Service providing system and service providing program

Abstract

To provide a service providing system and a service providing program configured to reduce the possibility of inappropriate migrations of plans.SOLUTION: A service providing system includes a plurality of plans for using an application service, and second migration determination information indicating whether to allow the migration of a plan that a tenant using the application service subscribes to. The service providing system is configured to: determine, when an instruction is issued to migrate the plan that the tenant subscribes to, whether to allow the migration of the plan based on the second migration determination information and an amount of the application service used by the tenant in a plan of a migration source (S101 to S103 and S107 to S108); and execute (S113) the migration of the plan when the migration of the plan is allowed (YES in S108), without executing the migration of the plan when the migration of the plan is not allowed (NO in S108).SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 9

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a service providing system and a service providing program for providing services to customers. [Background technology]

[0002] BACKGROUND ART Conventionally, there is known a usage fee plan proposal system that manages a plan selected by a customer from a plurality of plans for using a service (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

[0003] A service provision system that provides application services to customers is known as a system that manages a plan selected from multiple plans for using the service. In the conventional service provision system, a service provider that provides an application service may sell the application service wholesale to a seller who sells the application service to customers who use the application service. In the conventional service provision system, the seller may set the plan to be subscribed to by the customer on behalf of the customer. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2010-277471 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] However, in conventional service provision systems, when a seller instructs the service provision system to switch the plan that a customer has subscribed to, there is a problem in that the seller, who is outside the control of the service provider, may instruct the service provision system to switch to an inappropriate plan because he or she does not fully understand the nature of the plan or the terms and conditions between the seller and the service provider.

[0006] Furthermore, even when a service provider sells an application service directly to a customer, there is a problem that when the service provider instructs the service providing system to switch the plan subscribed to by the customer, the service provider may instruct the service providing system to switch to an inappropriate plan due to, for example, a misunderstanding.

[0007] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a service providing system and a service providing program that can reduce the possibility of an inappropriate plan transition occurring. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] The service provision system of the present invention is a service provision system that has a plurality of plans for using a service, and includes information indicating whether or not the plan subscribed to by a tenant using the service can be migrated, in correspondence with the tenant's usage status of the service provision system, which relates to at least one of the source plan and the destination plan, and when an instruction is given to migrate the plan subscribed to by the tenant, the system determines whether or not the plan can be migrated based on the usage status and the information, and does not execute the migration of the plan if the migration of the plan is not possible, and executes the migration of the plan if the migration of the plan is possible.

[0009] With this configuration, when a tenant is instructed to migrate a plan subscribed to by the service provision system of the present invention, the system determines whether or not the plan can be migrated based on the tenant's usage of the service provision system and specific information related to at least one of the source plan and the destination plan, and does not perform the plan migration if the plan migration is not possible, and performs the plan migration if the plan migration is possible, thereby reducing the possibility of an inappropriate plan migration occurring.

[0010] In the service provision system of the present invention, the information indicates the time when the migration of the plan subscribed to by the tenant will be reflected in correspondence with the usage status, and when the service provision system is instructed to migrate the plan subscribed to by the tenant, it may identify the time based on the usage status and the information, and when the migration of the plan is possible, execute the migration of the plan at the time identified based on the usage status and the information.

[0011] With this configuration, when a tenant is instructed to migrate the plan to which it has subscribed, the service provision system of the present invention determines the timing for reflecting the migration based on the tenant's usage of the service provision system related to at least one of the source plan and the destination plan, and specific information, and when plan migration is possible, executes the plan migration at the specified time, thereby reducing the possibility of plan migration occurring at an inappropriate time.

[0012] In the service providing system of the present invention, the usage status may include the amount of use of the service by the tenant in the migration source plan.

[0013] With this configuration, when a tenant is instructed to migrate to a plan subscribed to by the service provision system of the present invention, the service provision system determines whether or not the plan can be migrated based on the amount of services used by the tenant in the plan from which the plan is being migrated and specific information, thereby reducing the possibility of an inappropriate plan being migrated to in relation to the amount of services used by the tenant in the plan from which the plan is being migrated to.

[0014] The service provision program of the present invention causes a computer to realize a service provision system having a plurality of plans for using a service, and the service provision system has information indicating whether or not the plan subscribed to by a tenant using the service can be migrated, in correspondence with the tenant's usage status of the service provision system, which relates to at least one of the source plan and the destination plan, and when an instruction is given to migrate the plan subscribed to by the tenant, the service provision system determines whether or not the plan can be migrated based on the usage status and the information, and does not perform the plan migration if the plan migration is not possible, and performs the plan migration if the plan migration is possible.

