Advertising tools

Abstract

We provide advertising tools for application downloads that promote application downloads and contribute to the smooth operation of applications. Furthermore, we provide advertising tools for application downloads that utilize NFC technology and are flame-retardant, so that they can be safely used even in facilities that handle hazardous materials such as gas stations, i.e., installed on the walls of gas station buildings. [Solution] An advertising tool 10 for promoting application download and launch using NFC technology, characterized by comprising a base unit 30 having a smartphone mounting surface and a sticker-type NFC tag attached to any location on the base unit 30.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an advertising tool for application download and activation promotion using NFC (abbreviation for Near Field Communication) technology. More specifically, the present invention relates to an advertising tool for application download and activation promotion using NFC technology that can be safely used even in retail stores such as restaurants, as well as hazardous material handling facilities such as gas stations.

Background Art

[0002] Conventional downloading of applications and the like from advertising tools is performed by creating flyers with printed two-dimensional codes or pouches (a processing that encloses the entire printed matter including both sides, top, bottom, left and right, by sandwiching the printed matter between transparent polyethylene materials and performing thermocompression bonding), utilizing human resources for distribution, and conducting public relations announcements to users who visit the store through verbal prompts, or allowing users (customers) to voluntarily read the two-dimensional code with their own smartphones or the like to download or activate any desired application or the like.

[0003] On the other hand, NFC (abbreviation for Near Field Communication) is a technology and standard based on standards such as ISO / IEC 18092 and NFC Forum specifications that enable wireless communication with peripheral devices simply by holding a device close, and is translated as "near-field wireless communication" in Japanese. The tag operates by electromagnetic induction, and communication is possible at a maximum distance of about ten and several centimeters. NFC chips are mainly incorporated in smartphones, IC cards and the like, and are used for payments and near-field communication. Since communication can be performed simply by holding a smartphone or card close, it is used in various services such as smartphones with electronic wallet functions, transportation IC cards, and credit cards.

[0004] Patent Document 1 discloses an NFC-tagged strap advertisement (Patent Document 1: Title of Invention) which aims to "provide an NFC-tagged strap advertisement that enables measurable advertising in strap advertisements on trains, buses, etc." and states that "the NFC-tagged strap advertisement is attached to the front or back surface of a vinyl or paper advertisement that is wrapped around the exposed part of a strap advertisement in a means of transport. By reading the NFC tag with an NFC reader / writer on a smartphone, passengers can access the address of the provider of a predetermined content, thereby enabling them to reach their objective immediately within the means of transport, and by analyzing the influx of traffic, it becomes possible to accurately verify the advertising effect." [Prior art documents] [Patent Documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] Official Gazette No. 3248370 [Overview of the Initiative] [Problems that the invention aims to solve]

[0006] The NFC-tagged strap advertisement described in Patent Document 1 (Patent Document 1: Title of Invention) addresses the issue that while conventional strap advertisements have high visibility, the causal relationship with passengers' purchasing behavior is unclear, and the content of the advertisement is often forgotten. By attaching an NFC tag to the advertisement surface, it is possible to provide a system that allows instant access to specific content, websites, SNS registrations, membership registrations, etc., via an NFC reader on a smartphone. However, it is unlikely that it possesses the flame retardancy necessary for safe use in facilities handling hazardous materials such as gas stations.

[0007] The objective of this invention is to provide an advertising tool for application downloads that promotes application downloads and contributes to promoting application operation (by using an advertising tool with download tags) (by directing end users to pages they should see and engaging with them), and that can also be used for mobile ordering services in restaurants, directing users to reservation sites from in-store announcements, and displaying electronic menus in restaurants. Furthermore, the objective is to provide an advertising tool for application downloads that is flame-retardant and can be safely used even in facilities handling hazardous materials such as gas stations, that is, an advertising tool for application downloads that utilizes NFC technology and can be installed on the walls of gas station buildings, etc. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] To solve the above problems, the invention described in claim 1 is an advertising tool for downloading and promoting the launch of an application using NFC technology, characterized in that it comprises a base unit having a smartphone mounting surface and a sticker-type NFC tag attached to any location on the base unit.

