Information processing apparatus, information processing method, and program

Abstract

To provide a reward to an introduced user.SOLUTION: An authorization token issuance unit 432 that executes a process for issuing an authorization token to an introducer user who is an introducer, the authorization token certifying that the introducer user has been authorized as an introducer of a product that is a product or a service; an authorization token issuance unit 433 that executes a process for issuing an authorization token to an introducer user who is an introducer, the authorization token certifying that the introducer user has been authorized as an introducer of a product that is a product or a service; And a privilege granting unit 435 that executes a process for granting a privilege to the introduced user in a case where the provider who provides the item corresponding to the introduction token provides the item to the introduced user after the introduction token is issued.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical Field]

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

[0002] A service has been known in the past in which an introducing user introduces a product to an introduced user, and when the introduced user purchases the product, the introducing user is given a reward. Patent Document 1 discloses a technology for tracking customer behavior on the Internet by issuing cookies to the customer's terminal. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2001-283083 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, because cookies are information stored on a terminal, there is a risk that cookies may be deleted or rewritten from the terminal. For example, if cookies are deleted from the terminal used by the referred user, the behavior of the referred user cannot be tracked, and even if the referred user purchases a product, it is not possible to provide a reward to the introducing user who introduced the product to the referred user via the website.

[0005] The present invention has been made in consideration of these points, and aims to provide a reward to referring users. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] An information processing device according to a first aspect of the present invention comprises: an authentication token issuing unit that executes processing to issue an authentication token to an introducing user, who is the introducer, to prove that the introducing user has been authenticated as the introducer of a product or service; an introduction token issuing unit that executes processing to issue an introduction token to an introduced user, who is the introducer, to prove that the introducing user has been introduced to the product by the introducing user, on the condition that the authentication token corresponding to the product has been issued to the introducing user; and a benefit granting unit that executes processing to grant a benefit to the introducing user when, after the introduction token has been issued, a provider of the product corresponding to the introduction token provides the product to the introduced user.

[0007] The introduction token issuing unit may execute a process for issuing the introduction token when the introducing user requests the issuance of the introduction token for the introduced user.

[0008] The introduction token issuing unit may execute a process for issuing the introduction token to a follower who follows the introducing user in a social networking service (SNS) as the introduced user.

[0009] The introduction token issuing unit may execute a process for issuing the introduction token when the introduced user requests the issuance of the introduction token corresponding to the product.

[0010] The introduction token issuing unit may execute a process for issuing the introduction token to a viewer who has viewed content that introduces the commercial material created by the introducing user, as the introduced user.

[0011] The referral token issuing unit may execute processing to issue the referral token with the further condition that the introducing user refers to the referral content in which the product is introduced to the introduced user, and that the referral content indicates a positive evaluation of the product.

[0012] The authorization token issuing unit may execute a process for issuing the authorization token when the provider requests issuance of the authorization token to the introducing user.

[0013] The certified token issuing unit may execute processing to issue the certified token when at least one of the following conditions is met: the number of followers of the introducing user on the SNS is greater than or equal to a predetermined threshold; and the provider has provided the product to the introducing user.

[0014] The referral token may have an expiration date, and the benefit granting unit may further execute processing to grant the benefit if the referred user completes the procedure to pay for the merchandise within the expiration date of the referral token.

[0015] The benefit may have a granting deadline, and the benefit granting unit may further execute processing to grant the benefit if the date on which the referral token issuing unit issues the referral token has not passed the granting deadline.

[0016] The benefit granting unit may execute a process to grant the benefit to at least one of the multiple different introducing users when the introduced user goes through procedures to pay for the merchandise corresponding to the multiple introducing tokens, each of which corresponds to a different introducing user and corresponds to a common merchandise, after the introduced user has been issued multiple introducing tokens.

[0017] The benefit granting unit may refer to the payment history of the referred user after the referral token is issued to determine whether or not procedures have been carried out to pay for the product corresponding to the referral token.

[0018] An information processing method according to a second aspect of the present invention includes the steps of executing a process executed by a computer to issue an authentication token to an introducing user, who is the introducer, to prove that the introducing user has been authenticated as the introducer of a product or service, a merchandise; executing a process to issue an introduction token to the introducing user to prove that the introducing user has been introduced to the merchandise by the introducing user, on the condition that the introducing user has been issued the authentication token corresponding to the merchandise; and executing a process to grant a benefit to the introducing user when the introducing user has completed the procedure to pay for the merchandise corresponding to the introduction token after the introduction token has been issued.

[0019] A program according to a third aspect of the present invention causes a computer to function as: an authentication token issuing unit that executes processing to issue an authentication token to an introducing user, who is the introducer, to prove that the introducer has been authenticated as an introducer of a product or service, a merchandise; an introduction token issuing unit that executes processing to issue an introduction token to an introduced user, who is the introducer, to prove that the introducing user has been introduced to the merchandise by the introducing user, on the condition that the authentication token corresponding to the merchandise has been issued to the introducing user; and a benefit granting unit that executes processing to grant a benefit to the introducing user when, after the introduction token has been issued, the introduced user has gone through the procedure to pay for the merchandise corresponding to the introduction token. [Effects of the Invention]

[0020] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a reward to the referring user. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0021] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an overview of an information processing system. [Figure 2] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an information processing device. [Figure 3]FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of a commercial material management database. [Figure 4] FIG. 10 illustrates an example of the configuration of an authorization token. [Figure 5] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of an introduction token. [Figure 6] FIG. 2 is a sequence diagram showing the flow of processing executed by the information processing system. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0022] [Outline of Information Processing System S] 1 is a diagram illustrating an overview of an information processing system S. The information processing system S is a system used to provide an information processing service. The information processing service is a service that provides a benefit to an introducing user when the introducing user introduces a product to an introduced user and the introduced user purchases or uses the product.

