Gift sending system, gift sending device, gift sending method, and program

Abstract

This reduces the user's effort in sending messages encouraging the use of electronic gifts. [Solution] A gift sending system 1 is provided, which is a system for sending an electronic gift selected by a first user to a second user designated by the first user, and includes an acquisition unit 122 that acquires usage information of the electronic gift, and a reminder unit 124 that monitors the usage information and, when the usage information meets certain conditions, sends a message to the second user encouraging them to use the electronic gift.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a gift transmission system, a gift transmission device, a gift transmission method, and a program. [Background technology]

[0002] Gift sending services are known that send electronic gifts to users' customers via email or social networking services (SNS). Users can receive electronic gifts from the gift sending service and use them in place of money to purchase products or services. For example, such electronic gifts can be used to make payments in place of money by presenting the gift screen on a smartphone at checkout, or can be used to make payments in place of credit cards by entering a digital code when paying at an online shop.

[0003] Patent document 1 describes a technology relating to an information processing system that includes a first control unit that displays distributed information including distributed articles, advertisements, or coupons on a display unit of a user's terminal device, and a second control unit that, when the user performs an operation indicating that the user has paid attention to the distributed information displayed on the display unit, displays related information related to specific information included in the distributed information on which the operation of attention was performed on the display unit at a timing based on the time associated with the specific information. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2023-061602 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] Many electronic gifts have expiration dates, and if they are not used within the expiration date, they will become invalid and cannot be used. For this reason, if an electronic gift remains unused, a reminder to use the electronic gift may be sent to each customer.

[0006] In conventional gift sending services, for example, users could only send messages to their customers encouraging them to use electronic gifts. Therefore, users who wanted to increase the usage rate of electronic gifts had to check whether the sent electronic gift had been used, the elapsed time since sending, and other conditions after each electronic gift transmission, and if necessary, send reminder messages encouraging customers to use the electronic gift, which required a lot of work.

[0007] Therefore, an object of the present disclosure is to provide a gift sending system, a gift sending device, a gift sending method, and a program that can reduce the user's effort in sending a message encouraging the use of an electronic gift. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] According to one embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a gift sending system. The gift sending system is a system for sending an electronic gift selected by a first user to a second user designated by the first user. The gift sending system includes an acquisition unit that acquires usage information of the electronic gift. The gift sending system also includes a reminder unit that monitors the usage information and, when the usage information meets certain conditions, sends a message to the second user encouraging them to use the electronic gift.

[0009] According to one embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a gift sending device. The gift sending device sends an electronic gift selected by a first user to a second user designated by the first user. The gift sending device acquires usage information of the electronic gift. The gift sending device monitors the usage information, and when the usage information meets certain conditions, sends a message to the second user encouraging them to use the electronic gift.

[0010] According to one embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a gift sending method, which includes sending an electronic gift selected by a first user to a second user designated by the first user. The gift sending method also includes acquiring usage information of the electronic gift. The usage information is monitored, and if the usage information meets a specific condition, a message is sent to the second user encouraging the second user to use the electronic gift.

[0011] According to one embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a program that causes a computer to function as the gift sending system described above. [Effects of the Invention]

[0012] The gift sending system can send messages encouraging customers to use electronic gifts as needed based on predetermined conditions, without any effort on the part of the user.

[0013] The above summary of the invention does not list all of the necessary features of the present invention, and subcombinations of these features may also constitute inventions. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0014] [Figure 1] 1 illustrates an example of a gift sending system 1. [Figure 2] 1 shows an example of a functional configuration of the gift sending server 100. [Figure 3] 10 shows an example of a processing flow of the gift sending server 100. [Figure 4] 10 shows an example of the flow of a second determination process. [Figure 5] 5 shows an example of usage information 500 of an electronic gift. [Figure 6] 9 illustrates an example of a hardware configuration of a computer 900. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0015] The present invention will be described below through embodiments of the invention, but the following embodiments do not limit the scope of the invention as claimed. Furthermore, not all of the combinations of features described in the embodiments are necessarily essential to the solution of the invention.

[0016] FIG. 1 illustrates an example of a gift sending system 1. The gift sending system 1 provides an electronic gift sending service to a first user (hereinafter, sometimes referred to as the gift sender) and allows the first user to send an electronic gift to a second user (hereinafter, sometimes referred to as the gift recipient). Electronic gifts include, for example, message cards with no monetary value, items with monetary value that can be exchanged for goods or services, and specific goods themselves. Specifically, electronic gifts include message cards, tickets that can be exchanged for specific goods in stores, gift certificates that can be used in stores for a specific amount, access to specific services, catalog gifts that allow users to select the goods they wish to receive, specific goods, and goods with message cards. In this embodiment, the following explanation will be given using an electronic gift that can be used for payment as an example.

