Information processing apparatus, contract management method, and program

Abstract

To provide an information processing apparatus which can enhance facility of managing information on contracts of multiple services.SOLUTION: An information processing apparatus for managing information on contracts of a first service and a second service includes: service information storage means which stores information on the second service in association with the first service; contract receiving means which receives a contract for the second service stored in association with the first service; and matching means which adjusts a contract period of the second service for which the contract has been received, so as to be consistent with a contract period of the first service at the time of renewing the contract of the first service stored in association with the second service.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

Technical Field

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

Background Art

[0002] A contract (subscription) is known in which the use of a service is available only during a contract period by paying a fixed fee. In a subscription, a service user can use a service only during a contract period by paying a fixed fee to a service provider.

[0003] For example, in an image forming apparatus that standardly includes basic functions such as copying, printing, and scanning and prepares extended functions as options, it has been conventionally known to pay for the use of extended functions by subscription (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] For example, in a device such as an image forming apparatus, there may be a case where a plurality of services with a contract period can be separately contracted and used. However, when a plurality of services with a contract period are separately contracted, the contract periods of the plurality of services become scattered, and there is a problem that it is difficult to manage information related to the contracts. Note that Patent Document 1 does not solve the above problems.

[0005] An object of an embodiment of the present invention is to provide an information processing apparatus that can improve the ease of managing information related to contracts for a plurality of services.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] To achieve the above object, an embodiment of the present invention is an information processing apparatus for managing information related to contracts of a first service and a second service, comprising: service information storage means for storing information on the second service in association with the first service; contract reception means for receiving a contract for the second service stored in association with the first service; and matching means for matching the contract period of the second service for which the contract has been received with the contract period of the first service at the update timing of the contract of the first service, in association with the second service.

Effect of the Invention

[0007] According to an embodiment of the present invention, it is possible to improve the ease of managing information related to contracts of a plurality of services.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0008]

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Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0009] Hereinafter, each embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0010] [First Embodiment] <System Configuration> FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of an example of the information processing system according to this embodiment. The information processing system 1 shown in FIG. 1 includes an information processing apparatus 10, an information processing terminal 12, and an electronic device 14, and communicates via a network 18. The network 18 is the Internet, a LAN (Local Area Network), or the like. The information processing terminal 12 and the electronic device 14 are examples of a device 16 that uses a plurality of contracted services.

[0011] The information processing terminal 12 is a PC (Personal Computer), a mobile phone, a smartphone, a tablet terminal, a game machine, a PDA (Personal Digital Assistant), a digital camera, a wearable PC, or the like operated by a service user. The electronic device 14 is an image forming apparatus, a PJ (Projector), an IWB (Interactive White Board: a whiteboard having an electronic blackboard function capable of mutual communication), or the like operated by a service user.

[0012] Note that the device 16 may be an output device such as a digital signage, a HUD (Head Up Display) device, an industrial machine, an imaging device, a sound collection device, a medical device, a network home appliance, a connected car, etc. The device 16 has a communication function and is not limited to the above examples as long as it can use the services under contract.

[0013] Hereinafter, an example in which the device 16 is an MFP (Multifunction Peripheral / Product Printer) which is an example of an image forming apparatus will be described. The MFP can execute various functions such as a copying function, a scanner function, a fax function, a printer function, etc. The MFP can use the base product and add-on products during the contract period.

[0014] The base product is an example of the first service and is a service that serves as a base available for the device 16. The add-on product is an example of the second service and is a service that adds functions to the base product. The add-on product is associated with one or more base products to which functions can be added. That is, the functions provided as the add-on product utilize at least a part of the functions provided as the base product. Note that the base product and the add-on product can be contracted at different timings, and each has a defined contract period. The base product and the add-on product update the contract period at the update timing according to the defined contract period. Here, the product and the service are, for example, applications and functions available on the device 16. The service includes functions provided by native applications installed on the device 16 and functions provided from an external server to the device 16 via a web application.

