Information processing device, information processing system, information processing method, and program

Abstract

To reach a wider range of potential customers. [Solution] The information processing device 100 sets up tour information that links achievement conditions achieved by a user checking in at multiple check-in points spanning multiple stores or multiple businesses using a user terminal 200, and tour rewards corresponding to those achievement conditions. The control unit determines whether the achievement conditions have been achieved when a user checks in at multiple check-in points using the user terminal 200, and distributes tour rewards corresponding to the achievement conditions to users who have achieved them.

Description

Technical Field

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

Background Art

[0002] In recent years, for the purpose of increasing the number of customers visiting a store, etc., applications that can distribute coupons or check in when visiting a store have been widely used. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses an information processing system that distributes promotional information (such as coupons and sales information) to users.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] The information processing system disclosed in Patent Document 1 sets the geographical range where a designated store is located based on the attributes of existing customers who are users with a history of actions in the designated store, and extracts users with a history of actions in non-designated stores located within the overlapping range of the geographical ranges as potential customers of the designated store, so that more accurate potential customers can be extracted. However, in such a conventional technique, potential customers can only be extracted for stores located within the overlapping range of the geographical ranges, so there is room for improvement in the mechanism for approaching potential customers.

[0005] The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide an information processing apparatus, an information processing system, an information processing method, and a program that can approach potential customers in a wider range.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] To achieve the above objective, one aspect of the information processing apparatus according to the present invention is: Tour information is set up that links achievement conditions, which are achieved when a user checks in at multiple check-in points across multiple stores or businesses using their user terminal, with tour rewards corresponding to those achievement conditions. When the user checks in to the multiple check-in points using the user terminal, it is determined whether the achievement condition has been met. The tour reward corresponding to the achievement condition is distributed to the user who has achieved the achievement condition. It is equipped with a control unit. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to the present invention, it is possible to reach a wider range of potential customers. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0008] [Figure 1] This figure shows an overview of the information processing system according to the embodiment. [Figure 2] This is a block diagram showing the functional configuration of an information processing device. [Figure 3] This figure shows an example of user information. [Figure 4] This is a diagram showing an example of store information. [Figure 5] This figure shows an example of tour information. [Figure 6] This figure shows an example of user group information. [Figure 7] This figure shows an example of business group information. [Figure 8] This is a block diagram showing the functional configuration of the user terminal. [Figure 9] This figure shows an example of user information. [Figure 10] This figure shows an example of behavioral history information. [Figure 11] This figure shows an example of coupon information. [Figure 12]It is a block diagram showing the functional configuration of a store terminal. [Figure 13] It is a diagram showing an example of store information. [Figure 14] It is an example of a flowchart of distance coupon distribution processing. [Figure 15] It is an example of a flowchart of tour reward distribution processing. [Figure 16] It is a diagram showing an example of the processing flow when group check-in is performed when a group administrator manages a group. [Figure 17] It is a diagram showing an example of the processing flow when group check-in is performed when the system manages a group.

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0009] The information processing system etc. according to the embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. In the drawings, the same or corresponding parts are denoted by the same reference numerals.

[0010] As shown in FIG. 1, the information processing system 1000 according to the embodiment includes an information processing apparatus 100, a user terminal 200, a store terminal 300, and a blockchain 400 connected by a network 500. There are various functions provided by the information processing system 1000 to users and stores. Representative ones include a function of distributing various rewards (such as coupons) to the user terminal 200 by checking in with the user terminal 200 at a check-in point such as a store, and a function of distributing a coupon from the store to the user terminal 200 when the user approaches the store while carrying the user terminal 200. Also, a function of a tour in which a special reward is distributed by checking in at a plurality of check-in points is provided. Also, for check-in, there is not only "individual check-in" where a user checks in alone, but also "friend check-in" where a user checks in with a registered friend, and "group check-in" where a plurality of users within a group to which the user belongs check in together, and different rewards can be distributed respectively.

[0011] The information processing device 100 shown in FIG. 1 manages the entire information processing system 1000 and is a server that realizes functions such as the above-described check-in function and coupon distribution by collaborating with user terminals 200 and the like. As a functional configuration, as shown in FIG. 2, the information processing device 100 includes a control unit 110, a storage unit 120, and a communication unit 130.