[0015] With this configuration, when a computer executing the service provision program of the present invention is instructed to migrate a plan subscribed to by a tenant, the computer determines whether or not the plan can be migrated based on the tenant's usage of the service provision system related to at least one of the source plan and the destination plan, and specific information; if plan migration is not possible, the computer does not migrate the plan; and if plan migration is possible, the computer migrates the plan, thereby reducing the possibility of inappropriate plan migration. [Effects of the Invention]

[0016] The service providing system and the service providing program of the present invention can reduce the possibility of an inappropriate plan transition occurring. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0017] [Figure 1] 1 is a block diagram of a system according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the service providing system shown in FIG. 1 when configured by one computer. [Figure 3] 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of tenant management information illustrated in FIG. 2. FIG. [Figure 4]4 is a diagram illustrating an example of relationships between tenants managed by the tenant management information illustrated in FIG. 3. FIG. [Figure 5] FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of plan information shown in FIG. 2. [Figure 6] FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of first migration determination information shown in FIG. 2. [Figure 7] 3 is a diagram showing an example of second migration determination information shown in FIG. 2. FIG. [Figure 8] FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an example of a seller terminal shown in FIG. [Figure 9] 10 is a flowchart of the operation of the service providing system shown in FIG. 2 when a change in contract plan for an application service is instructed. [Figure 10] 10 is a diagram showing, by arrows, the transitions permitted by the actions shown in FIG. 9; DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0018] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0019] First, the configuration of a system according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described.

[0020] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a system 10 according to the present embodiment.

[0021] As shown in Fig. 1, the system 10 includes a service providing system 20 as a platform system that provides application services to users belonging to tenants. The service providing system 20 is a multi-tenant system that is used by multiple tenants. The service providing system 20 may be configured by a single computer such as a PC (Personal Computer), or may be configured by multiple computers.

[0022] The service providing system 20 is developed by a service provider that provides application services to users.

[0023] Tenants in the service providing system 20 include customers who use application services provided by the service providing system 20 and sellers who sell the application services provided by the service providing system 20 to customers. Sellers include, for example, sales companies and dealers of service providers.

[0024] The service provider sells the application service provided by the service providing system 20 to the seller. That is, the service provider sells the application service provided by the service providing system 20 in a wholesale format.

[0025] Application services are sold on a subscription basis.

[0026] The system 10 includes a provider terminal 30, such as a PC, smartphone, or tablet terminal, used by a service provider. The system 10 can include at least one other provider terminal in addition to the provider terminal 30 that has a similar configuration to the provider terminal 30.

[0027] The system 10 includes a seller terminal 40, such as a PC, smartphone, or tablet terminal, used by a seller. The system 10 may also include at least one other seller terminal having a similar configuration to the seller terminal 40.

[0028] The system 10 includes an electronic device 50, such as a PC, a smartphone, a tablet terminal, or an MFP (Multifunction Peripheral), that is used by a customer. The system 10 can include at least one other electronic device having a similar configuration to the electronic device 50. By accessing the service providing system 20 using the electronic device, the customer can use the application service provided by the service providing system 20 via the electronic device.

[0029] The service providing system 20 and the provider terminal, seller terminal, or electronic device can communicate with each other via a network 11 such as a LAN (Local Area Network) or the Internet.

[0030] FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a service providing system 20 configured by one computer.

[0031] As shown in Figure 2, the service providing system 20 includes an operation unit 21, which is an operation device such as a keyboard or mouse through which various operations are input; a display unit 22, which is a display device such as an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) that displays various information; a communication unit 23, which is a communication device that communicates with external devices via a network such as a LAN or the Internet, or directly via a wired or wireless connection without going through a network; a memory unit 24, which is a non-volatile memory device such as a semiconductor memory or an HDD (Hard Disk Drive) that stores various information; and a control unit 25 that controls the entire service providing system 20.

[0032] The storage unit 24 can store a service providing program 24a for providing application services to users. The service providing program 24a may be installed in the service providing system 20 during the manufacturing stage of the service providing system 20, or may be additionally installed in the service providing system 20 from an external storage medium such as a USB (Universal Serial Bus) memory, or may be additionally installed in the service providing system 20 from a network.

[0033] The storage unit 24 can store an application service program 24b for an application service to be provided to a user. The storage unit 24 can store at least one application service program for an application service to be provided to a user, separate from the application service program 24b. The storage unit 24 can store an application service program for each application service. Each application service program may be installed in the service providing system 20 during the manufacturing stage of the service providing system 20, or may be additionally installed in the service providing system 20 from an external storage medium such as a USB memory, or may be additionally installed in the service providing system 20 from a network.

[0034] The storage unit 24 can store tenant management information 24c for managing tenants in the service providing system 20.

[0035] FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of the tenant management information 24c.

