Information processing system

Abstract

To assist in fostering customer loyalty with respect to a service station, such as a gas station.SOLUTION: When a user selects a support service station from among a plurality of service stations (SS) related to a company, a service management system 62 stores the above information. If the user has already selected the support service station, a sales management system 64 charges the user the amount discounted based on a first discount rule from an ordinary price of a commodity purchased by the user in the service stations related to the company.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 9

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to data processing technology, and more particularly to information processing systems. [Background technology]

[0002] A service has been proposed that allows a car leasing contract holder to receive a discount on fuel costs when refueling a vehicle leased from a car leasing company at a service station using the contract holder's own credit card (see, for example, Patent Document 1). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2018-200711 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] For businesses that sell products at service stations such as gas stations, it is important to foster customer trust and attachment (so-called customer loyalty) to the service stations associated with their companies. The present disclosure has been made in consideration of such issues, and one purpose is to provide a technology that supports the fostering of customer loyalty to service stations such as gas stations. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] In order to solve the above problems, an information processing system of one embodiment of the present disclosure includes a first memory unit in which information indicating that a user has selected a support service station from among multiple service stations associated with a certain business operator is registered, and a billing unit that, when the user has selected a support service station, bills the user an amount discounted based on a first discount rule from the regular price of an item purchased by the user at the multiple service stations.

[0006] Any combination of the above components, or any conversion of the present disclosure into an apparatus, method, computer program, or recording medium having a computer program recorded thereon, is also valid as an aspect of the present disclosure. Effect of the Invention

[0007] According to the present disclosure, it is possible to help foster customer loyalty to service stations such as gas stations. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of a fuel sales system according to a related art. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing functional blocks of a fuel sales management system. [Diagram 3] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of fuel sales information stored in a fuel sales information storage unit; [Figure 4] 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of a fuel sales system according to a first embodiment. [Diagram 5] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing functional blocks of the service management system. [Figure 6] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing functional blocks of a sales management system. [Figure 7] FIG. 11 is a diagram showing the configuration of a fuel sales system according to a second embodiment. [Figure 8] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing the configuration of a fuel sales system according to a third embodiment. [Figure 9] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing the configuration of a fuel sales system according to a fourth embodiment. [Figure 10] 4 is a diagram showing a configuration of user information stored in a user information storage unit; FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0009] The subject of the device or method in the present disclosure includes a computer. The computer executes a computer program to realize the function of the subject of the device or method in the present disclosure. The computer includes a processor that operates according to a computer program as a main hardware configuration. The type of processor is not important as long as the function can be realized by executing the computer program. The processor is composed of one or more electronic circuits including a semiconductor integrated circuit (IC, LSI, etc.). The computer program is recorded on a non-transitory recording medium such as a computer-readable ROM, an optical disk, or a hard disk drive. The computer program may be stored in the recording medium in advance, or may be supplied to the recording medium via a wide area communication network including the Internet.

[0010] The technology of the present disclosure will be described below with reference to the drawings based on preferred embodiments. The embodiments are illustrative and do not limit the invention, and all features and combinations thereof described in the embodiments are not necessarily essential to the invention. The same or equivalent components, members, and processes shown in each drawing are given the same reference numerals, and duplicated descriptions are omitted as appropriate. In addition, the scale and shape of each part shown in each drawing are set for convenience to facilitate explanation, and are not to be interpreted as being limiting unless otherwise specified. In addition, when terms such as "first" and "second" are used in this specification or claims, they do not represent any order or importance, but are intended to distinguish one configuration from another, unless otherwise specified.

[0011] First, related art related to the embodiments of the present disclosure will be described, and then the embodiments will be described. <Related Technology> First, an overview of the related technology will be described. Conventionally, a service has been proposed that allows a discount on fuel costs to be received when a vehicle (hereinafter also referred to as a "lease vehicle") rented from a car leasing company to a contract holder of a car leasing contract (hereinafter also referred to as a "user") is refueled using the contract holder's own credit card. However, the fuel cost discount is limited to leased vehicles. In addition, since it is a violation of the credit card terms and conditions for someone other than the user who is the contract holder of a car leasing contract to refuel, the user himself / herself needs to refuel in order to receive the discount on the fuel cost.

[0012] In the fuel sales system of the related technology, the scope of the fuel price discount is expanded, and the fuel price discount is applied to the entire household of the car lease contract holder (the user household, described below). Specifically, the fuel price discount is not limited to cases where fuel is pumped with the credit card of the user who is the car lease contract holder (hereinafter also referred to as the "personal card"), but is also applied when fuel is pumped with a family card attached to the personal card. A family card is an additional card issued in association with the personal card based on the user's application, and is an additional card used by the user's family members (for example, the user's spouse, children over 18 years old, or parents after retirement). Usually, the amount used on the family card is treated as being integrated with the personal card.

[0013] For example, if a family member of a user, not the user who signed the car lease contract, refuels the leased vehicle at a service station, and purchases fuel using a family card, the family member can receive a discount on the fuel price even if the user is not present. This increases convenience for car lease users.

[0014] A service station (hereinafter also referred to as "SS") refers to a store that sells energy sources as goods. An energy source refers to a resource used to operate a power source, and is provided, for example, to operate a mobile body such as an automobile. Energy sources include vehicle fuel (gasoline, diesel, hydrogen, etc.), as well as kerosene and electricity. Examples of service stations include gas stations, hydrogen stations, charging stations, etc. A product refers to any tangible or intangible thing that is traded for or without payment, and is a concept that includes the provision of a service. In the related art, an example of purchasing fuel for a vehicle at a service station is shown, but the technical idea of ​​the present disclosure is widely applicable to the purchase of goods (for example, the various energy sources mentioned above) sold at service stations.

[0015] Furthermore, in the fuel sales system of the related technology, the vehicles eligible for the fuel price discount are not limited to leased vehicles. For example, if the user who has signed a car lease contract uses his / her personal card, and if the user's family member uses a family card, the fuel price discount is not limited to refueling leased vehicles, but also applies to refueling vehicles other than leased vehicles (for example, vehicles owned by the user's household, hereinafter also referred to as "non-leased vehicles"). This further increases convenience for car lease users. Furthermore, since non-leased vehicles, in addition to leased vehicles, visit SSs more frequently, opportunities for fuel and non-oil sales at SSs can be expanded.

[0016] The related art will now be described in detail. Fig. 1 shows the configuration of a fuel sales system 10 of the related art. The fuel sales system 10 comprises a store system 20, a fuel sales management system 22, a car lease management system 24, and a billing management system 26. These devices are connected via a communication network including a LAN, a WAN, the Internet, etc.

[0017] A leased vehicle 12 and a non-leased vehicle 14 are used in the household of a user who has entered into a car leasing contract with a car leasing company. The user has a personal card 16, and the user's family members, a spouse and a child, have a family card 18a and a family card 18b, respectively (collectively referred to as "family cards 18"). The user, spouse and child use their own credit cards (personal card 16, family card 18a, family card 18b) to purchase fuel for the leased vehicle 12 and the non-leased vehicle 14 at a gas station.

[0018] A store system 20 is installed in the SS. The store system 20 is an information processing system that manages sales and the like at the SS. The store system 20 transmits refueling data relating to fuel purchased by a user using the personal card 16, or refueling data relating to fuel purchased by the user's family using the family card 18, to a fuel sales management system 22. Note that while FIG. 1 illustrates one SS (store system 20), an actual fuel sales system 10 will include multiple SSs (store systems 20).

[0019] The car lease center is provided with a car lease management system 24. The car lease management system 24 is an information processing system that executes data processing related to car lease contracts and fuel benefit applications. The car lease management system 24 transmits fuel benefit information related to fuel benefit recipients who have applied for a fuel benefit (in other words, a fuel price discount benefit) to the fuel sales management system 22.

[0020] The credit card company is provided with a billing management system 26. The billing management system 26 is an information processing system that manages billing to credit card contract holders.

[0021] The fuel sales management system 22 is an information processing system that manages information related to the sale of fuel at SSs, in other words, manages information related to purchasers who purchase fuel at SSs, and also manages the billing of fuel costs to purchasers. The fuel sales management system 22 transmits fuel billing data to the billing management system 26 to bill the user for all the fuel costs purchased by the user and his / her family.

[0022] There is no limitation on the physical configuration of the store system 20, the fuel sales management system 22, the car lease management system 24, and the billing management system 26 in Fig. 1. For example, each system may be realized by one information processing device, or may be realized by multiple information processing devices working together.

[0023] Fig. 2 is a block diagram showing functional blocks of the fuel sales management system 22 in Fig. 1. The fuel sales management system 22 includes a control unit 30, a storage unit 32, and a communication unit 34. The control unit 30 executes various data processing. The storage unit 32 stores data referenced or updated by the control unit 30. The communication unit 34 communicates with external devices according to a predetermined communication protocol. The control unit 30 transmits and receives data to and from the store system 20, the car lease management system 24, and the billing management system 26 via the communication unit 34.

