Information processing device, communication system, lottery program, and lottery method

Abstract

To provide an information processing device capable of appropriately adjusting a winning probability so as to digest inventory at a constant ratio to an application period in performing lottery in which applications are biased according to time and the total number of applications is unknown.SOLUTION: An information processing device for providing a terminal with a service for performing lottery includes: a storage part for storing lottery management information including a lottery management number, a start and end date / time, prize type, inventory state, digestion state, lottery application information, and lottery frequency; a reception part for receiving lottery information, the lottery application information, and prize information; an information determination part for determining whether or not to perform lottery on the basis of the lottery information, the lottery application information, the prize information, and the lottery management information; a probability calculation part for calculating a winning probability such that prize inventory becomes small at end date / time and that date / time when the prize is out of inventory comes close to the end date / time; a winning determination part for determining whether lottery is won by using the winning probability; a result transmission part for transmitting a lottery result to the terminal; and a history update part for updating the lottery management information.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to Information processing device, communication system, lottery program, and lottery method Regarding. [Background technology]

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a system in which prizes are allocated at a fixed rate during a lottery campaign period, even though the number of applications varies depending on the time and the total number of applications is unknown. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2012-113674 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, there was no lottery system that could calculate the appropriate probability of winning using only simple arithmetic operations at the time of application based on the inventory usage status and the progress of the campaign period so that prizes could be used evenly during the campaign period.

[0005] In consideration of the above problems, the present invention provides an information processing device that can appropriately adjust the probability of winning so that the stock is consumed at a certain rate for the application period when a lottery is held under circumstances where applications are biased depending on time and the total number of applications is unknown. , communication system, lottery program, and lottery method - Patents.com The purpose is to provide. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The first aspect of the present invention is An information processing device that provides a service of holding a lottery to a terminal, the information processing device including: a lottery management number; a start date and time and an end date and time of the lottery associated with the lottery management number; a type of prize associated with the lottery management number; a prize inventory status associated with the prize type; a prize consumption status associated with the prize type; and information used to enter the lottery associated with the lottery management number; and a number of lottery draws associated with the prize type; a receiving unit that receives lottery information indicating a service for holding the lottery, lottery application information for entering the lottery, and prize information specifying the type of prize; an information judgment unit that judges whether the lottery can be held based on the lottery information, the lottery application information, the prize information, and the lottery management information; and a judgment that the lottery can be held by the information judgment unit. a probability calculation unit that calculates a winning probability so that, when the prize is consumed at the end date and time, the stock of the prize will be low and the date and time when the stock of the prize will run out will be close to the end date and time; a winning determination unit that determines whether or not the lottery has been won using the winning probability based on the determination by the information determination unit; a result transmission unit that transmits to the terminal the determination result of whether or not the lottery has been won determined by the winning determination unit; and a history update unit that updates the lottery management information based on the determination result of whether or not the lottery has been won determined by the winning determination unit, the lottery information, the lottery application information, and the prize information, and the probability calculation unit adjusts a buffer period between a target prize consumption date and time and the end date and time so that the winning probability increases over time from the target prize consumption date and time to the end date and time regardless of the consumption status of the prize. .

[0007] A second aspect of the present invention is A communication system including a terminal and an information processing device providing a service of conducting a lottery to the terminal, wherein the information processing device includes a storage unit that stores lottery management information including a lottery management number, a start date and time and an end date and time of a lottery associated with the lottery management number, a type of prize associated with the lottery management number, a prize inventory status associated with the prize type, a prize consumption status associated with the prize type, and information used to enter the lottery associated with the lottery management number, and the number of lotteries associated with the prize type; a receiving unit that receives lottery information indicating a service for conducting the lottery, lottery application information for entering the lottery, and prize information specifying a type of prize; an information determination unit that determines whether the lottery can be held based on the lottery information, the lottery application information, the prize information, and the lottery management information; and when the information determination unit determines that the lottery is held, the information processing device performs the following steps to reduce the inventory of the prize at the end date and time, the terminal comprises: a probability calculation unit that calculates a winning probability so that the date and time when the prize stock runs out is close to the end date and time; a winning determination unit that determines a lottery result as to whether or not the lottery has been won using the winning probability based on a determination by the information determination unit; a result transmission unit that transmits the lottery result to the terminal; and a history update unit that updates the lottery management information based on the lottery result, the lottery information, the lottery application information, and the prize information, wherein the probability calculation unit adjusts a buffer period between a target prize consumption date and time and the end date and time so that the winning probability increases over time from the target prize consumption date and time to the end date and time regardless of the consumption status of the prize, and the terminal comprises: a lottery information processing unit that accepts inputs related to the lottery, the lottery application information, and the prize information and transmits them to the information processing device; a result display unit that receives the lottery result transmitted from the information processing device and displays the received determined lottery result; and an information display unit that displays information related to the lottery. .

[0008] A third aspect of the present invention is a receiving function for receiving lottery information indicating the service for conducting the lottery, lottery application information for applying to the lottery, and prize information specifying the type of prize, in a computer that can access a storage unit that stores lottery management information including a lottery management number, a start date and end date and time of the lottery associated with the lottery management number, a type of prize associated with the lottery management number, a prize inventory status associated with the prize type, a prize consumption status associated with the prize type, and information used to apply for the lottery associated with the lottery management number, and a number of lottery draws associated with the prize type; an information determination function for determining whether or not the lottery can be held based on the lottery information, the lottery application information, the prize information, and the lottery management information, and the information determination function for determining whether or not the lottery can be held based on the lottery information, the lottery application information, the prize information, and the lottery management information; The system realizes the following functions when it is determined that the lottery can be held: a probability calculation function that calculates the probability of winning so that the stock of the prize at the end date and time is low and the date and time when the stock of the prize runs out is close to the end date and time; a winning determination function that determines whether or not the lottery has been won using the winning probability based on a determination by the information determination function; a result transmission function that transmits the result of the determination of whether or not the lottery has been won determined by the winning determination function to the terminal; and a history update function that updates the lottery management information based on the result of the determination of whether or not the lottery has been won determined by the winning determination function, the lottery information, the lottery application information, and the prize information, and the probability calculation function adjusts a buffer period between a target prize consumption date and time and the end date and time so that the winning probability increases over time from the target prize consumption date and time to the end date and time regardless of the consumption status of the prize. .

[0009] A fourth aspect of the present invention is a method for producing a composition comprising the steps of: An information processing device that provides a service of conducting a lottery to a terminal, the information processing device being capable of accessing a storage unit that stores lottery management information including a lottery management number, a start date and time and an end date and time of a lottery associated with the lottery management number, a type of prize associated with the lottery management number, a stock status of prizes associated with the prize type, a consumption status of prizes associated with the prize type, and information used to enter the lottery associated with the lottery management number, and the number of lotteries associated with the prize type, receives lottery information indicating the service of conducting the lottery, lottery application information for entering the lottery, and prize information specifying a type of prize, a step of determining whether the lottery can be held based on the lottery information, the lottery application information, the prize information, and the lottery management information, and if it is determined that the lottery can be held in the step of determining whether the lottery can be held, a step of receiving the lottery information indicating the service of conducting the lottery, lottery application information for entering the lottery, and prize information specifying a type of prize, The method includes the steps of: calculating a probability of winning such that the stock of the prize at the date and time is low and the date and time when the stock of the prize runs out is close to the end date and time; judging whether or not the lottery has been won using the probability of winning based on the judgment in the step of judging whether or not the lottery can be held; transmitting the result of the judgment of whether or not the lottery has been won, which is judged in the step of judging whether or not the lottery has been won, to the terminal; and updating the lottery management information based on the result of the judgment of whether or not the lottery has been won, which is judged in the step of judging whether or not the lottery has been won, the lottery information, the lottery application information, and the prize information, and in the step of calculating the probability of winning, a buffer period between a target prize consumption date and time and the end date and time is adjusted so that the probability of winning increases over time from the target prize consumption date and time to the end date and time regardless of the consumption status of the prize. . [Brief description of the drawings]

[0010] [Figure 1] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of a communication system, and is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of a terminal and a server. [Diagram 2] FIG. 4 is a conceptual data diagram showing an example of a data structure of user information. [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 is a sequence diagram showing an example of an exchange between devices in a communication system. [Figure 4] 4 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the terminal related to FIG. 3; [Diagram 5] 4 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of a server related to FIG. 3; [Figure 6] 13(a) to 13(d) are diagrams showing example screens displayed on a terminal. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0011] <Compliance with legal matters> It should be noted that the disclosures described herein are subject to compliance with the laws of the country of implementation, such as communications secrecy, as necessary for the implementation of the disclosure.

