Apparatus and method for supporting product use, and program

Abstract

To provide an article use assisting device, an article use assisting method and a program that are capable of encouraging a user to use an article in such a way to keep the value of the article.SOLUTION: An article use assisting device 101 comprises: an information acquisition unit 203 that acquires use information indicating a use state of a user terminal 102 by a user who uses the user terminal 102 and basic information for identifying the user terminal 102; a price acquisition unit 204 that transmits the use information and the basic information to a price calculation device 103, and acquires a price of the user terminal 102 calculated by the quotation calculation device 103 on the basis of the use information and the basic information from the quotation calculation device 103; and an electronic value prediction unit 207 that provides an electronic value to the user on the basis of the price of the user terminal 102 at the end of a lease and an established remaining value stored in a storage unit 202.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an item use support device, an item use support method, and a program. [Background technology]

[0002] There are leasing services in which users use goods while paying lease fees based on a lease contract. In leasing services, goods with residual values, which are the value of the goods at the end of the lease period, may be returned to the leasing company at the end of the lease period. The leasing company may then redistribute the goods that it leased to users. In such cases, the higher the residual value of the goods, the higher the secondary distribution price can be. Therefore, it is desirable to keep the residual value of leased goods high.

[0003] Patent Document 1 shows a point management system for suppressing the decrease in the residual value of a leased vehicle when the vehicle is leased to a user. The point management system is configured to give points to the user based on the driving state of the user, and to encourage the user to take good care of the leased vehicle. It is disclosed that the point management system described in Patent Document 1 evaluates the driving of the user by scoring the degree of safe driving and the degree of eco-driving, etc., based on the driving state. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] JP 2020-95403 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] As described in Patent Document 1, when a user's usage status is scored and points are awarded to the user based on the score, it is difficult for the user to understand how the usage status is specifically reflected in the residual value. If the user cannot obtain appropriate information regarding the reward for his / her usage status, it becomes difficult for the user to use the item in a way that maintains its value.

[0006] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide an item utilization support device, an item utilization support method, and a program that can encourage users to use items in a way that preserves the value of the items. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] An item usage support device according to one embodiment of the present invention includes an information acquisition unit that acquires usage information indicating the usage status of an item by a user who uses the item and basic information for identifying the item, a price acquisition unit that transmits the usage information and the basic information to a price calculation device and acquires from the price calculation device the item price of the item calculated by the price calculation device based on the usage information and the basic information, and an electronic value provision unit that provides electronic value to the user based on the item price at a predetermined time and the set price stored in the memory unit.

[0008] In addition, in the product utilization support device, the electronic value providing unit may provide the difference between the product price and the set price in the form of electronic value.

[0009] The product utilization support device may further include a utilization evaluation unit that presents the user's evaluation information to the user using a utilization evaluation model that generates evaluation information for the utilization state based on the basic information and the product price.

[0010] In addition, in the product utilization support device, the specified timing is a first timing, the product price is a first product price, the price acquisition unit acquires a second product price of the product at a second timing prior to the first timing, and the product utilization support device may further include an incentive presentation unit that presents information regarding the electronic value provided to the user at the first timing to the user at the second timing based on the second product price and the set price.

[0011] Moreover, the article may be a personal computer, and the information acquisition unit may acquire, as the usage information, the power-on time or the power-on frequency of the personal computer.

[0012] Another aspect of the present invention provides a method for supporting item usage, comprising: a computer acquiring usage information indicating the usage status of the item by a user who uses the item and basic information for identifying the item; transmitting the usage information and basic information to a price calculation device; acquiring from the price calculation device the item price of the item calculated by the price calculation device based on the usage information and basic information; and providing electronic value to the user based on the item price at a specified time and the set price stored in a memory unit.

[0013] A program according to another aspect of the present invention causes a computer to execute an information acquisition process for acquiring usage information indicating a usage state of an item by a user who uses the item and basic information for identifying the item, a price acquisition process for transmitting the usage information and the basic information to a price calculation device and acquiring from the price calculation device the item price of the item calculated by the price calculation device based on the usage information and the basic information, and an electronic value provision process for providing an electronic value to a user based on the item price at a predetermined timing and a set price stored in a memory unit.

