Trading system and method

Abstract

To provide a transaction system that allows a user to use points granted to purchase an NFT.SOLUTION: A transaction system includes: a point management device 2 that manages points held by a user and consumes the points in response to a point consumption request from the user; and a transaction information provision device 6 that acquires market data about a non-fungible token from a market that handles the non-fungible token whose holder is managed on a block chain, and provides the acquired market data to the user. The market data includes information indicating a transaction price of the non-fungible token. The point management device 2 executes a process of consuming points corresponding to the transaction price of a non-fungible token that is an object of a purchase request from the point held by a user who requests purchase of the non-fungible token.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a trading system and a trading method. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, points are awarded to users who purchase products or use services, the points awarded to users are managed, and the points held by the users are exchanged for products or the like, or the points are managed based on the management information of financial products such as stocks (see, for example, Patent Documents 1, 2, and 3). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Patent No. 6042011 [Patent Document 2] Patent No. 6183942 [Patent Document 3] Patent No. 6357521 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In recent years, attention has been focused on NFTs (Non-Fungible Tokens), which can prove the uniqueness and ownership of digital assets such as digital art, game items, trading cards, etc. Marketplaces that handle NFTs (NFT marketplaces) have been established, and it is now possible to purchase and sell NFTs using the NFT marketplace.

[0005] In this situation with NFTs, one possible way to use the points given to the user described above is to use the points held by the user to purchase NFTs. However, with the point management technology described in Patent Documents 1, 2, and 3 above, it is difficult for a user to use the points held by the user to purchase NFTs. For example, in the NFT marketplace, a specific virtual currency is used as the settlement currency for purchasing NFTs, and a virtual currency wallet dedicated to the user must be created.

[0006] The present invention has been made in consideration of these circumstances, and its purpose is to enable points awarded to users to be used to purchase NFTs. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] One aspect of the present invention includes a points management device that manages owned points, which are points owned by users, and consumes the owned points in response to a point consumption request from the user, and a purchase management device that executes a payment process for a market that handles non-fungible tokens managed by holders on a blockchain, the points management device having a points management table that stores owned points for each user, and a purchase management device that identifies owned points owned by a user who has made a purchase request for the non-fungible token using the point management table, and stores the owned points for the non-fungible token that is the subject of a purchase request specified by the user who made the purchase request. Based on a request to purchase using points and the trading price of the non-fungible token that is the subject of the purchase request in the market The consumption points to be consumed Identify and use the identified points to be consumed from the identified points held and a point management unit that performs a subtraction and stores the resulting owned points in the point management table as the owned points of the user who made the purchase request, wherein the point management device transmits purchase request information to the purchase management device, the purchase request information including information indicating purchase funds obtained by converting the consumed points into a specified currency at a preset conversion rate, and the purchase management device executes a payment process for the market based on the purchase request information. One aspect of the present invention is a trading system, further comprising a trading information providing device that acquires market data including information indicating the trading price of the non-fungible token from the market. One aspect of the present invention is a trading system in which the trade information providing device provides the market data to a user.

[0008] One aspect of the present invention is a trading method in a trading system including a point management device that manages owned points, which are points held by users, and consumes the owned points in response to a point consumption request from the user, and a purchase management device that executes a payment process for a market that handles non-fungible tokens managed by holders on a blockchain, wherein the point management device has a point management table that stores owned points for each user, and the point management device identifies owned points held by a user who has made a purchase request for the non-fungible token using the point management table, and A request to purchase using points and the trading price in the market of the non-fungible token that is the subject of the purchase request The consumption points to be consumed are based on Identify and use the identified points to be consumed from the identified points held This trading method includes a point management step of subtracting and storing the resulting owned points in the point management table as owned points of the user who made the purchase request; a step in which the point management device transmits purchase request information to the purchase management device, the purchase request information including information indicating purchase funds obtained by converting the consumed points into a specified currency at a preset conversion rate; and a step in which the purchase management device executes a payment process for the market based on the purchase request information. Effect of the Invention

[0009] According to the present invention, it is possible to obtain the effect that points granted to a user can be used to purchase NFTs. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0010] [Figure 1]FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of a trading system according to an embodiment. [Diagram 2] 1 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of a points management device according to an embodiment; [Diagram 3] FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of a points management table according to an embodiment. [Figure 4] 1 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of a purchase management device according to an embodiment; [Diagram 5] FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of a purchase management table according to an embodiment. [Figure 6] 1 is a block diagram showing an example of a configuration of a transaction information providing device according to an embodiment; [Figure 7] A diagram showing an example of providing NFT market data in one embodiment. [Figure 8] FIG. 1 is a sequence diagram showing an example of a procedure of a trading method according to an embodiment. [Figure 9] FIG. 1 is a sequence diagram showing an example of a procedure of a trading method according to an embodiment. [Figure 10] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a modified example of the point management table according to an embodiment. [Figure 11] FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of a trading system according to an embodiment. [Figure 12] FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of a management device according to an embodiment. [Figure 13] FIG. 1 is a sequence diagram showing an example of a procedure of a trading method according to an embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0011] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0012] [First embodiment] FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of a transaction system according to a first embodiment. In FIG. 1, a point management device 2 manages points owned by users. The users are registered in the point management device 2, and are assigned user identification information (user ID) that identifies the users. The point management device 2 manages points assigned to each user when the user purchases a product or uses a service. The point management device 2 transmits and receives data to and from a terminal (user terminal) 7 used by the user via a communication line. The point management device 2 also transmits and receives data to and from a transaction information providing device 6 via a communication line.