[0024] The memory unit 32 includes a fuel sales information memory unit 36 ​​and a discount rule memory unit 38. The fuel sales information memory unit 36 ​​stores fuel sales information. The fuel sales information includes information about the personal card, which is the credit card of the user who entered into the car lease contract, and information about the family card linked to the personal card. FIG. 3 shows an example of fuel sales information stored in the fuel sales information memory unit 36. The fuel sales information is information in which a customer number, a parent number, a credit card number, a date of birth, a fuel purchase quantity, and a fuel purchase price are associated with each other.

[0025] The customer number can also be called a customer identification number, and is a number specific to each individual (for example, each of a user and his / her family). The customer number can also be called a number that is unique to each individual. The customer number of a car lease contract holder (personal card holder) and the customer number of his / her family (family card holder) have different values ​​in the last digit, but the values ​​of the other digits are the same. The parent number is information for linking the personal card with the family card, and specifically, is the customer number of the personal card holder corresponding to the family card holder. Records 50 and 56 in Figure 3 are records related to the car lease contract holder (personal card holder). Meanwhile, records 52, 54, and 58 in Figure 3 are records related to the car lease contract holder's family (family card holders).

[0026] The credit card number is the card number of the personal card and the family card. The date of birth is the birth date of each individual. The fuel purchase quantity is the quantity of fuel (in liters) purchased by each individual using either the personal card or the family card. The fuel purchase amount is the purchase amount (in yen) of fuel purchased by each individual using either the personal card or the family card. The fuel purchase quantity and fuel purchase amount may be cumulative values ​​of unbilled fuel charges, and may be cleared when the fuel charge is billed.

[0027] Returning to FIG. 2, the discount rule storage unit 38 stores discount rule A regarding fuel prices for the household of the user who has signed a car lease contract (in other words, the user and his / her family). Discount rule A specifies that the discount applies to the total of the fuel purchase quantity by the user's personal card and the fuel purchase quantity by the family card up to a predetermined upper limit of the purchase quantity. The upper limit is, for example, 100L.

[0028] The control unit 30 includes a card information reception unit 40, a refueling data reception unit 42, a fuel reward information reception unit 44, a billing amount derivation unit 46, and a billing unit 48. The functions of these multiple functional blocks may be implemented in a computer program. This computer program may be stored in a recording medium, or may be installed in the storage of the fuel sales management system 22 via the recording medium. Alternatively, the computer program may be installed in the storage of the fuel sales management system 22 via a network. The CPU of the computer of the fuel sales management system 22 may fulfill the functions of the multiple functional blocks of the control unit 30 by reading the computer program into a main memory and executing it.

[0029] The card information receiving unit 40 receives card information related to the credit card issued by the credit card company, which is transmitted from the credit card company's device. The card information includes the customer number, parent number, credit card number, and date of birth as information related to the principal's card and family cards. The card information receiving unit 40 stores the received card information in the fuel sales information storage unit 36.

[0030] The refueling data reception unit 42 receives refueling data transmitted from the SS store system 20, including information indicating that fuel for a vehicle has been purchased using a personal card or a family card. The refueling data includes various data read from the customer's credit card by the SS information terminal, including at least a customer number, a fuel purchase quantity (which can also be called a fuel sales quantity), and a fuel purchase price (which can also be called a fuel sales price). The refueling data reception unit 42 refers to the fuel sales information storage unit 36, identifies a record of fuel sales information including the customer number indicated by the refueling data, and increases the values ​​of the fuel purchase quantity and fuel purchase price of the identified record by the fuel purchase quantity and fuel purchase price indicated by the refueling data.

[0031] The fuel special offer information receiving unit 44 receives the fuel special offer information transmitted from the car lease management system 24 of the car lease center. The fuel special offer information includes information about each car lease contract holder who is to receive a discount on the fuel price, and in the related art, includes a set of a customer number, a date of birth, and a discount rule B. The discount rule B may include a discount rate or a discount amount. For example, the discount rule B may stipulate a discount of 5 to 10 yen per liter of fuel. The discount rule B may also include a different discount rate or discount amount for each car lease contract holder (in other words, for each customer number).

[0032] The billing amount derivation unit 46 derives the billing amount for the fuel cost for each car lease contract holder. The billing amount derivation unit 46 derives the sum of the fuel purchase quantity by the personal card and the fuel purchase quantity by the family card stored in the fuel sales information storage unit 36 ​​for each user's household (a set of the personal card and the family card) (hereinafter also referred to as the "household fuel purchase quantity"). The billing amount derivation unit 46 also derives the sum of the fuel purchase amount by the personal card and the fuel purchase amount by the family card stored in the fuel sales information storage unit 36 ​​for each user's household (a set of the personal card and the family card) (hereinafter also referred to as the "household fuel purchase amount").

[0033] The billing amount derivation unit 46 derives the fuel billing amount for the user for each user household in accordance with the household fuel purchase quantity, the household fuel purchase amount, discount rule A stored in the discount rule memory unit 38, and discount rule B indicated by the fuel benefit information.

[0034] The billing unit 48 executes a process of billing the user for the fuel cost billed to the user derived by the billing amount derivation unit 46. Specifically, the billing unit 48 transmits fuel cost billing data including the credit card number of the user's personal card and the fuel cost billed to the user derived by the billing amount derivation unit 46 to the billing management system 26.

[0035] The operation of the fuel sales system 10 configured as above will be described with reference to FIG. A user applies to a credit card company for a credit card (personal card and family card), and the credit card company issues a personal card 16 for the user, a family card 18a for the user's spouse, and a family card 18b for the user's child. The user enters into a car lease contract with a car leasing company, and at that time also applies for a fuel benefit (fuel price discount benefit). A leased vehicle 12 is provided to the user household based on the car lease contract. In addition to the leased vehicle 12, the user household also owns a non-leased vehicle 14.

[0036] The credit card company's device transmits card information related to the issued principal card 16, family cards 18a, and family cards 18b to the fuel sales management system 22. The card information receiving unit 40 of the fuel sales management system 22 receives the card information and stores the contents of the card information (e.g., customer number, parent number, credit card number, date of birth) in the fuel sales information storage unit 36.

[0037] The user uses the personal card 16 at an SS to purchase fuel and refuel the leased vehicle 12. The user also uses the personal card 16 at an SS to purchase fuel and refuel the non-leased vehicle 14. Similarly, the user's spouse (or child) uses the family card 18a (or family card 18b) at an SS to purchase fuel and refuel the leased vehicle 12. The user's spouse (or child) also uses the family card 18a (or family card 18b) at an SS to purchase fuel and refuel the non-leased vehicle 14.

[0038] Each time fuel is purchased at a SS, the SS store system 20 transmits refueling data including the fuel purchase quantity, fuel purchase price, and card information (customer number, etc.) used to purchase the fuel to the fuel sales management system 22. The refueling data reception unit 42 of the fuel sales management system 22 receives the refueling data and identifies a record in the fuel sales information storage unit 36 ​​specified by the card information indicated by the refueling data. The refueling data reception unit 42 adds values ​​indicated by the refueling data to the values ​​of the fuel purchase quantity and fuel purchase price of the identified record.

[0039] Record 50 in FIG. 3 is a record related to the user (personal card 16) in FIG. 1. Record 50 indicates that 50 L of fuel was purchased using personal card 16 for a purchase amount of 7,000 yen. Record 52 in FIG. 3 is a record related to the spouse (family card 18a) of the user in FIG. 1. Record 52 indicates that 30 L of fuel was purchased using family card 18a for a purchase amount of 4,200 yen. Record 54 in FIG. 3 is a record related to the child (family card 18b) of the user in FIG. 1. Record 54 indicates that 40 L of fuel was purchased using family card 18b for a purchase amount of 5,600 yen.

[0040] The car lease management system 24 of the car lease center periodically transmits fuel benefit information on the recipients of fuel price discounts (car lease contract holders in the related art) to the fuel sales management system 22 at predetermined timing. The fuel benefit information reception unit 44 of the fuel sales management system 22 receives the fuel benefit information. The fuel benefit information here includes the user's customer number in Fig. 1, and also stipulates a discount of 10 yen per liter as discount rule B.

[0041] The billing amount derivation unit 46 of the fuel sales management system 22 derives, for each user's household (a pair of corresponding personal card and family card), a household fuel purchase quantity, which is the sum of the fuel purchase quantity by the personal card and the fuel purchase quantity by the family card stored in the fuel sales information storage unit 36. In addition, the billing amount derivation unit 46 derives, for each user's household (a pair of corresponding personal card and family card), a household fuel purchase amount, which is the sum of the fuel purchase amount by the personal card and the fuel purchase amount by the family card stored in the fuel sales information storage unit 36.