[0014] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide an item utilization support device, an item utilization support method, and a program that can encourage users to use items in a way that preserves the value of the items. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0015] [Figure 1] 1 is a schematic diagram of an item use support system having an item use support device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 2] 1 is a block diagram of an article utilization device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 3] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of a set price according to the present embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 13 is a diagram for explaining set prices and item prices. [Diagram 5] 1 is a diagram for explaining an outline of processing in an item utilization support system according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 6] 1 is a diagram illustrating processing in an item utilization support device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 7] 11 is a diagram for explaining item prices and evaluation information at a predetermined timing. FIG. [Figure 8] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of points provided to a user. [Figure 9] 11 is a diagram for explaining item prices and evaluation information at a certain timing before a specific timing. FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0016] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals denote like or similar configurations.

[0017] 1 shows an overview of an item utilization support system 10. The item utilization support system 10 includes an item utilization support device 101, user terminals 102a and 102b, and a price calculation device 103. Note that, unless there is a particular need to distinguish between them, the user terminals 102a and 102b will be referred to as user terminals 102. In the item utilization support system 10, the item utilization support device 101 and the user terminals 102a and 102b are connected to each other via a network N so as to be able to communicate with each other. In addition, the item utilization support device 101 and the price calculation device 103 are connected to each other via the network N so as to be able to communicate with each other.

[0018] The product usage support device 101 is an information processing device such as a server configured to execute a predetermined program to provide the user with feedback regarding the use of the user terminal 102 based on information from the user terminal 102 and the price calculation device 103. The feedback by the product usage support device 101 includes providing the user with electronic value such as points, and presenting the user with an evaluation of the usage status and the price of the user terminal 102 at a certain point in time.

[0019] The user terminal 102 is an electronic device used by a user, and is assumed to be a personal computer here. More specifically, it is a notebook computer. The user uses the user terminal 102 based on a lease contract with a leasing company. That is, the user returns the user terminal 102, which has a certain value, to the leasing company at the end of the lease period specified in the lease contract. The user terminal 102 may be a smartphone, a tablet terminal, or the like.

[0020] The user terminals 102a and 102b have status acquisition units 1021a and 1021b, respectively. The status acquisition units 1021a and 1021b are collectively referred to as the status acquisition unit 1021. The status acquisition unit 1021 is a part that acquires and stores information regarding the usage status of the user terminal 102. The status acquisition unit 1021 stores, for example, the power operation time, the power operation frequency, the keyboard usage status, or the number of drops of the user terminal 102. The information acquired by the status acquisition unit 1021 is usage information. The status acquisition unit 1021 may accept input of the usage status from the user through a questionnaire screen or the like, and use it as the usage status. In addition, basic information for identifying the model, etc. of each terminal is stored in a storage unit, etc., in the user terminal 102. Although two user terminals 102a and 102b are illustrated in FIG. 1, one or three or more user terminals may be used.

[0021] The price calculation device 103 calculates the price of the user terminal 102 based on the usage information and basic information. The price calculation device 103 can access, for example, databases of secondhand markets, and calculates the price of the user terminal 102 based on the usage information and basic information by accessing these databases. The price of the user terminal 102 calculated by the price calculation device 103 is the price of the item at a certain point in time.

[0022] 2 shows a block diagram of the goods utilization support device 101. The goods utilization support device 101 has a communication unit 201, a storage unit 202, an information acquisition unit 203, a price acquisition unit 204, a utilization evaluation unit 205, an incentive presentation unit 206, and an electronic value provision unit 207. Each unit of the goods utilization support device 101 can be realized, for example, by using a storage area such as a memory in the goods utilization support device 101, or by a processor executing a program stored in the storage area.

[0023] The communication unit 201 controls communication between the product use support device 101 and the outside via the network N.

[0024] The memory unit 202 stores various information used by the item utilization support device 101 and programs necessary for the operation of the item utilization support device 101. The memory unit 202 also stores residual value information in a lease contract, as shown in FIG. 3. The residual value information has the fields of "user ID", "terminal ID", and "set residual value". "User ID" is identification information for identifying a user. "Terminal ID" is identification information for identifying a terminal used by each user. For example, user terminal 102a is a terminal with terminal ID "PC001", and user terminal 102b is a terminal with terminal ID "PC002". "Set residual value" is the price of the terminal at the end of the lease period, which is predetermined at the time of the lease contract, i.e., the residual value.

[0025] The information acquisition unit 203 acquires the usage information and basic information from each of the user terminals 102. The information acquisition unit 203 may acquire the information at the end of the lease period, or at another timing designated by the user.

[0026] The price acquisition unit 204 transmits the usage information and basic information acquired by the information acquisition unit 203 to the price calculation device 103. The price acquisition unit 204 acquires from the price calculation device 103 the price of the user terminal 102 calculated based on the transmitted usage information and basic information.