[0036] As shown in Figure 3, the tenant management information 24c includes, for each tenant, a tenant ID as identification information for the tenant, the tenant type (e.g., seller, customer), the tenant IDs of the tenants under the tenant, the plan to which the tenant subscribes among plans for using application services, and the amount of application service used by the tenant, all associated with each other. The tenant management information 24c includes, for each application service, the plan to which the tenant subscribes and the amount of application service used by the tenant. Some information is omitted from the tenant management information 24c shown in Figure 3.

[0037] The service providing unit 25a (see FIG. 2), which will be described later, updates the "application service usage by tenant" in the tenant management information 24c to the same value as the actual usage of the application service by the tenant each time the actual usage of the application service by the tenant changes.

[0038] A seller can set up plans on behalf of its tenants to which the tenants under the seller can subscribe. A tenant can only subscribe to one plan per application service. When a tenant subscribes to a plan, the tenant can use the application service within the scope of the subscribed plan.

[0039] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of the relationships between tenants managed by the tenant management information 24c.

[0040] 4, seller A manages seller B and customer C. In other words, seller B and customer C are tenants under seller A.

[0041] Seller B manages Customer D. In other words, Customer D is a tenant under Seller B.

[0042] 2, the storage unit 24 can store plan information 24d indicating a list of plans for using application services. The storage unit 24 can store at least one piece of plan information indicating a list of plans for using application services, separate from the plan information 24d. The storage unit 24 can store plan information for each application service.

[0043] FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of the plan information 24d.

[0044] The plan information 24d shown in FIG. 5 is plan information for a storage service as an application service that stores user data.

[0045] 5, the plan information 24d includes, for each plan, the name of the plan, i.e., the plan name, the upper limit of storage usage allowed for the plan, the price of the plan, the plan type indicating the type of plan, and the billing type indicating whether or not a charge is made for the plan, all of which are associated with each plan. Some information is omitted from the plan information 24d shown in FIG.

[0046] The billing period for the storage service covered by the plan information 24d shown in Fig. 5 is monthly, meaning that the plan price is a monthly fee.

[0047] The plan information 24d shown in Figure 5 includes a "Free Plan" that allows up to 1 GB of storage to be used for 0 yen per month, an "Entry Plan" that allows up to 10 GB of storage to be used for 1,000 yen per month, a "Basic Plan" that has a basic fee of 800 yen per month and charges 50 yen for every GB over 10 GB if the maximum storage usage during the billing period exceeds 10 GB, and an "NFR Plan" that is an NFR (Not for Resale) plan that allows up to 5 GB of storage to be used for 0 yen per month.

[0048] The "NFR Plan" is a plan for sellers. A seller can set the "NFR Plan" as a plan that his / her subordinate sellers subscribe to in order to demonstrate the storage service to their subordinate sellers. A seller who subscribes to the "NFR Plan" can show the functions of the storage service to his / her own customers by using the storage service in front of his / her own customers in order to promote the sales of the storage service.

[0049] The "Free Plan," "Entry Plan," and "NFR Plan" are monthly flat-rate plans. The "Basic Plan" is a monthly pay-as-you-go plan.

[0050] The billing type can be, for example, "None," which indicates that no charge is made, or "Yes," which indicates that a charge is made. The billing type for the "Free Plan" and "NFR Plan" is "None." The billing type for the "Entry Plan" and "Basic Plan" is "Yes."

[0051] Plan types include, for example, "Commercial," which indicates a plan for sale to customers, and "NFR," which indicates a plan not for sale to customers. The plan types of "Free Plan," "Entry Plan," and "Basic Plan" are "Commercial." The plan type of "NFR Plan" is "NFR."

[0052] There is no contract period for the storage service covered by the plan information 24d shown in Figure 5. In other words, the contract continues until the tenant requests cancellation. If the tenant requests cancellation, the contract will be canceled at the end of the billing period to which the tenant requests cancellation.

[0053] 2, the storage unit 24 can store first migration determination information 24e and second migration determination information 24f for determining whether to migrate a plan for using an application service. The storage unit 24 can store at least one piece of first migration determination information for determining whether to migrate a plan for using an application service, separate from the first migration determination information 24e. The storage unit 24 can store at least one piece of second migration determination information for determining whether to migrate a plan for using an application service, separate from the second migration determination information 24f. The storage unit 24 can store the first migration determination information and the second migration determination information for each application service.

[0054] FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of the first migration determination information 24e.

[0055] The first migration determination information 24e shown in FIG. 6 is the first migration determination information for the storage service described above.

[0056] As shown in Figure 6, the first transition determination information 24e includes a number for identifying the plan transition pattern, the plan type and billing type of the current contract plan, the plan type and billing type of the transition destination plan, transition feasibility information indicating whether the transition is possible, and the time when the transition is reflected if the transition is possible (hereinafter referred to as the "transition reflection time"), all associated with each plan transition pattern.

[0057] FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of the second migration determination information 24f.

