Referral system and referral method

Abstract

This invention provides a referral system and method that uses member information to link referrers and referred individuals. [Solution] In the referral system 1, the first information reception control unit of the referral server receives input of referrer identification information registered at the service site. The first determination control unit determines whether the input referrer identification information exists in the database of the external service site, the issuance control unit issues referral information including the referrer identification information to the referrer's user terminal, the temporary storage control unit temporarily stores the referrer identification information included in the referral information on the referred person's user terminal or server, the second information reception control unit receives input of referred person identification information registered at the service site, the second determination control unit determines whether the input referred person identification information exists in the database, and the provision control unit, if the referred person identification information exists in the database, associates the referrer and the referred person using the temporarily stored referrer identification information.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an introduction system and an introduction method.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, there has been an introduction system using the Internet. For example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2020-119161 (Patent Document 1) discloses a customer acquisition promotion support device including a database creation unit, a device-side storage unit, a device-side transmission unit, a device-side reception unit, and a data processing unit. Here, the database creation unit creates a database in which feedback information by a product recommender regarding a product provided by a product provider is associated with a privilege provided by the product recommender to promote the purchase of the product and the product recommender. Further, the device-side storage unit stores the database, and the device transmission unit causes a feedback information and a privilege to be displayed on a user communication terminal via a network. Further, the device reception unit receives, from the user communication terminal via the network, a privilege selected by the user via the user communication terminal and purchase information of a product by the user. Further, the data processing unit creates shipping or provision information of the product and the privilege to the user by associating the purchase information and the privilege. Thereby, it is said that not only can customer acquisition of new customers be promoted, but gratitude to existing customers can also be conveyed.

[0003] Furthermore, Japanese Patent Publication No. 2018-132808 (Patent Document 2) discloses a customer management system comprising a customer information database, a customer-side card, and a store-side terminal. Here, the customer information database records customer information, and the customer-side card records information identifying the customer and is carried by the customer. The store-side terminal reads the customer-side card to identify the customer when the customer purchases a predetermined product or service, and transmits information about the product or service purchased by the customer to the customer information database, and conversely, receives information from the customer information database. In addition, the customer information database records personal information for sending information to each customer's mobile phone, and mileage, which is a numerical value calculated by accumulating points corresponding to the amount of product or service purchased by the customer. Furthermore, the customer management system comprises referral content, referred customer content, and confirmation content. The referral content records when any registered customer accesses it and transmits an intention to refer a new customer, and also sends a solicitation message to that registered customer's mobile phone to invite them to refer a new customer. Furthermore, the content for referred customers records the personal information of a new customer (hereinafter referred to as "referred customer") who has received a forwarded invitation message from a registered customer and has accessed the content, and also generates a registration confirmation code which is sent to the referred customer's mobile phone. When the referred customer replies with the code, the confirmation content issues coupons to both the referred customer and the registered customer who referred them if the replied code matches the registration confirmation code. This provides an incentive for registered customers to refer new customers, enabling rapid expansion of the customer base.

[0004] Furthermore, Japanese Patent Publication No. 2023-087362 (Patent Document 3) discloses a management server comprising a provider management unit, a referrer management unit, a user management unit, and a payment management unit. In this system, the referrer management unit manages the preferential information that can be issued by the provider terminal used by the provider of goods or services, and the referrer management unit manages the preferential information provided to users by the referrer terminal used by the referrer who introduces goods or services to users. The user management unit manages whether the preferential information provided from the referrer terminal has been used by the user terminal used by the user, and the payment management unit acquires payment information including the payment made by the user using the preferential information, and provides profit information to the referrer who provided the preferential information linked to the payment information. This makes it possible to provide profits to the referrer of goods or services.

[0005] Furthermore, Japanese Patent Publication No. 2015-001775 (Patent Document 4) discloses a promotional device for a promotional system in which a user's terminal device and a promotional device are connected via a network. In this promotional device for the promotional system, a storage unit, a provision unit, a distribution unit, and a reward update unit are included. The storage unit stores user identification information of related users in association with each other, and also stores reward information indicating points awarded to users. The provision unit selects a user to be a referrer based on the points indicated by the reward information and sends a coupon to the terminal device of the selected referrer. The distribution unit receives a coupon referral instruction from the referrer's terminal device that received the coupon and distributes the coupon to the terminal device of the referred user stored in the storage unit as a user related to the referrer. Furthermore, the point update unit receives notification that the referred user who received the coupon has used it and updates the referrer's reward information to points with a predetermined number of points added. Furthermore, when using coupons as part of campaign information, the promotional device selects users with a high track record of using previously introduced coupons as referrers and distributes coupons to them. The device then receives referral instructions from the referrers who receive the coupons and sends the coupons to other users (referred users) who are acquaintances of the referrers. This ensures that coupons are distributed to users who are highly likely to use them. In addition, the distribution device awards points to the referrer who sent the coupon to the referred user when the referred user uses the coupon. This encourages referrers to actively give coupons to referred users, thereby improving the promotional effect. Moreover, referred users are more likely to be interested in using the coupons because the referrer is an acquaintance and the coupons are only available through that acquaintance. This also improves the promotional effect.

[0006] Furthermore, Japanese Patent Publication No. 2017-033097 (Patent Document 5) discloses a reward management server having an ID issuing means, a determination means, a calculation means, and a reward provision processing means. In this server, the ID issuing means issues a new ID when a request for the issuance of a new ID is made using an already issued ID, and the determination means determines whether the ID issued by the ID issuing means is associated with the transaction completion information when it receives transaction completion information from a transaction server that conducts electronic commerce. If the determination means determines that the ID issued by the ID issuing means is associated with the transaction completion information, the calculation means calculates the reward amount, and the reward provision processing means provides the reward amount calculated by the calculation means to the owner of the ID issued by the ID issuing means that the determination means determined to be associated with the transaction completion information, and to the owner of the already issued ID used to issue the said ID. Furthermore, when a commercial transaction is completed using an ID, the reward management server not only rewards the owner of the ID for the successful transaction, but also rewards the owner of the previously issued ID used to issue the ID. This encourages ID owners to issue IDs to others who do not yet possess one. This is expected to increase opportunities for commercial transactions using IDs and improve the efficiency of the commercial transaction server.

[0007] Furthermore, Japanese Patent Publication No. 2020-080063 (Patent Document 6) discloses a point management system for managing points awarded to referrers who introduce purchasers of specific goods or services. Here, the points are usable for purchasing goods or services, and the point management system comprises an ID-related storage unit, a purchaser point storage unit, a referrer point storage unit, and a post-referral point awarding unit. The ID-related storage unit stores a purchaser ID that identifies the purchaser and a referrer ID that identifies the referrer in association, and the purchaser point storage unit stores points awarded to the purchaser in association with the purchaser ID. Furthermore, the referrer point storage unit stores points awarded to the referrer in association with the referrer ID, and the post-referral point awarding unit awards points to the referrer ID when the purchaser makes further purchases of specific goods or services. As a result, referrers can earn points not only for the initial referral but also each time the purchaser (referred person) makes a purchase, thus making referrers more motivated to introduce purchasers than before.