[0042] The billing amount derivation unit 46 identifies the user household in Fig. 1 as a discount target based on the customer number of the user in Fig. 1 indicated by the fuel benefit information. The billing amount derivation unit 46 derives 120L, which is the sum of the fuel purchase quantities in records 50, 52, and 54 in Fig. 3, as the household fuel purchase quantity for the user household in Fig. 1. The billing amount derivation unit 46 also derives 16,800 yen, which is the sum of the fuel purchase amounts in records 50, 52, and 54 in Fig. 3, as the household fuel purchase amount for the user household in Fig. 1.

[0043] Here, discount rule A stored in discount rule memory unit 38 of fuel sales management system 22 specifies that the discount applies up to an upper limit of 100L of fuel. Billing amount derivation unit 46 specifies that 100L of fuel out of the household fuel purchase quantity of 120L of the user household in FIG. 1 is subject to discount. Also, as described above, the discount unit price determined by the fuel privilege information is 10 yen / L. Billing amount derivation unit 46 derives 15,800 yen, which is the amount obtained by discounting 1,000 yen (i.e., discount unit price 10 yen / L x 100L) from the household fuel purchase amount, as the billing amount for the user in FIG. 1.

[0044] Record 56 in Fig. 3 corresponds to the personal card of the car lease contract holder not shown in Fig. 1, and record 58 in Fig. 3 corresponds to the family card of the family of the car lease contract holder. In this case, billing amount derivation unit 46 derives 70L as the household fuel purchase quantity of the car lease contract holder, and derives 9,800 yen as the household fuel purchase amount. Billing amount derivation unit 46 subjects the entire household fuel purchase quantity (70L) to the discount. Billing amount derivation unit 46 derives 9,100 yen, which is the amount obtained by deducting 700 yen (i.e., discount unit price 10 yen / L x 70L) from the household fuel purchase amount, as the billing amount to be paid to the car lease contract holder.

[0045] The billing unit 48 of the fuel sales management system 22 transmits fuel billing data, including the credit card number of the user's principal card 16 and the billing amount to the user derived by the billing amount derivation unit 46, to the billing management system 26 of the credit card company. The billing management system 26 executes a process of billing the user for the total amount of the billing amount indicated by the fuel billing data and other billing amounts according to the use of the principal card 16 and the family card 18.

[0046] According to the fuel sales system 10 of the related art, the discount on the fuel price is applied when the family of the car lease contract holder uses a family card to purchase fuel, and also when refueling a non-leased vehicle. This further enhances the convenience of the car lease user. In addition, the risk of a person other than the car lease contract holder using the credit card of the car lease contract holder and violating the terms of the credit card can be reduced, in other words, the risk of the car lease contract holder reusing or fraudulently using the credit card can be reduced. In addition, since the frequency of non-leased vehicles in addition to leased vehicles visiting the SS increases, the opportunities for fuel sales and non-oil sales at the SS can be expanded. In addition, by setting an upper limit on the amount of fuel purchased to which the discount is applied, the discount can be prevented from being applied endlessly, and the feasibility of the fuel price discount can be guaranteed.

[0047] Next, a process will be described in the case where the user in FIG. 1 concludes multiple car lease contracts (here, a first car lease contract and a second car lease contract). In the fuel sales system 10, a first personal card and a first family card corresponding to the first car lease contract are issued, and further, a second personal card (a personal card different from the first personal card) and a second family card (a family card different from the first family card) corresponding to the second car lease contract are issued. The fuel sales information storage unit 36 ​​of the fuel sales management system 22 stores information on the first personal card and the first family card, and information on the second personal card and the second family card. For example, the fuel sales information storage unit 36 ​​stores two sets of records corresponding to the records 50, 52, and 54 in FIG. 3.

[0048] The billing amount deriving unit 46 of the fuel sales management system 22 derives a first billing amount to the user based on the sum of the amount of fuel purchased by the first principal card and the amount of fuel purchased by the first family card, and in accordance with discount rules A and B. The billing amount deriving unit 46 also derives a second billing amount to the user based on the sum of the amount of fuel purchased by the second principal card and the amount of fuel purchased by the second family card, and in accordance with discount rules A and B. In other words, the billing amount deriving unit 46 applies a discount up to a predetermined upper limit (e.g., 100 L) to the fuel purchased by the principal card and the family card corresponding to each contract for each car lease contract.

[0049] The billing unit 48 of the fuel sales management system 22 transmits first fuel billing data including the credit card number of the first principal card and the first billing amount to the billing management system 26. The billing unit 48 also transmits second fuel billing data including the credit card number of the second principal card and the second billing amount to the billing management system 26. This causes the user to be billed for the discounted billing amount for the fuel purchase using the first principal card and the first family card, and the discounted billing amount for the fuel purchase using the second principal card and the second family card.

[0050] According to this embodiment, the more car lease contracts a car lease user enters into, the greater the fuel price discount he or she can enjoy. For example, if the fuel price discount is 100L when one car lease contract is entered into, the fuel price discount increases to 200L when two car lease contracts are entered into. This provides users with an incentive to enter into many car lease contracts, and promotes the use of car leases.

[0051] A modified example will be described. In the above related technology, when a user enters into multiple car lease contracts, a discount up to a predetermined upper limit is applied to fuel purchases using the principal card and family card corresponding to each contract for each car lease contract. As a modified example, even when a user enters into multiple car lease contracts, there may be only one set of the principal card held by the user and the family card held by the user's family. In this case, discount rule A stored in discount rule storage unit 38 may stipulate that the upper limit of the fuel purchase quantity subject to discount is increased according to the number of car lease contracts entered into by the user.

[0052] In this modification, the fuel benefit information transmitted from the car lease management system 24 of the car lease center to the fuel sales management system 22 may include the number of car lease contracts concluded by the user. The billing amount derivation unit 46 of the fuel sales management system 22 may increase the upper limit of the fuel purchase quantity subject to discount as the number of car lease contracts concluded by the user indicated by the fuel benefit information increases. For example, the upper limit may be 100L when there is one car lease contract, 200L when there are two car lease contracts, and 300L when there are three car lease contracts.

[0053] For example, if a certain user has two car lease contracts and the user's household fuel purchase quantity is 200L, the billing amount derivation unit 46 may discount all of the household fuel purchase quantity (200L). The billing amount derivation unit 46 may discount 2,000 yen (i.e., discount unit price 10 yen / L x 200L) from the user's household fuel purchase amount. Even in this modified fuel sales system 10, the more car lease users enter into car lease contracts, the greater the fuel price discount they can enjoy. This provides users with an incentive to enter into many car lease contracts, thereby promoting the use of car leases.

[0054] Another modified example will be described. In the above related technology, discount rule A is stored in the discount rule storage unit 38 of the fuel sales management system 22, and discount rule B is set in the fuel benefit information sent from the car lease management system 24 to the fuel sales management system 22, but the location (device, area) where discount rule A and discount rule B are stored or set is not limited to this. Discount rule A and discount rule B may be stored or set in a location (device, area) that can be referenced when the billing amount derivation unit 46 of the fuel sales management system 22 derives the billing amount. For example, discount rule A and discount rule B may both be stored in the discount rule storage unit 38 of the fuel sales management system 22.

[0055] <First Example> The first embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with a focus on differences from the related art, and descriptions of commonalities will be omitted as appropriate. The features of the first embodiment can be arbitrarily combined with the features of the related art and its modified examples. Components of the first embodiment that are the same as or correspond to those of the related art will be described with the same reference numerals as appropriate.

[0056] FIG. 4 shows the configuration of a fuel sales system 60 of the first embodiment. As with the fuel sales system 10 of the related art, the fuel sales system 60 of the first embodiment provides a discount on the price of fuel purchased at a SS by a customer (hereinafter also referred to as a "user") who uses a mobility service (hereinafter also simply referred to as a "mobility service") provided by a specific company. A mobility service can also be called a vehicle provision service, which is a service that provides a vehicle and its usage rights (or ownership) to a user and receives payment from the user. Mobility services include, for example, car leasing services, vehicle sales services with residual value credit, and used car sales services.

[0057] As in the related art, a leased vehicle 12 and a non-leased vehicle 14 are used in the household of the user in the first embodiment. The leased vehicle 12 in the first embodiment means a vehicle provided to the user by a mobility service, and is not limited to car leasing, and may be a vehicle sold to the user by a vehicle sales service using residual value credit, or a vehicle sold to the user by a used car sales service. The non-leased vehicle 14 means a vehicle acquired by a method other than using a mobility service, and is, for example, a vehicle purchased or rented by the user without using a mobility service.

