition. The information processing device 20 executes, for example, a process of storing the betting object for which the user of the terminal 10 has voted and the magnitude of the predetermined value bet on the betting object, a process of determining a reward amount (i.e., a payout amount) according to the result of the competition, and a process of notifying the terminal 10 of the result of the competition and the reward amount.

[0016] The information processing device 20 grants a privilege based on the user's vote. The privilege is, for example, a ticket or coupon for the user to be given preferential treatment when purchasing a specific product or using a service. Based on granting a privilege to a user, the information processing device 20 notifies the terminal 10 used by the user that the privilege has been granted. The terminal 10 displays the content of the privilege acquired from the information processing device 20 on a display provided in the terminal 10.

[0017] <First embodiment> [Outline of Information Processing System 1] Fig. 2 is a diagram for explaining an overview of an information processing system 1 according to a first embodiment. Fig. 2 shows an EC (Electronic Commerce) site server 30 that allows a user to purchase a product using a benefit. In the information processing system 1 according to the first embodiment, an information processing device 20 grants a benefit to a user using a terminal 10 based on the content of the user's vote when the user votes in a competition and the result of the competition.

[0018] A user operates the terminal 10 to select a race for which to bet, and determines a betting object for the selected race and a predetermined value to bet on the betting object. The terminal 10 transmits voting information indicating the betting content including the betting object and the predetermined value determined by the user to the information processing device 20 (S1).

[0019] The information processing device 20 determines the benefit to be given to the user based on the voting details corresponding to the voting information acquired from the terminal 10 and the result of the competition (S2). Details of the process in which the information processing device 20 gives a benefit to a user will be described later, but for example, if the voting target included in the voting details acquired from the terminal 10 is correct, the information processing device 20 gives a first type of benefit to the user of the terminal 10 that transmitted the voting details, and if the voting target is not correct, the information processing device 20 gives a second type of benefit to the user. For example, based on the fact that the benefit has been given to the user whose voting was correct, the information processing device 20 notifies the terminal 10 used by the user of the benefit (S3).

[0020] The user can use the benefit by operating the terminal 10 (S4). The terminal 10 displays on the display information to be used when using the benefit, such as the name of the product that is the subject of the benefit obtained from the information processing device 20, the amount of discount or the discount rate when purchasing the product, or an information code such as a Uniform Resource Locator (URL) or a QR code (registered trademark) required to purchase the product.

[0021] The user can, for example, select a displayed URL to connect the terminal 10 to the EC site server 30, or send an information code such as a QR code from the terminal 10 to the EC site server 30, thereby purchasing the product that is the subject of the special offer at a price corresponding to the discount amount or discount rate indicated by the special offer.

[0022] Users have different feelings about voting depending on whether their votes were correct or not. For example, it is considered that users whose votes were correct are satisfied with the voting results, while users whose votes were not correct are not satisfied with the voting results. In such a case, for example, if a better benefit is given to users whose votes were not correct than to users whose votes were correct, the satisfaction of the users whose votes were not correct increases, and they are motivated to vote again. Conversely, if a good benefit is given to users whose votes were correct, the enjoyment of voting increases, so the satisfaction of the users whose votes were correct increases, and they are motivated to vote again. In this way, the information processing device 20 can increase the satisfaction of more users by giving users benefits determined based on the competition results and the voting contents.

[0023] [Hardware configuration] 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of a hardware configuration of the terminal 10. The terminal 10 includes a processor 11, a storage unit 12, a communication IF (Interface) 13, an input device 14, and an output device 15.

[0024] The processor 11 is, for example, a CPU (Central Processing Unit), and executes programs stored in the storage unit 12 to realize various functions.

[0025] The storage unit 12 includes storage media such as a Read Only Memory (ROM), a Random Access Memory (RAM), and a Solid State Drive (SSD). The storage unit 12 stores a program executed by the processor 11.

[0026] The communication IF 13 has a communication controller for performing wired communication or wireless communication with the information processing device 20 via the communication network N. The communication IF 13 transmits data input from the processor 11 to the information processing device 20. The communication IF 13 notifies the processor 11 of the data input from the information processing device 20.

[0027] The input device 14 accepts input operations from, for example, a user. The input device 14 is, for example, a touch panel. The output device 15 outputs various information. The output device 15 is, for example, a display. The output device 15 displays a screen for the user to make various settings and cast votes. The output device 15 displays a screen for confirming the contents of the benefit notified by the information processing device 20.

[0028] 4 is a diagram showing a hardware configuration of the information processing device 20. The information processing device 20 includes a processor 21, a storage unit 22, a communication IF 23, an input device 24, and an output device 25.

[0029] The processor 21 is, for example, a CPU or a GPU (Graphical Processing Unit), and executes programs stored in the storage unit 22 to realize various functions.

[0030] The storage unit 22 has storage media such as a ROM, a RAM, and an SSD. The storage unit 22 stores a program executed by the processor 21 and a plurality of databases. The storage unit 22 stores users and privileges given to the users in association with each other.

[0031] Fig. 5 is a diagram showing an example of a database stored in the storage unit 22. Fig. 5(a) is a diagram showing a bonus database including competition information indicating a competition and bonus information. Fig. 5(b) is a diagram showing a history database showing the voting contents when each of a plurality of users voted for a competition. Fig. 5(c) is a diagram showing a user database including information associated with a user.

[0032] As shown in FIG. 5(a), the storage unit 22 stores, for example, competition information indicating a competition and bonus information in association with each other. The competition information includes competition identification information (hereinafter referred to as "competition ID") for identifying the competition, and at least one of the competition venue, grade, and race name. The bonus information includes the conditions for granting the bonus and the contents of the bonus. The conditions for granting the bonus include, for example, that the bet is correct, that the bet is incorrect, or that the predetermined value of the bet is equal to or greater than a threshold value. The conditions for granting the bonus will be described in detail later.

[0033] As shown in FIG. 5(b), the storage unit 22 may store a voting history indicating the content of a user's vote for a competition. The storage unit 22 stores, for example, voting information indicating the content of a user's vote when the user voted and winning result information indicating whether the vote was a winning or losing vote, in association with each of a plurality of users. A "winning vote" means, for example, that at least one of the voting targets included in the voting information is eligible for a refund. A "losing vote" means, for example, that none of the voting targets included in the voting information is eligible for a refund.

[0034] In the history database shown in Fig. 5(b), user IDs, competition IDs, voting methods, voting target pair numbers, voting amounts, winning results, rewards, and rewarded users are associated with each other. The rewarded users are other users different from the user whose history is shown, and are other users who have been granted rewards based on the results of voting by the user whose history is shown. Details of the rewarded users will be described later.

[0035] The storage unit 22 may store user identification information (hereinafter referred to as "user ID") for identifying multiple users in association with group identification information (hereinafter referred to as "group ID") for identifying a group. A group is a group including multiple users who vote in a competition. As shown in FIG. 5(c), the storage unit 22 stores a user database in which user names, user IDs, group IDs, friend identification information for identifying friends (hereinafter referred to as "friend IDs"), the number of votes, and the number of hits are associated with each other. A friend is another user designated by each of the multiple users, for example, another user who each of the multiple users has allowed to share the contents of their votes.

[0036] When a user uses terminal 10 to send a friend request to another user with whom the user wants to share the voting details, the other user who received the request can choose whether or not to approve the request by operating terminal 10 used by the other user. If the other user approves the request, the other user will have a friend relationship with the user who made the request, and therefore can share the voting details. On the other hand, if the other user does not approve the request, the user who made the request and the other user are not in a friend relationship, and therefore the voting details cannot be shared.

[0037] The communication IF 23 has a communication controller for performing wired communication or wireless communication with the terminal 10 via the communication network N. The communication IF 23 transmits data input from the processor 21 to the terminal 10. The communication IF 23 notifies the processor 21 of the data input from the terminal 10.

[0038] The input device 24 receives an input operation from, for example, an administrator of the information processing device 20. The input device 24 is, for example, a keyboard, a touch panel, a mouse, or a microphone. The output device 25 is, for example, a display or a speaker.

[0039] [Function block configuration] 6 is a diagram showing an example of a functional block configuration of the processor 11. The processor 11 has an information transmitting unit 111, an information receiving unit 112, and a display control unit 113. The processor 11 functions as the information transmitting unit 111, the information receiving unit 112, and the display control unit 113 by executing a program stored in the storage unit 12.

[0040] The information transmitting unit 111 transmits the voting information to the information processing device 20. The information transmitting unit 111 generates voting information indicating the voting contents including the voting target for which the user has voted and the predetermined value bet on the voting target based on the user's operation accepted by the input device 14, and transmits the generated voting information to the information processing device 20.

[0041] The information transmitting unit 111 may transmit voting information including content viewing information indicating that the user has viewed content predicting the outcome of a competition to the information processing device 20, for example, based on the user having viewed content predicting the outcome of the competition and then voting for the competition.

[0042] The information receiving unit 112 receives winning result information and bonus information. The information receiving unit 112 receives winning result information and bonus information corresponding to the voting information transmitted by the information transmitting unit 111. The display control unit 113 causes the output device 15 to display a voting screen for the user to vote for the competition and a confirmation screen for the user to confirm whether or not the vote was successful. The display control unit 113 causes the output device 15 to display a screen for confirming the contents of the bonus.

[0043] Fig. 7 is a diagram showing an example of a screen displayed on the terminal 10. Fig. 7(a) is a diagram showing an example of a voting screen displayed on the terminal 10. Fig. 7(b) is a diagram showing an example of a competition result confirmation screen displayed on the terminal 10.

[0044] As shown in FIG. 7(a), terminal 10 displays area 151 for displaying the stadium and name of the event corresponding to the event to be bet on, area 152 for displaying the voting method, area 153 for displaying the items to be bet on and the betting amount, and operation image 154 for voting for the event.

[0045] The user of terminal 10 selects a betting method by pressing the operation image "Dual" shown in area 152. The user of terminal 10 determines the betting target or betting amount by pressing the betting target or betting amount shown in area 153, and adds a betting target by pressing the operation image "Add." The user of terminal 10 votes for a race by pressing the operation image 154.

[0046] As shown in FIG. 7(b), terminal 10 shows area 155 for displaying the stadium and name of the event corresponding to the event for which the user has voted, area 156 for displaying the competition results of the event, area 157 for displaying the winning results corresponding to the user's vote, and area 158 for displaying the bonus corresponding to the user's vote.

[0047] If the user's vote is correct, terminal 10 displays in area 157 a message notifying the user that the vote was correct, "You got it!", along with the reward amount (i.e., the refund amount), and displays in area 158 the details of the benefit that will be given as a result of the correct vote. If the user's vote is not correct, terminal 10 displays in area 157 a message notifying the user that the vote was not correct (e.g., "You didn't get it."), and displays in area 158 the details of the benefit that will be given if the vote was not correct. If the user's vote is not correct, terminal 10 may display in area 158 a message notifying the user that no benefit will be given (e.g., "There is no benefit.").

[0048] 8 is a diagram showing an example of a functional block configuration of the processor 21 according to the first embodiment. The processor 21 has a vote acceptance unit 211, an acquisition unit 212, a payment processing unit 213, a reward granting unit 214, a period determination unit 215, and a notification unit 216. The processor 21 executes a program stored in the storage unit 22 to function as the vote acceptance unit 211, the acquisition unit 212, the payment processing unit 213, the reward granting unit 214, the period determination unit 215, and the notification unit 216.

[0049] The voting acceptance unit 211 accepts votes for the voting contents. The voting acceptance unit 211 accepts voting information indicating the voting contents for the competition that the user of the terminal 10 has voted for by operating the terminal 10 from the terminal 10 via the communication network N. The voting acceptance unit 211 associates the competition ID, voting method, pair number, and voting amount included in the accepted voting information with the user ID and stores them in the memory unit 22, as shown in Fig. 5(a), for example.

[0050] The acquisition unit 212 acquires voting information indicating the voting contents when the user voted for the competition. The acquisition unit 212 acquires voting information indicating the voting contents including, for example, the voting object for which the user voted and a predetermined value. The acquisition unit 212 acquires the voting information by, for example, referring to the history database shown in FIG. 5(b).

[0051] The acquisition unit 212 may acquire schedule information indicating the voting target and the predetermined value for which the user plans to vote before the vote acceptance unit 211 accepts the vote for the voting content. The schedule information is, for example, information indicating the voting target and the predetermined value set by the user in the terminal 10 at the time before the vote acceptance unit 211 accepts the vote. Specifically, the schedule information is information shown in the area 153 in the state before the user presses the operation image 154 shown in FIG. 7(a). The acquisition unit 212 acquires the schedule information from the terminal 10, for example, at regular intervals, and notifies the acquired schedule information to the benefit granting unit 214. The schedule information is used to notify the user of the contents of the benefit that may be granted when the user votes for the planned voting target and the predetermined value.