[0013] A user uses the user terminal 7 to make a point consumption request to the point management device 2. The point consumption request is, for example, a request to exchange points held by the user for a product or the like. In this embodiment, a request to purchase an NFT (non-fungible token) using points held by the user (NFT purchase request) is provided as one of the point consumption requests. A user can make an NFT purchase request to the point management device 2 using the user terminal 7.

[0014] The point management device 2 consumes points in response to a point consumption request from a user. For example, when a user exchanges points held by the user for a product, the number of consumption points set for the product to be exchanged is subtracted from the remaining number of points held by the user. For example, when a user uses points held by the user to purchase an NFT, the number of consumption points converted from the transaction price (price of virtual currency) of the NFT to be purchased is subtracted from the remaining number of points held by the user.

[0015] The point management device 2 makes an NFT purchase request to the purchase management device 3 in response to an NFT purchase request from a user.

[0016] The purchase management device 3 transmits and receives data to and from the point management device 2 via a communication line. The purchase management device 3 also transmits and receives data to and from the NFT market 4 via a communication line. The NFT market 4 is a distribution venue (NFT marketplace) for the purchase and sale of NFTs. The NFT market 4 may be realized by a computer (NFT market server) that executes a computer program (NFT market software) for causing a computer to realize the functions of an NFT marketplace, such as presenting sales information for NFTs, accepting requests to purchase NFTs, processing payments for NFTs, and managing information on NFT holders. Therefore, the NFT market 4 may refer to an NFT market server.

[0017] The owners of NFTs handled by NFT Market 4 are managed on the blockchain 5. The blockchain 5 records the provenance of the NFTs handled by NFT Market 4. This blockchain 5 certifies the owners of the NFTs handled by NFT Market 4.

[0018] The purchase management device 3 executes an NFT purchase process for the NFT market 4 in response to an NFT purchase request from the point management device 2. In the NFT purchase process, the purchase management device 3 requests the NFT market 4 to change the holder of the NFT to be purchased. In response to the request to change the holder of the NFT to be purchased, the NFT market 4 executes a process to change the holder of the NFT to be purchased for the blockchain 5. As a result, the holder of the NFT to be purchased managed on the blockchain 5 is changed.

[0019] The purchase management device 3 acquires data on the NFT to be purchased whose owner has been changed on the blockchain 5 from the NFT market 4. The data on the NFT to be purchased is data including metadata on the blockchain 5 on the NFT to be purchased. The metadata on the blockchain 5 on the NFT to be purchased has information on the NFT to be purchased such as an identifier, creation date and time, an owner address indicating the owner, and an object URL. The object URL is a uniform resource locator (URL) indicating the location of a digital asset (original digital data) that is the object whose owner the NFT to be purchased certifies. The digital asset that is the object whose owner the NFT certifies is various, such as digital art, game items, trading cards, digital photographs, digital audio, and digital text.

[0020] The purchase management device 3 records data regarding the NFT to be purchased whose owner has been changed on the blockchain 5 outside the blockchain 5.

[0021] The purchase management device 3 executes a payment process in conjunction with the NFT purchase process for the NFT market 4. In the payment process, the purchase management device 3 executes a payment process for the price corresponding to the transaction price of the NFT to be purchased.

[0022] The transaction information providing device 6 transmits and receives data to and from the NFT market 4 via a communication line. In addition, the transaction information providing device 6 transmits and receives data to and from the point management device 2 via a communication line.

[0023] The transaction information providing device 6 acquires market data related to NFTs (NFT market data) from the NFT market 4. The NFT market data includes information regarding NFTs handled by the NFT market 4, such as an identifier, an object category, a transaction price (price of virtual currency), and an object URL.

[0024] The trade information device 6 transmits and receives data to and from the user terminal 7 via a communication line. The trade information device 6 provides the user with NFT market data acquired from the NFT market 4. The user acquires the NFT market data from the trade information device 6 using the user terminal 7.

[0025] The transaction information device 6 converts the NFT transaction price (price of virtual currency) included in the NFT market data into points managed by the point management device 2. This conversion rate is set in advance. The transaction information device 6 includes transaction price converted points, which are the converted value obtained by converting the NFT transaction price (price of virtual currency) into points, in the NFT market data to be provided to the user.