[0015] The information processing apparatus 10 manages information regarding contracts for the base product and add-on products of the device 16. For example, as will be described later, the information processing apparatus 10 performs management to align the contract periods of the base product and add-on products contracted at different timings at the timing of updating the contract of the base product. Further, as will be described later, the information processing apparatus 10 performs management so that add-on products during the contract period do not become in a state where functions cannot be added to the base product due to cancellation of the base product or the like.

[0016] The configuration of the information processing system 1 shown in FIG. 1 is an example. For example, the information processing apparatus 10 may be realized as a cloud service, or may be realized as one or more servers that manage information regarding contracts for the base product and add-on products of the device 16. Further, the information processing apparatus 10 may be realized as one or more servers that provide programs such as applications necessary for using the base product and add-on products.

[0017] <Hardware Configuration> 《Computer》 The information processing apparatus 10 in FIG. 1 is realized by a computer 500 having a hardware configuration as shown in FIG. 2, for example. Further, in the case of a PC, the information processing terminal 12 in FIG. 1 is realized by a computer 500 having a hardware configuration as shown in FIG. 2. FIG. 2 is a hardware configuration diagram of an example of the computer according to the present embodiment.

[0018] The computer 500 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 501, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 502, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 503, an HD 504, an HDD (Hard Disk Drive) controller 505, a display 506, an external device connection I / F (Interface) 508, a network I / F 509, a data bus 510, a keyboard 511, a pointing device 512, a DVD-RW (Digital Versatile Disk Rewritable) drive 514, and a media I / F 516.

[0019] Among these, the CPU 501 controls the operation of the entire computer 500 according to a program. The ROM 502 stores programs used for driving the CPU 501 such as the IPL. The RAM 503 is used as a work area for the CPU 501. The HD 504 stores various data such as programs. The HDD controller 505 controls the reading or writing of various data to and from the HD 504 according to the control of the CPU 501.

[0020] The display 506 displays various information such as a cursor, menu, window, characters, or images. The external device connection I / F 508 is an interface for connecting various external devices. The external devices in this case are, for example, a USB (Universal Serial Bus) memory or the like. The network I / F 509 is an interface for performing data communication using the network 18. The data bus 510 is an address bus, data bus, etc. for electrically connecting components such as the CPU 501.

[0021] The keyboard 511 is a type of input means having a plurality of keys for inputting characters, numerical values, various instructions, etc. The pointing device 512 is a type of input means for selecting and executing various instructions, selecting a processing target, moving a cursor, etc. The DVD-RW drive 514 controls the reading or writing of various data to and from the DVD-RW 513 as an example of a removable recording medium. Note that it is not limited to DVD-RW and may be DVD-R or the like. The media I / F 516 controls the reading or writing (storage) of data to and from the recording medium 515 such as a flash memory.

[0022] Note that the hardware configuration shown in FIG. 2 is an example, and it is not necessary to include all the components shown in FIG. 2, or it may include components other than those shown in FIG. 2.

[0023] 《MFP》 The electronic device 14 shown in FIG. 1 is realized by, for example, an MFP 900 having the hardware configuration shown in FIG. 3. FIG. 3 is a hardware configuration diagram of an example of the MFP according to the present embodiment.

[0024] The MFP 900 in FIG. 3 includes a controller 910, a short-range communication circuit 920, an engine control unit 930, an operation panel 940, and a network I / F 950. The controller 910 has a CPU 901 which is the main part of a computer, a system memory (MEM-P) 902, a north bridge (NB) 903, a south bridge (SB) 904, an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit) 906, a local memory (MEM-C) 907 which is a storage unit, an HDD controller 908, and an HD 909 which is a storage unit, and is configured such that the NB 903 and the ASIC 906 are connected by an AGP (Accelerated Graphics Port) bus 921.