[0017] Specifically, the use of electronic gifts refers to the use of electronic gifts to make payments in place of cash or credit cards, for example, in stores by presenting a barcode or QR code (registered trademark) attached to an email or social media message, or on websites by clicking a URL link or entering a digital code.

[0018] The gift transmission system 1 includes a gift transmission server 100 (gift transmission device), a first user terminal 200, and a second user terminal 300, which are connected via a network.

[0019] The gift sending system 1 sends a message as a reminder to the gift recipient at an appropriate time based on the usage information of the electronic gift, encouraging them to use the electronic gift. The gift sender is an example of a first user. The gift recipient is a business partner or potential business partner of the gift sender, and is an example of a second user. The message may be, for example, email, social media, etc.

[0020] The gift transmission system 1 includes a gift transmission server 100, a first user terminal 200, and a second user terminal 300, which are connected via a network.

[0021] In response to an operation by the gift sender, the gift sending server 100 exchanges necessary information with the first user terminal 200 and sends the electronic gift to the second user terminal 300. The gift sending server 100 also acquires usage information including information related to the electronic gift. The acquisition of usage information may be performed before or after the gift sending server 100 transmits the electronic gift, or may be performed before or after transmission.

[0022] The usage information includes information required for sending electronic gift reminders. The usage information includes both "usage conditions," such as expiration dates, and "usage status," such as unused status and remaining balance. Issuing an electronic gift also includes the concept of "granting," meaning making it usable. The usage information includes, for example, at least one of the following: usage status information, indicating whether the electronic gift is unused or not; the issuance date of the electronic gift; the expiration date of the electronic gift; and the usage rate, which is the ratio of the number of uses to the number of electronic gift transmissions. The usage rate may be calculated as the ratio of the number of uses to the number of electronic gift transmissions, for example, by reconfiguring a gift recipient, who is essentially the same but is set as a different gift recipient for each electronic gift campaign, as a single user.

[0023] The gift sending server 100 monitors the usage information, and when the usage information meets a specific condition, sends a message to the gift recipient urging them to use the electronic gift. The specific condition may be a condition determined based on the usage information.

[0024] The specific conditions include at least one of the following: the usage status information included in the usage information is unused, a predetermined period of time has passed since the issuance of the electronic gift, the end of each month before the expiration date has arrived, a predetermined time has come close to the expiration date, and the gift recipient has a low usage rate. The predetermined period of time may be configurable by the gift sender.

[0025] The message encouraging the use of the electronic gift may be, for example, a re-sent message of the original message that sent the electronic gift, or may be a message that emphasizes the expiration date and adds promotional information about the sender of the additional gift to the original message.

[0026] The first user terminal 200 may be any device used by the gift sender, such as a personal computer or smartphone that the gift sender uses to access the gift sending server 100 and use the gift sending service.

[0027] The first user terminal 200 is used by the gift sender to access the gift sending server 100 in order to send an electronic gift to a gift recipient. The first user terminal 200 is also used by the gift sender to access the gift sending server 100 in order to send a reminder message to the gift recipient to whom the electronic gift has been sent, encouraging them to use the electronic gift.

[0028] The second user terminal 300 may be any terminal used by the gift recipient, such as a personal computer or smartphone used by the gift recipient to receive and use the electronic gift.

[0029] 2 shows an example of the functional configuration of the gift sending server 100. The gift sending server 100 includes a communication unit 110, a processing unit 120, and a storage unit 130. The communication unit 110 exchanges information with the first user terminal 200 and the second user terminal 300 via a network. The processing unit 120 includes an acquisition unit 122, a reminding unit 124, an unused notification unit 126, and a usage rate notification unit 128.

[0030] The acquisition unit 122 acquires usage information of the electronic gift. Specifically, the acquisition unit 122 acquires at least one of usage status information indicating whether the electronic gift is unused or not, the issuance date of the electronic gift, and the expiration date of the electronic gift. The acquisition unit 122 may acquire the usage status information after the electronic gift is sent. The acquisition unit 122 may acquire the usage rate of the electronic gift by calculation from the number of times the electronic gift has been sent and the number of times the electronic gift has been used determined from the usage status information.