[0026] The NFT market data allows a user to recognize the object category (e.g., digital art, game item, trading card, etc.) and trading price conversion points for each NFT being sold on the NFT market 4. Therefore, by comparing the remaining number of points the user owns with the trading price conversion points for each NFT, the user can determine that an NFT with a trading price conversion point number equal to or less than the remaining number of points the user owns is an NFT for which an NFT purchase request can be made. In addition, the user can use the user terminal 7 to access the object URL included in the NFT market data and confirm the object of the NFT (original digital data).

[0027] Fig. 2 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of a point management device according to this embodiment. In Fig. 2, the point management device 2 includes a point management unit 21 and a point control unit 22. The point management unit 21 includes a point management table 23.

[0028] Each function of the point management device 2 is realized by the point management device 2 having computer hardware such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit) and a memory, and the CPU executing a computer program stored in the memory. The point management device 2 may be configured using a general-purpose computer device, or may be configured as a dedicated hardware device. For example, the point management device 2 may be configured using a server computer connected to a communication network such as the Internet. Each function of the point management device 2 may be realized by cloud computing. The point management device 2 may be realized by a single computer, or may be realized by distributing the functions of the point management device 2 to multiple computers. The point management device 2 may be configured to open a website using, for example, a WWW system.

[0029] The point management unit 21 manages the points owned by the users. The point management unit 21 uses a point management table 23 to manage the points of each user.

[0030] Fig. 3 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of a point management table according to this embodiment. In the example of Fig. 3, for each user, the user ID, the remaining number of points owned by the user (owned points), and data related to purchased NFTs (purchased NFT data) are stored in the point management table 23. The purchased NFT data is acquired from the purchase management device 3.

[0031] The point control unit 22 controls points. In response to a point consumption request from a user, the point control unit 22 instructs the point management unit 21 to consume points. The point management unit 21 consumes points according to the instruction from the point control unit 22.

[0032] For example, when a user exchanges points held by the user for a product, the point control unit 22 instructs the point management unit 21 to subtract the number of points to be consumed set for the product to be exchanged from the number of remaining points held by the user. In accordance with the instruction from the point control unit 22, the point management unit 21 subtracts the number of points to be consumed from the number of remaining points held by the user.

[0033] For example, when purchasing an NFT using points held by a user, the point control unit 22 instructs the point management unit 21 to subtract the number of consumed points, which are the transaction price conversion points of the NFT to be purchased, from the remaining number of points held by the user. The point management unit 21 subtracts the number of consumed points from the remaining number of points held by the user in accordance with the instruction from the point control unit 22. The transaction price conversion points of the NFT to be purchased are a conversion value (transaction price conversion points) resulting from conversion by the transaction information providing device 6 from the transaction price (price of virtual currency) of the NFT to be purchased, and are obtained from the transaction information providing device 6.

[0034] The point control unit 22 makes an NFT purchase request to the purchase management device 3 in response to an NFT purchase request from a user.

[0035] Fig. 4 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of a purchase management device according to this embodiment. In Fig. 4, purchase management device 3 includes purchase management unit 31 and purchase control unit 32. Purchase management unit 31 includes purchase management table 33.

[0036] Each function of the purchase management device 3 is realized when the purchase management device 3 is equipped with computer hardware such as a CPU and memory, and the CPU executes a computer program stored in the memory. The purchase management device 3 may be configured using a general-purpose computer device, or may be configured as a dedicated hardware device. For example, the purchase management device 3 may be configured using a server computer connected to a communication network such as the Internet. Each function of the purchase management device 3 may be realized by cloud computing. The purchase management device 3 may be realized by a single computer, or may be realized by distributing the functions of the purchase management device 3 across multiple computers.

[0037] The purchase management unit 31 manages the purchase of NFTs. The purchase management unit 31 uses a purchase management table 33 to manage each NFT requested for purchase from the point management device 2.

[0038] FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of a purchase management table according to this embodiment. In the example of FIG. 5, for each user, a user ID, purchased NFT data, and an identifier of the holder of the purchased NFT (NFT holder ID) are stored in the purchase management table 33. The purchased NFT data is acquired from the purchase management device 3. The user ID is the user ID of the user who made the purchase request. The purchased NFT data is NFT data purchased in response to a purchase request by the user who made the purchase request. The NFT holder ID is the identifier of the holder of the NFT purchased in response to a purchase request by the user who made the purchase request. Therefore, the NFT holder ID is the identifier of the holder indicated by the holder address included in the purchased NFT data.

[0039] In this embodiment, the holder of a purchased NFT is a specified purchase manager. The purchase manager is a person different from the user who made the purchase request. Therefore, the NFT holder ID is an identifier of the purchase manager (purchase manager ID) and is different from the user ID. The purchase manager is, for example, the manager of the point management device 2.

[0040] In this embodiment, the reason for making the holder of a purchased NFT the purchasing manager is, for example, that in NFT Market 4, the purchasing manager creates virtual currency wallets collectively as a purchasing window, eliminating the need to create a user-specific virtual currency wallet for each user.