[0012] An embodiment for implementing a display method etc. that allows confirmation of the status of transmission or reception by a terminal according to the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0013] <System configuration>

[0014] Fig. 1 shows a configuration of a communication system 1 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As disclosed in Fig. 1, in the communication system 1, a server 10 and terminals 20 (terminals 20A, 20B, and 20C) are connected via a network 30. The server 10 provides a service that enables transmission and reception of messages between the terminals 20 to the terminals 20 owned by users via the network 30. The number of terminals 20 connected to the network 30 is not limited.

[0015] The network 30 plays a role of connecting one or more terminals 20 and one or more servers 10. In other words, the network 30 refers to a communication network that provides a connection path so that the terminals 20 can connect to the server 10 and then transmit and receive data.

[0016] One or more portions of network 30 may or may not be a wired or wireless network. Network 30 may include, by way of example and without limitation, an ad hoc network, an intranet, an extranet, a virtual private network (VPN), a local area network (LAN), a wireless LAN (WLAN), a wide area network (WAN), a wireless WAN (WWAN), a metropolitan area network (MAN), a portion of the Internet, a portion of the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN), a cellular network, integrated service digital networks (ISDN), wireless LAN, long term evolution (LTE), code division multiple access (CDMA), Bluetooth, satellite communications, or the like, or a combination of two or more thereof. Network 30 may include one or more networks 30.

[0017] The terminal 20 (terminal 20A, terminal 20B, terminal 20C) may be any information processing terminal capable of implementing the functions described in each embodiment. The terminal 20 includes, but is not limited to, a smartphone, a mobile phone (feature phone), a computer (such as, but not limited to, a desktop, laptop, tablet, etc.), a media computer platform (such as, but not limited to, a cable or satellite set-top box, digital video recorder, etc.), a handheld computer device (such as, but not limited to, a PDA (personal digital assistant), an email client, etc.), a wearable device (such as, but not limited to, a glasses-type device, a watch-type device, etc.), or other types of computers or communication platforms. The terminal 20 may also be expressed as an information processing terminal.

[0018] Since the configurations of the terminals 20A, 20B, and 20C are basically the same, the terminal 20 will be described below. In addition, as necessary, the terminal used by the user X will be expressed as the terminal 20X, and the user information in a predetermined service associated with the user X or the terminal 20X will be expressed as the user information X. Note that the user information is information of a user associated with an account used by the user in a predetermined service. The user information includes, by way of example and without limitation, information associated with a user, such as the user's name, the user's icon image, the user's age, the user's sex, the user's address, the user's hobbies and interests, and the user's identifier, which is input by the user or given by the predetermined service, and may be any one of these, or a combination thereof, or may not be the same.

[0019] The server 10 has a function of providing a predetermined service to the terminal 20. The server 10 may be any device as long as it is an information processing device capable of realizing the functions described in each embodiment. The server 10 includes, but is not limited to, a server device, a computer (for example, but not limited to, a desktop, a laptop, a tablet, etc.), a media computer platform (for example, but not limited to, a cable or satellite set-top box, a digital video recorder), a handheld computer device (for example, but not limited to, a PDA, an email client, etc.), or other types of computers or communication platforms. The server 10 may also be expressed as an information processing device. When it is not necessary to distinguish between the server 10 and the terminal 20, the server 10 and the terminal 20 may or may not be expressed as information processing devices.

[0020] <Hardware (HW) configuration>

[0021] The HW configuration of each device included in the communication system 1 will be described with reference to FIG.

[0022] (1) Terminal hardware configuration

[0023] The terminal 20 includes a control unit 21 (CPU: central processing unit), a storage unit 28, a communication I / F 22 (interface), an input / output unit 23, a display unit 24, and a location information acquisition unit 25. The HW components of the terminal 20 are connected to each other via a bus B, for example and not for limitation. It is not essential that the HW configuration of the terminal 20 includes all of the components. For example and not for limitation, the terminal 20 may or may not be configured such that individual components or multiple components such as the microphone 232, the camera 234, the location information acquisition unit 25, etc. are removable.

[0024] The communication I / F 22 transmits and receives various data via the network 30. The communication may be performed either wired or wirelessly, and any communication protocol may be used as long as the communication between the two is possible. The communication I / F 22 has a function of communicating with the server 10 via the network 30. The communication I / F 22 transmits various data to the server 10 according to instructions from the control unit 21. The communication I / F 22 also receives various data transmitted from the server 10 and transmits it to the control unit 21. The communication I / F 22 may also be simply referred to as a communication unit. When the communication I / F 22 is configured from a physically structured circuit, it may also be referred to as a communication circuit.

[0025] The input / output unit 23 includes a device for inputting various operations to the terminal 20, and a device for outputting the results of processing performed by the terminal 20. The input / output unit 23 may be an integrated input unit and an output unit, or may be separate from the input unit and the output unit, or may not be.

[0026] The input unit is realized by any one or a combination of all kinds of devices that can receive input from a user and transmit information related to the input to the control unit 21. Examples of the input unit include, but are not limited to, a touch panel 231, a touch display, hardware keys such as a keyboard, a pointing device such as a mouse, a camera 234 (operation input via moving images), and a microphone 232 (operation input by voice).

[0027] The output unit is realized by any one or a combination of all kinds of devices capable of outputting the processing results processed by the control unit 21. Examples of the output unit include, but are not limited to, a touch panel, a touch display, a speaker 233 (audio output), a lens (for example, but not limited to, 3D (three dimensions) output and hologram output), a printer, etc.

[0028] The display unit 24 is realized by any one of all kinds of devices capable of displaying according to the display data written in the frame buffer, or a combination thereof. The display unit 24 includes, but is not limited to, a touch panel, a touch display, a monitor (for example, but not limited to, a liquid crystal display or an organic electroluminescence display (OLED)), a head mounted display (HDM), a projection mapping, a hologram, a device capable of displaying images, text information, and the like in air (which may or may not be a vacuum). Note that these display units 24 may or may not be capable of displaying display data in 3D.

[0029] When the input / output unit 23 is a touch panel, the input / output unit 23 and the display unit 24 may be disposed facing each other and have approximately the same size and shape.

[0030] The control unit 21 has a circuit physically structured to execute the functions realized by the code or instructions contained in the program, and is realized by a data processing device built into hardware, for example and without limitation. Therefore, the control unit 21 may or may not be expressed as a control circuit.

[0031] The control unit 21 includes, by way of example and not limitation, a central processing unit (CPU), a microprocessor, a processor core, a multiprocessor, an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), and a field programmable gate array (FPGA).

[0032] The storage unit 28 has a function of storing various programs and various data required for the operation of the terminal 20. The storage unit 28 includes, by way of example and not limitation, various storage media such as a hard disk drive (HDD), a solid state drive (SSD), a flash memory, a random access memory (RAM), and a read only memory (ROM). In addition, the storage unit 28 may or may not be expressed as a memory.

[0033] Terminal 20 stores program P in storage unit 28, and executes this program P, causing control unit 21 to execute processing as each unit included in control unit 21. In other words, program P stored in storage unit 28 causes terminal 20 to realize each function executed by control unit 21. Also, this program P may or may not be expressed as a program module.

[0034] The microphone 232 is used to input voice data, the speaker 233 is used to output voice data, and the camera 234 is used to obtain video data.

[0035] (2) Server hardware configuration

[0036] The server 10 includes a control unit 11 (CPU), a storage unit 15, a communication I / F 14 (interface), an input / output unit 12, and a display unit 13. The components of the HW of the server 10 are connected to each other via a bus B, for example and not for limitation. It is not essential that the HW of the server 10 includes all the components as the configuration of the HW of the server 10. For example and not for limitation, the HW of the server 10 may or may not be configured such that the display unit 13 is detachable.

