Information Processing Apparatus and Information Processing Method

Abstract

Provided are an information processing apparatus and method for providing a monetary mechanism for providing an online interview. 【Solution means】In an information processing system in which an information processing apparatus, a plurality of service terminals, and a plurality of store terminals are connected to a network, the information processing apparatus 3 includes an acquisition unit 331 that acquires a service ID from the store terminal 2, an interview processing unit 332 that executes processing for conducting an online interview between the store terminal 2 and the service terminal 1, a first determination unit 334 that refers to a first condition management database and determines a service charge based on a first condition associated with the service ID corresponding to the interview conducting business operator, a second determination unit 335 that refers to a second condition management database and determines a store charge based on the second condition, and a charge processing unit 336 that executes processing for billing the service charge to the interview conducting business operator and executes processing for paying the store charge to the store business operator of the store or processing for billing the store business operator of the store.

Description

Technical Field

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

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, in stores such as convenience stores, terminals used by users to utilize various services are installed. Patent Document 1 discloses a technique for a user to conduct an online interview on a terminal installed in a store.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] In the provision of online interviews, since multiple operators such as the operator who manages the store where the terminal is installed and the operator who provides services to users via online interviews are involved, it is required to construct a financial mechanism for providing online interviews.

[0005] Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of these points, and an object thereof is to provide a financial mechanism for providing online interviews.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] The information processing apparatus according to the first aspect of the present invention includes an acquisition unit that acquires a service ID for identifying a service selected by a user from among a plurality of services provided by a service provider, which is another operator different from the store operator who manages the store, from any one of the store terminals installed in each of the plurality of stores; the store terminal; an interview processing unit that executes a process for conducting an online interview between the store terminal and the terminal of the service provider specified based on the service ID acquired by the acquisition unit; a first condition management database in which a first condition for determining the service ID corresponding to each service and a first condition for determining the implementation fee associated with the implementation of the online interview are associated with each other, and a first determination unit that determines a service billing fee, which is a fee to be billed to the interview implementing service provider, based on the first condition associated with the service ID associated with the interview implementing service provider who is the service provider that conducted the online interview; a second condition management database in which a second condition for determining a fee associated with the use of the store terminal is stored, and a second determination unit that determines a store fee, which is either a fee to be paid to the store operator of the store or a fee to be billed to the store operator of the store, based on the second condition; and a fee processing unit that executes a process of billing the service billing fee determined by the first determination unit to the interview implementing service provider, and executes a process of paying the store fee determined by the second determination unit to the store operator of the store or a process of billing the store operator of the store.

[0007] The fee processing unit may further bill the user for a fee associated with the use of the store terminal.

[0008] The first condition management database may further be associated with an interview implementation fee, which is a fee associated with the implementation of the online interview for each service, and the fee processing unit may further refer to the first condition management database and bill the user for the interview implementation fee associated with the service ID acquired by the acquisition unit.

[0009] In the first condition management database, further, a distribution rate distributed to the service provider of the service from the interview implementation fee charged by the fee processing unit to the user for each service may be associated. Further, the first determination unit may further refer to the first condition management database, and based on the interview implementation fee charged by the interview implementation provider to the user who has conducted the online interview and the distribution rate associated with the service ID corresponding to the interview implementation provider, determine a service payment fee, which is the fee to be paid to the interview implementation provider. Further, the fee processing unit may execute a process of paying the service payment fee determined by the first determination unit to the interview implementation provider.

[0010] In the first condition management database, further, a billing condition indicating whether or not to bill the interview implementation fee on the condition that the service has been contracted for each service may be associated. Further, the fee processing unit may refer to the first condition management database. When the result of whether or not the user has contracted for the service does not satisfy the billing condition associated with the service ID acquired by the acquisition unit, the fee processing unit may not bill the user for the interview implementation fee associated with the service ID acquired by the acquisition unit. When the result of whether or not the user has contracted for the service satisfies the billing condition associated with the service ID acquired by the acquisition unit, the fee processing unit may bill the user for the interview implementation fee associated with the service ID acquired by the acquisition unit.

[0011] In the second condition management database, for each combination of the store and the service, a store ID for identifying the store, a service ID corresponding to the service, and the second condition for determining the fee associated with the implementation of the online interview regarding the service at the store terminal may be associated. The acquisition unit may further acquire a store ID for identifying the store. The second determination unit may determine the store fee based on the second condition associated with the store ID acquired by the acquisition unit and the service ID corresponding to the interview conducting business operator.

[0012] In the second condition management database, for each store, a store ID for identifying the store and the second condition including the implementation unit price per user who has conducted the online interview may be associated. The acquisition unit may further acquire a store ID for identifying the store. The second determination unit may determine the store fee for each store based on the implementation unit price included in the second condition associated with the store ID corresponding to the store and the number of users who have conducted the online interview using the store terminal of the store during a predetermined period.

[0013] In the second condition management database, for each store, a store ID for identifying the store and the second condition including the implementation unit price per user who has conducted the online interview a predetermined number of times or more may be associated. The acquisition unit may further acquire a store ID for identifying the store. The second determination unit may determine the store fee for each store based on the implementation unit price included in the second condition associated with the store ID corresponding to the store and the number of users whose number of times of conducting the online interview using the store terminal of the store during the predetermined period is equal to or more than the predetermined number of times.

[0014] In the second condition management database, for each store, a store ID for identifying the store and the second condition including the contract unit price per contract of the service through the online interview may be associated. The acquisition unit may further acquire a store ID for identifying the store. The second determination unit may determine the store fee for each store based on the contract unit price included in the second condition associated with the store ID corresponding to the store and the number of contracts in which the service was contracted in the online interview using the store terminal of the store during a predetermined period.

[0015] In the second condition management database, for each store, a store ID for identifying the store and the second condition including a calculated value for calculating an amount to be deducted from the contract amount in the contract of the service through the online interview may be associated. The acquisition unit may further acquire a store ID for identifying the store. The second determination unit may determine the store fee for each store based on the calculated value included in the second condition associated with the store ID corresponding to the store and the total contract amount in which the service was contracted in the online interview using the store terminal of the store during a predetermined period.

[0016] In the second condition management database, for each store, a store ID for identifying the store and the second condition including a calculated value for calculating an amount to be deducted from the usage fee generated according to the usage period of the service through the online interview may be associated. The acquisition unit may further acquire a store ID for identifying the store. The second determination unit may determine the store fee for each store based on the calculated value included in the second condition associated with the store ID corresponding to the store and the total usage fee generated by the usage of the service through the online interview using the store terminal of the store during a predetermined period.

[0017] In the second condition management database, for each store, a store ID for identifying the store and the second condition including a period unit price per unit period of the online interview may be associated. The acquisition unit may further acquire a store ID for identifying the store. The second determination unit may determine the store fee for each store based on the period unit price included in the second condition associated with the store ID corresponding to the store and the implementation period during which the online interview is conducted using the store terminal of the store in a predetermined period.

[0018] In the second condition management database, for each store, a store ID for identifying the store and the second condition including a service quantity unit price per service for which the online interview is conducted using the store terminal or a service type unit price per type of service for which the online interview is conducted using the store terminal may be associated. The second determination unit may determine the store fee for each store based on a combination of the service quantity unit price included in the second condition associated with the store ID corresponding to the store and the number of services for which the online interview is conducted using the store terminal of the store, or based on a combination of the service type unit price included in the second condition associated with the store ID corresponding to the store and the number of types of services for which the online interview is conducted using the store terminal of the store.

[0019] In the second condition management database, for each store, a store ID for identifying the store and the second condition including a land price calculation value for calculating the store fee based on the address of the store or the land price of the area where the store is located may be associated. The second determination unit may determine the store fee for each store based on the land price calculation value included in the second condition associated with the store ID corresponding to the store and the land price of the address of the store or the area where the store is located.

[0020] In the second condition management database, for each store, a store ID for identifying the store and the second condition including the customer unit price per customer who visits the store may be associated. Also, the second determination unit may determine the store fee for each store based on the customer unit price included in the second condition associated with the store ID corresponding to the store and the store visit record of the store over a predetermined period.