[0012] The control unit 110 includes a processor such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit). The control unit 110 executes processes for realizing various functions of the information processing device 100 and the tour reward distribution process described later by the programs stored in the storage unit 120. Note that the control unit 110 supports multi-threading and can execute a plurality of processes in parallel.

[0013] The storage unit 120 stores programs executed by the control unit 110 and necessary data. The storage unit 120 includes memories such as a RAM (Random Access Memory) and a ROM (Read Only Memory). The storage unit 120 also includes a user information storage unit 121, a store information storage unit 122, a tour information storage unit 123, a user group storage unit 124, a business operator group storage unit 125, and the like.

[0014] As shown in Figure 3, the user information storage unit 121 stores information for each user (user information), including the nickname, date of birth, gender, friends, etc., for each user ID (Identification). Of this, the initial information entered as user information is the nickname, date of birth, and gender, which are the information entered by the user at the user terminal 200 when the user registers as a member and transmitted from the user terminal 200 to the information processing device 100. Information other than the initial information, such as friends, is expanded according to the user's usage status thereafter. Friend check-in is possible when users registered as friends in the user information check in at the same check-in point almost simultaneously (for example, within 5 minutes of one user checking in). However, some users may prefer to check in individually rather than as friends (for example, because the rewards distributed may differ, or because they do not want others to know about their friend check-in), so basically, friend check-in occurs when users who are friends mutually allow each other to check in. Furthermore, the user information storage unit 121 may also store a unique identifier on the blockchain (hereinafter referred to as the blockchain identifier) ​​corresponding to each user. This makes it possible to identify users using the blockchain identifier when distributing tokens or NFTs (Non-Fungible Tokens) as rewards on the blockchain.

[0015] As shown in Figure 4, the store information storage unit 122 stores information for each store, including the store name, address, distributed coupons, used coupons, check-in information, etc., for each store ID. In this example, the store ID is in the form of business ID-store ID, and the name is registered as business name + store name, but this is just an example, and the business ID and store ID, and the business name and store name may be registered as separate pieces of information. Of this information, the initial store information input is the name and address, which are the information that each store entered into the store terminal 300 when registering the store and which was then transmitted from the store terminal 300 to the information processing device 100. Information other than the initial information, such as distributed coupons, is expanded according to the store's status and other factors. The information processing device 100 and the store terminal 300 can be used to attract customers by publishing the contents of currently distributed coupons via the internet, etc., and also to attract customers by publishing check-in information such as the total number of check-ins, monthly check-ins, weekly check-ins, and daily check-ins via the internet, etc.

[0016] As shown in Figure 5, the tour information storage unit 123 stores tour information for each tour ID, including the tour name, administrator, total number of check-in points, check-in points, and reward information (reward ID for each reward, name of the reward, achievement conditions, and reward details). The check-in points included in the tour information are basically multiple check-in points that span multiple stores or multiple businesses. The tour information storage unit 123 also stores tour information that links achievement conditions achieved by a user checking in at these multiple check-in points with the tour rewards corresponding to those achievement conditions. This information is registered by the business that is the administrator of each tour by connecting to the information processing device 100 from any terminal.

[0017] For example, the tour with tour ID T01 shown in Figure 5 is a tour set up by a business operator called Company A. Users who achieve the achievement condition of checking in at all 10 stores listed as check-in points will receive a tour reward called the Perfect Award, which is a gift certificate worth 100,000 yen from Company A. Users who achieve the achievement condition of checking in at 8 stores, including store Z, will receive a tour reward called the Gold Award, which is a gift certificate worth 30,000 yen from Company A. Users who achieve the achievement condition of checking in at 5 stores, including store Z, will receive a tour reward called the Silver Award, which is a gift certificate worth 10,000 yen from Company A. The rewards may be physical items (for example, gift certificates made of paper) or virtual items (for example, gift certificates displayed on the screen of user terminal 200).