[0031] The reminding unit 124 monitors the usage information, and when the usage information satisfies a specific condition, sends a message to the gift recipient urging them to use the electronic gift. The reminding unit 124 executes a first determination and a second determination.

[0032] In the first determination, the reminding unit 124 determines whether the sent electronic gift is unused. The reminding unit 124 refers to a first setting of "whether to use usage status information" when determining whether to send a message in the processing of the gift sending server 100, which will be described later. If the first setting is "use usage status information," the reminding unit 124 may determine in the first determination whether the sent electronic gift is unused. The first setting is stored in the storage unit 130 and may be determined, for example, by the system, input by the gift sender, or predetermined for each type of electronic gift.

[0033] In the second determination, the reminding unit 124 determines whether to send a message encouraging the use of the electronic gift based on at least one of the time elapsed since the electronic gift was sent and the usage rate of the electronic gift by the gift recipient to whom the electronic gift was sent.

[0034] The reminding unit 124 refers to the second setting of "whether to use only usage status information" when determining whether to send a message in the processing of the gift sending server 100, which will be described later. If the second setting is "not to use only usage status information (i.e., to use information other than status information)," the reminding unit 124 determines, in the second determination, whether to send a message encouraging the use of an electronic gift depending on the amount of time that has passed since the electronic gift was sent. The second setting is stored in the storage unit 130 and may be determined, for example, by the system, input by the gift sender, or predetermined for each type of electronic gift.

[0035] The reminding unit 124 refers to the third setting of "whether to use usage rate" when determining whether to send a message in the processing of the gift sending server 100, which will be described later. When the second setting is "do not use usage status information alone" and the third setting is "use usage rate," the reminding unit 124 determines, in the second determination, whether to send a message encouraging use of the electronic gift based on the usage rate of the electronic gift by the gift recipient to whom the electronic gift was sent. The third setting is stored in the storage unit 130 and may be determined, for example, by the system, input by the gift sender, or predetermined for each type of electronic gift.

[0036] The reminder unit 124 may send a message to gift recipients whose usage status information is unused.

[0037] The reminding unit 124 may send a message to the gift recipient based on a time indicator. The reminding unit 124 may send a message to the gift recipient when a predetermined period of time has passed since the issuance of the electronic gift. The reminding unit 124 may send a message to the gift recipient when the last day of each month before the expiration date has arrived.

[0038] The reminder unit 124 may send a message to the gift recipient when a predetermined time nears the expiration date.

[0039] The reminder unit 124 may send messages to gift recipients who have a low usage rate. The reminder unit 124 may send messages at shorter intervals as the expiration date approaches.

[0040] The unused notification unit 126 identifies gift recipients whose usage status information is unused and notifies the gift sender. The unused notification unit 126 may identify gift recipients whose usage status information is unused for each predetermined period. The unused notification unit 126 may send the gift sender, for example, a list of gift recipients whose usage status information is unused. The list of gift recipients may be sorted, for example, in order of the user whose expiration date is closest to the expiration date.

[0041] The usage rate notification unit 128 identifies gift recipients whose usage rates are below a predetermined value and notifies the gift sender. The usage rate notification unit 128 may also identify electronic gifts whose usage rates are below a predetermined value and notify the gift sender. The usage rate notification unit 128 may, for example, identify a group of gift recipients whose usage rates are below a predetermined value and notify the gift sender.

[0042] The memory unit 130 stores various information necessary for the processing of the processing unit 120. The necessary information may include usage information necessary for a message reminding the user to use the electronic gift. The memory unit 130 may also store various information necessary for sending the electronic gift.

[0043] Figure 3 shows an example of the processing flow of the gift sending server 100. Figure 3 mainly describes an example of processing in which the gift sending server 100 acquires usage information, then performs a first determination process to determine the usage status information, and then performs a second determination process based on the time of sending the electronic gift, the usage rate of the electronic gift, etc., to determine whether to send a message encouraging the use of the electronic gift. Figure 3 describes a state in which the gift sending server 100 is ready to send the electronic gift as the start state.

[0044] In step (sometimes abbreviated as S) 102, the gift transmission system 1 transmits the electronic gift.

[0045] In S104, the acquisition unit 122 acquires the usage information.

[0046] In S106, the reminding unit 124 determines whether to use the usage status information included in the usage information acquired in S104 to determine whether to send a message prompting the use of the electronic gift. If the reminding unit 124 determines to use the usage status information, the process proceeds to S108. If the reminding unit 124 determines not to use the usage status information, the process proceeds to the second determination process.

