Information processing device

Abstract

To enable user's expectations for vehicle delivery to be increased.SOLUTION: An information processing device 10 is provided with a control part 13. The control part 13 gives an incentive to a purchaser 3 each time the purchaser 3 of a vehicle logs in a server for providing information of the vehicle every prescribed time during a period since the vehicle is ordered until the vehicle is delivered.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to an information processing apparatus.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, a technique for providing a user with the progress status of a specific vehicle until delivery has been known (Patent Document 1).

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] There is room for improvement in the conventional technology in terms of enhancing the user's expectation for vehicle delivery.

[0005] In view of such a point, an object of the present disclosure is to enhance the user's expectation for vehicle delivery.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] An information processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure includes a control unit that gives an incentive to a purchaser of a vehicle each time the purchaser logs in to a service that provides vehicle information at predetermined time intervals during a target period from when the vehicle is ordered until the vehicle is delivered.

Effects of the Invention

[0007] According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, it is possible to enhance the user's expectation for vehicle delivery.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0008]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0009] Hereinafter, embodiments according to the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0010] (Configuration of the System) As shown in FIG. 1, the system 1 according to the present embodiment includes an information processing device 10 and a terminal device 20. The system 1 may include a plurality of terminal devices 20.

[0011] The information processing device 10 and the terminal device 20 can communicate with each other via the network 2. The network 2 may be any network including a mobile communication network and the Internet.

[0012] The information processing device 10 is managed, for example, by a vehicle dealer. The information processing device 10 provides a service for providing vehicle information to the vehicle purchaser 3. In the present embodiment, the service for providing vehicle information is assumed to be a website where vehicle information can be browsed. However, the service for providing vehicle information is not limited to a website. The vehicle information that can be browsed on the website is, for example, an imaging image of the vehicle during assembly and the position information of the vehicle during transportation.

[0013] The information processing device 10 is a dedicated computer configured to function as a server, a general-purpose personal computer, a cloud computing system, or the like.

[0014] The information processing device 10 includes a communication unit 11, a storage unit 12, and a control unit 13.

[0015] The communication unit 11 is configured to include at least one communication module connectable to the network 2. The communication module is, for example, a communication module compliant with a standard such as a wired LAN (Local Area Network) or a wireless LAN. The communication unit 11 is connected to the network 2 via a wired LAN or a wireless LAN by the communication module.

[0016] The storage unit 12 is configured to include at least one semiconductor memory, at least one magnetic memory, at least one optical memory, or a combination of at least two of these. The semiconductor memory is, for example, a RAM (Random Access Memory) or a ROM (Read Only Memory), etc. The RAM is, for example, an SRAM (Static Random Access Memory) or a DRAM (Dynamic Random Access Memory), etc. The ROM is, for example, an EEPROM (Electrically Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory), etc. The storage unit 12 may function as a main storage device, an auxiliary storage device, or a cache memory. The storage unit 12 stores data used for the operation of the information processing apparatus 10 and data obtained by the operation of the information processing apparatus 10. For example, the login information of the purchaser 3 is stored in the storage unit 12. The login information includes the login ID and password of the purchaser 3.

[0017] The control unit 13 is configured to include at least one processor, at least one dedicated circuit, or a combination thereof. The processor is, for example, a general-purpose processor such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit) or a GPU (Graphics Processing Unit), or a dedicated processor specialized for specific processing. The dedicated circuit is, for example, an FPGA (Field-Programmable Gate Array) or an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit). The control unit 13 executes processes related to the operation of the information processing apparatus 10 while controlling each part of the information processing apparatus 10.

[0018] The terminal device 20 is used by the purchaser 3. The purchaser 3 uses the terminal device 20 to access the website provided by the information processing apparatus 10. The purchaser 3 can view vehicle information from the website. An application program for accessing the website provided by the information processing apparatus 10 may be installed in the terminal device 20.

[0019] The terminal device 20 is, for example, a smartphone, a tablet terminal, a notebook PC (Personal Computer), or a desktop PC.

[0020] The terminal device 20 includes a communication unit 21, an input unit 22, an output unit 23, a storage unit 24, and a control unit 25.

[0021] The communication unit 21 is configured to include at least one communication module connectable to the network 2. The communication module is, for example, a communication module compliant with a standard such as a wired LAN (Local Area Network) or a wireless LAN, or a communication module compliant with a mobile communication standard such as LTE (Long Term Evolution), 4G (4th Generation), or 5G (5th Generation).