[0027] The usage evaluation unit 205 presents evaluation information on the usage state of the user to the user using a usage evaluation model that generates evaluation information on the usage state based on the basic information acquired by the information acquisition unit 203 and the price of the user terminal 102 acquired by the price acquisition unit 204. The usage evaluation model is a model that is trained using as training data a set of the model of the product, the price during the lease period when the product is used by another user, the actual residual value at the end of the lease, and the evaluation of the usage by the other user.

[0028] The usage evaluation unit 205 transmits information for generating information on the evaluation information to the user terminal 102 in order to present the evaluation information to the user.

[0029] The incentive presentation unit 206 acquires the price of the user terminal 102 at a timing before the end of the lease. The incentive presentation unit 206 presents, to the user, information regarding points to be provided to the user at the end of the lease, based on the price of the user terminal 102 and the set residual value, at a timing before the end of the lease.

[0030] For example, the incentive presenting unit 206 presents to the user, before the end of the lease, information about points as a future incentive that the user can obtain at the end of the lease based on the difference between the price of the user terminal 102 at that time and the set residual value. In order to present the incentive to the user, the incentive presenting unit 206 transmits information for displaying the information about the incentive to the user terminal 102.

[0031] The electronic value providing unit 207 provides points to the user based on the price of the user terminal 102 at the time when the lease period ends and the set residual value stored in the storage unit 202. The electronic value providing unit 207 may manage the points of each user by a points management unit (not shown) provided in the goods utilization support device 101, or may manage the points of each user by a device different from the goods utilization support device 101. The awarded points can be used, for example, for payments to a leasing company or for payments for other services. An example of providing points will be described later.

[0032] With reference to Fig. 4, the price of the item from the start to the end of the lease period will be described. In Fig. 4, the horizontal axis represents time and the vertical axis represents price, and the decrease in the price of the user terminal 102 over time is shown. The curve P0 in Fig. 4 shows the expected decrease in price at the beginning of the lease period. It is shown that the price decreases from time T0, which is the start of the lease, to time T1, which is the end of the lease. The curve P0 shows that at the start of the lease, the residual value of the user terminal 102 at time T1 is estimated as p0.

[0033] Curve P1 is a curve showing the change in actual price from time T2 to the end of the lease during a period from time T0 to time T1. Curve P2 is a curve showing the change in actual price from time T0 to time T2. Curve P1 and curve P2 show the change in actual price from time T0 to time T1.

[0034] The electronic value providing unit 207 acquires the price of the user terminal 102 at time T1, and provides the difference between the price and the residual value as points to the user. Specifically, at time T1, points equivalent to the difference D1 between the price p1 acquired by the price acquiring unit 204 and the residual value p0 at time T1 stored in the storage unit 202 are provided to the user.

[0035] Furthermore, the incentive presentation unit 206 presents an incentive to the user at time T2 prior to time T1, based on the price p2 acquired by the price acquisition unit 204 and the residual value p0 at time T1. For example, the incentive presentation unit 206 may present the difference D2 between the price p2 and the residual value p0 as an incentive. This allows the user to grasp the difference between the price and residual value of the user terminal 102, although this is different from the price of the user terminal 102 at time T1 in the future, and thus to know the extent of his / her own usage.

[0036] If the difference D2 is still large compared to the initial price, for example, the user can expect to receive a larger incentive even at time T1, and is therefore more likely to use the user terminal 102 carefully so as not to cause the price to fall. On the other hand, if the difference D2 is small compared to the initial price, the user will understand that his or her usage has been inappropriate, and is more likely to use the user terminal 102 carefully to prevent the price from falling further until time T1.

[0037] The incentive presentation unit 206 may also estimate future price trends and the price at time T1 based on the results of price trends of other users and changes in technology trends. In this case, the curve P1 shown by the dotted line in FIG. 4 is regarded as an estimated price rather than an actual value. The results of price trends of other users and changes in technology trends are stored in the storage unit 202, and the price can be estimated using an estimation model. The incentive presentation unit 206 may present an estimated difference D1 based on the estimated price p1 and residual value p0 to the user at time T2 as an incentive.

[0038] 5, an outline of the process up to displaying price and rating information on the user terminal 102 in the product utilization support system 10 will be described. In step S501, the user terminal 102 records utilization information of the user terminal 102 up to a certain point in time.