[0037] The control unit 11 has circuits physically structured to execute functions realized by codes or instructions contained in a program, and is realized, for example and not by way of limitation, by a data processing device embedded in hardware.

[0038] The control unit 11 is typically a central processing unit (CPU), but may also be a microprocessor, a processor core, a multiprocessor, an ASIC, or an FPGA, but is not limited to these in the present disclosure.

[0039] The storage unit 15 has a function of storing various programs and various data required for the operation of the server 10. The storage unit 15 is realized by various storage media such as an HDD, an SSD, and a flash memory. However, in the present disclosure, the storage unit 15 is not limited to these. Furthermore, the storage unit 15 may or may not be expressed as a memory.

[0040] The communication I / F 14 transmits and receives various data via the network 30. The communication may be performed either wired or wirelessly, and any communication protocol may be used as long as the communication between the two is possible. The communication I / F 14 has a function of communicating with the terminal 20 via the network 30. The communication I / F 14 transmits various data to the terminal 20 according to instructions from the control unit 11. The communication I / F 14 also receives various data transmitted from the terminal 20 and transmits it to the control unit 11. The communication I / F 14 may also be simply referred to as a communication unit. When the communication I / F 14 is configured from a physically structured circuit, it may also be referred to as a communication circuit.

[0041] The input / output unit 12 is realized by a device that inputs various operations to the server 10. The input / output unit 12 is realized by any of all types of devices that can receive input from a user and transmit information related to the input to the control unit 11, or a combination thereof. The input / output unit 12 is typically realized by hardware keys such as a keyboard, or a pointing device such as a mouse. Note that the input / output unit 12 may or may not include, as non-limiting examples, a touch panel, a camera (operation input via moving images), or a microphone (operation input by voice). However, in the present disclosure, the input / output unit 12 is not limited to these.

[0042] The display unit 13 is typically realized by a monitor (for example, but not limited to, a liquid crystal display or an organic electroluminescence display (OLED)). The display unit 13 may or may not be a head mounted display (HDM) or the like. These display units 13 may or may not be capable of displaying display data in 3D. However, in the present disclosure, the display unit 13 is not limited to these.

[0043] The server 10 stores a program P in the storage unit 15, and by executing this program P, the control unit 11 executes the processes of each unit included in the control unit 11. In other words, the program P stored in the storage unit 15 causes the server 10 to realize each function executed by the control unit 11. This program P may or may not be expressed as a program module.

[0044] In each embodiment of the present disclosure, the description will be given assuming that the CPU of the terminal 20 and / or the server 10 executes the program P to realize the present invention.

[0045] The control unit 21 of the terminal 20 and / or the control unit 11 of the server 10 may or may not realize each process by a CPU having a control circuit, but may also realize each process by a logic circuit (hardware) formed in an integrated circuit (IC (Integrated Circuit) chip, LSI (Large Scale Integration)) or a dedicated circuit. These circuits may or may not be realized by one or more integrated circuits, and the multiple processes shown in each embodiment may or may not be realized by one integrated circuit. Furthermore, an LSI may be called a VLSI, a super LSI, an ultra LSI, or the like, depending on the degree of integration. Therefore, the control unit 21 may or may not be expressed as a control circuit.

[0046] In addition, the program P (for example, but not limited to, a software program, a computer program, or a program module) of each embodiment of the present disclosure may or may not be provided in a state stored in a computer-readable storage medium. The storage medium can store the program P in a "non-transitory tangible medium." In addition, the program P may or may not be for realizing part of the functions of each embodiment of the present disclosure. Furthermore, the program P may or may not be a so-called difference file (difference program) that can realize the functions of each embodiment of the present disclosure in combination with a program P already recorded in a storage medium.

[0047] The storage medium may include one or more semiconductor-based or other integrated circuits (ICs) (such as, by way of example and not limitation, a field programmable gate array (FPGA) or an application specific IC (ASIC)), a hard disk drive (HDD), a hybrid hard drive (HHD), an optical disk, an optical disk drive (ODD), a magneto-optical disk, a magneto-optical drive, a floppy diskette, a floppy disk drive (FDD), a magnetic tape, a solid state drive (SSD), a RAM drive, a secure digital card, or a drive, any other suitable storage medium, or a suitable combination of two or more of these. The storage medium may be volatile, non-volatile, or a combination of volatile and non-volatile, where appropriate. It should be noted that the storage medium is not limited to these examples and may be any device or medium capable of storing the program P. In addition, the storage medium may or may not be referred to as a memory.

[0048] The server 10 and / or the terminal 20 can realize the functions of the multiple functional units shown in each embodiment by reading out the program P stored in a storage medium and executing the read out program P.

[0049] Furthermore, the program P of the present disclosure may or may not be provided to the server 10 and / or the terminal 20 via any transmission medium capable of transmitting the program (such as a communication network or broadcast waves). The server 10 and / or the terminal 20 executes the program P downloaded via the Internet or the like, as a non-limiting example, to realize the functions of the multiple functional units shown in each embodiment.

[0050] Furthermore, each embodiment of the present disclosure may also be realized in the form of a data signal embedded in a carrier wave in which the program P is embodied by electronic transmission.

[0051] At least a part of the processing in the server 10 and / or the terminal 20 may or may not be realized by cloud computing configured with one or more computers.

[0052] At least a part of the processing in the terminal 20 may or may not be configured to be performed by the server 10. In this case, at least a part of the processing of each functional unit of the control unit 21 of the terminal 20 may or may not be configured to be performed by the server 10.

[0053] At least a part of the processing in the server 10 may or may not be configured to be performed by the terminal 20. In this case, at least a part of the processing of each functional unit of the control unit 11 of the server 10 may or may not be configured to be performed by the terminal 20.

[0054] Unless explicitly stated, the judgment configuration in the embodiments of the present disclosure is not essential, and a specified process may or may not be executed when the judgment condition is satisfied, or a specified process may or may not be executed when the judgment condition is not satisfied.

[0055] Note that the programs of the present disclosure are implemented using, by way of example and not limitation, scripting languages ​​such as ActionScript and JavaScript (registered trademark), object-oriented programming languages ​​such as Objective-C and Java (registered trademark), and markup languages ​​such as HTML5.

[0056] <Embodiment Mode> The server 10 according to this embodiment provides a lottery service to the terminal 20 .

[0057] Here, the service of conducting a lottery is a service that accepts applications for a lottery, determines whether or not the user has won the lottery after the applications are accepted, and notifies the user of the lottery results.

[0058] A user receiving a service from server 10 may, for example, purchase an item at a store or the like in order to receive the service, and be able to use the service according to the purchased item and purchase amount, or may be able to use the service provided by server 10 by paying a fee (mainly money).

[0059] In the lottery system according to the present embodiment, the lottery period is determined in advance, and the server 10 accepts lottery entries during the lottery period, and determines whether or not the entry has been won after the lottery entry has been accepted. In the lottery system of the present invention, the total number of prizes that can be provided to winners as a result of the lottery is not fixed, and the total number of prizes may change during the lottery period, for example, by adding prizes that are running low in stock during the lottery period.

[0060] The prizes offered to the winners as a result of the lottery may include any prize that may be offered by the provider of the service conducting the lottery, such as goods, money, points that can be used in place of money, services, etc. The prizes offered to the winners as a result of the lottery may include, for example, points, items, etc. that can be used in a game.

[0061] When the server 10 draws prizes with time-biased applications and an unknown total number of applications, it consumes the stock at a fixed rate for the application period, thereby appropriately adjusting the probability of winning so that the amount of prizes remaining at the end of the lottery period is as small as possible and the date and time when the stock of prizes runs out is as close as possible to the end of the lottery. This will be explained in detail below.

[0062] (1) Functional configuration of terminal 20 As shown in FIG. 1, the control unit 21 of the terminal 20 includes a lottery information processing unit 211, a result display unit 212, and an information display unit 213.

[0063] The lottery information processing unit 211 receives a lottery designation from the user to the input / output unit 23 and designation of information for applying to the lottery, and transmits the lottery information and lottery application information for applying to the designated lottery to the server 10 via the communication I / F 22. At this time, the lottery information processing unit 211 may transmit user identification information (also called a user ID) for identifying the user of the terminal 20 in association with the lottery information. If the service provided by the server 10 is a service provided in a state where the user is logged in to a service site provided by the server 10, the user ID can be identified to the server 10, so it is not necessary to transmit the user identification information.