[0022] The input unit 22 can receive an input from the user. The input unit 22 is configured to include at least one input interface capable of receiving an input from the user. The input interface is, for example, a physical key, a capacitive key, a pointing device, a touch screen provided integrally with the display of the output unit 23, or a microphone or the like.

[0023] The output unit 23 can output data. The output unit 23 is configured to include at least one output interface capable of outputting data. The output interface is, for example, a display or a speaker or the like. The display is, for example, an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) or an organic EL (Electro Luminescence) display or the like.

[0024] The storage unit 24 is configured to include at least one semiconductor memory, at least one magnetic memory, at least one optical memory, or a combination of at least two of these. The storage unit 24 may function as a main storage device, an auxiliary storage device, or a cache memory. Data used for the operation of the terminal device 20 and data obtained by the operation of the terminal device 20 are stored in the storage unit 24.

[0025] The control unit 25 is configured to include at least one processor, at least one dedicated circuit, or a combination of these. The configuration of the control unit 25 may be the same as or similar to the configuration of the control unit 13. The control unit 25 executes processes related to the operation of the terminal device 20 while controlling each part of the terminal device 20.

[0026] (Operation of the system) FIG. 2 is a sequence diagram showing an example of the processing procedure of the system 1 shown in FIG. 1. For example, when an order for a vehicle by the purchaser 3 is confirmed, the system 1 starts the process of S1.

[0027] In the process of S1, the control unit 13 of the information processing apparatus 10 sets a target period. The target period is a period for granting an incentive to the purchaser 3 each time the purchaser 3 logs in to the service that provides vehicle information at predetermined time intervals. The service that provides vehicle information is, as described above, a website where vehicle information can be viewed. The predetermined time may be set based on the update frequency of the vehicle information posted on the website. The predetermined time is, for example, from one day to several days. The control unit 13 sets the period from when the purchaser 3 orders a vehicle until the vehicle is delivered as the target period.

[0028] In the process of S2, the control unit 25 of the terminal device 20 receives a login ID and a password from the purchaser 3 via the input unit 22. When the purchaser 3 wants to view the website, the purchaser 3 inputs the login ID and the password from the input unit 22.

[0029] In the process of S3, the control unit 25 of the terminal device 20 transmits the login ID and the password received in the process of S2 to the information processing apparatus 10 via the network 2 by the communication unit 21.

[0030] In the process of S4, the control unit 13 of the information processing apparatus 10 receives the login ID and the password from the terminal device 20 via the network 2 by the communication unit 11.

[0031] In the process of S5, the control unit 13 performs login authentication based on the login ID and the password of the purchaser 3 received in the process of S4 and the login information of the purchaser 3 in the storage unit 12. If the control unit 13 succeeds in login authentication (S5: YES), it proceeds to the process of S6. On the other hand, if the control unit 13 fails in login authentication (S5: NO), the system 1 returns to the process of S2.

[0032] In the process of S6, the control unit 13 of the information processing apparatus 10 permits the terminal device 20 to log in to the website. The control unit 13 transmits the data of the web page to the terminal device 20 via the network 2 by the communication unit 11.

[0033] In the process of S7, the control unit 25 of the terminal device 20 logs in to the website. Also, the control unit 25 receives the data of the web page from the information processing device 10 via the network 2 by the communication unit 21. The control unit 25 causes the received web page to be displayed on the display of the output unit 23. The purchaser 3 can view the information of the vehicle by looking at this web page.

[0034] In the process of S8, the control unit 13 determines whether the timing at which the terminal device 20 logged in in the process of S7 is within the target period. If the control unit 13 determines that the timing at which the terminal device 20 logged in is within the target period (S8: YES), the process proceeds to S9. On the other hand, if the control unit 13 determines that the timing at which the terminal device 20 logged in is not within the target period (S8: NO), the system 1 ends the process as shown in FIG. 2.

[0035] In the process of S9, the control unit 13 determines whether the time from when the terminal device 20 last logged in until the terminal device 20 logged in this time in the process of S7 is equal to or longer than a predetermined time. If the control unit 13 determines that the time from when the terminal device 20 last logged in until the terminal device 20 logged in this time in the process of S7 is equal to or longer than a predetermined time (S9: YES), the process proceeds to S10. On the other hand, if the control unit 13 determines that the time from when the terminal device 20 last logged in until the terminal device 20 logged in this time in the process of S7 is not equal to or longer than a predetermined time (S9: NO), the system 1 returns to the process of S2.