[0023] The commercial material is a product or a service. The introducing user is a person who introduces a product, for example, a member of an information processing service. The introduced user is a person to whom a product is introduced. The introduced user may be a member of the information processing service or a non-member of the information processing service. The benefit is a reward given to the introducing user who introduced the introduced commercial material to the introduced user who purchased the introduced commercial material, for his or her contribution, and may be, for example, cash, points, cryptocurrency, etc. The information processing service may further include an online shopping service that sells commercial materials over the Internet. The information processing system S has a provider terminal 1, an introducing user terminal 2, an introduced user terminal 3, and an information processing device 4.

[0024] The provider terminal 1 is a terminal used by a provider, such as a smartphone, a tablet terminal, a personal computer, etc. The provider is a person who provides commercial materials, such as a manufacturer that produces products, a seller that sells products, or a service provider that provides services.

[0025] The introducing user terminal 2 is a terminal used by the introducing user, and is, for example, a smartphone, a tablet terminal, a personal computer, or the like.

[0026] The introduced user terminal 3 is a terminal used by the introduced user, and is, for example, a smartphone, a tablet terminal, a personal computer, or the like.

[0027] The information processing device 4 is a device that manages the information processing service, and is, for example, a server. For example, a dedicated application program (hereinafter referred to as a "dedicated app") for providing the information processing service is installed on each of the provider terminal 1, the introducing user terminal 2, and the introduced user terminal 3. The dedicated app has multiple function items for providing various functions, such as a function for registering commercial materials, a function for introducing commercial materials, a function for purchasing commercial materials, etc., and the information processing device 4 acquires information from each terminal and presents the information via the dedicated app. Note that the information processing device 4 may acquire information from each terminal and present the information via the website of the information processing service.

[0028] The information processing device 4 uses the blockchain B to manage the track record of introducing products by introducing users to introduced users. The blockchain B is a system that issues predetermined tokens used in information processing services. The predetermined tokens are, for example, non-fungible tokens.

[0029] The predetermined tokens include an authorization token and an introduction token. The authorization token is a token for proving that the introducer has been authorized and is used as a condition for granting an issued token (described later) to the introducing user. The issued token is a token for proving that the introduced user has been introduced a product by the introducing user and is used as a condition for granting a benefit to the introducing user.

[0030] Certified tokens and referral tokens are distinguished by the type of information contained in each token, information indicating the type of token specified in the information processing service (for example, a string to identify the type of token), or the type of token issued by Blockchain B (for example, whether it is a soulbound token, which is a non-transferable, non-fungible token, or a transferable, non-fungible token, etc.). The processing executed by the information processing system S will be described below.

[0031] First, the information processing device 4 registers information about a product that the introducing user is to introduce in the information processing service. For example, first, when a provider uses a dedicated app on the provider terminal 1 to input information about a product that the introducing user wishes to introduce in the information processing service, the provider terminal 1 transmits a registration request including information about the product input by the provider to the information processing device 4 ((1) in FIG. 1). Then, the information processing device 4 executes a product registration process ((2) in FIG. 1).

[0032] Next, the information processing device 4 certifies the introducing user as an introducer who will introduce the product to the introducing user. For example, first, when the introducing user performs an operation to select a product that the introducing user wishes to introduce from a plurality of products registered in the information processing service using a dedicated app on the introducing user terminal 2, the introducing user terminal 2 transmits to the information processing device 4 a certification request to have the introducing user certified as an introducer who will introduce the selected product ((3) in FIG. 1). Then, upon receiving the certification request, the information processing device 4 executes a process to issue a certification token corresponding to the introducing user and the product, thereby certifying the introducing user as an introducer who will introduce the product ((4) in FIG. 1).

[0033] Subsequently, the information processing device 4 records the performance of the introducing user introducing the product to the introduced user. For example, when the introducing user specifies an introduced user using a dedicated app on the introducing user terminal 2 and introduces the product to the specified introduced user, the information processing device 4 executes a process of issuing an introduction token corresponding to the introducing user, the introduced user, and the product, on the condition that an authorization token corresponding to the introducing user and the product has been issued, thereby recording the performance of the introducing user introducing the product to the introduced user ((5) and (6) in FIG. 1).

[0034] Then, when an introduced user who has been introduced to a product by an introducing user completes the procedure to pay the provider for the product, the information processing device 4 grants a benefit to the introducing user identified by the introduction token, provided that an introduction token corresponding to the introduced user and the product has been issued ((7) and (8) in Figure 1).

[0035] In this way, the information processing system S can prevent the information indicating the introducing user's track record of introducing a product to the introduced user from being deleted or rewritten by issuing an introduction token as information indicating the introducing user's track record of introducing a product to the introduced user. As a result, the information processing system S can provide a reward to the introducing user. The configuration of the information processing device 4 will be described below.

[0036] [Configuration of information processing device 4] FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an information processing device 4. In FIG. 2, arrows indicate main data flows, and data flows other than those shown in FIG. 2 may also exist. In FIG. 2, each block indicates a functional configuration rather than a hardware (device) configuration. Therefore, the blocks shown in FIG. 2 may be implemented in a single device, or may be implemented separately in multiple devices. Data may be exchanged between blocks via any means, such as a data bus, a network, or a portable storage medium.