[0052] The payment processing unit 213 determines whether the user's vote is correct, and if the user's vote is correct, gives the user a reward according to the amount of a predetermined value. The payment processing unit 213 determines whether the user's vote is correct based on the competition result corresponding to the competition result information acquired from a server (not shown) that manages the competition results, for example. The competition result includes the winning combination number and the payout rate.

[0053] Next, if the bet is correct, the payment processing unit 213 determines the amount of reward to be paid to the user based on the payout rate included in the competition result, the betting object of the bet, and the amount of the predetermined value (betting amount). If the bet is correct, the payment processing unit 213 notifies the terminal 10 used by the user who cast the bet that the bet was correct and the reward amount, and if the bet is not correct, the payment processing unit 213 notifies the terminal 10 that the bet was not correct. Note that the server that manages the results of the competition and the information processing device 20 may be the same device.

[0054] The reward granting unit 214 grants a reward to the user, which can give preferential treatment to the purchase of a product or the use of a service, based on the competition result of the competition in which the user voted and the voting content indicated by the voting information. "Providing a reward to the user" means, for example, transmitting reward information indicating the reward to the terminal 10 used by the user, or storing the reward information indicating the reward in the storage unit 22 in association with the user ID. The reward granting unit 214 grants a reward to the user, for example, by transmitting the reward information to the terminal 10 via the communication IF 23.

[0055] The reward granting unit 214 stores reward information indicating a reward based on the determination result, for example, in the storage unit 22 in association with the user ID. Then, the reward granting unit 214 grants a reward to the user associated with the user ID by allowing the user to access the stored reward information using the terminal 10. In this case, the reward granting unit 214 may notify the terminal 10 used by the user that the reward has been granted to the user.

[0056] In order to determine the contents of the bonus, the bonus granting unit 214 judges whether or not the user's vote for the competition has been successful, for example, based on the competition result of the competition acquired by the payment processing unit 213 and the voting contents corresponding to the voting information acquired by the acquisition unit 212. For example, if the vote is successful, the bonus granting unit 214 grants the user a first bonus out of multiple bonuses, and if the vote is unsuccessful, the bonus granting unit 214 grants the user a second bonus out of multiple bonuses that is different from the first bonus.

[0057] As an example, the first benefit is a benefit that is more valuable than the second benefit. A benefit that is more valuable is, for example, a benefit with a larger discount amount or discount rate on the purchase price of a product or service. By making the value of the first benefit higher than the value of the second benefit by the benefit granting unit 214, the joy of a winning vote is doubled for a user who has cast a winning vote, and the user is motivated to vote again. The benefit granting unit 214 does not need to grant the second benefit to a user who has cast an incorrect vote, but granting the second benefit to a user who has cast an incorrect vote increases the satisfaction of the user, and the user is motivated to vote again.

[0058] The first benefit may be a benefit lower in value than the second benefit. By making the benefit granting unit 214 higher in value of the second benefit than the first benefit, the users whose votes were not correct can be motivated to vote again since the dissatisfaction caused by the incorrect vote can be reduced. The benefit granting unit 214 does not need to grant the first benefit to the users whose votes were correct, but by granting the first benefit to the users whose votes were correct, the satisfaction of the users increases, and the users are motivated to vote again. By operating in this manner, the benefit granting unit 214 can increase the satisfaction of more voters.

[0059] In addition, the bonus granting unit 214 may grant a bonus without storing the user ID and bonus information in the memory unit 22, by notifying the terminal 10 of a URL at which the bonus can be used or an information code such as a QR code including the URL, as shown in area 158 of Figure 7(b).

[0060] The reward granting unit 214 may grant a reward to the user according to the amount of reward. The reward granting unit 214 obtains the reward amount to be paid to the user determined by the payment processing unit 213, and grants the user a reward according to the size of the reward amount. For example, the reward granting unit 214 grants a coupon with a larger discount rate on the purchase price or a coupon for a product with a larger product value (e.g., product price) to a user who has exceeded a predetermined reward amount (e.g., 10,000 yen) among a plurality of users whose votes have been successful, compared to users who have not exceeded the predetermined reward amount. By operating in this manner, the reward granting unit 214 motivates users to vote a large amount of the predetermined value so that they can obtain a larger reward amount.

[0061] When the voting target and the predetermined value indicated by the scheduled information acquired by the acquisition unit 212 satisfy a predetermined right-granting condition, the reward granting unit 214 may notify the user of the contents of a reward that may be granted by voting before the vote accepting unit 211 starts accepting votes for the voting contents. The predetermined right-granting condition is, for example, that the vote indicated by the scheduled information is a vote for a competition that grants a reward, or that the predetermined value indicated by the scheduled information is equal to or greater than a predetermined amount.

[0062] The reward granting unit 214 determines a payout rate when the betting target included in the schedule information acquired by the acquisition unit 212 wins at the time the schedule information is acquired, based on the betting target. The reward granting unit 214 calculates a planned remuneration amount based on a predetermined value included in the schedule information and the payout rate at the time the schedule information is acquired. The reward granting unit 214 notifies the terminal 10 of the content of the reward corresponding to the planned remuneration amount.

[0063] The payout rate when the bet target is correct may change if other users cast their votes before the time when the voting is closed. In response to this, the reward granting unit 214 identifies a reward corresponding to the expected remuneration amount, and notifies the user that the bet target has a possibility of receiving a reward at the time when the prediction information is acquired. By operating in this manner, the reward granting unit 214 can increase the probability that the user will vote.

[0064] The reward granting unit 214 may grant a reward to a user corresponding to past voting contents indicated by the voting history of the user stored in the storage unit 22. The reward granting unit 214 acquires the number of votes of each user, for example, by referring to the user database shown in Fig. 5(c), and stores reward information indicating a reward corresponding to the number of votes in the storage unit 22 in association with the user ID. For example, the reward granting unit 214 grants a coupon with a larger discount amount or discount rate on the purchase price or a coupon for a product with a large product value to a user associated with the number of votes.

[0065] The reward granting unit 214 may obtain the reward amount for each of the multiple votes that the user has made correct by referring to the history database shown in Figure 5(b), for example, and grant the user a reward corresponding to the total value of the multiple reward amounts. Specifically, if the reward amounts associated with the user ID "U001" shown in Figure 5(b) are "2100" and "1600", the reward granting unit 214 stores a reward corresponding to the total value of the reward amount, "3700", in association with the user ID "U001" in the storage unit 22.

[0066] For example, the greater the total value of a plurality of remuneration amounts, the greater the discount amount or discount rate on the purchase price, or the greater the coupon for a product with high product value that is given to the user.

[0067] The reward giving unit 214 may give a reward to a user who correctly votes in a predetermined number of sports among a predetermined number of sports. Specifically, when the sports IDs indicating the three predetermined sports are "NGY-1", "NGY-2", and "NGY-3", the reward giving unit 214 may give a reward to a user who correctly votes in two or more sports (for example, "NGY-1" and "NGY-2") among the three sports.

[0068] The reward granting unit 214 acquires a predetermined number of competition IDs for which the user has voted and the winning results associated with each of the plurality of competition IDs, for example by referring to a history database. The reward granting unit 214 grants a reward to the user when the number of competition IDs associated with the winning results indicating that the vote was a winning one is equal to or greater than a predetermined number.

[0069] The reward granting unit 214 may grant a coupon with a larger discount amount or discount rate on the purchase price or a coupon for a product with a larger commercial value to a user who has correctly voted in a larger number of sports among a predetermined plurality of sports. Specifically, the reward granting unit 214 may grant a coupon with a larger discount amount or discount rate on the purchase price or a coupon for a product with a larger commercial value to a user who has correctly voted in three sports among a plurality of users who have correctly voted in two sports among the users who have correctly voted in each of three predetermined sports.

[0070] The reward granting unit 214 may grant a first coupon that was granted to a user who voted correctly in two of the three sports among a plurality of users who voted for each of the three sports, and a second coupon different from the first coupon, to a user who voted correctly in three of the three sports among a plurality of users who voted for each of the three sports. By operating in this manner, the reward granting unit 214 can motivate users to continue voting.

[0071] When a user makes a new vote a correct choice, the reward granting unit 214 may determine a reward to be granted to the user based on hit result information indicating whether the vote was a correct choice or not, stored in the history database, among one or more pieces of voting information of the user stored in the storage unit 22. The reward granting unit 214 determines the content of the reward based on one or more pieces of voting information stored in association with hit result information indicating that the vote was not a correct choice, for example, and grants the determined reward to the user.

[0072] The reward granting unit 214 grants a reward according to, for example, at least one of the number of times a vote was lost or the amount of the predetermined value bet when a vote was lost. The reward granting unit 214 grants a reward to a user that is more valuable the greater the number of times a vote was lost or the amount of the predetermined value bet when a vote was lost. The reward granting unit 214 may grant a reward to a user that is more valuable the greater the value obtained by multiplying the number of times a vote was lost by the amount of the predetermined value bet when a vote was lost.

[0073] Specifically, when the votes of user "A" and user "B" shown in Fig. 5(c) are correct, the reward granting unit 214 calculates "83", which is the difference between the number of votes "126" associated with user "A" and the number of correct answers "43", as the number of incorrect votes of user "A". The reward granting unit 214 calculates "72", which is the difference between the number of votes "118" associated with user "B" and the number of correct answers "46", as the number of incorrect votes of user "B".

[0074] Next, since the number of losing votes for user "A" is greater than the number of losing votes for user "B," the reward granting unit 214 grants to user "A" a coupon with a higher discount rate on the purchase price or a coupon for a product with a higher product value than the coupon granted to user "B." By operating in this manner, the reward granting unit 214 can motivate the user to vote again even if the user loses a vote.

[0075] When the voting information indicating the voting contents when the user voted for the competition includes information indicating that the user voted based on the specific content viewed by the user, the privilege granting unit 214 may grant the user a privilege associated with the specific content. The specific content is, for example, content including a content that predicts the competition result of the competition for which the user is about to vote. The information indicating that the user voted based on the specific content is information indicating that the user who viewed the specific content voted after viewing the specific content, and is transmitted from the terminal 10 together with the voting information.

[0076] The reward granting unit 214 notifies the terminal 10 of the details of the reward associated with the content viewing information, for example, based on the fact that the voting information includes the content viewing information. In order to grant a reward to the user when the vote is correct, the reward granting unit 214 stores in the storage unit 22 a reward associated with the content viewing information and a reward not associated with the content viewing information in association with the user ID, and does not grant a reward to the user when the vote is not correct. By operating in this manner, the reward granting unit 214 can motivate the user to use a specific content and vote.

[0077] The reward granting unit 214 may grant the user a reward selected based on the user information. The user information is, for example, the user's age, sex, or birthday. The user information is stored in the storage unit 22 in association with, for example, a user ID. For example, if a user whose birthday is "June 10" votes for "June 15" and is correct, the reward granting unit 214 may grant a coupon with a larger discount amount or discount rate for a product than a user whose birthday and voting date are in different months, based on the fact that the birthday and voting date are the same month.

[0078] When the reward giving unit 214 gives a reward to a first user who voted for a competition, the reward giving unit 214 may also give a reward to a second user who has a predetermined relationship with the first user. The second user who has a predetermined relationship is, for example, a second user who belongs to the same group as the first user, or a second user who is designated as a friend by the first user. A friend is, for example, another user who is permitted by the first user to share the contents of the vote.

[0079] For example, if the vote of user "A" corresponding to user ID "U001" shown in FIG. 5(c) is correct, the reward granting unit 214 grants a reward to users (user "B" and user "D") corresponding to friend IDs "U002" and "U004" associated with user ID "U001." The reward granting unit 214 grants a reward to user "B" and user "D" by associating user ID "U002" and user ID "U004" with reward information indicating a reward and storing the associated information in the storage unit 22.

[0080] Next, the reward granting unit 214 registers user "B" and user "D", who have been granted rewards based on the results of user "A's" voting, in the history database as users who have been granted rewards by user "A". For example, as shown in FIG. 5(b), the reward granting unit 214 stores user ID "U002" and user ID "U004" as rewarded users in association with user ID "U001", the voting information, and the voting results. By operating in this manner, the reward granting unit 214 can motivate other users to vote.

[0081] The reward granting unit 214 may grant a reward to the second user when a first user votes for the competition and the first user identification information corresponding to the first user and a second user identification information corresponding to the second user are stored in the memory unit 22 in association with the same group identification information, and when a second user votes for the competition and the second user votes for the competition and the second user identification information corresponding to the second user is not correct.

[0082] For example, when the vote of user "A" shown in Fig. 5(c) is correct and the vote of user "B" is not correct, the reward granting unit 214 grants a reward to user "B" based on the fact that the group ID associated with user "A" is the same as the group ID associated with user "B." By operating in this manner, the reward granting unit 214 can motivate users to register in a group.