[0025] The CPU 901 is a control unit that performs overall control of the MFP 900. The NB 903 is a bridge for connecting the CPU 901, the MEM-P 902, the SB 904, and the AGP bus 921. Further, the NB 903 has a memory controller that controls reading and writing to the MEM-P 902, a PCI (Peripheral Component Interconnect) master, and an AGP target.

[0026] The MEM-P 902 has a ROM 902a which is a memory for storing programs and data for realizing the respective functions of the controller 910, and a RAM 902b which is used as a memory for developing programs and data, and for drawing during memory printing. The programs stored in the RAM 902b may be configured to be provided by recording them in an installable or executable format in a computer-readable recording medium such as a CD-ROM, a CD-R, or a DVD.

[0027] SB904 is a bridge for connecting NB903 with a PCI device and a peripheral device. ASIC906 is an IC (Integrated Circuit) for image processing applications having hardware elements for image processing, and has the role of a bridge for connecting an AGP bus 921, a PCI bus 922, an HDD908, and a MEM-C907, respectively.

[0028] ASIC906 has a PCI target and an AGP master, an arbiter (ARB) forming the core of ASIC906, a memory controller for controlling MEM-C907, a plurality of DMACs (Direct Memory Access Controllers) for performing operations such as rotation of image data by means of hardware logic, etc., and a PCI unit for performing data transfer via the PCI bus 922 between a scanner unit 931 and a printer unit 932. Note that an interface for USB or an interface for IEEE1394 (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers 1394) may be connected to ASIC906.

[0029] MEM-C907 is a local memory used as a copy image buffer and a code buffer. HD909 is a storage for accumulating image data, font data used at the time of printing, and forms. HD909 controls the reading or writing of data to / from HD909 according to the control of CPU901. The AGP bus 921 is a bus interface for a graphics accelerator card proposed for speeding up graphic processing, and can speed up the graphics accelerator card by directly accessing MEM-P902 with high throughput.

[0030] In addition, the short-range communication circuit 920 is provided with a short-range communication circuit 920a. The short-range communication circuit 920 is a communication circuit such as NFC or Bluetooth (registered trademark).

[0031] Furthermore, the engine control unit 930 is composed of a scanner unit 931 and a printer unit 932. Also, the operation panel 940 includes a panel display unit 940a such as a touch panel that displays current setting values, selection screens, etc. and receives inputs from the operator, and an operation panel 940b consisting of a numeric keypad that receives setting values of conditions related to image formation such as density setting conditions and a start key that receives a copy start instruction.

[0032] The controller 910 controls the entire MFP 900, for example, controls drawing, communication, inputs from the operation panel 940, etc. The scanner unit 931 or the printer unit 932 includes an image processing part such as error diffusion and gamma conversion.

[0033] Note that the MFP 900 can sequentially switch and select the document box function, copy function, printer function, and fax function by the application switching key on the operation panel 940. When the document box function is selected, it becomes the document box mode, when the copy function is selected, it becomes the copy mode, when the printer function is selected, it becomes the printer mode, and when the fax function is selected, it becomes the fax mode.

[0034] Also, the network I / F 950 is an interface for data communication using the network 18. The short-range communication circuit 920 and the network I / F 950 are electrically connected to the ASIC 906 via the PCI bus 922.

[0035] Note that when the MFP 900 uses authentication by an IC card, an IC card reader is built-in or externally attached. The MFP 900 wirelessly reads the identification information unique to the IC card from the RF tag embedded in the IC card. The IC card may be one built into a smart device such as a smartphone. Also, the MFP 900 may use other than an IC card reader, and may use a biometric authentication device (fingerprint, palmprint, iris, face, etc.) or a barcode reader, etc.

[0036] Note that the hardware configuration shown in FIG. 3 is an example, and it is not necessary to include all the components shown in FIG. 3, or it may include components other than those shown in FIG. 3.

[0037] <Functional configuration> The information processing system 1 according to the present embodiment is realized by, for example, a functional configuration as shown in FIG. 4. FIG. 4 is a functional configuration diagram of an example of the information processing system according to the present embodiment. Note that the functional configuration diagram of FIG. 4 appropriately omits configurations unnecessary for the description of the present embodiment. The information processing apparatus 10 and the device 16 realize the functional configuration of FIG. 4, for example, by executing programs such as an OS and applications.