[0037] The information processing device 4 includes a communication unit 41, a storage unit 42, and a control unit 43. The information processing device 4 may be configured by connecting two or more physically separate devices via wired or wireless connections. The information processing device 4 may also be configured by a cloud, which is a collection of computer resources.

[0038] The communication unit 41 has a communication controller for transmitting and receiving data to and from the provider terminal 1, the introducing user terminal 2, or the introduced user terminal 3 via the network. The communication unit 41 notifies the control unit 43 of data received via the network from the provider terminal 1, the introducing user terminal 2, or the introduced user terminal 3. In addition, the communication unit 41 transmits data output from the control unit 43 to the provider terminal 1, the introducing user terminal 2, or the introduced user terminal 3 via the network.

[0039] The storage unit 42 is a storage medium including a ROM (Read Only Memory), a RAM (Random Access Memory), a hard disk drive, etc. The storage unit 42 may be provided outside the information processing device 4, in which case data may be exchanged between the storage unit 42 and the control unit 43 via a network. The storage unit 42 stores in advance a program to be executed by the control unit 43. The storage unit 42 stores information about users who use the information processing service (e.g., user ID, user gender, user age, credit card number, etc.). The storage unit 42 also stores a product management database that manages information about products.

[0040] Fig. 3 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of a product management database. In the example shown in Fig. 3, the product management database stores a provider ID, a product ID, certification conditions, benefit details, and a benefit expiration date in association with each other.

[0041] The provider ID is information for identifying the provider of the product. The product ID is information for identifying the product. The certification conditions are conditions for issuing a certification token, and are, for example, conditions set by the provider. The certification conditions are, for example, at least one of the following: the number of followers of the introducing user on SNS is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold, and the provider has provided the product to the introducing user. The predetermined threshold is, for example, a value set by the provider. The certification conditions may be conditions set by an administrator of the information processing device 4. The benefit content is the content of the benefit to be granted to the introducing user, and is, for example, content set by the provider. The benefit content may be content set by an administrator of the information processing device 4. The granting deadline is the deadline for granting the benefit, and is, for example, a deadline set by the provider or the administrator of the information processing device 4.

[0042] 2, the control unit 43 has a registration unit 431, an authorization token issuing unit 432, an introduction token issuing unit 433, a payment management unit 434, and a benefit granting unit 435. The control unit 43 is a processor such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit), and functions as the registration unit 431, the authorization token issuing unit 432, the introduction token issuing unit 433, the payment management unit 434, and the benefit granting unit 435 by executing a program stored in the storage unit 42.

[0043] [Registration process] First, a description will be given of the commercial material registration process executed by the information processing device 4. The registration unit 431 executes the commercial material registration process in response to a commercial material registration request from a provider. Specifically, the registration unit 431 executes the commercial material registration process by executing the following two steps.

[0044] As a first step, the registration unit 431 acquires a product registration request from the provider terminal 1. For example, first, when the provider selects a function item for registering a product from the menu of a dedicated app on the provider terminal 1, the provider terminal 1 displays a registration screen. The registration screen is a screen for registering a product to be introduced by an introducing user in the information processing service, and is provided with input fields for inputting information about the product to be introduced, such as a field for inputting the provider's ID, a field for inputting the product ID, a field for inputting certification conditions, a field for inputting bonus details, etc.

[0045] In this case, when the provider inputs information into the input fields on the registration screen, the provider terminal 1 transmits a registration request including information about the product input by the provider to the information processing device 4. Then, the information processing device 4 receives the registration request from the provider terminal 1.

[0046] In a second step, the registration unit 431 registers the product. Specifically, the registration unit 431 registers the product by storing information about the product included in the acquired registration request in a product management database.

[0047] [Authorization token issuance process] Next, a description will be given of the authorization token issuance process executed by the information processing device 4. The authorization token issuance unit 432 executes a process for issuing an authorization token to an introducing user. Specifically, the authorization token issuance unit 432 executes the process for issuing an authorization token by executing the following two steps.

[0048] As a first step, the certified token issuing unit 432 acquires a certification request for a product from the introducing user terminal 2. The certification request is a request to have the introducing user certified as the introducer of the product, and includes, for example, the ID of the introducing user and the ID of the product.

[0049] For example, first, when the introducing user selects a function item for receiving authorization to introduce a product from the menu of the dedicated app on the introducing user terminal 2, the provider terminal 1 displays a product selection screen. The product selection screen is a screen on which the introducing user receives authorization to introduce a product, and displays, for example, a list of products registered in the information processing service (for example, a list of products whose information is stored in the product management database).

[0050] In this case, when the introducing user selects a product for which he or she wishes to receive introduction certification from the list of products displayed on the product selection screen, the introducing user terminal 2 transmits a certification request including the introducing user's ID and the ID of the product selected by the introducing user to the information processing device 4. The certification request may further include the ID of the provider who provides the product. Then, the information processing device 4 acquires the certification request from the introducing user terminal 2.

[0051] As a second step, the authorized token issuing unit 432 executes processing for issuing an authorized token to the introducing user. Specifically, upon receiving an authorization request from the introducing user terminal 2, the authorized token issuing unit 432 causes the blockchain B to issue an authorized token corresponding to the introducing user and the product selected by the introducing user, and grants the authorized token to the introducing user.

