Information provision program, information provision system, and information provision method

Abstract

To provide an information providing program for flexibly providing distribution information.SOLUTION: In an information providing system 100 which executes an information providing program, a certificate-of-use data storage unit 122 stores, in accordance with the use of an affiliated store used by a first user, certificate-of-use data related to the use in a storage unit 111 in association with information indicating the first user. A distribution information providing unit 132 provides distribution information corresponding to the certificate-of-use data to a first user terminal 300 of the first user corresponding to the certificate-of-use data, by referring to distribution condition information, which is set in advance, formed by associating the distribution information regarding the affiliated store, the distribution information being provided by the affiliated store to the user, with a distribution condition for the distribution information according to the certificate-of-use data.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an information providing program, an information providing system, and an information providing method. [Background technology]

[0002] 2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a method is known in which addresses and email addresses obtained from customers who visit a store are used to provide the customers with coupons and product information.

[0003] For example, in the system described in Patent Document 1, distribution information regarding service plans entered at the store is sent to the customer's pre-registered email address, and a coupon is issued to the customer's email address in response to a coupon issuance request from the customer terminal that received the distribution information. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] JP 2007-304979 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] However, in the system described in Patent Document 1, customers' email addresses must be registered in advance in order to send distribution information to the email address, which means that stores are unable to flexibly provide distribution information.

[0006] SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT EMBODIMENTS In view of the above, an object of the present invention is to provide an information providing program, an information providing system, and an information providing method that enable flexible provision of distribution information. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] An information provision program according to one embodiment of the present invention causes a computer to include a usage certificate data storage unit that stores usage certificate data relating to usage in a memory unit in association with information indicating the first user in accordance with the first user's use of a member store, and a distribution information provision unit that provides distribution information corresponding to the usage certificate data to a first user terminal of the first user corresponding to the usage certificate data based on the usage certificate data, by referring to distribution condition information that is set in advance and that associates distribution information relating to the member store that the member store provides to the user with distribution conditions corresponding to the distribution information according to the usage certificate data.

[0008] An information providing system according to one embodiment of the present invention includes a usage certificate data storage unit that stores usage certificate data relating to usage in a memory unit in association with information indicating the first user in accordance with the first user's use of a member store, and a distribution information providing unit that provides distribution information corresponding to the usage certificate data to a first user terminal of the first user corresponding to the usage certificate data based on the usage certificate data, by referring to distribution condition information that is set in advance and that associates distribution information relating to the member store that the member store provides to the user with distribution conditions corresponding to the distribution information according to the usage certificate data.

[0009] In one embodiment of the information providing method of the present invention, a computer stores usage certificate data regarding usage in a memory unit in association with information indicating the first user in accordance with the use of an affiliated store by a first user, and provides distribution information corresponding to the usage certificate data to a first user terminal of the first user corresponding to the usage certificate data based on the usage certificate data, by referring to distribution condition information that is set in advance and that associates distribution information regarding the affiliated store that the affiliated store provides to the user with distribution conditions corresponding to the usage certificate data.

[0010] In the present invention, a "unit" does not simply mean a physical means, but also includes cases where the function of the "unit" is realized by software. Also, the function of one "unit" or device may be realized by a combination of two or more physical means, devices, or software modules, and the functions of two or more "units" or devices may be realized by one physical means, device, or software module. Effect of the Invention

[0011] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide an information providing program, an information providing system, and an information providing method that are capable of flexibly providing distribution information. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0012] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an overview of processing of an information providing system 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 2] 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of an information providing system 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 3] 13 is a diagram showing an example of usage certificate registration information stored in a storage unit 111. FIG. [Figure 4] 13 is a diagram showing an example of registered distribution information stored in storage unit 111. FIG. [Diagram 5] 13 is a diagram showing an example of usage certificate data stored in a storage unit 111. FIG. [Figure 6] 4 is a flowchart showing an example of processing in the information providing system 100. [Figure 7] 4 is a flowchart showing an example of processing in the information providing system 100. [Figure 8] 4 is a flowchart showing an example of processing in the information providing system 100. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0013] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a diagram showing an overview of processing performed by an information providing system 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0014] The information providing system 100 is an information processing system realized by an information providing program, and based on usage certificate data regarding the use of an affiliated store issued in response to the first user's use of the affiliated store, provides distribution information corresponding to usage certificate data to a first user terminal of a first user corresponding to the usage certificate data.