[0008] Furthermore, Japanese Patent Publication No. 2014-102603 (Patent Document 7) discloses a server for constructing a referral reward system that communicates with users' communication terminals over the internet, allowing a large number of users to register as referrers and / or referred users in a multi-tiered system, and awarding referral rewards to users in higher tiers in terms of referral ranking based on the actions of users in lower tiers. Here, these servers are equipped with three means. The first means records the action information when a user performs a predetermined action eligible for referral rewards in the referral reward system using their communication terminal. The next means determines the referral reward that a user can receive as a referrer by weighting it based on the user's usage history information in the referral reward system. The last means calculates the referral reward for the user from the action information and weighting. This makes it possible to improve the use and promote sales of products and services provided through a referral reward system that awards referral rewards using a tier system over the internet. [Prior art documents] [Patent Documents]

[0009] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2020-119161 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2018-132808 [Patent Document 3] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2023-087362 [Patent Document 4] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2015-001775 [Patent Document 5] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2017-033097 [Patent Document 6] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2020-080063 [Patent Document 7] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2014-102603 [Overview of the project] [Problems that the invention aims to solve]

[0010] Traditionally, service providers offering membership-based services such as gyms, driving schools, and cram schools have used referral campaigns, where members are introduced by friends and family, as a means of acquiring new members (new customers). Typically, a referral campaign involves an existing member acting as the referrer, introducing their friends and family to the service's promotional campaign. When the referred person joins, the service provider offers benefits to both the referrer and the referred person, thus motivating the referrer to make referrals and the referred person to join.

[0011] In such referral campaigns, when a person referred by a referrer receives a service from a service provider, the service provider needs to identify the referrer who made the referral. However, in recent years, regulations on the handling of personal information have become stricter, making it difficult for service providers to obtain the personal information of referrers from those who have been referred. Therefore, even if service providers conduct referral campaigns, they face the challenge of difficulty in obtaining the personal information of referrers, which hinders the effective functioning of the referral campaign.

[0012] On the other hand, e-commerce sites, mail-order sites, and subscription-based service sites also employ a membership system, requiring users to register their membership information when using the service site. If service providers can utilize the membership information of service site providers when conducting referral campaigns, it becomes easier to obtain the personal information of referrers, potentially making the referral campaign more effective.

[0013] Therefore, in order to make referral campaigns effective and promote their adoption, a system was needed that could identify referrers by utilizing member information from service site providers that already employ a membership system, without directly obtaining the referrer's personal information from the referred person. The technologies described in the aforementioned Patent Documents 1-7 do not envision the above-mentioned system and therefore cannot solve the above-mentioned problem.

[0014] Therefore, the present invention has been made to solve the aforementioned problems, and aims to provide a referral system and referral method that can associate a referrer who introduced a referral campaign with a person who was introduced to the referral campaign by that referrer, by utilizing member information registered on the service site. [Means for solving the problem]

[0015] The referral system according to the present invention comprises a first information reception control unit, a first determination control unit, an issuance control unit, a temporary storage control unit, a second information reception control unit, a second determination control unit, and a provision control unit. The first information reception control unit accepts input of referrer identification information registered at a predetermined service site when a referral key for a referral campaign at a predetermined service site is selected by the referrer's user terminal. The first determination control unit determines whether the input referrer identification information exists in the database of the external service site when the predetermined referrer identification information is entered. The issuance control unit issues referral information including the referrer identification information to the referrer's user terminal if the referrer identification information exists in the database. The temporary storage control unit temporarily stores the referrer identification information contained in the referral information on the referred person's user terminal or server when the referred person's user terminal selects the referral information provided from the referrer's user terminal. The second information reception control unit accepts input of referred person identification information registered at the service site when the referred person's user terminal selects a reward application key for the referral campaign via the referral information. The second determination control unit, upon receiving predetermined referral identification information, determines whether or not the entered referral identification information exists in the database. If the referral identification information exists in the database, the provision control unit uses the temporarily stored referrer identification information to associate the referrer with the referral.

[0016] The introduction method according to the present invention comprises a first information reception control step, a first determination control step, an issuance control step, a temporary storage control step, a second information reception control step, a second determination control step, and a provision control step. Each control step of the introduction method corresponds to each control unit of the introduction system. [Effects of the Invention]

[0017] According to the present invention, it is possible to associate the referrer who introduced the referral campaign with the person who was introduced to the referral campaign by the referrer, by utilizing the member information registered on the service site.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0018] [Figure 1] It is a functional block diagram of an introduction system according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] It is a flowchart for showing the execution procedure of an introduction method according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 3] It is a diagram (Fig. 3A) showing an example of the relationship between the membership registration screen, the user terminal of the introducer, and the service site server, and a diagram (Fig. 3B) showing an example of the login table. [Figure 4] It is a diagram (Fig. 4A) showing an example of the service site screen in the logged-in state, a diagram (Fig. 4B) showing an example of another service site screen, the entry screen, and a diagram (Fig. 4C) showing an example of the relationship between the user terminal of the introducer, the introduction server, and the service site server. [Figure 5] It is a diagram (Fig. 5A) showing an example of the input error screen, a diagram (Fig. 5B) showing an example of the introducer-introduced person table, and a diagram (Fig. 5C) showing an example of the introduction information screen. [Figure 6] It is a diagram (Fig. 6A) showing an example of the SNS screen of the introducer and the SNS screen of the introduced person, and a diagram (Fig. 6B) showing an example of the introduction campaign screen and the membership screen. [Figure 7] It is a diagram (Fig. 7A) showing an example of the relationship between the membership registration screen, the user terminal of the introducer, and the service site server, and a diagram (Fig. 7B) showing an example of the login table. [Figure 8] It is a diagram (Fig. 8A) showing an example of the performance table, the privilege application screen, and a diagram (Fig. 8B) showing an example of the relationship between the user terminal of the introduced person, the introduction server, and the service site server. [Figure 9] It is a diagram (Fig. 9A) showing an example of the requirement non-conformance screen, a diagram (Fig. 9B) showing an example of the privilege application completion screen, and a diagram (Fig. 9C) showing an example of the introducer-introduced person table. [Figure 10] It is a diagram (Fig. 10A) showing an example of the message of the introducer, a diagram (Fig. 10B) showing an example of the message of the introduced person, and a diagram (Fig. 10C) showing an example of the introducer-introduced person table. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0019] The embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the attached drawings to facilitate understanding of the invention. Note that the following embodiments are merely examples of the present invention and are not intended to limit the technical scope of the invention.

[0020] As shown in Figure 1, the introduction system 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention comprises a plurality of user terminals 10, a server 11, and a network 12.

[0021] Here, the user terminal 10 is, for example, a mobile terminal device with a touch panel (smartphone), a wearable terminal device, a tablet terminal device, a portable notebook computer, a desktop terminal device, etc. The user terminal 10 includes a terminal output unit (terminal display unit) that displays a screen, a terminal input unit (terminal reception unit) that receives input of predetermined instructions from the user's operation, and a terminal communication unit that communicates with the network 12.

[0022] Furthermore, in the embodiment of the present invention, for example, there are user terminals 10a owned by the user's referrer and user terminals 10b owned by the user's referrer, but additional user terminals 10 may be added.

[0023] Furthermore, the server 11 transmits data via the network 12 in response to requests from the user terminal 10, displays a screen on the terminal display unit of the user terminal 10, and receives and processes data from the terminal reception unit of the user terminal 10.

[0024] In an embodiment of the present invention, a service site server 11a for constructing a predetermined service site, a referral server 11b for constructing a referral system 1, and an SNS server 11c for constructing an SNS (Social Networking Service) are provided.

