Information Processing Apparatus and Program

Abstract

To smoothly conclude a construction contract, which is an electronic contract made with a customer. 【Solution means】An information processing apparatus 10 includes a processor. When the processor receives an application regarding housing equipment from a customer, it generates construction contract data to be concluded between a construction company requested to perform work corresponding to the application and the customer, and when it acquires electronic signature information from the customer's terminal 20 that has transmitted the generated construction contract data, it requests the authentication server 50 to authenticate the electronic signature information acquired from the customer's terminal 20, and when it acquires electronic signature information from the construction company's terminal 30 that has transmitted the generated construction contract data, it requests the authentication server 50 to authenticate the electronic signature information acquired from the construction company's terminal 30.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus and a program.

Background Art

[0002] For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a customer introduction system having a product information providing site that mainly provides building-related product information to customers via a network such as the Internet, and a construction company information site that provides construction company information to customers so that customers can select a construction company they wish to negotiate with. Such a customer introduction system further has a construction company support site that enables browsing of an individual construction company support homepage that manages and displays customer information of customers who have selected a construction company and wish to negotiate, for each individual construction company. The customer introduction system has a member database that accumulates customer information regarding customers who have registered as members at the product information providing site. The customer introduction system has means for displaying all or part of the member information accumulated in the member database in a list on the individual construction company support homepage of the construction company selected by the member when the member registered in the member database selects a desired construction company at the construction company information site. The customer introduction system is provided with e-mail creation and transmission means for notifying the selected construction company by e-mail that it has been selected.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] Here, when an application regarding housing equipment is received from a customer, a construction contract is concluded between the customer and a construction contractor for the construction corresponding to the customer's application. When concluding the construction contract on the web, it is necessary to perform an electronic signature on the customer's terminal. When performing an electronic signature, ensuring non-forgery and authenticity is required. In conventional electronic contract systems, without transitioning from the screen displayed after logging in to the electronic signature screen, the execution of the electronic signature was performed by operating another application not included in the electronic contract system. For example, it is an operation to check the content of the contract document at the link destination in the text of an email received by a mail application. Since the operation of another application not included in the electronic contract system is included in the conclusion of the contract document, it has been difficult to control the progress of the electronic contract procedure, which has hindered the smooth conclusion of the construction contract.

[0005] An object of the present invention is to solve such problems. Specifically, it is to achieve a smooth conclusion of a construction contract, which is an electronic contract conducted with a customer, as compared to the case where the present invention is not applied.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] For this purpose, the present invention includes a processor. When the processor receives an application regarding housing equipment from a customer, it generates construction contract document data to be concluded between the construction contractor requested for the construction corresponding to the application and the customer, and when it acquires electronic signature information from the customer's terminal that has transmitted the generated construction contract document data, it requests the authentication server to authenticate the electronic signature information acquired from the customer's terminal. When it acquires electronic signature information from the construction contractor's terminal that has transmitted the generated construction contract document data, it requests the authentication server to authenticate the electronic signature information acquired from the construction contractor's terminal. It is an information processing device. Here, the processor can manage the status of the construction contract for the case where an application from the customer has been received. Also, the processor can change the status at the timing when the electronic signature information from the customer's terminal or the electronic signature information from the contractor's terminal is acquired. Also, the processor can change the status at the timing when the electronic signature information from the customer's terminal and / or the electronic signature information from the contractor's terminal is authenticated. Also, the application regarding the housing equipment can include the purchase of the equipment of the housing equipment and the installation work of the equipment. Also, the processor can enable the download of a conclusion certificate indicating that a construction contract has been concluded on the customer's terminal and the contractor's terminal on the condition that the electronic signature information from the customer's terminal and the electronic signature information from the contractor's terminal are authenticated. Also, when the processor updates the construction contract for the case where an application from the customer has been received after the construction contract is established between the contractor and the customer, the processor can disable the download of the conclusion certificate. Also, when the processor updates the construction contract for the case where an application from the customer has been received after the construction contract is established between the contractor and the customer, if the processor acquires electronic signature information from the terminal of another contractor that has transmitted construction contract document data different from the established construction contract, the processor can request the authentication server to authenticate the electronic signature information acquired from the terminal of the other contractor. Another aspect of the present invention for achieving the above object includes a processor. When the processor receives an application regarding housing equipment from a customer, it generates construction contract data to be concluded between a construction company, which is requested to perform the work corresponding to the application, and the customer, and when it acquires electronic signature information from the customer's terminal that has transmitted the generated construction contract data, it requests the authentication server to authenticate the acquired electronic signature information from the customer's terminal. When it acquires its own electronic signature information instead of the electronic signature information from the construction company's terminal that has transmitted the generated construction contract data, it requests the authentication server to authenticate the acquired own electronic signature information. Another aspect of the present invention for achieving the above object includes a processor. When the processor receives an application regarding housing equipment from a customer, it generates construction contract data to be concluded with the customer for the work corresponding to the application, and when it acquires electronic signature information from the customer's terminal that has transmitted the generated construction contract data, it requests the authentication server to authenticate the acquired electronic signature information from the customer's terminal. It is an information processing device. Here, when the processor acquires its own electronic signature information, it can be configured to request the authentication server to authenticate the acquired own electronic signature information when requesting the authentication server to authenticate the electronic signature information acquired from the customer's terminal. Also, the processor can be configured to acquire its own electronic signature information when generating the construction contract data. Further, the processor can be configured to enable the customer's terminal to download a conclusion certificate indicating that the construction contract has been concluded on the condition that the electronic signature information from the customer's terminal and the processor's own electronic signature information have been authenticated. Another aspect of the present invention for achieving the above object is a program that enables an information processing apparatus to: when receiving an application related to housing facilities from a customer, generate construction contract data to be concluded between a construction company commissioned to perform the work corresponding to the application and the customer; when acquiring electronic signature information from the terminal of the customer who has transmitted the generated construction contract data, request the authentication server to authenticate the electronic signature information acquired from the terminal of the customer; and when acquiring electronic signature information from the terminal of the construction company that has transmitted the generated construction contract data, request the authentication server to authenticate the electronic signature information acquired from the terminal of the construction company. Another aspect of the present invention for achieving the above object is a program that enables an information processing apparatus to: when receiving an application related to housing facilities from a customer, generate construction contract data to be concluded between a construction company commissioned to perform the work corresponding to the application and the customer; when acquiring electronic signature information from the terminal of the customer who has transmitted the generated construction contract data, request the authentication server to authenticate the electronic signature information acquired from the terminal of the customer; and when acquiring its own electronic signature information instead of the electronic signature information from the terminal of the construction company that has transmitted the generated construction contract data, request the authentication server to authenticate the its own electronic signature information. Another aspect of the present invention for achieving the above object is a program that enables an information processing apparatus to: when receiving an application related to housing facilities from a customer, generate construction contract data to be concluded between the customer and the work corresponding to the application; and when acquiring electronic signature information from the terminal of the customer who has transmitted the generated construction contract data, request the authentication server to authenticate the electronic signature information acquired from the terminal of the customer.

Advantages of the Invention

[0007] According to the present invention, it becomes possible to smoothly conclude a construction contract, which is an electronic contract conducted with a customer.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0008]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Figure 7

Figure 8

Figure 9

Figure 10

Figure 11

Figure 12

Figure 13

Figure 14

Figure 15

Figure 16

Figure 17

Figure 18

Figure 19

Figure 20

Figure 21

Figure 22

Figure 23

Figure 24

Figure 25

Figure 26

Figure 27

Figure 28

Figure 29

Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0009] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. <Example of the Overall Configuration of the Information Processing System> FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of the overall configuration of an information processing system 1 according to the present embodiment. The information processing system 1 shown in FIG. 1 is a system for concluding an electronic contract with a customer regarding services such as replacement work provided in connection with selling goods to the customer. The information processing system 1 provides a set of goods that require installation work and their installation work.

[0010] The goods referred to here are, for example, home equipment. The home equipment referred to here means gas equipment such as a stove in the kitchen that cooks with gas, plumbing equipment such as a washbasin that uses water, and equipment such as a range hood in the kitchen that is associated with these. The replacement work or new installation work of such equipment falls under construction work under the Construction Industry Law, such as plumbing work, electrical work, and installation work of mechanical equipment. Therefore, when providing plumbing work services to a customer, it is necessary to comply with the regulations of the Construction Industry Law. One of them is to conclude a construction subcontracting contract with the customer.

[0011] In addition, the information processing system 1 is a system for managing various types of information such as customer management, material cost management, construction cost management, project status management, billing management, and accounting management when providing construction work services.

[0012] The customer management referred to here means managing various information of the customer, and the material cost management means managing information on where and how much materials are procured. The construction cost management means managing information on where to commission the construction work and how much it can be carried out, and the project status management means managing information on when the customer inquires, places an order, and when the construction work is to be carried out. Billing management refers to managing how to bill customers and information on whether payments have been made. Accounting management refers to managing information for summarizing sales, purchases, and inventory to maintain a state without shortages or surpluses.

[0013] As described above, in the information processing system 1, electronic contract conclusion and various information management are performed. Since the information processing system 1 can also conclude electronic contracts, it is possible to sell products online using the information processing system 1. An electronic contract is concluded when both parties to the contract perform an electronic signature. Such an electronic signature is a mechanism that gives the same legal effect as stamping a paper contract, and is also called an electronic signature.

[0014] By the way, there are matters that must be strictly legally observed in order to execute an electronic contract. Therefore, in the information processing system 1, an authentication server 50 that authenticates electronic signature information can be connected to the information processing device 10. As a result, in the information processing system 1, for compliance with laws and regulations, "the fact that the person who signed was involved in the creation of the document (authenticity)" and "the fact that the document has not been tampered with (non-tampering)" are ensured.

[0015] The information processing system 1 includes an information processing device 10, a customer terminal 20, construction store terminals 30 and 40, and an authentication server 50. The information processing device 10 and the customer terminal 20, the information processing device 10 and the construction store terminal 30, and the information processing device 10 and the construction store terminal 40 are connected via a network N. Also, the information processing device 10 and the authentication server 50 are connected via the network N.

[0016] The information processing device 10 is a device of a business operator that sells products to customers and provides services for installation work or replacement work of the sold products. The business operator mentioned here is, for example, an entity that conducts infrastructure business. The infrastructure business mentioned here refers to a business as a foundation for supporting industries and life, and includes energy infrastructure businesses such as electricity and gas.