[0083] The period determination unit 215 determines the period during which the privilege can be used based on at least one of the type of the winning competition among the competitions for which the user bet, or the reward according to the amount of a predetermined value bet by the user for the winning competition. For example, the period determination unit 215 determines that the period during which the privilege can be used is longer the higher the grade, which is the type of the winning competition. For example, the period determination unit 215 determines that the period during which the privilege can be used is longer the larger the reward amount. By operating in this manner, the period determination unit 215 can motivate the user to vote for a specific competition or for a group number that can obtain a high payout amount.

[0084] The notification unit 216 notifies the user of the content of the benefit corresponding to the benefit information and the content of the competition corresponding to the competition information associated with the benefit information. The notification unit 216 notifies a second user having a predetermined relationship with the first user of the content of the competition associated with the benefit content notified to the first user by the benefit granting unit 214, for example. The notification unit 216 notifies the second user having a predetermined relationship with the first user of the content of the competition that will start after the competition for which the first user voted and for which the same benefit as the benefit granted to the first user will be granted, based on the fact that the benefit granting unit 214 has granted the first user a benefit, for example.

[0085] The notification unit 216, for example, by referring to a reward database, identifies a competition ID of a competition to which the same reward as the reward given to the first user by the reward giving unit 214 will be given. The notification unit 216, by referring to a user database, identifies a second user who has a predetermined relationship with the first user, and notifies the second user of the content of the competition corresponding to the identified competition ID. By operating in this manner, the notification unit 216 can motivate the second user to vote for the competition.

[0086] [Processing flow of information processing device 20] Fig. 9 is a flowchart showing a process flow of the processor 21 according to the first embodiment. The flowchart shown in Fig. 9 shows an operation from when the acquisition unit 212 acquires voting information to when the reward granting unit 214 grants a reward to a user who uses the terminal 10.

[0087] The acquisition unit 212 acquires voting information indicating the contents of a user's vote for a competition (S11). The acquisition unit 212 acquires the voting information by, for example, referring to a history database. The payment processing unit 213 acquires the competition results for the competition for which the user voted (S12). The payment processing unit 213 determines whether or not the user's vote was correct based on the competition results (S13).

[0088] If the user's bet is correct (YES in S13), the payment processing unit 213 determines the amount of reward (reward amount) based on the payout rate included in the competition result, the betting target of the bet, and the betting amount (S14). The reward granting unit 214 determines the content of the first reward according to the reward amount determined by the payment processing unit 213 (S15). The reward granting unit 214 grants the first reward to the user (S16). The reward granting unit 214 associates, for example, a user ID corresponding to the user with first reward information indicating the first reward and stores them in the storage unit 22. The reward granting unit 214 notifies the content of the first reward granted to the user to the terminal 10 used by the user.

[0089] If the user's vote is not correct (NO in S13), the bonus granting unit 214 grants the user a second bonus different from the first bonus (S17). The bonus granting unit 214 associates, for example, a user ID corresponding to the user with second bonus information indicating the second bonus and stores them in the storage unit 22. The bonus granting unit 214 notifies the terminal 10 used by the user of the content of the second bonus granted to the user.

[0090] If an operation to end the process has not been performed (NO in S18), the processor 21 repeats the processes from S11 to S17. If an operation to end the process has been performed (YES in S18), the processor 21 ends the process.

[0091] [Advantages of the information processing device 20 according to the first embodiment] As described above, the information processing device 20 according to the first embodiment has an acquisition unit 212 that acquires voting information indicating the contents of a user's vote in a competition. The reward granting unit 214 then grants a user a reward that can favor the purchase of a product or the use of a service based on the competition result in which the user voted and the voting contents indicated by the voting information, thereby allowing the user to receive a reward according to whether or not the vote was correct. This can increase the satisfaction of more voters.

[0092] <Second embodiment> [Outline of Information Processing System 1] FIG. 10 is a diagram for explaining an overview of an information processing system 1 according to a second embodiment. The information processing system 1 according to the second embodiment has a plurality of terminals 10 (10a, 10b) and an information processing device 20. FIG. 10 differs from the information processing system 1 shown in FIG. 2 in that a terminal 10a used by a first user and a terminal 10b used by a second user who has a predetermined relationship with the first user are shown, but is the same in other respects. The second user who has a predetermined relationship is, for example, a user who belongs to the same group and can send and receive messages with the first user, or a user designated as a friend by the first user.

[0093] In the information processing system 1 in the second embodiment, the information processing device 20 grants a benefit to a second user who has a predetermined relationship with the first user, based on the first user's betting on a competition. First, the first user operates the terminal 10a to select a competition for which to bet, and determines a betting target for the selected competition and a predetermined value to bet on the betting target. The terminal 10a transmits voting information indicating the voting content including the betting target and the predetermined value determined by the first user to the information processing device 20 (S21).

[0094] The information processing device 20 receives the vote of the first user by acquiring the voting information from the terminal 10a. Based on the received vote, the information processing device 20 determines the user to whom a privilege is to be granted and the contents of the privilege to be granted to the user (S22).

[0095] The process by which the information processing device 20 determines the user to whom a privilege is to be granted and the contents of the privilege will be described in detail later, but the information processing device 20 determines to grant a privilege to a second user who has a predetermined relationship with the first user who uses the terminal 10a, for example, based on the voting information acquired from the terminal 10a. Next, the information processing device 20 determines the contents of the privilege to be granted to the second user, based on the voting contents indicated by the voting information acquired from the terminal 10a.

[0096] Based on the fact that the second user has been granted the privilege, the information processing device 20 notifies the terminal 10b used by the second user of the contents of the privilege (S23). The second user can use the privilege by operating the terminal 10b (S24).

[0097] When the information processing device 20 grants a privilege to a user who has voted, the user who has voted feels even more excited by being granted the privilege, and is therefore motivated to vote again. On the other hand, users who have not voted are not motivated to vote. In contrast, when the information processing device 20 grants a privilege to other users who have a predetermined relationship with the user who has voted, the other users become more interested in voting by being granted the privilege, and are motivated to vote. In this way, by the information processing device 20 granting a privilege to other users who have a predetermined relationship with the user who has voted, the information processing device 20 can motivate more users to vote.

[0098] [Hardware configuration] The hardware configuration of the terminal 10 according to the second embodiment is the same as the hardware configuration of the terminal 10 shown in Fig. 3. The hardware configuration of the information processing device 20 according to the second embodiment is the same as the hardware configuration of the information processing device 20 shown in Fig. 4.

[0099] [Function block configuration] An example of a functional block configuration of the processor 11 according to the second embodiment is the same as the example of the functional block configuration of the processor 11 shown in FIG. 6. In the second embodiment, a second user who has a predetermined relationship with a first user may vote based on the first vote content when the first user voted for the competition. In this case, the information receiving unit 112 of the terminal 10b receives first voting information indicating the first vote content from the terminal 10a. The display control unit 113 of the terminal 10b causes the output device 15 to display the first vote content based on the first voting information received from the terminal 10a.

[0100] Fig. 11 is a diagram showing an example of a screen displayed on terminal 10b. Fig. 11 is a diagram showing an example of a voting screen for a second user to vote based on the first voting content. As shown in Fig. 11, terminal 10b shows an area 161 for displaying the stadium and the name of the event corresponding to the event to be voted for, an area 162 for displaying the first voting content when the first user votes for the event, an area 163 for displaying the betting object and the betting amount for which the second user votes based on the first voting content, and an operation image 164 for the second user to vote for the event.

[0101] The second user can know the voting method and voting target used by the first user by viewing the first voting content shown in area 162. The second user determines the voting amount to be cast for the same voting target as the first voting content by pressing the voting amount shown in area 163. The second user votes for the competition by pressing the operation image 164. The information transmission unit 111 of the terminal 10b transmits, for example, information indicating that the second user voted based on the first voting content to the information processing device 20 in association with second voting information indicating the second voting content when the second user voted for the competition.

[0102] An example of a functional block configuration of the processor 21 according to the second embodiment is the same as the example of the functional block configuration of the processor 21 shown in Fig. 8. Hereinafter, the operation of each functional block of the processor 21 according to the second embodiment will be described, focusing on functions different from those of the first embodiment.

[0103] The vote acceptance unit 211 accepts votes from a first user and a second user. When second voting information indicating the second voting content of the second user is associated with information indicating that the first user voted with reference to the first voting content when voting for the competition, the vote acceptance unit 211 associates the information with the second voting information and stores the information in the storage unit 22.

[0104] The acquisition unit 212 acquires first voting information indicating the first voting content when a first user votes for a competition. The acquisition unit 212 acquires the first voting information indicating the first voting content including the voting object for which the first user voted and a predetermined value, for example, by referring to the history database shown in Fig. 5(b). In addition, the acquisition unit 212 acquires second voting information indicating the second voting content when a second user who has a predetermined relationship with the first user votes for a competition.

[0105] The acquisition unit 212 may acquire first competition information indicating a competition in which a first user watched a video, and second competition information indicating a competition in which a second user watched a video. The video is, for example, a content including a predicted competition result of a competition for which the first user or the second user intends to vote. For example, when the first user uses the terminal 10a to watch a video in which a competition result of a competition corresponding to the competition ID "NGY-1" is predicted, the acquisition unit 212 acquires the first competition information including the competition ID "NGY-1" from the terminal 10a.

[0106] The reward granting unit 214 grants a reward, which can give preferential treatment to purchase a product or use a service, to a second user who has a predetermined relationship with the first user, based on the first user's vote in the competition. In order to grant a reward to the second user, the reward granting unit 214 first specifies that the vote receiving unit 211 has received the vote of the first user, based on the first vote content acquired by the acquisition unit 212 by referring to the history database.

[0107] Next, the reward granting unit 214 identifies a second user who has a predetermined relationship with the first user, for example, by referring to the user database shown in Fig. 5(c), and grants a reward to the second user. For example, if the first user is user "B" shown in Fig. 5(c), the reward granting unit 214 identifies user "A" corresponding to friend ID "U001" associated with user "B" as the second user, and grants a reward to user "A".

[0108] The reward granting unit 214 may grant a reward to the first user and the second user based on the first user's voting for the competition. The reward granted to the first user and the reward granted to the second user may be the same reward or different rewards. By granting a reward to the first user and the second user in this manner in response to one of the first user and the second user voting, the reward granting unit 214 can motivate more users to vote.

[0109] The reward granting unit 214 may grant a reward to the first user and the second user when the first voting content when the first user votes for the competition satisfies a predetermined condition. The predetermined condition is, for example, that the amount of a predetermined value included in the first voting content (i.e., the voting amount) is equal to or greater than a threshold. The threshold is, for example, 5000 yen. The reward granting unit 214 grants a reward to the first user and the second user when, for example, the voting amount of the first user is equal to or greater than 5000 yen.

[0110] The reward granting unit 214 may grant a reward to the second user when the competition corresponding to the second voting content is a competition associated with the competition corresponding to the first voting content. The competition associated with the competition corresponding to the first voting content is, for example, a competition that matches the competition corresponding to the first voting content, another competition that has the same grade as the competition corresponding to the first voting content (e.g., G1, G2, G3), another competition in which it is possible to obtain the same reward as the reward that can be obtained with the first voting content, or another competition held on the same day as the competition corresponding to the first voting content.

[0111] The reward granting unit 214 may grant a reward to the second user when the competition corresponding to the second voting content when the second user voted for a competition is a competition associated with the competition corresponding to the first voting content and the first voting content satisfies a predetermined condition. For example, when the reward granting unit 214 determines that the competition ID included in the second voting content is associated with the competition ID included in the first voting content and that the voting amount included in the first voting content is equal to or greater than a threshold, the reward granting unit 214 may grant a reward to the second user even if the voting amount included in the second voting content is less than the threshold.

[0112] On the other hand, when the competition corresponding to the second voting content is not associated with the competition included in the first voting content, the reward granting unit 214 does not grant a reward to the second user if the second voting content does not satisfy the predetermined condition even if the first voting content satisfies the predetermined condition. By the reward granting unit 214 operating in this manner, the second user is motivated to cast a vote that will grant a reward after taking into consideration the voting content of the first user. As a result, the operator of the competition can increase the number of votes for the competition for which it is desired to increase the number of votes by appropriately setting the content of the predetermined condition.

[0113] The reward granting unit 214 may grant a reward to the second user when the second voting information includes information indicating that the second user voted based on the first voting content. The reward granting unit 214 grants a reward to the second user on the condition that, for example, the information indicating that the second user voted based on the first voting content and the second voting information are associated with each other and stored in the storage unit 22. By operating in this manner, the reward granting unit 214 makes it easier for a user with little voting experience to vote by referring to the voting content of other users with a predetermined relationship, and thus motivates a user with little voting experience to vote.