[0018] Furthermore, while the tour with tour ID T01 was a tour spanning multiple stores of Company A and involved only Company A as the operator, the tour with tour ID T02 involved not just one company, but multiple businesses that have stores in the B town shopping district. In other words, the tour with tour ID T02 was a tour set up by an operator called Company T, and users who achieved the achievement condition of checking in at all 12 stores listed as check-in points will receive a tour reward called the "All Stores Appreciation Award," which is a 10,000 yen gift certificate usable in the B town shopping district. Users who achieved the achievement condition of checking in at 8 out of 12 stores will receive a tour reward called the "Sueahiro Prize," which is a 3,000 yen gift certificate usable in the B town shopping district. Users who achieved the achievement condition of checking in at 6 out of 12 stores will receive a tour reward called the "Grand Prize," which is a 1,000 yen gift certificate usable in the B town shopping district. Note that, in this example, only Company T is the administrator of the tour with tour ID T02. However, it is also possible to configure it for joint management by multiple operators by using the operator group function described later.

[0019] Furthermore, the tours shown in Figure 5 include a tour spanning multiple stores of a single operator (T01) and a tour spanning individual stores of multiple operators (T02). However, these are merely examples of tours spanning multiple stores or multiple operators. Tours can be freely set up by the tour administrator who sets up the tour and registered in the tour information storage unit 123.

[0020] As shown in Figure 6, the user group storage unit 124 stores user group information such as the ID, name, administrator, number of users belonging to the user group, and user IDs of the users belonging to the user group, which are composed of multiple users. A user group is created when a user who wants to create a user group becomes the group administrator, sets the name, recruits users who want to become members of the user group, and registers the user group information. This user group information may be registered by the group administrator by sending the information processing device 100 with the information set on their user terminal 200, or the group administrator may connect to the information processing device 100 from any terminal and register it directly on the information processing device 100.

[0021] Group check-ins are possible when users registered in the user group information check in at the same check-in point almost simultaneously (for example, within 10 minutes of the first user in that user group checking in). However, some users may prefer to check in individually rather than as part of a group (for example, because the rewards distributed may differ, or because they do not want others to know about their group check-in). Therefore, group check-ins are generally only performed when a user belonging to that group allows them to do so. When a group check-in occurs, in addition to the regular check-in rewards (which are distributed to each user), a group check-in reward (group management reward) is distributed to the group administrator.

[0022] As shown in Figure 7, the business group storage unit 125 stores business group information such as the ID, name, administrator, number of businesses belonging to the business group, and the businesses belonging to the business group, which are composed of multiple businesses. A business that wants to create a business group becomes the administrator, sets the name, recruits businesses that want to become members of the business group, and registers the business group information to create the business group. This business group information may be registered by the business group administrator by sending the information to the information processing device 100 after setting it on the store terminal 300 of the store under their jurisdiction, or the business group administrator may connect to the information processing device 100 from any terminal and register it directly on the information processing device 100.

[0023] Returning to Figure 2, the communication unit 130 is a communication interface for the information processing device 100 to communicate data with other devices (e.g., user terminal 200, store terminal 300, etc.). When a user registers user information on the user terminal 200 or checks in at a check-in point (store, etc.), the user terminal 200 and the information processing device 100 communicate data via the network 500 without the user being aware of it, and the communication unit 130 is used in this process.

[0024] The functional configuration of the information processing device 100 has been described above. Next, the user terminal 200 shown in Figure 1 will be described.

[0025] The user terminal 200 is an information processing terminal intended for use by the user, such as a smartphone. By running apps or accessing websites (for example, a dedicated website provided by the information processing device 100) on the user terminal 200, functions such as check-in, management and publication of activity history, receipt of rewards (coupons, etc.) and medals (electronic medals and trophies, such as image data), friend and group registration, and tours are realized. Although only one user terminal 200 is shown in Figure 1, this is just an example, and basically each user carries one user terminal 200, so the information processing system 1000 is equipped with one or more user terminals 200. Functionally, the user terminal 200 includes a control unit 210, a storage unit 220, a communication unit 230, an output unit 240, an input unit 250, a location information acquisition unit 260, and an image information acquisition unit 270, as shown in Figure 8.

[0026] The control unit 210 is equipped with a processor such as a CPU. The control unit 210 executes processing to realize various functions of the user terminal 200 using programs stored in the memory unit 220. The control unit 210 supports multithreading and can execute multiple processes in parallel.

