Server

Abstract

An object of the present invention is to provide a server capable of realizing a point system that makes users want to contract for a service. 【Solution means】The server according to the present invention includes a control unit and a storage unit. The storage unit stores contract information, history information, and point information. The contract information indicates the service usage period during which the user can use the service. The history information indicates the history of the user's use of the service. The point information indicates the points held by the user. The control unit refers to the contract information and the history information, and increases the points held by the user when there is no period during which the user cannot use the service in at least a part of the service usage period.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a server.

Background Art

[0002] As an invention related to a conventional server, for example, an information processing apparatus described in Patent Document 1 is known. This information processing apparatus includes a point granting unit that grants points that can be used when using a service at a service usage location other than a game to a player who has played a game playable through a terminal with other players, and a point storage unit that stores the points granted to the player.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] By the way, there is a desire to provide a point system that makes users want to contract for a service.

[0005] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a server that can realize a point system that makes users want to contract for a service.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] The first aspect is the server includes a control unit and a storage unit, the storage unit stores contract information, history information, and point information, the contract information indicates a service usage period during which a user can use a service, the history information indicates a history of the user's use of the service. The point information indicates the points held by the user, and when there is no period during which the user cannot use the service in at least a part of the service usage period by referring to the contract information and the history information, the control unit increases the points held by the user. It is a server.

[0007] The first form is the service is SaaS (Software as a Service), and it is the server according to the first form.

Effect of the Invention

[0008] According to the present disclosure, a point system that users want to contract for can be realized.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0009]

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Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0010] (Embodiment) [Configuration of System 1] The system 1 according to the embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0011] First, the overall configuration of the system 1 will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram of the system 1. FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the user terminal 10. FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the server 100.

[0012] The system 1 shown in FIG. 1 includes a user terminal 10 and a server 100. The user terminal 10 and the server 100 can communicate with each other via a communication network. The network is the Internet, an intranet, or the like.

[0013] The user terminal 10 is an information processing device used by the user US1. The user terminal 10 is, for example, a smartphone, a tablet terminal, or a personal computer. As shown in FIG. 2, the user terminal 10 includes a control unit 12, a storage unit 14, a network interface 16, a graphic processing unit 18, a display 20, an operation unit 26, and a touch panel 28.

[0014] The storage unit 14 stores programs and data. The storage unit 14 is, for example, a combination of a ROM (Read Only Memory), a RAM (Random Access Memory), and a storage (e.g., a flash memory or a hard disk).

[0015] The program includes, for example, the following programs. ·Programs of the OS (Operating System)·Programs of applications that execute information processing (for example, a web browser or the target application described later)

[0016] The data includes, for example, the following data. ·Database referred to in information processing·Data obtained by executing information processing (that is, the execution result of information processing)

[0017] The control unit 12 realizes the functions of the user terminal 10 by executing the programs stored in the storage unit 14. The control unit 12 is, for example, at least one of the following. ·CPU (Central Processing Unit) ·GPU (Graphic Processing Unit) ·ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit) ·FPGA (Field Programmable Array)

[0018] The network interface 16 controls the communication between the user terminal 10 and an external device. The external device is the server 100.

[0019] The graphic processing unit 18 causes the display 20 to display an image based on the image data generated by the control unit 12. The display 20 is a liquid crystal display or an organic EL (Electro Luminescence) display.

[0020] The operation unit 26 generates an operation signal based on the operation of the user US1 by the touch panel 28 and outputs the operation signal to the control unit 12.

[0021] The server 100 is a web server that stores web page data. As shown in Figure 3, the server 100 includes a control unit 102, a storage unit 104, and a network interface 106.

[0022] The storage unit 104 stores programs and data. The storage unit 104 is, for example, a combination of a ROM (Read Only Memory), a RAM (Random Access Memory), and a storage (e.g., flash memory or hard disk).