[0064] Here, the lottery information is information indicating the service that will conduct the desired lottery among the services that conduct one or more lotteries provided by the server 10, and is generated in the lottery information processing unit 211 by accepting a lottery specification from the user via the input / output unit 23.

[0065] The information for applying to a lottery is information indicating that application to the lottery is possible. Application to the lottery may be possible, for example, when purchasing goods or the like at a store, depending on the purchased goods or the purchase amount, or may be possible by payment of money or the like. Also, application may be possible if a predetermined condition is satisfied, such as application is possible for each user ID for the first few times without payment of money or purchase of goods or the like. Furthermore, application may be possible by a predetermined action by the user, such as application is possible by performing a specific action in a game or the like. In the present embodiment, as an example and not a limitation, application is possible depending on the purchased goods or the purchase amount when purchasing goods or the like at a store, etc.

[0066] The information for entering the lottery may be displayed in the form of a string of characters or a two-dimensional code on the receipt that the user receives from the seller when purchasing an item, for example, and if it is a string of characters, it may be entered via the touch panel 231, or if it is a two-dimensional code, it may be photographed by the camera 234.

[0067] When there are multiple types of prizes for the lottery and input specifying the type of prize for the lottery is accepted from the user via the input / output unit 23, the lottery information processing unit 211 may transmit prize information specifying the type of prize.

[0068] The result display unit 212 receives the lottery result transmitted from the server 10 via the communication I / F 22, and displays the received lottery result. When the lottery result is displayed as an image, the lottery result is displayed on the display unit 24. At the same time that the lottery result is displayed as an image, for example, when sound is to be played at the same time, sound is output from the speaker 233. When the lottery result is a win, a method for receiving the prize may be displayed as an image.

[0069] The information display unit 213 displays information related to the lottery provided by the server 10 in the display area of ​​the display unit 24. The information display unit 213 displays, for example, a list of lotteries currently being held, a menu for accepting applications for the lottery, and the like. When the lottery information processing unit 211 receives application-prohibited information indicating that application for the lottery is not permitted from the server 10 after transmitting lottery information and lottery application information to the server 10 via the communication I / F 22, it displays that application is not permitted. Also, when the lottery information processing unit 211 receives application-prohibited information indicating that application for the lottery is not permitted from the server 10 after transmitting prize information to the server 10 via the communication I / F 22, it displays that application is not permitted and displays prizes that can be applied for. The functional configuration of the terminal 20 has been described above.

[0070] (2) Functional configuration of server 10 As shown in FIG. 1, the server 10 includes an information determination unit 111, a winning determination unit 112, a probability calculation unit 113, a result transmission unit 114, and a history update unit 115.

[0071] The communication I / F 14 of the server 10 receives lottery information from the terminal 20. The information determination unit 111 determines whether the lottery of the lottery information received via the communication I / F 14 is a lottery for which applications are currently being accepted. If the lottery of the received lottery information is a lottery for which applications are currently being accepted, the communication I / F 14 of the server 10 receives lottery application information from the terminal 20. The information determination unit 111 determines whether the information for applying to the lottery of the received lottery application information does not satisfy the application constraint condition. If the information for applying to the lottery of the lottery application information does not satisfy the application constraint condition, and if there are multiple types of prizes for the lottery, the communication I / F 14 of the server 10 receives prize information from the terminal 20. The information determination unit 111 determines whether the type of prize specified in the prize information is a prize in stock, and determines that if there is stock, it is possible to apply to the lottery. Here, the entry restriction conditions refer to conditions under which one cannot enter a lottery, for example, when one is able to enter the lottery by purchasing an item at a store, etc., and the number of times one can enter the lottery is one or more, such as whether one has entered the lottery more times than the number of times one is allowed to enter the lottery.

[0072] When the information determination unit 111 determines that application for the lottery is not possible, the communication I / F 14 transmits application-not possible information to the terminal 20 of the user indicated by the received user identification information. The application-not possible information is information indicating that application for the lottery is not possible. When application for the lottery is not possible because there is no stock of the type of prize specified in the prize information associated with the lottery application information, the communication I / F 14 may transmit information associated with the application-not possible information, which presents prizes that are in stock among the multiple types of prizes in the lottery, and urges the user to select a desired prize from the prizes in stock and apply for the lottery again.

[0073] When the information determination unit 111 determines that an entry into the lottery is possible, the winning determination unit 112 determines whether or not the lottery has been won. Whether or not the lottery has been won is determined based on the winning probability. The winning probability is calculated by the probability calculation unit 113 when the winning determination unit 112 determines whether or not the lottery has been won. The probability calculation unit 113 calculates the winning probability from the number of lotteries from the start of the lottery period to the time when the winning determination unit 112 determines whether or not the lottery has been won, the progress of time during the lottery period, the number of prizes in stock, the number of stocks consumed, and the target prize consumption date and time.

[0074] When the winning determination unit 112 determines whether or not the user has won the lottery, the result transmission unit 114 transmits lottery result information to the terminal 20 of the user identified by the received user identification information via the communication I / F 14. The lottery result information is information that can identify the lottery entered, the type of prize in the lottery, and the result of whether or not the user has won the lottery.

[0075] When the winning judgment unit 112 judges whether or not a lottery has been won, the history update unit 115 updates the history information corresponding to the lottery, the type of prize in the lottery, the lottery application information for which a lottery has already been won, and whether or not there has been a change in the stock of prizes. That is, when the winning judgment unit 112 judges that a lottery has been won, the history information is updated by subtracting one from the stock of the prize and adding one to the number of applications, together with the lottery application information for which a lottery has already been won. When the winning judgment unit 112 judges that a lottery has not been won, the history information is updated by adding one to the number of applications, together with the lottery application information for which a lottery has already been won, without changing the stock of the prize. In addition, when updating the history information, the number of lotteries is also incremented by one.

[0076] The probability calculation unit 113 appropriately adjusts the probability of winning so that there are no prizes left over at the end of the lottery period and the date and time when the stock of prizes runs out is as close as possible to the end of the lottery. The probability calculation unit 113 calculates the probability of winning each time the win determination unit 112 determines whether or not a prize has been won in the lottery. An example of a specific method of determining the probability of winning is as follows.

[0077] In this embodiment, a target prize consumption date and time, which is the target end date and time for consumption of prize stock, and a buffer period, which is the period from the target prize consumption date and time to the end of the lottery period, are set, and the probability calculation unit 113 calculates the winning probability using different methods for the period from the lottery start date and time to the start of the buffer period and for the buffer period. Therefore, the probability calculation unit 113 determines whether the date and time at which the information determination unit 111 determines that it is possible to apply for the lottery is before or after the target prize consumption date and time, and determines which winning probability calculation method to use, between the period from the lottery start date and time to the start of the buffer period or for the buffer period.

[0078] When the date and time when the information determination unit 111 determines that the lottery can be applied for falls between the lottery start date and time and the start of the buffer period, the winning probability is calculated as follows. The time when the winning determination unit 112 determines whether the lottery has been applied for is set as time A. First, the probability calculation unit 113 calculates the lottery period elapsed rate by dividing the time from the start of the lottery period to time A by the total time of the lottery period. Next, the probability calculation unit 113 calculates the expected total number of applications by dividing the number of lotteries from the start of the lottery period to time A by the lottery period elapsed rate. The probability calculation unit 113 calculates the winning probability (hereinafter referred to as the base winning probability) by dividing the total number of prizes, which is the sum of the current stock number of prizes and the number of prizes consumed from the start of the lottery period to time A, by the expected total number of applications. Furthermore, the probability calculation unit 113 calculates the prize progress rate by dividing the number of prizes consumed from the start of the lottery period to time A by the total number of prizes.