[0058] The second migration determination information 24f shown in FIG. 7 is the second migration determination information for the storage service described above.

[0059] As shown in Figure 7, the second migration determination information 24f includes a number for identifying the plan migration pattern, the plan type of the current contract plan, the plan type of the migration destination plan, the current usage amount, migration feasibility information indicating whether migration is possible or not, and the migration reflection time if migration is possible, all associated with each plan migration pattern.

[0060] 2 includes, for example, a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a ROM (Read Only Memory) that stores programs and various data, and a RAM (Random Access Memory) that serves as a memory used as a work area for the CPU of the control unit 25. The CPU of the control unit 25 executes programs stored in the storage unit 24 or the ROM of the control unit 25.

[0061] The control unit 25 executes the service providing program 24a to realize a service providing unit 25a that provides application services to users.

[0062] The control unit 25 executes the application service program 24b to realize the application service 25b. Similarly, the control unit 25 executes the application service program to realize the application service for each application service program.

[0063] FIG. 8 is a block diagram of an example of a seller terminal 40.

[0064] As shown in Figure 8, seller terminal 40 includes an operation unit 41, which is an operating device such as a keyboard or mouse through which various operations are input; a display unit 42, which is a display device such as an LCD that displays various information; a communication unit 43, which is a communication device that communicates with external devices via a network such as a LAN or the Internet, or directly via a wired or wireless connection without using a network; a memory unit 44, which is a non-volatile memory device such as a semiconductor memory or HDD that stores various information; and a control unit 45 that controls seller terminal 40 as a whole.

[0065] The storage unit 44 can store a web browser program (hereinafter referred to as the "web browser program") 44a. The web browser program 44a may be installed on the seller terminal 40 during the manufacturing process of the seller terminal 40, or may be additionally installed on the seller terminal 40 from an external storage medium such as a USB memory, or may be additionally installed on the seller terminal 40 from a network.

[0066] The control unit 45 includes, for example, a CPU, a ROM that stores programs and various data, and a RAM as memory used as a work area for the CPU of the control unit 45. The CPU of the control unit 45 executes programs stored in the storage unit 44 or the ROM of the control unit 45.

[0067] The control unit 45 executes the web browser program 44a to implement a web browser 45a.

[0068] A seller can access the service providing system 20 from the web browser 45a of the seller terminal 40 via a website provided by the service providing system 20, and log in to the service providing system 20. Communication between the seller terminal 40 and the service providing system 20 is realized via the web browser 45a of the seller terminal 40 and the website provided by the service providing system 20.

[0069] The operation of the system 10 will now be described.

[0070] First, the operation of the service providing system 20 when the service provider changes various pieces of information will be described.

[0071] A service provider can access the service providing system 20 from a provider terminal and instruct the service providing system 20 to change information that the service provider is permitted to change, among various types of information managed by the service providing system 20. The service providing unit 25a of the service providing system 20 changes the information in accordance with the instruction from the service provider. Therefore, the service provider can change, for example, the plan information, first transition determination information, second transition determination information, etc. managed by the service providing system 20.

[0072] Next, the operation of the service providing system 20 when the seller changes various pieces of information will be described.

[0073] A seller can access the service providing system 20 from a seller terminal and instruct the service providing system 20 to change information that the seller is permitted to change, among various pieces of information managed by the service providing system 20. The service providing unit 25a of the service providing system 20 changes the information in accordance with the seller's instructions. Therefore, the seller can add a new tenant under his / her control in the tenant management information managed by the service providing system 20, or migrate the contract plan of an application service of a tenant under his / her control.

[0074] Next, the operation of the service providing system 20 when a change in contract plan for an application service is instructed will be described.

[0075] FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing the operation of the service providing system 20 when a change in contract plan for an application service is instructed.

[0076] When the service providing unit 25a of the service providing system 20 receives an instruction to switch the contract plan of the application service (hereinafter referred to as a "plan switching instruction") from a seller terminal (hereinafter referred to as a "target seller terminal"), it executes the operation shown in FIG.

[0077] In the following, it is assumed that the plan information of the application service (hereinafter referred to as the "target application service") that is the target of a plan transition instruction (hereinafter referred to as the "target plan transition instruction") received from the target seller terminal is plan information 24d shown in Figure 5. It is also assumed that the first transition determination information of the target application service is first transition determination information 24e shown in Figure 6. It is also assumed that the second transition determination information of the target application service is second transition determination information 24f shown in Figure 7.

[0078] As shown in FIG. 9, the service providing unit 25a identifies the contract plan of the target application service of the tenant that is the target of the target plan transition instruction (hereinafter referred to as the "target tenant") based on the tenant management information 24c (S101).

[0079] When the process of S101 is completed, the service providing unit 25a identifies the plan type and the billing type of the contract plan identified in S101 based on the plan information 24d (S102).