[0017] The information processing apparatus 10 is an apparatus that performs central functions in the information processing system 1. The information processing apparatus 10 executes an electronic contract conclusion process through the customer terminal 20 and the construction store terminals 30 and 40, and also manages various types of information. The information processing apparatus 10 is realized by an information processing apparatus such as a computer, for example. The information processing apparatus 10 may be configured by a single computer, or may be realized by distributed processing using a plurality of computers.

[0018] The customer terminal 20 is a terminal of a customer who purchases a product from the business operator of the information processing apparatus 10 or receives a service related to the product. The customer terminal 20 is realized by, for example, a PC (Personal Computer) or the like.

[0019] The construction store terminals 30 and 40 are terminals of a business operator who performs construction such as installation work or replacement work of a product sold by the business operator of the information processing apparatus 10 to a customer, and are realized by, for example, a PC or the like. In the information processing system 1 according to the present embodiment, the case of two construction stores, namely the construction store terminal 30 and the construction store terminal 40, is shown, but it is not limited thereto, and the case of three or more construction stores may also be applicable.

[0020] The authentication server 50 is a server that provides an online service for attaching an electronic signature to an electronic document. In the information processing system 1, the information processing apparatus 10 performs API (Application Programming Interface) cooperation with the authentication server 50. Thereby, the information processing apparatus 10 can conclude an electronic signature that satisfies legal requirements. Assurance of readability, originality, and authenticity as legal requirements is ensured. When there is an authentication request for the electronic signature information from the information processing apparatus 10, the authentication server 50 processes the authentication request and transmits the processing result (authentication result) of the authentication request to the information processing apparatus 10.

[0021] <Hardware configuration example> FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a hardware configuration example of the information processing apparatus 10, the customer terminal 20, the construction store terminals 30 and 40, and the authentication server 50. As shown in FIG. 2, each of the information processing apparatus 10, the customer terminal 20, the construction store terminals 30 and 40, and the authentication server 50 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 100a which is an arithmetic means, and a memory 100c which is a main storage means. Further, each apparatus includes, as external devices, a magnetic disk device (HDD: Hard Disk Drive) 100g, a network interface 100f, a display mechanism 100d, an audio mechanism 100h, an input device 100i such as a keyboard and a mouse, and the like.

[0022] The memory 100c and the display mechanism 100d are connected to the CPU 100a via a system controller 100b. Further, the network interface 100f, the magnetic disk device 100g, the audio mechanism 100h, and the input device 100i are connected to the system controller 100b via an I / O controller 100e. Each component is connected by various buses such as a system bus and an input / output bus.

[0023] A program for realizing each function is stored in the magnetic disk device 100g. Then, this program is loaded into the memory 100c, and by executing the processing based on this program by the CPU 100a, various functions are realized.

[0024] In the case of the present embodiment, each process is executed by an arbitrary computer. The arbitrary computer may be realized as a processor as hardware, a program as software, or a combination thereof. The arbitrary computer may be a general-purpose computer, a computer for a specific purpose, a workstation, or any other system capable of executing each process. The processor is configured to execute various processes in cooperation with a program. The processor may function as each unit or each means in the present embodiment. The execution order of the processes by the processor is not limited to the order described in the present embodiment, and can be changed as necessary. The processor can be configured by one or more types of hardware. The type of hardware that constitutes the processor is not limited to a specific type. For example, the processor may be a CPU (= Central Processing Unit), an MPU (= Micro Processing Unit), a programmable logic device such as an FPGA (= Field Programmable Gate Array), a dedicated circuit for executing specific processing such as an ASIC (= Application Specific Integrated Circuit), a GPU (= Graphic Processing Unit), or hardware such as an NPU (= Neural Processing Unit). The processor is not limited to a combination of multiple hardware of the same type, but can also be configured by a combination of multiple hardware of different types. When multiple hardware are configured to execute one or more processes of a certain processor, the multiple hardware may exist in physically separate devices from each other, or may exist in the same device. The hardware is constituted by an electrical circuit (circuitry) that combines circuit elements such as semiconductor elements. In any of the embodiments, the execution order of each process by the processor is not limited to the order described in each embodiment, and can be changed as necessary. The program may be software such as microcode in addition to firmware. The program may be, for example, a group of program modules. Each function constituting the group of program modules may be realized by a processor configured to execute each function. The program in each embodiment may be program code or a plurality of code segments stored in one or more non-transitory computer-readable media (e.g., semiconductor memory, magnetic or optical storage media, other storage). The program may be stored in a divided manner in a plurality of non-transitory computer-readable media that are physically separated from each other. The program code and a plurality of code segments may be represented by any combination of procedures, functions, subprograms, routines, subroutines, modules, software packages, classes, instructions, data structures, and program statements. The program code and a plurality of code segments may be connected to other code segments or hardware circuits by transmitting and receiving information, data, arguments, parameters, or the content of memory.

[0025] FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a functional configuration example of the information processing apparatus 10. As shown in the figure, the information processing apparatus 10 includes a transmission / reception unit 11, an information acquisition unit 12, an estimation unit 13, and a construction contract document creation unit 14. The information processing apparatus 10 also includes a display screen creation unit 15, an electronic contract conclusion unit 16, an electronic document management unit 17, and a project status management unit 18.

[0026] The transmission / reception unit 11 is a network interface for connecting to the customer terminal 20, the construction company terminals 30 and 40, and the authentication server 50 via the network N (see FIG. 1). Thereby, the information processing apparatus 10 exchanges data with the customer terminal 20, the construction company terminals 30 and 40, and the authentication server 50.

[0027] The information acquisition unit 12 includes a customer information acquisition unit 121, a construction company information acquisition unit 122, and a product information acquisition unit 123. The customer information acquisition unit 121 acquires information on customer management. The construction company information acquisition unit 122 acquires information on the construction company as information on construction cost management. The product information acquisition unit 123 acquires information on products as information on material cost management.

[0028] The estimation unit 13 creates estimate data for the housing equipment selected by the customer at the customer terminal 20. The created estimate data is transmitted by the transmission / reception unit 11 in response to a request from the customer terminal 20.

[0029] The construction contract document creation unit 14 creates construction contract document data for the construction of the housing equipment selected by the customer on the customer terminal 20. The created construction contract document data is transmitted by the transmission / reception unit 11 in response to a request from the customer terminal 20 or the construction store terminal 30.

[0030] The display screen creation unit 15 creates display data for the screens displayed on the customer terminal 20 and the construction store terminal 30. The created display data is transmitted by the transmission / reception unit 11 to the customer terminal 20 and / or the construction store terminal 30.

[0031] When the electronic contract conclusion unit 16 acquires electronic signature information from the customer terminal 20 regarding the construction contract, it requests authentication of the electronic signature information from the authentication server 50. Also, when the electronic contract conclusion unit 16 acquires electronic signature information from the construction store terminal 30, it requests authentication of the electronic signature information from the authentication server 50. Further, when the electronic contract conclusion unit 16 acquires its own electronic signature information, it requests authentication of the electronic signature information from the authentication server 50.

[0032] The electronic contract conclusion unit 16 acquires the authentication result of the electronic signature from the authentication server 50. When both the electronic signature of the customer terminal 20 and the electronic signature of the construction store terminal 30 are authenticated in the case where the contracting parties of the construction contract are the customer and the construction store (in the case of the "first subcontracting contract" described later), the electronic contract conclusion unit 16 determines that the contract is established. When both the electronic signature of the customer terminal 20 and its own electronic signature are authenticated in the case where the contracting parties of the construction contract are the customer and the business operator (in the case of the "second subcontracting contract" described later), the electronic contract conclusion unit 16 determines that the contract is established. Also, in the case of determining the establishment of the contract, the electronic contract conclusion unit 16 describes additional matters such as name and address in the construction contract document data.

[0033] The electronic document management unit 17 manages various contract document data such as the concluded construction contract documents. The case status management department 18 manages the progress status for each order case in terms of status. As for the status, there is a waiting for customer response where it is in a state of waiting for the customer's electronic signature. Also, as for the status, there is a waiting for contractor response where it is in a state of waiting for the contractor's electronic signature (in the case of the "first subcontracting contract" described later), and there is a contract establishment where the electronic signatures of both parties are authenticated, etc.

[0034] <The first subcontracting contract> The information processing system 1 according to the present embodiment can conclude a construction subcontracting contract when the customer of the customer terminal 20 is the orderer and the contractor of the contractor terminal 30 is the prime contractor (see Fig. 4(a)). That is, the contractor that undertakes the construction from the customer concludes a construction subcontracting contract with the customer as the prime contractor. Such a construction subcontracting contract may be referred to as the "first subcontracting contract" in this document. The "first subcontracting contract" is the case where the customer and the contractor become the contracting parties or the contract subjects of the construction subcontracting contract. Hereinafter, the case of concluding the first subcontracting contract in the information processing system 1 will be described.

[0035] Fig. 4 is a diagram for explaining the procedure flow of concluding a construction subcontracting contract for selling goods and providing replacement construction services, and shows the time series from the left side to the right side as time elapses. Fig. 4(a) shows the case of concluding the first subcontracting contract in the information processing system 1 according to the present embodiment (see Fig. 1), and Fig. 4(b) shows the case of the comparative example. In addition, in Fig. 4(a) and (b), the case where electronic signatures are performed between the contractor terminal 30 and the customer terminal 20 among the contractor terminals 30 and 40 is shown.

[0036] In Fig. 4(a), "information processing device 10", "customer terminal 20" and "contractor terminal 30" are used, but since Fig. 4(b) is a comparative example, "information processing device 01", "customer terminal 02" and "contractor terminal 03" are used. Incidentally, it is assumed that none of the "information processing device 01", "customer terminal 02" and "contractor terminal 03" in Fig. 4(b) constitutes a part of the information processing system 1 according to the present embodiment.

[0037] In the embodiment shown in Fig. 4(a), the procedures for the business operator of the information processing apparatus 10, the customer of the customer terminal 20, and the construction store of the construction store terminal 30 are shown. It can be said that the fewer the number of procedures, the more the labor of the business operator, the customer, and the construction store is omitted. Hereinafter, the business operator of the information processing apparatus 10 may be abbreviated as the "business operator", the customer of the customer terminal 20 may be abbreviated as the "customer", and the construction store of the construction store terminal 30 may be abbreviated as the "construction store".