[0079] The probability calculation unit 113 compares the lottery period elapsed rate with the prize progress rate, and if the prize progress rate is smaller than the lottery period elapsed rate, it determines that the actual number of prizes consumed at time A is smaller than the expected number of prizes consumed, and there are prizes remaining (hereinafter referred to as a short state), and sets the winning probability higher than the base winning probability. If the prize progress rate is greater than the lottery period elapsed rate, it determines that the actual number of prizes consumed at time A is greater than the expected number of prizes consumed, and there is a state in which prizes are being consumed too quickly (hereinafter referred to as a long state), and sets the winning probability lower than the base winning probability. If the lottery period elapsed rate and the prize progress rate are the same, it determines that the actual number of prizes consumed at time A and the expected number of prizes consumed match, and does not change the winning probability at this point.

[0080] An example of a method for adjusting the winning probability when it is determined that the state is short or long is as follows. The probability calculation unit 113 calculates the absolute value of the difference between the lottery period elapsed rate and the prize progress rate at time A, and multiplies the calculated value by 100 to set the adjustment constant. When it is determined that the state is short, the base winning probability is multiplied by the adjustment constant, and the obtained new winning probability is set as the winning probability at time A. When it is determined that the state is long, the base winning probability is divided by the adjustment constant, and the obtained new winning probability is set as the winning probability at time A. When the information determination unit 111 receives lottery application information via the communication I / F 14 and the information determination unit 111 determines that it is possible to apply for the lottery, the winning determination unit 112 uses the winning probability at that time to determine whether or not the lottery has been won.

[0081] The above-mentioned adjustment of the winning probability is performed under the conditions that there will be no prizes remaining at the end of the lottery period, and that the date and time when the prizes run out of stock will be as close to the lottery end date and time as possible. Under the above conditions, there is a possibility that there will be prizes remaining at the lottery end date and time. There is also a possibility that the prizes will run out of stock far before the lottery end date and time.

[0082] If the date and time when the information determination unit 111 determines that the lottery can be applied for falls within the buffer period, the winning probability is calculated as follows. If there are a certain number of applications over the lottery period, in most cases the prizes are consumed near the target prize consumption date and time, but there may be prizes remaining at the end of the lottery. In order to ensure that the stock is consumed, after entering the buffer period, the winning probability is added to the winning probability just before the buffer period ends according to the progress rate of the buffer period, and the winning probability is set to reach 100% before the lottery end date and time. A winning probability of 100% means that if you apply for the lottery, you will definitely win, and if there are multiple types of prizes, at least one of them will be won. By setting it in this way, all prizes will be consumed if there are a certain number of applications.

[0083] For example, if the winning probability is set to 100% at the time of entering the buffer period, the probability of running out of stock during the buffer period will be high, but the stock may decrease rapidly during the buffer period, and the user may be aware of the rapid change in the winning probability during the buffer period. Therefore, in this modified example, the winning probability is adjusted as in the above embodiment during the period before the buffer period, and after entering the buffer period, the progress rate of the buffer period is added to the winning probability immediately before entering the buffer period to speed up the consumption of the prize, and the winning probability is adjusted to reach 100% before the lottery end date and time. Here, the proportion of the elapsed time between the start of the buffer period and the end of the lottery period is set as the buffer period progress rate. The calculation method of the lottery probability for the target prize consumption date and the buffer period progress rate may be stored in the lottery management information 200 in association with the lottery management number 201.

[0084] An example of a method for adjusting the winning probability in the buffer period is described below. For example, if the target prize consumption date and time is 12 hours before the end of the lottery, that is, the buffer period is the last 12 hours of the lottery period, then for the first hour of the buffer period, the progress rate for the first hour of the buffer period, that is, the buffer period progress rate = 1 ÷ 12 = 0.08, is set as the winning probability for the first hour of the buffer period, and the winning probability immediately before entering the buffer period is added to the buffer period progress rate. Similarly, for the first hour to the second hour of the buffer period, the buffer period progress rate = 2 ÷ 12 = 0.17 is set as the winning probability for the first two hours of the buffer period, and the buffer period progress rate of 0.17 is added to the winning probability immediately before entering the buffer period. For the 11th hour to the 12th hour of the buffer period, that is, the last hour, the buffer period progress rate = 12 ÷ 12 = 1 is set as the winning probability immediately before entering the buffer period, and the buffer period progress rate of 1 is added to the winning probability, and the winning probability is set to the upper limit of 100%.

[0085] The target prize end date and time can be set to any date and time between the lottery start date and time and the lottery end date and time, but the earlier the target prize end date and time is set, the higher the probability that the prize stock will be used up, and the closer it is to the lottery end date and time, the fairer the lottery will be. Since there is generally a desire to hold onto prizes until the last day of the lottery period, it is desirable to set the target prize end date and time to a date and time several hours to about 12 hours before the lottery end date and time.

[0086] In this embodiment, a target prize end date and time and a buffer period are set, and the probability calculation unit 113 calculates the probability of winning using different methods for the period from the lottery start date and time to the entry of the buffer period and during the buffer period, but it is also possible not to set a target prize end date and time and to continue the calculation method described above for the period from the lottery start date and time to the entry of the buffer period until the end of the lottery.

[0087] When there are multiple prizes, the probability calculation unit 113 calculates the probability of winning for each prize.

[0088] In the lottery system of the present invention, the probability of winning is calculated by the probability calculation unit 113 each time the winning determination unit 112 determines whether or not a prize has been won in the lottery. Therefore, even if the number of prizes in stock is changed during the lottery period, for example, by adding prizes that have become scarce during the lottery period to increase the stock, the probability of winning can be calculated according to the number of prizes in stock.

[0089] The functional configuration of the server 10 has been described above.

[0090] <Data> 2 is a conceptual data diagram showing an example of the configuration of lottery management information 200, which is information stored in the storage unit 15 of the server 10 and is related to a lottery for the server 10 to provide a service. The lottery management information 200 is used to determine whether a user can apply for a lottery based on whether a lottery is currently being held, the number of prizes in stock, the application status for the prize, etc., and to adjust the probability of winning.

[0091] As shown in FIG. 2, lottery management information 200 is information that associates a lottery management number 201, lottery start and end dates and times 202, prize type 203, prize inventory status 204, prize consumption status 205, lottery application information 206, number of lotteries 207, and target prize consumption date and time 208.

[0092] The lottery management number 201 is identification information of the lottery for identifying the lottery, which is a service provided by the server 10.

[0093] The lottery start and end dates and times 202 are the start and end dates and times of the lottery period of the lottery indicated by the corresponding lottery management number 201 .

[0094] The type of prize 203 is information indicating the type of prize for the lottery indicated by the corresponding lottery management number 201. There may be only one prize for one lottery, or there may be multiple prizes. Figure 2 shows a case where there are multiple prizes for one lottery.

[0095] The prize inventory status 204 is information indicating the latest inventory quantity of the corresponding prize type 203. The latest inventory quantity refers to the final inventory quantity whose history information has been updated by the history update unit 115. As an example, in addition to the inventory quantity at the start of the lottery and the latest inventory quantity, an update history of the inventory quantity since the start of the lottery, which has been updated by the history update unit 115, and the update date and time may be recorded.

[0096] The prize consumption status 205 is information indicating the number of prizes that have been consumed as a result of winning since the lottery was disclosed. When there are multiple prizes for one lottery, the consumption status of each prize may differ from each other. Only the most recent prize consumption status may be recorded in the prize consumption status 205. As an example, the update date and time when the prize consumption status since the start of the lottery was updated by the prize determination unit 112 may be recorded.

[0097] The lottery application information 206 is information indicating the lottery application information transmitted by the user for the corresponding prize type 203. The lottery application information transmitted by the user when applying for a lottery is recorded in the lottery application information 206. When the information determination unit 111 receives the lottery application information from the user via the communication I / F 14, it refers to the lottery application information 206 to determine whether the lottery application information has already been used to apply for a lottery in the past.

[0098] The number of lotteries 207 is information indicating the number of lotteries that have been held from the start of the lottery to the final lottery.

[0099] The target prize consumption date and time 208 is information indicating the target end date and time for consumption of the prize inventory.

[0100] Note that the lottery management information 200 may also include information related to the lottery other than the information shown in FIG.

[0101] <Operation> FIG. 3 is a sequence diagram showing an example of an exchange between the terminal 20 and the server 10 in the communication system 1. As shown in FIG.