[0015] First, a first user uses an affiliated store (S101). For example, the first user enters the affiliated store or purchases a product or service at the affiliated store. The information providing system 100 acquires usage information related to the first user's use of the affiliated store from the affiliated store (S102). The information providing system 100 issues usage certificate data according to the usage information, and stores the data in association with information indicating the first user (S103). The information providing system 100 provides distribution information corresponding to the usage certificate data to the first user corresponding to the usage certificate data, based on the usage certificate data and information related to distribution conditions of the distribution information that are set in advance (S104).

[0016] Furthermore, the first user agrees with the second user to transfer the usage certificate data to the second user (S111). In response to a request from the first user, the information providing system 100 updates the information indicating the first user associated with the usage certificate data to information indicating the second user (S112). Then, the information providing system 100 provides distribution information corresponding to the usage certificate data to the second user corresponding to the usage certificate data (S113).

[0017] Moreover, the information providing system 100 converts the usage certificate data into value information (for example, points) corresponding to the usage certificate data (S121).

[0018] 2 is a diagram showing a configuration of an information providing system 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The information providing system 100 is a system that is communicably connected to an affiliated store terminal 200, a first user terminal 300, and a second user terminal 400 via a network such as the Internet. Details of the information providing system 100 will be described later.

[0019] The affiliated store terminal 200 is an information terminal used by the affiliated store, such as a smartphone, a tablet terminal, a personal computer, etc. The affiliated store terminal 200 may also be a terminal installed in the affiliated store for performing processing related to payment, and may include, for example, a cash register terminal or other terminal for reading information (e.g., barcode information or tag information attached to a product) for registering information related to a product (e.g., information such as a product number or price) when making a payment.

[0020] The affiliated store sets distribution condition information in which distribution information related to the affiliated store to be provided to the user corresponds to distribution conditions of the distribution information according to the usage certificate data in the information providing system 100 through the affiliated store terminal 200. In addition, the affiliated store provides usage information related to the first user's use of the affiliated store to the information providing system 100 through the affiliated store terminal 200 in response to the first user's use of the affiliated store.

[0021] The first user terminal 300 and the second user terminal 400 are information terminals used by the first user and the second user, respectively, and are, for example, a smartphone, a tablet terminal, a personal computer, etc. The first user and the second user acquire, from the information providing system 100, distribution information corresponding to usage certificate data associated with information indicating the first user and information indicating the second user, respectively, through the first user terminal 300 and the second user terminal 400, respectively.

[0022] In FIG. 2, one each of the affiliated store terminal 200, the first user terminal 300, and the second user terminal 400 are shown, but there may be multiple each of the affiliated store terminal 200, the first user terminal 300, and the second user terminal 400.

[0023] Next, details of the information providing system 100 will be described. The information providing system 100 includes a storage unit 111, a distribution information registration unit 112, a usage information acquisition unit 121, a usage certificate data storage unit 122, a distribution information generation unit 131, a distribution information providing unit 132, a usage certificate data update unit 141, and a value conversion unit 142. The computer constituting the information providing system 100 includes a processor and a storage area. Each unit shown in Fig. 2 can be realized, for example, by using the storage area or by the processor executing an information providing program stored in the storage area.

[0024] The storage unit 111 stores information processed in the information providing system 100. The storage unit 111 can store, for example, usage certificate registration information, registration distribution information, and usage certificate data, which will be described later.

[0025] The storage unit 111 stores usage certificate registration information. The usage certificate registration information includes, for example, issuance condition information indicating the issuance conditions under which the usage certificate data storage unit 122, described later, issues usage certificate data, and usage certificate content information indicating the content of the usage certificate data. That is, the usage certificate data storage unit 122 can refer to the usage certificate registration information, and store the usage certificate data indicated by the usage certificate content information in the storage unit 111 in association with information indicating the first user, when the use of the affiliated store by the first user satisfies the conditions indicated by the issuance condition information.

[0026] Here, the usage certificate data is data related to the use of the affiliated store issued in response to the use of the affiliated store by the first user. That is, the usage certificate data is data indicating, for example, how the first user uses the affiliated store.

[0027] The usage certificate data may be, for example, information indicating a record of payment at an affiliated store (e.g., information written on a receipt), information indicating that the affiliated store has been used a certain number of times (one or more times), information indicating the number of purchases or purchase amount of a particular product at an affiliated store, or information indicating value information (e.g., points) awarded depending on the payment amount or purchased product at an affiliated store.