[0038] In the embodiment shown in Fig. 4(a), in the information processing system 1 (see Fig. 1), the customer can compare a plurality of products extracted as candidates while referring to the target home appliance equipment in the catalog from his / her own customer terminal 20. Since the information processing system 1 is an online service through the Internet, the customer can perform it at a convenient timing regardless of time and place.

[0039] Suppose the customer places an order for the product selected from the candidates at the customer terminal 20 (P11). In response to such an order, in the information processing system 1, a construction contract document including an estimate is automatically created based on a predetermined process.

[0040] In the case of the first subcontracting contract, the customer can download the construction contract document created in the information processing system 1 to the customer terminal 20, check the content, and then perform a construction contract signature (P12). Thus, in this embodiment, for the customer, the order (P11) and the construction contract signature (P12) are dealt with collectively (see the dashed line surrounding both), and it becomes possible to quickly complete the necessary procedures.

[0041] The construction store can download the construction contract document to its own construction store terminal 30 in the information processing system 1, check the content, and perform a construction contract signature (P13). After that, the business operator can confirm the construction contract at his / her own information processing apparatus 10 (P14). Thereby, a construction contract is concluded between the customer and the construction store.

[0042] Next, a comparative example shown in FIG. 4(b) will be described. Hereinafter, the business operator of the information processing apparatus 01 may be abbreviated as "operator", the customer of the customer terminal 02 as "customer", and the construction store of the construction store terminal 03 as "construction store".

[0043] In the comparative example shown in FIG. 4(b), the information processing apparatus 01 and the customer terminal 02 can be connected to an online service, and each of the information processing apparatus 01, the customer terminal 02, and the construction store terminal 03 can be connected to a separate electronic contract dedicated service. Also, various information management in the information processing apparatus 01 is performed by an information management dedicated service.

[0044] As described above, in the comparative example shown in FIG. 4(b), the operator of the information processing apparatus 01 uses a plurality of services, namely, an online service, an electronic contract dedicated service, and an information management dedicated service, separately to handle the situation. Note that the plurality of services in the comparative example are included in the services provided by the information processing system 1 according to the present embodiment.

[0045] When the customer terminal 02 is connected to the online service provided by the operator of the information processing apparatus 01, the customer can compare a plurality of products extracted as candidates while referring to the target home equipment in a catalog from his or her own customer terminal 02.

[0046] Suppose the customer places an order for a product selected from the candidates from his or her own customer terminal 02 (p01). Upon receiving such an order, the operator of the information processing apparatus 01 uses an electronic contract dedicated service different from its own online service, and issues a construction contract document on the information processing apparatus 01 (p02).

[0047] The issued construction contract document is transmitted to the construction store terminal 03 by the electronic contract dedicated service. In response to this, the construction store of the construction store terminal 03 performs an electronic signature for the construction contract (p03). Also, the customer of the customer terminal 02 performs an electronic signature for the construction contract in an electronic contract dedicated service different from the operator's online service (p04). After that, the contractor of the information processing apparatus 10 confirms the construction contract (p05). As a result, the construction contract is concluded.

[0048] As described above, in the comparative example shown in FIG. 4(b), the number of procedures for the contractor is larger than that in the case of the present embodiment shown in FIG. 4(a). That is, in the comparative example, the contractor issues a construction contract using an electronic contract dedicated service separate from the online service. Further, although not shown in FIG. 4(b), the contractor needs to check the status of the customer's electronic signature and the construction store's electronic signature each time after issuing the construction contract.

[0049] Furthermore, in the comparative example, there may be a case where the timing at which the customer makes an electronic signature is after a lapse of time different from the time of ordering, which causes a waiting time for the customer. Also, in the comparative example, an electronic signature is made using an electronic contract dedicated service separate from the ordered online service. For example, it is conceivable that the customer logs in to the electronic contract dedicated service from the URL notified to the customer's email address and makes an electronic signature. Also, it is conceivable that the display after logging in to the electronic contract dedicated service is in a form different from the online service. For the customer, concerns such as a sense of discomfort due to the fragmentation of the procedures and an increase in the customer's burden due to the occurrence of new labor are assumed. Also, concerns about giving the customer a sense of anxiety due to differences in UI (User Interface) / UX (User experience) between the online service and the electronic contract dedicated service are assumed.

[0050] Furthermore, from the perspective of the contractor, by managing information using an information management dedicated service separate from the electronic contract dedicated service, it is necessary to manage the contract separately from other information such as payment information. Due to such circumstances, there is also a concern that the management man-hours for the contractor will increase. Moreover, an increase in the work burden when making modifications to requirements changes between the electronic contract dedicated service and the information management dedicated service is a concern.

[0051] On the other hand, in the case of the present embodiment shown in FIG. 4(a), by providing a plurality of services in the comparative example in one system, it is possible to eliminate all the concerns in the case of the above-described comparative example.

[0052] <First Embodiment> FIG. 5 is a sequence diagram of the information processing system according to the first embodiment. In the figure, the customer terminal 20, the information processing apparatus 10, and the construction store terminal 30 are shown in order from the left. Although the illustration of the authentication server 50 is omitted in FIG. 5, the information processing apparatus 10 communicates with the authentication server 50 when requesting authentication for the electronic signature information (see step 118 described later).

[0053] As shown in FIG. 5, when a customer logs in to the information processing apparatus 10 at the customer terminal 20 (step 101), the information processing apparatus 10 creates display data for the customer dedicated screen and transmits it to the customer terminal 20. When the customer terminal 20 receives the display data, it displays the customer dedicated screen (step 102). The displayed screen is the initial screen of the customer dedicated screen. The login of the customer terminal 20 is performed based on the information acquired by the customer information acquisition unit 121 (see FIG. 3).

[0054] Suppose that the customer requests a product selection screen at the customer terminal 20 in order to consider replacing home appliances at home, for example (step 103). The information processing apparatus 10 creates display data for the product selection screen based on the product information acquired by the product information acquisition unit 123 and transmits it to the customer terminal 20. The creation of the display data is performed by the display screen creation unit 15. The customer terminal 20 displays home appliances as a product selection screen based on the received display data (step 104).

[0055] When a home appliance to be replaced is selected on the product selection screen displayed on the customer terminal 20 (step 105), the estimate unit 13 (see FIG. 3) of the information processing apparatus 10 creates estimate data for the selected home appliance (step 106). The information processing apparatus 10 transmits the created estimate data to the customer terminal 20. The customer terminal 20 displays a quotation based on the received quotation data (step 107). Assume that the customer checks the content of the quotation and places an order for the selected housing equipment (step 108). The information processing device 10 accepts an order for housing equipment from the customer of the customer terminal 20 (step 109). Such an order for housing equipment is an example of an application related to housing equipment.

[0056] Note that the above-mentioned customer dedicated screen is a negotiation screen for creating a customer dedicated screen at a stage before the customer logs in to the customer terminal 20. When predetermined items such as the selection of housing equipment are input, the information processing device 10 may also create a customer dedicated screen. In such an example, since the selection of housing equipment etc. is performed at the stage of logging in, the above-mentioned steps 103 to 105 are omitted.

[0057] Next, the information processing device 10 performs procedures for the construction of installing the ordered housing equipment. That is, the information processing device 10 selects a construction store for performing the installation work from among the construction stores acquired by the construction store information acquisition unit 122 (see FIG. 3). Then, the construction contract document creation unit 14 (see FIG. 3) creates construction contract document data to be concluded between the customer and the construction store (step 110). The created construction contract document data is transmitted to the customer terminal 20 by the transmission / reception unit 11.

[0058] The construction contract document data includes a title of "Construction Contract Document" and a column in which the contract conclusion date is described. Further, the construction contract document data includes a column in which the name and details of the construction work constituting the text are described, a column in which the construction location is described, and a column in which the contract amount is described.

[0059] Furthermore, the construction contract document data includes a column in which information about the contracting parties is described. That is, the address and name of the customer are described in the column of the orderer by the electronic signature of the customer of the customer terminal 20. Also, the address and name (construction store name) of the construction store are described in the column of the contractor by the electronic signature of the construction store of the construction store terminal 30.

[0060] The customer terminal 20 displays the construction contract document based on the received construction contract document data (step 111). The customer checks the content of the construction contract document and performs an electronic signature (step 112).

[0061] When the information processing device 10 confirms that the customer has performed an electronic signature, it sends a notice to the construction company terminal 30 requesting an electronic signature for the construction contract (step 113), and waits for the response from the construction company (step 114). Such waiting for the response from the construction company is managed by the project status management department 18. The construction company of the construction company terminal 30 is an example of a construction company that requests the work corresponding to the application.

[0062] Upon receiving the notice, the construction company requests the download of the construction contract document from the construction company terminal 30 for content confirmation (step 115). The information processing device 10 responds to the request and sends the construction contract document data to the construction company terminal 30 (step 116). The construction company checks the construction contract document on the construction company terminal 30 and performs an electronic signature (step 117).

[0063] The information processing device 10 communicates with the authentication server 50 (step 118). More specifically, the electronic contract conclusion unit 16 of the information processing device 10 (see FIG. 3) requests authentication from the authentication server 50 for the electronic signature information obtained from the customer terminal 20. In addition, the electronic contract conclusion unit 16 requests authentication from the authentication server 50 for the electronic signature information obtained from the construction company terminal 30.

[0064] In the first embodiment, the authentication request to the authentication server 50 is performed simultaneously for the electronic signature information from the customer terminal 20 and the electronic signature information from the construction company terminal 30 in step 118, but it is not limited to this. For example, when the electronic signature information from the customer terminal 20 is obtained (see step 112), the authentication request is performed, and also when the electronic signature information from the construction company terminal 30 is obtained (see step 117), the authentication request is performed.

[0065] Here, the status managed by the project status management unit 18 will be described. An example can be considered where such a status change is made at the timing when information on electronic signatures is obtained from the customer terminal 20 or the construction store terminal 30. Also, an example can be considered where such a status change is made at the timing when authentication of the information on electronic signatures from the customer terminal 20 or the construction store terminal 30 is performed.

[0066] The status referred to here corresponds to, for example, "awaiting response from the construction store" (see step 114) or "contract concluded" (see step 119). Also, "awaiting response from the customer (see step 304 in FIG. 18) described later also corresponds to the status referred to here. Furthermore, "awaiting conclusion by the construction store" (see reference numeral 62a in FIG. 11) and "electronic signature concluded" (see reference numeral 63a in FIG. 14) described later also correspond to the status referred to here.