[0058] The fuel sales system 60 of the first embodiment differs from the fuel sales system 10 of the related art in the conditions for discounting the fuel price. The fuel price discount in the fuel sales system 60 of the first embodiment is implemented when the contents of the incidental procedures carried out in relation to the vehicle provided to the user by the mobility service satisfy specified discount conditions. The incidental procedures are not procedures related to the use of the vehicle itself, but additional procedures such as vehicle registration and maintenance. The conditions for discounting the fuel price in the fuel sales system 60 of the first embodiment are that the above-mentioned incidental procedures include both the user's conclusion of a maintenance pack contract and the user's application for a fuel benefit.

[0059] The fuel sales system 60 includes a store system 20, a service management system 62, a sales management system 64, and a billing management system 26. These devices are connected via a communication network including a LAN, a WAN, the Internet, and the like.

[0060] The service management system 62 corresponds to the car lease management system 24 of the related art. The service management system 62 is installed in a mobility center, which is an organization / facility that manages mobility services. The service management system 62 manages information about users who use the mobility services. The sales management system 64 corresponds to the fuel sales management system 22 of the related art. The sales management system 64 manages the sales of goods (fuel in the first embodiment) at SSs.

[0061] The service management system 62 and the sales management system 64 cooperate with each other to realize an information processing system 66 that provides users with a benefit of a discount on fuel prices. Each of the service management system 62 and the sales management system 64 may be realized by a single computer, or may be realized by multiple computers working together. Similarly, the information processing system 66 may be realized by a single computer, or may be realized by multiple computers working together.

[0062] 5 is a block diagram showing the functional blocks of the service management system 62. Each block shown in the block diagram in this specification can be realized in terms of hardware by elements such as a computer processor, CPU, and memory, electronic circuits, and mechanical devices, and in terms of software by a computer program, etc., but here, the functional blocks realized by the cooperation of these are depicted. Therefore, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that these functional blocks can be realized in various forms by combining hardware and software.

[0063] The service management system 62 includes a control unit 70, a storage unit 72, and a communication unit 74. The control unit 70 executes various data processing. The storage unit 72 stores data referenced or updated by the control unit 70. The communication unit 74 communicates with an external device according to a predetermined communication protocol. The control unit 70 transmits and receives data to and from the sales management system 64 via the communication unit 74.

[0064] The storage unit 72 includes a user information storage unit 76. The user information storage unit 76 stores a plurality of pieces of user information related to a plurality of users who use the mobility service. Each piece of user information includes a customer number, which is an identification number of the user. Furthermore, each piece of user information includes the contents of ancillary procedures carried out in relation to a vehicle provided to the user by the mobility service, as information for determining whether or not a fuel price discount has been applied for. The contents of the ancillary procedures include (1) information indicating that a maintenance package contract has been concluded, (2) information indicating that a vehicle damage compensation service contract has been concluded, (3) information indicating that vehicle registration on the vehicle inspection certificate by the mobility service has been completed, and (4) information indicating that a fuel benefit application has been made.

[0065] (1) A maintenance pack is, for example, a service that includes a vehicle inspection, regular inspection, oil change, and replacement of consumables. (2) A vehicle damage compensation service is, for example, a service that compensates for vehicle damage up to a specified amount (for example, 50,000 yen) by paying a fixed amount (for example, 100 yen) per month. (3) is information that is registered when a mobility service (a person in charge of the service) completes the vehicle registration procedure (for example, the procedure at the Land Transport Bureau) on the vehicle inspection certificate.

[0066] The control unit 70 includes a user information registration unit 80, a discount determination unit 82, and a discount information provision unit 84. The functions of these multiple functional blocks may be implemented in a computer program. This computer program may be stored in a recording medium, or may be installed in the storage of the service management system 62 via the recording medium. Alternatively, the computer program may be installed in the storage of the service management system 62 via a network. The CPU of the computer of the service management system 62 may fulfill the functions of the multiple functional blocks of the control unit 70 by reading the computer program into a main memory and executing it.

[0067] The user information registration unit 80 stores user information based on data input from a terminal (not shown) of an operator of the mobility center in the user information storage unit 76. The discount determination unit 82 determines whether the content of the incidental procedure indicated by the user information stored in the user information storage unit 76 satisfies the discount conditions for the product price of the SS.

[0068] The discount information providing unit 84, as a notification unit, notifies the sales management system 64 of discount information regarding the user when the discount determination unit 82 determines that the content of the above-mentioned incidental procedure satisfies the discount conditions. The discount information includes the same content as the fuel benefit information described in the related art. For example, the discount information includes a set of the customer number, date of birth, and discount rule B of the user who should receive a discount on the fuel price.

[0069] 6 is a block diagram showing functional blocks of the sales management system 64. The sales management system 64 includes a control unit 90, a storage unit 92, and a communication unit 94. The control unit 90 executes various data processing operations. The storage unit 92 stores data referenced or updated by the control unit 90. The communication unit 94 communicates with external devices according to a predetermined communication protocol. The control unit 90 transmits and receives data to and from the store system 20, the billing management system 26, and the service management system 62 via the communication unit 94.

[0070] The storage unit 92 includes a sales information storage unit 96 and a discount rule storage unit 98. The sales information storage unit 96 corresponds to the fuel sales information storage unit 36 ​​of the fuel sales management system 22 of the related art, and stores the fuel sales information having the configuration shown in Fig. 3. The discount rule storage unit 98 corresponds to the discount rule storage unit 38 of the fuel sales management system 22 of the related art, and stores discount rule A.

[0071] The control unit 90 includes a card information reception unit 100, a refueling data reception unit 102, a discount information reception unit 104, a billing amount deriving unit 106, and a billing unit 108. These functional blocks correspond to the card information reception unit 40, the refueling data reception unit 42, the fuel bonus information reception unit 44, the billing amount deriving unit 46, and the billing unit 48 of the fuel sales management system 22 of the related art, and perform the same functions as the corresponding functional blocks.

[0072] For example, the sales information storage unit 96 stores fuel sales information including information about the user's credit card. The refueling data receiving unit 102 receives information indicating that a product at a SS has been purchased using the user's credit card. When discount information about the user is notified from the service management system 62, the billing amount deriving unit 106 derives the amount to be billed to the user based on the amount of the product at the SS purchased with the user's credit card and on predetermined discount rules. The above-mentioned user's credit card may be a credit card related to the user's household, i.e., it may include both the principal card 16 and the family card 18.

[0073] More specifically, the sales information storage unit 96 stores fuel sales information including information on the credit card (personal card 16) of the user who uses the vehicle provision service, and information on an additional card (family card 18) that is an additional card issued in association with the personal card 16 and used by a family member of the user. The refueling data receiving unit 102 receives information (refueling data) indicating that a product at an SS has been purchased using the personal card 16 or the family card 18. When discount information related to a user is notified from the service management system 62, the billing amount deriving unit 106 derives the amount to be billed to the user based on the total amount of the product at the SS purchased using the personal card 16 and the amount of the product at the SS purchased using the family card 18, and in accordance with predetermined discount rules (discount rule A and discount rule B).

[0074] The operation of the fuel sales system 60 having the above configuration will be described with reference to FIG. A user acquires a vehicle by using a mobility service provided by a specific company. Various incidental procedures may be carried out in relation to the vehicle (hereinafter referred to as leased vehicle 12) provided to the user by the mobility service. Information indicating that these incidental procedures have been carried out (e.g., an application form, a copy of the vehicle inspection certificate, etc.) is sent from the user or the SS to the mobility center.

[0075] For example, a user may enter into a maintenance pack contract for a leased vehicle 12. When an application form indicating that the user has entered into a maintenance pack contract arrives at the mobility center, an operator at the mobility center inputs the contents of the application form from his / her own terminal into the service management system 62. The user information registration unit 80 of the service management system 62 stores in the user information storage unit 76 the user information indicating that a maintenance pack contract has been entered into.

[0076] Furthermore, the user may enter into a vehicle damage compensation service contract for the leased vehicle 12. When an application form indicating that the user has entered into a vehicle damage compensation service contract arrives at the mobility center, an operator at the mobility center inputs the contents of the application form from his / her own terminal into the service management system 62. The user information registration unit 80 of the service management system 62 stores in the user information storage unit 76 the user information indicating that the vehicle damage compensation service contract has been entered into.

[0077] The mobility service may also carry out procedures (proxy service) for registering the leased vehicle 12 on the vehicle inspection certificate. When a copy of the vehicle inspection certificate indicating that the vehicle registration on the vehicle inspection certificate of the leased vehicle 12 has been completed by the mobility service arrives at the mobility center, an operator at the mobility center inputs the contents of the copy of the vehicle inspection certificate from his / her own terminal into the service management system 62. The user information registration unit 80 of the service management system 62 stores in the user information storage unit 76 the user information indicating that the vehicle registration on the vehicle inspection certificate of the leased vehicle 12 has been completed by the mobility service.