[0102] As shown in FIG. 3, the terminal 20 accepts a designation of a lottery and transmits lottery information to the server 10 (step S301).

[0103] When the server 10 receives the lottery information, it judges whether the lottery of the received lottery information is a lottery for which applications are currently being accepted (step S302). If the lottery of the lottery information is a lottery for which applications are currently being accepted (YES in step S302), it transmits information to the terminal 20 prompting the terminal 20 to transmit lottery application information for applying to the designated lottery (step S303). If the lottery of the lottery information is a lottery for which applications are currently being accepted (NO in step S302), it judges that the user cannot apply to the lottery, and proceeds to the process of step S304.

[0104] When the terminal 20 receives the information prompting the user to transmit the lottery application information, the terminal 20 transmits the lottery application information to the server 10 (step S305).

[0105] When the server 10 receives the lottery application information, it judges whether the information for applying to the lottery in the received lottery application information has already been used to apply to a lottery in the past (step S306). If the information for applying to the lottery in the lottery application information has not been used to apply to a lottery in the past (YES in step S306), it transmits information to the terminal 20 to prompt the terminal 20 to transmit prize information specifying the type of prize desired (step S307). If the information for applying to the lottery in the lottery application information has been used to apply to a lottery in the past (NO in step S306), it judges that the user cannot apply to the lottery, and proceeds to the process of step S304.

[0106] When the terminal 20 receives the information prompting the user to transmit the prize information, the terminal 20 transmits the prize information to the server 10 (step S308). If there is only one type of prize, not multiple types, steps S307 and S308 may be omitted.

[0107] When the server 10 receives the prize information, it determines whether the type of prize specified in the received prize information is in stock (step S309). If the type of prize specified in the prize information is in stock (YES in step S309), it determines that the user can enter the lottery (step S310). If the type of prize specified in the prize information is out of stock (NO in step S309), it determines that the user cannot enter the lottery, and proceeds to the process of step S311.

[0108] When the server 10 determines that the user is eligible to enter the lottery (step S310), it calculates the probability of winning (step S312) and determines whether the user has won the lottery based on the probability of winning (step S313). When it determines whether the user has won the lottery, it transmits lottery result information to the terminal 20 (step S314).

[0109] The terminal 20 displays the lottery result information received from the server 10 (step S316).

[0110] After transmitting the lottery result information, the server 10 updates the lottery management information 200 regardless of the lottery result (step S315).

[0111] If the server 10 determines in step S304 or step S306 that the user is not eligible to apply for the lottery, the server 10 transmits application-denied information to the terminal 20 in step S304. The terminal 20 displays the application-denied information received from the server 10 (step S317). If the server 10 determines in step S309 that the type of prize specified in the prize information is out of stock and the user is not eligible to apply for the lottery, the server 10 presents the application-denied information and prizes in stock among the multiple types of prizes in the lottery to the terminal 20, selects a desired prize from the prizes in stock, and transmits information to the terminal 20 in association with the application-denied information (step S311). The terminal 20 displays the application-denied information received from the server 10 and a screen for selecting from prizes in stock (step S318), and returns to step S308.

[0112] Here, in step S307, the server 10 may present only gifts that are in stock to the terminal 20, and in step S308, the type of gift desired may be designated from the gifts in stock.

[0113] In addition, in this embodiment, in step S314, the server 10 transmits lottery result information to the terminal 20, and after transmitting the lottery result information, in step S315, the server 10 updates the lottery management information 200, but the server 10 may transmit the lottery result information to the terminal 20 after updating the lottery management information 200.

[0114] Fig. 4 is a flow chart showing an example of the operation of the terminal 20 for realizing the exchange shown in Fig. 3. The process shown in Fig. 4 shows the process from the point where the user selects a desired lottery.

[0115] 4, the input / output unit 23 of the terminal 20 receives an input from a user specifying a lottery that the user desires (step S401). The input / output unit 23 transmits the received input content to the control unit 21. The lottery information processing unit 211 of the control unit 21 transmits the lottery information to the server 10 via the communication I / F 22. At this time, the lottery information processing unit 211 may also transmit a user ID that identifies the user of the terminal 20.

[0116] If the lottery information is a lottery for which applications are currently being accepted (YES in step S402), the terminal 20 receives information from the server 10 prompting the user to send lottery application information, and the input / output unit 23 receives from the user the designation of information for applying to the lottery (step S403). The input / output unit 23 transmits the received input contents to the control unit 21. The lottery information processing unit 211 of the control unit 21 transmits the lottery application information to the server 10 via the communication I / F 22. If the lottery information is a lottery for which applications are not currently being accepted (NO in step S402), the terminal 20 receives application-denied information from the server 10, and the information display unit 213 of the control unit 21 displays the application-denied information (step S404), and proceeds to step S410.

[0117] If the information for applying to the lottery in the lottery application information has not been used to apply to the lottery (NO in step S405), the terminal 20 receives information from the server 10 prompting the user to send prize information specifying the type of prize desired, and the input / output unit 23 receives the prize information specifying the type of prize from the user (step S406). The input / output unit 23 transmits the received input contents to the control unit 21. The lottery information processing unit 211 of the control unit 21 transmits the prize information to the server 10 via the communication I / F 22. If the information for applying to the lottery in the lottery application information has been used to apply to the lottery (YES in step S405), the terminal 20 receives application disapproval information from the server 10, and the information display unit 213 of the control unit 21 displays the application disapproval information (step S404), and proceeds to step S410.

[0118] If the type of prize specified in the prize information is a prize in stock (YES in step S407), the control unit 21 receives the lottery result information via the communication I / F 22, and the information display unit 213 of the control unit 21 executes the display of the lottery result (step S408). If the type of prize specified in the prize information is not a prize in stock (NO in step S407), the control unit 21 receives from the server 10 information that application is not possible and information that prompts the user to select a desired prize from the prizes in stock and apply for the lottery again, and the information display unit 213 of the control unit 21 displays the information that application is not possible and a screen for selecting a desired prize from the prizes in stock (step S409), and returns to step S406.

[0119] The control unit 21 determines whether or not there is an end input from the user (step S410). The end input here may be an end input for the application for performing the lottery, or an input for turning off the power of the terminal, putting it into sleep, etc. If there is no end input (NO in step S410), the process returns to step S401, and if there is an end input (YES in step S410), the process ends.

[0120] Fig. 5 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the server 10 for realizing the exchange shown in Fig. 3. The process shown in Fig. 5 shows the process executed by the server 10 when one piece of lottery application information is received.

[0121] The communication I / F 14 of the server 10 receives the lottery information from the terminal 20 (step S501). The communication I / F 14 transmits the received lottery information to the control unit 11.

[0122] The information determination unit 111 of the control unit 11 refers to the lottery information and the lottery management information 200 stored in the storage unit 15 to determine whether the lottery associated with the lottery information is a lottery for which applications are currently being accepted (step S502). If the lottery of the received lottery information is a lottery for which applications are currently being accepted (YES in step S502), it transmits information to the terminal 20 to prompt the terminal 20 to transmit lottery application information for applying to the specified lottery (step S503). If the lottery of the received lottery information is not a lottery for which applications are currently being accepted (NO in step S502), it determines that the user cannot apply to the lottery and proceeds to the process of step S504.

[0123] When receiving lottery application information from the terminal 20 (step S505), the information judgment unit 111 of the control unit 11 refers to the lottery application information and the lottery management information 200 stored in the storage unit 15 to judge whether the information for applying to the lottery of the received lottery application information has already been used to apply to the lottery in the past (step S506). If the information for applying to the lottery of the lottery application information has not been used to apply to the lottery so far (YES in step S506), the information prompting the terminal 20 to transmit prize information specifying the type of the desired prize is transmitted (step S507). If the information for applying to the lottery of the lottery application information has been used to apply to the lottery so far (NO in step S506), it is judged that the user cannot apply to the lottery, and the process proceeds to step S504.

[0124] When the prize information is received from the terminal 20 (step S508), the information judgment unit 111 of the control unit 11 refers to the type of prize specified in the prize information and the lottery management information 200 stored in the memory unit 15, and judges whether the type of prize specified in the prize information is a prize in stock (step S509). If the type of prize specified in the prize information is a prize in stock (YES in step S509), it is judged that the user can apply for the lottery (step S510). If the type of prize specified in the prize information is a prize that is out of stock (NO in step S509), it is judged that the user cannot apply for the lottery, and the process proceeds to step S511.