[0067] When the information processing apparatus 10 authenticates the electronic signatures on the construction contract for both the customer and the construction store, it confirms the conclusion of the contract (step 119). As a result, the date of that day is entered in the column where the contract conclusion date in the construction contract data is described. Note that the construction contract data for which the contract has been concluded is managed by the electronic document management unit 17 (see FIG. 3) of the information processing apparatus 10. Also, such conclusion of the contract is managed by the project status management unit 18.

[0068] Incidentally, when authentication of the information on the electronic signature from the construction store terminal 30 cannot be obtained, status information such as failure of the electronic signature authentication of the construction store is displayed on the information processing apparatus 10, for example. Such status information is managed by the project status management unit 18 (see FIG. 3). A modification example can also be considered where, when authentication fails for the construction store, the information processing apparatus 10 performs a proxy electronic signature (see, for example, the application examples in FIGS. 15 and 16).

[0069] The information processing apparatus 10 transmits display data indicating that a conclusion certificate proving the conclusion of a construction contract is downloadable to the customer terminal 20 and the construction store terminal 30. As a result, on the customer terminal 20, a display indicating that the conclusion certificate is downloadable is made (step 120), and on the construction store terminal 30 as well, a display indicating that the conclusion certificate is downloadable is made (step 121).

[0070] In addition, in the first embodiment, the order of performing the electronic signature is that the customer of the customer terminal 20 goes first and the construction store of the construction store terminal 30 goes later, but it is not limited to this, and a modification example in which the construction store of the construction store terminal 30 goes first and the customer of the customer terminal 20 goes later is also conceivable.

[0071] Here, on the customer terminal 20, as described above, the initial screen of the customer dedicated screen is displayed by logging in (see steps 101 and 102 in FIG. 5), and it is possible to transition from the initial screen to the product selection screen (see step 104 in the same figure). Also, it is possible to transition from the initial screen to various screens. Hereinafter, the screens displayed on the customer terminal 20 will be described.

[0072] FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a product selection screen 22 (see step 104 in FIG. 5) displayed on the display unit 21 of the customer terminal 20. The product selection screen 22 illustrated in FIG. 6 lists, as housing equipment, in order from the upper left, 10 items: "stove", "water heater", "bathroom", "kitchen", "dishwasher", "bathroom dryer", "range hood", "toilet", "washbasin", and "air conditioner".

[0073] On the customer terminal 20, when the customer selects a housing equipment that the customer is looking for, for example, "water heater", the screen advances to a screen (not shown) that displays the catalog of the water heater. As a result, the customer can conduct a detailed examination of the gas water heater. On the screen for displaying the catalog, it is conceivable to show products with the same performance as the current one or recommended products using the information of the gas water heater used by the customer. As information about the gas water heater, for example, it is conceivable to include the installation type such as detached house / apartment, the hot water supply capacity of the water heater, the presence or absence of a reheating function, etc.

[0074] FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating the screen transition on the display unit 21 of the customer terminal 20. As shown in the figure, on the display unit 21, it is possible to transition from the initial screen (not shown) to the my page consideration / contract list screen 23. On the my page consideration / contract list screen 23, for example, it is possible to transition to the stove contract screen 24a, the water heater contract screen 25a, and the bathroom contract screen 26a. With such screens 24a to 26a, the customer can confirm the contracts concluded with the business operator in the past for each product. Also, on such screens 24a to 26a, it is possible to transition to the screens used for considering the purchase of products and the provision of services from the business operator. Note that similar screens are prepared and can be transitioned for other products as well.

[0075] On the stove contract screen 24a, it is possible to transition to the order details page 24b of the stove contract. Further, it is possible to transition from the order details page 24b of the stove contract to the electronic signature page 24c of the stove contract.

[0076] Similarly, on the water heater contract screen 25a, it is possible to transition to the order details page 25b of the water heater contract, and further, it is possible to transition to the electronic signature page 25c of the water heater contract. On the bathroom contract screen 26a, it is possible to transition to the order details page 26b of the bathroom contract, and further, it is possible to transition to the electronic signature page 26c of the bathroom contract.

[0077] In this way, the document data regarding past contracts is managed by the electronic document management unit 17 (see FIG. 3) of the information processing apparatus 10. In addition, the electronic document management unit 17 (see FIG. 3) also manages information that the customer is considering. Such information under consideration may include information on the content of communication with the sales representatives of the business operator.

[0078] FIGS. 8 and 9 are diagrams illustrating screens for placing an order for housing equipment. FIG. 8(a) shows screen 27 when placing an order for housing equipment, and (b) shows screen 28 when placing an order for construction work of housing equipment. FIG. 9 shows screen 29 when placing an order for housing equipment and an order for construction work of housing equipment. Screens 27 to 29 are displayed on the display unit 21 of the customer terminal 20.

[0079] Note that screen 27 in FIG. 8(a) is an example of a screen displayed in step 108 (see FIG. 5), and screen 28 in FIG. 8(b) is an example of a screen displayed in step 111 (see FIG. 5).

[0080] In addition, screen 29 in FIG. 9 is an example of a screen in a modified example where steps 108 (see FIG. 5) and 111 (see the same figure) are performed in the same step. In the case of such a modified example, step 107 of "display of estimate" on the customer terminal 20 is performed together with step 111 of "display of construction contract", and step 109 of "receiving an order" in the information processing apparatus 10 is performed after step 112 of "electronic signature".

[0081] On screen 27 shown in FIG. 8(a), there are notations 27a saying "Is it okay to place an order with this content?" and 27b saying "· Please check if there is no mistake in the product." Also, on screen 27, there is a notation 27c saying "If there is no mistake, please check the following consent items and then press 'Place Order'."

[0082] In addition, on screen 27, there are an image 27d saying "Place Order" and an image 27e saying "Back". On the screen 27 of the customer terminal 20, by performing an operation of pressing the image 27d by the customer, an order for purchasing a product can be placed (see step 108 in FIG. 5).

[0083] On the screen 28 shown in FIG. 8(b), there are shown a notation 27a of "Are you sure you want to place an order with this information?" and a notation 27c of "If there is no mistake, please check the following consent items and then press 'Place Order'." Also, on the screen 28, there are shown an image 27d of "Place Order" and an image 27e of "Back". Note that since the image 27d on the screen 28 is in a non-operable state in FIG. 8(b), it is shown with diagonal lines.

[0084] Furthermore, on the screen 28 of the customer terminal 20, there are shown a notation 28a of "· Terms of Use and General Conditions of Construction Contract" and a notation 28b of "□ I have agreed to the Terms of Use and General Conditions of Construction Contract." Moreover, on the screen 28, there is shown a notation 28c of "· Construction Contract Document". On the screen 28, there are shown a notation 28d of "※ In order to undertake the construction with responsibility, it is necessary to conclude a construction contract with the construction company." and a notation 28e of "□ I have agreed to the Construction Contract Document."

[0085] In the notation 28a, when performing a pressing operation on the "Terms of Use" and the "General Conditions of Construction Contract", it is possible to instruct to perform document data download and document display. The notation 28b includes a checkbox. When the customer checks the checkbox, it satisfies one of the conditions for enabling the operation of the image 27d of "Place Order".

[0086] In the notation 28c, when performing a pressing operation on the "Construction Contract Document", it is possible to instruct to perform document data download and document display. The notation 28d shows the precautions regarding the conclusion of the construction contract.

[0087] The notation 28e includes a checkbox. When the customer checks the checkbox, the image 27d of "Place an order" becomes operable on the condition that the checkbox in the above-mentioned notation 28b has been checked. When an operation is performed on the image 27d, an electronic signature for the construction contract is executed (see step 112 in FIG. 5).

[0088] On the screen 29 shown in FIG. 9, the notations 27a to 27c and the images 27d, 27e (see FIG. 8(a)) of the screen 27, and the notations 28a to 28e (see FIG. 8(b)) of the screen 28 are shown. As described above, the screen 29 shown in FIG. 9 is displayed in the case of the modified example.

[0089] Next, the display of the customer terminal 20 in the first embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 10 and 11. FIGS. 10 and 11 are diagrams illustrating screens when the customer checks the order details after the electronic signature is made by the customer. FIG. 11 shows the first customer confirmation screen 61, and FIG. 12 shows the second customer confirmation screen 62. The first customer confirmation screen 61 shown in FIG. 10 is an example of a screen that transitions from the my page consideration / contract list screen 23 (see FIG. 7), and is an example of an order details page (see reference numerals 24b, 25b, or 26b in the same figure). The second customer confirmation screen 62 shown in FIG. 11 is an example of a screen that transitions from the first customer confirmation screen 61.

[0090] On the first customer confirmation screen 61 shown in FIG. 10, a notation 61a of "Order confirmed", a notation 61b of "Contract details", and a notation 61c of "Download the estimate" are shown. Also, on the first customer confirmation screen 61, a notation 61d of date information of the estimate date and the estimate deadline is shown.

[0091] The notation 61a indicates to the customer that the current status of the customer is "Order confirmed". When a pressing operation is performed on the notation 61b, the screen transitions to the second customer confirmation screen 62. When a pressing operation is performed on notation 61c, an estimate data download is performed, and the estimate can be displayed. Note that when the first customer confirmation screen 61 is displayed, since the electronic signature has not been performed on the construction store terminal 30, the construction contract has not been established yet.

[0092] The first customer confirmation screen 61 shown in FIG. 10 includes a notation 61e indicating the order summary of the bathtub water heater, which is a housing equipment device, and a notation 61f indicating remarks. Notation 61e is the content of the estimate that the customer has confirmed and ordered, and shows the product name and the selling price. The notation 61f shows the seller information as remarks.

[0093] The second customer confirmation screen 62 shown in FIG. 11 shows a notation 62a saying "awaiting signature by the construction store" and a notation 62b saying "download the construction contract". Notation 62a indicates to the customer that the current status of the construction contract is "awaiting signature by the construction store". That is, it notifies the customer that the construction contract for the gas water heater has not been established yet. When a pressing operation is performed on notation 62b, a construction contract data download is performed, and the construction contract can be displayed.

[0094] The second customer confirmation screen 62 shown in FIG. 11 includes notation 61e and a notation 62c saying "contract details". Notation 61e is the same as in the case of the first customer confirmation screen 61 (see FIG. 10), and its explanation is omitted. In notation 62c, as contract details, the address and name of the "orderer", who is the customer, and the address and name of the "contractor", who is the construction store, are shown.

