Card System

Abstract

We provide a card system that enhances user satisfaction. [Solution] The card system 1 comprises a card vendor server 7 managed by a business operator and processing transactions of trading cards on which information is printed, and user-side information terminals, such as a smartphone 3, a tablet personal computer 4, a notebook personal computer 5, and a desktop personal computer 6, which can connect to the management server in response to user operations. The card vendor server 7 selects one or more trading cards from a set by lottery in response to a lottery operation by the user, transmits the winning information of the trading cards to the user-side information terminal, and provides the trading cards that the winning user has selected to acquire to the user by mail.

Description

Technical Field

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[0001] The present invention relates to a card system that conducts card transactions used in games via a network.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, among trading cards used in trading card games, there are some with a high rarity and high value, as described in, for example, Patent Document 1. Trading cards are generally sold in packages where the contents are not visible. On the other hand, in recent years, there have also been some stores that sell trading cards in a state where they are taken out of the package. Such stores set prices for trading cards according to rarity and popularity.

[0003] In recent years, in a game system using the Internet, in the game, a game medium imitating a trading card may be used to advantageously advance the game. This game medium is given to the user by a lottery process (so-called gacha) based on the user's lottery request, as described in, for example, Patent Document 2.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Patent Document 2

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0006] This invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and aims to provide a card system that can enhance user satisfaction. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] The card system of the invention described in claim 1 is a card system comprising: a management server managed by a business operator and processing transactions of trading cards on which information is printed; and a user-side information terminal that can connect to the management server in response to an operation by a user, wherein the management server sets up a set of trading cards that can be provided to the user, selects one or more of the trading cards from the set by lottery in response to a lottery operation by the user, transmits winning information of the selected trading cards to the user-side information terminal, the user-side information terminal displays the winning information transmitted from the management server, and, based on the user's selection operation, selects whether or not to acquire the trading card indicated by the winning information, and the management server processes to provide the user with the trading card that the user-side information terminal has selected to acquire.

[0008] The card system of the invention described in claim 2 is a card system comprising: a management server managed by a business operator and processing transactions of trading cards on which information is printed; and a user-side information terminal that can connect to the management server in response to an operation by a user, wherein the management server manages the points owned by the user, sets up assortments of trading cards that can be provided to the user, deducts the points allocated to the assortment from the points owned by the user in response to a purchase operation by the user, selects one or more of the trading cards from the assortment by lottery, moves the data of the trading cards selected by lottery from the assortment to a winning list, transmits the winning information of the selected trading cards to the user-side information terminal, and the user The user's information terminal displays the winning information transmitted from the management server and, based on the user's selection operation, makes a choice as to whether or not to acquire the trading card indicated by the winning information. The management server provides the user with the trading cards selected by the lottery that the user's information terminal has chosen to acquire, moves the data of the acquired trading cards from the winning list to the picking list, converts the redemption points assigned to the trading cards that the user's information terminal did not choose to acquire into points owned by the user, and moves the data of the acquired trading cards from the winning list to the total card inventory.

[0009] The card system of the invention described in claim 3 is the card system of claim 1 or 2, wherein the management server transmits to the user-side information terminal performance information for performing the lottery in addition to winning information for the trading card selected by the lottery, the winning information is information that can identify the winning trading card itself, and the user-side information terminal performs the lottery performance based on the performance information transmitted from the management server and then displays the winning information. [Effects of the Invention]

[0010] The card system of this invention can increase user satisfaction. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0011] [Figure 1] This is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a card system according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] This is a first flowchart illustrating the card transaction processing of a card system according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 3] This is a second flowchart illustrating the card transaction processing of a card system according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4] This is a first explanatory diagram showing the screen display of a desktop personal computer in the card transaction processing of a card system according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 5] This is a second explanatory diagram showing the screen display of a desktop personal computer in the card transaction processing of a card system according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 6] This is a third explanatory diagram showing the screen display of a desktop personal computer in the card transaction processing of a card system according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 7] This is a fourth explanatory diagram showing the screen display of a desktop personal computer in the card transaction processing of a card system according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 8] This is a fifth explanatory diagram showing the screen display of a desktop personal computer in the card transaction processing of a card system according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0012] [Embodiments of the present invention] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 1 to 8. This embodiment performs lottery and trading of trading cards using a user-side information terminal connectable to a management server.