[0009] The invention described in claim 2 is characterized in that, in the invention described in claim 1, the base portion is an advertising tool having a three-dimensional solid shape with a smartphone mounting surface approximately the size of the smartphone screen.

[0010] The invention described in claim 3 is characterized in that, in the invention described in claim 1, the base portion is an advertising tool in the shape of a sheet having a smartphone mounting surface approximately the size of the smartphone screen.

[0011] The invention described in claim 4 is an advertising tool characterized in that, in the invention described in claim 1, the base portion is provided with a smartphone mounting surface having an area necessary when smartphone screens are placed side by side.

[0012] The invention described in claim 5 is an advertising tool in which, in the invention described in any one of claims 1 to 4, the base portion is a flame retardant that meets the UL94 V-2 grade in the UL94 flammability test. [Effects of the Invention]

[0013] This invention is an advertising tool that utilizes NFC technology for application download and launch promotion, for use in retail stores such as restaurants (for example, by placing it on each table in a restaurant for mobile ordering) and by installing it on the walls of gas station buildings. It comprises a base unit with a smartphone mounting surface and a sticker-type NFC tag attached to any location on the base unit.

[0014] When used in retail stores such as restaurants (for example, by placing them on each table in a restaurant for mobile ordering), advertising tools can not only promote the use of mobile ordering but also serve as a trigger (tool) to display menus when they are digitized. When used in retail stores such as convenience stores and drugstores, users do not have to search for the application themselves, as it is automatically presented to them. This eliminates delays at the checkout counter (which can cause congestion) and helps to alleviate checkout bottlenecks, thus contributing to increased download and usage of each application and significantly improving application usage rates.

[0015] Furthermore, the base (three-dimensional solid shape and sheet shape) possesses flame retardancy that meets the UL94 V-2 grade in the UL94 flammability test. Therefore, in addition to use in retail stores, it has flame retardancy that allows it to be safely used in facilities handling hazardous materials such as gas stations. In other words, it can be used as an advertising tool for application downloads and activation promotions that utilizes NFC technology and can be placed on tables in retail stores (for use with mobile ordering), on tables installed indoors at gas stations, or on the walls of buildings. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0016] [Figure 1] These are front and rear views of an advertising tool (3D solid shape). [Figure 2] These are the plan view and bottom view of the advertising tool (3D solid shape). [Figure 3] These are left and right side views of the advertising tool (3D solid shape). [Figure 4] This is an exploded view of an advertising tool (3D solid shape). [Figure 5] This is a plan view of the advertising tool (sheet shape). [Figure 6] This is a plan view of the advertising tool (sheet shape: double specification). [Figure 7] This is a diagram illustrating the usage of an advertising tool (3D solid shape). [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0017] <Structure of advertising tool (3D solid shape)> Hereinafter, an embodiment of the advertising tool 10 (three-dimensional solid shape) according to the present invention will be described in detail based on FIG. 1 to FIG. 7. FIG. 1 to FIG. 4 show the front view (FIG. 1(a)), rear view (FIG. 1(b)), plan view (FIG. 2(a)), bottom view (FIG. 2(b)), left side view (FIG. 3(a)), right side view (FIG. 3(b)), and exploded views (FIG. 4(a): base part storage body 31, FIG. 4(b): upper part of base part 30, FIG. 4(c): lower part of base part 30) of the advertising tool 10 (three-dimensional solid shape).

[0018] The advertising tools 10, 11, 12 according to the present invention are advertising tools 10, 11, 12 (with an NFC tag affixed thereto) for application download using NFC technology and for promoting activation, which are installed in retail stores such as restaurants, and SS (gas stations) and the like (including being placed on a table, installed on a building wall or the like, or carried around by employees).