[0039] In step S502, the user terminal 102 receives a request from the user to acquire price and rating information of the user terminal 102. In step S503, the status acquisition unit 1021 refers to the usage information and basic information stored in the user terminal 102.

[0040] In step S 504 , the user terminal 102 transmits the acquired usage information and basic information to the product usage support device 101 .

[0041] In step S505, the price acquisition unit 204 transmits the usage information and the basic information to the price calculation device 103. In step S506, the price calculation device 103 calculates the price of the user terminal 102 based on the usage information and the basic information. In step S507, the price calculation device 103 transmits information related to the price of the user terminal 102 to the item usage support device 101.

[0042] In step S508, the product usage support device 101 generates evaluation information based on the basic information and the price of the user terminal 102.

[0043] In step S509, the item utilization support device 101 transmits information related to the price and evaluation information of the user terminal 102 to the user terminal 102. The information related to the price and evaluation information of the user terminal 102 are displayed on the user terminal 102 as images and characters, so that the user can know the price and evaluation of the utilization state of the user terminal 102 at that time.

[0044] The process of giving points and providing incentives in the product use support device 101 will be described with reference to FIG.

[0045] In step S601, the information acquisition unit 203 acquires a request to calculate the price of the user terminal 102 from the user terminal 102. In step S602, the information acquisition unit 203 acquires usage information and basic information from the user terminal 102.

[0046] In step S603, the price obtaining unit 204 transmits the obtained usage information and basic information to the price calculation device 103. In step S604, the price obtaining unit 204 obtains the price of the user terminal 102 from the price calculation device 103.

[0047] In step S605, the usage evaluation unit 205 refers to the remaining value of the user terminal 102 stored in the storage unit 202 in association with the user terminal 102 and the user of the user terminal 102. In step S606, the usage evaluation unit 205 generates evaluation information based on the basic information, the price and remaining value of the user terminal 102.

[0048] In step S607, the electronic value providing unit 207 determines whether the timing of the price calculation request is the end of the lease.

[0049] If the determination in step S607 is affirmative, that is, if the lease period has ended and the user terminal 102 is to be returned, in step S609, the electronic value providing unit 207 acquires the set residual value from the storage unit 202. In addition, the electronic value providing unit 207 calculates the difference between the price of the user terminal 102 and the set residual value.

[0050] In step S609, the electronic value providing unit 207 grants points corresponding to the difference to the user. In step S610, the electronic value providing unit 207 generates information for displaying information related to the points on the user terminal 102. In step S611, the electronic value providing unit 207 generates information for displaying information related to the evaluation information on the user terminal 102.

[0051] In step S612, the electronic value providing unit 207 transmits the generated information to the user terminal 102.

[0052] If the determination in step S607 is negative, that is, if the price and usage state of the user terminal 102 are evaluated during the lease period, in step S613, the incentive presentation unit 206 obtains the set residual value from the storage unit 202. In addition, the incentive presentation unit 206 calculates the difference between the price of the user terminal 102 and the set residual value.

[0053] In step S614, the incentive presentation unit 206 generates information for displaying information on the difference on the user terminal 102. In step S615, the incentive presentation unit 206 generates information for displaying information on the evaluation information on the user terminal 102.

[0054] In step S616, the incentive presenter 206 transmits the generated information to the user terminal 102.

[0055] FIG. 7 shows an example of the difference calculated by the electronic value providing unit 207 and the evaluation information by the usage evaluation unit 205 at the end of the lease period. In the example of FIG. 7, the user with the user ID "USER001" has a set residual value of "50,000 yen", while the price at the end of the lease period is "65,000 yen". For example, the terminal with the terminal ID "PC001" has a usage evaluation of "A" based on the evaluation information of the usage evaluation unit 205 because the price tends to decrease at the end of the lease due to the prices of other users. In addition, the user with the user ID "USER002" has a set residual value of "60,000 yen", while the price at the end of the lease period is 80,000 yen. In this case, the terminal with the terminal ID "PC002" has a usage evaluation of "B" because the price is unlikely to decrease. In addition, the user with the user ID "USER003" has a usage evaluation of "C" because the price does not exceed the set residual value.

[0056] Fig. 8 shows an example of points given to each user by the electronic value providing unit 207 based on the difference in Fig. 7. In this case, 1 point is 1 yen, and the full amount of the difference is given, but the points given to each user do not necessarily have to be the same amount as the difference. Points equivalent to an amount less than the difference may be given to each user.