[0021] In the second condition management database, for each store, a store ID for identifying the store and the second condition including the terminal unit price per terminal installed in the store may be associated. Also, the second determination unit may determine the store fee for each store based on the terminal unit price included in the second condition associated with the store ID corresponding to the store and the number of terminals installed in the store.

[0022] The information processing apparatus may further include a storage unit that stores, for each service, an executable period during which the online interview of the service can be performed. In the first condition management database, a period unit price that is the unit price per unit period of the executable period corresponding to the service may be included for each service. Also, the first determination unit may further determine the service billing fee for each service based on the executable period corresponding to the service and the executable period included in the first condition associated with the service ID corresponding to the service.

[0023] In the first condition management database, for each combination of the store and the service, a store ID for identifying the store, the service ID corresponding to the service, and the first condition may be associated. Also, the first determination unit may determine the service billing fee for each combination of the store and the service based on the first condition associated with the store ID corresponding to the store and the service ID corresponding to the service.

[0024] The information processing method according to the second aspect of the present invention includes: a step of obtaining, by a computer, a service ID for identifying the service selected by a user from among a plurality of services provided by a service provider, which is another business operator different from the store operator who manages the store, from any one of the store terminals installed in each of the plurality of stores; a step of executing a process for conducting an online interview between the store terminal and the terminal of the service provider specified based on the obtained service ID; a step of referring to a first condition management database in which the service ID corresponding to each service and a first condition for determining the implementation fee associated with the execution of the online interview are associated, and determining a service billing fee, which is the fee to be billed to the interview conducting business operator who is the service provider that conducted the online interview, based on the first condition associated with the service ID corresponding to the interview conducting business operator; a step of referring to a second condition management database in which a second condition for determining the fee associated with the use of the store terminal is stored, and determining a store fee, which is either the fee to be paid to the store operator of the store or the fee to be billed to the store operator of the store, based on the second condition; and a step of executing a process of billing the determined service billing fee to the interview conducting business operator, and executing a process of paying the determined store fee to the store operator of the store or a process of billing the store operator of the store.

[0025] An information processing apparatus according to a third aspect of the present invention includes an acquisition unit that acquires a service ID for identifying a service selected by a user from a plurality of services provided by a service provider from an installation terminal installed at a predetermined location, the installation terminal, and an interview processing unit that executes a process for conducting an online interview between the installation terminal and a terminal of the service provider specified based on the service ID acquired by the acquisition unit. The information processing apparatus further includes a first determination unit that refers to a first condition management database in which a service ID corresponding to each service and a first condition for determining an execution fee associated with the execution of the online interview are associated, and determines a service billing fee, which is a fee to be billed to the interview execution service provider, based on the first condition associated with the service ID corresponding to the interview execution service provider who conducted the online interview; a second determination unit that refers to a second condition management database in which a second condition for determining a fee associated with the use of the installation terminal is stored, and determines a terminal fee, which is either a fee to be paid to the terminal service provider who provided the installation terminal or a fee to be billed to the terminal service provider, based on the second condition; and a fee processing unit that executes a process of billing the service billing fee determined by the first determination unit to the interview execution service provider, and executes a process of paying the terminal fee determined by the second determination unit to the terminal service provider or a process of billing the terminal service provider.

Advantages of the Invention

[0026] According to the present invention, there is an effect that a financial mechanism for providing an online interview can be provided.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0027]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0028] [Overview of Information Processing System S] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the configuration of the information processing system S. The information processing system S is a system used to provide an information processing service. The information processing service is a service for providing the implementation of an online interview and the management of money for store operators and service providers. A store operator is an operator who manages a store. A store is a store that sells goods, such as a convenience store, a supermarket, a communication terminal sales store, an e-commerce store, etc. Also, the store is real estate, but not limited to this, and may be movable property such as a vehicle. A service provider is an operator who provides a provided service that is a service different from the information processing service, and is an operator different from the store operator. The provided service is, for example, a service related to finance, insurance, law, etc. The information processing system S includes a plurality of service terminals 1, a plurality of store terminals 2, and an information processing apparatus 3.

[0029] The service terminal 1 is a terminal managed by a service provider, and is, for example, a smartphone, a tablet terminal, a personal computer, etc.

[0030] The store terminal 2 is a terminal installed in the store, such as a tablet terminal, a personal computer, etc. One or more store terminals 2 are installed in the store. A dedicated application program (hereinafter referred to as the "dedicated app") for providing information processing services to users is installed on the store terminal 2. The dedicated app has functions such as presenting explanations of a plurality of different provided services, proposing a provided service recommended to the user among the plurality of provided services, and implementing an online interview with the service provider of the provided service. A user who is a customer visiting the store can use the store terminal 2 to view explanations of a plurality of provided services, select a provided service that the user wishes to use, or conduct an online interview with the service provider of the provided service that the user wishes to use.

[0031] The information processing device 3 is a device that manages a platform for providing online interviews and money management, such as a server. In the information processing device 3, a first condition for determining the fee to be billed to the service provider, specifically, the implementation fee associated with the implementation of the online interview, and a second condition for determining the fee to be billed to or paid to the store operator, specifically, the fee associated with the use of the store terminal 2 are stored. Although details will be described later, each of the first condition and the second condition includes information indicating a predetermined unit price determined for determining the fee.

[0032] Each of the service terminal 1, the store terminal 2, and the information processing device 3 is connected to the network N. Hereinafter, the outline of the information processing system S will be described with reference to FIG. 2.

[0033] FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining the outline of the information processing system S. First, when a user who has visited a certain store selects one of the plurality of provided services at the store terminal 2 installed in the store and performs an operation for conducting an online interview for the selected provided service, the store terminal 2 transmits an interview request for requesting the execution of an online interview for the provided service selected by the user to the information processing apparatus 3 ((1) in FIG. 2).

[0034] When the information processing apparatus 3 acquires the interview request from the store terminal 2, it executes a process for conducting an online interview between the store terminal 2 and the service terminal 1 corresponding to the provided service selected by the user ((2) in FIG. 2). By conducting an online interview for the provided service, the user can use the provided service or conclude a contract for the provided service. The use of the provided service is, for example, consulting an expert who provides knowledge of laws and the like regarding laws and the like. The conclusion of a contract for the provided service is, for example, concluding a contract for the commodity from a business operator who provides commodities such as insurance.

[0035] The information processing apparatus 3 determines the service billing fee based on the first condition ((3) in FIG. 2). The service billing fee is the fee billed to the service provider who conducted the online interview. Also, the information processing apparatus 3 determines the store fee based on the second condition ((4) in FIG. 2). The store fee is either the fee paid to the store operator or the fee billed to the store operator.

[0036] Then, the information processing apparatus 3 executes a fee process based on the determined fee ((5) in FIG. 2). Specifically, as the fee process, the information processing apparatus 3 executes a process of billing the determined service billing fee to the service provider. Also, as the fee process, the information processing apparatus 3 executes a process of paying the determined store fee to the store operator or billing the store operator.

[0037] By doing so, the information processing system S can provide a financial mechanism for providing online interviews. Hereinafter, the configuration of the information processing apparatus 3 will be described.

[0038] [Functional Configuration of Information Processing Apparatus 3] FIG. 3 is a diagram schematically showing the functional configuration of the information processing apparatus 3. The information processing apparatus 3 includes a communication unit 31, a storage unit 32, and a control unit 33. In FIG. 3, the arrows indicate the main data flow, and there may be a data flow not shown in FIG. 3. In FIG. 3, each functional block shows a configuration in terms of function units, not in terms of hardware (device) units. Therefore, the functional blocks shown in FIG. 3 may be implemented in a single device, or may be divided and implemented in a plurality of devices. The exchange of data between the functional blocks may be performed via any means such as a data bus, a network, a portable storage medium, etc.

[0039] The communication unit 31 is a communication interface for connecting to a network and has a communication controller for receiving data from an external device.