[0025] Here, the service site server 11a provides a predetermined service, specifically, a service provider site such as an e-commerce site for selling goods, a sports club, a fitness club, a salon, a driving school, a cram school, a lesson / class, or a real estate site. The referral server 11b operates and manages referral campaigns that introduce predetermined services or products. Furthermore, SNS includes, for example, Ameba, Facebook, Google+, GREE, Instagram, LINE, LinkedIn (registered trademark), mixi, Miiverse, Mobage, Myspace, Pinterest, Sina Weibo, Skype, Tumblr, Vine, WeChat, and Twitter, and the SNS server 11c operates and manages these SNS. In this embodiment of the present invention, server 11 may be a cloud server composed of multiple servers.

[0026] Furthermore, the network 12 connects the user terminal 10 and the server 11 in a communicative manner and includes a WAN (Wide Area Network) via a base station and a LAN (Local Area Network) via an access point or router. The WAN is, for example, mobile internet, 3G (3rd Generation), LTE (Long Term Evolution), etc., and the LAN is, for example, WiFi (Wireless Fidelity).

[0027] Furthermore, the referral system 1 collaborates with a distribution center (mailing center) not shown in the diagram, as needed. The distribution center, for example, provides benefits to the referrer or the referred person, or delivers products to the referrer or the referred person's address, based on instructions from the referral system 1 (or management terminal) via the network 12.

[0028] Furthermore, the user terminal 10 and the server 11 have built-in CPUs, ROMs, RAMs, etc. (not shown). The CPU, for example, uses RAM as a workspace and executes programs stored in ROMs, etc. Similarly, each control unit, described later, is realized by the CPU executing programs.

[0029] Next, the configuration and execution procedure according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Figures 1-10. First, when a referrer (for example, "abc") uses their user terminal 10a to access a predetermined address of a service site (for example, "https: / / www / abc") in order to use the services of a predetermined service site (for example, "ABC site"), the service site server 11a accepts the access from the referrer's user terminal 10a. The service site server 11a then displays a member registration site (member registration screen) on the referrer's user terminal 10a and prompts the referrer to enter predetermined identification information (for example, email address) and a password to register as a member or log in (Figure 2: S101).

[0030] Here, "identification information" refers to any information that can uniquely identify a user, including the referrer and the referred person. In this example, it is an email address, but other examples include an ID combining letters, numbers, and symbols, or the user's name.

[0031] Furthermore, there are no particular limitations on the method of acceptance by the service site server 11a. For example, as shown in Figure 3A, the member registration screen 300 displays the address 301 of the member registration screen 300 ("https: / / www / abc"), the title 302 (for example, "ABC Site"), the member registration display (for example, "Member Registration") 303, the email address input field 304, the password input field 305, the new registration key 306, and the login key 307.

[0032] If the referrer is already registered as a member, they enter a designated email address 304a (for example, "abc@def") and password 305a (for example, "123") and select a login key 307. The service site server 11a accepts the selection of the login key 307 and refers to the login table 308 pre-stored in a designated database 11a1.

[0033] Here, as shown in Figure 3B, the login table 308 stores pre-registered member email addresses 309 and registered passwords 310 in association with each other. The service site server 11a then determines whether the entered email address 304a exists in the login table 308 as a registered email address 309, and whether the entered password 305a matches the registered password 310 associated with the registered email address 309 found in the login table 308.

[0034] If the judgment determines that the input email address 304a does not exist in the registered email address 309 of the login table 308, or if the input password 305a does not match the registered password 310 associated with the registered email address 309 that exists in the login table 308, the service site server 11a displays an error screen on the referrer's user terminal 10a indicating that there are errors in the input email address 304a and the input password 305a, prompting the user to enter the correct email address and password (Figure 2: S101NO).

[0035] On the other hand, if the judgment finds that the input email address 304a exists in the registered email address 309 of the login table 308, and the input password 305a matches the registered password 310 associated with the registered email address 309 in the login table 308, the service site server 11a determines that the input email address 304a and input password 305a are correct and allows the referrer's user terminal 10a to log in (Figure 2: S101YES).

[0036] By the way, if the referrer has not yet registered as a member on the service site, they enter the designated email address 304a ("abc@def") and password 305a ("123") and select the new registration key 306. The service site server 11a accepts the selection of the new registration key 306 and refers to the login table 308. The service site server 11a then determines whether the entered email address 304a does not exist in the registered email address 309 of the login table 308.

[0037] If the result of the check indicates that the input email address 304a already exists in the registered email address 309 of the login table 308, the service site server 11a displays an error screen on the referrer's user terminal 10a indicating that the input email address 304a is already registered, and prompts the user to enter an email address and password that are not yet registered (Figure 2: S101NO).

[0038] On the other hand, if the input email address 304a does not exist in the registered email address 309 of the login table 308, the service site server 11a determines that the input email address 304a is eligible for membership registration, associates the input email address 304a and the input password 305a with the login table 308, and logs in the referrer's user terminal 10a (Figure 2: S101YES). This completes the referrer's membership registration.

[0039] Once the service site server 11a completes the login, it displays the logged-in service site screen on the referrer's user terminal 10a. Here, the logged-in service site screen 400 displays the address 401 of the service site 400 (for example, "https: / / www / abc1"), the title 402 (for example, "ABC Site"), the referrer's login status 403 (for example, "Login abc@def"), and the content 404 of the service site screen 400, as shown in Figure 4A.

[0040] Here, on the service site screen 400, the referrer can view and purchase products and services related to the service site screen 400. Furthermore, the service site screen 400 may consist of multiple types of pages.

[0041] On the other hand, if a referral campaign is being held on the service site screen 400 to introduce a specified product or service, the first information reception control unit 101 of the referral server 11b cooperates with the service site server 11a to display referral campaign announcement information 405 and a referral key 406 for participating in the referral campaign on the service site screen 400 (Figure 2: S102).

[0042] There are no particular limitations on how the first information receiving control unit 101 displays information. For example, as shown in Figure 4A, the first information receiving control unit 101 displays the referral campaign announcement information 405 (for example, "Would you like to enter the referral campaign?") and the referral key 406. This allows the referrer to be notified of the referral campaign and encouraged to participate.

[0043] Furthermore, the screen on which the first information reception control unit 101 displays the referral key 406 does not need to be limited to the service site screen 400 for which the member has already registered. For example, if the referrer accesses another service site (for example, "DEF site") using the referrer's user terminal 10a, the other service site screen 407 will be displayed on the referrer's user terminal 10a. As shown in Figure 4B, the other service site screen 407 will display the address 408 of the other service site screen 407 (for example, "https: / / www / def"), the title 409 (for example, "DEF site"), and the content 410 of the other service site screen 407. The first information reception control unit 101 then displays the referral campaign announcement information 405 and the referral key 406 for participating in the referral campaign on the other service site screen 407 (Figure 2: S102). This makes it possible to encourage participation in the referral campaign on various service sites, not just service sites for which the member has already registered.

[0044] If the referrer sees the referral campaign announcement information 405 and shows no interest, they can purchase a product on the service site screen 400 or browse other service site screens 407 without selecting a referral key 406. In this case, the referral campaign announcement information 405 and the referral key 406 are deleted, and the first information reception control unit 101 terminates processing (Figure 2: S102NO).