[0028] The usage certificate data may also include user behavior data indicating a specific behavior by the user at the affiliated store. The user behavior data may be information indicating an environmentally conscious behavior performed by the user at the affiliated store. The environmentally conscious behavior performed by the user at the affiliated store may be, for example, a behavior of purchasing a product close to its expiration date, a behavior of purchasing an environmentally conscious product, a behavior of bringing a so-called eco-bag for purchase, or a behavior of bringing an empty can or plastic tray to the store to cooperate in collection.

[0029] The usage certificate data may be data issued in response to usage information regarding the use of the affiliated store by the first user, which is acquired by the usage information acquisition unit 121 described later. In this case, the usage certificate data may be data that certifies the content of the usage information, or that certifies a plurality of pieces of usage information in an integrated manner.

[0030] The issuance condition information included in the usage certificate registration information is information indicating the issuance conditions under which the usage certificate data storage unit 122, described later, issues usage certificate data. The issuance condition information may be a condition corresponding to the information indicated by the usage certificate data (i.e., data indicating, for example, how the first user uses the affiliated store). The condition indicated by the issuance condition information may be, for example, a condition related to the number of times the first user has used the affiliated store (e.g., "used the affiliated store three times"), or a condition related to the number of times or the purchase amount of products purchased at the affiliated store.

[0031] Specifically, for example, if the usage certificate data is information indicating that member store A has been used three times, three pieces of usage information "Used member store A" indicating that the first user has used member store A may be integrated (i.e., in response to the first user having used member store A three times) to issue usage certificate data indicating that member store A has been used three times.

[0032] The usage certificate registration information may be set, for example, by the affiliated store that registers the distribution information through the affiliated store terminal 200, or may be set by a system administrator of the information providing system 100.

[0033] 3 is a diagram showing an example of usage certificate registration information stored in the storage unit 111. The usage certificate registration information stored in the storage unit 111 includes, for example, a usage certificate data ID, issuance condition information, and usage certificate content information. The usage certificate data ID is information for identifying usage certificate data processed in the information providing system 100.

[0034] The usage certificate content information is information indicating the content of the usage certificate data. The usage certificate content information may be, for example, information indicating how the first user uses the affiliated store.

[0035] The usage certificate registration information may further include information indicating a symbol or figure (for example, a symbol or figure imitating a stamp or badge) corresponding to the usage certificate content information.

[0036] The distribution information registration unit 112 accepts registration of distribution information related to the affiliated store from the affiliated store terminal 200, and stores it as registered distribution information in the storage unit 111. Here, the distribution information is information related to the affiliated store that is provided to the user by the information providing system 100. The distribution information may include, for example, information indicating discounts or special offers available at the affiliated store, or information announcing new products at the affiliated store.

[0037] The registered distribution information includes distribution condition information indicating distribution conditions for distributing the distribution information to a user terminal (for example, the first user terminal 300). That is, in the registered distribution information, the distribution information and the distribution condition information are associated with each other.

[0038] The distribution information providing unit 132, which will be described later, provides distribution information corresponding to the registered distribution information to the user terminal of the corresponding user when the conditions indicated by the distribution condition information are satisfied. That is, the affiliated store sets the distribution condition information, for example, assuming the user to whom the distribution information will be provided or the distribution date and time. The distribution information registration unit 112 stores the registered distribution information in which the distribution information and the distribution condition information are associated with each other in the storage unit 111 according to the setting of the affiliated store.

[0039] The distribution condition information may include, for example, date and time condition information indicating a condition related to date and time. The date and time condition information may be information indicating a condition corresponding to a specific date or time, or may be information indicating a condition corresponding to a day or time period of a specific condition (for example, weather or an event). Specifically, when the date and time condition information is "rainy day", the information providing system 100 may provide the corresponding distribution information to the user terminal on a rainy day.

[0040] The distribution condition information may include, for example, usage certificate condition information indicating conditions related to the usage certificate data. Specifically, when the usage certificate condition information is "having usage certificate data ID C0001 since one month ago", the information providing system 100 may provide the corresponding distribution information to a user terminal of a user who has held usage certificate data corresponding to usage certificate ID C0001 since one month ago.

[0041] In addition, the conditions indicated by the usage certificate condition information are not limited to the above examples, and may be, for example, conditions for providing distribution information when specific usage certificate data is held at the time of provision, or conditions for providing distribution information when specific usage certificate data was held in the past, or any other conditions related to the usage certificate data.