[0052] For example, first, the certified token issuing unit 432 transmits the ID of the introducing user and the ID of the product included in the certification request to the blockchain B. The blockchain B issues a token ID and issues a soulbound token, which is a non-fungible and non-transferable token including the ID of the issued token, the ID of the introducing user, and the ID of the product, as the certified token.

[0053] Fig. 4 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of an authorized token. In the example shown in Fig. 4, the authorized token is associated with a token ID, an introducing user ID, and a product ID. Note that the authorized token is not limited to the example shown in Fig. 4, and may further be associated with a provider ID and type information indicating that the token type is an authorized token.

[0054] Returning to FIG. 2, when blockchain B issues a certification token, the certification token issuing unit 432 transmits the certification token (for example, a token ID, etc.) to the introducing user terminal 2 that sent the certification request. The introducing user terminal 2 then stores the acquired certification token. In this way, by having blockchain B issue a soulbound token as the certification token, the information processing device 4 can prevent the certification of the introduction of a product from being transferred to another user. Note that the certification token issuing unit 432 may also have blockchain B issue a transferable non-fungible token as the certification token.

[0055] The authorization token issuing unit 432 may execute a process for issuing an authorization token when a predetermined condition related to the product selected by the introducing user is satisfied. Specifically, the authorization token issuing unit 432 executes a process for issuing an authorization token when, as a predetermined condition, the provider of the product selected by the introducing user requests issuance of an authorization token to the introducing user.

[0056] For example, first, when the certified token issuing unit 432 acquires a certification request from the introducing user terminal 2, it notifies the provider terminal 1 corresponding to the provider of the product that the introducing user's request for certification to introduce the product has been accepted. In this case, the certified token issuing unit 432 may notify the provider terminal 1 of information (e.g., a profile, etc.) about the introducing user who wishes to be certified to introduce the product.

[0057] Upon receiving a notification from the information processing device 4, the provider terminal 1 displays information about the introducing user and information indicating the product. When the provider permits the introducing user to introduce the product and performs an operation on the provider terminal 1 to authorize the introduction of the product to the introducing user, the provider terminal 1 transmits a request to issue an authorization token to the information processing device 4. Then, upon receiving the request to issue an authorization token from the provider terminal 1, the authorization token issuing unit 432 executes processing to issue an authorization token to the introducing user. In this way, the information processing device 4 can grant an authorization token to the introducing user authorized by the provider of the product.

[0058] The information processing device 4 may execute a process for issuing an authorization token corresponding to a user designated by the provider. The user designated by the provider is a user selected by the provider from among multiple users of the information processing service, or a person who has individually contracted with the provider to introduce a product (a user who uses the information processing service or a user who does not use the information processing service). For example, when the provider first performs an operation to input information about a user to be authorized as an introducer who will introduce a product in the provider terminal 1, the provider terminal 1 transmits to the information processing device 4 a request for issuing an authorization token including the ID of the user selected by the provider. Then, upon receiving the request for issuing an authorization token from the provider terminal 1, the authorization token issuing unit 432 executes a process for issuing an authorization token to the introducing user.

[0059] Furthermore, the information processing device 4 may execute a process for issuing an authorization token corresponding to the first product to an introducing user who has previously introduced a second product provided by the provider of the first product. The first product and the second product are, for example, different products (e.g., products from the same series or different series) and are provided by the same provider.

[0060] For example, first, when the authorization token issuance unit 432 receives a request to issue an authorization token corresponding to a first product from the provider terminal 1, it refers to the blockchain B and searches for an authorization token including the ID of the provider of the first product. If a corresponding authorization token has been issued as a search result, the authorization token issuance unit 432 executes processing to issue an authorization token corresponding to the introducing user identified by the introducing user's ID included in the authorization token and the first product.

[0061] The authorization token issuing unit 432 may execute a process for issuing an authorization token when the introducing user satisfies, as a predetermined condition, authorization conditions corresponding to the product. Specifically, the authorization token issuing unit 432 executes a process for issuing an authorization token when the introducing user satisfies the authorization conditions stored in the product management database in association with the ID of the product included in the authorization request.

[0062] For example, if the certification condition is that the number of followers of the introducing user on the SNS is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold, the certified token issuance unit 432 first transmits the ID of the introducing user included in the certification request to an SNS server (not shown) that manages the SNS, and acquires information indicating the number of followers of the introducing user on the SNS. The introducing user ID in this case is an ID commonly used in the information processing service and the SNS. Then, if the acquired number of followers of the introducing user on the SNS is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold included in the certification condition, the certified token issuance unit 432 executes processing to issue a certified token.

[0063] Furthermore, for example, if the certification condition is that the provider has provided a product to the introducing user, the certified token issuance unit 432 first refers to the provision history (e.g., payment history) in the information processing service, and if the history includes a history of the provider providing a product to the introducing user, executes processing to issue a certified token. In this manner, the information processing device 4 can grant a certified token to an introducing user who meets the predetermined conditions. Note that the certified token issuance unit 432 refers to the provision history in the information processing service, and if the history does not include a history of the provider providing a product to the introducing user, it may notify the introducing user terminal 2 that the introducing user needs to receive a product from the provider in order to be certified.

[0064] [Token issuance process] Next, a description will be given of the process of issuing an issue token executed by the information processing device 4. The introduction token issuing unit 433 executes a process for issuing an introduction token corresponding to an introducing user and a product to an introduced user on the condition that an authorized token corresponding to the product has been issued to the introducing user. Specifically, the introduction token issuing unit 433 executes the process for issuing an introduction token by executing the following three steps.