[0040] The storage unit 32 is a large-capacity storage device such as a ROM (Read Only Memory) that stores the BIOS (Basic Input Output System) of a computer that realizes the information processing apparatus 3, a RAM (Random Access Memory) that serves as a work area of the information processing apparatus 3, an OS (Operating System), an application program, and an HDD (Hard Disk Drive) or SSD (Solid State Drive) that stores various information referred to during the execution of the application program.

[0041] The storage unit 32 stores information about service providers and information about store operators. The information about service providers includes, for example, for each service provider, a service provider ID for identifying the service provider, a provided service ID for identifying the provided services provided by the service provider, and information for specifying the service terminal 1 of the service provider, etc.

[0042] The information about store operators includes, for example, for each store operator, a store operator ID for identifying the store operator, a store ID for identifying the stores managed by the store operator, a store terminal ID for identifying the store terminal 2 installed in the store, a list of provided services for which online interviews can be conducted at the store terminal 2 managed by the store operator, etc. The list of provided services may further be associated with an available period during which the online interview of the provided service can be conducted at the store terminal 2, together with the provided service. Note that the list of provided services may be determined for each store or for each region. Also, the storage unit 32 stores a first condition management database for managing the first condition and a second condition management database for managing the second condition.

[0043] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of the databases stored in the storage unit. The first condition management database shown in FIG. 4(a) stores, for each provided service, the provided service ID, the first condition, the interview execution fee, the distribution rate, and the billing condition in association with each other. The interview execution fee is the fee associated with the execution of an online interview regarding the provided service. The distribution rate is the ratio distributed to the service provider of the provided service from a predetermined fee. Although details will be described later, the predetermined fee is the fee billed to the user. The billing condition is a condition for determining whether or not to bill the interview execution fee, and is, for example, that an online interview has been executed, that an online interview has been executed for a predetermined period or longer, that the provided service has been used for a predetermined period or longer via the online interview, that the provided service has been contracted, etc. Note that the billing condition may be without conditions.

[0044] The second condition management database shown in FIG. 4(b) stores, for each combination of a store and provided services, the store ID corresponding to the store, the provided service ID corresponding to the provided service, and the second condition in association with each other. Note that the second condition management database may store, for each store, the store ID corresponding to the store and the second condition in association with each other, or may store only the second condition that is commonly used for each store.

[0045] Returning to FIG. 3, the control unit 33 is a processor such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit), GPU (Graphics Processing Unit), or NPU (Neural network Processing Unit) of the information processing apparatus 3, and functions as an acquisition unit 331, an interview processing unit 332, a recording unit 333, a first determination unit 334, a second determination unit 335, and a fee processing unit 336 by executing a program stored in the storage unit 32.

[0046] [Processing related to the conduct of an online interview] First, the processing related to the conduct of an online interview executed by the information processing apparatus 3 will be described. The acquisition unit 331 acquires, from any one of the store terminals 2 installed in each of a plurality of stores, the store ID for identifying the store and the provided service ID for identifying the provided service selected by the user from among a plurality of provided services provided by a service provider that is a different provider from the store operator that manages the store.

[0047] For example, first, when a user who visits a store selects one of the multiple offered services on the store terminal 2 of the store and performs an operation to conduct an online interview for the selected offered service, the store terminal 2 sends an interview request for requesting the conduct of an online interview to the information processing device 3. The interview request includes a store ID corresponding to the store where the store terminal 2 is installed and an offered service ID corresponding to the offered service selected by the user. The interview request may further include a user ID corresponding to the user who uses the store terminal 2 and a store terminal ID corresponding to the store terminal 2 used by the user, etc.

[0048] Note that the acquisition unit 331 may acquire the store terminal ID as the store ID. Then, the acquisition unit 331 acquires the store ID and the offered service ID by acquiring the interview request from the store terminal 2.

[0049] When the acquisition unit 331 acquires the interview request, the interview processing unit 332 executes processing for conducting an online interview between the store terminal 2 and the service terminal 1 of the service provider specified based on the offered service ID acquired by the acquisition unit 331. For example, the interview processing unit 332 notifies each of the service terminal 1 and the store terminal 2 of an access request for accessing an interview service that provides the conduct of an online interview. The interview service may be an information processing service or may be another service different from the information processing service and the offered service. The user and the service provider access the interview service based on the access request notified to each terminal (the store terminal 2 and the service terminal 1) and conduct an online interview.

[0050] The interview processing unit 332 may execute processing for conducting an online interview without the user paying the fees associated with the use of the store terminal 2, or may execute processing for conducting an online interview on the condition that the user has paid the fees associated with the use of the store terminal 2. The information processing apparatus 3 executes processing for conducting an online interview on the condition that the user has paid the fees associated with the use of the store terminal 2, for example, by executing the following three steps.

[0051] As a first step, the fee processing unit 336 bills the user for the fees associated with the use of the store terminal 2. The fee processing unit 336 causes the store terminal 2 to display, for example, a billing message for billing the user for the fees associated with the use of the store terminal 2. The fee processing unit 336 may bill the fees before the user uses the store terminal 2 or may bill the fees after the user uses the store terminal 2.

[0052] As a second step, the fee processing unit 336 collects the fees billed to the user. For example, information about the user including the user ID and the credit card number is stored in the storage unit 32. In this case, first, when the user inputs their user ID on the store terminal 2, the acquisition unit 331 acquires the input user ID. Then, the fee processing unit 336 collects the fees billed to the user by executing the settlement of the billed fees using the credit card number associated with the user ID acquired by the acquisition unit 331.

[0053] Also, for example, the store terminal 2 is provided with a fee settlement machine (not shown) for the user to pay the fees. The fee settlement machine is a device for settling the fees in cash, electronic money, a credit card, or the like. In this case, the fee processing unit 336 collects the fees billed to the user when the user pays the fees billed by the fee settlement machine.

[0054] As a third step, the interview processing unit 332 executes processing for conducting an online interview on the condition that the charge processing unit 336 has collected the charges billed to the user. By doing so, the information processing apparatus 3 can obtain a consideration for the use of the information processing service by the user.

[0055] The charge processing unit 336 may bill the user for the interview execution charge, which is a charge associated with the conduct of the online interview. The charge processing unit 336 may bill the user for the interview execution charge before the interview processing unit 332 executes processing for conducting the online interview, or may bill the user for the interview execution charge after the interview processing unit 332 executes processing for conducting the online interview.

[0056] The charge processing unit 336 bills the user for, for example, a predetermined interview execution charge. The charge processing unit 336 may bill the user for the interview execution charge according to the provided service selected by the user. Specifically, the charge processing unit 336 refers to the first condition management database and bills the user for the interview execution charge associated with the provided service ID acquired by the acquisition unit 331. By doing so, the information processing apparatus 3 can obtain a consideration for the use of the provided service via the online interview.

[0057] Note that the charge processing unit 336 may bill the user for the interview execution charge according to the result of the contract for the provided service. Specifically, the charge processing unit 336 refers to the first condition management database and bills the user for the interview execution charge based on whether the result of the contract for the provided service by the user satisfies the billing conditions associated with the service ID acquired by the acquisition unit 331.

[0058] More specifically, when the result of whether or not the user has a contract for the provided service does not meet the billing conditions associated with the provided service ID acquired by the acquisition unit 331, the fee processing unit 336 refers to the first condition management database and does not bill the user for the interview implementation fee associated with the provided service ID acquired by the acquisition unit 331. On the other hand, when the result of whether or not the user has a contract for the provided service meets the billing conditions associated with the provided service ID acquired by the acquisition unit 331, the fee processing unit 336 refers to the first condition management database and bills the user for the interview implementation fee associated with the provided service ID acquired by the acquisition unit 331.

[0059] For example, first, after the interview processing unit 332 executes the process for conducting the online interview, the acquisition unit 331 acquires result information indicating the result of the contract for the provided service from the service terminal 1 or the store terminal 2 that conducted the online interview. Then, the fee processing unit 336 refers to the first condition management database and bills the user for the interview implementation fee based on whether the result of the contract for the provided service by the user indicated by the acquired result information meets the billing conditions associated with the service ID acquired by the acquisition unit 331.