[0057] 9 shows an example of the difference calculated by the incentive presentation unit 206 during the lease period and the evaluation information by the usage evaluation unit 205. In the example of FIG. 9, the price of the terminal for the user with user ID "USER001" at this point in time is 70,000 yen. In this case, for example, the usage evaluation based on the evaluation information of the usage evaluation unit 205 for the terminal with terminal ID "PC001" is "B" at this point in time because the price is unlikely to go down. In this way, the evaluation at an intermediate stage and the evaluation at the end of the lease may change or may be the same.

[0058] In addition, the user with user ID "USER002" has a set residual value of 60,000 yen, while the price of the terminal at this point is 90,000 yen. For example, if the terminal with terminal ID "PC002" normally has a lower terminal price because the price is likely to fall for a certain period from the start of the lease period, the usage evaluation based on the evaluation information of the usage evaluation unit 205 will be "A".

[0059] During the lease period, a user who is presented with a screen based on the information shown in Fig. 9 can check the difference and know whether the difference that the user can receive at a future point in time as shown in Fig. 7 is secured to a certain extent. Also, by checking the evaluation information, the user can know how much the difference is compared with, for example, other users or past performance. This allows the user to use the user terminal 102 carefully during the lease period.

[0060] In this embodiment, the case where a user uses the user terminal 102 based on a lease contract has been described, but the goods utilization support device 101 can also be used for the utilization of goods that have been collectively leased by a company or the like. In this case, the electronic value providing unit 207 may provide points collectively to the company or the like based on the residual value of each user terminal 102 and the price at the end of the lease. The company or the like may distribute points to users to provide the users with compensation for utilization.

[0061] Furthermore, the product utilization support device 101 is not limited to the use of products under lease contracts. For example, the product utilization support device 101 can also be used when a company or the like purchases a laptop computer as a capital investment, lets an employee use it, and then sells it after a certain period of time. In this case, the storage unit 202 stores an expected selling price, not a set residual value, in association with a user and a terminal. That is, in the product utilization support device 101, the set price can be set not only to the residual value, but also to the selling price. The utilization evaluation unit 205, the incentive presentation unit 206, and the electronic value provision unit 207 may generate evaluation information, calculate the difference, present an incentive, and grant points based on the selling price.

[0062] The present embodiment has been described above. The goods utilization support device 101 according to the present embodiment includes an information acquisition unit 203 that acquires utilization information indicating a utilization state of the user terminal 102 by a user who uses the user terminal 102 and basic information for identifying the user terminal 102, a price acquisition unit 204 that transmits the utilization information and the basic information to a price calculation device 103 and acquires from the price calculation device 103 the price of the user terminal 102 calculated by the price calculation device 103 based on the utilization information and the basic information, and an electronic value provision unit 207 that provides an electronic value to the user based on the price of the user terminal 102 at the end of the lease and the set residual value stored in the storage unit 202.

[0063] The electronic value providing unit 207 provides the user with points as electronic value based on the price of the user terminal 102 at the end of the lease and the set residual value. This allows the user to directly grasp the extent to which the price based on his / her own usage status is in relation to the residual value, which makes it possible to encourage the user to treat the user terminal 102 more carefully and to use it in a way that preserves the value of the user terminal 102.

[0064] Furthermore, the electronic value providing unit 207 may provide the difference between the price of the user terminal 102 and the set residual value in the form of points. This allows the user to be provided with a value based on the user's usage status in a manner that is easier for the user to understand, which can encourage the user to use the user terminal 102 in a way that preserves its value.

[0065] The product utilization support device 101 may further include a utilization evaluation unit 205 that presents the user's evaluation information to the user using a utilization evaluation model that generates evaluation information on the utilization state based on the basic information and the price of the user terminal 102. This allows the user to understand whether the price of the user terminal 102 shown as a result of his / her utilization state is sufficiently maintained against the residual value. Furthermore, by enabling the user to understand how the price of the user terminal 102 compares with that of other users, more appropriate utilization can be promoted.

[0066] In addition, in the product utilization support device 101, the price acquisition unit 204 acquires the price p2 of the user terminal 102 at time T2 prior to time T1 at the end of the lease, and the product utilization support device 101 may further include an incentive presentation unit 206 that presents to the user at time T2 information regarding points to be provided to the user at time T1 based on the price p2 and the residual value p0. This allows the user to predict the points to be obtained at future time T1 from the difference between the price p2 and the residual value p0, etc. Therefore, the user can be encouraged to treat the user terminal 102 more carefully at time T2 prior to time T1.