[0019] In the advertising tool 10 (three-dimensional solid shape), the base part 30 has a three-dimensional cubic shape (the interior is hollow: for antistatic purposes, the hollow portion may be filled with a (rectangular cuboid) block made of expanded polystyrene), and as shown in FIG. 2(a), the upper surface side of the base part 30 (on which a "display imitating the outer shape of a smartphone" is presented) is provided with a smartphone placement surface 20 on which a message for the user (instruction for use) such as "After unlocking the smartphone, point the back surface toward here" is written.

[0020] As shown in Fig. 4(b), the advertising tool 10 (three-dimensional solid shape) has a sticker-like NFC tag 40 (15mm×15mm, all with a dimensional tolerance of ±1mm) affixed at an arbitrary position on the inner side surface (inside the base portion 30) on the upper surface side above the base portion 30 (so as to be in a perpendicular positional relationship with the (electromagnetic wave signal) transmission position of the smartphone which is an active device). (Although not shown in Fig. 4, a sticker-like NFC tag 40 (15mm×15mm, all with a dimensional tolerance of ±1mm) may be affixed at an arbitrary position on the inner side surface (inside the base portion 30) on the lower surface side below the base portion 30 (Fig. 4(c)) (so as to be in a perpendicular positional relationship with the (electromagnetic wave signal) transmission position of the smartphone which is an active device). The arbitrary position refers to an arbitrary position in the sense that the communication environment between the smartphone which is an active device and the sticker-like NFC tag 40 is optimized.

[0021] The advertising tool 10 is provided with a base portion housing body 31 (made of silicone rubber: elastic, non-slip, and protecting the advertising tool 10 against impact from dropping) that houses the entire base portion 30 so as to cover it (see Fig. 2 and Fig. 4(a)).

[0022] For the vertical and horizontal dimensions of the base portion 32, it is necessary to secure a smartphone placement surface 20 having an area that encloses the shape (rectangle) of the smartphone screen. Specific numerical values for the dimensions of the smartphone placement surface 20 may be a horizontal dimension of 65mm to 80mm and a vertical dimension of 130mm to 180mm. Regarding the thickness of the base portion 30, in consideration of communication accuracy, it may be 50mm or less, but in consideration of usability including design, it is preferably 20mm to 30mm. In order to improve the accuracy of the communication function, that is, to make the user place the signal transmission part of the smartphone directly above the position where the NFC tag 40 is affixed, it is preferable to affix a "display (sheet) shaped like the outer contour of a smartphone" with its center position aligned with the center position of the smartphone placement surface 20.

[0023] <Structure of Advertising Tool (Sheet Shape)> The advertising tool (sheet shape) 11, as shown in Figure 5, includes a base unit 32 equipped with a smartphone mounting section 20 shaped like the outer form of a smartphone, and a sticker-type NFC tag 40 (φ40mm, dimensional tolerance ±1mm) attached to any location on the smartphone mounting section 20 (formed on the base unit 32 by printing, etc.) (in Figure 5, it is attached to the center, but it is not limited to the center). It is also being considered to attach the sticker-type NFC tag 40 to two locations on the smartphone mounting section 20. This is because, considering that the position of the reading sensor (of the sticker-type NFC tag 40) differs depending on the smartphone model (for example, some models have the reading sensor installed near the camera), communication accuracy (reading accuracy) can be further improved.

[0024] To improve the reading accuracy of the advertising tool (sheet shape) 11, specifically, as shown in Figure 5, two communication accuracy adjustment members 50 (rubber sheets: made of urethane rubber) measuring approximately 15 mm in length, 75 mm in width, and 5 mm in thickness (4 mm to 6 mm) are installed on the smartphone mounting section 20. By installing the communication accuracy adjustment members 50, when the smartphone is held over the smartphone mounting section 20, the optimal distance considering the communication accuracy (reading accuracy) between the smartphone and the sticker-shaped NFC tag 40 can be stably maintained by bringing the smartphone into contact with the communication accuracy adjustment members 50.