[0065] As a first step, the introduction token issuing unit 433 acquires an introduction request. The introduction request is a request for the issuance of an introduction token for the introducing user to record the record of introducing a product to an introduced user, and includes, for example, the ID of the introducing user, the ID of the introduced user, and the ID of the product. The introduction request may also include the ID of the provider and the ID of a token corresponding to the authorization token.

[0066] Specifically, the introduction token issuing unit 433 acquires an introduction request from the introducing user. For example, first, when the introducing user selects a function item for introducing a product from a menu of a dedicated app on the introducing user terminal 2, the introducing user terminal 2 displays an introduction screen. The introduction screen is a screen on which the introducing user introduces the product to the introduced user, and is provided with, for example, an item for specifying the product to be introduced, an item for specifying the introduced user who is the introduction destination, and an item for inputting the introduction content.

[0067] In this case, when the introducing user specifies a product and an introduced user on the introduction screen and performs an operation to input the introduction content, the introducing user terminal 2 transmits an introduction request including an introduction message indicating the input introduction content, the introducing user ID, the ID of the specified introduced user, and the ID of the specified product to the information processing device 4. Then, the introduction token issuing unit 433 acquires the introduction request from the introducing user terminal 2. Thereafter, the introduction token issuing unit 433 transmits the acquired introduction message to the introduced user terminal 3 corresponding to the acquired ID of the introduced user.

[0068] In a second step, the introduction token issuing unit 433 searches for an authorization token corresponding to a specific introducing user and a specific product. The authorization token corresponding to a specific introducing user and a specific product may be, for example, a non-fungible token including a combination of the acquired introducing user ID and the acquired product ID, a non-fungible token including a combination of the acquired introducing user ID, the acquired product ID, and type information indicating that the token type is an authorization token, or a soulbound token including a combination of the acquired introducing user ID and the acquired product ID.

[0069] Specifically, the introduction token issuing unit 433 refers to the blockchain B and searches for an authorization token corresponding to a combination of a specific introducing user and a specific product. When acquiring a token ID from the introducing user terminal 2, the introduction token issuing unit 433 may refer to the blockchain B and search for an authorization token corresponding to the acquired token ID.

[0070] As a third step, the introduction token issuing unit 433 executes processing for issuing an introduction token when an authorized token corresponding to a specific introducing user and a specific product has been issued. Specifically, when the introduction token issuing unit 433 acquires an introduction request from the introducing user terminal 2, it causes the blockchain B to issue an introduction token corresponding to the introducing user, the introduced user designated by the introducing user, and the product designated by the introducing user, and grants the introduction token to the introduced user.

[0071] For example, first, the introduction token issuing unit 433 transmits the introducing user's ID, the introduced user's ID, and the product ID included in the introduction request to blockchain B. Blockchain B issues a token ID, and issues a non-fungible, transferable token including the issued token ID, the introducing user's ID, the introduced user's ID, and the product ID as an introduction token. The introduction token issuing unit 433 may cause blockchain B to issue an introduction token that further includes type information indicating that the type of token to be issued is an introduction token.

[0072] FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of an introduction token. In the example shown in FIG. 5, the introduction token is associated with a token ID, an introducing user ID, an introduced user ID, and a product ID. Note that the introduction token is not limited to the example shown in FIG. 5, and may further be associated with type information indicating that the type of token is an introduction token. Furthermore, the introduction token may further be associated with an issue date on which the introduction token is issued and an expiration date of the introduction token (for example, one week, one month, one year, etc.). The expiration date may be a deadline predetermined by the information processing device 4, or may be a deadline determined by the provider of the product.

[0073] 2, when the blockchain B issues an introduction token, the introduction token issuing unit 433 transmits the introduction token (for example, a token ID or the like) to the introduced user terminal 3 corresponding to the acquired ID of the introduced user. Thereafter, the introduced user terminal 3 stores the acquired introduction token.

[0074] Here, if an introducing user introduces a product to an introduced user with negative content, it may not be appropriate to grant a benefit to such an introducing user even if the introduced user subsequently purchases the product. Therefore, the information processing device 4 may execute a process for issuing an introduction token when the introducing user introduces a product to an introduced user with positive content. Specifically, the introduction token issuing unit 433 refers to the introduction content in which the introducing user introduces the product to the introduced user, and executes a process for issuing an introduction token with the additional condition that the introduction content indicates a positive evaluation of the product.

[0075] For example, first, the introduction token issuing unit 433 analyzes the introduction message acquired from the introducing user terminal 2 and determines whether the content of the introduction message is a positive evaluation of the product. Whether the content of the introduction message is a positive evaluation of the product may be determined by whether or not it contains any negative evaluations, or whether or not the proportion of positive evaluations among the positive and negative evaluations is high. The introduction token issuing unit 433 determines whether or not the evaluation is positive for the product using, for example, known technology (e.g., emotion analysis such as sentiment analysis).

[0076] The introduction token issuing unit 433 further executes an introduction token issuing process when the introduction content of the introduction message is a positive evaluation of the product. In this way, the information processing device 4 can grant a benefit to the introducing user who introduced the product to the introduced user with positive content.

[0077] In the above, an example has been described in which the introduction token issuing unit 433 executes a process of issuing an introduction token corresponding to an introduced user designated by the introducing user, but this is not limiting. For example, the introduction token issuing unit 433 executes a process for issuing an introduction token to a follower who follows the introducing user on an SNS as an introduced user.