[0047] In S108, the reminding unit 124 determines whether the usage status information included in the usage information acquired in S104 is unused. When the usage status information is unused, it means that the electronic gift sent by the gift sender to the gift recipient has not yet been used. When the usage status information is not unused, it means that the electronic gift sent by the gift sender to the gift recipient has already been used. If the reminding unit 124 determines that the usage status is unused, the process proceeds to the second determination process. If the reminding unit 124 determines that the usage status is not unused, the process ends.

[0048] In S110, the reminding unit 124 sends a message to the gift recipient urging them to use the electronic gift that has already been sent.

[0049] Fig. 4 shows an example of the flow of the second determination process. Fig. 4 mainly explains the content of the second determination process in Fig. 3. Fig. 4 explains the case where S106 in Fig. 3 is No or the state where S108 is Yes as the starting state.

[0050] In step (sometimes abbreviated as S) 202, the reminding unit 124 determines whether to use only the usage status information when determining whether to send a message to the gift recipient encouraging them to use the electronic gift. If the reminding unit 124 determines that only the usage status information will be used, the second determination process ends and proceeds to S110. If the reminding unit 124 does not determine that only the usage status information will be used, the process proceeds to S204.

[0051] In S204, the reminding unit 124 determines whether to use a usage rate, which is the ratio of the number of electronic gifts used to the number of electronic gifts sent to each gift recipient, to determine whether to send a message encouraging the gift recipient to use the electronic gift. If the reminding unit 124 determines to use the usage rate, the process proceeds to S206. If the reminding unit 124 determines not to use the usage rate, the process proceeds to A.

[0052] In S206, the reminding unit 124 determines whether the gift recipient has a low usage rate. If the reminding unit 124 determines that the gift recipient has a low usage rate, the process proceeds to S208, S210, and S212. If the reminding unit 124 does not determine that the gift recipient has a low usage rate, the second determination process ends and proceeds to A.

[0053] In S208, the reminding unit 124 determines whether a predetermined period of time has passed since the issuance of the electronic gift, and stores the determination result.

[0054] In S210, the reminding unit 124 determines whether the last day of each month before the expiration date of the electronic gift has arrived, and stores the determination result.

[0055] In S212, the reminding unit 124 determines whether or not a predetermined time close to the expiration date of the electronic gift has arrived, and stores the determination result.

[0056] In S214, the reminding unit 124 determines whether or not the determination result in any one of S208, S210, and S212 applies. If the reminding unit 124 determines that the determination result in any one of the determinations applies, the second determination process ends and proceeds to S110. If the reminding unit 124 does not determine that the determination result applies, the process proceeds to A.

[0057] 5 is a table showing an example of usage information for electronic gifts. In the usage information 500, the column for second user name indicates the name of the gift recipient, the column for electronic gift indicates the type of electronic gift sent from the gift sender to the gift recipient, the column for usage status information indicates whether the sent electronic gift has been used, and the column for usage rate indicates the usage rate, which is the ratio of the number of electronic gifts used to the number of electronic gifts sent for each gift recipient.

[0058] This shows that the gift recipient, whose second user name is Suzuki, has already received electronic gifts A to C, but has only used electronic gift A. In this case, the usage rate of the electronic gifts is 33%.

[0059] This shows that the gift recipient, whose second user name is Sato, has already sent electronic gifts A to C, and has already used electronic gifts B and C. The usage rate in this case is 66%.

[0060] This shows that the gift recipient, whose second user name is Yoshida, has already received electronic gifts A to C, and has already used all of them. In this case, the usage rate is 100%.

[0061] When the preset threshold value of the usage rate is 50%, the reminding unit 124 determines that the gift recipient whose second user name is Suzuki is a gift recipient with a low usage rate, and sends a reminding message encouraging the use of the sent but unused electronic gift. Also, when the preset threshold value of the usage rate is 70%, the reminding unit 124 determines that the gift recipient whose second user name is Suzuki and Sato is a gift recipient with a low usage rate, and sends a reminding message encouraging the use of the sent but unused electronic gift.

[0062] The usage rate in the usage information 500 may be the usage rate corresponding to all electronic gifts already sent to the gift recipient. Alternatively, the usage rate in the usage information 500 may represent the percentage of electronic gifts sent to the gift recipient that have already expired and have been used before the expiration date. In this case, the usage rate represents the percentage of gifts that have already expired, and therefore represents the usage rate trend of a specific gift recipient up to the expiration date. Therefore, the usage information 500 can be used to send priority reminders to gift recipients who tend to have low usage rates. A gift recipient who has only received one electronic gift and has not yet used that electronic gift may be determined to have a low usage rate.