[0025] The base portion 32 is approximately 0.3 mm to 0.7 mm thick and has dimensions of approximately 100 mm x 200 mm. Needless to say, the size of the base portion 30 is not limited to this and can be freely selected. The material used to form the base portion 32 can be flame-retardant resin (for example, polycarbonate (PC), polyphenylene sulfide (PPS), polybutylene terephthalate (PBT), nylon (PA), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), etc.).

[0026] <Structure of the advertising tool (sheet shape: double specification)> The advertising tool (sheet shape: double specification) 12 differs from the advertising tool (sheet shape) 11 in that, as shown in Figure 6, it has two smartphone mounting sections 20, which are shaped like the outline of a smartphone, placed side by side on the base section 34. The advertising tool (sheet shape: double specification) 12, like the advertising tool (sheet shape) 11, is equipped with a sticker-type NFC tag 40 (φ40mm, dimensional error ±1mm) attached to any location on the smartphone mounting section 20 (formed on the base section 34 by printing, etc.) (in Figure 6, it is attached to the center of the smartphone mounting section 20, but it is not limited to the center of the smartphone mounting section 20). It is also possible to attach the sticker-type NFC tag 40 to two locations on the smartphone mounting section 20. This is because, considering that the position of the reading sensor (of the sticker-type NFC tag 40) differs depending on the smartphone model (for example, some models have the reading sensor installed near the camera), communication accuracy (reading accuracy) can be further improved.

[0027] To improve the accuracy of reading information transmitted from the sticker-type NFC tag 40 (φ40mm), two communication accuracy adjustment members 50 (rubber sheets: made of urethane rubber) measuring approximately 15mm in length, 75mm in width, and 5mm in thickness (4mm to 6mm) are installed on the smartphone mounting section 20, as shown in Figure 6. By installing the communication accuracy adjustment members 50, the optimal distance between the smartphone and the sticker-type NFC tag 40 can be stably maintained, taking into account the communication accuracy (reading accuracy), by bringing the smartphone into contact with the communication accuracy adjustment members 50 (when placing or holding the smartphone on the smartphone mounting section 20).

[0028] The base portion 34 is approximately 0.3 mm to 0.7 mm thick and about the size of A4 paper. Needless to say, the size of the base portion 30 is not limited to A4 size and can be freely selected. The material used to form the base portion 34 can be flame-retardant resin (for example, polycarbonate (PC), polyphenylene sulfide (PPS), polybutylene terephthalate (PBT), nylon (PA), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), etc.).

[0029] The advertising tool (sheet shape: double specification) 12 will have a smartphone mounting section 20 (arranged side-by-side) shaped like the exterior of a smartphone, a sticker-type NFC tag 40, and a communication accuracy adjustment member 50 installed on the base section 34. The sticker-type NFC tag 40 (φ40mm) attached to the smartphone mounting section 20 (arranged side-by-side) has the advantage of being able to have programs written to it that allow different applications to be downloaded and launched. In other words, the advertising tool (sheet shape: double specification) 12 allows users to select an application that suits their needs, improving user convenience and is expected to increase the utilization rate of the advertising tool 12 (10,11).

[0030] <Regarding the flame retardancy of the base material> The advertising tools 10, 11, and 12 according to the present invention are intended for use not only in retail stores but also in gas stations (SS). Gas stations (SS) have a particularly high risk of fire, so strict regulations apply to advertising materials such as those of the present invention that are installed on the walls of buildings. Specifically, advertising materials installed like interior building materials (in this case, the base part 30) must, in principle, be made of materials with flame-retardant properties (as stipulated in the Fire Service Act). Specifically, they must be non-combustible materials (materials that do not burn at all), semi-non-combustible materials (materials that hardly burn), flame-retardant materials (materials that are difficult to burn), etc.