[0013] <Configuration of Embodiment> FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a card system according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a first flowchart showing card transaction processing of a card system according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a second flowchart showing card transaction processing of a card system according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a first explanatory diagram showing a screen display of a desktop personal computer in card transaction processing of a card system according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a second explanatory diagram showing a screen display of a desktop personal computer in card transaction processing of a card system according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a third explanatory diagram showing a screen display of a desktop personal computer in card transaction processing of a card system according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 7 is a fourth explanatory diagram showing a screen display of a desktop personal computer in card transaction processing of a card system according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 8 is a fifth explanatory diagram showing a screen display of a desktop personal computer in card transaction processing of a card system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0014] As shown in FIG. 1, the card system 1 of this embodiment is composed of the Internet 2, a smartphone 3, a tablet personal computer 4, a notebook personal computer 5, a desktop personal computer 6, a card vendor server 7, and a mailing carrier server 8.

[0015] The smartphone 3, the tablet personal computer 4, the notebook personal computer 5, and the desktop personal computer 6 are user-side information terminals, and can be connected to the card vendor server 7 via the Internet 2 in response to operations by the user.

[0016] The card vendor server 7 is managed by a card vendor, and processes transactions of trading cards on which information is printed with the user-side information terminal.

[0017] The postal carrier server 8 is managed by a postal carrier different from the card vendor, is connected to the card vendor server 7, receives an envelope containing a trading card from the card vendor in response to an instruction from the card vendor server 7, and mails it to the user.

[0018] <Operation Procedure of Card System> Hereinafter, the card transaction process in the card system 1 will be described with reference to FIGS. 2 to 8. In the following description, the desktop personal computer 6 will be used as a representative of the user-side information terminal for explanation.

[0019] First, the user operates the user-side information terminal (desktop personal computer 6) to access the card vendor server 7, and displays a login screen 11 on the screen 10 of the user-side information terminal shown in FIG. 4(a).

[0020] On the login screen 11, an image 21 of the characters "Member Login", an e-mail address input field 22, a password input field 23, a check box 24, a login button 25, a membership registration button 26 etc. are displayed.

[0021] Next, as part of the login input process in step S1 of Figure 2, the user enters their email address in the email address input field 22 on the login screen 11, enters their password in the password input field 23, and left-clicks the login button 25 with the mouse. As a result, the card vendor server 7 performs the login permission process in step S2 of Figure 2, and then, in step S3 of Figure 2, sends the data for point purchase to the user's information terminal.

[0022] The user's information terminal then receives the data for purchasing points and displays the point purchase screen 12 shown in Figure 4(b) on screen 10.

[0023] The points purchase screen 12 displays an image 30 of the user's current points balance, an image 31 of the words "Purchase Points", and a points purchase input field 32. The points purchase input field 32 is Images of each point (33), images of the purchase price for each point (34), and purchase buttons (35) for each point are displayed.

[0024] With the points purchase screen 12 displayed, the user's information terminal, as part of the points purchase process shown in step S4 of Figure 2, displays the points purchase confirmation screen 13 shown in Figure 5(a) on screen 10 when the user left-clicks the purchase button 35 with the mouse.

[0025] The points purchase confirmation screen 13 displays an image 40 of the user's current points balance, an image 41 of the text "Point Purchase Confirmation", and a points purchase confirmation window 42. The purchase confirmation window 42 displays a points purchase information display section 43 showing the points and purchase amount, a card number input field 44 for registering the user's credit card, an expiration date input field 45 for the credit card, a security code input field 46 for the credit card, a cardholder name input field 47, and an OK button 48.