[0041] The purchase control unit 32 controls the purchase of NFTs. In response to an NFT purchase request from the point management device 2, the purchase control unit 32 executes an NFT purchase process for the NFT market 4. In the NFT purchase process, the purchase control unit 32 requests the NFT market 4 to change the holder of the NFT to be purchased to a specified purchase manager. In this embodiment, the purchase manager is a person different from the user who made the purchase request.

[0042] In response to the request to change the holder of the NFT to be purchased to the purchase manager, the NFT market 4 executes a process to change the holder of the NFT to be purchased to the purchase manager on the blockchain 5. As a result, the holder of the NFT to be purchased managed on the blockchain 5 is changed to the purchase manager.

[0043] The purchase control unit 32 obtains data (purchased NFT data) related to the NFT to be purchased whose owner has been changed to a purchase manager on the blockchain 5, from the NFT market 4. The purchase control unit 32 instructs the purchase management unit 31 to record the purchased NFT data obtained from the NFT market 4. Following the instructions from the purchase control unit 32, the purchase management unit 31 stores the purchased NFT data in the purchase management table 33 in association with the user ID of the purchase requester and the purchase manager ID as the NFT holder ID.

[0044] In addition, the purchase control unit 32 provides the purchased NFT data acquired from the NFT market 4 to the point management device 2. The point management device 2 stores the purchased NFT data provided by the purchase control unit 32 in the point management table 23 in association with the user ID of the purchase requester.

[0045] The purchase control unit 32 executes a payment process in conjunction with the NFT purchase process for the NFT market 4. In the payment process, the purchase control unit 32 executes a payment process for the price corresponding to the transaction price of the NFT to be purchased. In the NFT market 4, a specific virtual currency is used as the payment currency for NFT purchases. Therefore, the purchase control unit 32 executes the payment process for the price with the virtual currency used in the NFT market 4.

[0046] 6 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of a trade information providing device according to this embodiment. In FIG. 6, trade information providing device 6 includes a market data acquiring unit 61, a point conversion unit 62, and an information provision control unit 63.

[0047] Each function of the transaction information providing device 6 is realized by the transaction information providing device 6 including computer hardware such as a CPU and a memory, and the CPU executing a computer program stored in the memory. The transaction information providing device 6 may be configured using a general-purpose computer device, or may be configured as a dedicated hardware device. For example, the transaction information providing device 6 may be configured using a server computer connected to a communication network such as the Internet. Each function of the transaction information providing device 6 may be realized by cloud computing. The transaction information providing device 6 may be realized by a single computer, or may be realized by distributing the functions of the transaction information providing device 6 among multiple computers. The transaction information providing device 6 may be configured to open a website using, for example, a WWW system or the like.

[0048] The market data acquisition unit 61 acquires NFT market data from the NFT market 4 at a predetermined timing. For example, the market data acquisition unit 61 acquires NFT market data from the NFT market 4 at a fixed cycle. For example, the market data acquisition unit 61 acquires NFT market data from the NFT market 4 at a predetermined time. For example, the market data acquisition unit 61 acquires NFT market data from the NFT market 4 when a predetermined event occurs. Examples of events include the registration of a new NFT, the completion of a sale and purchase of an NFT, and a change in the trading price of an NFT.

[0049] The point conversion unit 62 converts the trading price of the NFT (price of virtual currency) included in the NFT market data into points managed by the point management device 2. This conversion rate is set in advance.

[0050] The information provision control unit 63 controls the provision of NFT market data to users. The information provision control unit 63 transmits the NFT market data to the user terminal 7. The NFT market data transmitted to the user terminal 7 includes transaction price converted points, which are the converted value of the NFT transaction price (price of virtual currency) converted into points.

[0051] Fig. 7 is a diagram showing an example of provision of NFT market data according to this embodiment. In the example of Fig. 7, for each NFT (sales NFT) sold on the NFT market 4, information such as the category to which the object of the sales NFT belongs, the identifier of the sales NFT (sales NFT ID), transaction price conversion points, and object URL is included in the NFT market data and provided to the user. The user uses the user terminal 7 to recognize the information included in the NFT market data.

[0052] In this embodiment, the user is provided with transaction price converted points, which are the conversion value of the NFT transaction price (price of virtual currency) converted into points, as NFT market data. Therefore, the user does not need to convert the price of virtual currency, which is the NFT transaction price, into points by himself / herself. This allows the user to easily determine the NFTs for sale that can be purchased with the points that the user owns.

[0053] In this embodiment, the transaction price converted points are provided from the transaction information providing device 6 to the point management device 2. Therefore, the point management device 2 does not need to convert the price of virtual currency, which is the transaction price of NFT, into points by itself. This allows the point management device 2 to easily compare the points held by the user with the transaction price converted points.

[0054] Next, a trading method according to this embodiment will be described with reference to Figures 8 and 9. Figures 8 and 9 are sequence diagrams showing an example of the procedure of the trading method according to this embodiment.