[0078] Furthermore, a user may apply for a fuel benefit when using a mobility service (in other words, when acquiring a leased vehicle 12). When a fuel benefit application form arrives at the mobility center, an operator at the mobility center inputs the contents of the application form from his / her own terminal into the service management system 62. The user information registration unit 80 of the service management system 62 stores in the user information storage unit 76 user information indicating that a fuel benefit application has been made.

[0079] As described in the related art, a user applies to a credit card company for issuance of a credit card (personal card and family card), and the credit card company issues a personal card 16 for the user, a family card 18a for the user's spouse, and a family card 18b for the user's child. As in the related art, card information on the personal card 16, family card 18a, and family card 18b is notified from the credit card company to the sales management system 64 and stored in the sales information storage unit 96 of the sales management system 64.

[0080] The user purchases fuel at a SS using the principal card 16 and refuels the leased vehicle 12. The user also purchases fuel at a SS using the principal card 16 and refuels the non-leased vehicle 14. Similarly, the user's spouse (or child) purchases fuel at a SS using the family card 18a (or family card 18b) and refuels the leased vehicle 12. The user's spouse (or child) also purchases fuel at a SS using the family card 18a (or family card 18b) and refuels the non-leased vehicle 14. As described in the related art, each time fuel is purchased at a SS, refueling data (including a customer number) is transmitted from the SS store system 20 to the sales management system 64. The refueling data receiving unit 102 of the sales management system 64 adds the fuel purchase quantity and fuel purchase price to the record of the user (or the user's spouse or child) in the sales information storage unit 96 based on the refueling data.

[0081] The discount determination unit 82 of the service management system 62 periodically (for example, once a month) determines whether the contents of the incidental procedures recorded in each of the multiple user information corresponding to the multiple users stored in the user information storage unit 76 satisfy the discount conditions for the fuel price. The discount determination unit 82 identifies a user who satisfies the discount conditions as a user eligible for a discount. In the first embodiment, when the user information records, as incidental procedures, (1) the user's conclusion of a maintenance pack contract and (2) the user's application for a fuel benefit, the discount determination unit 82 determines that the discount conditions for the fuel price are satisfied, and extracts the user indicated by the customer number of the user information as a user eligible for a discount.

[0082] When the discount determination unit 82 extracts a discount eligible user, the discount information providing unit 84 of the service management system 62 transmits discount information including the customer number, date of birth, and discount rule B of the discount eligible user to the sales management system 64.

[0083] The discount information receiving unit 104 of the sales management system 64 receives the discount information sent from the service management system 62. As in the related art, the billing amount deriving unit 106 of the sales management system 64 derives the billing amount to each user for each household of multiple users (a set of corresponding personal card and family card). In addition, for the discount target user indicated by the discount information, the billing amount deriving unit 106 derives the billing amount to the discount target user according to the household fuel purchase quantity and household fuel purchase amount of the user household, discount rule A stored in the discount rule storage unit 98, and discount rule B indicated by the discount information. The detailed method of deriving the billing amount and the billing process to the user have already been explained in the related art, so explanations will be omitted here.

[0084] According to the fuel sales system 60 of the first embodiment, a fuel discount benefit is provided to the user, taking into consideration the content of the incidental procedures carried out in relation to the vehicle provided to the user through a mobility service such as car leasing. This fosters a sense of belonging among the user to the mobility service, and effectively promotes continuous use of the mobility service.

[0085] Furthermore, the fuel sales system 60 of the first embodiment achieves the same effects as the fuel sales system 10 of the related art. For example, in the fuel sales system 60 of the first embodiment, the discount on the fuel price is applied not only to the mobility service user himself / herself, but also to the case where the family member purchases fuel using the family card 18, and is also applied to the refueling of the non-leased vehicle 14. This can further increase the convenience of the households using the mobility service.

[0086] <Second Example> The second embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with a focus on the differences from the related art and the first embodiment, and explanations of the commonalities will be omitted as appropriate. The features of the second embodiment can be arbitrarily combined with the features of the related art, the first embodiment, and the modified examples. Among the components of the second embodiment, components that are the same as or correspond to the components of the first embodiment will be described with the same reference numerals as appropriate.

[0087] 7 shows the configuration of a fuel sales system 60 of the second embodiment. As with the fuel sales system 60 of the first embodiment, the fuel sales system 60 of the second embodiment also provides a discount on the price of fuel purchased at a SS by a user who uses a mobility service provided by a specified company. Also, as with the fuel sales system 60 of the first embodiment, the fuel sales system 60 of the second embodiment also provides a discount on the price of fuel when the contents of the incidental procedures carried out in relation to a vehicle (e.g., a leased vehicle 12) provided to a user by a mobility service satisfy specified discount conditions.

[0088] However, the conditions for discounting the fuel price in the fuel sales system 60 of the second embodiment differ from those in the fuel sales system 60 of the first embodiment in that the above-mentioned ancillary procedures involve both the user entering into a vehicle damage compensation service contract and the user applying for a fuel benefit.

[0089] The functional blocks of the service management system 62 of the second embodiment are the same as the functional blocks of the service management system 62 of the first embodiment. Moreover, the functional blocks of the sales management system 64 of the second embodiment are the same as the functional blocks of the sales management system 64 of the first embodiment.

[0090] If the user information in the user information storage unit 76 records, as an incidental procedure, (1) the user's conclusion of a vehicle damage compensation service contract and (2) the user's application for a fuel benefit, the discount determination unit 82 of the service management system 62 determines that the fuel price discount conditions are met and extracts the user indicated by the customer number of the user information as a user eligible for the discount. The other processes are the same as those in the first embodiment, and therefore will not be described. The fuel sales system 60 of the second embodiment also achieves the same effects as the fuel sales system 60 of the first embodiment.

[0091] <Third Example> The third embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with a focus on the differences from the related art and the first embodiment, and the description of the commonalities will be omitted as appropriate. The features of the third embodiment can be arbitrarily combined with the features of the related art, the first embodiment, and the modified example. The components of the third embodiment that are the same as or correspond to the components of the first embodiment will be described with the same reference numerals as appropriate.

[0092] 8 shows the configuration of a fuel sales system 60 of the third embodiment. As with the fuel sales system 60 of the first embodiment, the fuel sales system 60 of the third embodiment also provides a discount on the price of fuel purchased at a SS by a user who uses a mobility service provided by a specified company. Also, as with the fuel sales system 60 of the first embodiment, the fuel sales system 60 of the third embodiment also provides a discount on the price of fuel when the contents of the incidental procedures carried out in relation to a vehicle (e.g., leased vehicle 12) provided to the user by the mobility service satisfy specified discount conditions.

[0093] However, the condition for discounting the fuel price in the third embodiment is that both of the following are satisfied as the incidental procedures: the vehicle registration on the vehicle inspection certificate of the vehicle (e.g., the leased vehicle 12) is completed by the mobility service, and the user applies for a fuel benefit. In this respect, the third embodiment differs from the fuel sales system 60 in the first embodiment.

[0094] The functional blocks of the service management system 62 of the third embodiment are the same as the functional blocks of the service management system 62 of the first embodiment. Moreover, the functional blocks of the sales management system 64 of the third embodiment are the same as the functional blocks of the sales management system 64 of the first embodiment.

[0095] If the user information in the user information storage unit 76 records, as an additional procedure, that (1) the vehicle registration on the vehicle inspection certificate of the leased vehicle 12 has been completed by the mobility service, and (2) that the user has applied for a fuel benefit, the discount determination unit 82 of the service management system 62 determines that the fuel price discount conditions are met, and extracts the user indicated by the customer number in the user information as a user eligible for the discount. The other processes are the same as those in the first embodiment, and therefore will not be described. The fuel sales system 60 of the third embodiment also achieves the same effects as the fuel sales system 60 of the first embodiment.

[0096] The present disclosure has been described above based on the first to third embodiments. These embodiments are merely illustrative, and it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various modifications are possible in the combination of each component or each treatment process, and that such modifications are also within the scope of the present disclosure.

[0097] In the first embodiment, the discount condition is that the user has concluded a maintenance pack contract and applied for a fuel benefit, but as a modified example, the discount condition may be only that the user has concluded a maintenance pack contract. In the second embodiment, the discount condition is that the user has concluded a vehicle damage compensation service contract and applied for a fuel benefit, but as a modified example, the discount condition may be only that the user has concluded a vehicle damage compensation service contract. In the third embodiment, the discount condition is that the vehicle registration on the vehicle inspection certificate has been completed by the mobility service and the user has applied for a fuel benefit, but as a modified example, the discount condition may be only that the vehicle registration on the vehicle inspection certificate has been completed by the mobility service.