[0042] Furthermore, if the usage certificate data is information indicating that a member store has been used a certain number of times (one time or multiple times), the member store can set, for example, advertising information encouraging use of the member store as distribution information corresponding to the usage certificate data. Then, the distribution information generating unit 131 and the distribution information providing unit 132, which will be described later, can provide the advertising information to the user terminal corresponding to the usage certificate data. This allows the member store to carry out effective advertising and promotion to users who have used the member store.

[0043] Furthermore, if the usage certificate data is information indicating environmentally conscious behavior performed by a user at an affiliated store, the affiliated store can set, for example, advertising information that encourages environmentally conscious behavior at the affiliated store as distribution information corresponding to the usage certificate data. Then, the distribution information generating unit 131 and the distribution information providing unit 132 can provide the advertising information to the user terminal corresponding to the usage certificate data. This allows the affiliated store to carry out effective advertising and promotion aimed at environmentally conscious users.

[0044] 4 is a diagram showing an example of registered distribution information stored in storage unit 111. The registered distribution information stored in storage unit 111 includes, for example, a registered distribution information ID, participating affiliated store information, distribution content information, and distribution condition information.

[0045] The registered distribution information ID is information for identifying the registered distribution information stored in the storage unit 111. The affiliated store information is information indicating an affiliated store corresponding to the registered distribution information. Here, when the registered distribution information is information indicating a discount, the affiliated store corresponding to the registered distribution information may be, for example, an affiliated store at which the discount can be used.

[0046] The distribution content information is information indicating the contents of the registered distribution information. The distribution content information may be, for example, information announcing discounts or benefits available at the affiliated store, or new products at the affiliated store. The distribution information generating unit 131 described later may generate distribution information of the contents indicated by the distribution content information, for example, based on the distribution content information.

[0047] The distribution condition information is information indicating distribution conditions under which distribution information corresponding to the registered distribution information is provided to a user terminal, and includes, for example, date and time condition information and usage certificate condition information.

[0048] The usage information acquisition unit 121 acquires usage information relating to the use by the first user at the affiliated store in response to the use of the affiliated store by the first user. The usage information acquisition unit 121 may acquire the usage information from the affiliated store terminal 200, or may acquire the usage information from the first user terminal 300. In addition, the usage information acquisition unit 121 may acquire the usage information from an external information processing system (for example, an information processing system that performs processing related to the payment of the first user and the affiliated store).

[0049] Here, the usage information is information about the usage generated in response to the use of the affiliated store by the first user. The usage information may be, for example, information indicating the fact or number of times the first user has used the affiliated store, purchase information indicating the content or price of a product purchased by the first user at the affiliated store, or behavioral information indicating the behavior of the first user at the affiliated store. The purchase information may be, for example, purchase information about a specific product purchased by the first user at the affiliated store (e.g., a product that is the subject of a campaign, an environmentally friendly product, or a product close to its expiration date). The behavioral information may be, for example, information indicating an environmentally friendly behavior performed by the first user at the affiliated store (e.g., bringing a so-called eco-bag, or bringing in an empty can or plastic tray).

[0050] The affiliated store terminal 200 and the first user terminal 300 may provide the usage information to the information providing system 100, for example, at the time of payment.

[0051] Furthermore, the first user terminal 300 may provide information indicating that the first user has visited the affiliated store, which is determined based on location information acquired by a location information acquisition function of the first user terminal 300, to the information providing system 100 as usage information. Furthermore, the affiliated store terminal 200 may obtain information indicating that the first user has visited the store based on information detected by a device for detecting the first user terminal 300, which is provided in the affiliated store, and provide the information providing system 100 as usage information.

[0052] The usage certificate data storage unit 122 stores usage certificate data regarding the first user's use of the affiliated store in association with information indicating the first user in the memory unit 111 in response to the first user's use of the affiliated store. The usage certificate data storage unit 122 may issue and store usage certificate data based on the usage information acquired by the usage information acquisition unit 121.

[0053] Specifically, when the usage information indicates "use of affiliated store A by the first user" and the usage information acquisition unit 121 has acquired the usage information a total of three times, the usage certificate data storage unit 122 issues corresponding usage certificate data based on the issuance condition information "use of affiliated store A three times" included in the usage certificate registration information, and stores it in the memory unit 111 in association with information indicating the first user.