[0038] The information processing apparatus 10 shown in FIG. 4 includes a processing unit 20, a service information storage unit 22, a fee plan information storage unit 24, a contract information storage unit 25, a license information storage unit 26, and a usage right information storage unit 28. Further, the processing unit 20 includes a screen data generation unit 30, a contract reception unit 32, a matching unit 34, a differential billing unit 36, a cancellation reception unit 38, a contract unit 40, a cancellation unit 42, and a usage right management unit 44. The device 16 shown in FIG. 4 includes a display control unit 50, an operation content notification unit 52, a usage right determination unit 54, and a service usage unit 56.

[0039] The service information storage unit 22 stores base product information as shown in FIG. 5 and add-on product information as shown in FIG. 6. FIG. 5 is a configuration diagram of an example of the base product information. FIG. 6 is a configuration diagram of an example of the add-on product information.

[0040] The base product information in FIG. 5 has the product name and function of the base product as items. The product name is the name of the base product and is an example of the identification information of the base product. The function is the name of the function provided by the base product and is an example of the identification information of the function. Note that "Scan2mail", which is a service for sending data scanned by the device 16 to a predetermined email address, and "Cloud print", which is a service for printing data stored on cloud storage by the device 16, are examples of the base product.

[0041] In addition, the add-on product information in FIG. 6 has the product name, base product, and functions of the add-on product as items. The product name is the name of the add-on product and is an example of the identification information of the add-on product. The base product is the name of the corresponding base product and is an example of the identification information of the corresponding base product. The function is the name of the function provided by the add-on product and is an example of the identification information of the function. The add-on product information in FIG. 6 is associated with the base product that can add the (own) function of the add-on product through the item "base product". Also, as shown in the add-on product information in FIG. 6, an add-on product can be associated with multiple base products. Note that "Scan2ocr2mail", which is a service that performs character recognition processing based on the data scanned by the device 16 and sends it to a predetermined email address, is an example of an add-on product. For example, "Product A Expansion Pack", which is an example of an add-on product, is a service that adds a character authentication function to the scan function and email sending function provided by "Product A", which is an example of a base product.

[0042] The charge plan information storage unit 24 stores charge plan information as shown in FIG. 7. FIG. 7 is a configuration diagram of an example of the charge plan information. The charge plan information in FIG. 7 has the plan name, product, contract period, license type, and unit price as items.

[0043] The plan name is the name of the charge plan and is an example of the identification information of the charge plan. The product is the name of the base product or add-on product targeted by the charge plan and is an example of the information defining the base product or add-on product targeted by the charge plan.

[0044] The contract period is the contract period of the fee plan. The contract period represents the unit (such as years or months) of the contract period for using the base product or add-on product, and may also be the renewal period, billing period, etc. The license type is an example of information that defines the unit of resources such as users or devices 16 that use the base product or add-on product. The unit price is an example of information for calculating the fees required for the contract. Note that multiple fee plans may be defined for the same product such as the base product or add-on product, and the user may be allowed to select.

[0045] The contract information storage unit 25 stores contract information as shown in FIG. 8. FIG. 8 is a configuration diagram of an example of contract information. The contract information in FIG. 8 has items such as contract number, plan name, product, contract period, license type, unit price, contractor, billing destination, quantity, and update information.

[0046] The contract number is an example of the identification information of the contract information. The plan name, product, contract period, license type, and unit price are information copied from the fee plan information in FIG. 7. The contractor is the name of the user who made the contract, etc., and is an example of the identification information of the user who made the contract. The billing destination is the account number of the billing destination for billing fees according to the contract, and is an example of the identification information for identifying the billing destination. The quantity is the quantity of resources such as users or devices 16 that are contracted to use the base product or add-on product. The update information defines the update timing of the contract based on the contract period and also defines whether to automatically update the contract information. For example, when the contract information is not automatically updated, manual update is executed.