[0078] For example, first, when the introducing user performs an operation to post an introduction message for a specified product on the SNS using the introducing user terminal 2, the introducing user terminal 2 posts the introduction message on the SNS and transmits an introduction request to the information processing device 4. In this case, the introduction request includes the introducing user's ID and the product ID. The introducing user's ID included in the introduction request is an ID commonly used in the information processing service and the SNS. Upon receiving the introduction request, the introduction token issuing unit 433 inquires about the introducing user's followers by transmitting the introducing user's ID to an SNS server (not shown) that manages the SNS.

[0079] Then, the introduction token issuing unit 433 executes, for each follower, a process of issuing an introduction token corresponding to the follower's ID (introduced user's ID) acquired from the SNS server. In this way, the information processing device 4 can grant a benefit to an introduction message posted by an introducing user on the SNS.

[0080] The introduction token issuing unit 433 may execute an introduction token issuing process for a viewer who has viewed the introduction content as an introduced user. The introduction content is content that introduces a product created by an introducing user, such as a web page. For example, the introduction content includes the ID of the introducing user who created the content and the ID of the product introduced in the content.

[0081] In this case, first, when the introduced user performs an operation to access the introduced content on the introduced user terminal 3, the introduced user terminal 3 displays the introduced content. Then, when the introduced user terminal 3 accesses the introduced content, the introduction token issuing unit 433 acquires the introduced user's ID from the introduced user terminal 3 and executes processing to issue an introduction token corresponding to the acquired introduced user's ID, the introducing user's ID set in the introduced content accessed by the introduced user terminal 3, and the product ID. In this way, the information processing device 4 can grant a benefit to the introducing user who created the introduced content in response to the introduced user viewing the introduced content.

[0082] The introduction token issuing unit 433 may execute a process for issuing an introduction token when an introduced user requests the issuance of an introduction token corresponding to a product. For example, the introduction content may have a support button for supporting the introducing user who introduces the product, and the ID of the introducing user is set to the support button.

[0083] In this case, first, when the introduced user presses the support button in the introduction content displayed on the introduced user terminal 3, the introduced user terminal 3 transmits an introduction token issuance request including the ID of the introducing user set in the support button to the information processing device 4. Then, when the introduction token issuance unit 433 acquires the introduction token issuance request from the introduced user terminal 3, it executes an introduction token issuance process corresponding to the acquired introducing user ID. In this way, the information processing device 4 can grant a benefit to the introducing user recommended by the introduced user.

[0084] The introduction token issuing unit 433 may execute a process for issuing an issue token when the introducing user satisfies the issuance conditions corresponding to the product. For example, the introduction token issuing unit 433 executes a process for issuing an introduction token when the introducing user satisfies, as an issuance condition, the certification conditions stored in the product management database in association with the ID of the product included in the introduction request.

[0085] [Granting process] Next, a description will be given of the reward granting process executed by the information processing device 4. The reward granting unit 435 executes a process for granting a reward to the introducing user when the introduced user performs procedures to pay for the merchandise corresponding to the introduction token after the introduction token is issued. Specifically, the information processing device 4 executes the process for granting a reward to the introducing user by executing the following two steps.

[0086] As a first step, the payment management unit 434 executes processing to pay for the merchandise. For example, first, when the introduced user performs an operation to make payment for the merchandise using a dedicated app on the introduced user terminal 3, the introduced user terminal 3 sends a payment request to the information processing device 4. The payment request is a request for payment for the merchandise, and includes, for example, the ID of the introduced user, the ID of the merchandise, and the ID of the token (introduction token) corresponding to the merchandise. The payment request may further include a credit card number. Then, upon receiving the payment request, the payment management unit 434 executes payment processing to settle the merchandise.

[0087] As a second step, when the payment management unit 434 executes the payment process, the reward granting unit 435 executes a process for granting a reward to the introducing user. For example, first, the reward granting unit 435 refers to the blockchain B and searches for an introducing token that includes the ID of the acquired token or a combination of the acquired ID of the introduced user and the ID of the product.

[0088] Then, when a corresponding introduction token is issued as a search result, the reward granting unit 435 executes processing to grant a reward to the introducing user identified by the introduction token. The reward granting unit 435 grants, for example, to the introducing user a reward whose content is stored in the product management database in association with the ID of the acquired product. When the reward granting unit 435 executes processing to grant a reward to the introducing user, it may notify the introducing user terminal 2 of a message announcing that the reward has been granted.

[0089] The reward granting unit 435 may execute a process for granting a reward to the introducing user of a product when the introduced user performs a procedure for paying for the product in a shopping service or store other than the information processing service. Specifically, the reward granting unit 435 executes the process for granting a reward to the introducing user by executing the following three processes.

[0090] As a first step, the reward granting unit 435 acquires the payment history of the introduced user after the introduction token is issued. The payment history includes, for example, information indicating the object of the payment, the date and time of the payment, etc. The reward granting unit 435 acquires the payment history of the introduced user at predetermined intervals (for example, daily, weekly, monthly, etc.) from the introduced user terminal 3, the provider terminal 1 of the provider who provides the merchandise, or an external server (not shown) that provides the shopping service.

[0091] In a second step, the reward granting unit 435 refers to the payment history of the introduced user and determines whether a procedure for paying for the product corresponding to the introduction token has been performed. Specifically, the reward granting unit 435 determines whether the payment history of the introduced user includes a payment for the product identified by the introduction token corresponding to the introduced user.