[0045] On the other hand, if the referrer sees the referral campaign announcement information 405 and shows interest, and selects the referral key 406, the first information reception control unit 101 accepts the selection of the referral key 406 (Figure 2: S102YES) and accepts the input of the referrer identification information (in this case, an email address) registered in the service site server 11a (Figure 2: S103).

[0046] Here, there are no particular limitations on the method of reception by the first information reception control unit 101, but for example, the first information reception control unit 101 first displays the entry screen 411 on the referrer's user terminal 10a. As shown in Figure 4C, the entry screen 411 displays the address 412 of the entry screen 411 (for example, "https: / / www / uvw"), a message 413 indicating participation in the referral campaign (for example, "Referral Campaign Entry"), a message 414 prompting the input of identification information on a designated service site (here, "ABC Site") (for example, "Please enter the email address registered on the ABC Site"), an email address input field 415, a note on the handling of personal information 416 (for example, "Regarding personal information..."), a checkbox 417 indicating agreement, and a referral execution key 418.

[0047] Here, the referrer who has viewed the entry screen 411 enters the email address 415a (in this case, "abc@def") registered on the service site ("ABC site"), checks the checkbox 417, and selects the referral execution key 418. The first information reception control unit 101 then receives the referrer's entered email address ("abc@def"), the check of checkbox 417, and the selection of the referral execution key 418 (Figure 2: S103), and the first determination control unit 102 of the referral server 11b determines whether the entered referrer's email address exists in the database 11a1 of the external service site server 11a (Figure 2: S104).

[0048] Here, there are no particular limitations on the determination method of the first determination control unit 102, but for example, as shown in Figure 4C, the first determination control unit 102 accesses the service site server 11a, which is in pre-coordinated with the referral server 11b, via the network 12, and refers to the database 11a1 of the service site server 11a.

[0049] There are no particular limitations on the form of cooperation between the referral server 11b and the service site server 11a, but one example is an API (Application Programming Interface) cooperation form that allows them to exchange data with each other.

[0050] The first determination control unit 102 then refers to the login table 308 in the referenced database 11a1 and determines whether the entered referrer's email address 415a exists in the registered email addresses 309 of the login table 308.

[0051] If the judgment determines that the entered referrer's email address 415a does not exist in the registered email addresses 309 of the login table 308, the first judgment control unit 102 displays an input error screen on the referrer's user terminal 10a indicating that the entered referrer's email address 415a is not registered in the service site server 11a, and prompts the referrer to register the email address on the service site screen 400 (Figure 2: S104NO). In other words, the first judgment control unit 102 prompts the referrer to register as a member on the service site server 11a.

[0052] There are no particular limitations on how the input error screen 500 is displayed, but for example, as shown in Figure 5A, the input error screen 500 displays the address 501 of the input error screen 500 (for example, "https: / / www / uvw1"), a message 502 indicating participation in the referral campaign ("Referral Campaign Entry"), a message 503 indicating that identification information is not registered on the service site ("ABC Site") (for example, "It seems your email address is not registered on the ABC Site"), a message 504 prompting the user to register their identification information on the service site and then participate again (for example, "Please register your email address and then enter again"), and an exit key 505. This makes it possible to prompt the referrer to register their email address on the service site.

[0053] On the other hand, if the result of the determination is that the entered referrer's email address 415a exists in the registered email address 309 of the login table 308, the first determination control unit 102 determines that the referrer can participate in the referral campaign (Figure 2: S104 YES), and the issuance control unit 103 of the referral server 11b issues referral information including referrer identification information to the referrer's user terminal 10a (Figure 2: S105).

[0054] There are no particular limitations on the issuance method of the issuance control unit 103, but for example, the issuance control unit 103 first stores the referrer identification information (in this case, an email address) and referrer information indicating that it is a referrer in a predetermined referrer-referred table. Specifically, the issuance control unit 103 refers to the referrer-referred table that has been previously stored in the database of the referral server 11b.

[0055] Here, as shown in Figure 5B, the referrer-referred table 506 stores the registered email address 507, user information 508, subscriber ID 509, referral ID 510, and referral campaign information 511 in association with each other. The subscriber ID 509 is identification information that uniquely identifies the user who applied to participate in the referral campaign, and the referral ID 510 is the subscriber ID of the referrer who introduced the referral campaign.

[0056] Therefore, the issuing control unit 103 stores the previously existing referrer's email address ("abc@def") in the registered email address 507 of the referrer-referred table 506. Here, if there is user information associated with the referrer (for example, name "abc", date of birth, etc.) in the database 11a1 of the external service site server 11a in addition to the referrer's email address ("abc@def"), the issuing control unit 103 may retrieve the user information ("abc") associated with the referrer's email address ("abc@def") from the database 11a1 of the external service site server 11a and store the retrieved user information ("abc") in the user information 508 of the referrer-referred table 506.

[0057] Furthermore, the issuance control unit 103 uses a predetermined identification information generation unit to generate unique identification information (for example, "a01") for the referrer's email address ("abc@def") as generated identification information, and stores the generated identification information ("a01") in the applicant ID 509 of the referrer-referred table 506. This makes it possible to identify the referrer's email address ("abc@def") and user information from the applicant ID 509 of the generated identification information. In addition, by using the generated identification information ("a01") instead of the referrer identification information ("abc@def"), even if the generated identification information is made public, only the referral system 1 that possesses the referrer-referred table 506 can link it to the referrer identification information, thus making it possible to issue referral information while keeping the referrer identification information confidential.

[0058] Here, regarding the referral campaign, if the identification information of the referrer who made the referral is incorporated, the issuance control unit 103 stores the incorporated identification information in the referral ID 510 of the referrer-referred table 506. However, in this case, since no one referred the referral campaign to the referrer, the issuance control unit 103 does not store any identification information in the referral ID 510. Furthermore, if there is a campaign ID (e.g., "c01") to identify the referral campaign or a store ID (e.g., "s01") that is conducting the referral campaign, the issuance control unit 103 stores the campaign ID ("c01") and store ID ("s01") in the referral campaign information 511 of the referrer-referred table 506. This makes it possible to identify the referral campaign and the store that is conducting the referral campaign. In addition to the above, the referral campaign information 511 may also store information that specifically identifies the referral campaign, such as information about the service site that decided to participate in the referral campaign, and the date and time the referral information was issued.

[0059] Next, the issuance control unit 103 generates a referral URL for the referral campaign as referral information. Here, the referral URL is the address for displaying the referral information screen of the referral campaign, but in this invention, it is generated in such a way that the referral server 11b can identify the referrer's identification information. For example, the issuance control unit 103 combines predetermined strings to generate the URL of the referral information screen of the referral campaign (referral information) as the referral URL. Next, the issuance control unit 103 generates the referral URL by adding the applicant ID ("a01") of the generated identification information as a parameter to the referral URL. Here, for example, if the referral URL is "https: / / www / abc2" and the applicant ID is "a01", the referral URL with the applicant ID added will be "https: / / www / abc2?sid=a01". Since the applicant ID ("a01") of the generated identification information can be obtained from this referral URL, it becomes possible to identify the referrer from the referral URL. Such processing is particularly effective because it makes it easy to identify which referrer issued which referral URL when multiple referrers refer the same referral campaign.