[0125] When it is determined that the user is eligible to enter the lottery (step S510), the probability calculation unit 113 of the control unit 11 calculates the probability of winning as follows. The probability calculation unit 113 of the control unit 11 reads the target prize consumption date and time from the lottery management information 200, and determines whether the time when it was determined that the user is eligible to enter the lottery is during the buffer period (step S512). If the time when it was determined that the user is eligible to enter the lottery is not during the buffer period (NO in step S512), the process proceeds to step S513 and performs probability calculation. If the time when it was determined that the user is eligible to enter the lottery is during the buffer period (YES in step S512), the process proceeds to step S522 and performs probability calculation.

[0126] If the time when it is determined that the lottery can be applied for is not during the buffer period (NO in step S512), the probability calculation unit 113 of the control unit 11 reads out the lottery start and end dates and times 202, the prize inventory status 204, the prize consumption status 205, and the number of lotteries 207 from the lottery management information 200 (step S513). The lottery period elapsed rate is calculated from the lottery start and end dates and times 202 and the current time (step S514). The expected total number of applications is calculated from the number of lotteries 207 and the lottery period elapsed rate (step S515). The total number of prizes is calculated from the prize inventory status 204 and the prize consumption status 205, and the base winning probability is calculated from the total number of prizes and the expected total number of applications (step S516). The prize progress rate is calculated from the prize consumption status 205 and the total number of prizes (step S517).

[0127] The lottery period elapsed ratio and the prize progress ratio are compared (step S518). If the prize progress ratio is smaller than the lottery period elapsed ratio (step S518A), it is determined that the actual number of applications is smaller than the expected number of applications, and there are prizes left over (hereinafter referred to as a short state), and the winning probability is increased (step S519). If the prize progress ratio is larger than the lottery period elapsed ratio (step S518B), it is determined that the actual number of applications is larger than the expected number of applications, and the prizes are being consumed too quickly (hereinafter referred to as a long state), and the winning probability is decreased (step S520). If the lottery period elapsed ratio and the prize progress ratio are the same (step S518C), it is determined that the actual number of applications and the expected number of applications match, and the winning probability is not changed at this point (step S521).

[0128] If the time when it is determined that the lottery can be applied for is within the buffer period (YES in step S512), the probability calculation unit 113 of the control unit 11 reads out the lottery start and end dates and times 202, the target prize consumption date and time, and a calculation method of the lottery probability for the buffer period progress rate from the lottery management information 200 (step S522). In the operation example shown in FIG. 5, the lottery probability during the buffer period is calculated based only on the buffer period progress rate, but if the lottery probability is calculated based on other factors such as the stock status of prizes in addition to the buffer period progress rate, in step S522, all factors for calculating the lottery probability are read out from the lottery management information 200. The probability calculation unit 113 calculates the buffer period progress rate from the lottery start and end dates and times 202, the buffer period entry date and time, and the current time (step S523). The probability calculation unit 113 calculates the probability of winning from the calculated buffer period progress rate and the calculation method of the lottery probability for the buffer period progress rate (step S524), and proceeds to step S525 to perform probability calculation.

[0129] The information determination unit 111 of the control unit 11 determines whether or not the lottery has been won based on the winning probability calculated by the probability calculation unit 113 (step S525). When it is determined whether or not the lottery has been won, the information determination unit 111 transmits lottery result information to the terminal 20 (step S526).

[0130] After transmitting the lottery result information, the result transmitting unit 114 transmits the lottery result information to the history updating unit 115 regardless of the lottery result (step S527). The history updating unit 115 that has received the lottery result information updates the lottery management information 200 and ends the process.

[0131] On the other hand, if it is determined that the user is not eligible to enter the lottery (NO in step S502 and NO in step S506), information indicating that the user is not eligible to enter the lottery is sent via the communication I / F 14 to the terminal 20 indicated by the received user identification information (step S504), and the processing is terminated.

[0132] If it is determined in step S509 that the user is ineligible to enter the lottery because the type of prize specified in the prize information is out of stock, then the application ineligibility information and information presenting the prizes in stock out of the multiple types of prizes in the lottery, selecting a desired prize from the prizes in stock, and encouraging the user to enter the lottery again are transmitted in association with the application ineligibility information to terminal 20 indicated by the received user identification information via communication I / F 14 (step S511), and the process returns to step S508.

[0133] <Display example> FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of a receipt for entering a lottery and an example of a display screen on the terminal 20.

[0134] 6(a) is an example of a receipt 601 that is handed over together with an item when it is purchased at a store. At the bottom of the receipt, the words "Easy application via smartphone" are written, and furthermore, an application number 602 and a two-dimensional code 603 are written. The two-dimensional code 603 is captured by the camera 234 of the terminal 20.

[0135] Then, as shown in Fig. 6(b), terminal 20 displays an application screen for entering an application number for entering a lottery in the display area of ​​display unit 24. The user enters the application number shown in Fig. 6(a) in the application number entry field shown in Fig. 6(b), or selects (tap) the "Capture application number with camera" button to capture application number 602 shown in Fig. 6(a) with camera 234 of terminal 20. When the send button is tapped, terminal 20 transmits lottery application information including the application number to server 10 via communication I / F 22.

[0136] As shown in Fig. 6(c), the terminal 20 displays a prize designation screen for designating the type of prize in the display area of ​​the display unit 24. The user taps a button displaying the desired prize. When the prize button is tapped, the terminal 20 transmits prize information including the type of prize to the server 10 via the communication I / F 22.

[0137] As shown in Fig. 6(d), the terminal 20 displays the result of the lottery in the display area of ​​the display unit 24. Fig. 6(d) shows, as an example, a screen that appears when the lottery is won. At this time, as shown in Fig. 6(d), a button that displays how to receive the item may or may not be displayed.

[0138] <Modification> In the embodiment, the server 10 immediately determines whether or not a lottery has been won after accepting the lottery. The lottery application information for applying to the lottery is information indicating that application is possible when, for example, an item or the like is purchased at a store or the like and it becomes possible to apply to the lottery according to the purchased item, purchase amount, etc. In this modified example, the server 10 determines whether or not a lottery has been won after accepting the lottery.

[0139] For example, when an item is purchased at a store, points for applying to a lottery may be issued according to the purchased item, the purchase amount, etc. Lottery application information for applying to a lottery is information indicating points. When the server 10 receives lottery application information from the terminal 20, the server 10 may store points in association with the user ID that identifies the user of the terminal 20. When the server 10 receives lottery application information again from the terminal 20, the server 10 may add the newly transmitted points to the points stored in association with the user ID. The server 10 may add points each time it receives lottery application information from the terminal 20, and when the total value of points exceeds a predetermined value, the server 10 may hold a lottery for a prize desired by the user and determine whether or not the user has won the lottery. After the lottery is held, the server 10 may store a value obtained by subtracting a predetermined value from the total value of points in association with the user ID, and may add points each time it receives further lottery application information from the terminal 20, and may hold a lottery again in the same procedure as above.

[0140] <Effects of the embodiment> The server 10 of the lottery system of the present invention appropriately adjusts the probability of winning so that there are no prizes left over at the end of the lottery period and so that the date and time when the prizes run out of stock is as close as possible to the end of the lottery. This allows the server 10 to reduce the prize stock as much as possible.

[0141] In addition, the server 10 calculates the probability of winning each time the winning determination unit 112 determines whether or not a prize has been won in the lottery. Therefore, even if the number of prizes in stock is changed during the lottery period, the server 10 can calculate the probability of winning according to the number of prizes in stock.