[0080] When the process of S102 is completed, the service providing unit 25a identifies the plan type and billing type of the transition destination plan indicated in the target plan transition instruction based on the plan information 24d (S103).

[0081] When the processing of S103 is completed, the service providing unit 25a determines whether the plan type and billing type identified in S102, i.e., the combination of the plan type and billing type of the current contract plan and the plan type and billing type of the migration destination plan identified in S103, is included in the first migration determination information 24e (S104).

[0082] When the service providing unit 25a determines in S104 that the combination of the plan type and billing type of the current contract plan identified in S102 and the plan type and billing type of the target plan identified in S103 is included in the first transition determination information 24e, the service providing unit 25a determines whether or not transition to the plan indicated in the target plan transition instruction is possible based on the transition possibility information associated in the first transition determination information 24e with the plan type and billing type identified in S102, i.e., the combination of the plan type and billing type of the current contract plan and the plan type and billing type of the target plan identified in S103 (S105).

[0083] If the service providing unit 25a determines in S105 that migration to the plan indicated in the target plan migration instruction is possible, it identifies the migration reflection time associated in the first migration determination information 24e with the combination of the plan type and billing type of the current contract plan identified in S102 and the plan type and billing type of the migration destination plan identified in S103 (S106).

[0084] If the service providing unit 25a determines in S104 that the combination of the plan type and billing type of the current contract plan identified in S102 and the plan type and billing type of the migration destination plan identified in S103 is not included in the first migration determination information 24e, it identifies the usage amount of the target application service of the target tenant based on the tenant management information 24c (S107).

[0085] When the processing of S107 is completed, the service providing unit 25a determines whether or not migration to the plan indicated in the target plan migration instruction is possible based on the migration feasibility information associated in the second migration determination information 24f with the combination of the plan type identified in S102, i.e., the plan type of the current contract plan, the plan type of the migration destination plan identified in S103, and the usage amount identified in S107 (S108).

[0086] If the service providing unit 25a determines in S108 that migration to the plan indicated in the target plan migration instruction is possible, it identifies the migration reflection time associated in the second migration determination information 24f with the combination of the plan type of the current contract plan identified in S102, the plan type of the migration destination plan identified in S103, and the usage amount identified in S107 (S109).

[0087] When the processing of S106 or S109 is completed, the service providing unit 25a notifies the target seller terminal that the contract plan of the target application service will be transitioned to the transition destination plan indicated in the target plan transition instruction at the transition reflection time specified in S106 or S109 (S110).

[0088] When the process of S110 ends, the service providing unit 25a determines whether the transition reflection time identified in S106 or S109 is "immediate" (S111).

[0089] If the service providing unit 25a determines in S111 that the transition reflection time identified in S106 or S109 is not "immediate," it determines whether the current date and time has reached the transition reflection time identified in S106 or S109 (S112) until it determines that the current date and time has reached the transition reflection time identified in S106 or S109.

[0090] When the service providing unit 25a determines in S111 that the transition reflection time specified in S106 or S109 is “immediately” or determines in S112 that the current date and time has reached the transition reflection time specified in S106 or S109, the service providing unit 25a transitions the contract plan of the target application service to the transition destination plan indicated in the target plan transition instruction (S113). Therefore, the service providing unit 25a rewrites the contract plan of the target application service of the target tenant in the tenant management information 24c to the transition destination plan indicated in the target plan transition instruction.

[0091] If the service providing unit 25a determines in S105 or S108 that it is not possible to migrate to the plan indicated in the target plan migration instruction, it notifies the target seller terminal that it is not possible to migrate the contract plan of the target application service to the migration destination plan indicated in the target plan migration instruction (S114).

[0092] When the process of S113 or S114 is completed, the service providing unit 25a ends the operation shown in FIG.

[0093] FIG. 10 illustrates, with arrows, the transitions permitted by the actions shown in FIG.

[0094] In FIG. 10, the transition 51 from the "Free Plan" to the "Entry Plan" or "Basic Plan" is executed immediately because it is the No. 1 pattern in the first transition determination information 24e.

[0095] The transition 52 from the "Free Plan" to the "NFR Plan" is executed immediately because it is pattern No. 2 in the first transition determination information 24e.

[0096] The transition 53 from the "Entry Plan" to the "Basic Plan" and the transition 54 from the "Basic Plan" to the "Entry Plan" are pattern No. 3 in the first transition determination information 24e, and are therefore executed at the end of the billing period. The monthly flat rate format makes it easy to apply a simple pro rata calculation. On the other hand, the monthly pay-as-you-go format makes it difficult to apply a simple pro rata calculation. Therefore, in the first transition determination information 24e, the transition between the monthly flat rate "Entry Plan" and the monthly pay-as-you-go "Basic Plan" is executed at the end of the billing period.