[0060] In the above example, the applicant ID of the generated identification information ("a01") was used as the information attached to the referral URL. However, the method is not limited to these. For example, the referrer's email address 415a ("abc@def") or the applicant ID of the generated identification information ("a01") may be encrypted using a predetermined encryption method, and this encrypted data may be attached to the URL of the referral information screen of the referral campaign. There are no particular limitations on the encryption method. For example, hashing, which replaces the referrer's email address 415a ("abc@def") or the applicant ID of the generated identification information ("a01") with an irregular string based on a predetermined calculation function or method, can be used. This makes it possible to enhance the confidentiality of the referrer identification information.

[0061] Next, the issuance control unit 103 uses the issued referral URL to display the referral information screen 512 on the referrer's user terminal 10a, as shown in Figure 5C. The referral information screen 512 displays, for example, the address 513 of the referral information screen 512 (for example, "https: / / www / uvw2"), a message 514 encouraging referrals to the referral campaign (for example, "Send a referral message to your friends."), a referral URL 515 indicating the referral information for the referral campaign (for example, "URL..."), and a referral method key 516 indicating how to introduce the referral information. For example, if the applicant ID ("a01") of the generated identification information is used as the referrer identification information, the referral URL 515 can be "https: / / www / abc2?sid=a01". This makes it easy to carry out referral activities for the referral campaign.

[0062] Here, the referral method key 516 could include, for example, a "Send via SNS" key 516a for sending the referral URL via SNS, a "Send via Email" key 516b for sending the referral URL via email, and a "Copy Referral URL" key 516c for copying the referral URL to the memory of the user terminal 10a. This allows referrers to perform referral activities using various referral methods by selecting the referral method key 516.

[0063] Now, when the referrer has viewed the referral information screen 512, for example, selects the "Send via SNS" key 516a, the issuing control unit 103 accepts the selection of the "Send via SNS" key 516a and launches the SNS application. The referrer's user terminal 10a then launches the SNS application and accesses the SNS server 11c, which displays the referrer's SNS screen 600.

[0064] Here, there are no particular limitations on the referrer's SNS screen 600, but for example, as shown in Figure 6A, the referrer's SNS screen 600 displays the address 601 of the referrer's SNS screen 600 (for example, "https: / / www / hij1"), the SNS title 602, a referral message 603 including the referral URL 603a (for example, "I'd like to introduce you to a referral campaign. Referral URL..."), a sending key 604 for sending the referral message 603, and a list of recipients 605 for the referral message 603. Here, the recipient list 605 displays a list of recipients such as friends, family, colleagues, and superiors who are pre-associated with the referrer of the SNS on the SNS server 11c.

[0065] Then, when the referrer, while viewing the SNS screen 600, selects a specific recipient 605a from the recipient list 605 and selects a sending key 604, the referrer's user terminal 10a accepts the selection of the sending key 604, and the SNS server 11c sends the referral message 603 to the selected recipient 605a. This makes it possible for the referrer to easily send referral messages 603 to others who are related to them using SNS.

[0066] Now, the referred person at destination 605a receives the referral message 603 from the referrer via the SNS server 11c on the referred person's user terminal 10b.

[0067] For example, when the referred person at recipient 605a accesses the SNS server 11c using the referred person's user terminal 10b, the SNS server 11c displays the referred person's SNS screen, including the referral message 603 from the referrer, on the referred person's user terminal 10b.

[0068] Here, there are no particular limitations on the referred person's SNS screen 606, but for example, as shown in Figure 6A, the referred person's SNS screen 606 displays the address 607 of the referred person's SNS screen 606 (for example, "https: / / www / hij2"), the SNS title 608, the sender information 609 indicating the referrer, and a referral message 610 including the referral URL 610a (for example, "I'd like to introduce you to a referral campaign. Referral URL..."). This allows the referred person to check the referrer's referral message 610 via SNS.

[0069] Furthermore, while the above description explains the case where the "Send via SNS" key 516a is selected as the referral method key 510, it is not limited to this. For example, if the "Send via email" key 516b is selected, the referrer's user terminal 10a will launch an email application, allowing the referrer to send a referral message containing the referral URL to others using the email application. Also, for example, if the "Copy referral URL" key 516c is selected, the referral URL will be temporarily stored in a designated memory on the referrer's user terminal 10a, allowing the referrer to send the temporarily stored referral URL to others by operating the user terminal 10a.

[0070] Now, when the person being referred confirms the referral message 610 from the referrer and selects the referral URL 610a, the referred person's user terminal 10b accepts the selection of the referral URL 610a and accesses the referral server 11b based on the referral URL 610a. The temporary storage control unit 104 of the referral server 11b then displays the referral campaign screen on the referred person's user terminal 10b (Figure 2: S201). The referral URL 515 could be "https: / / www / abc2?sid=a01".

[0071] Here, there are no particular limitations to the referral campaign screen 611, but for example, as shown in Figure 6B, the referral campaign screen 611 displays the address 612 of the referral campaign screen 611 (for example, "https: / / www / abc2?sid=a01"), the title 613 (for example, "ABC Site"), the title of the referral campaign 614 (for example, "Referral Campaign"), the details of the referral campaign 615 (for example, assuming a specific service, "Book a trial first"), the trial key 616 for trying the service or product introduced in the referral campaign (for example, "Book a trial here"), the details 617 for receiving benefits after trying the service or product in the referral campaign (for example, "Apply for benefits after joining"), and the benefit application key 618 for receiving benefits (for example, "Apply for benefits here"). This allows the referred person to try the service or product introduced in the referral campaign. Note that here, the address 612 of the referral campaign screen 611 corresponds to the referral URL 610a.

[0072] Next, the temporary storage control unit 104 displays the referral campaign screen 611 on the referred user terminal 10b, and temporarily stores the referrer identification information contained in the referral URL 610a on the referred user terminal 10b or the referral server 11b (Figure 2: S202).

[0073] Here, there are no particular limitations on the temporary storage method of the temporary storage control unit 104. For example, a tag T1 that activates the browser cookies of the referred user terminal 10b is embedded in a part of the referral campaign screen 611, and when the referred user terminal 10b displays the referral campaign screen 611 in its browser, tag T1 is activated and the referrer identification information ("a01") contained in the address 612 of the referral campaign screen 611 ("https: / / www / abc2?sid=a01") is temporarily stored in the browser cookies of the referred user terminal 10b. This makes it possible to store the referrer identification information on the referred user terminal 10b.

[0074] Alternatively, for example, when the referred user terminal 10b accesses the referral campaign screen 611, the temporary storage control unit 104 may detect the referred user terminal 10b's access to the referral campaign screen 611 and temporarily store the referrer identification information ("a01") contained in the detected address 612 of the referral campaign screen 611 ("https: / / www / abc2?sid=a01") together with the identification information of the referred user terminal 10b in the memory of the referral server 11b.

[0075] Now, when the referred person becomes interested in the referral campaign service and selects the test key 616, the temporary storage control unit 104 receives the selection of the test key 616 from the referred person's user terminal 10b and causes the referred person's user terminal 10b to access the service site server 11a. The service site server 11a then displays the referral campaign test screen (in this case, for example, the trial reservation screen) on the referred person's user terminal 10b. At this point, the referred person can operate the test screen and apply for a trial reservation, thereby experiencing the referral campaign service.

[0076] Here, the referred person likes the referral campaign service and decides to become a member of this service, and operates their user terminal 10b to display the membership screen on their user terminal 10b via the referral campaign's test screen and service provision screen.