[0114] The reward granting unit 214 may grant a reward based on the first user's winning vote. A "winning vote" means, for example, that at least one of the voting targets included in the voting information is eligible for a refund. For example, when a vote corresponding to the first vote content is winning, the payment processing unit 213 grants a reward to the first user according to the amount of a predetermined value, and the reward granting unit 214 grants a reward to the first user according to the amount of the reward. For example, the reward granting unit 214 may grant the first user a coupon with a larger discount amount or discount rate on the purchase price or a coupon for a product with a large product value the greater the amount of the reward.

[0115] The reward granting unit 214 may grant a reward to the second user when the vote corresponding to the first vote content of the first user is correct. By operating the reward granting unit 214 in this manner, a reward is given to another user (second user) when the vote of the first user is correct, so that the first user can be motivated to make the vote correct. As a result, the reward granting unit 214 can increase the first user's enjoyment of voting.

[0116] The reward granting unit 214 may grant a reward to the second user when the competition corresponding to the second vote content is the same as the competition corresponding to the correct first vote content. For example, when the second user voted for a competition in which the first user voted correctly, the reward granting unit 214 grants a reward to the second user.

[0117] The reward granting unit 214, for example, by referring to the history database shown in FIG. 5(b), identifies the first competition ID of the competition in which the first user has correctly voted and the second competition ID of the competition in which the second user has voted. If the first competition ID and the second competition ID match, the reward granting unit 214 grants a reward to the second user. For example, the greater the number of users with a predetermined relationship who vote, the higher the probability that the user will be granted a reward. Therefore, by operating in this manner, the reward granting unit 214 can motivate the user to invite other users to join a group to which the user belongs, thereby increasing the number of users who vote.

[0118] The reward granting unit 214 may grant a reward to the second user when the competition in which the second user viewed the video is the same as the competition in which the first user viewed the video. The video is, for example, a content including a predicted competition result of the competition. The reward granting unit 214 can specify the competition in which the first user viewed the video by the competition ID included in the first competition information acquired by the acquisition unit 212 from the terminal 10a, and specify the competition in which the second user viewed the video by the competition ID included in the second competition information acquired by the acquisition unit 212 from the terminal 10b. In this case, the reward granting unit 214 grants a reward to the second user when the competition ID included in the second competition information is the same as the competition ID included in the first competition information.

[0119] For example, when the first user's vote is correct, the reward granting unit 214 grants a reward to the second user on condition that the first user and the second user have both viewed content (e.g., a video) including content that predicted the competition result of the competition corresponding to the vote. Even if the first user's vote is correct, the reward granting unit 214 does not grant a reward to the second user if the second user has not viewed the content viewed by the first user. By operating in this manner, the reward granting unit 214 can motivate the user to view content including content that predicted the competition result of the competition.

[0120] The reward granting unit 214 may determine whether to grant a reward to the second user in response to the first user's vote, based on a first voting history indicating one or more first voting contents in which the first user has voted in one or more competitions in the past, and a second voting history indicating one or more second voting contents in which the second user has voted in one or more competitions in the past. The first voting history and the second voting history may be, for example, as shown in FIG. As shown in (b), the information is stored in the storage unit 22.

[0121] The reward granting unit 214 grants a reward to a second user, for example, when a first user votes and at least one of the competitions included in one or more first voting contents indicated by the first voting history is the same as at least one of the competitions included in one or more second voting contents indicated by the second voting history. The reward granting unit 214 does not grant a reward to the second user when the first voting history and the second voting history indicate that the first user and the second user did not vote for the same competition.

[0122] The reward granting unit 214, for example by referring to a history database, identifies a plurality of first competition IDs corresponding to a plurality of competitions for which the first user has voted and a plurality of second competition IDs corresponding to a plurality of competitions for which the second user has voted. The reward granting unit 214 grants a reward to the second user when at least one of the plurality of first competition IDs matches at least one of the plurality of second competition IDs, and does not grant a reward to the second user when they do not match. By operating in this manner, the reward granting unit 214 motivates the user to vote while communicating with other users, thereby increasing the enjoyment of voting.

[0123] The reward granting unit 214 may grant a reward to the second user when the first user votes and the first user identification information corresponding to the first user and the second user identification information corresponding to the second user are associated with the same group identification information and stored in the storage unit 22. The reward granting unit 214 identifies the groups to which the first user and the second user belong, for example, by referring to the user database shown in Fig. 5(c), and grants a reward to the second user when the first user and the second user belong to the same group.

[0124] Specifically, the reward granting unit 214 may grant a reward to user "B" when the user ID "U001" of user "A", the first user who cast a vote, and the user ID "U002" of user "B", the second user, are associated with the same group ID "G001" and stored in the memory unit 22.

[0125] The reward granting unit 214 may grant a reward to the second user when the vote of the first user is correct and the vote of the second user belonging to the same group as the first user is not correct. For example, when the vote corresponding to the first vote content is correct, the first user identification information corresponding to the first user and the second user identification information corresponding to the second user are stored in the storage unit 22 in association with the same group identification information, and the vote corresponding to the second vote content when the second user voted for the competition is not correct, the reward granting unit 214 grants a reward to the second user. By operating in this manner, when one user in a group votes, other users can obtain a reward, so that the reward granting unit 214 can motivate the user to register in the same group as the user who voted.

[0126] [Determining the number of second users to whom benefits will be given] The reward granting unit 214 may grant rewards to a plurality of second users who have a predetermined relationship with the first user. The reward granting unit 214 determines the number of second users to whom rewards are to be given, for example, based on a predetermined value voted by the first user in the competition. As an example, the reward granting unit 214 increases the number of second users to whom rewards are to be given, the greater the predetermined value voted by the first user in the competition. Such operation of the reward granting unit 214 is preferable for the operator of the competition, since a user who wishes to give rewards to many other users is likely to vote a large predetermined value.

[0127] The reward granting unit 214 may determine the number of second users to whom a reward is to be given based on the content of the competition for which the first user voted. For example, when the first user votes for a competition selected in advance by the competition operator, the reward granting unit 214 grants a greater number of second users to whom a reward is to be given than when the first user votes for another competition. By operating the reward granting unit 214 in this manner, a user who wishes to give rewards to many other users will want to vote for a competition for which a large number of second users will be given rewards, and this makes it possible for the competition operator to increase the number of votes for a specific competition.

[0128] However, if there is no limit to the number of second users to which the reward is given by the reward giving unit 214, the number of second users to which the reward is given may increase too much, and the reward giving business operator may not be able to make a profit. Therefore, the reward giving unit 214 may give rewards only to second users whose number is equal to or less than the maximum number of second users to which the reward is given.

[0129] For example, when the number of second users having a predetermined relationship with the first user is equal to or less than the maximum number of second users to whom a reward is to be given, which is determined according to the magnitude of a predetermined value voted by the first user in the competition, the reward giving unit 214 gives a reward to all of the second users having a predetermined relationship with the first user. On the other hand, when the number of second users having a predetermined relationship with the first user exceeds the maximum number of second users to whom a reward is to be given, the reward giving unit 214 selects some of the second users to whom a reward is to be given from among the multiple second users having a predetermined relationship with the first user. The reward giving unit 214 determines the second users to whom a reward is to be given, for example, by having the first user select the second users to whom a reward is to be given.

[0130] The reward granting unit 214 transmits, for example, to the terminal 10a used by the first user, reward-granting-number-information indicating the number of second users to whom a reward is to be given. The first user operates the terminal 10a to select second users in the number indicated by the reward-granting-number-information, and transmits selected user information indicating the selected second users to the reward granting unit 214. The reward granting unit 214 grants a reward to the second users indicated by the received selected user information.

[0131] When the first user is not allowed to select the second user to whom the benefit is to be given, the benefit giving unit 214 determines the second user to whom the benefit is to be given, for example, by a lottery. The benefit giving unit 214 may select, from among the multiple second users, second users who have voted a relatively large number of times within a predetermined period of time in the past, or second users whose total amount of a predetermined value voted within a predetermined period of time in the past is relatively large and is less than the maximum value.

[0132] When the number of second users having a predetermined relationship with the first user is greater than the number of second users to whom the reward is to be given, the reward giving unit 214 may refer to the user reward giving history to identify the second user who has voted to give the reward previously given to the first user by the reward giving unit 214, and may give the identified second user a reward that can be used. The user reward giving history is a history indicating one or more other users to whom the reward giving unit 214 has given a reward based on the user's vote for the competition, and is stored in the storage unit 22. The user reward giving history is, for example, the reward given users shown in FIG. 5(b).

[0133] For example, when the number of second users having a predetermined relationship with the first user exceeds the number of second users to whom a reward is to be given, the reward giving unit 214 refers to the history database to identify second users who have given a reward to the first user in the past. The reward giving unit 214 gives a reward to the identified second users.

[0134] Specifically, when the number of second users who have a predetermined relationship with the first user “D” exceeds the number of second users to which a privilege can be granted, the privilege granting unit 214 executes the procedure shown in FIG. The user ID "U004" of the user "D" is searched from the privileged users shown in FIG. 5(b). Next, the privileged granting unit 214 grants a privilege to the user "A" corresponding to the user ID "U001" based on the fact that the privileged users associated with the user ID "U001" include the user ID "U004" as shown in FIG. 5(b). By operating in this manner, the privileged granting unit 214 can easily grant a privilege to a second user who belongs to the same group as the first user for a long period of time and is close to the first user. Therefore, this operation of the privileged granting unit 214 is suitable for a first user who wants to grant a privilege to a close friend.

[0135] [Determining the period during which benefits can be used] The reward granting unit 214 may determine a period during which the reward can be used. For example, the reward granting unit 214 grants a reward to the second user, which the second user can use after the first user has used the reward. For example, the reward granting unit 214 determines that the second user can use the reward after the first user has purchased an item that is the subject of the reward using the reward. By operating in this manner, the reward granting unit 214 can motivate the first user to use the reward that he or she has acquired.

[0136] The reward granting unit 214 may grant the second user a reward that allows the second user to use the reward during the period in which the first user is using the reward. The reward granting unit 214 grants, for example, to the first user and the second user, a reward that can be used continuously for a predetermined period. The predetermined period is, for example, one month from the start of use. By the reward granting unit 214 granting such a reward to the second user, it becomes easier for the first user and the second user to go out together and use the reward, so that the value of voting by the users is increased and they are motivated to vote again.

[0137] The reward granting unit 214 may determine the predetermined period according to the voting amount included in the first voting content. For example, the reward granting unit 214 determines the predetermined period to be longer as the voting amount included in the first voting content is larger. The reward granting unit 214 may determine a second period different from the first period during which the first user can use the reward as the period during which the second user can use the reward. The second period is, for example, a period shorter than the first period. By the reward granting unit 214 operating in this manner, the first user is given a reward with a longer usage period than the second user, and is therefore motivated to vote in order to obtain the reward with a longer usage period again. Furthermore, the second user is motivated to vote because he is given a reward with a longer usage period.

[0138] The privilege granting unit 214 notifies, for example, the first user that a privilege has been granted, the period during which the privilege can be continued, and the deadline by which the privilege can be started to be used. The privilege granting unit 214 notifies, for example, the second user that a privilege has been granted, and that the period during which the privilege can be continued is the period during which the first user is using the privilege.

[0139] [Processing flow of information processing device 20] Fig. 12 is a flowchart showing a process flow of the processor 21 according to the second embodiment. The flowchart shown in Fig. 12 shows an operation from when the acquisition unit 212 acquires the voting information of the first user to when the reward granting unit 214 grants a reward to at least one of the first user and the second user who use the terminal 10.

[0140] The acquisition unit 212 acquires first voting information indicating the first voting content when the first user voted for the competition (S31). The reward granting unit 214 searches for a second user who has a predetermined relationship with the first user by referring to the user database (S32). The reward granting unit 214 identifies the competition corresponding to the first voting content and the competition corresponding to the second voting content when the second user voted for the competition by referring to the history database.

[0141] If the competition corresponding to the first vote and the competition corresponding to the second vote are the same, i.e., if the first user and the second user voted for the same competition (YES in S33), the reward granting unit 214 grants a reward to the first user and the second user (S34).If the competition corresponding to the first vote and the competition corresponding to the second vote are different, i.e., if the first user and the second user voted for different competitions (NO in S33), the reward granting unit 214 grants a reward to the first user (S35).

[0142] If an operation to end the process has not been performed (NO in S36), the processor 21 repeats the processes from S31 to S35. If an operation to end the process has been performed (YES in S36), the processor 21 ends the process.

[0143] [Effects of the information processing device 20 according to the second embodiment] As described above, the information processing device 20 according to the second embodiment has an acquisition unit 212 that acquires first voting information indicating the contents of the first vote made by the first user when the first user voted in the competition. Then, the reward granting unit 214 grants a reward that can favorably purchase a product or use a service to a second user who has a predetermined relationship with the first user based on the first user's vote in the competition, thereby making it possible to grant a reward to a user other than the first user who voted. This makes it easier for more people to vote and increases the number of voters.