[0063] Furthermore, the usage information 500 may be a usage rate indicating the percentage of electronic gifts sent to the recipient that have been used up to the present before the expiration date. In this case, the usage rate indicates the current usage rate. Therefore, the usage information 500 can be sent preferentially to gift recipients who currently have many unused electronic gifts.

[0064] The above-mentioned gift sending system 1 can extract gift recipients who have not yet used the electronic gift that has been sent to them based on the usage status information contained in the usage information, which indicates whether the electronic gift has been used or not, and send them a reminder message encouraging them to use the electronic gift.

[0065] In addition, the above-mentioned gift sending system 1 can send a reminder message encouraging the use of an already sent electronic gift that is appropriate to the circumstances of each electronic gift, based on the timing requirements for the electronic gift, such as the issuance date and expiration date, which are contained in the usage information.

[0066] Furthermore, when multiple electronic gifts are sent to a gift recipient, the above-mentioned gift sending system 1 can extract gift recipients with low usage rates based on the usage rate, which is the ratio of the number of electronic gifts used to the number of electronic gifts sent, contained in the usage information, and effectively remind them with a message encouraging them to use the electronic gifts that have already been sent.

[0067] (Other embodiments) The acquisition unit 122 of the gift sending system 1 may acquire unused electronic gifts received by the communication unit 110 as usage information. Specifically, an external system may transmit unused electronic gifts extracted from the transmitted electronic gifts to the gift sending system 1, and the gift sending system 1 may receive the unused electronic gifts. In this way, the gift sending system 1 can, for example, have an external system perform the process of extracting unused electronic gifts, thereby reducing the processing load of the gift sending system 1 itself.

[0068] <Basic computer configuration> 6 is a block diagram showing the basic hardware configuration of a computer 900 that functions as the gift transmission system 1, the gift transmission server 100, the first user terminal 200, and the second user terminal 300. The computer 900 has a control unit 901, a memory unit 902, a communication unit 903, an input unit 904, and an output unit 905. The control unit 901, the memory unit 902, the communication unit 903, the input unit 904, and the output unit 905 are electrically connected to one another via a communication bus 910.

[0069] The control unit 901 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit, also called a processor), and is a device that controls each unit of the computer 900 and also reads and executes various programs stored in the storage unit 902 .

[0070] The storage unit 902 includes a main storage device such as a DRAM (Dynamic Random Access Memory) and an auxiliary storage device such as a hard disk, and is a device for storing various programs for executing the operating system and various applications of the computer 900, as well as data used by these programs. The processes shown in the various flowcharts above are realized by the control units 901 of each computer constituting the gift sending system 1, the gift sending server 100, the first user terminal 200, and the second user terminal 300 executing programs stored in their respective storage units 902.

[0071] The communication unit 903 is a device for communicating with external devices, and transmits and receives data according to instructions from the control unit 901. Each of the computers constituting the gift sending system 1, the gift sending server 100, the first user terminal 200, and the second user terminal 300 uses this communication unit 903 to communicate with other devices, including the network NW shown in FIG.

[0072] The input unit 904 is a device that receives input from outside and supplies it to the control unit 901, and is configured to include, for example, a keyboard, a mouse, a touch panel, and a camera. The output unit 905 is a device that outputs the processing results of the control unit 901 to the outside, and is configured to include, for example, a display and a speaker.

[0073] <Program> Here, a program for realizing each functional unit of the gift transmission system 1 according to this embodiment will be described.

[0074] The gift transmission system 1 is implemented in a computer 900. The operation of each component of the gift transmission system 1 is stored in the form of a program in the auxiliary storage device of the storage unit 902. The control unit 901 reads the program from the auxiliary storage device of the storage unit 902, loads it into the main storage device of the storage unit 902, and executes the above-mentioned processing in accordance with the program. The control unit 901 also allocates a memory area corresponding to the above-mentioned memory unit 130 in the main storage device of the storage unit 902 in accordance with the program.

[0075] Specifically, the program is a program to be executed on a computer 900 having a processor and a memory unit, and the program executes the following processes: sending an electronic gift selected by a first user to a second user designated by the first user; acquiring usage information of the electronic gift; and monitoring the usage information and, if the usage information meets certain conditions, sending a message to the second user encouraging them to use the electronic gift.