[0055] [Transaction information provision stage] The transaction information providing step in the transaction method according to this embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 8. Fig. 8 shows an example of the procedure of the transaction information providing step in the transaction method according to this embodiment.

[0056] (Step S11) The transaction information providing device 6 acquires NFT market data from the NFT market 4 at a predetermined timing.

[0057] (Step S12) The NFT market data includes the trading price of the NFT expressed in virtual currency. The transaction information providing device 6 converts the trading price of the NFT included in the NFT market data (price of virtual currency) into points managed by the point management device 2 at a predetermined conversion rate.

[0058] (Step S13) The trade information device 6 transmits NFT market data to the user terminal 7. The NFT market data transmitted to the user terminal 7 includes transaction price converted points, which are the points of the converted value resulting from the conversion in step S12. The user terminal 7 receives the NFT market data transmitted from the trade information device 6.

[0059] (Step S14) The user terminal 7 displays the NFT market data on the screen. The user recognizes each piece of information in the NFT market data shown in FIG. 7, for example, from the NFT market data displayed on the user terminal 7. The user can access the object URL of the desired NFT for sale using the user terminal 7 to display the object of the NFT for sale (for example, original digital data of digital art) on the screen of the user terminal 7 and confirm it. In addition, the user can determine the NFT for sale that can be purchased with the points he or she owns based on the transaction price conversion points of each NFT for sale included in the NFT market data. In addition, in the example of the NFT market data provided as an example in FIG. 7, the NFTs for sale are classified by category, so the user can easily search for NFTs for sale in the desired category.

[0060] A user may use the user terminal 7 to request NFT market data by specifying a category from the trade information providing device 6. The information provision control unit 63 of the trade information providing device 6 extracts information on the specified category specified by the user from the NFT market data, and transmits NFT market data related to NFTs for sale in the specified category to the user terminal 7. This allows the user to recognize the NFT market data related to NFTs for sale in the specified category using the user terminal 7.

[0061] As another example of providing NFT market data, a virtual store dealing in one or more categories may be set up, and NFTs for sale may be classified by virtual store. For example, a virtual store (art-related NFT shop) that deals in art-related NFTs for sale (e.g., NFTs such as digital art, artist's autograph images, and artist's interview audio) and a virtual store (idol-related NFT shop) that deals in idol-related NFTs for sale (e.g., idol's trading cards, digital photos, and digital audio). A user uses a user terminal 7 to request NFT market data from the transaction information providing device 6 by specifying a virtual store. The information provision control unit 63 of the transaction information providing device 6 extracts information on the specified virtual store specified by the user from the NFT market data, and transmits NFT market data related to the NFTs for sale at the specified virtual store to the user terminal 7. This allows the user to recognize the NFT market data related to the NFTs for sale at the specified virtual store using the user terminal 7.

[0062] In this embodiment, categories and virtual stores are examples of sales divisions of NFTs.

[0063] In addition, the transaction information providing device 6 may provide the user with NFT market data regarding an NFT selected from among multiple NFTs handled by the NFT market 4 in accordance with specified sales conditions.

[0064] As a sales condition, for example, an upper limit of transaction price converted points based on the remaining number of points owned by the user (point remaining number) may be set. In this case, the information provision control unit 63 of the transaction information providing device 6 acquires the user's point remaining number from the point management device 2, and transmits NFT market data regarding the NFTs for sale that are transaction price converted points equal to or less than the user's point remaining number to the user terminal 7 of the user.

[0065] As other sales conditions, for example, sales conditions based on user attributes may be set. Examples of sales conditions based on user attributes include restrictions on the age of the seller and the recommendation level by age group for each NFT for sale.

[0066] [NFT purchase stage] The NFT purchasing stage in the trading method according to this embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 9. Fig. 9 shows an example of the procedure of the NFT purchasing stage in the trading method according to this embodiment.

[0067] (Step S21) The user (user making the purchase request) selects the desired NFT for sale (the NFT to be purchased) from among the NFTs for sale included in the NFT market data provided by the transaction information providing device 6. The user making the purchase request uses the user terminal 7 to make an NFT purchase request for the NFT to be purchased to the point management device 2. The user terminal 7 transmits NFT purchase request data to the point management device 2 in response to the user's operation to make an NFT purchase request. The NFT purchase request data is data that includes the user ID of the user making the purchase request and an identifier of the NFT to be purchased (the NFT_ID to be purchased). The point management device 2 receives the NFT purchase request data transmitted from the user terminal 7.

[0068] (Step S22) The point management device 2 compares the transaction price converted points of the NFT for sale (the NFT to be purchased) corresponding to the NFT_ID to be purchased indicated in the NFT purchase request data received from the user terminal 7 with the remaining number of points (owned points) of the purchase requesting user, and confirms whether the points owned by the purchase requesting user are equal to or greater than the transaction price converted points. The transaction price converted points of the NFT for sale are obtained from the transaction information providing device 6. If the result of this confirmation is that the points owned by the purchase requesting user are less than the transaction price converted points of the NFT to be purchased, a response is sent to the user terminal 7 of the purchase requesting user to the effect that the purchase is not possible due to insufficient points.