[0060] For example, when the billing condition associated with the service ID acquired by the acquisition unit 331 is that the provided service has been contracted, the fee processing unit 336 bills the user for the interview implementation fee when the user contracts for the provided service. Also, for example, when the billing condition associated with the service ID acquired by the acquisition unit 331 is that it has nothing to do with whether the provided service has been contracted, the fee processing unit 336 bills the user for the interview implementation fee regardless of whether the user has contracted for the provided service. By doing so, the information processing device 3 can obtain the consideration for the use of the provided service via the online interview according to the provided service.

[0061] The recording unit 333 records the usage history of the store terminal 2. For example, as the usage history of the store terminal 2, the recording unit 333 records the implementation history of an online interview conducted using the store terminal 2. The implementation history includes, for example, information indicating the implementer who conducted the online interview (such as user ID, provided service ID, etc.), the period during which the online interview was conducted via the interview service, the date on which the online interview was conducted, and other such information.

[0062] Specifically, the recording unit 333 records by associating the store ID acquired by the acquisition unit 331 with the implementation history corresponding to the store terminal 2 of the store corresponding to the store ID. The recording unit 333 may record an implementation history that further includes the result information acquired by the acquisition unit 331. The result information may further include information indicating not only the result of the contract for the provided service by the user, but also information indicating the contract amount for which the provided service was contracted, the usage fee (time charge fee) generated according to the usage period of the provided service, and the like.

[0063] [Processing related to fees for service providers] Subsequently, the processing related to the fees for service providers executed by the information processing apparatus 3 will be described. The first determination unit 334 refers to a first condition management database in which a first condition for determining the implementation fee associated with the provided service ID corresponding to each provided service is associated with the provided service ID, and determines the fee for the service provider.

[0064] Specifically, the first determination unit 334 determines the service billing fee, which is the fee to be billed to the service provider, based on the first condition stored in the first condition management database in association with the provided service ID corresponding to the service provider who conducted the online interview. The service provider who conducted the online interview is, for example, the service provider corresponding to the provided service ID included in the implementation history of the online interview recorded by the recording unit 333. In the following, the service provider who conducted the online interview may be referred to as the interview implementing service provider.

[0065] The first determination unit 334 determines the service billing fee, for example, triggered by the interview processing unit 332 executing processing for conducting an online interview. For example, the first condition includes, as a predetermined unit price, a first implementation unit price that is the unit price for conducting an online interview. In this case, the first determination unit 334, triggered by the interview processing unit 332 executing processing for conducting an online interview, determines the first implementation unit price included in the first condition for the interview implementation service provider corresponding to the online interview as the service billing fee.

[0066] The first determination unit 334 may refer to the implementation history recorded by the recording unit 333 and, for each service provider, determine, as the service billing fee corresponding to the service provider, the multiplication value obtained by multiplying the number of online interviews conducted by the service provider during the first target period by the first implementation unit price included in the first condition corresponding to the service provider. The first target period is a predetermined period for determining the service billing fee, for example, one day, one week, one month, one year, etc.

[0067] The first determination unit 334 may determine the service billing fee based on the length of the implementation period during which the online interview was conducted. For example, the first condition includes, as a predetermined unit price, a first period unit price per unit period (e.g., 5 minutes, 10 minutes, 30 minutes, 1 hour, etc.) of the online interview. In this case, the first determination unit 334 determines, as the service billing fee, the amount obtained by multiplying the implementation period during which the online interview was conducted by the first implementation unit price included in the first condition for the interview implementation service provider corresponding to the online interview.

[0068] In the above description, an example has been described in which the first determination unit 334 determines the service charge based on the performance of online interviews by the user. However, the service charge may be determined based on information other than the performance of online interviews by the user. In this case, the first determination unit 334 may determine only the charge determined based on information other than the performance of online interviews by the user as the service charge, or may determine the total charge obtained by adding the charge determined based on the performance of online interviews by the user and the charge determined based on information other than the performance of online interviews by the user as the service charge.

[0069] For example, as information other than the performance of online interviews by the user, the first determination unit 334 determines the service charge corresponding to the provided service based on the length of the available period in which the online interview of the provided service can be performed at the store terminal 2. For example, the first condition stored in the first condition management database includes a period unit price that is the unit price per unit period of the available period.

[0070] In this case, for each provided service, the first determination unit 334 determines the service charge based on the available period associated with the provided service and the unit period included in the second condition associated with the service ID corresponding to the provided service. By doing so, the information processing apparatus 3 can determine a charge corresponding to the period in which the online interview of the provided service can be performed.

[0071] Here, when the first condition is determined for each combination of the store and the provided service, the first determination unit 334 may determine the service charge corresponding to the provided service based on the first condition corresponding to the combination of the store and the provided service. For example, the first condition management database has the first condition associated with each combination of the store and the provided service.

[0072] In this case, the first determination unit 334 determines the service billing fee corresponding to the provided service based on the first condition associated with the store ID corresponding to the store and the provided service ID corresponding to the provided service for each combination of the store and the provided service. By doing so, the information processing apparatus 3 can determine the service billing fee under conditions corresponding to the combination of the store and the provided service.

[0073] The fee processing unit 336 executes a process of billing the interview conducting business operator for the fee determined by the first determination unit 334. Specifically, the fee processing unit 336 executes a process of billing the interview conducting business operator for the service billing fee determined by the first determination unit 334. When the first determination unit 334 determines the service billing fee for each service business operator in the first target period, the fee processing unit 336 may execute a process of billing each service business operator for each service billing fee.

[0074] The fee processing unit 336 notifies, for example, the service terminal 1 of the interview conducting business operator of the service billing fee determined by the first determination unit 334 as a process of billing the interview conducting business operator. The fee processing unit 336 may execute a process of deducting the service billing fee determined by the first determination unit 334 from the account of the interview conducting business operator as a process of billing the interview conducting business operator.

[0075] The information processing apparatus 3 may refund a part of the fee billed to the user to the service business operator. Specifically, first, the first determination unit 334 refers to the first condition management database and determines the service payment fee based on the interview implementation fee billed to the user who has had an online interview by the interview conducting business operator and the distribution rate associated with the provided service ID corresponding to the interview conducting business operator. The service payment fee is the fee paid to the interview conducting business operator.

[0076] Then, the fee processing unit 336 executes a process of paying the service payment fee determined by the first determination unit 334 to the interview conducting business operator. For example, as a process of paying to the interview conducting business operator, the fee processing unit 336 notifies the service payment fee determined by the first determination unit 334 to the service terminal 1 of the interview conducting business operator. The fee processing unit 336 may execute a process of transferring the service payment fee determined by the first determination unit 334 to the account of the interview conducting business operator as a process of billing the interview conducting business operator.

[0077] The fee processing unit 336 may simultaneously execute a process of billing the interview conducting business operator for the service billing fee determined by the first determination unit 334 and a process of paying the service payment fee determined by the first determination unit 334 to the interview conducting business operator. For example, when the fee obtained by subtracting the service payment fee determined by the first determination unit 334 from the service billing fee determined by the first determination unit 334 is a positive fee, the fee processing unit 336 executes a process of billing the interview conducting business operator for the fee. Also, for example, when the fee obtained by subtracting the service payment fee determined by the first determination unit 334 from the service billing fee determined by the first determination unit 334 is a negative fee, the fee processing unit 336 executes a process of paying the fee to the interview conducting business operator. By doing so, the information processing apparatus 3 can provide the service provider with the consideration for the use of the provided service via the online interview.

[0078] [Processing related to fees for store operators] Subsequently, the processing related to the fees for the store operator executed by the information processing apparatus 3 will be described. The second determination unit 335 refers to the second condition management database in which the store ID corresponding to the store and the second condition for determining the fee associated with the use of the store terminal 2 are associated for each store, and determines the store fee which is either the fee paid to the store operator of the store or the fee billed to the store operator of the store.