[0023] The control unit 102 realizes the functions of the server 100 by executing the programs stored in the storage unit 104. The control unit 102 is, for example, at least one of the following: ·CPU (Central Processing Unit) ·GPU (Graphic Processing Unit) ·ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit) ·FPGA (Field Programmable Array)

[0024] The network interface 106 controls the communication between the server 100 and an external device. The external device is the user terminal 10.

[0025] [Operation of System 1] Next, the operation of System 1 will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 4 is a warranty period table. FIG. 5 is a history table. FIG. 6 is a point table. FIGS. 7 to 9 are flowcharts executed by the control unit 102 of the server 100.

[0026] The server 100 stores information regarding the repair service of the electrical product purchased by the user US1. The repair service of the electrical product is a service in which when a failure occurs in the electrical product during the warranty period when the user US1 purchases the electrical product, the manufacturer repairs the electrical product free of charge. Therefore, the storage unit 104 of the server 100 stores the warranty period table (contract information) shown in FIG. 4, the history table (history information) shown in FIG. 5, and the point table (point information) shown in FIG. 6.

[0027] The warranty period table (contract information) shown in FIG. 4 indicates the warranty period (service usage period) during which the user US1 can use the service. In the present embodiment, the warranty period table indicates the relationship between the user ID and the warranty period. The history table (history information) shown in FIG. 5 indicates the history of service usage by the user US1. In the present embodiment, the history table indicates the relationship between the user ID and the repair history. The point table (point information) shown in FIG. 6 indicates the points held by the user US1. In the present embodiment, the point table indicates the relationship between the user ID and the points. Points have a monetary value. Therefore, points may be exchangeable for cash, may be used by the user as a service usage fee, or may be exchangeable for goods.

[0028] First, the first operation will be described with reference to FIG. 7. In the first operation, the server 100 registers the information of the user US1 who purchased the electrical product in the warranty period table shown in FIG. 4. More specifically, the user US1 registers the purchase of the electrical product by operating the touch panel 28 of the user terminal 10. In response to the operation of the user US1, the control unit 12 of the user terminal 10 generates warranty information indicating the user ID of the user US1 and the warranty period of the electronic product. Then, the control unit 12 of the user terminal 10 transmits the warranty information to the server 100 via the network interface 16.

[0029] The network interface 116 of the server 100 receives the warranty information and outputs the warranty information to the control unit 112. Thereby, the control unit 112 of the server 100 acquires the warranty information (step S1).

[0030] Next, the control unit 112 of the server 100 acquires the guarantee table shown in FIG. 4 from the storage unit 114. Then, the control unit 112 of the server 100 records the user ID and the guarantee period indicated by the guarantee information in the guarantee table (step S2). In the present embodiment, the control unit 112 of the server 100 registers user US1 in the user ID column and registers January 3, 2023 to January 2, 2025 in the guarantee period column. Through the above operations, the first operation ends.

[0031] Next, the second operation will be described with reference to FIG. 8. In the second operation, the server 100 registers the information on the use of the repair service of the electrical product in the history table shown in FIG. 5. More specifically, the user US1 applies for the repair service of the electrical product by operating the touch panel 28 of the user terminal 10. In response to the operation of the user US1, the control unit 12 of the user terminal 10 generates repair information indicating the user ID. Then, the control unit 12 of the user terminal 10 transmits the repair information to the server 100 via the network interface 16. Note that the user US1 mails the electrical product to the manufacturer in parallel with this operation.

[0032] The network interface 116 of the server 100 receives the repair information and outputs the repair information to the control unit 112. Thereby, the control unit 112 of the server 100 acquires the repair information (step S11).

[0033] Next, the control unit 112 of the server 100 acquires the history table shown in FIG. 5 from the storage unit 114. Then, the control unit 112 of the server 100 records the user ID and the date indicated by the repair information in the history table (step S12). In the present embodiment, the control unit 112 of the server 100 registers user US1 in the user ID column and registers November 3, 2023 in the guarantee period column. Through the above operations, the second operation ends.