[0027] The storage unit 220 stores programs executed by the control unit 210 and necessary data. The storage unit 220 is equipped with memory such as RAM and ROM. The storage unit 220 also includes a user information storage unit 221, an activity history storage unit 222, a coupon information storage unit 223, and the like.

[0028] As shown in Figure 9, the user information storage unit 221 stores information about the user who possesses the user terminal 200 (user information), such as user ID, nickname, date of birth, gender, and friends. Furthermore, similar to the user information storage unit 121, the user information storage unit 221 may also store a blockchain identifier corresponding to the user. Of this information, the information that the user should input as initial user information is the nickname, date of birth, and gender. This information, entered by the user into the user terminal 200 during member registration, is transmitted from the user terminal 200 to the information processing unit 100 and stored in the user information storage unit 121 of the information processing unit 100. In addition, information other than the initial information, such as friends, is expanded according to the user's usage status, and is transmitted to the information processing unit 100 as needed and stored in the user information storage unit 121 of the information processing unit 100.

[0029] For example, if user A sends a friend request to user B from user terminal 200A, and user B accepts the request on user terminal 200B, user B's user ID will be registered as friend information in user information storage unit 221 of user A's user terminal 200A, and user A's user ID will be registered as friend information in user information storage unit 221 of user B's user terminal 200B.

[0030] Among the user information, the date of birth (and the age calculated from it) and gender can be used by system administrators, businesses, store managers, etc., for marketing purposes. For example, when a store manager distributes distance coupons to a user (as described later), they can distribute coupons that promote products that are appropriate for the user's age and gender.

[0031] As shown in Figure 10, the activity history storage unit 222 stores activity history information, including the date and time of check-in, the check-in point (either a store, a real event such as a concert, or an online event such as an online concert), and WITH information (either solo check-in, friend check-in, or group check-in), each time a user checks in at a check-in point (either a store, a real event such as a concert, or an online event such as an online concert). While the actions that trigger a check-in can be arbitrarily configured, for example, a user can check in at a physical location by scanning a QR (Quick Response) code (registered trademark) displayed at a store or concert venue with the user terminal 200. In the case of online events, for example, a check-in button may appear on the screen when the user accesses the online venue, and the user can check in by touching this button. These are merely examples of check-ins, and the administrator setting the check-in points can freely configure them.

[0032] As shown in Figure 11, the coupon information storage unit 223 stores coupon information, including the reason for acquisition, the content of the coupon, and whether or not it has been used, for coupons acquired by the user terminal 200. For example, a coupon distributed when the user terminal 200 is near a store is a coupon acquired based on GPS (Global Positioning System) information. This coupon can be said to be a coupon based on a marketing strategy, distributed to acquire new customers. Also, for example, a coupon distributed when a user checks in at a store is a coupon acquired based on a check-in. This coupon can be said to be a coupon based on a loyalty strategy, distributed in particular to prevent existing customers from leaving the store.

[0033] Coupons stored in the coupon information storage unit 223 can be displayed on the user terminal 200's screen. For example, by showing the coupon to a store clerk and tapping the "Use" button on the screen, the user can receive the reward indicated in the coupon (for example, by purchasing goods at a discounted price). Once a coupon has been used, the "Used?" item in the coupon information changes to "Used," and it can no longer be used.

[0034] Returning to Figure 8, the communication unit 230 is a communication interface for the user terminal 200 to communicate data with other devices (e.g., the information processing device 100, the store terminal 300, etc.). When a user registers user information on the user terminal 200 or checks in at a check-in point (store, etc.), the user terminal 200 and the information processing device 100 communicate data via the network 500, and the communication unit 230 is used in this process.

[0035] The output unit 240 is a display means such as a liquid crystal display. The output unit 240 displays coupon information, for example, based on user instructions. The output unit 240 may also be equipped with an audio output means such as a speaker, or a notification means such as a vibrator.

[0036] The input unit 250 is an input means such as a push-button switch or a touch panel integrated with the display of the output unit 240. The input unit 250 may also be equipped with an audio input means such as a microphone. In this case, for example, by running a voice recognition program in the control unit 210, the user terminal 200 can also receive user instructions via voice input.