[0098] <Fourth Example> The fourth embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with a focus on differences from the above-mentioned related art and each embodiment, and explanations of commonalities will be omitted as appropriate. The features of the fourth embodiment can be arbitrarily combined with the features of the above-mentioned related art, each embodiment, and modified example. Among the components of the fourth embodiment, components that are the same as or correspond to the components already described will be described with the same reference numerals as appropriate.

[0099] An outline of the fourth embodiment will be described. For companies (hereinafter referred to as "energy business operators") who operate an energy business that sells fuel and the like at service stations (SS), it is important to foster customer loyalty to the SS associated with their company. The fourth embodiment proposes a technology that supports the fostering of customer loyalty to the SS of a specific energy business operator, and ultimately a technology for effectively promoting the use of vehicle provision services (car leasing, etc.) provided by the energy business operator. Note that energy business operators can also be considered as fuel sales companies.

[0100] 9 shows the configuration of a fuel sales system 60 of the fourth embodiment. As with the fuel sales system 60 of the first embodiment, the fuel sales system 60 of the fourth embodiment also provides a discount on the price of fuel purchased at an SS by a user who uses a mobility service provided by an energy company, when a predetermined discount condition is satisfied.

[0101] The condition for a discount on fuel prices in the fuel sales system 60 of the fourth embodiment is that a user who uses a mobility service provided by an energy company registers a specific SS from among multiple SSs associated with the energy company as a support service station (hereinafter referred to as a "support SS"). The multiple SSs associated with the energy company are SSs operated under the brand of the energy company. A support SS is an SS selected at the user's discretion as a so-called "regular" SS. It is generally considered that an SS located in a convenient location for the user is often selected as a support SS.

[0102] Furthermore, in the fuel sales system 60 of the fourth embodiment, if the content of the incidental procedures carried out in relation to a vehicle (e.g., leased vehicle 12) provided to a user by a mobility service provided by an energy company, in addition to registration with a support SS, satisfies a specified condition, a larger discount is provided than in the case of only registration with a support SS. The content of the incidental procedures that satisfies the specified condition is any one of the following, as described in the first to third embodiments: the user's conclusion of a maintenance pack contract, the user's conclusion of a vehicle damage compensation service contract, and the completion of vehicle registration on the vehicle inspection certificate of the vehicle (e.g., leased vehicle 12) by the mobility service.

[0103] The device configuration of the fuel sales system 60 of the fourth embodiment is the same as that of the fuel sales system 60 of the first embodiment. The functional blocks of the service management system 62 constituting the information processing system 66 are the same as the functional blocks of the service management system 62 of the first embodiment shown in Fig. 5. Similarly, the functional blocks of the sales management system 64 of the fourth embodiment constituting the information processing system 66 are the same as the functional blocks of the sales management system 64 of the first embodiment shown in Fig. 6.

[0104] The user information storage unit 76 of the service management system 62 serves as a first storage unit, and when a user selects a support SS from among multiple SSs related to the energy business operator, information indicating the selection is registered therein. The user information storage unit 76 serves as a second storage unit, and stores the contents of the incidental procedures carried out in relation to a vehicle provided to the user by a mobility service provided by the energy business operator.

[0105] FIG. 10 shows the configuration of user information stored in the user information storage unit 76. The user information includes, as multiple information items, a customer number as a user ID, a service type used, support SS information, and ancillary procedure information. The service type used is information indicating the type of mobility service used (in other words, contracted) by the user. For example, the service type used includes information indicating a car leasing service, a vehicle sales service with residual value credit, or a used car sales service. The support SS information is information indicating that the user has selected a support SS, and includes identification information of the support SS selected by the user.

[0106] The ancillary procedure information includes information indicating the contents of ancillary procedures carried out in relation to a vehicle provided to a user by a mobility service. For example, the ancillary procedure information may include at least one of the following: (1) information indicating that a maintenance package contract has been concluded; (2) information indicating that a vehicle damage compensation service contract has been concluded; and (3) information indicating that vehicle registration on the vehicle inspection certificate by the mobility service has been completed. As described above, the ancillary procedures indicated by the information (1) to (3) are ancillary procedures that are conditions for a fuel price discount, and are hereinafter collectively referred to as "specific ancillary procedures."

[0107] When the user has selected a support SS, the billing unit 108 of the sales management system 64 bills the user for an amount discounted based on the first discount rule from the regular price of the product purchased by the user at multiple SSs related to the energy business operator. When the user has selected a support SS, it can be said that the support SS information is recorded in the user information of the user stored in the user information storage unit 76 of the service management system 62. In addition, the multiple SSs related to the energy business operator include both SSs selected as support SSs and SSs not selected as support SSs.

[0108] In addition, when the user has selected a support SS and the contents of the ancillary procedures related to the user's vehicle satisfy specified conditions, the billing unit 108 bills the user an amount discounted from the regular price of the product purchased by the user at multiple SSs related to the energy business operator based on a second discount rule that provides a greater benefit to the user than the first discount rule.

[0109] Furthermore, the sales information storage unit 96 of the sales management system 64 serves as a third storage unit and stores information on the personal card 16 used by the user himself and information on the family card 18 used by the user's family. The refueling data reception unit 102 of the sales management system 64 serves as a reception unit and receives information indicating that fuel has been purchased at a plurality of SSs associated with the energy business operator using the personal card 16 or the family card 18. When the user has selected a supported SS, the billing unit 108 of the sales management system 64 bills the user for the total amount of fuel purchased using the personal card 16 and the family card 18, and for the discounted amount based on the first discount rule or the second discount rule.

[0110] In the fourth embodiment, the first discount rule and the second discount rule are both discount rule B included in the discount information transmitted from the service management system 62 to the sales management system 64. The first discount rule and the second discount rule may both include at least one of a discount rate and a discount amount. The second discount rule may include at least one of a discount rate larger than the first discount rule and a discount amount larger than the first discount rule. In the fourth embodiment, the first discount rule is discount rule B (first level), and the second discount rule is discount rule B (second level). For example, discount rule B (first level) may stipulate a discount of 10 yen per 1L of fuel, and discount rule B (second level) may stipulate a discount of 15 yen per 1L of fuel.

[0111] The operation of the fuel sales system 60 having the above configuration will be described with reference to FIG. A user acquires a vehicle by utilizing a mobility service provided by an energy business operator. Various incidental procedures (e.g., a maintenance package contract) may be carried out in relation to the vehicle (hereinafter, referred to as leased vehicle 12) provided to the user by the mobility service. Information indicating the use of the mobility service and incidental procedures (e.g., an application form, a copy of the vehicle inspection certificate, etc.) is sent from the user or the SS to the mobility center. In response to an input operation by an operator of the mobility center, a user information registration unit 80 of the service management system 62 stores user information including the user's customer number, the type of service used, and incidental procedure information in a user information storage unit 76.

[0112] In addition, the user selects a support SS from among multiple SSs (hereinafter, these multiple SSs are collectively referred to as "target SSs") associated with the energy provider providing the mobility services. Information on the support SS selected by the user (e.g., an application form, etc.) is sent from the user or the SS to the mobility center. In response to an input operation by an operator at the mobility center, the user information registration unit 80 of the service management system 62 adds the support SS information selected by the user to the user information. The target SSs include both the support SS selected by the user and SSs other than the support SS.

[0113] As described in the related art, a user applies to a credit card company for issuance of a credit card (personal card and family card), and the credit card company issues a personal card 16 for the user, a family card 18a for the user's spouse, and a family card 18b for the user's child. As in the related art, card information on the personal card 16, family card 18a, and family card 18b is notified from the credit card company to the sales management system 64 and stored in the sales information storage unit 96 of the sales management system 64.

[0114] The user uses the principal card 16 at the target SS to purchase fuel and refuel the leased vehicle 12. The user also uses the principal card 16 at the target SS to purchase fuel and refuel the non-leased vehicle 14. Similarly, the user's spouse (or child) uses the family card 18a (or family card 18b) at the target SS to purchase fuel and refuel the leased vehicle 12. The user's spouse (or child) also uses the family card 18a (or family card 18b) at the target SS to purchase fuel and refuel the non-leased vehicle 14.

[0115] As described in the related art, each time a user purchases fuel at a target SS, refueling data is transmitted from the store system 20 of the target SS to the sales management system 64. The refueling data receiving unit 102 of the sales management system 64 adds the fuel purchase quantity and fuel purchase amount to the record of the user stored in the sales information storage unit 96 based on the refueling data. In addition, each time the user's spouse (or child) purchases fuel at a target SS, refueling data is transmitted from the store system 20 of the target SS to the sales management system 64. The refueling data receiving unit 102 of the sales management system 64 adds the fuel purchase quantity and fuel purchase amount to the record of the spouse (or child) stored in the sales information storage unit 96 based on the refueling data. The fuel purchase amount can be said to be the regular price or initial price of the fuel sold at the target SS.