[0095] Next, the display of the construction store terminal 30 in the first embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 12 and 13. FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating a screen displayed on the display unit 31 of the construction store terminal 30. (a) shows a notification 32 transmitted from the information processing apparatus 10 to the construction store terminal 30, and (b) shows a notification 33 transmitted when retransmitting. As shown in FIG. 12(a), the notification 32 displayed on the display unit 31 indicates the content that is performed at the timing when the electronic signature by the customer is performed.

[0096] In the notification 32 of FIG. 12(a), a notation 32a of "[Order and Electronic Signature Notification]" and notations 32b of "An order has been received from the customer." and "After confirmation, please perform an electronic signature from the project page." are shown. Further, the notification 32 includes a notation 32c of "Project Page URL" and a notation 32d indicating the outline of the project.

[0097] The notation 32a is a title part indicating the current status to the construction store. The notation 32b is a part indicating an explanation about the current status and includes the content that the construction store needs to perform, namely, "electronic signature". By pressing the area surrounded by a broken line in the notation 32c, a screen showing detailed information of the project (see FIG. 13 described later) is displayed on the construction store terminal 30. The notation 32d includes information on the date and time, contract number, and ordered products.

[0098] As shown in FIG. 12(b), the notification 33 displayed on the display unit 31 indicates the content that is performed at the timing when a predetermined time has elapsed after the notification 32 is performed. In the notification 33 of FIG. 12(b), a notation 33a of "[Request for Electronic Signature (Retransmission)]" and notations 33b of "24 hours have passed since the order was received, but there seems to be a case where the electronic signature has not been signed." and "Please perform an electronic signature from the project page." are shown. Further, the notification 33 includes the notation 32c of "Project Page URL" and the notation 32d indicating the outline of the project.

[0099] Notation 33a is the title part that briefly indicates the reason for the re-notification. Notation 33b is the part that details the reason for the re-notification. Notations 32c and 32d are the same as those in the notification 32 shown in Fig. 12(a), and their explanations are omitted. Note that for the re-send notification 33, depending on the construction company, a process of not sending it on holidays may be considered.

[0100] Fig. 13 is a diagram illustrating a screen 34 that is displayed when notation 32c in notifications 32 and 33 is pressed. Notation 32c is the part indicating the "Case Page URL" (see Fig. 12(a) or (b)). The screen 34 is displayed on the display unit 31 of the construction company terminal 30. As shown in Fig. 13, the screen 34 includes a notation 34a indicating "List of Cases Before Completion" and a notation 34b saying "Download the Construction Contract". Also, the screen 34 includes a notation 34c saying "Sign the Construction Contract" and a notation 34d saying "Download the Conclusion Certificate".

[0101] In the case shown in Fig. 13, while notation 34b is operable, the notation 34d shown with diagonal lines is inoperable. That is, it is possible to download the construction contract, but it is not possible to download the conclusion certificate. Notation 34d becomes operable and it is possible to download the conclusion certificate because when an electronic signature is made in notation 34c, the contract is established. This is because the conclusion certificate is issued when the contract is established.

[0102] Next, the display on the customer terminal 20 in the first embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 14. FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating a third customer confirmation screen 63 which is a screen when a customer confirms the order details after an electronic signature is made by a contractor. The third customer confirmation screen 63 shown in FIG. 14 corresponds to a second customer confirmation screen 62 (see FIG. 11) which is a screen of the customer terminal 20 before the electronic signature is made by the contractor. In the third customer confirmation screen 63, the same reference numerals are used for the parts common to the second customer confirmation screen 62, and the description thereof may be omitted.

[0103] On the third customer confirmation screen 63 shown in FIG. 14, a notation 63a saying "electronic signature concluded" is shown. The notation 63a indicates to the customer that the current status of the construction contract is "electronic signature concluded". That is, it notifies the customer that the construction contract for the gas water heater has been established. More specifically, in this regard, the third customer confirmation screen 63 is different from the second customer confirmation screen 62 (see FIG. 11) in which a notation 62a saying "awaiting contractor conclusion" is shown. Such a difference is due to the presence or absence of the electronic signature by the contractor.

[0104] As shown in FIG. 14, on the third customer confirmation screen 63, in addition to a notation 62b saying "download the construction contract", a notation 63b saying "download the conclusion certificate" is shown. More specifically, the third customer confirmation screen 63 is common with the second customer confirmation screen 62 (see FIG. 11) in that it includes the notation 62b, but is different from the second customer confirmation screen 62 in that it includes the notation 63b. The notation 63b indicates to the customer that the conclusion certificate can be downloaded.

[0105] The third customer confirmation screen 63 includes a notation 61e and a notation 62c, similar to the case of the second customer confirmation screen 62 (see FIG. 11). Note that the notation 61e is also shown in the case of the first customer confirmation screen 61 (see FIG. 10).

[0106] <Application Example in the First Embodiment> Here, an application example in the first embodiment will be described. FIG. 15 is a diagram for explaining an application example in the first embodiment, where (a) shows the case of an electronic signature agency contract, and (b) shows the case of a construction contract. FIG. 15(b) corresponds to FIG. 4(a) for explaining the present embodiment described above.

[0107] As shown in FIG. 15(a), in advance, an electronic signature agency contract is concluded between the business operator of the information processing apparatus 10 and the construction store of the construction store terminal 30 (P20). The electronic signature agency contract here is to be concluded before entering into a construction contract with a customer, and it is an agreement for the business operator of the information processing apparatus 10 to perform the electronic signature of the construction contract on behalf of the construction store of the construction store terminal 30. Note that in FIG. 15(a), since the customer of the customer terminal 20 is not a party to the electronic signature agency contract, the frame line of the customer of the customer terminal 20 is shown by a broken line.

[0108] "Order" (P21), "Construction contract signature" (P22), and "Construction contract confirmation" (P24) in the application example shown in FIG. 15(b) are the same as "Order" (P11), "Construction contract signature" (P12), and "Construction contract confirmation" (P14) in FIG. 4(a). In the application example shown in FIG. 15(b), the "Construction contract signature" (P23) is performed by the business operator of the information processing apparatus 10, which is different from the case of FIG. 4(a) where the "Construction contract signature" (P13) is performed by the construction store of the construction store terminal 30.

[0109] That is, by concluding an electronic signature agency contract between the business operator of the information processing apparatus 10 and the construction store of the construction store terminal 30, it becomes possible to proceed with the conclusion of the construction contract without going through the construction store of the construction store terminal 30. As a result, it becomes possible to shorten the period in which the construction contract is established compared to the case where the electronic signature agency contract is not concluded.

[0110] Here, when an electronic signature agency contract is concluded with all of the construction shops, it is possible to adopt a uniform procedure flow in which, before the customer of the customer terminal 20 performs an electronic signature, the business operator of the information processing apparatus 10 performs the electronic signature on behalf of the customer. As a result, it is possible to omit the labor of the business operator of the information processing apparatus 10, and it is also possible to shorten the period in which the construction contract is established.

[0111] However, it is conceivable that there may be a construction shop with which an electronic signature agency contract cannot be concluded. Therefore, it is difficult for the business operator of the information processing apparatus 10 to perform an agency electronic signature before the customer of the customer terminal 20 performs an electronic signature. Therefore, even in the case of an electronic signature agency contract, the order in which the business operator of the information processing apparatus 10 performs the electronic signature after the customer of the customer terminal 20 is adopted.

[0112] FIG. 16 is a sequence diagram of an information processing system according to an application example in the first embodiment. In the figure, the customer terminal 20, the information processing apparatus 10, and the construction shop terminal 30 are shown in order from the left. FIG. 16 corresponds to FIG. 5 for explaining the first embodiment described above.

[0113] Since FIG. 16 has a part in common with FIG. 5, detailed description of the common part may be omitted by showing the correspondence relationship. Steps 201 to 212 in FIG. 16 correspond to steps 101 to 112 in FIG. 5.

[0114] In the case of FIG. 16, after the customer of the customer terminal 20 performs an electronic signature (step 212), a proxy electronic signature by the business operator of the information processing apparatus 10 is performed (step 213). That is, in the case of FIG. 16, an electronic signature by the construction shop of the construction shop terminal 30 is not performed, and a proxy electronic signature by the business operator of the information processing apparatus 10 is performed. Then, after that, communication with the authentication server 50 is performed (step 214), and authentication of the information of both electronic signatures is requested. When authentication of the electronic signature is obtained, the business operator of the information processing apparatus 10 confirms the conclusion of the contract (step 215). Therefore, in FIG. 16, for the construction store terminal 30, a notice requesting an electronic signature for the construction contract (see step 113 in FIG. 5) and the like are not performed. Also, in FIG. 16, it does not enter the waiting for the response of the construction store (see step 114 in FIG. 5). The above-described step 215 corresponds to step 119 in FIG. 5.

[0115] In the case of FIG. 16, display data indicating that the conclusion certificate for proving that the construction contract has been established is downloadable is transmitted to the customer terminal 20 and the construction store terminal 30. Thereby, on the customer terminal 20, a display indicating that the conclusion certificate is downloadable is made (step 216), and on the construction store terminal 30 as well, a display indicating that the conclusion certificate is downloadable is made (step 217). Note that in FIG. 16, the above display is made not only on the customer terminal 20 but also on the construction store terminal 30, but a modification example in which the above display is made only on the customer terminal 20 can be considered.

[0116] FIG. 17 is a diagram for explaining an example of a construction contract. (a) shows the case of the first embodiment, and (b) shows the case of an application example in the first embodiment. An example of the construction contract 71 is shown in (a), and an example of the construction contract 72 is shown in (b).

[0117] The construction contract 71 in the first embodiment includes, as shown in FIG. 17(a), a title 71a of "Construction Contract", a main text 71b, and a notation 71c indicating the parties to the contract.

[0118] The main text 71b includes, for example, descriptions of the construction name and content, the construction location, and the contract amount. The notation 71c is a column indicating the parties in the case of the first contract. Specifically, the notation 71c includes an orderer's column in which the address and name of the customer of the customer terminal 20 are shown, and a contractor's column in which the address and name of the construction store of the construction store terminal 30 are shown.