[0037] The location information acquisition unit 260 is equipped with a GPS receiver and other devices to acquire the user's current location. The control unit 210 periodically acquires the current location information from the location information acquisition unit 260 and transmits it to the information processing device 100. Through this process and the distance coupon distribution process described later, distance coupons are distributed to the user terminal 200 from stores near the current location.

[0038] The image information acquisition unit 270 is equipped with a camera and, for example, photographs and reads QR codes (registered trademarks) displayed in stores or concert venues. Check-ins using real-world locations such as stores or concert venues are performed by the control unit 210 transmitting the information from the QR code (registered trademark) read by the image information acquisition unit 270 to the information processing device 100. In this embodiment, check-ins using real-world locations are mainly described using QR codes (registered trademarks), but this is only one example, and it is not necessary to use QR codes (registered trademarks) for check-ins. For example, check-ins may be performed using other means (e.g., NFC (Near Field Communication)), in which case the user terminal 200 does not need to be equipped with the image information acquisition unit 270, but instead will be equipped with the devices necessary for check-ins using those other means (e.g., an NFC tag reader). For example, when performing a check-in using NFC, the user holds the user terminal 200 over an NFC tag installed in a store or concert venue and reads information from the NFC tag. In this case, the control unit 210 transmits the information of the read NFC tag to the information processing device 100, thereby performing a check-in.

[0039] The functional configuration of the user terminal 200 has been described above. Next, the store terminal 300 shown in Figure 1 will be described.

[0040] The store terminal 300 is an information processing terminal installed in the store, such as a tablet PC (Personal Computer). When a user who visits the store performs a check-in operation on the user terminal 200, that information is transmitted not only to the information processing device 100 but also to the store terminal 300, and the store terminal 300 distributes rewards or medals to the user's user terminal 200 based on the user's activity history (check-in history, etc.). Although only one store terminal 300 is shown in Figure 1, this is just an example, and it is basically assumed that one store terminal 300 is installed in each store, and the information processing system 1000 is equipped with one or more store terminals 300. Functionally, the store terminal 300 includes a control unit 310, a storage unit 320, a communication unit 330, an output unit 340, and an input unit 350, as shown in Figure 12.

[0041] The control unit 310 is equipped with a processor such as a CPU. The control unit 310 executes processing to realize various functions of the store terminal 300 based on the program stored in the memory unit 320. The control unit 310 supports multithreading and can execute multiple processes in parallel.

[0042] The storage unit 320 stores programs executed by the control unit 310 and necessary data. The storage unit 320 is equipped with memory such as RAM and ROM. The storage unit 320 also includes a store information storage unit 321, etc.

[0043] As shown in Figure 13, the store information storage unit 321 stores information about the store where the store terminal 300 is installed, including the store ID, store name, address, distributed coupons, used coupons, check-in information, etc. Of this information, the store manager should input the name and address as initial store information. When the store manager inputs this information into the store terminal 300 during store registration, it is transmitted from the store terminal 300 to the information processing device 100 and stored in the store information storage unit 122 of the information processing device 100. In addition, information other than the initial information, such as distributed coupons, is expanded according to the store's situation and is transmitted to the information processing device 100 as needed and stored in the store information storage unit 122 of the information processing device 100.

[0044] Returning to Figure 12, the communication unit 330 is a communication interface for the store terminal 300 to communicate data with other devices (e.g., the information processing device 100, the user terminal 200, etc.). For example, when a store manager registers store information on the store terminal 300, the store terminal 300 and the information processing device 100 communicate data via the network 500, and the communication unit 330 is used in this process.

[0045] The output unit 340 is a display means such as a liquid crystal display. The output unit 340 displays check-in statistics (for example, the total number of check-ins at the store, the number of check-ins per month, the number of check-ins per week, the number of check-ins on the day, etc.) based on instructions from the store manager. The output unit 340 may also be equipped with an audio output means such as a speaker.

[0046] The input unit 350 is an input means such as a push-button switch or a touch panel integrated with the display of the output unit 340. The input unit 350 may also be equipped with an audio input means such as a microphone. In this case, for example, by running a voice recognition program in the control unit 310, the store terminal 300 can also accept instructions from store managers and others via voice input.