[0076] The above operational flows are not limited to being performed independently, but can be performed by combining two or more operational flows. For example, some steps of one operational flow may be added to another operational flow, or some steps of one operational flow may be replaced with some steps of another operational flow. In each flow, it is not necessary to perform all steps, and only some steps may be performed. Furthermore, the order of steps in each flow may be changed as appropriate.

[0077] A program may be provided that causes a computer to execute each process according to the above-described embodiments. The program may be recorded on a computer-readable medium. The computer-readable medium can be used to install the program on a computer. Here, the computer-readable medium on which the program is recorded may be a non-transitory storage medium. The non-transitory storage medium is not particularly limited, and may be, for example, a storage medium such as a CD-ROM or a DVD-ROM. Furthermore, circuits that execute each process performed by the device according to the above-described embodiments may be integrated, and at least a part of the device may be configured as a semiconductor integrated circuit (chipset, SoC).

[0078] The functions performed by the apparatus according to the above embodiments may be implemented in circuitry or processing circuitry, including general-purpose processors, special-purpose processors, integrated circuits, ASICs (Application Specific Integrated Circuits), a CPU (Central Processing Unit), conventional circuits, and / or combinations thereof, programmed to perform the described functions. A processor includes transistors and other circuits and is considered to be circuitry or processing circuitry. A processor may also be a programmed processor that executes a program stored in a memory. In this disclosure, a circuit, unit, or means is hardware that is programmed to perform or executes the described functions. The hardware may be any hardware disclosed herein or any hardware known to be programmed to perform or execute the described functions. When the hardware is a processor, which is considered to be a type of circuitry, the circuit, means, or unit is a combination of hardware and software used to configure the hardware and / or processor.

[0079] As used in this disclosure, the terms "based on" and "depending on / in response to" do not mean "based only on" or "depending only on," unless expressly stated otherwise. The term "based on" means both "based only on" and "based at least in part on." Similarly, the term "depending on" means both "depending only on" and "depending at least in part on." The terms "include," "comprise," and variations thereof do not mean including only the listed items, but may mean including only the listed items or may include additional items in addition to the listed items. Additionally, the term "or," as used in this disclosure, is not intended to mean an exclusive or. Furthermore, any reference to elements using designations such as "first," "second," etc., as used in this disclosure does not generally limit the quantity or order of those elements. These designations may be used herein as a convenient method of distinguishing between two or more elements. Thus, a reference to a first and a second element does not imply that only two elements may be employed therein or that the first element must precede the second element in some way. In this disclosure, where articles are added by translation, such as a, an, and the in English, these articles shall include the plural unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.

[0080] The above describes the embodiments in detail with reference to the drawings, but the specific configuration is not limited to the above, and various design changes can be made within the scope that does not deviate from the gist.

[0081] (Appendix 1) A system for transmitting an electronic gift selected by a first user to a second user designated by the first user, an acquisition unit that acquires usage information of the electronic gift; a reminder unit that monitors the usage information and, when the usage information satisfies a specific condition, sends a message to the second user encouraging the second user to use the electronic gift; A gift sending system comprising:

[0082] A message encouraging the customer to use the electronic gift can be sent based on predetermined conditions without any user operation.

[0083] (Appendix 2) The usage information includes usage status information indicating whether the electronic gift is unused or not; the acquiring unit acquires the usage status information after the electronic gift is sent; the reminding unit transmits the message to the second user whose usage status information indicates unused. 2. The transmission system of claim 1.

[0084] Second users who have not yet used the electronic gift that has already been sent can be extracted, and a message encouraging them to use the electronic gift can be sent as a reminder.

[0085] (Appendix 3) The usage information includes the issuance time of the electronic gift; the reminding unit sends the message to the second user when a predetermined period of time has passed since the issuance time of the electronic gift. 10. The transmission system according to claim 1 or 2.

[0086] You can receive reminder messages encouraging the use of e-gifts that have already been sent, tailored to the status of each e-gift.

[0087] (Appendix 4) The usage information includes an expiration date of the electronic gift; the reminding unit sends the message to the second user when the last day of each month before the expiration date has arrived. 4. A transmission system according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

[0088] You can receive reminder messages encouraging the use of e-gifts that have already been sent, tailored to the status of each e-gift.

[0089] (Appendix 5) The usage information includes an expiration date of the electronic gift; the reminding unit transmits the message to the second user when a predetermined time close to the expiration date is reached. 5. A transmission system according to any one of claims 1 to 4.