[0119] In the application example in the first embodiment, the construction contract 72 includes a title 71a, a main text 71b, and a notation 71c, as shown in FIG. 17(b), similar to the case of the construction contract 71 (see FIG. (a) of the same figure).

[0120] The construction contract 72 further includes a notation 72a indicating a signature agent. In the notation 72a, the name of the contractor of the information processing apparatus 10 that acts as an agent for the electronic signature by the construction store of the construction store terminal 30 is indicated.

[0121] <Second Embodiment> Next, the second embodiment will be described. The second embodiment is a case where there is a change in the construction estimate after the contract is established (see step 119 in FIG. 5). The contract here refers to the construction contract concluded between the customer of the customer terminal 20 and the construction store of the construction store terminal 30 as described above. In addition, as an example where a change in the construction estimate occurs, as a result of the construction store of the construction store terminal 30 conducting an on-site survey at the customer's residence, if additional members or work not included in the original estimate amount are required, the case where the construction estimate amount is changed, etc. In such a case, the reconnection of the electronic contract conclusion is performed. The reconnection is performed in the business flow without changing the construction store.

[0122] FIG. 18 is a sequence diagram of the information processing system according to the second embodiment. In the figure, the customer terminal 20, the information processing apparatus 10, and the construction store terminal 30 are shown in order from the left. As shown in FIG. 18, in the information processing apparatus 10, when a change in the construction estimate is made (step 301), the construction contract data is updated (step 302). Then, the customer is notified that there is a change in the construction estimate (step 303), and the system waits for the customer's response (step 304).

[0123] When a notification about the change in the construction estimate is displayed on the customer terminal 20, it is assumed that the customer logs in to the information processing apparatus 10 (step 305). The information processing apparatus 10 creates display data of the updated construction contract and transmits it to the customer terminal 20.

[0124] On the customer terminal 20, the updated construction contract document is displayed based on the received display data (step 306). The customer of the customer terminal 20 checks the displayed updated construction contract document and performs an electronic signature for re-conclusion (step 307).

[0125] Steps 308 to 314 following step 307 in FIG. 18 are common to steps 113 to 119 (see FIG. 5) described above. That is, the information processing apparatus 10 notifies the construction company (308) and waits for the response of the construction company (step 309).

[0126] Then, when the construction company terminal 30 requests the information processing apparatus 10 to download the updated construction contract document (step 310), the information processing apparatus 10 transmits the updated construction contract document to the construction company terminal 30 (step 311).

[0127] Next, when the construction company terminal 30 performs an electronic signature for re-conclusion (step 312), an authentication request is made through communication with the authentication server 50 (step 313). When authentication is obtained in the information processing apparatus 10, the conclusion of the updated contract is confirmed (step 314), and display data indicating that the updated conclusion certificate can be downloaded is transmitted to the customer terminal 20 and the construction company terminal 30 (steps 315, 316).

[0128] First, the display of the information processing apparatus 10 in the second embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 19. FIG. 19 is a diagram illustrating an update screen 19b of construction contract data (see step 302 in FIG. 18) displayed on the display unit 19a of the information processing apparatus 10. On the update screen 19b illustrated in FIG. 19, a notation 12a of the electronic signature status, a notation 12b of the construction contract document, a notation 12c of the electronic signature issue date, and a notation 12d of the electronic signature company name are shown. Further, a notation 12e of "Update the construction contract document" is shown on the update screen 19b.

[0129] The notation 12a indicates to the contractor of the information processing apparatus 10 that the status of the electronic signature of the current construction contract is "concluded". The notation 12b stores the data of the concluded construction contract. When a pressing operation is performed on the notation 12b, the display of the concluded construction contract becomes possible. The notation 12c indicates the date on which the concluded electronic signature was issued, and the notation 12d indicates the company name that performed the concluded electronic signature.

[0130] When a pressing operation is performed on the notation 12e, the construction contract is updated with the content after the change of the construction estimate. When the construction contract is updated, the notation 12a is changed from "concluded" to "awaiting customer's conclusion". Also, when the construction contract is updated, the updated construction contract data is stored in the notation 12b, and the date of the notation 12c is updated. Note that when the notation 12a becomes "awaiting customer's conclusion", it is the case of the second embodiment (see step 309 in FIG. 18), and it is a status that does not exist in the above-described first embodiment (see reference numerals 62a in FIG. 11 and 63a in FIG. 14).

[0131] Next, the display of the customer terminal 20 in the second embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 20 and 21. FIG. 20 is a diagram illustrating a re-conclusion guidance screen 64 displayed on the display unit 21 of the customer terminal 20. The re-conclusion guidance screen 64 is a screen that guides to a screen for performing a re-conclusion electronic signature (see step 307 in FIG. 18).

[0132] On the re-conclusion guidance screen 64 of FIG. 20, a notation 64a saying "[Request for Re-conclusion of Construction Contract]" and a notation 64b saying "Since the contract content has been updated, please click the re-conclusion button on the following page." are shown. Also, the re-conclusion guidance screen 64 includes a notation 64c saying "URL".

[0133] The notation 64a is a title part indicating the content of the re-conclusion guidance screen 64. The notation 64b is a part that shows an explanation about the construction contract, and includes content that notifies the customer that an operation of the "re - conclusion button" is necessary. When a pressing operation is performed on the notation 64c of the re - conclusion guidance screen 64, on the display unit 21 of the customer terminal 20, it shifts to a customer re - conclusion screen 65 (refer to FIG. 21 described later) including a "re - conclusion button".

[0134] FIG. 21 is a diagram illustrating the customer re - conclusion screen 65 displayed on the display unit 21 of the customer terminal 20. This figure corresponds to FIG. 11 for explaining the first embodiment. On the customer re - conclusion screen 65 shown in FIG. 21, a notation 65a is shown. The notation 65a represents a guidance text that says "Since I have downloaded and confirmed the updated content of the construction contract, I will perform re - conclusion". When a pressing operation is performed on the notation 65a, an electronic signature by the customer is executed (refer to step 307 in FIG. 18).

[0135] The customer re - conclusion screen 65 shown in FIG. 21 includes a notation 61e, a notation 62c that says "Contract details", and a notation 62b that says "Download the construction contract". The notations 61e, 62b, and 62c are the same as those included in the second customer confirmation screen 62 (refer to FIG. 11).

[0136] Furthermore, in the customer re - conclusion screen 65 shown in FIG. 21, a notation 65b that says "Waiting for contractor's conclusion" is shown with diagonal lines. The notation 65b shown in FIG. 21, although it can be grasped that there are characters "Waiting for contractor's conclusion", is shown to be more difficult to visually recognize than other notations, for example, the notation 62b. That is, it is a so - called gray - out display in gray color. When a pressing operation is performed on the notation 65a, the notation 65b of "Waiting for contractor's conclusion" becomes easier to visually recognize.

[0137] Next, the display on the contractor terminal 30 in the second embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 22. FIG. 22 is a diagram illustrating a notification 35 displayed on the display unit 31 of the construction store terminal 30. The notification 35 shown in this figure is transmitted from the information processing apparatus 10 to the construction store terminal 30 in step 308 (see FIG. 18). Further, the notification 35 corresponds to the notification 32 (see FIG. 12(a)) for explaining the first embodiment.

[0138] In the notification 35 of FIG. 22, a notation 35a of “[Request for Re - execution of Electronic Signature]” is shown. Further, in the notification 35, a notation 35b of “The construction contract has been changed. After confirming the project, please perform the electronic signature from the project page.” is shown. Further, the notification 35 includes a notation 35c of “Guide Page URL” and a notation 35d indicating the outline of the project.

[0139] The notation 35a is a title part indicating the content of the notification. The notation 35b is a part indicating an explanation about the construction contract and includes content indicating that the operation of “electronic signature” is required. When an operation of pressing is performed on the notation 35c, a screen including “electronic signature” is shifted to. The notation 35d includes information such as date and time, contract number, and application commercial materials.

[0140] Note that when the electronic signature has not been performed even after the elapse of a predetermined time for issuing the notification 35, re - transmission may be considered in the same manner as in the case of the first embodiment. In the case of re - transmission, it is conceivable to issue the notification 33 (see FIG. 12(b)) described in the first embodiment.

[0141] <The Third Embodiment> Next, the third embodiment will be described. The third embodiment is a case where there is a change in the construction store after the contract is established (see step 119 in FIG. 5). The change in the construction store here means that, for example, when the construction store of the construction store terminal 30 that concluded the contract becomes unable to undertake the construction for some reason, the construction store of another construction store terminal 40, other than the construction store of the construction store terminal 30, starts to undertake the construction.

[0142] In such a case, the electronic contract conclusion is redone. The re - conclusion is carried out in the business flow with a change in the construction company, which is different from the case of the second embodiment described above (see Fig. 18). In addition, if there is a change in the construction company before the contract is established (see step 119 in Fig. 5), it may be carried out in the business flow of the case of the first embodiment described above (see Fig. 5). More specifically, the business flow varies depending on whether the timing of changing the construction company is before or after the customer of the customer terminal 20 has performed an electronic signature. Basically, it can be carried out in the same way as in the case of the first embodiment.

[0143] Fig. 23 is a sequence diagram of the information processing system according to the third embodiment. In the figure, the customer terminal 20, the information processing device 10, and the construction company terminal 40 after the change are shown in order from the left. As shown in Fig. 23, when the process of changing the construction company is performed in the information processing device 10 (step 401), correspondingly, the creation of the construction contract document data is performed (step 402). Then, the customer is notified that there is a change in the construction company (step 403), and the system waits for the customer's response (step 404).

[0144] When the notification of the change in the construction company is displayed on the customer terminal 20, it is assumed that the customer logs in to the information processing device 10 (step 405). On the customer terminal 20, a screen associated with the order for which the contract was previously established is displayed (step 406).

[0145] On the other hand, it is assumed that the customer of the customer terminal 20 requests the download of a new construction contract (step 407). In the information processing device 10, display data of a new construction contract is created and transmitted to the customer terminal 20 (step 408).

[0146] On the customer terminal 20, a new construction contract is displayed based on the received display data. The customer of the customer terminal 20 checks the displayed new construction contract and performs an electronic signature (step 409). Steps 410 to 417 following step 409 in FIG. 23 are common to steps 113 to 120 (see FIG. 5) described above. That is, the information processing apparatus 10 notifies the changed construction store (step 410) and waits for the response from the changed construction store (step 411).