[0079] Specifically, the second determination unit 335 refers to the second condition management database and determines the store fee for the store operator of the store corresponding to the store ID acquired by the acquisition unit 331, based on the second condition associated with the store ID acquired by the acquisition unit 331. In the following, the store corresponding to the store ID acquired by the acquisition unit 331 may be referred to as the corresponding store. The second determination unit 335 determines the store fee, for example, when an online interview is conducted using the store terminal 2.

[0080] For example, the second condition includes a second implementation unit price, which is the unit price for conducting an online interview, as a predetermined unit price. The second implementation unit price may be the same unit price as the first implementation unit price, or may be a different unit price. In this case, the second determination unit 335 determines the second implementation unit price included in the second condition corresponding to the corresponding store as the store fee when the interview processing unit 332 executes the process for conducting an online interview.

[0081] The second determination unit 335 may determine, for each store, a store fee for the store in a second target period. The second target period is a predetermined period for determining the store fee, such as one day, one week, one month, one year, etc. The first target period and the second target period may be the same period or different periods.

[0082] The second determination unit 335 determines the store fee for each store, for example, based on the number of users who conducted online interviews using the store terminal 2 of the store during the second target period. For example, the second conditions stored in the second condition management database include a unit price per user who conducted an online interview (second implementation unit price) as a predetermined unit price.

[0083] In this case, for each store, the second determination unit 335 determines the store fee based on the second implementation unit price included in the second condition associated with the store ID corresponding to the store and the number of users who have conducted an online interview using the store terminal 2 of the store during the second target period. For example, first, the second determination unit 335 refers to the implementation history recorded by the recording unit 333 and identifies, for each store, the number of users who have conducted an online interview using the store terminal 2 of the store during the second target period. The number of users who have conducted an online interview is, for example, the number of user IDs associated with the store ID and the date including the second target period in the implementation history recorded by the recording unit 333. In this case, the number of users who have conducted an online interview may or may not include duplicate users.

[0084] Then, for each store, the second determination unit 335 determines, as the store fee, the amount obtained by multiplying the second implementation unit price included in the second condition corresponding to the store by the identified number of users. By doing so, the information processing apparatus 3 can determine the store fee according to the results of the online interviews conducted.

[0085] The second determination unit 335 may determine the store fee for each store based on the number of repeaters in the store. A repeater is, for example, a user who has conducted an online interview a predetermined number of times or more during the second target period. For example, the second condition stored in the second condition management database includes the repeater unit price per repeater.

[0086] In this case, for each store, the second determination unit 335 determines the store fee based on the repeater unit price included in the second condition associated with the store ID corresponding to the store and the number of repeaters in the store. For example, first, the second determination unit 335 refers to the implementation history recorded by the recording unit 333 and identifies, for each store, users who have conducted an online interview a predetermined number of times or more during the second target period as repeaters.

[0087] Then, for each store, the second determination unit 335 determines, as the store fee, the amount obtained by multiplying the repeater unit price included in the second conditions corresponding to the store by the number of identified repeaters. By doing so, the information processing apparatus 3 can determine the store fee according to the results of online interviews conducted by the repeaters.

[0088] The second determination unit 335 may determine the store fee for each store based on the number of contracts for which services were contracted in the online interviews using the store terminal 2 of the store during the second target period. For example, the second conditions stored in the second condition management database include the contract unit price per contract for the services provided by the online interviews.

[0089] In this case, for each store, the second determination unit 335 determines the store fee based on the contract unit price included in the second conditions associated with the store ID corresponding to the store and the number of contracts for which services were contracted in the online interviews using the store terminal 2 of the store during the second target period. For example, first, the second determination unit 335 refers to the implementation history recorded by the recording unit 333 and identifies, for each store, the number of contracts for which services were contracted in the online interviews using the store terminal 2 of the store during the second target period.

[0090] Then, for each store, the second determination unit 335 determines, as the store fee, the amount obtained by multiplying the contract unit price included in the second conditions corresponding to the store by the identified number of contracts. By doing so, the information processing apparatus 3 can determine the store fee according to the results of the contracts for the use of the services provided in the online interviews.

[0091] The second determination unit 335 may determine the store fee for each store based on the total amount of the contract amount for which services were contracted in the online interview using the store terminal 2 of the store during the second target period. The second condition stored in the second condition management database may include a calculated value for calculating the amount to be deducted from the contract amount in the contract for the services provided by the online interview. The calculated value may be a percentage to be deducted from the contract amount, a fixed amount to be deducted from the contract amount, or the like.

[0092] In this case, the second determination unit 335 determines the store fee for each store based on the calculated value included in the second condition associated with the store ID corresponding to the store and the total amount of the contract amount for which services were contracted in the online interview using the store terminal of the store during the second target period. For example, first, the second determination unit 335 refers to the implementation history recorded by the recording unit 333 and calculates the total amount of the contract amount for which services were contracted in the online interview using the store terminal 2 of the store during the second target period for each store.

[0093] Then, the second determination unit 335 calculates the store fee for each store based on the calculated value included in the second condition corresponding to the store and the calculated total amount of the contract amount. By doing so, the information processing apparatus 3 can determine the store fee according to the contract amount of the services contracted in the online interview.

[0094] The second determination unit 335 may determine the store fee for each store based on the total amount of the usage fees generated according to the usage period of the services provided by the online interview using the store terminal 2 of the store during the second target period. The second condition stored in the second condition management database may include a calculated value for calculating the amount to be deducted from the usage fees generated according to the usage period of the services provided by the online interview.

[0095] In this case, for each store, the second determination unit 335 determines the store fee based on the calculated value included in the second condition associated with the store ID corresponding to the store and the total amount of usage fees generated from the use of the provided services in the online interviews using the store terminal 2 of the store during the second target period. For example, first, the second determination unit 335 refers to the implementation history recorded by the recording unit 333 and calculates, for each store, the total amount of usage fees generated according to the usage period of the provided services in the online interviews using the store terminal 2 of the store during the second target period.

[0096] Then, for each store, the second determination unit 335 calculates the store fee based on the calculated value included in the second condition corresponding to the store and the total amount of the calculated usage fees. By doing so, the information processing apparatus 3 can determine the store fee according to the usage fees generated according to the usage period of the provided services in the online interviews.

[0097] The second determination unit 335 may determine the store fee for each store based on the length of the second implementation period of the online interviews using the store terminal 2 of the store during the second target period. For example, the second condition stored in the second condition management database includes the second period unit price per unit period (e.g., 5 minutes, 10 minutes, 30 minutes, 1 hour, etc.) of the online interviews.

[0098] In this case, for each store, the second determination unit 335 determines the store fee based on the second period unit price included in the second condition associated with the store ID corresponding to the store and the implementation period during which the online interviews were conducted using the store terminal 2 of the store during the second target period. For example, first, the second determination unit 335 refers to the implementation history recorded by the recording unit 333 and calculates, for each store, the total period of the implementation periods of each online interview conducted using the store terminal 2 of the store during the second target period.

[0099] Then, for each store, the second determination unit 335 calculates the store fee based on the calculated value included in the second conditions corresponding to the store and the calculated total period. By doing so, the information processing apparatus 3 can determine the store fee according to the period during which the online interview is conducted.

[0100] Here, when the second conditions are determined for each combination of the store and the service provider, the second determination unit 335 may determine the store fee for the store based on the second conditions corresponding to the combination of the store and the interview conducting business operator. For example, in the second condition management database, for each combination of the store and the provided service, the store ID corresponding to the store, the provided service ID corresponding to the provided service, and the second conditions for determining the fee associated with the implementation of the online interview regarding the provided service at the store terminal 2 are associated.

[0101] In this case, the second determination unit 335 determines the store fee based on the second conditions associated with the store ID acquired by the acquisition unit 331 and the provided service ID corresponding to the interview conducting business operator (the provided service ID acquired by the acquisition unit 331). By doing so, the information processing apparatus 3 can determine the store fee under conditions corresponding to the combination of the store and the provided service.