[0031] Known test methods for confirming that the material of a posted object has flame retardant properties include the combustion test for building materials (ISO 5660-1: a certain amount of heat is applied to the material and the combustion behavior is observed, and the amount of heat generated, burning time, smoke generation, etc. are measured), the combustion test for building materials (JIS A 1321: to evaluate the flame propagation properties of building materials, a flame is directly applied to the material and the progress of combustion is observed), and the UL94 flammability test (Underwriters Laboratories): the test piece is fixed vertically and exposed to a flame for 10 seconds twice. Evaluation is based on the afterflame time after the first and second exposures, the afterburn time after the second exposure, whether or not the holding clamp burns, and whether or not the cotton placed under the test piece ignites). In this invention, material evaluation (flame retardancy test) was performed using the UL94 V test, a widely recognized standard for evaluating the flammability of resin materials.

[0032] The base parts 30, 32, and 34 of the advertising tools 10, 11, and 12 according to the present invention possess flame retardancy that meets the UL94 V-2 grade in the UL94 flammability test. Specifically, in the vertical combustion test (evaluation based on the amount of material dripped after combustion and the burning time), the afterflame time of the first combustion is 30 seconds or less, the total afterflame time of 5 sheets (number of samples) is 250 seconds or less, the afterflame time of the second combustion + afterglow time (the time that the red-hot state remains after the flame has gone out) is 60 seconds or less, the clamp part does not burn, and it is acceptable for the paper laid on top of the material to burn due to the dripped material. The above are the criteria for the UL94 V-2 grade.

[0033] Based on these considerations, the base parts 30, 32, and 34 of the advertising tools 10, 11, and 12 can be made of flame-retardant ABS resin, which has excellent flame retardancy. Other flame-retardant resins such as polycarbonate (PC), polyphenylene sulfide (PPS), polybutylene terephthalate (PBT), nylon (PA), and polyvinyl chloride (PVC) can be used, but aluminum hydroxide (powder) can also be added to the resin to make it easier to achieve the UL94 V-2 grade. Adding 20-30% by weight of aluminum hydroxide relative to the weight of the resin can improve flame retardancy. Furthermore, by adding 1-2% by weight of a silane coupling agent or titanate coupling agent to improve the interfacial adhesion between the aluminum hydroxide (powder) and the resin, the dispersibility of the aluminum hydroxide (powder) within the resin can be improved, thereby further enhancing flame retardancy.

[0034] <How to use advertising tools> Figure 7 is a diagram illustrating how to use the advertising tool 10 (3D solid shape) (the usage method is the same for advertising tools 11 and 12). With advertising tool 10, if actions such as launching an app, loading a web page, connecting to Wi-Fi, and prompting launch are registered in advance on the sticker-type NFC tag 40, then simply placing (or holding) a smartphone over the tag will execute the registered actions (for example, loading a URL in addition to the actions mentioned above) and launch the application. The capacity of the sticker-type NFC tag 40 can be selected according to the application (amount of information to be handled).

[0035] As shown in Figure 7, when using the advertising tool 10, the smartphone is placed on the smartphone holder 20 (left diagram). At this time, the power should be on (unlocked) (the initial screen will be displayed immediately after the smartphone is placed on the smartphone holder 20). After the smartphone is placed on the smartphone holder 20, the action registered on the sticker-type NFC tag 40 (for example, reading a URL) is executed after 5 to 10 seconds (depending on the internet environment) (right diagram). In this way, simply by placing the smartphone on the smartphone holder 20, the user can access the information that you want them to see.