[0067] Furthermore, the user terminal 102 may be a personal computer, and the information acquiring unit 203 may acquire the power-on time or power-on frequency of the personal computer as the usage information.

[0068] For example, periodic inspections, such as those performed when leasing an automobile, are unlikely to be performed when leasing a personal computer. When inspections are performed, the user can grasp the usage status because repairs or part replacements are necessary. On the other hand, when inspections are not performed, it is difficult for the user to grasp the usage status of the leased personal computer. The item usage support device 101 can show the user the usage status of the user terminal 102, which is a personal computer, by showing the price at that time. This allows the user to handle items that are difficult to inspect regularly with more care.

[0069] The above-described embodiments are intended to facilitate understanding of the present invention, and are not intended to limit the present invention. The elements and conditions of the embodiments are not limited to those illustrated, and can be changed as appropriate. In addition, configurations shown in different embodiments can be partially substituted or combined. [Explanation of symbols]

[0070] 101...goods use support device, 102...user terminal, 103...price calculation device, 201...communication unit, 202...storage unit, 203...information acquisition unit, 204...price acquisition unit, 205...usage evaluation unit, 206...incentive presentation unit, 207...electronic value provision unit

Claims

1. An information acquisition unit that acquires usage information indicating a usage state of an item by a user who uses the item based on a lease contract and basic information for identifying the item; a price acquisition unit that transmits the usage information and the basic information at the end of the lease contract to a price calculation device, and acquires from the price calculation device a first item price, which is the price of the item calculated by the price calculation device based on the usage information and the basic information, and transmits the usage information and the basic information at an intermediate point prior to the end of the lease contract period to the price calculation device, and acquires a second item price, which is the price of the item calculated by the price calculation device based on the usage information and the basic information; an incentive presentation unit that obtains a predicted price of the item at the end based on the usage information at the intermediate time point and the second item price, and presents to the user at the intermediate time point information regarding an electronic value predicted to be provided to the user at the end based on the predicted price and a set price stored in a storage unit; and an electronic value providing unit that provides the user with electronic value calculated based on the first item price and the set price at the time of the termination.

2. 2. The article utilization support device according to claim 1, The electronic value providing unit provides the difference between the first item price and the set price in the form of electronic value.

3. 3. The article use support device according to claim 1, The product utilization support device further includes a utilization evaluation unit that presents evaluation information regarding the utilization state of the user to the user using a utilization evaluation model that generates evaluation information regarding the utilization state based on the basic information and the second product price.

4. The article utilization support device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, the article is a personal computer, The information acquisition unit acquires, as the usage information, a power-on time or a power-on frequency of the personal computer.

5. The computer acquiring usage information indicating a usage state of an item by a user who uses the item based on a lease contract and basic information for identifying the item; At the end of the lease contract, transmitting the usage information and the basic information at the end of the lease contract to a price calculation device, and obtaining from the price calculation device a first item price, which is the price of the item calculated by the price calculation device based on the usage information and the basic information; At an intermediate point in the term of the lease contract prior to the end of the term, transmit the usage information and the basic information at the intermediate point to the price calculation device, and obtain a second item price, which is the price of the item calculated by the price calculation device based on the usage information and the basic information; obtaining a predicted price of the item at the end based on the usage information at the intermediate time and the second item price, and presenting to the user at the intermediate time information regarding an electronic value predicted to be provided to the user at the end based on the predicted price and a set price stored in a storage unit; and at the time of said completion, providing said user with an electronic value calculated based on said first item price and said set price.

6. On the computer, an information acquisition process for acquiring usage information indicating a usage state of an item by a user who uses the item based on a lease contract and basic information for identifying the item; a price acquisition process for transmitting the usage information and the basic information at the end of the lease contract to a price calculation device, and acquiring from the price calculation device a first item price, which is the price of the item calculated by the price calculation device based on the usage information and the basic information, at an intermediate point in the term of the lease contract prior to the end of the lease contract, the usage information and the basic information at the intermediate point, and acquiring a second item price, which is the price of the item calculated by the price calculation device based on the usage information and the basic information; an incentive presentation unit that obtains a predicted price of the item at the end based on the usage information at the intermediate time point and the second item price, and presents to the user at the intermediate time point information regarding an electronic value predicted to be provided to the user at the end based on the predicted price and a set price stored in a storage unit; and upon said termination, executing an electronic value providing process for providing said user with an electronic value calculated based on said first item price and said set price.

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