[0102] In the above, an example in which the second determination unit 335 determines the store fee based on the usage record of the store terminal 2 by the user has been described. However, the store fee may be determined based on information other than the usage record of the store terminal 2 by the user. In this case, the second determination unit 335 may determine only the fee determined based on information other than the usage record of the store terminal 2 by the user as the store fee, or may determine the total fee obtained by adding the fee determined based on the usage record of the store terminal 2 by the user and the fee determined based on information other than the usage record of the store terminal 2 by the user as the store fee.

[0103] The second determination unit 335 determines the store fee based on, for example, the number of provided services for which an online interview is conducted using the store terminal 2 of the store, as information other than the record of the use of the store terminal 2 by the user. For example, the second condition stored in the second condition management database includes the service number unit price, which is the unit price per provided service for which an online interview is conducted using the store terminal 2. The service number unit price may be a common unit price for each provided service, or may be a different unit price for each provided service.

[0104] In this case, the second determination unit 335 determines the store fee for each store based on the combination of the service number unit price included in the second condition associated with the store ID corresponding to the store and the number of provided services for which an online interview is conducted using the store terminal 2 of the store. For example, first, the second determination unit 335 refers to the list of provided services included in the information regarding the store operator, and specifies the number of provided services for which an online interview is conducted using the store terminal 2 of each store.

[0105] Then, the second determination unit 335 determines, for each store, the amount obtained by multiplying the service number unit price included in the second condition corresponding to the store by the specified number of provided services as the store fee. By doing so, the information processing apparatus 3 can determine the store fee according to the number of services for which an online interview is conducted using the store terminal 2 of the store.

[0106] The second determination unit 335 may also determine the store fee based on, for example, the number of types (e.g., finance, insurance, law, etc.) of provided services for which an online interview is conducted using the store terminal 2 of the store, as information other than the record of the use of the store terminal 2 by the user. For example, the second condition stored in the second condition management database includes the service type unit price, which is the unit price per type of provided service for which an online interview is conducted using the store terminal 2.

[0107] In this case, the second determination unit 335 determines the store fee for each store based on the combination of the service type unit price included in the second condition associated with the store ID corresponding to the store and the number of types of services provided for which an online interview is conducted using the store terminal 2 of the store. For example, first, the second determination unit 335 refers to the list of services provided included in the information regarding the store operator, and specifies the number of types of services provided for which an online interview is conducted using the store terminal 2 of each store.

[0108] Then, the second determination unit 335 determines, for each store, the amount obtained by multiplying the service unit price included in the second condition corresponding to the store by the number of types of services provided that have been specified, as the store fee. By doing so, the information processing apparatus 3 can determine the store fee according to the number of types of services provided for which an online interview is conducted using the store terminal 2 of the store.

[0109] The second determination unit 335 may determine the store fee based on, as information other than the record of the use of the store terminal 2 by the user, the address of the store or the level of land price in the area where the store is located. For example, the second condition includes a land price calculation value for calculating the store fee based on the address of the store or the land price in the area where the store is located. In the case where the store is movable property (for example, a vehicle), the land price of the store may be the price of the movable property. The land price calculation value is, for example, a ratio to be subtracted from the land price.

[0110] In this case, the second determination unit 335 determines the store fee for each store based on the land price calculation value included in the second condition associated with the store ID corresponding to the store and the address of the store or the land price in the area where the store is located. For example, first, the acquisition unit 331 acquires information indicating the land price of the address of each store or the area where each store is located from a land price management server (not shown) that manages the land price. The acquisition unit 331 may acquire information indicating the land price of the address of each store or the area where each store is located from each store operator.

[0111] Then, for each store, the second determination unit 335 determines, as the store fee, the amount obtained by dividing the land price of the address of the store indicated by the information acquired by the acquisition unit 331 or the land price of the area where the store is located by the land price calculation value included in the second condition corresponding to the store. By doing so, the information processing apparatus 3 can determine the store fee according to the land price of the store where the store terminal 2 is installed.

[0112] The second determination unit 335 may determine the store fee based on the number of customers who visited the store. For example, the second condition includes the customer unit price per customer who visited the store. In this case, for each store, the second determination unit 335 determines the store fee based on the customer unit price included in the second condition associated with the store ID corresponding to the store and the store visit record of the store during the second target period.

[0113] For example, first, the acquisition unit 331 acquires information indicating the number of customers who visited the store during the second target period from a store server (not shown) managed by each store operator. Then, for each store, the second determination unit 335 determines the store fee by multiplying the customer unit price included in the second condition associated with the store ID corresponding to the store by the number of customers indicated by the information acquired by the acquisition unit 331. By doing so, the information processing apparatus 3 can determine the store fee according to the number of customers who visited the store.

[0114] The second determination unit 335 may determine the store fee based on the number of store terminals 2 installed in the store. For example, the second condition includes the terminal unit price per store terminal 2 installed in the store. In this case, for each store, the second determination unit 335 determines the store fee based on the terminal unit price included in the second condition associated with the store ID corresponding to the store and the number of store terminals 2 installed in the store.

[0115] For example, first, the second determination unit 335 refers to information regarding the store operator and identifies the number of store terminals 2 installed in each store. Then, the second determination unit 335 determines the store fee by multiplying the terminal unit price included in the second condition associated with the store ID corresponding to the store by the number of identified store terminals 2. By doing so, the information processing apparatus 3 can determine the store fee according to the number of store terminals 2 installed in the store.

[0116] The fee processing unit 336 executes a process of paying the fee determined by the second determination unit 335 to the store operator of the store or a process of billing the store operator of the store. Specifically, the fee processing unit 336 executes a process of paying the store fee determined by the second determination unit 335 to the store operator of the store or a process of billing the store operator of the store.

[0117] The fee processing unit 336, for example, as a process of paying the store operator of the store or a process of billing the store operator of the store, notifies the terminal managed by the store operator of the store of the store fee determined by the second determination unit 335. The terminal managed by the store operator of the store may be the store terminal 2 or a terminal different from the store terminal 2.

[0118] The fee processing unit 336 may execute a process of transferring the store fee determined by the second determination unit 335 to the account of the store operator or a process of deducting the store fee from the account of the store operator as a process of paying the store operator of the store or a process of billing the store operator of the store. When the fee processing unit 336 executes a process of paying the store fee determined by the second determination unit 335 to the store operator of the store, the fee processing unit 336 may execute a process of transferring the store fee from the account of the administrator of the information processing service to the account of the store operator, or a process of transferring the store fee from the account of the service provider to the account of the store operator.

[0119] The information processing apparatus 3 may refund a part of the fee charged to the user to the store operator. For example, the second condition management database further stores a distribution rate indicating the ratio distributed to the store operator from the fee charged to the user. In this case, first, the second determination unit 335 refers to the second condition management database and determines the store fee for each store based on the fee charged to the user and the distribution rate corresponding to the store. Then, the fee processing unit 336 executes a process of paying each store fee determined by the second determination unit 335 to each store operator.

[0120] [Processing of the information processing apparatus 3] Subsequently, the processing flow of the information processing apparatus 3 will be described. FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the processing flow executed by the information processing apparatus 3. This flowchart starts when the acquisition unit 331 acquires an interview request including a store ID and a service ID from the store terminal 2 (S1).

[0121] When the acquisition unit 331 acquires an interview request, the interview processing unit 332 executes a process for conducting an online interview between the store terminal 2 and the service terminal 1 of the service provider, which is another operator specified based on the service ID acquired by the acquisition unit 331 (S2).

[0122] The first determination unit 334 determines the service billing fee for the interview conducting operator based on the first condition stored in the first condition management database in association with the service ID corresponding to the interview conducting operator (S3). The fee processing unit 336 executes a process of billing the service billing fee determined by the first determination unit 334 to the interview conducting operator (S4).