[0036] <Effectiveness of advertising tools> The objective of the present invention is to provide advertising tools 10, 11, and 12 for application downloads and launch promotion that promote application downloads and contribute to the promotion of application operation (by utilizing advertising tools 10, 11, and 12). Conventional methods of informing users involved providing information through person-to-person communication. Due to recent labor shortages and the need to avoid person-to-person contact during the COVID-19 pandemic, the amount of information provided to users has decreased. Advertising tools 10, 11, and 12 can be used in retail stores, for example, as devices to promote mobile ordering (a system where customers order from their smartphones) in restaurants. Furthermore, because they are made of flame-retardant materials, they can be installed in locations that users refueling at gas stations are sure to see, enabling 24 / 7 information provision and subsequent guidance on downloads and launches without the need for human intervention.

[0037] Traditionally, users had to either scan a QR code to download an application or search for it on their smartphone to find it and then use the application they needed. With advertising tools 10, 11, and 12, there is no need to scan a QR code. Users can simply touch (hold over) the advertising tool 10, 11, or 12 (the smartphone holder 20 of advertising tools 10, 11, or 12) equipped with a download tag to their smartphone, which will display a pre-set URL on the user's smartphone, redirect them to a page to download the application, launch it, and (if already downloaded) launch the application.

[0038] Advertising tools 10, 11, and 12 promote the launch and use of applications at the checkout counter in convenience stores and other locations. Even users who have not yet downloaded the application can download it, and information is delivered directly to their smartphones. This eliminates delays (congestion) at the checkout counter and contributes to resolving checkout bottlenecks. As a result, the objective of this invention (by using advertising tools with download tags) has been achieved, which is to promote application downloads and contribute to the promotion of application operation. Furthermore, it has become possible to support mobile ordering services in restaurants, guidance to reservation sites from in-store announcements, and electronic menu displays in restaurants.

[0039] <Examples of changes to advertising tools> The advertising tool according to the present invention is not limited in any way to the aspects of the above-described embodiments, and configurations such as the smartphone placement part, the base part (three-dimensional shape), the base part storage body, the base part (sheet shape), the base part (sheet shape: double specification), the sticker-like NFC tag, and the communication accuracy adjusting member can be appropriately modified as needed without departing from the gist of the present invention. For example, by installing an electromagnetic shield sheet under the base part, a shield function (shield base: a sheet-shaped base in which magnetic powder is dispersed in a flame-retardant resin, with a size equivalent to that of the base part) capable of blocking unnecessary radio waves that would cause the sticker-like NFC tag to malfunction can be additionally stacked.

Industrial Applicability

[0040] Since the advertising tool according to the present invention exhibits excellent effects as described above, it can be used in retail stores such as restaurants. Furthermore, it can be suitably used as an advertising tool for application download using NFC technology that can be safely used even in hazardous material handling facilities such as gas stations.

Description of Reference Numerals

[0041] 10··Advertising Tool (Three-Dimensional Shape) 11··Advertising Tool (Sheet Shape) 12··Advertising Tool (Sheet Shape: Double Specification) 20··Smartphone Placement Part 30··Base Part (Three-Dimensional Shape) 31··Base Part Storage Body 32··Base Part (Sheet Shape) 34··Base Part (Sheet Shape: Double Specification) 40··Sticker-Like NFC Tag 50··Communication Accuracy Adjusting Member

Claims

1. An advertising tool that utilizes NFC technology for application downloads and to promote their launch, A base unit equipped with a smartphone mounting surface, An advertising tool characterized by comprising a sticker-type NFC tag attached to any location on the aforementioned base portion.

2. The advertising tool according to claim 1, characterized in that the base portion has a three-dimensional solid shape with a smartphone mounting surface approximately the size of a smartphone screen.

3. The advertising tool according to claim 1, characterized in that the base portion is in the shape of a sheet having a smartphone mounting surface approximately the size of a smartphone screen.

4. The advertising tool according to claim 1, characterized in that the base portion is a sheet shape having a smartphone mounting surface with an area necessary when smartphone screens are placed side by side.

5. The advertising tool according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the base portion has flame retardancy that meets the UL94 V-2 grade in the UL94 flammability test.

Images