[0047] The license information storage unit 26 stores license information as shown in FIG. 9. FIG. 9 is a configuration diagram of an example of license information. The license information in FIG. 9 has items such as license ID, contract number, license type, and upper limit number.

[0048] The license ID is an example of information for identifying a license. The contract number is an example of identification information for contract information and is information for specifying the contract information in FIG. 8. The license type is an example of information for defining a unit of a resource such as a user or device 16 that uses a base product or an add-on product. The upper limit number is the upper limit number of resources such as users or devices 16 that can use a base product or an add-on product based on a contract. The license information in FIG. 8 is used to manage the usage rights of a base product or an add-on product.

[0049] In addition, the usage right information storage unit 28 stores usage right information as shown in FIG. 10. FIG. 10 is a configuration diagram of an example of usage right information. The usage right information in FIG. 10 has a license ID and a resource as items.

[0050] The license ID is an example of information for identifying a license. The resource defines a user or device 16 as an example of a unit of a resource that uses a base product or an add-on product. The usage right information defines a license and a user or device 16 that has the usage right of a base product or an add-on product by that license as a resource.

[0051] The usage right information in FIG. 10 shows an example where devices A to C have the usage right of "Product A". Also, the usage right information in FIG. 10 shows an example where users A to B have the usage right of "Product A Expansion Pack".

[0052] Returning to FIG. 4, the screen data generation unit 30 of the processing unit 20 generates image data (screen data) of a screen to be displayed on the device 16 and transmits it to the device 16. The display control unit 50 of the device 16 displays various screens according to the screen data received from the information processing apparatus 10. For example, the display control unit 50 of the device 16 displays a contract screen for receiving a contract for a base product or an add-on product from a user. Also, for example, the display control unit 50 of the device 16 displays a cancellation screen for receiving cancellation of a base product or an add-on product from a user.

[0053] The operation content notification unit 52 of the device 16 notifies the information processing apparatus 10 of the operation content for the contract screen or cancellation screen displayed by the display control unit 50. Therefore, the contract reception unit 32 of the processing unit 20 of the information processing apparatus 10 can receive a contract request from the user for the base product or add-on product based on the operation content of the user for the contract screen notified from the device 16. The contract unit 40 can update the contract information in FIG. 8 and the like based on the received contract request.

[0054] Also, the cancellation reception unit 38 of the processing unit 20 of the information processing apparatus 10 can receive a cancellation request from the user for the base product or add-on product based on the operation content of the user for the cancellation screen notified from the device 16. The cancellation unit 42 can update the contract information in FIG. 8 and the like based on the cancellation request from the user for the base product or add-on product received by the cancellation reception unit 38.

[0055] The matching unit 34 performs a process of matching the contract period of the add-on product with the contract period of the base product at the timing of updating the contract of the base product, as will be described later. The details of the process of matching the contract period of the add-on product with the contract period of the base product will be described later.

[0056] The differential billing unit 36 performs a billing process according to the differential charge when a difference occurs in the charge required for the contract of the add-on product due to the process of matching the contract period of the add-on product with the contract period of the base product. For example, if the charge is paid at the start of the contract for the use of the add-on product, the differential billing unit 36 performs a refund process for the generated differential charge. Also, if the charge is paid at the end of the contract for the use of the add-on product, the differential billing unit 36 performs a billing process for the generated differential charge.

[0057] The usage right management unit 44 manages the usage rights of resources such as users or devices 16 for the base product or add-on product, for example, based on the license information in FIG. 9 and the usage right information in FIG. 10. The usage right determination unit 54 of the device 16 determines whether there is a usage right for the base product or add-on product according to the usage rights managed by the usage right management unit 44 of the information processing apparatus 10. The service usage unit 56 uses the functions of the base product and add-on product according to the determination of the usage right determination unit 54.