[0092] In a third step, the reward granting unit 435 executes a process for granting a reward to the introducing user when the introduced user has made a payment for the introduced product. In this way, the information processing device 4 can grant a reward to the introducing user who introduced the introduced product to the introduced user, based on the introduced user's payment history for the introduced product.

[0093] Here, if the introduced user purchases the product immediately after being introduced to the product by the introducing user, it is highly likely that the purchase was due to the introduction of the product by the introducing user, and if the introduced user purchases the product some time after being introduced to the product by the introducing user, it is low likely that the purchase was due to the introduction of the product by the introducing user. Therefore, the benefit granting unit 435 may further execute processing to grant a benefit when the introduced user completes procedures to pay for the product within the expiration date of the referral token.

[0094] For example, first, the reward granting unit 435 determines whether the expiration date included in the corresponding introduction token has passed the acquisition time at which the payment request was acquired from the introduced user terminal 3. Then, if the reward granting unit 435 determines that the expiration date has not passed the acquisition time, it executes processing to grant a reward to the introducing user. In this way, the information processing device 4 can grant a reward to the introducing user when there is a high probability that the introduced user has purchased a product due to the introduction of the product by the introducing user.

[0095] The reward granting unit 435 may further execute a process for granting a reward when the date on which the referral token issuance unit 433 issues the referral token has not passed the benefit deadline. For example, the reward granting unit 435 determines whether the issue date of the referral token has passed the benefit deadline. Then, when it is determined that the benefit deadline has not passed the issue date of the referral token, the reward granting unit 435 executes a process for granting a reward to the introducing user. In this way, the information processing device 4 can provide the introducing user with an incentive to introduce a product to the introduced user early.

[0096] When the introduced user is introduced by a plurality of different introducing users for the same product, the reward granting unit 435 may execute a process for granting a reward to at least one of the plurality of introducing users. Specifically, after a plurality of introduction tokens corresponding to the plurality of different introducing users and corresponding to a common product are issued to the introduced user, the reward granting unit 435 executes a process for granting a reward to at least one of the plurality of different introducing users when the introduced user performs a procedure for paying for the product corresponding to the plurality of introduction tokens.

[0097] The reward granting unit 435, for example, divides the reward equally among the number of introducing users and executes a process to grant the reward to each introducing user. The reward granting unit 435 may execute a process to grant the reward to an introducing user who first introduced the introduced user among the multiple introducing users. Furthermore, the reward granting unit 435 may execute a process to grant the reward to an introducing user designated by the introduced user among the multiple introducing users.

[0098] For example, first, when the introduced user performs a payment procedure for the price of a product on the introduced user terminal 3 and performs an operation to designate one introducing user from among multiple introducing users, the introduced user terminal 3 transmits the ID of the introducing user designated by the introduced user to the information processing device 4. Then, the reward granting unit 435 executes processing to grant a reward to the introducing user designated by the introduced user. In this way, the information processing device 4 can grant a reward to at least one of the multiple introducing users, even if multiple introducing users have introduced a common product to the introduced user.

[0099] [Processing of Information Processing System S] Next, a description will be given of the flow of processing executed by the information processing system S. Fig. 6 is a sequence diagram showing the flow of processing executed by the information processing system S. This processing starts when the introducing user terminal 2 transmits an approval request including the introducing user ID and the product ID to the information processing device 4 (S1).

[0100] When the certification token issuing unit 432 receives a certification request from the introducing user terminal 2, it causes blockchain B to issue a certification token including the introducing user's ID and the product ID included in the certification request, and grants the certification token to the introducing user by sending the issued certification token to the introducing user terminal 2 (S2).

[0101] The introducing user terminal 2 transmits an introduction request including an introduction message, the introducing user ID, the introduced user ID, the product ID, and the certified token ID to the information processing device 4 (S3). Upon receiving the introduction request, the introduction token issuing unit 433 transmits the obtained introduction message to the introduced user terminal 3 corresponding to the obtained ID of the introduced user (S4).

[0102] The introduction token issuing unit 433 determines whether or not the authorization token has been issued by referring to the blockchain B and searching for an authorization token including the acquired ID of the introducing user, the ID of the introduced user, the ID of the product, and the ID of the authorization token (S5). If the introduction token issuing unit 433 determines that the corresponding authorization token has not been issued (NO in S5), it ends the processing.

[0103] On the other hand, if the introduction token issuing unit 433 determines that the corresponding certified token has been issued (YES in S5), it causes blockchain B to issue an introduction token including the ID of the introducing user, the ID of the introduced user, and the ID of the product included in the acquired introduction request, and grants the introduction token to the introduced user by sending the issued introduction token to the introduced user terminal 3 (S6).

[0104] The introduced user terminal 3 transmits a payment request including the introduced user's ID, the product ID, and the introduction token ID to the information processing device 4 (S7). When the payment management unit 434 acquires the payment request, it executes payment processing (S8). When the payment management unit 434 executes payment, the benefit granting unit 435 refers to the blockchain B and searches for an introduction token including the acquired introduction token ID, the introduced user's ID, and the product ID, thereby determining whether the introduction token has been issued (S9).

[0105] If the reward granting unit 435 determines that the corresponding introduction token has not been issued (NO in S9), it ends the process. On the other hand, if the reward granting unit 435 determines that the corresponding introduction token has been issued (YES in S9), it grants a reward to the introducing user identified by the introduction token (S10).