[0054] 5 is a diagram showing an example of usage certificate data stored in the storage unit 111. The usage certificate data stored in the storage unit 111 includes, for example, a user ID, a usage certificate data ID, and acquisition date and time information. The user ID is information indicating a user (for example, a first user). The user ID may be any information capable of identifying a user who uses the information providing system 100, and may be information set for each user who uses the information providing system 100.

[0055] The acquisition date and time information is information indicating the date and time when the first user acquired the usage certificate data.

[0056] The distribution information generation unit 131 refers to the distribution content information and distribution condition information contained in the registered distribution information, and generates distribution information corresponding to the usage certificate data based on the usage certificate data stored in the memory unit 111, to be provided to the first user terminal 300 of the first user corresponding to the usage certificate data.

[0057] Specifically, for example, first, the distribution information generating unit 131 refers to the registered distribution information and the usage certificate data stored in the memory unit 111, and identifies the usage certificate data and the user that satisfy the condition indicated by the distribution condition information (for example, "having usage certificate ID C0001 since one month ago"). Then, for example, the distribution information generating unit 131 generates distribution information to be provided to the user terminal of the user corresponding to the identified usage certificate data, based on the distribution content information included in the registered distribution information.

[0058] The distribution information providing unit 132 provides the distribution information generated by the distribution information generating unit 131 to the first user terminal 300 corresponding to the usage certificate data. That is, the distribution information providing unit 132 refers to distribution condition information that corresponds to distribution information related to a member store provided to a user by the member store and distribution conditions of the distribution information according to the usage certificate data, and provides the distribution information corresponding to the usage certificate data to the first user terminal 300 of the first user corresponding to the usage certificate data, based on the usage certificate data.

[0059] In addition, the distribution information generation unit 131 and the distribution information provision unit 132 can generate and provide distribution information to be provided to the second user terminal 400 of the second user corresponding to the updated usage certificate data, based on the usage certificate data updated by the usage certificate data update unit 141 described later.

[0060] In this way, the information providing system 100 can provide distribution information to a user terminal of a user (e.g., a first user or a second user) associated with the usage certificate data. In other words, the information providing system 100 can perform the process of providing the distribution information on the assumption that a user who holds the usage certificate data (i.e., a user associated with the usage certificate data) has consented to the provision of the distribution information.

[0061] In response to a request from the first user terminal 300, the usage credential data update unit 141 updates the information indicating the first user associated with the usage credential data stored in the storage unit 111 to information indicating the second user.

[0062] First, the first user agrees with the second user on, for example, the transfer of usage certificate data. In this case, the first user and the second user can agree on the transfer of usage certificate data based on operations on the information providing system 100 via the first user terminal 300 and the second user terminal 400, respectively. Then, in response to the agreement, for example, the first user requests the information providing system 100 through the first user terminal 300 to transfer the usage certificate data corresponding to the agreement to the second user. In response to the request, the usage certificate data update unit 141 updates information indicating the first user associated with the usage certificate data stored in the storage unit 111 to information indicating the second user.

[0063] Specifically, the usage certificate data update unit 141 changes the format of the usage certificate data stored in the storage unit 111 and associated with the first user to a format that associates the usage certificate data with the second user.

[0064] The second user may request the information providing system 100 to transfer the usage certificate data corresponding to the agreement to the second user through the second user terminal 400.

[0065] Furthermore, when changing the usage certificate data associated with the first user to a format associated with the second user, the usage certificate data update unit 141 may change the format to one that is not associated with the first user, or may maintain the format associated with the first user, according to setting information set for each usage certificate data. That is, the first user may transfer the usage certificate data associated with the first user to the second user, and the first user may lose the usage certificate data, or may copy the usage certificate data associated with the first user and transfer it to the second user, and the first user may not lose the usage certificate data. This allows the user to perform a transfer process according to the nature of the usage certificate data.

[0066] Furthermore, when changing the format of the usage certificate data associated with the first user to a format associated with the second user, the usage certificate data update unit 141 may change a part of the usage certificate data to a format associated with the second user. In this case, the usage certificate data update unit 141 may divide the usage certificate data, change a predetermined part of the data to a format associated with the second user, and change the remaining data to the first user or erase it.