[0047] The functional configuration of the store terminal 300 has been described above. Note that the blockchain 400 shown in Figure 1 is not necessarily required of the information processing system 1000. However, the blockchain 400 is shown in Figure 1 to demonstrate that the information processing system 1000 can also support distributed networks such as blockchains, and that in such cases, a portion of the information stored in the memory unit 120 of the information processing device 100 can also be stored in the blockchain 400. Furthermore, the network 500 shown in Figure 1 can be any network, such as the internet or LTE (Long Term Evolution). Also, the network 500 is not necessarily limited to one type of network, and may be a combination of multiple networks. For example, communication between the user terminal 200 and the store terminal 300 within the store may use a wireless LAN (Local Area Network) as the network 500, while communication between the user terminal 200 and the information processing device 100 may use LTE as the network 500.

[0048] The information processing system 1000 described above stores the user's activity history (such as check-in history), and the user terminal 200 can receive various rewards and medals from the information processing device 100 and the store terminal 300 based on the user's activity history. Specifically, the user can check in at various locations (for example, various stores), check in at real events such as concerts, or check in to online events via the network 500 using the user terminal 200. Depending on the check-in, the user can receive rewards such as discount coupons usable at the store visited or download tickets for special songs by the artists performing at the concert. Furthermore, by repeatedly checking in at a specific store or at a specific artist's concert, the user can receive medals such as trophy image data from the store or medal image data including a profile picture from the artist.

[0049] Furthermore, the information processing system 1000 has functions for broadly approaching new customers based on a marketing strategy (a function to distribute coupons to users near stores) and functions for encouraging the use of more check-in points based on a marketing strategy and loyalty strategy (a function to distribute special rewards for checking in at multiple check-in points). Therefore, the distance coupon distribution process and the tour reward distribution process, which realize these functions, will be explained.

[0050] First, the distance coupon distribution process, which implements the function of distributing coupons to users near a store, will be explained with reference to Figure 14. The distance coupon distribution process is executed by the control unit 110 of the information processing device 100. The administrator of the information processing system 1000 can arbitrarily set the timing at which the distance coupon distribution process is executed, but for example, the information processing device 100 executes the distance coupon distribution process each time location information is transmitted from the user terminal 200. Alternatively, the information processing device 100 may execute the distance coupon distribution process periodically (for example, every minute).

[0051] When the distance coupon distribution process is executed, the control unit 110 acquires the location information transmitted from the user terminal 200 (step S101). If the distance coupon distribution process is executed each time location information is transmitted from the user terminal 200, step S101 only needs to acquire the location information from the user terminal 200 that transmitted the location information. However, if the distance coupon distribution process is executed periodically, step S101 acquires the location information from each user terminal.

[0052] Next, the control unit 110 refers to the store information storage unit 122 to obtain the address information of each store (step S102). Then, based on the address information of each store and the location information of each user terminal 200, the control unit 110 determines whether or not there are stores and user terminals 200 whose distance from the store to the user terminal 200 is within the distribution distance (for example, 300m) (step S103).

[0053] If there are no stores or user terminals 200 whose distance from the store is within the distribution distance (step S103; No), the control unit 110 terminates the distance coupon distribution process.

[0054] If there are stores and user terminals 200 whose distance from the store is within the distribution distance (Step S103; Yes), the control unit 110 distributes a coupon (distance coupon) for the store to each pair of stores and user terminals 200 whose distance is within the distribution distance (Step S104). Once coupons have been distributed to all pairs of stores and user terminals 200 whose distance is within the distribution distance, the distance coupon distribution process ends. Coupon distribution is performed when the information processing device 100 transmits coupon information to the user terminal 200, and the user terminal 200 receives the coupon information and stores it in the coupon information storage unit 223.

[0055] The distance coupon distribution process described above (Figure 14) distributes coupons to user terminals 200 of users who are near each store (approaching within the distribution distance), thereby motivating users to enter the store. This allows the information processing device 100 to reach potential customers over a wider area. When the user terminal 200 receives a coupon distributed by the information processing device 100, it may notify the user by emitting a sound effect from its speaker or vibrating its vibrator. Furthermore, although the above process only considered the distance between the store and the user, for example, if the distance between a concert venue and a user is within the distribution distance as the concert start time approaches, the process could be modified to distribute, for example, a discount ticket for the concert as a coupon to that user. The distance coupon distribution process described above (Figure 14) is merely one example of a processing procedure, and the procedure can be freely modified as long as its purpose (for example, realizing the function of distributing coupons to users near stores or event venues) is achieved.