[0077] There are no particular limitations to the registration screen 619, but for example, as shown in Figure 6B, the registration screen 619 displays the address 620 of the registration screen 619 (for example, "https: / / www / abc3"), the title 621 (for example, "Service"), the details of the registration 622 (for example, "To register, you must..."), and the registration key 623. This allows the referred person to become a member of the service.

[0078] Now, the referred person selects membership key 623, completes the membership registration process for this service, and then views the service site screen again, using the referred person's user terminal 10b to display the service site's member registration screen.

[0079] There are no particular limitations to the member registration screen 300, but for example, as shown in Figure 7A, the member registration screen 300 displays the address 301 of the member registration site 300 ("https: / / www / abc"), the title 302 (for example, "ABC Site"), the member registration display ("Member Registration") 303, the email address input field 304, the password input field 305, the new registration key 306, and the login key 307.

[0080] If the person being referred has already registered as a member, they enter a designated email address 304b (for example, "ghi@jkl") and password 305b (for example, "456") and select a login key 307. The service site server 11a accepts the selection of the login key 307 and refers to a login table 308 that has been pre-stored in a designated database 11a1.

[0081] Then, as described above, if the referred person's email address 304b ("ghi@jkl") and password 305b ("456") are stored in association with the login table 308, the service site server 11a will log in the referred person's user terminal 10b.

[0082] On the other hand, if the referred person's email address 304b ("ghi@jkl") and password 305b ("456") are not stored in association with the login table 308, the service site server 11a displays an error screen on the referred person's user terminal 10b.

[0083] Furthermore, if the referred person has not yet registered as a member on the service site, they enter the designated email address 304b ("ghi@jkl") and password 305b ("456") and select the new registration key 306. The service site server 11a then accepts the selection of the new registration key 306 and refers to the login table 308.

[0084] Then, as described above, if the referred person's email address 304b ("ghi@jkl") exists in the login table 308, the service site server 11a displays an error screen on the referred person's user terminal 10b.

[0085] On the other hand, if the referred person's email address 304b ("ghi@jkl") does not exist in the login table 308, the service site server 11a associates the input email address 304b ("ghi@jkl") and the input password 305b ("456") with the login table 308 and stores them, as shown in Figure 7B, and logs in the referred person's user terminal 10a. This completes the referred person's membership registration.

[0086] Once the referred person's membership registration is complete, the service site server 11a refers to the performance table 800, which is pre-stored in the database 11a1. Here, as shown in Figure 8A, the performance table 800 stores the registered email address 801 and the registration performance information 802 in association with each of the registered email address 801 and registration performance information 802 in the performance table 800, associating them with the referred person's email address 304b ("ghi@jkl") and performance information 802b (for example, "Referral URL" or "Referral Campaign Trial and Membership") indicating that the referred person tried the referral campaign service and joined. Here, the performance information 802b should store information in the service site server 11a indicating that the referred person received some service or purchased a product. This makes it possible to store the referred person's identification information and performance information.

[0087] Now, once the referred person has tested the referral campaign service and completed member registration on the referral campaign service site, they decide to apply for the benefits and redisplay the referral campaign screen 611 on their user terminal 10b. The referred person's user terminal 10b then accesses the referral server 11b, and the temporary storage control unit 104 displays the referral campaign screen 611 on the referred person's user terminal 10b (Figure 2: S201).

[0088] Here, the temporary storage control unit 104 has already temporarily stored the referrer identification information contained in the referral URL 610a (Figure 2: S202), so this process is omitted.

[0089] Next, when the referred person selects the reward application key 618 via the referral campaign screen 611, the second information reception control unit 105 accepts the selection of the reward application key 618 (Figure 2: S203YES) and accepts the input of the referred person identification information (email address) registered in the service site server 11a (Figure 2: S204).

[0090] Here, there are no particular limitations on the method of reception by the second information reception control unit 105, but for example, the second information reception control unit 105 displays the reward application screen 803 on the referred user terminal 10b. As shown in Figure 8B, the reward application screen 803 displays the address 804 of the reward application screen 803 (for example, "https: / / www / xyz"), a message 805 indicating the application for the referral campaign reward (for example, "Application for referral campaign reward"), a message 806 prompting the user to enter identification information on a designated service site ("ABC site") (for example, "Please enter the email address registered on the ABC site."), an email address input field 807, a note on the handling of personal information 808 (for example, "Regarding personal information..."), a checkbox 809 indicating agreement, and an application execution key 810.

[0091] Here, the referred person who sees the benefit application screen 803 enters the email address 807b (in this case, "ghi@jkl") registered on the service site ("ABC site"), checks the checkbox 809, and selects the application execution key 810. The second information reception control unit 105 then accepts the referred person's entered email address 807b ("ghi@jkl"), the check of checkbox 809, and the selection of the application execution key 810 (Figure 2: S204YES). The second determination control unit 105 of the referral server 11b then determines whether the entered email address of the referred person exists in the database 11a1 of the external service site server 11a (Figure 2: S205).

[0092] Here, there are no particular limitations on the determination method of the second determination control unit 106, but for example, as shown in Figure 8A, the second determination control unit 106 accesses the service site server 11a, which is linked with the referral server 11b, via the network 12, and refers to the database 11a1 of the service site server 11a. Here, the form of cooperation between the referral server 11b and the service site server 11a is, as described above, for example, an API linkage form.

[0093] The second determination control unit 106 then refers to the login table 308 in the referenced database 11a1 and determines whether the entered email address 807b of the person being referred exists in the registered email address 309 of the login table 308.

[0094] If the result of the determination is that the entered email address 807b of the referred person does not exist in the registered email address 309 of the login table 308, the second determination control unit 106 displays a screen indicating that the referred person does not meet the requirements for applying for the benefit on the referred person's user terminal 10b, prompting the referred person to meet the requirements (Figure 2: S205NO). This prevents the referred person from applying for the benefit if they have not registered as a member on the service site.

[0095] There are no particular limitations on how the non-compliant screen 900 is displayed, but for example, as shown in Figure 9A, the non-compliant screen 900 displays the address 901 of the non-compliant screen 900 (for example, "https: / / www / uvw3"), a message 902 indicating the application for the referral campaign reward ("Application for Referral Campaign Reward"), a message 903 indicating that the requirements for the reward application have not been met (for example, "It appears that the requirements for the reward application have not been met."), a message 904 prompting the user to meet the requirements for the reward application before applying (for example, "Please register your email address and then re-enter."), and an exit key 905. This makes it possible to prompt the referred person to meet the requirements for the reward application.

[0096] On the other hand, if the result of the determination is that the entered email address 807b of the referred person exists in the registered email address 309 of the login table 308, the second determination control unit 106 determines that the referred person can apply for the benefit (Figure 2: S205YES). In this case, since the requirement for applying for the benefit is to be registered as a member on the service site, the referred person can apply for the benefit.

[0097] By the way, as mentioned above, the requirement for applying for the benefit was that the user be registered as a member on the service site, but other requirements may be added. For example, the second determination control unit 106 may determine whether the email address of the person being referred exists in the database 11a1 of the external service site server 11a and whether the person being referred has a history of using the service site, and may add a history of using the service site as a requirement for the person being referred to apply for the benefit. In this case, for example, if the email address 807b of the person being referred exists in the registered email address 309 of the login table 308, the second determination control unit 106 then determines whether the person being referred has a history of using the service site.