[0123] The second determination unit 335 refers to the second condition management database and determines the store fee for the store operator of the corresponding store based on the second condition associated with the store ID acquired by the acquisition unit 331 (S5). The fee processing unit 336 executes a process of paying the store fee determined by the second determination unit 335 to the store operator of the store or a process of billing the store operator of the store (S6).

[0124] <Modification Example> In the above, an example in which the information processing apparatus 3 executes a process of paying a store fee to the store operator or a process of billing the store operator has been described, but the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, the information processing apparatus 3 may execute a process of paying a fee associated with the use of an installation terminal installed at a predetermined location to the terminal operator who provided the installation terminal or a process of billing the terminal operator. The terminal operator is, for example, an operator who provides cable television, satellite broadcasting, or the like. Hereinafter, the processing of the information processing system S in the modification example will be described with reference to FIG. 6.

[0125] FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining the processing of the information processing system S in the modification example. The installation terminal 4 is, for example, a set-top box (hereinafter referred to as "STB (Set Top Box)"). The predetermined location is, for example, a house, a store (for example, a restaurant, a retail store, etc.). A dedicated application is installed in the installation terminal 4, and the user can not only view contents such as cable television using the installation terminal 4, but also browse explanations of a plurality of provided services, select a provided service that the user wishes to use, or conduct an online interview with the service provider of the provided service that the user wishes to use.

[0126] In the example shown in FIG. 6, the installation terminal 4 is installed in the user's house. In addition, the user's house is equipped with a display for viewing contents via the installation terminal 4 and devices for conducting an online interview (for example, a web camera and a microphone).

[0127] In this case, first, when the user selects one of the multiple provided services on the installation terminal 4 and performs an operation to conduct an online interview for the selected provided service, the installation terminal 4 sends an interview request for requesting the execution of the online interview for the provided service selected by the user to the information processing device 3 (step (1) in FIG. 6). The interview request includes a terminal ID for identifying the installation terminal 4 and a provided service ID corresponding to the provided service selected by the user.

[0128] When the acquisition unit 331 acquires the interview request from the installation terminal 4, the interview processing unit 332 executes processing for conducting an online interview between the installation terminal 4 and the service terminal 1 corresponding to the provided service ID included in the interview request (step (2) in FIG. 6). The first determination unit 334 determines the service charge based on the first condition (step (3) in FIG. 6).

[0129] The second determination unit 335 determines the terminal charge based on the second condition (step (4) in FIG. 6). The second condition in the modified example is a condition for determining the charge associated with the use of the installation terminal 4. Similar to the second condition for the store operator described above, the second condition in the modified example includes information indicating a predetermined value (for example, the second implementation unit price, repeater unit price, contract unit price, calculated value, second period unit price, service number unit price, service type unit price, terminal unit price, etc.) determined for determining the charge associated with the use of the installation terminal 4. The terminal charge is either a charge to be paid to the terminal operator or a charge to be billed to the terminal operator.

[0130] For example, in the modification, information about the terminal operator is stored in the storage unit 32. The information about the terminal operator includes, for example, for each terminal operator, a terminal operator ID for identifying the terminal operator, an installation terminal ID corresponding to the installation terminal 4 provided by the terminal operator, a list of provided services for which an online interview can be conducted on the installation terminal 4, and the like. The second determination unit 335 can identify the terminal operator who provided the installation terminal 4 based on the information about the terminal operator stored in the storage unit 32 and based on the installation terminal ID acquired from the installation terminal 4.

[0131] Also, for example, in the modification, in the second condition management database, the terminal operator ID and the second condition in the modification are stored in association with each other. The second determination unit 335 determines the terminal fee based on the second condition stored in the second condition management database in association with the terminal operator ID corresponding to the terminal operator for whom the terminal fee is to be determined, in the same manner as the process of determining the store fee based on the second condition for the store operator.

[0132] Then, the fee processing unit 336 executes a process of billing the service claim fee determined by the first determination unit 334 to the interview conducting operator, and executes a process of paying the terminal fee determined by the second determination unit 335 to the terminal operator or a process of billing the terminal operator ((5) in FIG. 6). By doing so, the information processing system S can provide a financial mechanism for providing an online interview.

[0133] Note that the information processing apparatus 3 does not execute a process of paying or billing the store operator for the store fee determined based on the second condition for the store operator, but instead executes a process of paying or billing the terminal operator for the terminal fee determined based on the second condition for the terminal operator. Instead, it may execute a process of paying or billing the store operator for the store fee determined based on the second condition (the second condition for the store operator), and execute a process of paying or billing the terminal operator for the terminal fee determined based on the third condition (the second condition for the terminal operator).

[0134] [Effects in the Present Embodiment] As described above, the information processing apparatus 3 first executes processing for conducting an online interview between the store terminal 2 and the service terminal 1 of the service provider specified based on the service ID acquired from the store terminal. Then, the information processing apparatus 3 executes processing for billing the service provider for the service billing fee determined based on the first condition associated with the service ID corresponding to the interview conducting service provider, and executes processing for paying the store fee determined based on the second condition associated with the store ID acquired from the store terminal to the store operator of the store corresponding to the store ID or processing for billing the store operator of the corresponding store. By doing so, the information processing apparatus 3 can provide a financial mechanism for providing an online interview.

[0135] Note that the present invention can contribute to Goal 9, "Build the infrastructure for industry and innovation," of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) led by the United Nations.

[0136] As described above, the present invention has been described using embodiments. However, the technical scope of the present invention is not limited to the scope described in the above embodiments, and various modifications and changes are possible within the scope of the gist. For example, all or part of the device can be functionally or physically distributed and integrated in any unit. Also, new embodiments generated by any combination of a plurality of embodiments are included in the embodiments of the present invention. The effects of the new embodiments generated by the combination have the effects of the original embodiments combined. [Description of Reference Numerals]

[0137] 1 Service terminal 2 Store terminal 3 Information processing apparatus 31 Communication unit 32 Storage unit 33 Control unit 331 Acquisition unit 332 Interview processing unit 333 Recording unit 334 First determination unit 335 Second Decision Unit 336 Fee Processing Unit S Information Processing System

Claims

1. an acquisition unit that acquires, from one of the store terminals installed in each of a plurality of stores, a service ID (identification) for identifying the service selected by a user from among a plurality of services provided by a service operator that is an operator other than the store operator that manages the store; an interview processing unit that executes a process for conducting an online interview between the store terminal and a terminal of the service provider identified based on the service ID acquired by the acquisition unit; a first determination unit that refers to a first condition management database in which the service ID corresponding to each service is associated with a first condition for determining an implementation fee for conducting the online interview, and determines a service billing fee, which is a fee to be billed to the interview implementation company, based on the first condition associated with the service ID corresponding to the interview implementation company, which is the service provider that conducted the online interview; a second determination unit that refers to a second condition management database in which second conditions for determining a fee for use of the store terminal are stored, and determines a store fee, which is either a fee to be paid to the store operator of the store or a fee to be charged to the store operator of the store, based on the second condition; a fee processing unit that executes a process of billing the interview implementation business for the service billing fee determined by the first determination unit, and executes a process of paying the store fee determined by the second determination unit to the store operator of the store or a process of billing the store operator of the store; An information processing device having the above configuration.

2. The fee processing unit further bills the user for a fee associated with the use of the store terminal. The information processing device according to claim 1 .

3. The first condition management database further associates, for each service, an interview implementation fee, which is a fee for implementing the online interview for the service; The fee processing unit further refers to the first condition management database, and bills the user for the consultation fee associated with the service ID acquired by the acquisition unit. The information processing device according to claim 1 .

4. The first condition management database further includes a distribution rate, which is to be distributed to the service provider of the service from the consultation fee charged to the user by the fee processing unit, for each service. The first determination unit further refers to the first condition management database, and determines a service payment fee to be paid to the interview provider based on the interview fee charged by the interview provider to the user who conducted the online interview and the distribution rate associated with the service ID corresponding to the interview provider; The fee processing unit executes a process of paying the service payment fee determined by the first determination unit to the interview implementation business. The information processing device according to claim 3 .