[0026] When the user left-clicks the OK button 48 with the mouse, the card vendor server 7, in step S5 of Figure 2, adds the points indicated by the point purchase operation information (the points corresponding to the purchase button 35 that the user left-clicked with the mouse in step S4 of Figure 2) to the user's points balance, and deducts the corresponding amount from the credit card registered by the user.

[0027] Then, in step S5 of Figure 2, the card vendor server 7 adds the points indicated by the point purchase operation information (the points corresponding to the purchase button 35 that the user left-clicked with the mouse in step S4 of Figure 2) to the user's points balance, deducts the corresponding amount from the credit card registered by the user on the point purchase confirmation screen 13, and sends the data of the user's points balance with the points added to it to the user's information terminal.

[0028] After this, the user's information terminal screen 10 displays the card assortment selection screen 14 shown in Figure 5(b) as a result of the processing in step S6 in Figure 2, and the user's points, with points added, are displayed on the card assortment selection screen 14.

[0029] The card pack selection screen 14 displays an image 50 of the user's points after points have been added, and small window images 51, 52...56 showing multiple card packs. The small window images 51, 52...56 display the type of card pack, an image of it, the points required to purchase one pack (i.e., one gacha pull), a login button 57, etc.

[0030] Here, all trading cards that a card vendor owns as inventory are referred to as the total card inventory.

[0031] A card assortment is a collection of trading cards that a card retailer has in stock, grouped by game type, brand, rarity, manufacturer, etc., and can be configured using either automatic or manual selection.

[0032] The stock of trading cards included in a card assortment is called the card assortment stock.

[0033] The stock of trading cards selected by lottery from the stock included in a card assortment is called the winning list.

[0034] For example, when a user operates the login button 57 in the small window image 53, the user's information terminal displays the explanation screen 15 shown in Figure 6(a).

[0035] The explanation screen 15 displays an image 60 of the user's current points, an image 61 explaining the restrictions on opening one pack (i.e., one gacha pull), an image 62 of the points required to purchase one pack, an input field for the number of packs to purchase 63, a purchase button 64, and an image 65 explaining the product (trading cards).

[0036] When a user enters the number of packs to purchase in the pack quantity input field 63 and presses the purchase button 64, the data requesting a card purchase lottery is sent from the user's information terminal to the card vendor server 7 in step S7 of Figure 2. As a result, the card vendor server 7, in step S8 of Figure 2, subtracts the points required for purchasing the packs from the user's current points, in step S9 of Figure 2, performs a card lottery process, selects a winning card from the card assortment inventory, and in step S10 of Figure 2, moves the winning card from the card assortment inventory to the winning list (updates the data).

[0037] Subsequently, in step S11 of Figure 2, the card vendor server 7 transmits the card lottery results and information about the lottery-related animations to the user's information terminal.

[0038] When the user's information terminal receives information about the card lottery results and the animations related to the lottery, it displays the lottery operation screen 16 shown in Figure 6(b) through the card lottery animation display process in step S12 of Figure 2. The lottery operation screen 16 is solely for performing the animations for the lottery for which the results have already been obtained in step S9 of Figure 2.

[0039] The lottery operation screen 16 displays an image 71 with the text "Tap to start" and an image 72 with the text "*You can skip by tapping the screen while the video is playing." When the user taps the creation screen 16 (left-clicks with the mouse), the lottery animation screen 17 shown in Figure 7(a) is displayed, followed by the lottery animation screen 18 shown in Figure 7(b).

[0040] In the lottery animation screen 17 shown in Figure 7(a), a video of a glowing card 82 rotating is displayed in a small window 81.

[0041] In the lottery animation screen 18 shown in Figure 7(b), a video is displayed in a small window 91 showing a glowing card splitting into multiple cards 92.