[0144] <Third embodiment> [Outline of Information Processing System 1] FIG. 13 is a diagram for explaining an overview of an information processing system 1 according to a third embodiment. The information processing system 1 according to the third embodiment has a plurality of terminals 10 (10a to 10c) and an information processing device 20. FIG. 13 differs from the information processing system 1 shown in FIG. 10 in that a terminal 10c used by a third user is shown in FIG. 13, but is the same in other respects. The first user, the second user, and the third user are users who belong to a first group among a plurality of groups to which a plurality of users who vote for the competition belong.

[0145] In the information processing system 1 in the third embodiment, when two or more users belonging to the same group vote for a competition, the information processing device 20 grants a privilege to one or more users belonging to the same group (e.g., users other than the two or more users who voted for the competition). In the example shown in Fig. 13, the information processing device 20 grants a privilege to a third user who belongs to the same group as the first user and the second user, based on the fact that the first user and the second user vote for the competition.

[0146] The first user operates terminal 10a to select a sport for which to bet, and determines the betting object for the selected sport and a predetermined value to bet on the betting object. The second user operates terminal 10b to select a sport for which to bet, and determines the betting object for the selected sport and a predetermined value to bet on the betting object. Terminal 10a transmits voting information indicating the voting content including the betting object and the predetermined value determined by the first user, and terminal 10b transmits voting information indicating the voting content including the betting object and the predetermined value determined by the second user (S41).

[0147] The information processing device 20 accepts the vote of the first user by acquiring voting information from the terminal 10a, and accepts the vote of the second user by acquiring voting information from the terminal 10b. Based on the acceptance of the votes of the first user and the second user, the information processing device 20 determines the user to whom a privilege will be granted and the contents of the privilege to be granted to the user (S42).

[0148] Although the details of the process by which the information processing device 20 determines the user to whom a privilege is to be granted and the contents of the privilege will be described later, the information processing device 20 determines to grant a privilege to a third user who belongs to the same first group as the first user using the terminal 10a and the second user using the terminal 10b, for example, based on the acquisition of voting information from the terminals 10a and 10b. Next, the information processing device 20 determines the contents of the privilege to be granted to the third user based on the voting contents indicated by the voting information acquired from the terminals 10a and 10b.

[0149] Based on the fact that the third user has been granted the privilege, the information processing device 20 notifies the terminal 10c used by the third user of the contents of the privilege (S43). The third user can use the privilege by operating the terminal 10c (S44).

[0150] When the information processing device 20 grants a privilege to a user who has voted, the user who has voted feels even more excited by being granted the privilege, and is therefore motivated to vote again. On the other hand, users who have not voted are not motivated to vote. In contrast, when the information processing device 20 grants a privilege to one or more users among a plurality of users who belong to the same group as two or more users who have voted, when one user votes, a privilege is granted to the users in the group if one more user votes, and therefore other users who belong to the same group as the one user are motivated to vote.

[0151] Furthermore, users who belong to the same group as two or more users who voted will have a heightened sense of expectation that they may be granted a privilege, which will increase their interest in the competition. In this way, by the information processing device 20 granting a privilege to one or more users among a plurality of users who belong to the same group as two or more users who voted, the information processing device 20 can increase users' interest in the competition and motivate more users to vote.

[0152] [Hardware configuration] The hardware configuration of the terminal 10 according to the third embodiment is the same as the hardware configuration of the terminal 10 shown in Fig. 3. The hardware configuration of the information processing device 20 according to the third embodiment is the same as the hardware configuration of the information processing device 20 shown in Fig. 4.

[0153] [Function block configuration] An example of a functional block configuration of the processor 11 according to the third embodiment is the same as the example of the functional block configuration of the processor 11 shown in Fig. 6. In the third embodiment, a terminal 10c used by a third user belonging to the same group as the first and second users receives bonus information from the information processing device 20. In this case, a display control unit 113 included in the terminal 10c causes an output device 15 to display the bonus information received from the information processing device 20 by an information receiving unit 112 included in the terminal 10c.

[0154] Fig. 14 is a diagram showing an example of a screen displayed on the terminal 10c. Fig. 14 is a diagram showing an example of a confirmation screen for the third user to confirm the contents of the privilege granted by the information processing device 20. As shown in Fig. 14, the terminal 10c shows an area 171 for displaying the contents of the privilege, an area 172 for displaying a plurality of users (voting members) who have voted in association with the granting of the privilege, and an area 173 for displaying a URL at which the privilege can be used.

[0155] The third user can know that the privilege has been granted as a result of the voting of the first user and the second user among multiple users belonging to the same group by viewing the voting members shown in area 172. The third user can purchase a product by using the privilege granted by the information processing device 20, for example, by clicking a URL shown in area 173.

[0156] The information processing device 20 may notify the terminals 10 used by the users belonging to the group of the conditions under which a privilege is given to one or more users among the multiple users belonging to the group. In this case, the information receiving unit 112 of the terminal 10 receives privilege-granting condition information indicating the conditions under which a privilege is given from the information processing device 20. The privilege-granting condition information includes information for identifying a competition in which a privilege is granted to a user in the group when two or more users belonging to the group vote, and the contents of the privilege that is granted when two or more users vote for the competition. The display control unit 113 of the terminal 10 causes the output device 15 to display the privilege-granting condition information received by the information receiving unit 112.

[0157] Fig. 15 is a diagram showing an example of bonus granting condition information displayed on a terminal 10 used by a user belonging to the first group. As shown in Fig. 15, terminal 10 shows an area 181 for displaying one or more sport names, an area 182 for displaying the conditions necessary for granting a bonus in the sport shown in area 181 and the contents of the bonus, and an operation image 183 for voting for the sport. The bonus granting condition information is displayed at a time when voting for one or more sports shown in area 181 is possible.

[0158] A user of terminal 10 can view the conditions required for granting a privilege shown in area 182, and thereby know the difference between the number of votes required for users belonging to the first group to be granted a privilege and the number of votes already cast, in one or more competitions shown in area 181. A user of terminal 10 can vote for one or more competitions shown in area 181 by pressing operation image 183. When a user of the terminal presses operation image 183, terminal 10 displays, for example, a voting screen as shown in FIG. 7(a).

[0159] In addition, area 182 may display at least one of the total amount of votes cast by users belonging to the first group, or the difference between the amount of votes required to receive the special benefit and the amount of votes already cast by users belonging to the first group. Area 182 may display, for example, "The total amount of votes is XXX yen. You will receive the special benefit if you vote XXX yen more."

[0160] An example of a functional block configuration of the processor 21 according to the third embodiment is the same as the example of the functional block configuration of the processor 21 shown in Fig. 8. Hereinafter, the operation of each functional block of the processor 21 according to the third embodiment will be described, focusing on functions different from those of the first or second embodiment.

[0161] The acquisition unit 212 acquires voting information indicating that the user has voted for a competition. The acquisition unit 212 acquires voting information indicating the voting content including, for example, the voting object for which the user has voted and a predetermined value.

[0162] When the acquisition unit 212 acquires multiple pieces of voting information indicating that two or more users among the multiple users associated with the same group have voted, the reward granting unit 214 grants a reward that can give preferential treatment to one or more users among the multiple users associated with the group to which the two or more users are associated, in the form of a product purchase or service use. The user to whom the reward is given may be a user who voted for the competition, or a user who did not vote for the competition. The competition for which two or more users vote may be the same competition, or multiple competitions.

[0163] The reward granting unit 214 identifies user IDs included in each of the plurality of pieces of voting information acquired by the acquisition unit 212, for example. The reward granting unit 214 identifies that two or more of the identified plurality of user IDs are associated with the same group ID, for example by referring to the user database shown in Fig. 5(c). The reward granting unit 214 grants a reward to one or more users who belong to a group corresponding to the group ID to which the two or more user IDs are associated.

[0164] The reward giving unit 214 may give a reward to one or more users among the multiple users associated with the group when the sum of the predetermined values ​​bet by the multiple users associated with the group in the competition is equal to or greater than a predetermined amount. The predetermined amount may be a fixed amount such as 10,000 yen, or an amount according to the number of users belonging to the group. For example, the amount according to the number of users belonging to the group is 3,000 yen if the number of users belonging to the group is 3, and 5,000 yen if the number of users belonging to the group is 5.

[0165] The reward granting unit 214 identifies the user ID and the voting amount included in each of the multiple voting information acquired by the acquisition unit 212. The reward granting unit 214 identifies the group ID associated with each of the multiple identified user IDs by referring to the user database. The reward granting unit 214 identifies the total voting amount of multiple users corresponding to the multiple user IDs associated with the same group ID.

[0166] The reward granting unit 214 grants a reward to one or more users among the multiple users associated with each of the multiple groups when the total amount of votes is equal to or greater than a predetermined amount, and does not grant a reward when the total amount of votes is less than the predetermined amount. By operating in this manner, the reward granting unit 214 motivates users belonging to a group to vote so that the total amount of votes for the group is equal to or greater than the predetermined amount. As a result, the operator of the competition can increase the number of voters and the amount of votes by appropriately setting the predetermined amount.

[0167] The reward giving unit 214 may give a reward to one or more of the multiple users associated with the group when the total amount of rewards acquired by the multiple users associated with the group is equal to or greater than a predetermined amount. The reward giving unit 214, for example, by referring to a history database, identifies a user ID corresponding to a user whose vote was successful and a reward (i.e., a refund amount) corresponding to the amount of a predetermined value given to the user by the payment processing unit 213. The reward giving unit 214, by referring to a user database, identifies multiple group IDs associated with the identified multiple user IDs. For each of the identified multiple group IDs, the reward giving unit 214 identifies the total amount of rewards of users belonging to the group corresponding to the group ID.

[0168] The reward granting unit 214 grants a reward to one or more users among the multiple users associated with each of the multiple groups when the total reward amount is equal to or greater than a predetermined amount, and does not grant a reward when the total reward amount is less than the predetermined amount. By operating in this manner, the reward granting unit 214 allows the competition operator to provide a reward appropriate to the winning amount of the bet. Furthermore, users are motivated to cast a larger bet amount.

[0169] The reward giving unit 214 may give a reward to one or more users among the multiple users corresponding to the multiple user IDs associated with the same group ID, based on a predetermined number of users or more voting for the competition among the multiple users associated with the same group ID. The predetermined number may be a fixed number, such as five, or a number according to the number of users belonging to the group. The predetermined number according to the number of users belonging to the group is, for example, two if the number of users belonging to the group is four, and four if the number of users belonging to the group is eight.

[0170] The reward granting unit 214 identifies a plurality of user IDs corresponding to a plurality of users who voted for the competition, for example, by referring to a history database. The reward granting unit 214 identifies a plurality of group IDs associated with each of the identified plurality of user IDs, for example, by referring to a user database. The reward granting unit 214 identifies the number of user IDs associated with each of the plurality of group IDs, and thereby identifies the number of users who voted for the competition among the plurality of users belonging to the group corresponding to the group ID.

[0171] When a predetermined number or more of users belonging to a group vote for a competition, the reward granting unit 214 grants a reward to one or more users belonging to the group. On the other hand, when less than a predetermined number of users belonging to a group vote for a competition, the reward granting unit 214 does not grant a reward to the users belonging to the group. By operating in this manner, the users belonging to the group are motivated to vote so that the number of users is equal to or greater than the predetermined number, making it easier for more users to vote.

[0172] The reward giving unit 214 may give a reward to one or more users among the multiple users associated with the group when the votes of a predetermined number or more of the multiple users associated with the group are correct. The "correct vote" means, for example, that at least one of the voting targets included in the voting information is eligible for a refund. The reward giving unit 214 identifies a user ID corresponding to the user whose vote was correct, for example, by referring to a history database. The reward giving unit 214 identifies a plurality of group IDs associated with the identified plurality of user IDs, by referring to a user database. The reward giving unit 214 identifies the number of users whose votes were correct and who belong to each of the multiple groups corresponding to the identified plurality of group IDs.

[0173] The reward granting unit 214 grants a reward to one or more of the users belonging to each of the groups if the number of users whose votes are correct is equal to or greater than a predetermined number, and does not grant a reward if the number of users whose votes are correct is less than the predetermined number. By operating in this manner, the reward granting unit 214 allows the competition operator to provide users with rewards appropriate to the number of users whose votes are correct. In addition, a user's correct vote brings joy to other users in the group, so the joy of the user in the case of a correct vote is increased, and the user is motivated to vote again.

[0174] [Determining which users will receive rewards] The reward granting unit 214 may determine one or more users to which a reward is to be granted among the multiple users belonging to the group. The reward granting unit 214 selects one or more users to which a reward is to be granted based on, for example, the amount of a predetermined value that each of the multiple users who voted has voted for the competition. The reward granting unit 214 selects users to which a reward is to be granted such that, for example, a reward is granted to a user who has voted a larger amount than a user who has voted a smaller amount.