[0097] The transition 55 from the "Entry Plan" or "Basic Plan" to the "Free Plan" is executed immediately when the usage of the target application service is less than 1 GB, which is the upper limit for the "Free Plan," since this is pattern No. 1 in the second transition determination information 24f.

[0098] The transition 56 from the "Entry Plan" or "Basic Plan" to the "Free Plan" is performed at the end of the billing period if the usage of the target application service exceeds the 1 GB limit for the "Free Plan," as this corresponds to pattern No. 2 in the second transition determination information 24f. If the transition from the "Entry Plan" or "Basic Plan" to the "Free Plan" is reflected at the end of the billing period rather than immediately, if the actual usage of the application service exceeds the upper limit for the "Free Plan" at the time of the transition instruction from the "Entry Plan" or "Basic Plan" to the "Free Plan," the customer has until the end of the billing period to reduce the actual usage of the application service to below the upper limit for the "Free Plan." Note that if the actual usage of the application service exceeds the upper limit for the "Free Plan" at the time of the transition from the "Entry Plan" or "Basic Plan" to the "Free Plan," the service providing unit 25a may, for example, only permit the customer to delete data stored in the application service until the actual usage of the application service falls below the upper limit for the "Free Plan."

[0099] A transition 57 from the "Entry Plan" or "Basic Plan" to the "NFR Plan" is immediately executed when the usage of the target application service is equal to or less than 5 GB, which is the upper limit of the "Free Plan," because this corresponds to pattern No. 3 in the second transition determination information 24f. A transition from the "Entry Plan" or "Basic Plan" to the "NFR Plan" is not permitted when the usage of the target application service exceeds 5 GB, which is the upper limit of the "Free Plan," because this corresponds to pattern No. 4 in the second transition determination information 24f. The "Entry Plan" or "Basic Plan" is basically a plan for customers. Therefore, tenants who subscribe to the "Entry Plan" or "Basic Plan" are usually customers. On the other hand, the "NFR Plan," as described above, is a plan for sellers. Therefore, the second transition determination information 24f prevents customers from subscribing to the seller's "NFR Plan" when the usage of the target application service exceeds 5 GB, which is the upper limit of the "Free Plan."

[0100] A transition from the "NFR Plan" to the "Free Plan" is not permitted because it corresponds to pattern No. 4 in the first transition determination information 24e. A transition from the "NFR Plan" to the "Entry Plan" or "Basic Plan" is not permitted because it corresponds to pattern No. 5 in the first transition determination information 24e. As described above, the "NFR Plan" is a plan for sellers. Therefore, tenants who subscribe to the "NFR Plan" are sellers. On the other hand, the "Free Plan," "Entry Plan," or "Basic Plan" are basically plans for customers. Therefore, tenants who subscribe to the "Free Plan," "Entry Plan," or "Basic Plan" are usually customers. Therefore, the first transition determination information 24e prohibits a transition from the "NFR Plan" to the "Free Plan," "Entry Plan," or "Basic Plan," thereby preventing the reuse of tenant accounts.

[0101] The first transition determination information 24e and the second transition determination information 24f are merely examples. Whether or not to permit a plan transition and, if a plan transition is permitted, when the transition is to be reflected is up to the service provider's discretion.

[0102] As described above, when a tenant is instructed to transfer the plan subscribed to by the service provider system 20, the service provider system 20 determines whether or not the plan can be transferred based on the tenant's usage of the service provider system 20 related to the transfer-source plan and the second transfer determination information 24f (S101 to S103 and S107 to S108). If the plan transfer is not possible (NO in S108), the service provider system 20 does not transfer the plan, and if the plan transfer is possible (YES in S108), the service provider system 20 transfers the plan (S113). This reduces the possibility of an inappropriate plan transfer. Therefore, when a seller instructs the service provider system 20 to transfer the plan subscribed to by a customer, the service provider system 20 can reduce the possibility of an inappropriate plan transfer even if, for example, the seller, who is outside the control of the service provider, does not fully understand the nature of the plan or the terms and conditions between the seller and the service provider.

[0103] When a tenant is instructed to migrate the plan to which it has subscribed, the service providing system 20 determines the timing for reflecting the migration based on the tenant's usage of the service providing system 20 related to at least one of the source plan and the destination plan and the second migration determination information 24f (S101 to S103, S107 and S109), and when plan migration is possible (YES in S108), the plan migration is executed at the time determined in S109 (S111 to S113), thereby reducing the possibility of plan migration occurring at an inappropriate time.

[0104] When a tenant is instructed to migrate to a plan subscribed to by the service providing system 20, the service providing system 20 determines whether or not the plan can be migrated based on the tenant's usage of application services in the plan from which the plan is being migrated and the second migration determination information 24f, thereby reducing the possibility of an inappropriate plan migration occurring in relation to the tenant's usage of application services in the plan from which the plan is being migrated.