[0106] [Effects of this embodiment] As described above, when an authentication token corresponding to an introducing user and a product has been issued, the information processing device 4 executes a process for issuing an introduction token corresponding to the introducing user, the introduced user, and the product, and executes a process for granting a benefit to the introducing user when a provider of the product corresponding to the introduction token provides the product to the introduced user. In this way, by issuing an introduction token as information indicating the introducing user's track record of introducing a product to the introduced user, the information processing device 4 can prevent the information indicating the introducing user's track record of introducing a product to the introduced user from being deleted or rewritten. As a result, the information processing device 4 can provide a reward to the introducing user.

[0107] Furthermore, this invention will make it possible to contribute to Goal 9 of the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which is "Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization, and promote innovation and resilience."

[0108] The present invention has been described above using embodiments, but the technical scope of the present invention is not limited to the scope described in the above embodiments, and various modifications and changes are possible within the scope of the gist of the present invention. For example, all or part of the device can be configured by functionally or physically distributing or integrating any unit. Furthermore, new embodiments resulting from any combination of multiple embodiments are also included in the embodiments of the present invention. The effects of the new embodiments resulting from the combination also have the effects of the original embodiments. [Explanation of symbols]

[0109] 1. Provider terminal 2. Referred user device 3. Referred user device 4. Information processing equipment 41 Communications Department 42 Storage section 43 Control Unit 431 Registration Department 432 Certified Token Issuance Department 433 Referral Token Issuer 434 Payment Management Department 435 Benefits Granting Department B Blockchain S Information Processing System

Claims

1. an authorization token issuing unit that executes a process for issuing an authorization token to the introducing user who is the introducer, the authorization token proving that the introducer has been authorized as an introducer of a commodity such as a product or service; an introduction token issuing unit that executes a process to issue an introduction token to the introduced user to prove that the introduced user of the product has been introduced to the product by the introducing user, on the condition that the certified token corresponding to the product has been issued to the introducing user; a reward granting unit that executes a process to grant a reward to the introducing user when a provider that provides the product corresponding to the introducing token provides the product to the introduced user after the introducing token is issued; An information processing device having the above.

2. the introduction token issuing unit executes a process for issuing the introduction token when the introducing user requests the issuance of the introduction token for the introduced user; The information processing device according to claim 1 .

3. the introduction token issuing unit executes a process for issuing the introduction token to a follower who follows the introducing user in a social networking service (SNS) as the introduced user; The information processing device according to claim 1 .

4. the introduction token issuing unit executes a process for issuing the introduction token when the introduced user requests issuance of the introduction token corresponding to the product; The information processing device according to claim 1 .

5. the introduction token issuing unit executes a process for issuing the introduction token to a viewer who has viewed content introducing the product created by the introducing user, as the introduced user; The information processing device according to claim 1 .

6. The introduction token issuing unit executes a process for issuing the introduction token on the condition that the introducing user refers to an introduction content in which the introducing user introduces the product to the introduced user, and the introduction content indicates a positive evaluation of the product. The information processing device according to claim 1 .

7. the authorization token issuing unit executes a process for issuing the authorization token when the provider requests issuance of the authorization token to the introducing user; The information processing device according to claim 1 .

8. the certified token issuing unit executes a process for issuing the certified token when at least one of the following conditions is satisfied: the number of followers of the introducing user on the SNS is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold; and the provider has provided the product to the introducing user. The information processing device according to claim 1 .

9. The referral token has a set expiration date, The reward granting unit further executes a process for granting the reward when the introduced user completes a procedure for paying for the merchandise within the expiration date of the introduction token. The information processing device according to claim 1 .

10. The benefit has a set deadline, The benefit granting unit further executes a process for granting the benefit when the date on which the referral token issuing unit issued the referral token has not passed the granting deadline. The information processing device according to claim 1 .

11. the benefit granting unit executes a process for granting the benefit to at least one of the plurality of different introducing users when the introduced user performs a procedure for paying for the product corresponding to the plurality of introduction tokens after the introduction tokens, each of the introduction tokens corresponding to a plurality of different introducing users, are issued to the introduced user and correspond to a common product; The information processing device according to claim 1 .

12. The benefit granting unit, after the introduction token is issued, refers to the payment history of the introduced user and determines whether a procedure for paying for the product corresponding to the introduction token has been completed. The information processing device according to claim 1 .

13. The computer executes A step of executing a process for issuing an authentication token to the introducing user who is the introducer, the authentication token proving that the introducing user has been authenticated as an introducer of a commodity such as a product or service; executing a process for issuing an introduction token to the introduced user to prove that the introduced user of the product was introduced to the product by the introducing user, on the condition that the certification token corresponding to the product has been issued to the introducing user; a step of executing a process for granting a benefit to the introducing user when the introduced user performs a procedure for paying for the product corresponding to the introducing token after the introducing token is issued; An information processing method comprising:

14. Computer, an authorization token issuing unit that executes a process for issuing an authorization token to the introducing user who is the introducer, the authorization token proving that the introducing user has been authorized as an introducer of a commodity such as a product or service; an introduction token issuing unit that executes a process for issuing an introduction token to the introduced user to prove that the introduced user of the product has been introduced to the product by the introducing user, on the condition that the authorization token corresponding to the product has been issued to the introducing user; a reward granting unit that executes a process for granting a reward to the introducing user when the introduced user performs a procedure for paying for the product corresponding to the introducing token after the introducing token is issued; A program to function as a

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