[0069] On the other hand, if the result of the check is that the points held by the purchase requesting user are equal to or greater than the points converted into the transaction price of the NFT to be purchased, the point management device 2 subtracts the points converted into the transaction price from the points held by the purchase requesting user. The result of this point subtraction is recorded in the point management table 23.

[0070] (Step S23) If the points held by the purchase requesting user are equal to or greater than the points converted into the transaction price of the NFT to be purchased, the point management device 2 transmits NFT purchase request information to the purchase management device 3. The NFT purchase request information includes the NFT_ID to be purchased, the user ID of the purchase requesting user (purchase requesting user ID), and purchase fund payment data. The purchase fund payment data is data indicating that purchase funds equivalent to the points converted into the transaction price of the NFT to be purchased have been paid. The purchase funds are paid in legal tender (e.g., Japanese yen, etc.) by an arbitrary payer (e.g., the administrator (point administrator) of the point management device 2) to a specified payee (e.g., a bank account designated by the purchase management device 3). The exchange rate between points and legal tender (e.g., Japanese yen, etc.) is set in advance. The purchase management device 3 receives the NFT purchase request information transmitted from the point management device 2.

[0071] (Step S24) When the purchase management device 3 receives the NFT purchase request information from the point management device 2, it executes the process of purchasing the NFT and paying for it on the NFT market 4.

[0072] In the NFT purchase process, the purchase management device 3 requests the NFT market 4 to change the holder of the NFT to be purchased (the NFT_ID to be purchased) to a specified purchase manager. In this embodiment, the purchase manager is a person different from the user who made the purchase request, and is, for example, the manager of the point management device 2.

[0073] In the payment settlement process, the purchase management device 3 executes a payment process of the price corresponding to the transaction price (price of virtual currency) of the NFT to be purchased. Specifically, the purchase management device 3 executes a process of paying the price corresponding to the transaction price (price of virtual currency) of the NFT to be purchased from the virtual currency wallet of the purchase manager. In the NFT market 4, the virtual currency wallet of the purchase manager is created in advance. The purchase management device 3 deposits virtual currency of the price corresponding to the transaction price (price of virtual currency) of the NFT to be purchased into the wallet. The price corresponding to the transaction price (price of virtual currency) of the NFT to be purchased is, for example, the amount of virtual currency obtained by adding a fee (amount of virtual currency) such as a transaction fee to the transaction price (price of virtual currency) of the NFT to be purchased. After depositing the price into the wallet, the purchase management device 3 executes a process of paying the price from the wallet.

[0074] (Step S25) When the purchase management device 3 completes the NFT purchase and payment process, the NFT market 4 executes a process to change the holder of the NFT to be purchased (NFT_ID) to the purchase manager on the blockchain 5 in response to a request to change the holder of the NFT to be purchased (NFT_ID) to the purchase manager. As a result, the holder of the NFT to be purchased (NFT_ID) managed on the blockchain 5 is changed to the purchase manager. After this change of holder, an address indicating the purchase manager (purchase manager address) is recorded as the holder address in the metadata of the blockchain 5 related to the NFT to be purchased. In the NFT market 4, the purchase manager address is registered in advance.

[0075] (Step S26) The purchase management device 3 acquires data (purchased NFT data) related to the NFT to be purchased whose owner has been changed to the purchase manager on the blockchain 5 from the NFT market 4. The purchased NFT data is data including metadata of the blockchain 5 related to the NFT to be purchased. The purchase manager address is recorded as the owner address in the metadata. Therefore, the purchased NFT data is data that proves that the owner of the NFT to be purchased is the purchase manager.

[0076] (Step S27) The purchase management device 3 stores the purchased NFT data acquired from the NFT market 4 in the purchase management table 33 as illustrated in Fig. 5. Therefore, the purchased NFT data is associated with the purchase requester user ID and recorded outside the blockchain 5. In addition, the purchased NFT data is associated with the purchase manager ID as the NFT holder ID.

[0077] (Step S28) The purchase management device 3 transmits NFT purchase notification information to the point management device 2. The NFT purchase notification information includes the NFT_ID to be purchased, the purchase requester user ID, and the purchased NFT data. The point management device 2 receives the NFT purchase notification information transmitted from the purchase management device 3.

[0078] (Step S29) Upon receiving the NFT purchase notification information from the purchase management device 3, the point management device 2 records the NFT purchase of the purchase requesting user. In recording the NFT purchase of the purchase requesting user, the point management device 2 associates the purchased NFT data included in the NFT purchase notification information with the purchase requesting user ID included in the NFT purchase notification information and stores it in the point management table 23 as illustrated in FIG. 3. Furthermore, the point management device 2 rewrites the points held by the purchase requesting user ID in the point management table 23 to the result of the deduction of the points recorded in step S22. As a result, the points held by the purchase requesting user ID in the point management table 23 are updated to the result of the deduction of the points.