[0105] In the above, the service providing unit 25a determines whether or not a plan can be switched and when the switch will be reflected if the plan switch is permitted, based on the plan type and billing type as plan characteristics (S105). However, the service providing unit 25a may determine whether or not a plan can be switched and when the switch will be reflected if the plan switch is permitted, based on plan characteristics other than the plan type and billing type.

[0106] For example, the service providing unit 25a may determine whether to allow a plan transition and, if so, when to reflect the transition based on the plan's characteristics, such as the upper limit of application service usage. For example, the service providing unit 25a may immediately reflect the transition from the source plan to the destination plan if the upper limit of application service usage in the source plan is equal to or less than the upper limit of application service usage in the destination plan. Alternatively, the service providing unit 25a may reflect or prohibit the transition from the source plan to the destination plan at the end of the billing period if the upper limit of application service usage in the source plan is higher than the upper limit of application service usage in the destination plan. If the transition from the source plan to the destination plan is reflected at the end of the billing period rather than immediately, if the actual usage exceeds the upper limit of application service usage in the destination plan at the time of issuing a transition instruction from the source plan to the destination plan, the customer may have until the end of the billing period to reduce the actual usage to below the upper limit of application service usage in the destination plan.

[0107] For example, the service providing unit 25a may determine whether or not a plan change is possible and, if so, when the change should be reflected, based on at least one of the plan characteristics: the upper limit of application service usage within the basic fee for a monthly pay-as-you-go plan (hereinafter referred to as the "basic fee usage upper limit") and the application service usage amount corresponding to the unit of additional charges for exceeding the basic fee usage upper limit for a monthly pay-as-you-go plan (hereinafter referred to as the "additional usage unit"). In the "Basic Plan" in the plan information 24d shown in Figure 5, the basic fee usage upper limit is 10 GB and the additional usage unit is 1 GB. For example, when both the source plan and the destination plan are monthly pay-per-use plans, the service providing unit 25a may immediately reflect the transition from the source plan to the destination plan if the basic fee usage upper limit of the source plan is equal to or less than the basic fee usage upper limit of the destination plan, and may reflect or prohibit the transition from the source plan to the destination plan at the end of the billing period if the basic fee usage upper limit of the source plan is higher than the basic fee usage upper limit of the destination plan.Furthermore, when both the source plan and the destination plan are monthly pay-per-use plans, the service providing unit 25a may immediately reflect the transition from the source plan to the destination plan if the additional usage unit of the source plan is equal to or less than the additional usage unit of the destination plan, and may reflect or prohibit the transition from the source plan to the destination plan at the end of the billing period if the additional usage unit of the source plan is greater than the additional usage unit of the destination plan.

[0108] For example, the service providing unit 25a may determine whether or not a plan can be migrated and, if migrated, when the migration should be reflected based on the plan grade as a characteristic of the plan. Generally, the higher the grade of a plan, the higher the price. For example, in the case of a monthly pay-as-you-go plan, the higher the basic fee, the higher the grade. Generally, the higher the grade of a plan, the higher the usage limit, the more special features are provided, or the more special features can be provided for an additional fee. For example, in the case of a monthly pay-as-you-go plan, the higher the grade, the lower the fee per unit of usage exceeding the basic fee usage limit. For example, the service providing unit 25a may immediately reflect the migration from the source plan to the destination plan if the grade of the destination plan is equal to or higher than the grade of the source plan. However, if the grade of the destination plan is lower than the grade of the source plan, the service providing unit 25a may reflect or prohibit the migration from the source plan to the destination plan at the end of the billing period.

[0109] For example, the service providing unit 25a may determine whether or not a plan can be migrated and, if migrated, when the plan migration should be reflected based on the plan's characteristics, such as whether or not the plan has an expiration date. Even subscription-based plans may have a specified expiration date, i.e., a contract period. For example, plans generally have specified contract periods, renewal periods, and renewal fees. For example, if the source plan has no expiration date and the destination plan has an expiration date, the service providing unit 25a may immediately reflect the migration from the source plan to the destination plan. If the source plan has an expiration date and the destination plan does not have an expiration date, the service providing unit 25a may reflect or prohibit the migration from the source plan to the destination plan at the end of the contract period of the source plan.

[0110] In the above, the service providing unit 25a determines whether or not a plan can be migrated and the timing of reflecting the migration if the plan migration is permitted based on the usage amount of application services by the tenant in the migration source plan as the usage status of the service providing system 20 by the tenant related to the migration source plan (S108). However, the service providing unit 25a may also determine whether or not a plan can be migrated and the timing of reflecting the migration if the plan migration is permitted based on the usage status of the service providing system 20 by the tenant related to at least one of the migration source plan and the migration destination plan other than the usage amount of application services by the tenant in the migration source plan.