[0042] When the display of the lottery animation screen 18 shown in Figure 7(b) is completed, the user's information terminal displays the lottery result display screen 19 shown in Figure 8(a) through the card lottery result display process in step S13 of Figure 2.

[0043] The lottery result display screen 19 displays a vertically elongated oval area 101. Inside the oval area 101, an image 102 of the front of the winning trading card and an image 103 of the trading card's name and rarity are displayed. Below the oval area 101, an image 104 of the trading card's product number is displayed, and below the product number image 104, a "Next" button 105 is displayed.

[0044] When the user left-clicks the Next button 105 with the mouse, the user's information terminal displays the card delivery request selection screen 20 shown in Figure 8(b) through the card purchase selection screen display process in step S14 of Figure 2.

[0045] The card delivery request selection screen 20 displays an image 110 of the user's current points balance and the card delivery request selection window 111. The card delivery request selection window 111 displays an image 112 of the text “Login Gacha November 21st Release”, an image 113 of the text “Purchase Date 2021 / 12 / 09”, an image 114 of the front of the winning trading card, an image 115 of the trading card's name, a check box 116, an image 117 of the trading card's card number and rarity, an image 118 of the reward points, an important information display area 119, and a final confirmation button 120.

[0046] The important information display area 119 shows an image 121 of the number of items to be shipped and an image 122 of the reward points. After this, the process moves to the card delivery request determination process in step S15 of Figure 2.

[0047] When the card delivery request selection screen 20 is displayed, if the user denies requesting card delivery, they left-click the final confirmation button 120 with the mouse without checking the check box 116. As a result, the determination in step S15 in Figure 2 becomes No, and the user's information terminal processes a point conversion request to the card vendor server 7 in step S21 in Figure 3. The card vendor server 7 then converts the winning card into redemption points as shown in image 121 in step S22 in Figure 3, and adds the redemption points to the user's points in step S23 in Figure 3. In this type of point redemption, the data of the trading card for which the user selected point redemption is moved from the winning list (winning cards have already been moved from the card bundle inventory to the winning list) to the total card inventory.

[0048] When the card delivery request selection screen 20 is displayed, if the user selects to request card delivery, they first left-click the check box 116 with the mouse. This places a check in the check box 116, the reward points images 118 and 122 become 0 points, and the number of items to be shipped image 120 becomes 1 / 1. After this, the user left-clicks the final confirmation button 120 with the mouse. As a result, the judgment in step S15 in Figure 2 becomes Yes, and the user's information terminal, in step S31 in Figure 3, requests the card vendor server 7 to ship the winning trading card (mail order request). The card vendor server 7 then accepts the card shipment in step S32 in Figure 3, moves the data of the trading card selected by the user for delivery from the winning list (winning cards have already been moved from the card bundle inventory) to the picking list, and updates the product data and inventory quantity. After this, in step S33 in Figure 3, the card shipment acceptance data is sent to the user's information terminal. In step S34 of Figure 3, the user's information terminal displays the card shipment acceptance data on the screen to confirm that the card has been mailed from the card vendor.

[0049] Furthermore, since trading cards selected by the user for delivery can no longer be sold, the card vendor server 7, in step S32 of Figure 3, performs a process to move the data of the trading cards selected by the user for delivery from the winning list among the total card inventory.

[0050] Furthermore, in step S10 of Figure 2, the winning cards are moved from the card assortment inventory to the winning list. Therefore, in the card lottery display process of step S12 in the next card transaction, trading cards that the user has previously won will not be won again, preventing unwanted trading cards from remaining in the card assortment inventory.

[0051] For example, suppose a pack containing 100 cards is created. One user, following the process in step S7 of Figure 2, enters 10 cards in the pack purchase quantity input field 63 and clicks the "Purchase" button. If you press button 64 (spin the gacha) and purchase 10 cards, the number of cards in stock (pack stock) decreases from 100 to 90 the moment you press the purchase button 64, and the 10 cards selected by lottery are displayed in a list. If you request delivery of 6 of those cards and redeem 4 cards for points, no matter what you choose for the 6 and 4 cards, once you press the purchase button 64 in step S7 of Figure 2, you will no longer be able to obtain any more cards from this card stock (pack).