[0098] Here, the second decision control unit 106 accesses the service site server 11a via the network 12 and refers to the database 11a1 of the service site server 11a. The second decision control unit 106 then refers to the performance table 800 from the database 11a1 it referenced and determines whether the entered email address 807b of the referred person exists in the registered email address 801 of the performance table 800, and whether performance information exists in the registered performance information 802 of the existing registered email address 801.

[0099] If the determination results in the referral recipient's email address 807b not existing in the registered email address 801 of the performance table 800, the second determination control unit 106 displays the requirement non-conformity screen 900 on the referral recipient's user terminal 10b, as described above, prompting them to register their email address (Figure 2: S205NO).

[0100] Furthermore, if the referred person's email address 807b exists in the registered email address 801 of the performance table 800, but there is no performance information in the registered performance information 802 for the existing registered email address 801, the second determination control unit 106 displays the requirement non-conformity screen 900 on the referred person's user terminal 10b, as described above, to encourage them to complete the service for the referral campaign (Figure 2: S205NO). This makes it possible to encourage the referred person to meet the requirements for applying for the reward.

[0101] On the other hand, if the judgment result shows that the entered email address 807b of the referred person exists in the registered email address 801 of the performance table 800, and that performance information exists in the registered performance information 802 of the existing registered email address 801, the second judgment control unit 106 determines that the referred person can apply for the benefit (Figure 2: S205YES). This makes it possible to confirm the requirements for applying for the benefit, taking into account the referred person's usage history.

[0102] Now, when the second determination control unit 106 determines that the referred person is eligible to apply for the benefit (Figure 2: S205 YES), the provision control unit 107 of the referral server 11b uses the referrer identification information temporarily stored in the referred person's user terminal 10b to associate the referrer with the referred person and provides the benefit to either the referrer or the referred person, or both (Figure 2: S206).

[0103] Here, there are no particular limitations on the method of provision by the provision control unit 107, but for example, as shown in Figure 9B, the provision control unit 107 displays the reward application completion screen 906 on the referred user terminal 10b. The reward application completion screen 906 displays, for example, the address 907 of the reward application completion screen 906 (for example, "https: / / www / uvw4"), a message 908 indicating that the reward application has been completed (for example, "Reward application completed."), reward application content information 909 (for example, if the reward is offered to both the referrer and the referred person, "Both the referrer and the referred person will be offered a reward."), and an exit key 910. This allows the referred person to recognize that the reward application has been completed.

[0104] Next, when the provision control unit 107 displays the benefit application completion screen 906 on the referred user terminal 10b, it acquires the referrer identification information temporarily stored on the referred user terminal 10b.

[0105] Here, there are no particular limitations on the method of acquisition for the provision control unit 107. For example, a tag T2 that acquires information from the browser cookies of the referred user terminal 10b is embedded in a part of the reward application completion screen 906, and when the referred user terminal 10b displays the reward application completion screen 906 in its browser, tag T2 is activated and acquires the referrer identification information ("a01") temporarily stored in the browser cookies of the referred user terminal 10b. As a result, once the referred person completes the reward application, it becomes possible to acquire the referrer identification information ("a01") of the referrer who introduced the referral campaign to the referred person in response to the referred person's actions.

[0106] Furthermore, the referrer identification information temporarily stored in the browser cookies of the referred user terminal 10b may be configured to be deleted at a predetermined time or by instruction from the referral system 1.

[0107] In addition, for example, when the referred user terminal 10b accesses the reward application completion screen 906, the provision control unit 107 may detect the referred user terminal 10b's access to the reward application completion screen 906 and, using the identification information of the detected referred user terminal 10b, retrieve the referrer identification information ("a01") temporarily stored in the memory of the referral server 11b in S202.

[0108] Next, as shown in Figure 9C, the provision control unit 107 first stores the referrer-referred table 506, associating the referred person's identification information (in this case, email address) with the referred person's information indicating that the referrer is the person referred to the referral campaign. Specifically, the provision control unit 107 refers to the referrer-referred table 506 that has been pre-stored in the database of the referral server 11b.

[0109] Here, as shown in Figure 9C, the referrer-referred table 506 stores the registered email address 507, user information 508, applicant ID 509, referrer ID 510, and referral campaign information 511 in association with each other.

[0110] Therefore, the service provision control unit 107 stores the previously existing email address of the referred person ("ghi@jkl") in the registered email address 507 of the referrer-referred table 506. Here, as described above, if there is user information associated with the referrer (for example, name "ghi", date of birth, etc.) in the database 11a1 of the external service site server 11a in addition to the referred person's email address ("ghi@jkl"), the service provision control unit 107 retrieves the user information ("ghi") associated with the referred person's email address ("ghi@jkl") from the database 11a1 of the external service site server 11a, and stores the retrieved user information ("ghi") in the user information 508 of the referrer-referred table 506.

[0111] Furthermore, the provision control unit 107 uses a predetermined identification information generation unit to generate unique identification information (for example, "a02") for the referred person's email address ("ghi@jkl"), and stores the generated identification information ("a02") in the applicant ID 509 of the referrer-referred table 506. This makes it possible to identify the referred person's email address ("ghi@jkl") and user information from the applicant ID 509, as described above.

[0112] Then, as shown in Figure 9C, the provision control unit 107 stores the referrer identification information ("a01") obtained earlier in the referrer-referred table 506 for applicant ID 509 ("a02"). This makes it possible to associate the referred person with the referrer. In the above description, the referrer identification information obtained was the applicant ID ("a01") of the generated identification information, but it is not limited to this; it may also be a selected portion or all of the referrer's email address 415a ("abc@def"). Furthermore, if the referrer's email address 415a ("abc@def") or the applicant ID ("a01") of the generated identification information is encrypted using a predetermined encryption method, the provision control unit 107 will acquire the encryption. The acquired encryption will then be decrypted to restore the referrer's identification information, which is the email address 415a ("abc@def") or the referrer's applicant ID ("a01"). The restored email address 415a ("abc@def") or the referrer's applicant ID ("a01") can then be used as the referrer identification information.

[0113] The provision control unit 107 then refers to the referral ID 510 in the referrer-referred table 506 to identify the referrer of the applicant ID ("a01") corresponding to the referred person's referral ID 510 ("a01"), and obtains the referrer's email address ("abc@def") from the registered email address 512 associated with the referrer of the identified applicant ID ("a01"). Based on the obtained referrer's email address ("abc@def"), the provision control unit 107 then sends an email notification to the referrer's user terminal 10a regarding the provision of benefits.

[0114] For example, when a referrer opens a reward offer message on their user terminal 10a, message 1000 displays, as shown in Figure 10A, a title 1001 (e.g., "Message"), a message 1002 indicating that the referred person has applied for a reward in the referral campaign (e.g., "The person referred in the referral campaign has applied for a reward."), a message 1003 indicating that the referrer will be offered a reward based on the referred person's service performance (e.g., "We will send you a gift."), and an OK key 1004. This allows the referrer to receive a reward based on the referred person's reward application in the referral campaign.

[0115] Here, there are no particular limitations on the notification method of the provision control unit 107. In addition to the above, it may also send a message offering the benefit to the SNS referrer via the SNS server 11c. Furthermore, if the referrer's and referred person's mobile phone numbers are registered in the login table 303 in addition to the registered email address 304, it may also directly send a message offering the benefit to the referrer via SMS using the referrer's mobile phone number.