[0147] Then, when the changed construction store terminal 40 requests the information processing apparatus 10 to download a new construction contract (step 412), the information processing apparatus 10 transmits the construction contract to the changed construction store terminal 40 (step 413).

[0148] At the changed construction store terminal 40, when an electronic signature is performed (step 414), an authentication request is made through communication with the authentication server 50 (step 415). When the information processing apparatus 10 obtains the authentication of the electronic signature information, it confirms the conclusion of the contract (step 416). Thereafter, the information processing apparatus 10 transmits display data indicating that the conclusion certificate can be downloaded to the customer terminal 20 and the changed construction store terminal 40 (steps 417, 418).

[0149] FIG. 24 is a diagram for explaining the screen display of the customer terminal 20. The figure shows an example of a fourth customer confirmation screen 66 which is a display of a screen associated with an order for which a contract has been concluded previously (see step 406 in FIG. 23). Note that the fourth customer confirmation screen 66 in FIG. 24 corresponds to the third customer confirmation screen 63 (see FIG. 14) for explaining the first embodiment. In the fourth customer confirmation screen 66, the same reference numerals are used for the parts common to the third customer confirmation screen 63, and the description thereof may be omitted.

[0150] The fourth customer confirmation screen 66 shown in FIG. 24 includes information associated with an order for which a contract has been concluded previously, namely, notations 61e and 62c. The fourth customer confirmation screen 66 also includes a notation 63a saying "electronic signature concluded".

[0151] In addition, on the fourth customer confirmation screen 66, notations 66a such as "Construction store changed" and "Changed contract: URL" are shown. When an operation of pressing is performed on such notations 66a, it becomes possible to display the construction subcontracting contract after the change.

[0152] <Application example in the second or third embodiment> Here, an application example in the second or third embodiment where the contract is renewed will be described. FIG. 25 is a diagram for explaining an application example in the second or third embodiment. The application example shown in the figure is a case where the business operator of the information processing apparatus 10 acts as an agent for the electronic signature by the construction store, and corresponds to the case of FIG. 15(b) described above. Even in the case of FIG. 25, the electronic signature agency contract of FIG. 15(a) described above is concluded in advance.

[0153] The business operator of the information processing apparatus 10 issues a construction subcontracting contract by displaying a contract renewal screen and performing an operation (P31). The customer of the customer terminal 20 performs an electronic signature on the construction subcontracting contract (P32). Thereafter, the business operator of the information processing apparatus 10 performs an electronic signature on the contract on behalf of the construction store (P33). As a result, the customer of the customer terminal 20 concludes the contract only through the interaction with the business operator of the information processing apparatus 10. Therefore, the waiting time of the customer can be reduced or even eliminated. Note that in the case of FIG. 25, the construction store of the construction store terminal 30 does not perform an electronic signature, but since it is a contracting party of the construction subcontracting contract, the frame line indicating the construction store of the construction store terminal 30 is shown by a solid line.

[0154] <Second subcontracting contract> In the information processing system 1 according to the present embodiment, as described above, the case where the customer and the construction store conclude the "first subcontracting contract" as the contracting parties of the construction subcontracting contract has been described with reference to FIGS. 4 to 25. The information processing system 1 according to this embodiment is not limited to this, and it is possible to conclude a construction subcontracting contract when the customer of the customer terminal 20 is the orderer and the contractor of the information processing device 10 is the prime contractor. That is, the contractor who undertakes the construction from the customer concludes a subcontracting contract with the customer as the prime contractor. Such a subcontracting contract may be referred to as the "second subcontracting contract" in this document. In the case of the "second subcontracting contract", after the contractor of the information processing device 10 concludes a construction subcontracting contract with the customer, the construction is subcontracted. That is, the contractor of the information processing device 10 is the prime contractor, and a separate subcontracting contract is concluded between the construction company of the construction company terminal 30 as the subcontractor. The case of concluding the "second subcontracting contract" in the information processing system 1 will be described below.

[0155] FIG. 26 is a diagram for explaining a procedure flow for concluding a construction subcontracting contract for selling and exchanging goods and providing construction services. (a) shows the case of concluding the second subcontracting contract, and (b) shows the case of concluding a subcontracting contract. Note that FIG. 26(a) corresponds to FIG. 4(a) in the case of concluding the first subcontracting contract. In FIG. 26(a), while showing the contractor of the information processing device 10 and the customer of the customer terminal 20 who are the contracting parties of the construction subcontracting contract, since the construction company of the construction company terminal 30 is not a contracting party of the construction subcontracting contract, the illustration of the frame line showing the construction company of the construction company terminal 30 is omitted.

[0156] As shown in FIG. 26(a), assume that the customer orders a product selected from the candidates at the customer terminal 20 (P41), downloads the construction subcontracting contract document, checks the contents, and then signs the construction subcontracting contract (P42). Such P41 and P42 correspond to P11 and P12 in FIG. 4(a).

[0157] The contractor signs the construction subcontracting contract on its own information processing device 10 (P43) and checks the construction subcontracting contract (P44). As a result, a construction subcontracting contract is concluded between the customer and the contractor. Thus, in the case of the second subcontracting contract, it is completed through the procedures of the customer and the contractor, and the procedures of the construction company are not required. Therefore, it is possible to conclude the construction subcontracting contract at an early stage.

[0158] When a construction subcontracting contract is concluded between the customer and the contractor, as shown in Fig. 26(b), a subcontracting contract is concluded (P45). Such a subcontracting contract is concluded between the contractor and the construction company, and the procedures of the customer are not required. In such a subcontracting contract, it is possible to conclude an electronic contract by making an authentication request for the electronic signatures of the contractor and the construction company in the information processing system 1.

[0159] <Fourth Embodiment> Fig. 27 is a sequence diagram of the information processing system according to the fourth embodiment, showing the case of the second subcontracting contract. Note that this figure corresponds to Fig. 5 in the case of concluding the first subcontracting contract. In Fig. 27, the information processing device 10 related to the construction subcontracting contract and the customer terminal 20 are shown, and the illustration of the construction company terminal 30 is omitted.

[0160] Steps 501 to 512 in Fig. 27 correspond to steps 101 to 112 in Fig. 5. Note that the construction subcontracting contract document data created in step 510 is concluded between the customer and the contractor.

[0161] In the case of Fig. 27, after the electronic signature by the customer of the customer terminal 20 (step 512), the electronic signature by the contractor of the information processing device 10 is performed (step 513). The information processing device 10 communicates with the authentication server 50 (step 514), and requests the authentication server 50 to authenticate the electronic signature information acquired from the customer terminal 20 and its own electronic signature.

[0162] When the electronic signature authentication for the construction subcontracting contract document is performed for both the customer and the contractor, the information processing device 10 confirms the contract establishment (step 515). As a result, the date of the day is described in the column where the contract conclusion date in the construction subcontracting contract document data is described.

[0163] The information processing apparatus 10 transmits display data indicating that a conclusion certificate proving the conclusion of the construction contract can be downloaded to the customer terminal 20. As a result, the customer terminal 20 displays that the conclusion certificate can be downloaded (step 516).

[0164] <Various modifications and the like> Here, in the example shown in FIG. 27, the acquisition of the electronic signature by the contractor of the information processing apparatus 10 (see step 513) is after the electronic signature by the customer of the customer terminal 20 (see step 512), but it is not limited to this. That is, it is conceivable to make the timing of acquiring the electronic signature of the contractor earlier than the timing of acquiring the electronic signature of the customer (see step 512). For example, a modification may be adopted in which the timing of acquiring the electronic signature of the contractor is at the time of creating the construction contract data (see step 510).

[0165] Also, in the example shown in FIG. 27, the authentication request for the electronic signature by the contractor is made at the same time as the authentication request for the electronic signature by the customer, but it is not limited to this. That is, it is conceivable to make the timing of the authentication request for the contractor different from the timing of the authentication request for the customer. For example, a modification may be adopted in which the timing of the authentication request for the contractor is earlier than the timing of the authentication request for the customer.

[0166] Furthermore, in the example shown in FIG. 27, the creation of the estimate data (see step 506) and the creation of the construction contract data (see step 510) in the information processing apparatus 10 are separated, but it is not limited to this, and a modification in which the construction contract data is created at the time of creating the estimate data is conceivable. That is, the creation of the construction contract data (see step 510) is performed before receiving the order (see step 509). This is a modification of the timing of data creation in the information processing apparatus 10.

[0167] In the case of such a modification example, the display of the estimate on the customer terminal 20 (see step 507) and the display of the construction contract (see step 511) may be performed at the timing shown in FIG. 27, but it is not limited thereto. That is, the display of the construction contract (see step 511) may be performed at the time of the display of the estimate on the customer terminal 20 (see step 507). This is a modification example regarding the timing at which the construction contract is displayed on the customer terminal 20.

[0168] Note that the modification example regarding the timing of the above-described data creation may be applicable also in the case of the first embodiment shown in FIG. 5 described above. Specifically, after the creation of the estimate data (see step 106) in the information processing apparatus 10, the creation of the construction contract data (see step 110) is performed. Then, on the customer terminal 20, the estimate and the construction contract are displayed (see step 107), and when an order for the housing equipment is placed (see step 108), the information processing apparatus 10 receives the order (step 109). Incidentally, an example in which an electronic signature (see step 112) is performed at the time of the order for the housing equipment (see step 108) is also conceivable. Also, the modification example regarding the timing of the above-described data creation may be applicable also in the case of the application example in the first embodiment shown in FIG. 16 described above, similar to the case of FIG. 5.

[0169] Returning to FIG. 27, the electronic signature on the customer terminal 20 (see step 512) may be performed at the timing shown in FIG. 27, but it is not limited thereto. That is, on the customer terminal 20, the electronic signature (see step 512) may be performed at the time of the order for the selected housing equipment (see step 508). This is a modification example regarding the timing of the electronic signature on the customer terminal 20.

[0170] Furthermore, although the electronic signature in the information processing apparatus 10 (see step 513) may be performed at the timing shown in FIG. 27, it is not limited thereto. That is, in the information processing apparatus 10, the electronic signature (see step 513) may be performed when creating the construction contract document data (see step 510). This is a modification example regarding the timing of the electronic signature in the information processing apparatus 10.

[0171] It is conceivable to adopt some or all of these modification examples. By such adoption, it becomes possible to reduce the number and time of procedures until the conclusion of the construction contract.