[0052] Next, in step S35 of Figure 3, the card vendor server 7 sends data to the postal service server 8 requesting mailing arrangements, such as the scheduled date and time for sending the envelope containing the goods. Upon receiving the mailing arrangement request data, the postal service server 8 arranges for delivery personnel, transport vehicles, etc., in step S36 of Figure 3.

[0053] Subsequently, in step S37 of Figure 3, the card vendor server 7 processes the card shipping process by instructing employees to retrieve the trading cards selected by the user for delivery from inventory and enclose them in envelopes as goods, printing address labels on the envelopes containing the goods (trading cards), and instructing employees to ship the goods. As a result, the envelopes containing the goods are handed over to the postal service employee, and the shipping company server 8 processes the mailing process in step S38 of Figure 3, such as notifying the postal service employee of the mailing and confirming the signature upon receipt. As a result, the trading cards are mailed from the card vendor via the postal service.

[0054] To summarize the configuration and effects of the embodiments of the present invention, the card system 1 is a card system comprising a management server (card vendor server 7) managed by a business operator and processing transactions of trading cards on which information is printed, and a user-side information terminal (smartphone 3, tablet personal computer 4, notebook personal computer 5, desktop personal computer 6) that can connect to the management server in response to user operations, wherein the management server sets up a set of trading cards that can be provided to the user, selects one or more of the trading cards from the set by lottery in response to a lottery operation by the user, transmits winning information of the selected trading cards to the user-side information terminal, the user-side information terminal displays the winning information transmitted from the management server, and, based on the user's selection operation, selects whether or not to acquire the trading card indicated by the winning information, and the management server processes to provide the user with the trading card that the user-side information terminal has selected to acquire.

[0055] Furthermore, the card system 1 is a card system comprising a management server (card vendor server 7) managed by a business operator and processing transactions of trading cards on which information is printed, and user-side information terminals (smartphone 3, tablet personal computer 4, notebook personal computer 5, desktop personal computer 6) that can connect to the management server in response to user operations, wherein the management server manages the points owned by the user, sets up assortments of trading cards that can be provided to the user, deducts the points allocated to the assortment from the points owned by the user in response to the user's purchase operation, selects one or more of the trading cards from the assortment by lottery, and moves the data of the trading cards selected by lottery from the assortment to a winning list, and The system transmits winning information for the selected trading card to the user's information terminal, the user's information terminal displays the winning information transmitted from the management server, and based on the user's selection operation, the user chooses whether or not to acquire the trading card indicated by the winning information, the management server provides the user with the trading card selected by the user's information terminal from among the trading cards selected by the lottery, moves the data of the acquired trading card from the winning list to the picking list, converts the redemption points assigned to the trading cards that the user's information terminal did not choose to acquire from among the trading cards selected by the lottery into points owned by the user, and moves the data of the acquired trading card from the winning list to the total inventory cards.

[0056] The management server transmits to the user's information terminal, in addition to the winning information of the trading card selected by the lottery, performance information for performing the lottery; the winning information is information that can identify the winning trading card itself; and the user's information terminal performs the lottery performance based on the performance information transmitted from the management server before displaying the winning information.

[0057] According to this embodiment of card system 1, the excitement and appeal of card lotteries conducted via the internet are enhanced by video presentations. Furthermore, compared to game systems that lottery game media that mimic trading cards, it is possible to mail actual trading cards to users, thereby increasing user satisfaction. In addition, the winning trading card can be fully communicated to the user on the screen of their information terminal, which also increases user satisfaction.