[0116] The discount determination unit 82 of the service management system 62 periodically (for example, once a month) determines whether the contents of each of the multiple user information corresponding to multiple users stored in the user information storage unit 76 satisfy the discount conditions for the fuel price. If the user has selected a supported SS but the contents of the incidental procedures related to the user's vehicle do not satisfy the specified conditions for discount, the discount determination unit 82 determines that the first level discount conditions for the user are satisfied. In addition, if the user has selected a supported SS and the contents of the incidental procedures related to the user's vehicle satisfy the specified conditions for discount, the discount determination unit 82 determines that the second level discount conditions for the user are satisfied.

[0117] Specifically, the discount determination unit 82 determines that the discount condition is not satisfied when the supporting SS information is not recorded in the user information. The discount determination unit 82 determines that the first level discount condition is satisfied when the supporting SS information is recorded in the user information but the additional procedure information indicating that the specific additional procedure has been performed is not recorded in the user information. The discount determination unit 82 determines that the second level discount condition is satisfied when both the supporting SS information and the additional procedure information indicating that the specific additional procedure has been performed are recorded in the user information.

[0118] The discount determination unit 82 distinguishes between users who satisfy the first level discount conditions and users who satisfy the second level discount conditions. Users who satisfy the first level discount conditions and users who satisfy the second level discount conditions are collectively called "discount eligible users."

[0119] When a discount eligible user is extracted by the discount determination unit 82, the discount information providing unit 84 of the service management system 62 transmits discount information including a set of customer number, date of birth, and discount rule B for each discount eligible user to the sales management system 64. The discount information providing unit 84 sets discount rule B (first level) as discount rule B for users who satisfy the discount conditions of the first level. In addition, the discount information providing unit 84 sets discount rule B (second level) as discount rule B for users who satisfy the discount conditions of the second level.

[0120] The discount information receiving unit 104 of the sales management system 64 receives the discount information transmitted from the service management system 62. The billing amount derivation unit 106 of the sales management system 64 derives the billing amount for each user for each user household, in other words, for each set of each user's personal card and family card, similar to the billing amount derivation unit 46 of the related art. In addition, for the discount target user indicated by the discount information, the billing amount derivation unit 106 derives the billing amount for the discount target user according to the household fuel purchase quantity and household fuel purchase amount of the user household, discount rule A stored in the discount rule storage unit 98, and discount rule B (first level or second level) indicated by the discount information.

[0121] A specific example of derivation of a billing amount will be described. The billing amount derivation unit 106 identifies the user household in FIG. 9 as a discount target based on the customer number of the user in FIG. 9 indicated by the discount information. The billing amount derivation unit 106 derives 120L, which is the sum of the fuel purchase quantities in records 50, 52, and 54 in FIG. 3, as the household fuel purchase quantity for the user household in FIG. 9. The billing amount derivation unit 106 also derives 16,800 yen, which is the sum of the fuel purchase amounts in records 50, 52, and 54 in FIG. 3, as the household fuel purchase amount for the user household in FIG. 9. The household fuel purchase amount can be said to be the regular price or initial price of the fuel purchased by the user household in FIG. 9 at the target SS.

[0122] Here, discount rule A specifies that the maximum amount of fuel that can be discounted is 100 L. The billing amount derivation unit 106 specifies that 100 L of fuel is subject to discounting out of the household fuel purchase quantity of 120 L of the user household in Fig. 9. In addition, the discount unit price specified by discount rule B (first level) is 10 yen / L, and the discount unit price specified by discount rule B (second level) is 15 yen / L.

[0123] If the user in Fig. 9 satisfies the first level discount condition, the billing amount derivation unit 106 derives 15,800 yen, which is the amount obtained by discounting 1,000 yen (i.e., discount unit price 10 yen / L x 100 L) from the household fuel purchase amount, as the billing amount to the user in Fig. 9. On the other hand, if the user in Fig. 9 satisfies the second level discount condition, the billing amount derivation unit 106 derives 15,300 yen, which is the amount obtained by discounting 1,500 yen (i.e., discount unit price 15 yen / L x 100 L) from the household fuel purchase amount, as the billing amount to the user in Fig. 9.

[0124] Record 56 in FIG. 3 corresponds to the principal card of a car lease contract holder (referred to as the "second user") different from the user shown in FIG. 9, and record 58 in FIG. 3 corresponds to the family card of the family of the second user. In this case, billing amount derivation unit 106 derives 70L as the household fuel purchase quantity of the second user, and derives 9,800 yen as the household fuel purchase amount. Billing amount derivation unit 46 targets the entire household fuel purchase quantity (70L) for discount. If the second user is a user who satisfies the first level discount condition, billing amount derivation unit 106 derives 9,100 yen, which is the amount obtained by deducting 700 yen (i.e., discount unit price 10 yen / L x 70L) from the household fuel purchase amount, as the billing amount to be charged to the second user. If the second user is a user who satisfies the second level discount conditions, the billing amount derivation unit 106 derives the billing amount to the second user as 8,750 yen, which is the amount obtained by discounting 1,050 yen (i.e., discount unit price 15 yen / L x 70 L) from the household fuel purchase amount.

[0125] The billing unit 108 of the sales management system 64 bills the user the billing amount derived by the billing amount derivation unit 106 via the credit card company. As described above, the billing amount for a user who satisfies the first level discount conditions is the amount discounted from the regular price of the fuel purchased by the user at the target SS based on the first discount rule (discount rule B (first level) in the fourth embodiment). Also, the billing amount for a user who satisfies the second level discount conditions is the amount discounted from the regular price of the fuel purchased by the user at the target SS based on the second discount rule (discount rule B (second level) in the fourth embodiment).

[0126] The billing unit 108 transmits fuel billing data, including the credit card number of the user's principal card 16 and the billing amount to the user derived by the billing amount derivation unit 106, to the billing management system 26 of the credit card company. The billing management system 26 of the credit card company executes a process of billing the user for the total amount of the billing amount indicated by the fuel billing data and other billing amounts according to the use of the principal card 16 and the family card 18.

[0127] According to the fuel sales system 60 of the fourth embodiment, when a user registers a specific SS from among multiple SSs related to an energy company as a supported SS, the fuel purchase price at the multiple SSs related to the energy company is discounted. This can help to foster customer loyalty to the SSs related to the energy company. In addition, by limiting users eligible for the discount to those who use the mobility service provided by the energy company, it is possible to promote the use of the mobility service provided by the energy company.

[0128] Furthermore, according to the fuel sales system 60 of the fourth embodiment, when a predetermined incidental procedure is carried out in relation to a vehicle provided to a user by a mobility service provided by an energy company in addition to registration with a support SS, a larger discount is provided than when only registration with a support SS is carried out. This makes it possible to more effectively promote the use of the mobility service provided by the energy company.

[0129] Furthermore, the fuel sales system 60 of the fourth embodiment achieves the same effects as the fuel sales system 10 of the related art. For example, in the fuel sales system 60 of the fourth embodiment, the discount on the fuel price is applied not only to the mobility service user himself / herself, but also to the case where the family member purchases fuel using the family card 18, and is also applied to the refueling of the non-leased vehicle 14. This can further increase the convenience of the households using the mobility service.

[0130] As described above, it is considered that, usually, from among a plurality of SSs related to an energy business operator, an SS located in a location that is highly convenient for the user is selected as the support SS. According to the fuel sales system 60 of the fourth embodiment, by increasing the user's sense of belonging to a support SS located in a location that is highly convenient for the user, it becomes easier for the support SS to continuously refuel, maintain, repair, etc. the user's vehicle. As a result, the energy business operator can easily accumulate various information (e.g., maintenance history, refueling history, etc.) related to the user's vehicle. By analyzing and utilizing the information accumulated in this way, the energy business operator can realize activities to effectively increase the user's convenience, such as providing useful information to the user.

[0131] The present disclosure has been described above based on the fourth embodiment. This embodiment is merely an example, and it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various modifications are possible in the combination of each component or each treatment process, and that such modifications are also within the scope of the present disclosure.

[0132] A modified example of the fourth embodiment will be described. When the user has selected a support SS and the content of the incidental procedure related to the user's vehicle satisfies a predetermined condition, the billing unit 108 of the sales management system 64 may bill the user for an amount discounted based on a predetermined discount rule (for example, the first discount rule in the fourth embodiment) from the normal price of the product purchased by the user at the target SS. In this modified example, the discount is implemented when both (1) the user has selected a support SS and (2) a specific incidental procedure related to the user's vehicle has been carried out, whereas the discount is not implemented when at least one of (1) and (2) is not satisfied.