[0034] Next, the third operation will be described with reference to FIG. 9. In the third operation, when user US1 does not use the repair service of the electrical product during the warranty period, the server 100 awards points to user US1. The control unit 112 of the server 100 refers to the warranty table (contract information) shown in FIG. 4 and determines whether the warranty period of user US1 has ended (step S21). In the present embodiment, the control unit 112 of the server 100 determines whether January 2, 2025 has passed. If the warranty period of user US1 has ended, this process proceeds to step S22. If the warranty period of user US1 has not ended, this process returns to step S21.

[0035] If the warranty period of user US1 has ended, the control unit 112 of the server 100 refers to the history table (history information) shown in FIG. 5 and determines whether user US1 has used the repair service of the electrical product (step S22). In the present embodiment, the control unit 112 of the server 100 determines whether the user ID and date are recorded in the history table shown in FIG. 5. If the user ID and date are not recorded, since user US1 has not used the repair service of the electrical product, this process proceeds to step S23. If the user ID and date are recorded, since user US1 has used the repair service of the electrical product, this process proceeds to step S24.

[0036] If user US1 uses the repair service (service) of the electrical product during the warranty period (service usage period), the control unit 112 of the server 100 does not increase the points held by user US1 in the point table shown in FIG. 6. After this, this process ends.

[0037] If user US1 does not use the repair service (service) of the electrical product during the warranty period (service usage period), the control unit 112 of the server 100 increases the points held by user US1 in the point table shown in FIG. 6. The control unit 112 of the server 100 increases, for example, the points held by user US1 by 1000 points. Through the above operations, the third operation ends. As a result, user US1 can use the paid repair service of the electrical product using the points or purchase a new electrical product.

[0038] [Effect] According to the server 100, a point system that makes user US1 want to contract for the service can be realized. More specifically, if user US1 does not use the repair service of the electrical product during the warranty period, the control unit 112 of the server 100 increases the points held by user US1 in the point table shown in FIG. 6. In this way, the server 100 gives points not for user US1 to use the service, but for user US1 not to use the service. As a result, user US1 can obtain points even if user US1 does not use the service despite contracting for the use of the service. Therefore, it is difficult for user US1 to have the feeling of having suffered a loss. Thus, user US1 wants to contract for the service. In the present embodiment, user US1 wants to purchase an electrical product from the manufacturer.

[0039] In addition, since the manufacturer does not have to provide the repair service for the electrical product, the manufacturer does not have to bear the repair cost. Therefore, even if the manufacturer gives user US1 points corresponding to an amount lower than the repair cost, it is difficult for the manufacturer to incur a loss. Therefore, the manufacturer can motivate the user to purchase the electrical product at a lower cost.

[0040] In addition, it is recorded that user US1 has purchased an electrical product. Therefore, when a recall occurs for the electrical product, the manufacturer can easily contact user US1.

[0041] (First Modified Example) The server 100a according to the first modified example will be described below. The server 100a is different from the server 100 in that the service is an automobile maintenance service.

[0042] More specifically, the automobile maintenance service is a service in which when a failure occurs in an automobile during the warranty period after the user US1 purchases the automobile, the manufacturer repairs the automobile free of charge. However, regular inspections are not included in the automobile maintenance service of this case.

[0043] (Second Modified Example) The server 100b according to the second modified example will be described below. The server 100b is different from the server 100 in that the service is the payment of insurance money.

[0044] The insurance money payment service is a service in which when the user US1 subscribes to life insurance, accident insurance, etc., and an insurance money payment reason occurs during the insurance period, the insurance company pays the insurance money to the user US1. Therefore, in the server 100b, a column for the insurance period is provided instead of the column for the warranty period in the warranty period table shown in FIG. 4. A column for the insurance money payment history is provided instead of the column for the repair history in the history table shown in FIG. 5.

[0045] The user US1 can use points as part of the insurance premium for the next year and subsequent years. That is, the control unit 112 of the server 100 subtracts an amount corresponding to the points from the usage fee of the service of the user US1.