[0058] Furthermore, according to the card system 1 of the embodiment, the points allocated to trading cards that the user did not choose to acquire from among the trading cards selected by lottery are converted into points owned by the user. This makes it a waste-free system for the user and can also increase user satisfaction.

[0059] Furthermore, according to the card system 1 of the embodiment, the winning information is information that can identify the winning trading card itself, and the user-side information terminal displays the winning information after performing the lottery animation based on the animation information transmitted from the management server, so that the user does not acquire cards that they do not need, and this can also increase user satisfaction.

[0060] In the embodiments of the present invention, a desktop personal computer 6 was used as a representative user information terminal in Figures 2 to 8, but it is also possible to perform equivalent operations using a smartphone, tablet personal computer, or notebook personal computer as the user information terminal.

[0061] Furthermore, in this embodiment of the present invention, a card vendor server 7 was used as the management server for processing trading card transactions, but a cloud server can also be used.

[0062] As a further variation, information terminals (such as tablet computers) can be placed in the store, allowing users to participate in a trading card lottery using the terminals and receive the winning trading cards directly from the store staff.

[0063] Thus, the devices and means constituting the card system of the present invention are not limited to those described above, and depending on the purpose of use of the card system, the system can be configured with only the necessary devices and means, or other devices and means can be added as appropriate.

[0064] Furthermore, instead of configuring each means as a separate entity, they may be configured as means that integrate multiple functions. It is also possible to combine two or more systems into one, or conversely, It is also possible to configure and connect one system with two or more other systems.

[0065] For example, it is possible to share the functions of both the user-side information terminal and the management server on a single computer.

[0066] Furthermore, the above embodiments and modifications are merely two of the best possible forms or forms that come close to them at present. [Industrial applicability]

[0067] The card system of the present invention can be effectively used by businesses and corporations that provide card systems and services. [Explanation of symbols]

[0068] 1…Card System 2…Internet 3… Smartphone 4… Tablet personal computer 5... Notebook personal computer 5 6…Desktop personal computer 7...Card vendor server 7 7…Postal service server

Claims

1. A management server that is managed by the business operator and processes transactions of trading cards on which information is printed, A user-side information terminal that can connect to the management server in response to user operations, A card system equipped with, The management server sets up a set of trading cards available to the user, and in response to a lottery operation by the user, selects one or more of the trading cards from the set by lottery, and transmits the winning information of the selected trading cards to the user's information terminal. The user-side information terminal displays the winning information transmitted from the management server and, based on the user's selection operation, makes a choice as to whether or not to acquire the trading card indicated by the winning information. The card system is characterized in that the management server performs the process of providing the user with the trading card that the user-side information terminal has selected to acquire.

2. A management server that is managed by the business operator and processes transactions of trading cards on which information is printed, A user-side information terminal that can connect to the management server in response to user operations, A card system equipped with, The management server manages the points owned by the user, sets up a set of trading cards available to the user, deducts the points allocated to the set from the user's points in response to the user's purchase operation, selects one or more trading cards from the set by lottery, moves the data of the selected trading cards from the set to a winning list, and transmits the winning information of the selected trading cards to the user's information terminal. The user-side information terminal displays the winning information transmitted from the management server and, based on the user's selection operation, makes a choice as to whether or not to acquire the trading card indicated by the winning information. The card system is characterized in that the management server performs the process of providing the user with the trading cards selected by the user's information terminal from among the trading cards selected by the lottery, moves the data of the trading cards selected to be acquired from the winning list to the picking list, converts the redemption points assigned to the trading cards selected by the lottery that the user's information terminal did not select to acquire into points owned by the user, and moves the data of the trading cards not selected to be acquired from the winning list to the total card inventory.

3. The management server transmits to the user's information terminal, in addition to the winning information of the trading cards selected by the lottery, information about the performance of the lottery. The aforementioned winning information is information that can identify the winning trading card itself. The card system according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the user-side information terminal performs the lottery performance based on the performance information transmitted from the management server and then displays the winning information.

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