[0133] Specifically, the discount determination unit 82 of the service management system 62 may determine that the discount condition is not met when the support SS information is not recorded in the user information of the user information storage unit 76. The discount determination unit 82 may also determine that the discount condition is not met when the support SS information is recorded in the user information but the additional procedure information indicating that the specific additional procedure has been performed is not recorded in the user information. The discount determination unit 82 may determine that the discount condition is met only when both the support SS information and the additional procedure information indicating that the specific additional procedure has been performed are recorded in the user information. This discount condition may be the first level discount condition of the fourth embodiment. In this modified example, the second level discount of the fourth embodiment may not be performed.

[0134] The discount determination unit 82 may identify a user who satisfies the discount conditions as a discount eligible user. The discount information provision unit 84 of the service management system 62 may transmit discount information regarding the discount eligible user (for example, discount rule B (first level) as discount rule B) to the sales management system 64. As a result, the billing unit 108 of the sales management system 64 bills the user who has selected a support SS and uses a vehicle for which a predetermined incidental procedure has been performed, for the discounted amount based on the first discount rule (i.e., discount rule B (first level)).

[0135] According to this modified fuel sales system 60, in addition to registration of a support SS, if a prescribed incidental procedure is carried out in relation to a vehicle provided to a user by a mobility service provided by an energy company, the fuel purchase price at the SS is discounted. This makes it possible to more effectively promote the use of the mobility service provided by the energy company.

[0136] Another modified example of the fourth embodiment will be described. In the fourth embodiment, both the first discount rule and the second discount rule are the discount rule B designated by the discount information from the service management system 62 to the sales management system 64. However, as a modified example, both the first discount rule and the second discount rule may be the discount rule A stored in the discount rule storage unit 98 of the sales management system 64. In this case, the first discount rule may be the discount rule A (first level), and the second discount rule may be the discount rule A (second level). For example, the discount rule A (first level) may set the upper limit of the fuel purchase quantity to be discounted to 100L. Also, the discount rule A (second level) may set the upper limit of the fuel purchase quantity to be discounted to 150L, ​​which is larger than the discount rule A (first level).

[0137] In this modification, the discount information providing unit 84 of the service management system 62 sets a common discount condition B for users who satisfy the first level discount condition in the discount information sent to the sales management system 64, and further sets information to the effect that the first level discount condition has been satisfied. Also, the discount information providing unit 84 sets a common discount condition B for users who satisfy the second level discount condition in the discount information, and further sets information to the effect that the second level discount condition has been satisfied.

[0138] The billing amount deriving unit 106 of the sales management system 64 derives the billing amount for a user who satisfies the first level discount condition indicated by the discount information according to the household fuel purchase quantity of the user household, the household fuel purchase amount, discount rule A (first level), and common discount rule B. For example, a discount of 10 yen / L is applied with an upper limit of 100L of the household fuel purchase quantity. On the other hand, for a user who satisfies the second level discount condition indicated by the discount information, the billing amount deriving unit 106 derives the billing amount for the user according to the household fuel purchase quantity of the user household, the household fuel purchase amount, discount rule A (second level), and common discount rule B. For example, a discount of 10 yen / L is applied with an upper limit of 150L of the household fuel purchase quantity. In this way, the discount rule A (second level) can provide a greater benefit of a fuel price discount to a user who satisfies the second level discount condition, since the upper limit of the fuel purchase quantity subject to discount is greater than the discount rule A (first level).

[0139] The fuel sales system 60 of this modified example also has the same effects as those of the fourth embodiment. For example, if, in addition to registration with a support SS, a predetermined incidental procedure is carried out in relation to a vehicle provided to a user by a mobility service provided by an energy company, a larger discount can be offered than in the case of only registration with a support SS, thereby more effectively promoting the use of the mobility service provided by the energy company.

[0140] In the above first to fourth embodiments, examples have been shown of purchasing fuel for a vehicle at a gas station. However, similar to related technologies, the technical ideas described in the first to fourth embodiments are broadly applicable to the purchase of products sold at gas stations (e.g., various energy sources such as gasoline, diesel, hydrogen, kerosene, electricity, etc.).

[0141] As described above, the technical ideas described in the related art are applicable to the first to fourth embodiments. That is, the discount rule A stored in the discount rule storage unit 98 of the sales management system 64 may stipulate that the discount is applied to the total amount of purchases of products at the SS by the principal card and the amount of purchases of products at the SS by the family card up to a predetermined upper limit of the purchase amount. The sales information storage unit 96 of the sales management system 64 may store information on the first principal card and the first family card corresponding to the first car lease contract concluded by the user, and information on the second principal card and the second family card corresponding to the second car lease contract concluded by the user. The billing amount derivation unit 106 of the sales management system 64 may derive a first billing amount to the user according to the sum of the amount of products purchased at the SS by the first principal card and the amount of products purchased at the SS by the first family card, and the discount rules. At the same time, the billing amount derivation unit 106 may derive a second billing amount to the user according to the sum of the amount of products purchased at the SS by the second principal card and the amount of products purchased at the SS by the second family card, and the discount rules. In addition, discount rule A stored in the discount rule memory unit 98 of the sales management system 64 may stipulate that the upper limit of the purchase amount of products at the SS that are subject to discounts is increased depending on the number of car lease contracts concluded by the user.

[0142] In the related art and each embodiment, (1) data linked to the principal card is specified (or identified) based on the customer number of the principal card, and data linked to the family card is specified based on the customer number of the family card. As a variation, (2) both data linked to the principal card and data linked to the family card may be specified based on the customer number of the principal card. Also, (3) both data linked to the principal card and data linked to the family card may be specified based on the customer number of the family card.

[0143] The following describes the examples of (2) and (3) above. (A) An application form (such as a fuel benefit application form or a support SS registration application form) on which the customer number of the car lease contract holder is written may be linked from the SS to the mobility center. The customer number linked to the mobility center may be the customer number on the principal's card or the customer number on a family member's card. (B) The operator of the mobility center may register the contents of the application form (customer number, date of birth, etc.) in the service management system 62. (C) The service management system 62 may transmit information including the customer number, date of birth, and benefit code (the benefit code corresponds to the discount rule of the embodiment) of the discount recipient to the sales management system 64. This information corresponds to the fuel benefit information of the related art and corresponds to the discount information of the first embodiment. (D) After receiving the customer number from the service management system 62, the sales management system 64 may automatically link the refueling data from the personal card or family card linked to that customer number, and provide a discount on the usage (fuel purchases) of all credit cards of the car lease contract holder's household. This makes it possible to provide a discount on the fuel price without obtaining the customer numbers of the personal cards of persons other than the car lease contract holder or the customer numbers of the family cards of persons other than the car lease contract holder. (E) The discounted amount in (D) above may be transmitted to a credit card company, and the credit card company may then bill the car lease contract holder for the credit card usage fee.

[0144] Any combination of the above-mentioned examples and modifications is also useful as an embodiment of the present disclosure. A new embodiment resulting from the combination has the effects of each of the combined examples and modifications. In addition, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the functions to be performed by each component described in the claims can be realized by each component shown in the examples and modifications alone or in cooperation with each other. [Explanation of symbols]

[0145] 60 fuel sales system, 62 service management system, 64 sales management system, 76 user information storage unit, 82 discount determination unit, 84 discount information providing unit, 96 sales information storage unit, 102 refueling data receiving unit, 106 billing amount deriving unit, 108 billing unit.

Claims

1. a first storage unit in which, when a user selects a support service station from among a plurality of service stations related to a certain company, information indicating that the user has selected the support service station is registered; a billing unit that bills the user for an amount discounted based on a first discount rule from a regular price of an item purchased by the user at the plurality of service stations when the user has selected a support service station; An information processing system comprising:

2. A second storage unit that stores the contents of ancillary procedures performed in relation to a vehicle provided to the user by the vehicle provision service provided by the business operator, the billing unit, when the user has selected a support service station and the content of the incidental procedure satisfies a predetermined condition, bills the user for an amount discounted from the regular price of the product purchased by the user based on a second discount rule that brings a greater benefit to the user than the first discount rule; The information processing system according to claim 1 .

3. A second storage unit that stores the contents of ancillary procedures performed in relation to a vehicle provided to the user by the vehicle provision service provided by the business operator, the billing unit bills the user for an amount discounted based on the first discount rule from a regular price of the product purchased by the user when the user has selected a support service station and the content of the incidental procedure satisfies a predetermined condition; The information processing system according to claim 1 .

4. a third storage unit that stores information about a principal card, which is a credit card of the user, and information about a family card, which is an additional card that is associated with the principal card and issued and used by a family member of the user; a reception unit that receives information indicating that a product has been purchased at the plurality of service stations using the principal card or the family card, the billing unit bills the user for the discounted amount based on the total amount of the product purchased using the principal card and the amount of the product purchased using the family card and on the first discount rule when the user has selected a support service station; The information processing system according to claim 1 .

5. The user is a user of a vehicle provision service provided by the business operator.

5. An information processing system according to claim 1.

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