[0046] The server 100b gives points to the user US1 as a reward for not claiming insurance money. As a result, the user US1 will avoid the occurrence of insurance money payment reasons in order to obtain points.

[0047] In addition, since the number of insurance money payments decreases, the insurance company can provide services at a low insurance premium.

[0048] (Third Modified Example) The server 100c according to the third modified example will be described below. The server 100c is different from the server 100 in that the service is a support service in SaaS (Software as a Service).

[0049] The support service in SaaS is an answer to an inquiry regarding the usage method of SaaS. Note that the user US1 may make an inquiry using a support ticket issued by the SaaS operating company. Therefore, in the server 100c, a column for the SaaS support period is provided instead of the column for the guarantee period in the guarantee period table shown in FIG. 4. A column for the support history is provided instead of the column for the repair history in the history table shown in FIG. 5.

[0050] The user US1 can obtain points without using the support. Therefore, the user US1 will investigate the usage method of SaaS without using the support service. As a result, the user US1 can acquire in-depth knowledge about the usage method of SaaS. In addition, since the number of inquiries decreases, the SaaS operating company can reduce the cost required for inquiry response.

[0051] (Fourth Modified Example) The server 100d according to the fourth modified example will be described below. The server 100d is different from the server 100c in that it is a support service for a computer.

[0052] The support service for a computer is an answer to an inquiry regarding the usage method of the computer. Therefore, in the server 100c, a column for the computer support period is provided instead of the column for the guarantee period in the guarantee period table shown in FIG. 4. A column for the support history is provided instead of the column for the repair history in the history table shown in FIG. 5.

[0053] User US1 can earn points without using the support service. Therefore, User US1 will try to find out how to use the computer without using the support service. As a result, User US1 can acquire in-depth knowledge about how to use the computer. Also, since the number of inquiries decreases, the manufacturer can reduce the costs required to handle inquiries.

[0054] (Fifth Modification Example) The server 100e according to the fifth modification example will be described below. The server 100e differs from the server 100c in that it is a security service.

[0055] The security service is a service in which a security company dispatches security guards when a problem occurs during the contract period. When there is no need to dispatch security guards during the contract period, the server 100e awards points to User US1. Therefore, in the server 100d, a column for the contract period is provided instead of the column for the warranty period in the warranty period table shown in FIG. 4. A column for the dispatch history is provided instead of the column for the repair history in the history table shown in FIG. 5.

[0056] User US1 can earn points if security guards are not dispatched. Therefore, User US1 will take security measures to reduce the frequency of security guard dispatches. As a result, User US1's security awareness will be improved.

[0057] (Sixth Modification Example) The server 100f according to the sixth modification example will be described below. The control unit 112 of the server 100f differs from the server 100c in that it increases the points held by the user when there is no period during which the user cannot use the service during the service usage period. The service is SaaS.

[0058] FIG. 10 is a contract period table. FIG. 11 is a history table. FIG. 12 is a flowchart executed by the control unit 102 of the server 100f.

[0059] Server 100 stores information related to the provision of SaaS services. Therefore, the storage unit 104 of server 100 stores the contract period table (contract information) shown in FIG. 10, the history table (history information) shown in FIG. 11, and the point table (point information) shown in FIG. 6.

[0060] The contract period table (contract information) shown in FIG. 10 indicates the contract period (service usage period) during which user US1 can use the service. In this embodiment, the contract period table shows the relationship between the user ID and the contract period. The history table (history information) shown in FIG. 11 indicates the history of the use of the service by user US1. In this embodiment, the history table shows the relationship between the user ID and the unavailable period. The unavailable period is the period during which the user could not use the SaaS due to problems of the SaaS operating company. Problems of the SaaS operating company are, for example, that the server has gone down. The point table (point information) shown in FIG. 6 indicates the points held by user US1. In this embodiment, the point table shows the relationship between the user ID and the points. The points have a monetary value.