[0111] For example, the service providing unit 25a may determine whether to permit a plan transition and, if permitted, when to reflect the transition based on the current usage period of the source plan as the tenant's usage status of the service providing system 20 related to at least one of the source plan and the destination plan. For example, the service providing unit 25a may reflect the transition from the source plan to the destination plan if the current usage period of the source plan is equal to or longer than a specific period, and may prohibit the transition from the source plan to the destination plan if the current usage period of the source plan is shorter than the specific period. Here, if the destination plan has a contract period, the specific period may be a period based on the contract period of the destination plan, such as half the contract period of the destination plan.

[0112] For example, the service providing unit 25a may determine whether or not a plan transition is possible and the timing of reflecting the transition if the plan transition is permitted, based on the billing amount calculated under the source plan according to the current usage amount of the application service and the billing amount calculated under the destination plan according to the current usage amount of the application service, as the tenant's usage status of the service providing system 20 related to at least one of the source plan and the destination plan. For example, the service providing unit 25a may immediately reflect the transition from the source plan to the destination plan if the billing amount calculated under the destination plan according to the current usage amount of the application service is less than or equal to the billing amount calculated under the source plan according to the current usage amount of the application service, and may reflect or prohibit the transition from the source plan to the destination plan at the end of the billing period if the billing amount calculated under the destination plan according to the current usage amount of the application service exceeds the billing amount calculated under the source plan according to the current usage amount of the application service.

[0113] For example, the service providing unit 25a may determine whether or not a plan migration is possible and the timing of reflecting the migration if the plan migration is permitted based on the contract status of the tenant for a specific plan for a specific application service related to the migration destination plan for the target application service, as the tenant's usage status of the service providing system 20 related to at least one of the migration source plan and the migration destination plan. For example, when the target application service needs to use a specific function of a specific application service and the tenant using the target application service needs to subscribe to a specific plan for the specific application service in order for the target application service to use the specific function of the specific application service, the service providing unit 25a may reflect the migration from the migration source plan to the migration destination plan when the tenant using the target application service has subscribed to the specific application service with the specific plan, and may prohibit the migration from the migration source plan to the migration destination plan when the tenant using the target application service has not subscribed to the specific plan for the specific application service.

[0114] In the above, it is assumed that the seller instructs the service providing system 20 to switch the plan subscribed by the customer. However, even when the service provider instructs the service providing system 20 to switch the plan subscribed by the customer or when the customer himself instructs the service providing system 20 to switch the plan subscribed by the customer, the service providing system 20 can obtain the same effect as when the seller instructs the service providing system 20 to switch the plan subscribed by the customer.

[0115] The above is based on the premise that the service provider sells the application service to the seller wholesale. However, even when the service provider sells the application service directly to the customer, the service providing system 20 can achieve the same effect as when the service provider sells the application service to the seller wholesale.

[0116] The above description has been given of a case where the billing period for an application service is monthly. However, the billing period for an application service may be in units other than monthly. For example, the billing period for an application service may be annual. [Explanation of symbols]

[0117] 20 Service provision system (computer) 24a Service Delivery Program 24f Second transition decision information (information)

Claims

1. A service providing system having a plurality of plans for using services, information indicating whether or not the plan subscribed by a tenant using the service can be migrated in association with a usage status of the service providing system by the tenant, the usage status relating to at least one of the migration source plan and the migration destination plan; A service provision system characterized in that, when a migration of the plan subscribed to by the tenant is instructed, the system determines whether the plan can be migrated based on the usage status and the information, and does not execute the migration of the plan if the migration of the plan is not possible, and executes the migration of the plan if the migration of the plan is possible.

2. The information indicates a time when the transition of the plan subscribed by the tenant will be reflected in association with the usage status, The service providing system according to claim 1, characterized in that when a migration of the plan subscribed to by the tenant is instructed, the service providing system identifies the time based on the usage status and the information, and when the plan migration is possible, executes the migration of the plan at the time identified based on the usage status and the information.

3. The service providing system according to claim 1 , wherein the usage status includes the amount of use of the service by the tenant in the migration source plan.

4. A service provision system having a plurality of plans for using the service is realized on a computer; the service providing system includes information indicating whether or not the plan subscribed by the tenant using the service can be migrated, in association with a usage status of the service providing system by the tenant, the usage status relating to at least one of the migration source plan and the migration destination plan; The service provision program is characterized in that, when the service provision system is instructed to migrate the plan subscribed to by the tenant, it determines whether the plan can be migrated based on the usage status and the information, and does not execute the plan migration if the plan migration is not possible, and executes the plan migration if the plan migration is possible.

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