[0036] In the process of S10, the control unit 13 gives an incentive to the purchaser 3. The incentive may include, for example, a coupon available at the vehicle dealer. The coupon may be a discount coupon available at the dealer or a coupon exchangeable for goods.

[0037] After executing the process of S10, the system 1 returns to the process of S2. With such a configuration, during the target period, every time purchaser 3 logs in to the website at predetermined time intervals, an incentive is given to purchaser 3.

[0038] Thus, in this embodiment, during the target period, every time purchaser 3 logs in to the service that provides vehicle information, that is, the website in this embodiment, at predetermined time intervals, an incentive is given to purchaser 3. Here, just by purchaser 3 providing vehicle information, it may not be possible to maintain purchaser 3's expectation for vehicle delivery until the vehicle is delivered. In this embodiment, an incentive is given to purchaser 3 every time purchaser 3 logs in to the service at predetermined time intervals during the target period. With such a configuration, it is possible to motivate purchaser 3 to repeatedly log in to the service. Furthermore, by motivating purchaser 3 to log in to the service, it is possible to maintain purchaser 3's expectation for vehicle delivery until the vehicle is delivered. Therefore, according to this embodiment, it is possible to enhance purchaser 3's expectation for vehicle delivery.

[0039] Here, in the process of S8, when the delivery date of the vehicle is later than the preset delivery date, the control unit 13 of the information processing device 10 may extend the target period. The preset delivery date is, for example, the delivery date set when the vehicle order is confirmed. The control unit 13 may extend the target period by including the extension period in the target period. When the target period is extended, in the process of S8, the control unit 13 may determine whether the timing when the terminal device 20 logged in in the process of S7 is within the extended target period. By extending the target period when the delivery date of the vehicle is later than the preset delivery date, it is possible to increase the opportunity to give an incentive to purchaser 3. By increasing the opportunity to give an incentive to purchaser 3, even when the vehicle delivery is delayed, it is possible to maintain purchaser 3's expectation for vehicle delivery.

[0040] Furthermore, when the target period is extended in the process of S8, if purchaser 3 logs in to the service during the extended period within the target period, the control unit 13 may give an incentive higher than the incentive preset in the process of S10. The preset incentive is, for example, the incentive given when purchaser 3 logs in to the service during the normal target period. When the incentive is a discount coupon available to the dealer, the control unit 13 may increase the incentive, for example, by increasing the discount rate of the coupon. The normal target period is the target period excluding the extended period. The normal target period may be the target period set when the order of the vehicle is confirmed. By giving purchaser 3 a high incentive when purchaser 3 logs in to the service during the extended period in this way, even when the delivery of the vehicle is delayed, the possibility that purchaser 3 feels dissatisfied can be reduced. The control unit 13 may give an incentive higher than the preset incentive each time purchaser 3 logs in to the service at predetermined intervals during the extended period.

[0041] Although the present disclosure has been described based on the drawings and embodiments, it should be noted that those skilled in the art may make various modifications and alterations based on the present disclosure. Therefore, it should be noted that these modifications and alterations are included in the scope of the present disclosure. For example, the functions and the like included in each component or each step can be rearranged so as not to be logically contradictory, and a plurality of components or steps can be combined into one or divided.

[0042] For example, in the above-described embodiment, it has been described that when the login authentication using the login ID and password is successful, the terminal device 20 logs in to the service that provides the vehicle information. However, in logging in to the service, the login authentication using the login ID and password may not be executed. For example, an application program that automatically logs in to the service may be installed in the terminal device 20. In this case, when the application program of the terminal device 20 is started, the terminal device 20 may be configured to automatically log in to the service. In the terminal device 20, the control unit 25 may start the application program based on the input received by the input unit 22 from the purchaser 3.

Explanation of Signs

[0043] 1: System, 2: Network, 10: Information processing device, 11: Communication unit, 12: Storage unit, 13: Control unit, 20: Terminal device, 21: Communication unit, 22: Input unit, 23: Output unit, 24: Storage unit, 25: Control unit

Claims

1. An information processing apparatus comprising a control unit that gives an incentive to a purchaser of the vehicle each time the purchaser logs in to a service that provides information on the vehicle at predetermined time intervals during a target period from when the vehicle is ordered until the vehicle is delivered.

2. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit extends the target period when the delivery date of the vehicle is later than a preset delivery date.

3. The information processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the control unit gives an incentive higher than a preset incentive when the purchaser logs in to the service during an extended period of the target period.

4. The information processing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the preset incentive is an incentive given when the purchaser logs in to the service during a normal target period.

5. The information processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the incentive includes a coupon available at a dealer of the vehicle.

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