[0058] <Data model of contract information when contracting base product and add-on product> FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of a data model of contract information when contracting a base product and an add-on product. As shown in FIG. 11, licenses are issued separately for the base product and the add-on product, and usage rights are managed for each of the base product and the add-on product.

[0059] For example, in the example of FIG. 11, user A can use the base product but cannot use the add-on product. User B can use both the base product and the add-on product. User C can use the add-on product but cannot use the base product.

[0060] Also, as shown in FIG. 11, the contract information is created from the fee plans and licenses of one or more base products and add-on products. The fee plan of the contract information is set for each of the respective base products and add-on products. Therefore, information such as the contract period, license type, unit price, and quantity of the contract information will be different for each of the respective base products and add-on products.

[0061] <Processing> The processing procedure of the information processing system 1 according to the present embodiment will be described. FIG. 12 is a flowchart of an example of the processing of the information processing system according to the present embodiment.

[0062] In step S10, the contract department 40 of the information processing apparatus 10 reads out, for example, the contract information in FIG. 8 from the contract information storage unit 25. In step S12, the contract department 40 determines whether there is a contract at the update timing based on the contract information read in step S10. If there is no contract at the update timing, the contract department 40 returns to step S10 and continues the process.

[0063] If there is a contract at the update timing, in step S14, the contract department 40 determines whether the contract information at the update timing is a contract for the base product. If it is a contract for the base product, the contract department 40 proceeds to step S16 and performs an update process for the contract period of the base product. The update process for the contract period of the base product in step S16, for example, if it is an automatic update, performs a process of updating the contract period according to the item "contract cycle" of the contract information. Also, the update process for the contract period of the base product in step S16, for example, if it is a manual update, requests a process of updating the contract period to the item "contractor" of the contract information.

[0064] If it is determined in step S14 that it is not a contract for the base product, the contract department 40 proceeds to the process in step S18 and performs an update process for the contract period of the add-on product. The update process for the contract period of the add-on product in step S18, for example, if it is an automatic update, performs a process of updating the contract period according to the item "contract cycle" of the contract information. Also, the update process for the contract period of the add-on product in step S18, for example, if it is a manual update, requests a process of updating the contract period to the item "contractor" of the contract information.

[0065] Following step S16, the process proceeds to step S20. The matching unit 34 refers to, for example, the add-on product information in FIG. 6 and identifies the add-on product associated with the base product for which the contract period update process was performed in step S16. The matching unit 34 determines whether the identified add-on product is within the contract period.

[0066] If an add-on product associated with a base product for which a contract period update process has been performed is contracted and the contract period is within the contract period, the matching unit 34 proceeds to the process of step S22. In step S22, the matching unit 34 performs a process of aligning the contract period of the add-on product during the contract period associated with the base product for which the contract period update process has been performed with the contract update timing of the associated base product.

[0067] The process of aligning the contract period of the add-on product during the contract period associated with the base product for which the contract period update process of step S22 has been performed with the contract update timing of the associated base product is performed, for example, as follows.

[0068] FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram of an example of a process of aligning the contract period of an add-on product during the contract period with the contract update timing of the associated base product. In FIG. 13, the contract period of the base product and the contract period of the add-on product are both "1 year", showing an example where the contract periods of the base product and the add-on product are the same.

[0069] FIG. 13 shows an example where the contract period of the base product is from "2021 / 04" to "2022 / 04". Also, FIG. 13 shows an example where the contract period of the add-on product is from "2021 / 10" to "2022 / 10".

[0070] When the contract update timing of the base product reaches "2022 / 04", the contract period of the base product is updated to "2022 / 04" to "2023 / 04". Also, the contract period of the add-on product corresponding to the base product whose contract period has been updated is updated so as to be aligned with the contract period of the base product from "2022 / 04" to "2023 / 04" at the contract update timing of the associated base product, which is "2022 / 04". In the example of FIG. 13, since the payment of the contract fee for the add-on product is at the start of the contract, a difference (balance) occurs in the fee required for the contract of the add-on product due to the update of the contract period of the add-on product. Therefore, in this embodiment, at the contract period update timing of the add-on product, a billing process corresponding to the difference, such as refunding the difference (returning the paid fee), is performed.