5. The first condition management database further includes a billing condition indicating whether or not the consultation fee is to be billed on the condition that the service is contracted, for each of the services. The fee processing unit refers to the first condition management database, and if the result of whether or not the user has contracted for the service does not satisfy the billing conditions associated with the service ID acquired by the acquisition unit, does not bill the user for the interview fee associated with the service ID acquired by the acquisition unit, and if the result of whether or not the user has contracted for the service satisfies the billing conditions associated with the service ID acquired by the acquisition unit, bills the user for the interview fee associated with the service ID acquired by the acquisition unit.

5. The information processing device according to claim 3.

6. In the second condition management database, a store ID for identifying the store for each combination of the store and the service, the service ID corresponding to the service, and the second condition for determining a fee for conducting the online consultation for the service at the store terminal are associated with each other, The acquisition unit further acquires a store ID for identifying the store, The second determination unit determines the store fee based on the second condition associated with the store ID acquired by the acquisition unit and the service ID corresponding to the interview implementation business. The information processing device according to claim 1 .

7. In the second condition management database, a store ID for identifying the store is associated with the second condition including a cost per user who has conducted the online interview, for each store; The acquisition unit further acquires a store ID for identifying the store, The second determination unit determines the store fee for each store based on the implementation unit price included in the second condition associated with the store ID corresponding to the store and the number of users who conducted the online interviews using the store terminal of the store during a specified period. The information processing device according to claim 1 .

8. In the second condition management database, a store ID for identifying the store is associated with the second condition including a cost per user who has conducted the online interview a predetermined threshold number of times or more, for each store; The acquisition unit further acquires a store ID for identifying the store, The second determination unit determines the store fee for each store based on the implementation unit price included in the second condition associated with the store ID corresponding to the store and the number of users who have implemented the online interviews using the store terminal of the store in a specified period of time equal to or greater than the specified threshold number of times. The information processing device according to claim 1 .

9. In the second condition management database, a store ID for identifying the store is associated with the second condition including a contract unit price per contract of the service through the online interview, for each store; The acquisition unit further acquires a store ID for identifying the store, The second determination unit determines the store fee for each store based on the contract unit price included in the second condition associated with the store ID corresponding to the store and the number of contracts for the service contracted in the online interview using the store terminal of the store during a specified period. The information processing device according to claim 1 .

10. In the second condition management database, a store ID for identifying the store is associated with the second condition including a calculated value for calculating an amount to be deducted from a contract amount in a contract for the service by the online interview, for each store; The acquisition unit further acquires a store ID for identifying the store, The second determination unit determines the store fee for each store based on the calculated value included in the second condition associated with the store ID corresponding to the store and the total amount of the contract amount for the service contracted in the online interview using the store terminal of the store during a specified period. The information processing device according to claim 1 .

11. In the second condition management database, a store ID for identifying the store and the second condition including a calculated value for calculating an amount to be deducted from a usage fee generated according to a usage period of the service by the online consultation are associated with each of the stores, The acquisition unit further acquires a store ID for identifying the store, The second determination unit determines the store fee for each store based on the calculated value included in the second condition associated with the store ID corresponding to the store and the total amount of the usage fee incurred in using the service through the online interview using the store terminal of the store during a specified period. The information processing device according to claim 1 .

12. In the second condition management database, a store ID for identifying the store is associated with the second condition including a period unit price per unit period of the online consultation for each store, The acquisition unit further acquires a store ID for identifying the store, The second determination unit determines the store fee for each store based on the period unit price included in the second condition associated with the store ID corresponding to the store and the implementation period during which the online interview was conducted using the store terminal of the store during a specified period. The information processing device according to claim 1 .

13. In the second condition management database, a store ID for identifying the store and the second condition including a service number unit price per one of the services for which the online interview is conducted using the store terminal, or a service type unit price per one of the types of the service for which the online interview is conducted using the store terminal are associated with each of the stores, The second determination unit determines the store fee for each store based on a combination of the service number unit price included in the second condition associated with the store ID corresponding to the store and the number of the services for which the online interview is conducted using the store terminal of the store, or based on a combination of the service type unit price included in the second condition associated with the store ID corresponding to the store and the number of the types of the services for which the online interview is conducted using the store terminal of the store. The information processing device according to claim 1 .

14. In the second condition management database, a store ID for identifying the store and the second condition including a land price calculation value for calculating the store fee based on the address of the store or the land price of the area where the store is located are associated with each of the stores, The second determination unit determines the store fee for each store based on the land price calculation value included in the second condition associated with the store ID corresponding to the store and the address of the store or the land price of the area in which the store is located. The information processing device according to claim 1 .

15. In the second condition management database, a store ID for identifying the store is associated with the second condition including a customer unit price per customer who visits the store, the second determination unit determines the store fee for each store based on the customer unit price included in the second condition associated with the store ID corresponding to the store and a store visit record of the store during a predetermined period. The information processing device according to claim 1 .

16. In the second condition management database, a store ID for identifying the store is associated with the second condition including a terminal unit price per terminal installed in the store, for each of the stores; the second determination unit determines the store fee for each store based on the terminal unit price included in the second condition associated with a store ID corresponding to the store and the number of the terminals installed in the store. The information processing device according to claim 1 .

17. The information processing device further includes a storage unit that stores, for each of the services, an available period during which the online interview for the service can be conducted; the first condition management database includes, for each of the services, a period unit price which is a unit price per unit period of the possible implementation period corresponding to the service; The first determination unit further determines the service billing fee for each of the services based on the executable period corresponding to the service and the executable period included in the first condition associated with a service ID corresponding to the service. The information processing device according to claim 1 .

18. In the first condition management database, a store ID for identifying the store, the service ID corresponding to the service, and the first condition are associated with each other for each combination of the store and the service; the first determination unit determines the service charge fee for each combination of the store and the service based on a first condition associated with the store ID corresponding to the store and the service ID corresponding to the service; The information processing device according to claim 17.

19. The computer executes acquiring, from one of the store terminals installed in each of the plurality of stores, a service ID for identifying the service selected by the user from among a plurality of services provided by a service operator that is an operator other than the store operator that manages the store; A step of executing a process for conducting an online interview between the store terminal and a terminal of the service provider identified based on the acquired service ID; A step of referring to a first condition management database in which the service ID corresponding to each service is associated with a first condition for determining an implementation fee for conducting the online interview, and determining a service billing fee, which is a fee to be billed to the interview implementation business, based on the first condition associated with the service ID corresponding to the interview implementation business, which is the service provider that conducted the online interview; a step of referring to a second condition management database in which a second condition for determining a fee for use of the store terminal is stored, and determining a store fee, which is either a fee to be paid to the store operator of the store or a fee to be charged to the store operator of the store, based on the second condition; A step of executing a process of billing the determined service billing fee to the interview implementation business, and executing a process of paying the determined store fee to the store operator of the store or a process of billing the determined store fee to the store operator of the store; An information processing method comprising the steps of:

20. an acquisition unit that acquires, from an installation terminal installed at a predetermined location, a service ID for identifying a service selected by a user from among a plurality of services provided by a service provider; an interview processing unit that executes a process for conducting an online interview between the installed terminal and a terminal of the service provider identified based on the service ID acquired by the acquisition unit; a first determination unit that refers to a first condition management database in which the service ID corresponding to each service is associated with a first condition for determining an implementation fee for conducting the online interview, and determines a service billing fee, which is a fee to be billed to the interview implementation company, based on the first condition associated with the service ID corresponding to the interview implementation company, which is the service provider that conducted the online interview; a second determination unit that refers to a second condition management database in which second conditions for determining a fee for use of the installed terminal are stored, and determines a terminal fee, which is either a fee to be paid to the terminal operator that provided the installed terminal or a fee to be charged to the terminal operator, based on the second condition; a fee processing unit that executes a process of billing the interview implementation business for the service billing fee determined by the first determination unit, and executes a process of paying the terminal business or a process of billing the terminal business for the terminal fee determined by the second determination unit; An information processing device having the above configuration.

Images