[0056] Next, the tour reward distribution process, which provides special rewards for checking in at multiple check-in points, will be explained with reference to Figure 15. The tour reward distribution process is also executed by the control unit 110 of the information processing device 100. The administrator of the information processing system 1000 can arbitrarily set the timing at which the tour reward distribution process is executed, but for example, when the information processing device 100 is started up, the execution of the tour reward distribution process begins as soon as the necessary initialization processes are completed.

[0057] First, the control unit 110 determines whether or not it has received information from the user terminal 200 indicating that a check-in has been performed (check-in information) (step S201). Check-in information is, for example, the information of the QR code (registered trademark) read by the user terminal 200 at the time of check-in.

[0058] If you have not received check-in information (Step S201; No), return to Step S201.

[0059] If check-in information is received (Step S201; Yes), the control unit 110 distributes a check-in reward corresponding to the check-in information to the user terminal 200 (Step S202). Typically, the check-in information (for example, the information of the QR code (registered trademark) transmitted from the user terminal 200) includes information about the check-in point (store, concert venue, etc.) checked in by the user terminal 200. Therefore, the control unit 110 determines the content of the check-in reward based on the information of the check-in point and the user information (obtainable from the user information storage unit 121) associated with the user ID obtained from the user terminal 200 that transmitted the check-in information, and transmits it to the user terminal 200.

[0060] The control unit 110 then acquires behavioral history information from the user terminal 200 (step S203). For example, the control unit 110 sends a behavioral history information request packet to the user terminal 200, and the user terminal 200, upon receiving it, transmits the behavioral history information stored in the behavioral history storage unit 222 to the information processing device 100, thereby enabling the control unit 110 to acquire behavioral history information from the user terminal 200.

[0061] The control unit 110 then compares the tour information stored in the tour information storage unit 123 with the activity history information acquired in step S203 to determine whether or not the conditions for achieving the tour information have been met (step S204).

[0062] If you have not met the tour information completion requirements (Step S204; No), return to Step S201.

[0063] If the achievement conditions for the tour information are met (step S204; Yes), the control unit 110 distributes the tour reward corresponding to the met achievement conditions to the user terminal 200 (step S205), and returns to step S201.

[0064] The tour reward distribution process described above (Figure 15) can incentivize users to check in at multiple check-in points. If these check-in points include one that the user has not previously checked into, the user is more likely to check in at that point as a new customer. In other words, the information processing system 1000 can reach a wider range of potential customers. Furthermore, the tour reward distribution process (Figure 15) allows users who check in at multiple check-in points to receive rewards commensurate with the difficulty of their achievement. This allows the system to send a message to all customers that it values ​​existing customers as well, for example, by giving higher rewards to users who have used many stores. Note that the tour reward distribution process (Figure 15) described here is merely one example of a processing procedure, and the procedure can be freely modified as long as its objective (for example, realizing a function to distribute special rewards for checking in at multiple check-in points) is achieved.

[0065] Furthermore, while the above explanation mainly introduced discount coupons as a type of reward and trophy and medal image data as a type of medal, these are merely examples. Rewards and medals can be freely set by their providers (check-in point providers (e.g., store or concert managers) or system administrators (e.g., administrators of information processing system 1000 or information processing device 100)), and may include discount coupons, image data, electronic medals, NFTs (non-fungible tokens), tokens, and other rewards that can be distributed on the blockchain.

[0066] Furthermore, while the tour may appear similar to a traditional stamp rally to some, it is actually quite different. For example, when conducting a stamp rally, the organizer needs to prepare multiple stamps and multiple locations for stamping. For instance, if a railway company is the organizer, these preparations may be relatively easy, but it would be quite difficult for an ordinary person to do so. Similarly, while a stamp rally confined to a single store might be relatively easy for the store's manager to conduct, a stamp rally spanning multiple stores or multiple businesses (for example, store X of company A and store Y of company B) requires coordinating these multiple stores or businesses, which is also quite difficult. On the other hand, with the information processing system 1000, a tour can be conducted simply by registering the tour information in the tour information storage unit 123. Moreover, coordinating multiple businesses is also possible by registering multiple businesses in the business group storage unit 125, allowing all businesses providing check-in points included in the tour to jointly manage them, making it relatively easy to conduct tours that span multiple stores or businesses.