[0067] Specifically, when the usage certificate data includes information indicating a record of payment at an affiliated store and information indicating value information (e.g., points) granted according to the payment amount or purchased item at the affiliated store, the usage certificate data update unit 141 may divide the usage certificate data and keep the information indicating the detailed record of payment at the affiliated store associated with the first user, and change the format so that the information indicating whether or not a payment was made at the affiliated store and the information indicating value information (e.g., points) granted according to the payment amount or purchased item at the affiliated store are associated with the second user. This allows the first user to transfer the usage certificate data (e.g., information indicating whether or not a member store was used or value information based on the usage certificate data) to the second user without informing the second user of the details of the first user's payment (e.g., details of the purchased item).

[0068] In this way, in the information providing system 100, the first user transfers the usage certificate data associated with the first user to the second user, whereby the first user and the second user can utilize the usage certificate data. Specifically, for example, the first user can provide unnecessary usage certificate data to the second user. Also, the second user can receive the distribution information of interest by receiving the transfer of usage certificate data corresponding to the distribution information of interest, for example.

[0069] The value conversion unit 142 converts the usage certificate data into value information corresponding to the usage certificate data. Here, the value information may be, for example, points, electronic money, a coupon, a prize, or a right to enter a lottery for which the value information can be obtained.

[0070] The value conversion unit 142 can convert the usage certificate data into value information based on information indicating the correspondence between the usage certificate data and the value information. The information indicating the correspondence between the usage certificate data and the value information may be set by, for example, a system administrator of the information providing system 100.

[0071] The value conversion unit 142 may convert the usage certificate data into value information in response to a request made by a user (eg, a first user) associated with the usage certificate data through a user terminal.

[0072] The value conversion unit 142 may convert the entire usage certificate data into value information or may convert a part of the usage certificate data into value information according to a user request or a condition for conversion into value information set for each usage certificate data. That is, if the usage certificate data is, for example, points awarded when a specific product is purchased, the value conversion unit 142 may convert all of the points into value information or may convert a part of the points (for example, the number of points required to enter a prize lottery) into value information.

[0073] The usage certificate data converted by the value conversion unit 142 may delete information indicating the user corresponding to the usage certificate data (i.e., the user loses the usage certificate data) or may maintain information indicating the user corresponding to the usage certificate data (i.e., the user does not lose the usage certificate data) depending on the conditions for conversion to value information set for each usage certificate data. This allows the user to flexibly convert the usage certificate data to value information depending on the nature of the usage certificate data.

[0074] Furthermore, the value conversion unit 142 may convert the usage certificate data transferred to the second user into value information when the user associated with the usage certificate data is updated from the first user to the second user by the usage certificate data update unit 141. This enables the first user to receive the value information in response to the transfer to the second user.

[0075] In this way, a user who is associated with the usage certificate data can utilize the usage certificate data through the conversion process of the value information of the usage certificate data by the value conversion unit 142. This allows the user to enjoy value according to the usage certificate data, and is expected to encourage the affiliated store to be used by users.

[0076] Fig. 6 is a flowchart showing an example of processing in the information providing system 100. Fig. 6 is a flowchart showing an example of processing in the information providing system 100 for providing distribution information.

[0077] First, the distribution information registration unit 112 accepts the registration of distribution information (S601). The usage information acquisition unit 121 acquires usage information related to the use of the affiliated store by the first user (S602). The usage certificate data storage unit 122 issues usage certificate data according to the usage information, and stores it in the memory unit 111 in association with information indicating the first user (S603). The distribution information generation unit 131 generates distribution information corresponding to the usage certificate data based on the usage certificate data, and the distribution information provision unit 132 provides the distribution information to the first user terminal 300 of the first user corresponding to the usage certificate data (S604).

[0078] 7 is a flowchart showing an example of processing in the information providing system 100. FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing an example of processing in the information providing system 100 for updating usage certificate data.

[0079] First, the usage certificate data update unit 141 acquires a request for transfer of the usage certificate data, for example, from the first user terminal 300 (S701). Next, in response to the request, the usage certificate data update unit 141 updates the information indicating the first user associated with the usage certificate data to information indicating the second user (S702).

[0080] Fig. 8 is a flowchart showing an example of processing in the information providing system 100. Fig. 8 is a flowchart showing an example of processing in the information providing system 100 for converting usage certificate data into value information.

[0081] First, the value conversion unit 142 receives a request for conversion of usage certificate data into value information from, for example, the first user terminal 300 (S801). Next, the value conversion unit 142 converts the usage certificate data into value information (S802).