[0175] The reward granting unit 214 identifies the voting amount of each of the multiple users belonging to the group, for example, by referring to a history database. The reward granting unit 214 selects a predetermined number of users from the top of the multiple users arranged in order from the users with the largest voting amount, and grants a reward to them. The predetermined number is, for example, a number determined based on the number of people belonging to the group. By operating in this manner, the reward granting unit 214 can grant a reward according to the voting amount. Then, the users are motivated to cast votes with larger voting amounts.

[0176] The reward granting unit 214 may grant a reward to the first user when the second user votes based on the voting content of the first user among multiple users associated with the group. The reward granting unit 214 grants a reward to the first user on the condition that, for example, information indicating that the first user voted based on the voting content of the first user for the competition and the voting content of the second user for the competition are associated with each other and stored in the storage unit 22.

[0177] By the privilege granting unit 214 operating in this manner, users with a lot of voting experience are motivated to disclose their voting details to users with little voting experience. Users with little voting experience can increase their chances of voting by referring to the voting details of users with a lot of voting experience. As a result, more users are motivated to vote.

[0178] The reward granting unit 214 may determine one or more users to whom a reward is to be granted among the multiple users belonging to the group based on past votes. The reward granting unit 214 may grant a reward to a user who has not voted in a competition among the multiple users associated with the group, if the voting history indicating the voting contents of the user's past votes in the competition satisfies a predetermined condition.

[0179] The predetermined condition is, for example, that the number of times that a user has voted for a past competition or the number of times that the vote has been a winning combination is equal to or greater than a predetermined number. The predetermined number may be a fixed number, such as 50, or may be a number determined according to the number of times that a user has voted or the number of times that the vote has been a winning combination by multiple users belonging to a group. The number determined according to the number of times that a user has voted or the number of times that the vote has been a winning combination by multiple users belonging to a group is, for example, the average number of times that a user has voted or the number of times that the vote has been a winning combination by multiple users.

[0180] The reward granting unit 214 identifies the number of votes or the number of winning combinations associated with each of the multiple users belonging to the group, for example, by referring to the user database shown in Fig. 5(c). If the identified number of votes or the number of winning combinations is equal to or greater than a predetermined number, the reward granting unit 214 grants a reward to the user corresponding to the user ID associated with the identified number of votes or the number of winning combinations, even if the user did not vote in the target competition.

[0181] The reward granting unit 214 may grant a reward different from the reward granted to the user who voted for the target competition to the user who did not vote for the competition, or may grant the same reward as the reward granted to the user who voted for the target competition to the user who did not vote for the competition. By operating in this manner, the reward granting unit 214 can make users who did not vote for the target competition interested in voting for the competition again by being granted a reward, even if they voted for the competition in the past but are not currently voting for the competition, and thus motivate them to vote again.

[0182] [Determining the content of the rewards to be given to users] The reward granting unit 214 may determine the content of the reward to be granted to one or more users among the multiple users belonging to the group. The content of the reward is, for example, the amount of discount or the discount rate when purchasing a product that is the subject of the reward, or the type of product that is the subject of the reward.

[0183] The reward granting unit 214 determines the content of the reward to be given to the user belonging to the group, for example, according to the total amount of reward paid when the votes of the multiple users associated with the group are correct. For example, the reward granting unit 214 grants a reward to the user with a larger discount amount or discount rate when purchasing a product, the larger the total amount of reward of the multiple users belonging to the group.

[0184] The reward granting unit 214 identifies the reward for each of the multiple users belonging to the same group, for example by referring to a history database. The reward granting unit 214 identifies the total reward for each of the identified multiple users, and grants the user a reward indicating a discount amount or discount rate according to the total reward. By the reward granting unit 214 operating in this manner, the competition operator can grant a reward appropriate to the reward amount. Furthermore, the user is motivated to cast a vote with a large amount of the predetermined value in order to be granted a reward with a large discount amount or discount rate.

[0185] The reward granting unit 214 may determine the content of the reward according to the number of users belonging to the group. For example, the reward granting unit 214 may grant a reward to users belonging to a group in which the greater the number of users belonging to the group, the greater the discount amount or discount rate when purchasing a product.

[0186] The reward granting unit 214, for example, by referring to the user database shown in Fig. 5(c), identifies the number of users corresponding to the user ID associated with the group ID, and determines the content of the reward according to the number of identified users. By operating in this manner, the reward granting unit 214 can motivate a user to invite other users to join the group to which the user belongs, thereby increasing the number of users who vote.

[0187] The reward granting unit 214 may determine the contents of rewards to be given to each of the multiple users based on the voting history of each of the multiple users associated with a group corresponding to the same group ID. The voting history is information associated with a group ID for identifying a group, and includes at least one of reward information indicating a reward according to an amount of a predetermined value voted by the user for a winning competition and voting count information indicating the number of times the user voted for a competition, for example, the number of votes, the number of winning votes, or the total amount of reward for winning votes. The voting history is stored in the storage unit 22.

[0188] The reward granting unit 214 identifies multiple user IDs associated with the same group ID and the number of winning votes associated with each of the multiple user IDs, for example by referring to a user database. The reward granting unit 214 grants a reward with a smaller discount amount to a user who has voted correctly fewer times among multiple users belonging to the same group, and grants a reward with a larger discount amount to a user who has voted correctly more times.

[0189] Specifically, the bonus granting unit 214, by referring to the user database shown in FIG. 5(c), identifies the user ID "U003" and user ID "U005" associated with the group ID "G002", the number of hits "95" associated with the user ID "U003", and the number of hits "74" associated with the user ID "U005".

[0190] Next, the reward granting unit 214 grants the first reward to user "C" corresponding to user ID "U003" associated with the number of hits "95", and grants the second reward to user "E" corresponding to user ID "U005" associated with the number of hits "74". The first reward is a reward that provides a larger discount amount or discount rate when purchasing a product than the second reward. By operating the reward granting unit 214 in this manner, users belonging to the group are motivated to actively vote in order to increase the number of votes, number of hits, or amount of reward more than other users. As a result, the reward granting unit 214 can increase the number of times a user votes.

[0191] The reward granting unit 214 may determine the content of the reward based on which of the multiple sports each of two or more users associated with the group ID voted for. The reward granting unit 214 notifies, for example, multiple terminals 10 used by multiple users belonging to multiple groups, of multiple sports determined in advance. The user browses the multiple sports notified by the reward granting unit 214 and displayed on the terminal 10, selects one of the multiple sports different from the sports voted for by other users belonging to the same group, and then votes for the other sports.

[0192] Next, the reward granting unit 214 identifies the competition corresponding to the competition ID included in the voting details of each of the multiple users belonging to the same group. For example, when two or more users among the multiple users belonging to the group vote for two or more competitions among the multiple competitions notified to the terminal 10, and each of the two or more users votes for a competition different from that of the other users, the reward granting unit 214 grants a reward to the user belonging to the group.

[0193] On the other hand, if two or more users among the multiple users belonging to a group have not voted for two or more of the multiple sports notified to the terminal 10, or if two or more users have voted for the same sport among the multiple sports notified, the reward granting unit 214 does not grant a reward to the users of the group. By operating the reward granting unit 214 in this way, the users belonging to the group are motivated to select the sport for which to vote while communicating with other users belonging to the same group, which increases the enjoyment of voting.

[0194] The reward granting unit 214 may grant a reward associated with a specific vote predictor to a user who has voted based on the vote prediction content of a specific vote predictor who predicted votes among a plurality of users associated with a group, the reward being different from other users who have not voted based on the vote prediction content. The specific vote predictor is, for example, a vote predictor who predicted the result of a competition in content including the content in which the competition result of a competition is predicted. The reward associated with the vote predictor is, for example, a ticket for purchasing a product including a portrait, photo, or autograph of the vote predictor. The storage unit 22 stores, in association with each other, content viewing information indicating that the user has viewed the content, the content name, the vote predictor, and reward information indicating the content of the reward.

[0195] For example, when the voting information of a user includes content viewing information, the reward granting unit 214 identifies a vote forecaster associated with the content viewing information and a reward associated with the vote forecaster, and grants the identified reward to the user. When the voting information of a user does not include content viewing information, the reward granting unit 214 grants the same reward as other users who belong to the same group as the group to which the user belongs. By operating in this manner, the reward granting unit 214 can motivate the user to view content.

[0196] The reward granting unit 214 may grant a first reward to one or more of the multiple users associated with the group when two or more users among the multiple users associated with the group vote for the same competition, and may grant a second reward different from the first reward to one or more of the multiple users associated with the group when two or more users among the multiple users associated with the group vote for multiple competitions.

[0197] The reward granting unit 214 identifies the competition ID corresponding to the competition for which each of the multiple users belonging to the group has voted by referring to the history database. If there is one type of competition ID corresponding to the competition for which two or more users have voted, the reward granting unit 214 grants a first reward to one or more users belonging to the group, and if there are two or more types of the identified competition ID, the reward granting unit 214 grants a second reward to one or more users belonging to the group.

[0198] If the discount rate or discount amount when purchasing a product using the first benefit is greater than the discount rate or discount amount when purchasing a product using the second benefit, the users belonging to the group are motivated to vote for the same competition as the other users. On the other hand, if the discount rate or discount amount when purchasing a product using the first benefit is less than the discount rate or discount amount when purchasing a product using the second benefit, the users belonging to the group are motivated to vote for a different competition than the other users.

[0199] In this way, multiple users belonging to a group are motivated to vote for the same event as the other users voted for, or to vote for a different event from the event that the other users voted for, depending on the contents of the first benefit and the second benefit. Therefore, by having the benefit granting unit 214 operate in this manner, the operator of the competition can encourage users to concentrate their votes on a specific competition or to distribute them among multiple competitions by appropriately setting the contents of the first benefit and the second benefit.

[0200] The reward granting unit 214 may add up a plurality of rewards. When the reward granting unit 214 acquires an instruction from a first user who has given the first reward to provide the first reward to a second user associated with a group with the first user, the reward granting unit 214 may grant to the second user a reward that is the sum of a value of a reward corresponding to the second reward given to the second user and a value of a reward corresponding to the first reward.

[0201] Specifically, the bonus granting unit 214 grants the first user a first bonus indicating "a 100 yen discount from the purchase price of product X" and grants the second user a second bonus indicating "a 50 yen discount from the purchase price of product X". Then, the first user operates the terminal 10 to transmit provision information for providing the first bonus to the second user to the bonus granting unit 214. Based on the acquisition of the provision information, the bonus granting unit 214 grants the second user a bonus indicating "a 150 yen discount from the purchase price of product X", which is the sum of the first bonus and the second bonus.

[0202] By the operation of the reward granting unit 214 in this way, a user who has been granted a reward can provide the reward to other users who belong to the same group, which facilitates communication with other users who belong to the same group. In addition, as the users who belong to the group become closer to each other, the users enjoy voting more.

[0203] [Information to be provided before the reward is granted] The reward giving unit 214 may notify the users associated with the group of the conditions under which a reward is given to the users associated with the group. The conditions under which a reward is given may be, for example, the difference between the number of votes required to give a reward to the users associated with the group and the number of users who have already voted among the users who belong to the group, or the difference between the voting amount required to give a reward to the users associated with the group and the total amount of votes given by the users who belong to the group, as shown in the area 182 of FIG. 15.

[0204] For example, when deciding whether to grant a privilege based on the number of votes, the privilege granting unit 214 refers to the history database to identify the difference between the number of users who have already voted in each of the multiple groups and the number of votes required to grant a privilege to one or more users associated with the group, and notifies the terminals 10 used by each of the multiple users belonging to the group. Based on the notification received from the privilege granting unit 214, the terminal 10 displays, for example, a screen shown in FIG.

[0205] When deciding whether to grant a bonus based on the total amount of votes cast by users belonging to a group, the bonus granting unit 214 refers to the history database to identify the difference between the total amount of votes cast by users belonging to each of the multiple groups and the amount of votes required to grant a bonus, and notifies the identified difference and the total amount of votes to the terminals 10 used by each of the multiple users belonging to the group. Based on the notification received from the bonus granting unit 214, the terminals 10 display "The total amount of votes is XXX yen. You will be granted a bonus if you vote XXX yen more."

[0206] The acquisition unit 212 acquires voting information indicating the voting contents including the voting target and the predetermined value input by each user on a screen in which the reward granting unit 214 has displayed the conditions on each terminal 10 of the users. The acquisition unit 212 acquires voting information indicating the voting contents for the competition by a user using a terminal 10 displaying the screen shown in FIG. 15 by pressing an operation image 183, for example. By the operation of the reward granting unit 214 and the acquisition unit 212 in this manner, the user is motivated to vote because the user can know the number of votes or the amount of votes required to be granted a reward. And, the user can easily vote because he or she can cast a vote by pressing the screen of the terminal 10 displaying the conditions.