[0071] FIG. 14 is an explanatory diagram of an example of a process for aligning the contract period of an add-on product during the contract period with the renewal timing of the contract for the associated base product. In FIG. 14, the contract period of the base product is "1 year", the contract period of the add-on product is "half a year", and the contract period of the add-on product is shorter than that of the base product, showing an example where it is divisible.

[0072] FIG. 14 shows an example where the contract period of the base product is from "2021 / 04" to "2022 / 04". Further, FIG. 14 shows an example where the contract period of the add-on product is from "2021 / 8" to "2022 / 2".

[0073] When the renewal timing of the contract for the base product reaches "2022 / 04", the contract period of the base product is renewed from "2022 / 04" to "2023 / 04". Also, the contract period of the add-on product corresponding to the base product whose contract period has been renewed is renewed from the contract period of "2022 / 04" to "2022 / 10" at the renewal timing of the contract for the associated base product, which is "2022 / 04". Note that in the example of FIG. 14, since the payment of the fee for the contract of the add-on product is an example at the start of the contract, a difference occurs in the fee required for the contract of the add-on product due to the renewal of the contract period of the add-on product. Therefore, in the present embodiment, at the renewal timing of the contract period of the add-on product, billing processing corresponding to the difference, such as refunding the difference, is performed.

[0074] FIG. 15 is an explanatory diagram of an example of a process for aligning the contract period of an add-on product during the contract period with the renewal timing of the contract for the associated base product. In FIG. 15, the contract period of the base product is "1 year", the contract period of the add-on product is "5 months", and the contract period of the add-on product is shorter than that of the base product, showing an example where it is not divisible.

[0075] FIG. 15 shows an example where the contract period of the base product is from "2021 / 04" to "2022 / 04". Further, FIG. 15 shows an example where the contract period of the add-on product starts from "2021 / 4" and is renewed to "2021 / 9" and "2022 / 2".

[0076] When the renewal timing of the contract for the base product becomes "2022 / 04", the contract period of the base product is renewed from "2022 / 04" to "2023 / 04". Also, the contract period of the add-on product corresponding to the base product for which the contract period has been renewed is renewed from "2022 / 04" to "2022 / 9" at the renewal timing of the contract for the base product "2022 / 04" to which it is associated. In the example of FIG. 15, since the payment of the fee for the contract of the add-on product is an example at the start of the contract, a difference occurs in the fee required for the contract of the add-on product due to the renewal of the contract period of the add-on product. Therefore, in the present embodiment, at the renewal timing of the contract period of the add-on product, a billing process corresponding to the difference, such as refunding the difference, is performed.

[0077] In the example of FIG. 15, each time the renewal timing of the contract for the base product occurs, the fee for the contract of the add-on product is billed for the difference, and the contract period of the add-on product is updated so as to match the start date of the contract period of the base product.

[0078] As shown in FIGS. 13 to 15, the add-on product that can be associated with the base product is an add-on product whose contract cycle is the same as the contract cycle of the base product or whose contract cycle is shorter than the contract cycle of the base product.

[0079] In the present embodiment, the contract screen displayed on the device 16 is displayed so as to be acceptable as a contract target when, for the add-on product associated with the base product, the base product associated with the add-on product has been contracted or is in a state of being selected as a contract target.

[0080] By displaying such a contract screen, in the present embodiment, the add-on product is not contracted in a state where the function cannot be added to the base product, such as when the associated base product is not within the contract period.

[0081] In this embodiment, the cancellation screen displayed on device 16 accepts the cancellation of an add-on product when the cancellation of the add-on product is accepted for the add-on product associated with the base product. Further, the cancellation screen displayed on device 16 is displayed so as not to accept the cancellation of the base product associated with the add-on product unless it is together with the add-on product.