[0079] In addition, if for some reason the purchase of the NFT to be purchased in the NFT Market 4 fails, the points held by the purchase requesting user ID in the point management table 23 will not be updated, and the points held by the purchase requesting user ID before the points were deducted in step S22 will be maintained as they are.

[0080] In this embodiment, the consumption of points managed in the point management device 2 is recorded in the point management device 2 (point management table 23), but is not recorded on the blockchain 5. Therefore, the fact that the points held by the purchase requesting user have been used to purchase the NFT to be purchased is not recorded on the blockchain 5.

[0081] (Step S30) The point management device 2 sends an NFT purchase report to the user terminal 7 of the purchase requesting user. The NFT purchase report is information indicating that the purchase of the NFT to be purchased has been completed, and includes information such as the purchased NFT_ID and a URL indicating the location of the purchased NFT data in the point management table 23 (purchased NFT data URL). The purchase requesting user can use the user terminal 7 to access the purchased NFT data URL and confirm the purchased NFT data. The purchase requesting user can also use the user terminal 7 to access the object URL included in the purchased NFT data and confirm the object (original digital data) of the purchased NFT.

[0082] Fig. 10 is a diagram showing a modified example of the point management table according to the present embodiment. In this modified example, points owned by a user are managed for each point grantor. A point grantor is a person who grants points to a user when the user purchases a product or uses a service. In the example of Fig. 10, the points owned by each user are stored in the point management table 23 separately for each point grantor.

[0083] The point management device 2 may limit the point giver of points that can be used to purchase the NFT for sale to the administrator of the point management device 2. In this case, in step S22 of FIG. 13 described above, the point management device 2 compares the transaction price converted points of the NFT to be purchased with the points held by the purchase requesting user to which the administrator of the point management device 2 is the point giver (target held points), and confirms whether the target held points are equal to or greater than the transaction price converted points. If the target held points are less than the transaction price converted points, the point management device 2 responds to the user terminal 7 of the purchase requesting user that the purchase is not possible due to a lack of points. On the other hand, if the target held points are equal to or greater than the transaction price converted points, the point management device 2 subtracts the transaction price converted points from the target held points. The result of subtracting the target held points is recorded in the point management table 23. Also, in step S29 of Figure 13 described above, the point management device 2 rewrites the target held points for the purchase requesting user ID in the point management table 23 to the subtraction result of the target held points recorded in step S22 as a record of the NFT purchase by the purchase requesting user.

[0084] Furthermore, the point management device 2 may limit the points that can be used to purchase NFTs for sale to points that have been granted to users who have used the services provided by the administrator of the point management device 2. The administrator of the point management device 2 sets users who have used the services that the administrator provides as users to whom the administrator will grant points.

[0085] As described above, according to this embodiment, the effect is that points granted to a user can be used to purchase NFTs.

[0086] [Second embodiment] FIG. 11 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of a transaction system according to the second embodiment. In FIG. 11, parts corresponding to those in FIG. 1 are given the same reference numerals, and their description will be omitted. In the above-mentioned first embodiment, the point management device 2 and the purchase management device 3 are configured as separate devices, as exemplified in FIG. 1. In the second embodiment, the point management device 2 and the purchase management device 3 are configured as a single management device 8, as exemplified in FIG. 11, which is different from the above-mentioned first embodiment. Below, the differences from the first embodiment will be mainly described.

[0087] Fig. 12 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of a management device according to this embodiment. In Fig. 12, parts corresponding to those in Fig. 2 and Fig. 4 are given the same reference numerals, and their explanations are omitted. In the management device 8 shown in Fig. 12, a control unit 81 has the functions of both the point control unit 22 in Fig. 2 and the purchase control unit 32 in Fig. 4.

[0088] Fig. 13 is a sequence diagram showing an example of the procedure of the NFT purchase stage in the transaction method according to this embodiment. In Fig. 13, the parts corresponding to the steps in Fig. 9 are given the same reference numerals, and the description thereof is omitted. In this embodiment, the transaction information provision stage is the same as that of the first embodiment in Fig. 8 described above.

[0089] Steps S21 and S22 are the same as those in the first embodiment of Fig. 9. However, the management device 8 executes each process instead of the point management device 2 in the first embodiment of Fig. 9. In this embodiment, after step S22, step S23 in Fig. 9 is omitted, and step S24a is executed.

[0090] (Step S24a) If the points held by the purchase requesting user are equal to or greater than the transaction price points of the NFT to be purchased, the management device 8 executes the process of purchasing an NFT and paying for it on the NFT market 4. This process of purchasing an NFT and paying for it is the same as that of the first embodiment of step S24 in FIG. 9 described above.