[0142] Furthermore, the server 10 may adjust the winning probability as in the above embodiment during the period before the buffer period, and during the buffer period, the winning probability increases over time from the start of the buffer period to the end of the lottery period, and may adjust the winning probability to 100% just before the end of the lottery period. This allows the server 10 to keep prizes in stock until before the buffer period, and to pay out all of the prizes in stock at the end of the lottery period. [Explanation of symbols]

[0143] 1. Communication Systems 10 Server 11 Control section 111 Information Judgment Department 112 Winning Judging Department 113 Probability Calculation Department 114 Result transmission unit 115 History Update Section 12 Input / output section 13 Display section 14 Communication I / F (communication section) 15 Storage section 20 Terminals 21 Control section 211 Lottery information processing unit 212 Result display section 213 Information display section 22 Communication I / F 23 Input / output section 231 Touch Panel 232 Mike 233 Speaker 234 Camera 24 Display unit (display) 25 Location information acquisition section 28 Memory section 30 Network

Claims

1. An information processing device that provides a lottery service to a terminal, a memory unit that stores lottery management information including a lottery management number, a start date and time and an end date and time of a lottery associated with the lottery management number, a type of prize associated with the lottery management number, a prize inventory status associated with the prize type, a prize consumption status associated with the prize type, and information used to enter the lottery associated with the lottery management number, and the number of draws associated with the prize type; a receiving unit that receives lottery information indicating a service for conducting the lottery, lottery application information for applying to the lottery, and prize information specifying a type of prize; an information determination unit that determines whether or not the lottery can be held based on the lottery information, the lottery application information, the prize information, and the lottery management information; a probability calculation unit that calculates a probability of winning when the information determination unit determines that the lottery is possible, so that the stock of the prize at the end date and time is low and the date and time when the stock of the prize runs out is close to the end date and time; a winning determination unit that determines whether or not the lottery has been won using the winning probability based on the determination by the information determination unit; a result transmission unit that transmits to the terminal a result of the determination as to whether or not the prize has been won, the result being determined by the prize determination unit; a history update unit that updates the lottery management information based on the result of the win determination unit as to whether or not the lottery winner has won, the lottery information, the lottery application information, and the prize information; Equipped with The probability calculation unit adjusts a buffer period between the target prize consumption date and time and the end date and time so that the winning probability increases over time from the target prize consumption date and time to the end date and time, regardless of the consumption status of the prize. Information processing device.

2. 2. The information processing device according to claim 1, the probability calculation unit, when it is determined that the lottery is possible, calculates a lottery period elapsed rate by dividing the elapsed time from the start date and time to the time when it is determined that the lottery is possible by the time of the lottery period, calculates an expected total number of applications by dividing the number of lotteries by the lottery period elapsed rate, calculates a prize progress rate by dividing the number of prizes consumed, which is the number of prizes consumed between the start date and time to the time when it is determined that the lottery is possible, by the total number of prizes added to the number of prizes in stock at the time when it is determined that the lottery is possible, compares the lottery period elapsed rate with the prize progress rate, and when the prize progress rate is smaller than the lottery period elapsed rate, sets the winning probability higher than a base winning probability, and when the prize progress rate is larger than the lottery period elapsed rate, sets the winning probability lower than the base winning probability, and when the lottery period elapsed rate and the prize progress rate are the same, sets the winning probability to the same value as the base winning probability. Information processing device.

3. 3. The information processing device according to claim 2, the probability calculation unit calculates an adjustment constant based on the lottery period elapsed ratio and the prize progress ratio, and when the prize progress ratio is smaller than the lottery period elapsed ratio, multiplies the winning probability by the adjustment constant to obtain a new winning probability, and when the prize progress ratio is larger than the lottery period elapsed ratio, divides the winning probability by the adjustment constant to obtain a new winning probability. Information processing device.

4. The information processing device according to any one of claims 2 to 3, The base probability of winning is calculated by dividing the total number of prizes by the total number of expected entries. Information processing device.

5. The information processing device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, The probability calculation unit adjusts the buffer period so that the winning rate becomes 100% just before the end of the lottery period. Information processing device.

6. The information processing device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, The probability calculation unit calculates a new winning probability by adding a buffer period progress rate, which is a ratio of a time from the start of the buffer period to the winning probability, to the winning probability. Information processing device.

7. A communication system including a terminal and an information processing device that provides a lottery service to the terminal, The information processing device includes: a memory unit that stores lottery management information including a lottery management number, a start date and time and an end date and time of a lottery associated with the lottery management number, a type of prize associated with the lottery management number, a prize inventory status associated with the prize type, a prize consumption status associated with the prize type, and information used to enter the lottery associated with the lottery management number, and the number of draws associated with the prize type; a receiving unit that receives lottery information indicating a service for conducting the lottery, lottery application information for applying to the lottery, and prize information specifying a type of prize; an information determination unit that determines whether or not the lottery can be held based on the lottery information, the lottery application information, the prize information, and the lottery management information; a probability calculation unit that calculates a probability of winning when the information determination unit determines that the lottery is possible, so that the stock of the prize at the end date and time is low and the date and time when the stock of the prize runs out is close to the end date and time; a winning determination unit that determines a lottery result of whether or not the lottery has been won using the winning probability based on the determination by the information determination unit; A result transmission unit that transmits the lottery result to the terminal; a history update unit that updates the lottery management information based on the lottery result, the lottery information, the lottery application information, and the prize information; Equipped with the probability calculation unit adjusts a buffer period between the target prize consumption date and time and the end date and time so that the winning probability increases over time from the target prize consumption date and time to the end date and time, regardless of the consumption status of the prize; The terminal includes: a lottery information processing unit that receives inputs related to the lottery, the lottery application information, and the prize information and transmits them to the information processing device; a result display unit that receives the lottery result transmitted from the information processing device and displays the received judgment lottery result; an information display unit that displays information related to the lottery; Equipped with Communication systems.

8. A computer of an information processing device that provides a service of conducting lotteries to a terminal, the computer being capable of accessing a memory unit that stores lottery management information including a lottery management number, a start date and time and an end date and time of a lottery associated with the lottery management number, a type of prize associated with the lottery management number, a prize inventory status associated with the prize type, a prize consumption status associated with the prize type, and information used to enter the lottery associated with the lottery management number, and the number of lotteries associated with the prize type. a receiving function for receiving lottery information indicating a service for carrying out the lottery, lottery application information for applying to the lottery, and prize information specifying a type of prize; an information determination function that determines whether or not the lottery can be held based on the lottery information, the lottery application information, the prize information, and the lottery management information; a probability calculation function that calculates the probability of winning when the information determination function determines that the lottery is possible, so that the stock of the prize at the end date and time is low and the date and time when the stock of the prize runs out is close to the end date and time; a winning determination function that determines whether or not the lottery has been won using the winning probability based on the determination by the information determination function; a result transmission function for transmitting a result of the winning judgment function to the terminal; a history update function for updating the lottery management information based on the result of the winning determination function as to whether or not the winning has been determined, the lottery information, the lottery application information, and the prize information; Realize this, In the probability calculation function, a buffer period between a target prize consumption date and time and the end date and time is adjusted so that the winning probability increases over time from the target prize consumption date and time to the end date and time, regardless of the consumption status of the prize. Raffle program.

9. An information processing device that provides a service of conducting a lottery to a terminal, the information processing device being capable of accessing a memory unit that stores lottery management information including a lottery management number, a lottery start date / time and end date / time associated with the lottery management number, a prize type associated with the lottery management number, a prize inventory status associated with the prize type, a prize consumption status associated with the prize type, and information used to enter the lottery associated with the lottery management number, and the number of lottery draws associated with the prize type; receiving lottery information indicating a service for conducting the lottery, lottery application information for applying to the lottery, and prize information specifying a type of prize; A step of determining whether or not the lottery can be held based on the lottery information, the lottery application information, the prize information, and the lottery management information; a step of calculating a probability of winning so that the stock of the prize at the end date and time is low and the stock of the prize runs out close to the end date and time when the step of determining whether the lottery is possible or not determines that the lottery is possible; a step of determining whether or not the lottery has been won using the winning probability based on the determination made in the step of determining whether or not the lottery has been won; a step of transmitting a result of the determination of whether or not the person has won the lottery to the terminal; updating the lottery management information based on a result of the determination of whether or not the lottery has been won, the lottery information, the lottery application information, and the prize information; Including, In the step of calculating the winning probability, a buffer period between a target prize consumption date and time and the end date and time is adjusted so that the winning probability increases over time from the target prize consumption date and time to the end date and time, regardless of the consumption status of the prize. Selection method.

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