[0082] By displaying such a cancellation screen, in this embodiment, the associated base product is not cancelled, and the contract of the add-on product in a state where the function cannot be added to the base product does not remain uncancelled.

[0083] As described above, according to this embodiment, the ease of managing information regarding contracts for a plurality of services such as base products and add-on products can be improved.

[0084] Each function of the embodiment described above can be realized by one or a plurality of processing circuits. Here, the "processing circuit" in this specification includes a processor programmed to execute each function by software like a processor implemented by an electronic circuit, an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit) designed to execute each function described above, a DSP (digital signal processor), an FPGA (field programmable gate array), and devices such as conventional circuit modules.

[0085] The device group described in the examples only shows one of a plurality of computing environments for implementing the embodiments disclosed in this specification. The present invention is not limited by this embodiment, and the components in this embodiment include those that can be easily conceived by those skilled in the art, substantially the same ones, and those within the so-called equivalent range. Further, various omissions, substitutions, changes, and combinations of the components can be made without departing from the gist of this embodiment.

Description of Reference Numerals

[0086] 1 Information processing system 10 Information processing device 12 Information processing terminal 14 Electronic device 16 Device 18 Network 20 Processing unit 22 Service information storage unit 24 Fee plan information storage unit 25 Contract information storage unit 26 License information storage unit 28 Usage right information storage unit 30 Screen data generation unit 32 Contract reception unit 34 Integration unit 36 Differential billing unit 38 Cancellation reception unit 40 Contract unit 42 Cancellation unit 44 Usage right management unit 50 Display control unit 52 Operation content notification unit 54 Usage right determination unit 56 Service usage unit

Prior art documents

Patent documents

[0087]

Patent Document 1

Claims

1. An information processing apparatus for managing information related to contracts of a first service and a second service, comprising: service information storage means for storing information of the second service in association with the first service; contract reception means for receiving a contract for the second service stored in association with the first service; matching means for matching the contract period of the second service, which has received the contract, with the contract period of the first service at the update timing of the contract of the first service, which is stored in association with the second service; An information processing apparatus having the above.

2. The service information storage means stores information of the second service, the renewal cycle of which is the same as or shorter than the renewal cycle of the contract of the first service, in association with the first service. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that.

3. Differential billing means for billing the differential fee of the second service caused by the matching when the contract period of the second service is matched with the contract period of the first service by the matching means; The information processing apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising the above.

4. The matching means changes the contract period of the second service by causing an update of the contract of the second service at the update timing of the contract of the first service stored in association with the second service. The information processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that.

5. The contract reception means can display the second service stored in association with the first service that has been contracted or the first service selected as a contract target as a contract target. The information processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that.

6. Cancellation reception means for receiving cancellation of the first service or the second service stored in association; Cancellation means for canceling the second service when the cancellation reception means receives cancellation of the second service, and canceling the first service and the second service stored in association with the first service when the cancellation reception means receives cancellation of the first service; The information processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5, further comprising the above.

7. Usage right management means for managing, respectively, a user or device that has been assigned a usage right by the contract for the first service and can use the first service, and a user or device that has been assigned a usage right by the contract for the second service and can use the second service. The information processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6, further comprising the above.

8. A contract management method executed by an information processing apparatus that manages information related to contracts for a first service and a second service, A contract reception step of receiving a contract for the second service stored in association with the first service in service information storage means that stores information on the second service in association with the first service; A matching step of matching the contract period of the second service for which the contract has been received with the contract period of the first service at the update timing of the contract of the first service stored in association with the second service. A contract management method having the above.

9. An information processing apparatus for managing information related to contracts for a first service and a second service, Service information storage means for storing information on the second service in association with the first service, Contract reception means for receiving a contract for the second service stored in association with the first service, Matching means for matching the contract period of the second service for which the contract has been received with the contract period of the first service at the update timing of the contract of the first service stored in association with the second service, A program for causing the above to function.

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