[0082] An embodiment of the present invention has been described above. The information providing system 100 issues usage certificate data associated with information indicating the first user in response to the use of the affiliated store by the first user, and can provide distribution information corresponding to the usage certificate data to the first user terminal of the first user corresponding to the usage certificate data based on the usage certificate data. This allows the information providing system 100 to flexibly provide distribution information without requiring prior registration of the first user at the affiliated store.

[0083] Furthermore, the information providing system 100 can update information indicating the first user associated with the usage certificate data to information indicating the second user in response to a request from the first user terminal 300, and provide distribution information to the second user terminal of the second user corresponding to the updated usage certificate data based on the updated usage certificate data. This allows the information providing system 100 to flexibly provide distribution information to users by providing the distribution information to the user corresponding to the usage certificate data without having to change settings related to the provision destination of the distribution information one by one.

[0084] Furthermore, the information providing system 100 can convert the usage certificate data into value information corresponding to the usage certificate data. This allows the user to obtain value information corresponding to the usage certificate data, which promotes the user's use of affiliated stores.

[0085] Furthermore, the information providing system 100 can issue usage certificate data including user behavior data indicating the behavior of the first user when the first user uses the affiliated store, and can provide distribution information corresponding to the user behavior data based on the user behavior data. This allows the information providing system 100 to provide distribution information to a user who performs a specific behavior, and can flexibly provide distribution information to a target user.

[0086] It should be noted that the present embodiment is provided to facilitate understanding of the present invention, and is not intended to limit the present invention. The present invention may be modified or improved without departing from the spirit of the present invention, and equivalents thereof are also included in the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0087] 100 Information providing system, 111 Memory unit, 112 Distribution information registration unit, 121 Usage information acquisition unit, 122 Usage certificate data storage unit, 131 Distribution information generation unit, 132 Distribution information providing unit, 141 Usage certificate data update unit, 142 Value conversion unit, 200 Member store terminal, 300 First user terminal, 400 Second user terminal

Claims

1. On the computer, a usage certificate data storage unit that stores usage certificate data relating to a first user's use of a member store in a storage unit in association with information indicating the first user, in response to the first user's use of the member store; a usage credential data update unit that updates information indicating the first user associated with the usage credential data to information indicating a second user in response to a request from a first user terminal of the first user; a distribution information providing unit that refers to distribution condition information, which is set in advance and in which distribution information related to a member store provided to a user by the member store is associated with a distribution condition of the distribution information according to the usage certificate data, and provides distribution information corresponding to the usage certificate data to a second user terminal of the second user corresponding to the usage certificate data, based on the usage certificate data; An information provision program that makes this possible.

2. 2. The information providing program according to claim 1, further causing said computer to realize a value conversion unit that converts said usage certificate data into value information corresponding to said usage certificate data.

3. 2. The information providing program according to claim 1, further causing said computer to realize a value conversion unit that converts said usage certificate data into value information corresponding to said usage certificate data.

4. the usage certificate data includes user behavior data indicating the behavior of the first user at the affiliated store by the first user, The distribution information providing unit provides the distribution information corresponding to the user behavior data further based on the user behavior data.

4. The information providing program according to claim 1.

5. a usage certificate data storage unit that stores usage certificate data relating to a first user's use of a member store in a storage unit in association with information indicating the first user, in response to the first user's use of the member store; a usage credential data update unit that updates information indicating the first user associated with the usage credential data to information indicating a second user in response to a request from a first user terminal of the first user; a distribution information providing unit that refers to distribution condition information, which is set in advance and in which distribution information related to a member store provided to a user by the member store is associated with a distribution condition of the distribution information according to the usage certificate data, and provides distribution information corresponding to the usage certificate data to a second user terminal of the second user corresponding to the usage certificate data, based on the usage certificate data; An information provision system comprising:

6. The computer storing, in a storage unit, usage certificate data relating to a first user's use of the affiliated store in association with information indicating the first user; updating information indicating the first user associated with the usage certificate data to information indicating a second user in response to a request from a first user terminal of the first user; providing, based on the usage certificate data, the distribution information corresponding to the usage certificate data to a second user terminal of the second user corresponding to the usage certificate data, by referring to distribution condition information that is set in advance and in which distribution information related to the affiliated store that the affiliated store provides to the user is associated with a distribution condition of the distribution information corresponding to the usage certificate data; Information provision method.

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