[0061] Next, the operation of server 100f will be described with reference to FIG. 12. The control unit 112 of server 100 refers to the contract period table (contract information) shown in FIG. 10 and determines whether the contract period of user US1 has ended (step S31). In this embodiment, the control unit 112 of server 100 determines whether January 2, 2025 has passed. If the contract period of user US1 has ended, this process proceeds to step S32. If the contract period of user US1 has not ended, this process returns to step S31.

[0062] When the contract period of User US1 ends, the control unit 112 of the server 100 refers to the history table (history information) shown in FIG. 11 and determines whether there was a period during which the user could not use the SaaS (step S32). In the present embodiment, the control unit 112 of the server 100 determines whether the user ID and the date are recorded in the history table shown in FIG. 11. If the user ID and the date are not recorded, there was no period during which the user could not use the SaaS (the user could use the SaaS throughout the contract period), so this process proceeds to step S33. If the user ID and the date are recorded, there was a period during which the user could not use the SaaS, so this process proceeds to step S34.

[0063] If there is a period during which User US1 cannot use the service during the contract period (service usage period), the control unit 112 of the server 100f does not increase the points held by User US1 (step S34). After this, this process ends.

[0064] If there is no period during which User US1 cannot use the service during the contract period (service usage period), the control unit 112 of the server 100f increases the points held by User US1 (step S33). The control unit 112 of the server 100, for example, increases the points held by User US1 by 1000 points. After this, this process ends. As a result, User US1 can re-contract for the SaaS using the points.

[0065] When a period of unavailability occurs, the SaaS operating company needs to perform system recovery work. Therefore, costs are incurred for system recovery. That is, when a period of unavailability does not occur, the SaaS operating company does not need to bear the cost for system recovery. Thus, the SaaS operating company returns the profit due to no cost for system recovery to User US1. As a result, User US1 can use high-quality SaaS at a low cost, so User US1 will actively use the SaaS. That is, User US1 will want to contract for the service.

[0066] (Other embodiments) The server according to the present invention is not limited to servers 100, 100a to 100f, and can be changed within the scope of the gist thereof. Also, the configurations of servers 100, 100a to 100f may be arbitrarily combined.

[0067] Note that the control unit 112 of servers 100, 100a to 100e may increase the points given to user US1 when user US1 does not use the service during a part of the service usage period. A part of the service usage period is, for example, one month within the service usage period when the service usage period is one year.

[0068] Note that the control unit 112 of servers 100, 100a to 100e may increase the points held by user US1 when the usage amount of the service by user US1 during at least a part of the service usage period is less than a predetermined usage amount. The usage amount is, for example, the number of times, time, etc. For example, the control unit 112 of server 100c may increase the points held by user US1 when the usage time of the service by user US1 during the support period is less than 30 minutes. Also, the control unit 112 of servers 100, 100a to 100e may change the increase amount of points according to the usage amount.

[0069] Note that the control unit 112 of servers 100, 100a to 100e may increase the points given to user US1 when there is no period during a part of the service usage period when user US1 cannot use the service. A part of the service usage period is, for example, one month within the service usage period when the service usage period is one year.

Explanation of reference numerals

[0070] 1: System 10: User terminal 12: Control unit 14: Storage unit 16: Network interface 18: Graphics processing unit 20: Display 26: Operation unit 28: Touch panel 100, 100a~100f: Server 102: Control unit 104: Memory unit 106: Network interface 112: Control unit 114: Memory unit 116: Network interface

Claims

1. The server includes a control unit and a storage unit. The storage unit stores contract information, history information, and point information, The contract information indicates a service usage period during which the user can use the service, the history information indicates a history of whether or not the user was able to use the service, The point information indicates points owned by the user, the control unit refers to the contract information and the history information, and when there is no period during the service usage period during which the user is unable to use the service, increases the points held by the user. server.

2. The service is SaaS (Software as a Service), The server of claim 1 .

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