[0207] The reward granting unit 214 may notify the users of the contents of the reward according to the maximum amount of the reward to be paid if the votes of the users corresponding to the user IDs associated with the same group ID are correct before it is determined whether the votes of the users corresponding to the user IDs are correct. The reward granting unit 214 notifies the terminal 10 used by the user of the contents of the reward, for example, at regular intervals.

[0208] The reward granting unit 214 acquires the voting information stored in the memory unit 22, for example, at regular time intervals. The reward granting unit 214 identifies, for each of the multiple groups, multiple voting targets and voting amounts voted for by multiple users associated with the group. The reward granting unit 214 identifies a combination of votes that can be simultaneously successful among the votes corresponding to the multiple identified voting targets, and identifies the maximum amount of reward at the time the voting information was acquired based on the voting amounts of the votes included in the identified combination. The reward granting unit 214 notifies multiple terminals 10 used by multiple users belonging to the group to which the reward may be awarded, of the reward corresponding to the identified maximum amount of reward.

[0209] By operating the reward granting unit 214 in this manner, the user can easily know the reward that may be granted. As a result, the reward granting unit 214 can motivate the user who has not voted to vote in order to be granted the reward.

[0210] [Processing flow of information processing device 20] Fig. 16 is a flowchart showing a process flow of the processor 21 according to the third embodiment. The flowchart shown in Fig. 16 shows an operation from when the acquisition unit 212 acquires voting information of two or more users belonging to the first group to when the reward granting unit 214 grants a reward to one or more users belonging to the first group.

[0211] The acquisition unit 212 acquires voting information indicating the content of votes cast by users belonging to the first group for the competition (S51). The reward granting unit 214 identifies the number of voters who voted for the competition among the multiple users belonging to the first group. If the number of voters identified by the reward granting unit 214 is less than a predetermined number (NO in S52), the reward granting unit 214 does not grant a reward to the users belonging to the first group. The predetermined number is a number determined based on at least any one of the content of the competition, the number of users belonging to the first group, or the cumulative amount of votes cast by users belonging to the first group within a predetermined period in the past, and is a number equal to or greater than 2.

[0212] If the number of voters identified by the reward awarding unit 214 is equal to or greater than a predetermined number (YES in S52), the reward awarding unit 214 obtains the competition results for the competition in which the users belonging to the first group voted from the payment processing unit 213 (S53). The payment processing unit 213 determines the winning amounts corresponding to the votes of the multiple users belonging to the first group based on the competition results, thereby determining the total winning amounts of the multiple users belonging to the first group (S54).

[0213] If the total winning amount identified by the reward granting unit 214 is equal to or greater than a predetermined amount (YES in S55), the reward granting unit 214 determines one or more users to whom a reward will be granted from among the multiple users belonging to the first group (S56). The reward granting unit 214 grants a reward to the determined users (S57). If the total winning amount identified by the reward granting unit 214 is less than a predetermined amount If NO in S55, the bonus granting unit 214 identifies the number of users whose votes were correct, that is, the number of users whose votes were correct, among the multiple users belonging to the first group (S58).

[0214] If the number of hits identified by the bonus granting unit 214 is equal to or greater than the predetermined number (YES in S59), the bonus granting unit 214 determines one or more users to whom a bonus will be granted from among the multiple users belonging to the first group (S56). Then, the bonus granting unit 214 grants a bonus to the determined users (S57). If the number of hits identified by the bonus granting unit 214 is less than the predetermined number (NO in S59), the privilege granting unit 214 does not grant a privilege to the users belonging to the first group.

[0215] If an operation to end the process has not been performed (NO in S60), the processor 21 repeats the processes from S51 to S59. If an operation to end the process has been performed (YES in S60), the processor 21 ends the process. In addition, in the flowchart shown in Fig. 16, the information processing device 20 may execute the process of identifying the total winning amount of the users belonging to the first group (S54) and determining whether the identified winning amount is a predetermined amount or more (S55) and the process of identifying the number of winning users belonging to the first group (S58) and determining whether the identified number of winning users is a predetermined number or more (S59) interchangeably.

[0216] [Advantages of the information processing device 20 according to the third embodiment] As described above, the information processing device 20 according to the third embodiment includes the acquisition unit 212 that acquires voting information indicating that users have voted for a competition. Then, the reward granting unit 214 grants a reward indicating a reward that can provide preferential treatment for purchasing a product or using a service to one or more users among the multiple users associated with the same group, based on the voting of two or more users among the multiple users associated with the group.

[0217] By operating the information processing device 20 in this manner, if one of the other users belonging to the same group has voted, the user is motivated to vote because there is a possibility that a special benefit will be awarded by the user's vote. Furthermore, if the other users who have not voted are awarded a special benefit, their interest in the competition increases, and they are motivated to vote. As a result, the information processing device 20 can increase the number of users who vote.

[0218] Although the present invention has been described above using the embodiments, the technical scope of the present invention is not limited to the scope described in the above embodiments, and various modifications and changes are possible within the scope of the gist of the present invention. For example, all or part of the device can be configured by distributing or integrating functionally or physically in any unit. In addition, new embodiments resulting from any combination of multiple embodiments are also included in the embodiments of the present invention. The effect of the new embodiment resulting from the combination combines the effect of the original embodiment.

[0219] In other words, each of the first, second, and third embodiments corresponds to a variation of one embodiment of the present invention, and the technical scope of the present invention also includes the implementation of a combination of multiple functions described in the descriptions of multiple embodiments among the functions described using each embodiment as an example.