[0090] It is possible to send a message to remind the recipient to use the e-gift that has already been sent, in accordance with the status of each e-gift.

[0091] (Appendix 6) A gift sending system described in any one of Appendixes 1 to 5, wherein the reminder unit shortens the interval between sending the message as the expiration date approaches.

[0092] The closer the expiration date of the electronic gift is to the expiration date, the more strongly the customer who received the electronic gift can be encouraged to use the electronic gift.

[0093] (Appendix 7) The usage information includes a usage rate, which is a ratio of the number of times the electronic gift is used to the number of times the electronic gift is sent, the reminding unit transmits the message to the second user who has a low usage rate. 7. A transmission system according to any one of claims 1 to 6.

[0094] In a case where a plurality of electronic gifts have been sent to second users, second users with low usage rates can be extracted and a message can be sent to remind them to use the electronic gifts that have already been sent.

[0095] (Appendix 8) The gift sending system described in Appendix 2 further includes an unused notification unit that identifies the second user whose usage status information is unused and notifies the first user.

[0096] The first user can be reminded of the second user who has not used the electronic gift, and for example, the first user can consider measures other than the reminder by the gift sending system 1.

[0097] (Appendix 9) The gift sending system described in Appendix 7 further comprises a usage rate notification unit that identifies the second user whose usage rate is below a predetermined value and notifies the first user.

[0098] By notifying the first user of the second user whose usage rate is below a predetermined value, the first user can consider measures other than the reminder by the gift transmission system 1, for example.

[0099] (Appendix 10) A gift sending system as described in any of Appendixes 1 to 9, wherein the electronic gift has monetary value that can be used for payment.

[0100] Since the electronic gift has monetary value that can be used for payment, the second user who receives the electronic gift can be reminded of useful information, thereby improving customer satisfaction.

[0101] (Appendix 11) A server that transmits an electronic gift selected by a first user to a second user designated by the first user, an acquisition unit that acquires usage information of the electronic gift; a reminder unit that monitors the usage information and, when the usage information satisfies a specific condition, sends a message to the second user encouraging the second user to use the electronic gift; A gift sending device comprising:

[0102] (Appendix 12) A method for transmitting an electronic gift selected by a first user to a second user designated by the first user, comprising: an acquisition step of acquiring usage information of the electronic gift; a reminding step of monitoring the usage information and, when the usage information satisfies a specific condition, sending a message to the second user encouraging the second user to use the electronic gift; Have a gift sending method.

[0103] (Appendix 13) A program for causing a computer to function as the system described in Appendix 1. [Explanation of symbols]

[0104] 1: Gift sending system 100: Gift sending server 110: Communications Department 120: Processing section 122: Acquisition Department 124: Remind Department 126: Unused notification section 128: Usage rate notification section 130: Storage section 200: First user terminal 300: Second user terminal 500: Usage information 900: Computer 901: Control unit 902: Storage section 903: Communications Department 904: Input section 905: Output section 910: Communication bus NW: Network

Claims

1. A system for transmitting an electronic gift selected on a first user terminal used by a first user to a second user terminal used by a second user who is a trading partner of the first user in a commercial transaction or a potential trading partner, and is a party designated by the first user, comprising: a storage unit for storing usage information necessary for a reminder to use the electronic gift that has already been sent; an acquisition unit that acquires the usage information by referring to the storage unit; a reminder unit that monitors the usage information, performs a first determination and a second determination, and, when it is determined that the usage information satisfies a specific condition, transmits a message to the second user terminal to encourage the use of the electronic gift; Equipped with The usage information includes usage status information indicating whether the electronic gift is unused or not, and a usage rate, which is a ratio of the number of times the electronic gift has been used to the number of times the electronic gift has been sent in the past for each of the second users; The first determination refers to a first setting of whether or not to use the usage status information, and if the first setting is to use the usage status information, the first determination determines whether or not the sent electronic gift is unused; The second determination refers to a second setting of whether to use only the usage status information and a third setting of whether to use the usage rate, and if the second setting is to not use only the usage status information and the third setting is to use the usage rate, determines whether to send the message encouraging the second user to use the electronic gift based on the usage rate of the electronic gift; The specific condition is that in the first judgment, it is determined that the electronic gift that has already been sent is unused, and in the second judgment, it is determined that the second user's usage rate of the electronic gift is lower than a predetermined threshold, and therefore the message encouraging use of the electronic gift is to be sent, and a gift sending system in which a second user to whom only one electronic gift has been sent and who has not used the electronic gift is determined to be a second user who tends to have a low usage rate.