[0091] After step S24a, steps S25 to S27 are executed. Steps S25 to S27 are the same as those in the first embodiment of FIG. 9 described above. However, instead of the purchase management device 3 in the first embodiment of FIG. 9, the management device 8 executes each process. In this embodiment, after step S27, step S28 in FIG. 9 is omitted, and step S29 is executed by the management device 8. In step S29, the management device 8 records the purchase requester's NFT purchase. This process of recording the purchase requester's NFT purchase is the same as step S29 in the first embodiment of FIG. 9 described above.

[0092] After step S29, step S30 is executed, except that the management device 8 executes the process instead of the point management device 2 in the first embodiment of FIG.

[0093] According to this embodiment, similar to the first embodiment described above, the effect is that points granted to a user can be used to purchase NFTs.

[0094] Furthermore, this will make it possible to improve the overall service quality in systems that utilize points held by users, thereby contributing to Goal 9 of the United Nations-led Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which is to "Build resilient infrastructure, promote sustainable industrialization and foster innovation."

[0095] Although an embodiment of the present invention has been described in detail above with reference to the drawings, the specific configuration is not limited to this embodiment, and design changes and the like that do not deviate from the gist of the present invention are also included.

[0096] Also, a computer program for implementing the functions of each of the above-mentioned devices may be recorded on a computer-readable recording medium, and the program recorded on the recording medium may be read into a computer system and executed. Note that the "computer system" referred to here may include hardware such as an OS and peripheral devices. Furthermore, in the case of using a WWW system, the "computer system" also includes the homepage providing environment (or display environment). In addition, the term "computer-readable recording medium" refers to writable non-volatile memory such as a flexible disk, an optical magnetic disk, a ROM, or a flash memory, a portable medium such as a DVD (Digital Versatile Disc), or a storage device such as a hard disk built into a computer system.

[0097] Furthermore, the term "computer-readable recording medium" includes devices that retain a program for a certain period of time, such as volatile memory (e.g., DRAM (Dynamic Random Access Memory)) within a computer system that serves as a server or client when a program is transmitted via a network such as the Internet or a communication line such as a telephone line. The program may be transmitted from a computer system in which the program is stored in a storage device or the like to another computer system via a transmission medium, or by a transmission wave in the transmission medium. Here, the "transmission medium" that transmits the program refers to a medium that has a function of transmitting information, such as a network (communication network) such as the Internet or a communication line (communication line) such as a telephone line. The program may be for implementing some of the functions described above, or may be a so-called differential file (differential program) that can implement the functions described above in combination with a program already recorded in the computer system. [Explanation of symbols]

[0098] 2...point management device, 3...purchase management device, 4...NFT market, 5...blockchain, 6...transaction information providing device, 7...user terminal, 8...management device, 21...point management unit, 22...point control unit, 23...point management table, 31...purchase management unit, 32...purchase control unit, 33...purchase management table, 61...market data acquisition unit, 62...point conversion unit, 63...information provision control unit, 81...control unit

Claims

1. A point management device that manages points held by a user and consumes the held points in response to a point consumption request from the user; A purchase management device that executes payment processing for a market that handles non-fungible tokens whose holders are managed on a blockchain; Equipped with The point management device includes: A points management table for storing points owned by each user; a point management unit that identifies points held by a user who has made a purchase request for the non-fungible token using the point management table, identifies a purchase request using points for the non-fungible token that is the subject of the purchase request specified by the user who made the purchase request, and identifies consumption points to be consumed based on the trading price of the non-fungible token that is the subject of the purchase request in the market, subtracts the identified consumption points from the identified held points, and stores the resulting held points in the point management table as points held by the user who made the purchase request; Equipped with the point management device transmits to the purchase management device purchase request information including information indicating purchase funds obtained by converting the consumed points into a predetermined currency at a preset conversion rate; the purchase management device executes a payment process for the market based on the purchase request information; Trading system.

2. The present invention further includes a transaction information providing device that obtains market data including information indicating a transaction price of the non-fungible token from the market.

2. The trading system of claim 1.

3. The trade information providing device provides the market data to a user.

3. A trading system as claimed in claim 2.

4. A point management device that manages points held by a user and consumes the held points in response to a point consumption request from the user; A purchase management device that executes payment processing for a market that handles non-fungible tokens whose holders are managed on a blockchain; A trading method in a trading system comprising: the point management device includes a point management table for storing points held by each user; a point management step in which the point management device identifies points held by a user who has made a purchase request for the non-fungible token using the point management table, identifies a purchase request using points for the non-fungible token that is the subject of the purchase request specified by the user who made the purchase request, and identifies consumption points to be consumed based on the trading price of the non-fungible token that is the subject of the purchase request in the market, subtracts the identified consumption points from the identified held points, and stores the resulting held points in the point management table as points held by the user who made the purchase request; a step of transmitting purchase request information including information indicating purchase funds obtained by converting the consumed points into a predetermined currency at a preset conversion rate to the purchase management device by the point management device; the purchase management device executing a payment process for the market based on the purchase request information; Trading methods including.

Images