[0172] <Construction Contract Document in the Case of the Fourth Embodiment> FIG. 28 is a diagram for explaining an example of the construction contract document 73 in the case of the fourth embodiment. FIG. 28 corresponds to FIG. 17(a) for explaining the first embodiment. As shown in FIG. 28, the construction contract document 73 in the case of the fourth embodiment includes a title 71a, a main text 71b, and a notation 71c indicating the parties to the contract document. The notation 71c is a column indicating the parties in the case of the second subcontracting contract, and includes an orderer's column in which the address and name of the customer of the customer terminal 20 are shown, and a subcontractor's column in which the address and name of the contractor of the information processing apparatus 10 are shown.

[0173] Here, since the illustration of the screen example in the fourth embodiment related to the second subcontracting contract is basically common to the case of the first embodiment related to the first subcontracting contract described above, the illustration thereof is omitted. Supplementary explanation: In the screen 28 of FIG. 8 and the screen 29 of FIG. 9 for explaining the first embodiment, the part “with the construction store” in the notation 28d is omitted. Also, the second customer confirmation screen 62 shown in FIG. 11 is not displayed on the customer terminal 20, and the notifications 32 and 33 shown in FIG. 12 and the screen 34 shown in FIG. 13 are not displayed on the construction store terminal 30. Further, in the third customer confirmation screen 63 shown in FIG. 14, the notation “(construction store of the construction store terminal 30)” in 62c is replaced with “(contractor of the information processing apparatus 10)”.

[0174] Also, the application example (Figs. 15 to 17) in the first embodiment for explaining the case of an electronic signature agency contract is not applicable to the case of a second subcontract where the construction company is not a contracting party to the main contract. Similarly, the third embodiment (see Figs. 23 to 26) for explaining the case where there is a change in the construction company after the contract is established is not applicable to the case of the second subcontract because it will be handled by a subcontract (see Fig. 26(b)) in the case of the second subcontract. Next, in the case of the second subcontract, the case where there is a change in the construction estimate after the contract is established will be explained. In such a case, the main contract for the construction work is re-concluded.

[0175] <Fifth Embodiment> Fig. 29 is a sequence diagram of the information processing system according to the fifth embodiment, showing the case of the second subcontract. Note that this figure explains the case where there is a change in the construction estimate after the contract is established, and corresponds to Fig. 18 for explaining the second embodiment in the case of concluding the first main contract. In Fig. 29, the information processing device 10 related to the main contract for the construction work and the customer terminal 20 are shown, and the illustration of the construction company terminal 30 is omitted.

[0176] Steps 601 to 607 in Fig. 29 correspond to steps 301 to 307 in Fig. 18. Note that the main contract for the construction work data updated in step 602 is to be re-concluded between the customer and the business operator.

[0177] In the case of Fig. 29, after the customer of the customer terminal 20 electronically signs for re-conclusion (step 607), the business operator of the information processing device 10 electronically signs for re-conclusion (step 608). The information processing device 10 communicates with the authentication server 50 (step 609), and requests the authentication server 50 to authenticate the information on the electronic signature for re-conclusion obtained from the customer terminal 20 and its own electronic signature for re-conclusion.

[0178] When the information processing apparatus 10 authenticates the electronic signature for re - concluding the construction subcontract agreement for both the customer and the contractor, it confirms the establishment of the updated agreement (step 610). As a result, the current date is entered in the column where the contract conclusion date in the construction subcontract agreement data is described.

[0179] The information processing apparatus 10 transmits display data indicating that an updated conclusion certificate for proving the establishment of the construction subcontract agreement can be downloaded to the customer terminal 20. As a result, on the customer terminal 20, a display indicating that the updated conclusion certificate can be downloaded is made (step 611).

[0180] Note that the electronic signature for re - concluding in the information processing apparatus 10 (see step 608) may be performed at the timing shown in FIG. 29, but is not limited to this. That is, in the information processing apparatus 10, the electronic signature for re - concluding (see step 608) may be performed when updating the construction subcontract agreement data (see step 602). This is a modification example regarding the timing of the electronic signature for re - concluding in the information processing apparatus 10.

[0181] Here, since the example of the screen in the fifth embodiment related to the second subcontract agreement is basically common to the case of the second embodiment related to the first subcontract agreement described above, its illustration is omitted. Supplementary explanation: Among FIGS. 18 to 22 for explaining the second embodiment, the customer re - conclusion screen 65 in FIG. 21 is not displayed on the customer terminal 20. Also, the notification 35 shown in FIG. 22 is not displayed on the construction store terminal 30.

[0182] <The information processing system 1 according to the present embodiment> In the information processing system 1 according to the present embodiment, a configuration may be adopted in which only one of the above - mentioned first subcontract agreement and second subcontract agreement that is predetermined can be concluded, or a configuration may be adopted in which either one can be selectively concluded by the contractor of the information processing apparatus 10. In the latter case, the electronic contract conclusion unit 16, the electronic document management unit 17, and the project status management unit 18 (see FIG. 3) execute functions according to the selection result by the contractor.

[0183] The embodiments of the present invention have been described above. However, the technical scope of the present invention is not limited to the scope described in the above embodiments. It is obvious from the description of the claims that those obtained by making various changes or improvements to the above embodiments are also included in the technical scope of the present invention.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0184] 1... Information processing system, 10... Information processing apparatus, 11... Transmission / reception unit, 14... Construction contract document creation unit, 16... Electronic contract conclusion unit, 17... Electronic document management unit, 18... Project status management unit, 20... Customer terminal, 30, 40... Construction company terminal, 50... Authentication server, 100a... CPU

Claims

1. A processor is provided. The processor, When an application for housing equipment is received from a customer, construction contract data is generated to be concluded between the customer and a construction company that will carry out the construction corresponding to the application; When electronic signature information is acquired from the terminal of the customer that transmitted the generated construction contract data, an authentication server is requested to authenticate the electronic signature information acquired from the terminal of the customer; When electronic signature information is acquired from the terminal of the construction company that has transmitted the generated construction contract data, a request is made to the authentication server for authentication of the electronic signature information acquired from the terminal of the construction company. Information processing device.

2. The processor, Manage the status of construction contracts for projects for which applications have been accepted from said customers; 2. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1,

3. The processor, changing the status when the electronic signature information from the customer's terminal or the electronic signature information from the construction shop's terminal is acquired; 3. The information processing apparatus according to claim 2.

4. The processor, changing the status when the electronic signature information from the customer's terminal and / or the electronic signature information from the construction shop's terminal is authenticated; 3. The information processing apparatus according to claim 2.

5. The application for the housing equipment includes the purchase of the equipment for the housing equipment and the installation work for the equipment, 2. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1,

6. The processor, On the condition that the electronic signature information from the terminal of the customer and the electronic signature information from the terminal of the construction company are authenticated, a conclusion certificate indicating that a construction contract has been concluded is made available for download on the terminal of the customer and the terminal of the construction company.

2. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1,

7. The processor, When updating a construction contract for a project for which an application from the customer has been accepted after the construction contract has been concluded between the construction company and the customer, downloading of the conclusion certificate is disabled.

7. The information processing apparatus according to claim 6,

8. The processor, When a construction contract for a project for which an application from a customer has been accepted is renewed after the construction contract has been concluded between the construction company and the customer, When electronic signature information is acquired from a terminal of another construction company that has transmitted construction contract data different from the established construction contract, a request is made to the authentication server for authentication of the electronic signature information acquired from the terminal of the other construction company.

2. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1,

9. A processor is provided. The processor, When an application for housing equipment is received from a customer, construction contract data is generated to be concluded between the customer and a construction company that will carry out the construction corresponding to the application; When electronic signature information is acquired from the terminal of the customer that transmitted the generated construction contract data, an authentication server is requested to authenticate the electronic signature information acquired from the terminal of the customer; When the contractor acquires its own electronic signature information in place of the electronic signature information from the construction company terminal that has transmitted the generated construction contract data, the contractor requests the authentication server to authenticate the contractor's own electronic signature information. Information processing device.

10. A processor is provided. The processor, When an application for housing equipment is received from a customer, construction contract data is generated to be concluded with the customer for the construction work corresponding to the application; When electronic signature information is acquired from the terminal of the customer that has transmitted the generated construction contract data, a request is made to an authentication server for authentication of the electronic signature information acquired from the terminal of the customer. Information processing device.

11. The processor, When the electronic signature information of the customer is acquired, the electronic signature information of the customer is requested to be authenticated by the authentication server when the electronic signature information acquired from the customer's terminal is requested to be authenticated by the authentication server.

11. The information processing apparatus according to claim 10,

12. The processor, Acquire your own electronic signature information when generating construction contract data, 11. The information processing apparatus according to claim 10,

13. The processor, On condition that the electronic signature information from the client's terminal and the client's own electronic signature information are authenticated, a conclusion certificate indicating that a construction contract has been concluded is made available for download on the client's terminal.

11. The information processing apparatus according to claim 10,

14. In the information processing device, A function for generating construction contract data to be concluded between a construction company that will carry out construction work corresponding to an application for housing equipment from a customer when the application for the housing equipment is received from the customer; a function of, when acquiring electronic signature information from a terminal of a customer that has transmitted the generated construction contract data, requesting authentication of the electronic signature information acquired from the terminal of the customer to an authentication server; a function of, when acquiring electronic signature information from a terminal of a construction company that has transmitted the generated construction contract data, requesting authentication of the electronic signature information acquired from the terminal of the construction company to the authentication server; A program to achieve this.

15. In the information processing device, A function for generating construction contract data to be concluded between a construction company that will carry out construction work corresponding to an application for housing equipment from a customer when the application for the housing equipment is received from the customer; a function of, when acquiring electronic signature information from a terminal of a customer that has transmitted the generated construction contract data, requesting authentication of the electronic signature information acquired from the terminal of the customer to an authentication server; a function of, when acquiring one's own electronic signature information in place of electronic signature information from a terminal of a construction company that has transmitted the generated construction contract data, requesting authentication of the one's own electronic signature information from the authentication server; A program to achieve this.

16. In the information processing device, A function of generating construction contract data to be concluded with a customer for construction work corresponding to an application for housing equipment from the customer when the application for the housing equipment is received; a function of, when acquiring electronic signature information from a terminal of a customer that has transmitted the generated construction contract data, requesting authentication of the electronic signature information acquired from the terminal of the customer to an authentication server; A program to achieve this.

Images