2. The usage information includes the issuance time of the electronic gift; the reminding unit transmits the message to the second user when a predetermined period of time has elapsed since the issuance of the electronic gift. The gift sending system of claim 1 .

3. The predetermined period is a period set in advance by the first user. The gift sending system of claim 2 .

4. The usage information includes an expiration date of the electronic gift; the reminding unit sends the message to the second user when the last day of each month before the expiration date has arrived. The gift sending system of claim 1 .

5. The usage information includes an expiration date of the electronic gift; the reminding unit transmits the message to the second user when a predetermined time close to the expiration date is reached.

3. The gift sending system according to claim 1 or 2.

6. The gift sending system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the reminding unit shortens the intervals at which the message is sent as the expiration date approaches.

7. The gift sending system according to claim 1 , further comprising an unused notification unit that identifies the second user whose usage status information indicates unused status and notifies the first user of the unused status.

8. The gift sending system according to claim 1 , further comprising a usage rate notification unit that identifies the second user whose usage rate is below a predetermined value and notifies the first user.

9. The gift sending system of claim 1 , wherein the electronic gift has monetary value that can be used for payment.

10. A server that transmits an electronic gift selected on a first user terminal used by a first user to a second user terminal used by a second user who is a trading partner of the first user in a commercial transaction or a potential trading partner and is designated by the first user, a storage unit for storing usage information necessary for a reminder to use the electronic gift that has already been sent; an acquisition unit that acquires the usage information of the electronic gift by referring to the storage unit; a reminder unit that monitors the usage information, performs a first determination and a second determination, and, when it is determined that the usage information satisfies a specific condition, transmits a message to the second user terminal to encourage the use of the electronic gift; Equipped with The usage information includes usage status information indicating whether the electronic gift is unused or not, and a usage rate, which is a ratio of the number of times the electronic gift has been used to the number of times the electronic gift has been sent in the past for each of the second users; The first determination refers to a first setting of whether or not to use the usage status information, and if the first setting is to use the usage status information, the first determination determines whether or not the sent electronic gift is unused; The second determination refers to a second setting of whether to use only the usage status information and a third setting of whether to use the usage rate, and if the second setting is to not use only the usage status information and the third setting is to use the usage rate, determines whether to send the message encouraging the second user to use the electronic gift based on the usage rate of the electronic gift; The specific condition is that the first determination determines that the electronic gift that has already been sent is unused, and the second determination determines that the second user's usage rate of the electronic gift is lower than a predetermined threshold, and therefore the message encouraging use of the electronic gift is to be sent, and the gift sending server determines that the second user to whom only one electronic gift has been sent and who has not used the electronic gift is a second user who tends to have a low usage rate.

11. A method for transmitting an electronic gift selected on a first user terminal used by a first user to a second user terminal used by a second user who is a commercial transaction partner of the first user or a potential commercial transaction partner and is designated by the first user, comprising: an acquiring step of acquiring usage information of the electronic gift by referring to a storage unit storing usage information necessary for a reminder to use the electronic gift that has already been sent; a reminding step of monitoring the usage information, performing a first determination and a second determination, and sending a message to the second user terminal to encourage the second user terminal to use the electronic gift when it is determined that the usage information satisfies a specific condition; and The usage information includes usage status information indicating whether the electronic gift is unused or not, and a usage rate, which is a ratio of the number of times the electronic gift has been used to the number of times the electronic gift has been sent in the past for each of the second users; The first determination refers to a first setting of whether or not to use the usage status information, and if the first setting is to use the usage status information, the first determination determines whether or not the sent electronic gift is unused; The second determination refers to a second setting of whether to use only the usage status information and a third setting of whether to use the usage rate, and if the second setting is to not use only the usage status information and the third setting is to use the usage rate, determines whether to send the message encouraging the second user to use the electronic gift based on the usage rate of the electronic gift; The specific condition is that in the first judgment, it is determined that the electronic gift that has already been sent is unused, and in the second judgment, it is determined that the second user's usage rate of the electronic gift is lower than a predetermined threshold, and therefore the message encouraging use of the electronic gift is to be sent, and a second user to whom only one electronic gift has been sent and who has not used the electronic gift is determined to be a second user who tends to have a low usage rate.

12. A program for causing a computer to function as the system according to claim 1.

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