[0116] Furthermore, there are no particular restrictions on the type of reward; as mentioned above, it can be a service or product from the service site, a service or product from another service site, or a gift card, electronic money, or points usable on the service site or other service sites. In addition, if the addresses of the referrer and the referred person are registered in the login table 303 in addition to the registered email address 304, the product may be delivered directly from the distribution center to the referrer's address.

[0117] Furthermore, although the provision control unit 107 provides benefits only to the referrer as described above, it may also provide benefits to the referred person if the referred person makes a purchase through the referrer's introduction.

[0118] For example, the provision control unit 107 refers to the referral ID 510 in the referrer-referred table 506 to identify the referred person with the applicant ID ("a02") corresponding to the referred person's referral ID 510 ("a01"), and retrieves the referred person's email address ("ghi@jkl") from the registered email address 512 associated with the identified applicant ID ("a02"). Then, based on the retrieved email address of the referred person ("ghi@jkl"), the provision control unit 107 sends an email notification to the referred person's user terminal 10b offering a benefit.

[0119] For example, when the referred person opens the reward offer message on their user terminal 10b, message 1005 will display, as shown in Figure 10B, a title 1006 (e.g., "Message"), a message 1007 indicating that the reward application for the referral campaign has been completed (e.g., "Your referral campaign reward application has been completed."), a message 1008 indicating that the referred person will be offered a reward based on their service performance (e.g., "We will send you a gift."), and an OK key 1009. This allows the referred person to receive a reward by participating in the referral campaign.

[0120] As mentioned above, in addition to email messages, other methods of communication include messages via the SNS server 11c and short messages using the referred person's mobile phone number. The types of benefits and methods of providing them are the same as described above.

[0121] Thus, in this invention, by utilizing member information registered on the service site, it is possible to associate the referrer who introduced the referral campaign with the referred person who was introduced to the referral campaign by that referrer. This eliminates the need for the referral server 11b to possess and manage all of the personal information of users, including referrers and referred persons. Therefore, the burden on the referral server 11b can be reduced.

[0122] Furthermore, since the referral campaign can be advertised by putting the service site server 11a, which serves as the point of contact for users including referrers and referred users, users can participate in the referral campaign through the service site server 11a to which they are already registered members. This eliminates the hassle of having to re-register their personal information with the referral server 11b, making it easier to conduct referral campaigns.

[0123] Furthermore, in embodiments of the present invention, by utilizing the referrer-referred table 506, it is possible to identify referrers who frequently refer referral campaigns and referrals who frequently use referral campaigns. For example, as shown in Figure 10C, in the referrer-referred table 506, by notifying referrers who frequently refer referral campaigns (e.g., "abc@def") about a specific referral campaign with a specific referral ID 510 ("a01"), a specific referral campaign information 511 campaign ID ("c01"), or a specific referral campaign information 511 store ID ("s01"), it is possible to promote the implementation of a specific referral campaign.

[0124] On the other hand, in the referrer-referred table 506, by notifying referred users (for example, "ghi@jkl") who frequently refer other users after being introduced to a referral campaign, based on a specific combination of applicant ID 509 ("a02") and referral ID 510 ("a02"), or the campaign ID ("c01") and store ID ("s01") of specific referral campaign information 511, it is possible to promote the implementation of a specific referral campaign. Thus, as a method for identifying frequent referrers who frequently introduce referral campaigns and frequent referred users who frequently introduce referral campaigns after being introduced to a referral campaign, one example is to train the machine learning unit on frequent referrers and frequent referrers based on the applicant ID 509, referral ID 510, and referral campaign information 511 in the referrer-referred table 506, and then have the machine learning unit identify users who are likely to become frequent referrers or frequent referred users.

[0125] Furthermore, in the embodiment of the present invention, the introduction system 1 is configured to include each control unit, but it is also possible to configure the system to store a program that implements each of these control units in a storage medium and provide the storage medium. In this configuration, the program is read by a device, and the device implements each of the control units. In that case, the program read from the recording medium itself performs the effects of the present invention. Moreover, it is also possible to provide a method for storing the processes executed by each control unit on a hard disk. [Industrial applicability]

[0126] As described above, the referral system and referral method according to the present invention are useful for all service providers, service site operators, administrators, etc. that conduct referral campaigns using networks, and are effective as a referral system and referral method that can associate referrers who introduced a referral campaign with referred persons who were introduced to the referral campaign by said referrer by utilizing member information registered on the service site. [Explanation of symbols]

[0127] 1. Referral System 10 User terminals 11 Servers 11a Service Site Server 11b Referral Server 12 Networks 101 First Information Reception and Control Unit 102 First determination control unit 103 Issuance Control Unit 104 Temporary Storage Control Unit 105 Second Information Reception and Control Unit 106 Second determination control unit 107 Supply Control Unit

Claims

1. When a referral key for a referral campaign on a designated service site is selected by the referrer's user terminal, a first information reception control unit receives the referrer identification information registered on the said service site, When predetermined referrer identification information is entered, a first determination control unit determines whether or not the entered referrer identification information exists in the database of the external service site, If the referrer identification information exists in the database, the issuing control unit issues referral information including the referrer identification information to the referrer's user terminal. When the referral information provided from the referrer's user terminal is selected by the referred user's terminal, a temporary storage control unit temporarily stores the referrer identification information contained in the referral information on the referred user's terminal or server. When the referred person's user terminal selects a reward application key for the referral campaign via the referral information, a second information receiving control unit receives input of the referred person's identification information registered on the service site. When predetermined referral identification information is entered, a second determination control unit determines whether or not the entered referral identification information exists in the database, If the referred person identification information exists in the database, the provision control unit uses the temporarily stored referrer identification information to associate the referrer with the referred person, A referral system equipped with the following features.

2. The issuing control unit stores the referrer identification information and referrer information indicating that the person is the referrer in a predetermined referrer-referred table, associating them with each other. The provision control unit stores the referred person identification information and the temporarily stored referrer identification information in association with each other in the referrer-referred person table. The referral system according to claim 1.

3. The issuance control unit uses a predetermined identification information generation unit to generate unique identification information for the referrer identification information as generated identification information. The temporary storage control unit temporarily stores the generated identification information as the referrer identification information. The provision control unit uses the temporarily stored generated identification information as the referrer identification information. The referral system according to claim 1.

4. When a referral key for a referral campaign on a designated service site is selected by the referrer's user terminal, a first information reception control step is performed to accept the input of referrer identification information registered on the said service site, When predetermined referrer identification information is entered, a first determination control step determines whether or not the entered referrer identification information exists in the database of the external service site, If the referrer identification information exists in the database, the issuance control step includes issuing referral information containing the referrer identification information to the referrer's user terminal. When the referral information provided from the referrer's user terminal is selected by the referred user's terminal, a temporary storage control step is performed to temporarily store the referrer identification information contained in the referral information on the referred user's terminal or server. When the referred person's user terminal selects a reward application key for the referral campaign via the referral information, a second information reception control step is performed to accept input of the referred person's identification information registered on the service site. When predetermined referral identification information is entered, a second determination control step is performed to determine whether or not the entered referral identification information exists in the database. If the referred person identification information exists in the database, a provision control step is performed to associate the referrer with the referred person using the temporarily stored referrer identification information. A method of introduction that includes the following features.

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