[0220] In addition to the above embodiment, the following is further noted. (Appendix 1) An acquisition unit that acquires voting information indicating the content of a user's vote in a competition; a reward provision unit that provides the user with a reward that can provide preferential treatment for purchasing a product or using a service based on the competition result of the competition in which the user voted and the voting content indicated by the voting information; An information processing device having the above configuration. By configuring the information processing device in this way, it is possible to increase the satisfaction of more voters. (Appendix 2) a payment processor; The acquisition unit acquires the voting information indicating the voting content including a voting object for which the user has voted and a predetermined value, The payment processing unit, if the vote is correct, gives the user a reward according to the amount of the predetermined value; The reward providing unit provides the reward to the user according to the amount of the reward. 2. An information processing device according to claim 1. By configuring the information processing device in this manner, voters are motivated to vote a large amount of the predetermined value so that they can obtain a larger amount of reward. (Appendix 3) the benefit provision unit provides the user with a first benefit among the plurality of benefits if the vote is correct, and provides the user with a second benefit among the plurality of benefits, which is a benefit different from the first benefit, if the vote is incorrect. 3. The information processing device according to claim 1 or 2. With the information processing device configured in this way, voters are motivated to vote again. (Appendix 4) a storage unit that stores the voting information indicating the content of the vote when the user voted and hit result information indicating whether the vote was a hit or a miss, in association with each of the multiple users; the benefit granting unit grants the benefit to the user, when the user wins a new vote, based on one or more pieces of voting information stored in association with the winning result information indicating that the vote was lost, among the one or more pieces of voting information of the user stored in the storage unit; 4. The information processing device according to claim 1 . By configuring the information processing device in this manner, it is possible to motivate a voter to vote again even if the vote is unsuccessful. (Appendix 5) A vote acceptance unit that accepts votes for the voting content is further provided, The acquisition unit acquires schedule information indicating a voting object and a predetermined value for which the user plans to vote before the voting acceptance unit accepts the vote for the voting content, When the voting target and the predetermined value indicated by the scheduled information satisfy a predetermined right granting condition, the privilege granting unit notifies the user of the contents of the privilege that may be granted by voting before the voting acceptance unit starts accepting votes for the voting contents. 5. An information processing device according to any one of claims 1 to 4. By configuring the information processing device in this way, the probability that a voter will cast a vote can be increased. (Appendix 6) A storage unit that stores a voting history indicating the contents of votes made by the user on a competition, the benefit providing unit provides the user with the benefit corresponding to past voting details indicated by the voting history of the user stored in the storage unit; 6. An information processing device according to any one of claims 1 to 5. By configuring the information processing device in this way, it is possible to motivate voters to continue voting. (Appendix 7) the benefit provision unit provides the user with a benefit associated with a specific content when the voting information indicating the voting content when the user voted for the competition includes information indicating that the user voted based on the specific content viewed by the user; 7. An information processing device according to any one of claims 1 to 6. By configuring the information processing device in this way, it is possible to motivate voters to use specific content to cast their vote. (Appendix 8) The system further includes a period determination unit that determines a period during which the benefit can be used based on at least one of the type of the event that the user has voted for and the amount of a predetermined value that the user has voted for in the event that the user has voted for, and a reward according to the amount of a predetermined value that the user has voted for in the event that the user has voted for. 8. An information processing device according to any one of claims 1 to 7. By configuring the information processing device in this manner, it is possible to motivate voters to vote for a particular event or for a group number that is likely to bring about a high payout. (Appendix 9) a storage unit that stores competition information indicating the competition and special benefit information indicating the special benefit in association with each other; a notification unit that notifies the user of the competition information; The notification unit notifies a second user having a predetermined relationship with the first user of content of the competition corresponding to the competition information associated with content of the benefit notified to the first user by the benefit granting unit. 9. An information processing device according to any one of claims 1 to 8. By configuring the information processing device in this manner, other voters who have a predetermined relationship with the voter can be motivated to vote in the competition. (Appendix 10) When the reward granting unit grants the reward to a first user who voted for the competition, the reward granting unit grants the reward to a second user who has a predetermined relationship with the first user. 10. An information processing device according to any one of claims 1 to 9. By configuring the information processing device in this manner, other voters who have a predetermined relationship with the voter can be motivated to vote in the competition. (Appendix 11) a storage unit that stores user identification information for identifying a plurality of users in association with group identification information for identifying a group; the reward granting unit grants the reward to the second user when a first user votes for the competition and the first user identification information corresponding to the first user and a second user identification information corresponding to the second user are stored in the storage unit in association with the same group identification information, and when a second user votes for the competition and the second user votes for the competition and the second user identification information corresponding to the second user is not correct; 11. An information processing device according to any one of claims 1 to 10. By configuring the information processing device in this way, voters can be motivated to register with the group. (Appendix 12) The computer executes Obtaining voting information indicating the contents of a vote when a user votes for a competition; providing the user with a privilege to purchase a product or use a service based on the result of the competition in which the user voted and the voting content indicated by the voting information; An information processing method comprising the steps of: By implementing such an information processing method, it is possible to increase the satisfaction of more voters. (Appendix 13) An information processing system including an information processing device and an information terminal, The information processing device includes: an acquisition unit that acquires voting information indicating the contents of a vote when a user of the information terminal votes for a competition; a reward provision unit that transmits reward information to the user indicating a reward that can be given in exchange for purchasing a product or using a service based on the competition result of the competition in which the user voted and the voting content indicated by the voting information, The information terminal includes: an information transmitting unit that transmits the voting information to the information processing device; an information receiving unit for receiving the special offer information; An information processing system having the above configuration. By configuring such an information processing system, it is possible to increase the satisfaction of a greater number of voters. (Appendix 14) an acquisition unit that acquires first voting information indicating the content of a first vote when a first user votes for a competition; a reward provision unit that provides a reward, which can provide preferential treatment for purchasing a product or using a service, to a second user who has a predetermined relationship with the first user, based on the first user's voting in the competition; An information processing device having the above configuration. By configuring the information processing device in this way, it becomes easier for more people to vote and the number of voters can be increased. (Appendix 15) The reward granting unit grants the reward to the first user and the second user based on the first user's voting for the competition. 15. The information processing device according to claim 14. By configuring the information processing device in this way, it is possible to motivate more people to vote. (Appendix 16) The acquisition unit acquires second voting information indicating second voting details when the second user votes for the competition, The reward granting unit grants the reward to the second user when the competition corresponding to the second voting content is a competition associated with the competition corresponding to the first voting content. 16. The information processing device according to claim 14 or 15. By configuring the information processing device in this manner, it is possible to increase the number of votes for a competition for which it is desired to increase the number of votes. (Appendix 17) The acquisition unit acquires second voting information indicating second voting details when the second user votes for the competition, the reward granting unit grants the reward to the second user when the second voting information includes information indicating that the second user voted based on the first voting content. 17. The information processing device according to claim 14 or 16. By configuring the information processing device in this way, voters with little voting experience are motivated to vote. (Appendix 18) the reward granting unit grants the reward to the second user when a vote corresponding to the first vote content is correct. 18. The information processing device according to any one of appendix 14 to 17. By configuring the information processing device in this way, it is possible to increase the enjoyment of voting for the voter. (Appendix 19) The acquisition unit acquires second voting information indicating second voting details when the second user votes for the competition, The reward granting unit grants the reward to the second user when the competition corresponding to the second voting content is the same as the competition corresponding to the first voting content that has been selected. 19. The information processing device according to any one of appendix 14 to 18. By configuring the information processing device in this way, it is possible to motivate voters to invite other voters to join the group to which they belong, thereby making it possible to increase the number of voters. (Appendix 20) The acquisition unit acquires first competition information indicating a competition in which the first user watched a video, and second competition information indicating a competition in which the second user watched a video, The reward granting unit grants the reward to the second user when the competition indicated by the second competition information is the same as the winning competition indicated by the first competition information. 20. The information processing device according to any one of appendix 14 to 19. By configuring the information processing device in this way, it is possible to motivate voters to view content that includes predictions about the results of a competition. (Appendix 21) a payment processor; the acquiring unit acquires the first voting information indicating the first voting content including a voting object voted for by the first user and a predetermined value; the payment processing unit, when a vote corresponding to the first voting content is correct, gives a reward according to the amount of the predetermined value to the first user; The reward granting unit grants the reward to the first user according to the amount of the reward. 21. The information processing device according to any one of appendix 14 to 20. By configuring the information processing device in this way, it is possible to motivate voters to cast votes with a larger amount of the predetermined value. (Appendix 22) a storage unit that stores user identification information for identifying a plurality of users in association with group identification information for identifying a group; the privilege granting unit grants the privilege to the second user when first user identification information corresponding to the first user and second user identification information corresponding to the second user are stored in the storage unit in association with the same group identification information. 22. The information processing device according to any one of appendix 14 to 21. By configuring the information processing device in this way, it is possible to motivate users to register in the same group as the user who voted. (Appendix 23) a storage unit that stores user identification information for identifying a plurality of users in association with group identification information for identifying a group; the reward granting unit grants the reward to the second user when a vote corresponding to the first vote content is correct, when first user identification information corresponding to the first user and second user identification information corresponding to the second user are stored in the storage unit in association with the same group identification information, and when a vote corresponding to the second vote content when the second user voted for the competition is not correct; 23. The information processing device according to any one of appendix 14 to 22. By configuring the information processing device in this way, it is possible to motivate users to register in the same group as the user who voted. (Appendix 24) a storage unit that stores a first voting history indicating one or more first voting contents of the first user voting for one or more competitions and a second voting history indicating one or more second voting contents of the second user voting for one or more competitions, the reward granting unit grants the reward to the second user when at least one of the competitions included in the one or more first voting contents indicated by the first voting history is the same as at least one of the competitions included in the one or more second voting contents indicated by the second voting history. 24. The information processing device according to any one of appendix 14 to 23. With the information processing device configured in this way, voters are motivated to vote while communicating with other voters, which increases the enjoyment of voting. (Appendix 25) The reward granting unit determines the number of the second users to whom the reward is to be granted based on a predetermined value voted by the first users in the competition. 25. The information processing device according to any one of appendix 14 to 24. By configuring the information processing device in this manner, a voter who wishes to give a benefit to many other voters is motivated to vote a large predetermined value. (Appendix 26) a storage unit that stores, for each user, a user reward giving history indicating one or more other users to whom the reward giving unit has given the reward based on the user's voting for a competition; When the number of the second users having the predetermined relationship is greater than the number of the second users to which the privilege is to be given, the privilege granting unit refers to the user privilege granting history to identify the second users who have voted to grant the privilege that was previously granted to the first user by the privilege granting unit, and grants the privilege that can be used by the identified second users. 26. The information processing device according to any one of appendix 14 to 25. By configuring the information processing device in this way, it is possible to give a privilege to a person who is close to the voter. (Appendix 27) The benefit is a benefit that can be used continuously for a specified period of time, the benefit provision unit provides the second user with the benefit, the benefit being usable by the second user during a period in which the first user is using the benefit; 27. The information processing device according to any one of appendix 14 to 26. By configuring the information processing device in this way, the value of voting for the voter is increased, and the voter is motivated to vote again. (Appendix 28) the benefit provision unit provides the benefit to the second user, the benefit being usable by the second user after the first user has used the benefit; 28. An information processing device according to any one of appendix 14 to 27. By configuring the information processing device in this way, it is possible to motivate voters to use the rewards they have acquired. (Appendix 29) a storage unit that stores competition information indicating the competition and special benefit information indicating the special benefit in association with each other; A notification unit that notifies a user of the competition information, The notification unit notifies the second user of the competition information associated with the content of the benefit notified to the first user. 29. An information processing device according to any one of appendix 14 to 28. By configuring the information processing device in this manner, a second user who has a predetermined relationship with the first user can be motivated to vote in the race. (Appendix 30) The computer executes acquiring voting information indicating the content of a vote made by a first user in a competition; A step of providing a benefit indicating a benefit that can favor the purchase of a product or the use of a service to a second user who has a predetermined relationship with the first user based on the first user's voting in the competition; An information processing method comprising the steps of: By implementing the information processing method in this manner, it becomes easier for more people to vote and the number of voters can be increased. (Appendix 31) An information processing system including an information processing device, a first information terminal, and a second information terminal, The information processing device includes: an acquisition unit that acquires voting information indicating the contents of a vote made by a first user who uses the first information terminal in a competition; a reward provision unit that transmits reward information indicating a reward that can provide preferential treatment for the purchase of a product or the use of a service to a second user who has a predetermined relationship with the first user, based on the first user's voting in the competition; The first information terminal is an information transmitting unit that transmits the voting information to the information processing device; a first information receiving unit for receiving the special information; a first display unit that displays the benefit information; The second information terminal is A second information receiving unit that receives the special information; A second display unit that displays the benefit information; An information processing system having the above configuration. By configuring the information processing system in this way, it becomes easier for more people to vote and the number of voters can be increased. (Appendix 32) An acquisition unit that acquires voting information indicating that a user has voted for a competition; a privilege granting unit that grants a privilege that can give preferential treatment to purchase a product or use a service to one or more users among a plurality of users associated with the group to which the two or more users are associated, when the acquisition unit acquires a plurality of pieces of voting information indicating that two or more users among a plurality of users associated with the same group have voted; An information processing device having the above configuration. With the information processing device configured in this way, voters are motivated to vote because there is a possibility that they will be given a special benefit for voting. (Appendix 33) the reward granting unit grants the reward to one or more users among the plurality of users associated with the group when the votes of a predetermined number or more of the users associated with the group are correct; 33. The information processing device according to claim 32. By configuring the information processing device in this way, the voter's joy when he or she wins is increased, and the voter is motivated to vote again. (Appendix 34) a payment processor; The acquisition unit acquires the voting information indicating voting contents including a voting object for which a user has voted and a predetermined value, the payment processing unit, if the vote is correct, gives a reward to the user who voted according to the amount of the predetermined value; the reward granting unit grants the reward to one or more users among the plurality of users associated with the group when a total of the rewards acquired by the plurality of users associated with the group is equal to or greater than a predetermined amount; 34. The information processing device according to claim 32 or 33. With the information processing device configured in this way, the operator of the competition can provide a reward that corresponds to the winning amount of the bet. (Appendix 35) The acquisition unit acquires the voting information indicating voting contents including a voting object for which a user has voted and a predetermined value, the reward granting unit grants the reward to one or more users among the plurality of users associated with the group when a sum of the predetermined values ​​voted for the competition by the plurality of users associated with the group is equal to or greater than a predetermined amount; 35. The information processing device according to any one of appendix 32 to 34. By configuring the information processing device in this way, it is possible to increase the number of voters and the amount of votes. (Appendix 36) The acquisition unit acquires the voting information indicating voting contents including a voting object for which a user has voted and a predetermined value, The reward granting unit selects one or more users to whom the reward is to be granted based on the amount of the predetermined value voted by each of the multiple users who voted for the competition. 36. The information processing device according to any one of appendix 32 to 35. By configuring the information processing device in this way, voters are motivated to cast larger votes. (Appendix 37) The privilege granting unit notifies a plurality of users associated with the group of a condition under which the privilege is granted to one or more users associated with the group. 37. The information processing device according to any one of appendix 32 to 36. By configuring the information processing device in this way, voters are motivated to vote more. (Appendix 38) the acquisition unit acquires the voting information indicating voting contents including a voting target and a predetermined value input by each of the users on a screen on which the condition is displayed by the privilege granting unit on each of the information terminals of the users, the voting information indicating voting contents including a voting target and a predetermined value input by each of the users. 38. The information processing device according to claim 37. By configuring the information processing device in this way, voters can easily cast their votes. (Appendix 39) the reward granting unit determines the content of the reward to be given to the user belonging to the group according to a total amount of reward to be paid when the votes of the multiple users associated with the group are correct; 39. The information processing device according to any one of appendix 32 to 38. By configuring the information processing device in this manner, the competition operator can award benefits appropriate to the amount of remuneration. (Appendix 40) a storage unit that stores a voting history including at least one of reward information indicating a reward according to an amount of a predetermined value that a user has voted for in the competition that has been hit, and voting count information indicating the number of times that the user has voted for the competition, in association with group identification information for identifying the group; the privilege granting unit determines the content of the privilege to be granted to each of the plurality of users based on the voting history of each of the plurality of users associated with the group corresponding to the same group identification information. 40. The information processing device according to any one of appendix 32 to 39. By configuring the information processing device in this way, voters belonging to a group are motivated to actively vote. (Appendix 41) when the privilege granting unit acquires an instruction from a first user who has provided the first privilege information to provide the first privilege information to a second user associated with the first user and the group, the privilege granting unit grants to the second user a privilege that is a sum of a value of a privilege corresponding to the second privilege information provided to the second user and a value of a privilege corresponding to the first privilege information. 41. The information processing device according to any one of appendix 32 to 40. By configuring the information processing device in this way, a voter can smoothly communicate with other voters who belong to the same group, thereby increasing the enjoyment of voting. (Appendix 42) The reward granting unit grants the reward associated with a specific voter predictor to a user who has voted based on the vote prediction content of a specific voter predictor who predicted the votes, the reward being different from that of other users who have not voted based on the vote prediction content, among the multiple users associated with the group. 42. The information processing device according to any one of appendix 32 to 41. By configuring the information processing device in this manner, it is possible to motivate voters to view content associated with the voting forecaster. (Appendix 43) the reward granting unit grants the reward to a first user when a second user votes based on a vote of a first user among a plurality of users associated with the group. 43. The information processing device according to any one of appendix 32 to 42. By configuring the information processing device in this manner, voters with a lot of voting experience are motivated to disclose the contents of their votes to voters with little voting experience. (Appendix 44) the reward granting unit grants the reward to a user who has not voted in the competition among a plurality of users associated with the group, when a voting history indicating voting contents of the user's past votes in the competition satisfies a predetermined condition. 44. The information processing device according to any one of appendix 32 to 43. By configuring the information processing device in this manner, voters who have voted in races in the past but are not currently voting in the race are motivated to vote in the race again. (Appendix 45) The computer executes obtaining voting information indicating that a user has voted in a competition; When a plurality of pieces of voting information indicating that two or more users among the plurality of users associated with the same group have voted is obtained, a step of giving a privilege that can give preferential treatment to one or more users among the plurality of users associated with the group to which the two or more users are associated, in purchasing a product or using a service; An information processing method comprising the steps of: By implementing the information processing method in this manner, voters are motivated to vote because there is a possibility that they will be granted special privilege information for voting. (Appendix 46) An information processing system including an information processing device and a plurality of information terminals, The information processing device includes: an acquisition unit that acquires voting information indicating that a user has voted for a competition from the plurality of information terminals; a privilege granting unit that, when the acquiring unit acquires a plurality of pieces of voting information indicating that two or more users among a plurality of users associated with the same group have voted, transmits privilege information indicating a privilege that can provide preferential treatment in purchasing a product or using a service to one or more users among a plurality of users associated with the group to which the two or more users are associated, Each of the plurality of information terminals an information transmitting unit that transmits the voting information to the information processing device; an information receiving unit for receiving the special offer information; An information processing system having the above configuration. With the information processing system configured in this way, voters are motivated to vote because there is a possibility that they will be granted benefits by voting. [Explanation of symbols]

[0221] 10 Terminal 11 Processors 12 Storage section 13 Communication Interface 14 Input Devices 15 Output Devices 20 Information processing device 21 Processors 22 Memory section 23 Communication Interface 24 Input Devices 25 Output Devices 30 EC site server 111 Information Transmission Unit 112 Information Receiving Unit 113 Display control unit 211 Voting Office 212 Acquisition Department 213 Payment Processing Unit 214 Benefits Granting Department 215 Period Determination Department 216 Notification Department

Claims

[Claim 1] An acquisition unit that acquires voting information indicating that a user has voted for a competition; a privilege granting unit that grants a privilege that can give preferential treatment to purchase a product or use a service to one or more users among a plurality of users associated with the group to which the two or more users are associated, when the acquisition unit acquires a plurality of pieces of voting information indicating that two or more users among a plurality of users associated with the same group have voted; An information processing device having the above configuration.

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