[0067] Furthermore, while traditional stamp rallies only allowed stamps to be placed at physical locations such as stores and train stations, the check-in points in this tour can be at physical locations (stores, etc.) as well as events (real-world events such as concerts) and online events (events conducted via networks such as online concerts). This makes it easier to repeatedly attract users not only to related stores but also to events and online events.

[0068] Furthermore, the distance coupon distribution process ensures that coupons (distance coupons) are distributed to users who are near a store, providing an incentive for them to visit the store even if they haven't used it before. Additionally, distributing distance coupons, such as concert ticket discount vouchers, to people who happen to be near a concert venue can encourage users who previously had no interest in concerts to attend.

[0069] Furthermore, users who visit a store or enter a concert venue can earn rewards by checking in. Therefore, users who visit / enter a store / concert venue because of distance coupons can receive check-in rewards in addition to the distance coupons by checking in at the store / concert venue. By rewarding users in this two-stage process, it is highly likely that the user's impression of the store / concert venue will be positive, making it easier to acquire new customers.

[0070] Furthermore, there are different types of check-ins, including solo check-ins performed by a user alone, friend check-ins performed with registered friends, and group check-ins performed with multiple users from a group to which the user belongs. Users receive check-in rewards according to the type of check-in. While the setting of check-in rewards is left to the store manager, it is common to set better rewards for friend check-ins and group check-ins than for solo check-ins. By setting them in this way, users are motivated to check in with friends or in groups, and the providers of check-in points (stores, concert organizers, etc.) can increase the likelihood of more users entering their establishments / entering the venue.

[0071] Furthermore, when a group check-in occurs, the group administrator who set up the group receives a group management reward. This provides an incentive for the group administrator to manage the group, and also motivates those who have not previously been group administrators to become one. As a result, the likelihood of group check-ins increases, and check-in point providers (stores, concert organizers, etc.) can increase the chances of more users entering their premises / entering the venue.

[0072] Regarding the group setup for group check-in, the group administrator may not only create the group but also register the participating members (for example, the group administrator may access the information processing device 100 from the user terminal 200 to register or edit the user group information stored in the user group storage unit 124), or participating members may be allowed to join the group themselves.

[0073] In the example shown in Figure 16, first, the group administrator accesses the information processing device 100 from the user terminal 200 to create a group ("1. Create a group" in Figure 16). Then, the group administrator notifies other users that the group has been created, and users who wish to join the group access the information processing device 100 from the user terminal 200 to join the group ("2. Join a group" in Figure 16). At this time, each user may be allowed to join the group unconditionally, or only users approved by the group administrator may be allowed to join. Such participation conditions can be set by the group administrator when the group is created. For example, if the group administrator creates a group for an alumni reunion and invites alumni to join by saying, "I have created a group for the alumni reunion, so please join this group if you would like to participate in the reunion," since only alumni have been invited, it may be assumed that only alumni will know about the group, and therefore those who wish to participate may be allowed to join unconditionally. Alternatively, considering the possibility of information leaking to non-alumni, the group administrator may require the group administrator to verify that the person wishing to participate is indeed an alumnus before they can join the group.

[0074] Then, when the alumni reunion is actually held, attendees (users including the group administrator) check in at the reunion venue (as shown in "3. Check-in" in Figure 16), which completes the group check-in. When the information processing device 100 confirms the group check-in information (as shown in "4. Confirm Check-in Information" in Figure 16), it grants the group check-in reward to the group administrator's user terminal 200 (as shown in "5. Grant Group Check-in Reward" in Figure 16).

[0075] However, the existence of a group administrator is not mandatory, and the system administrator or the information processing device 100 itself may manage the group. This second embodiment will be explained with reference to Figure 17. In the example shown in Figure 17, there is a user who is not a group administrator but applies to create a group (group creator), and this group creator applies to the information processing device 100 to create a group (shown as "1. Apply for group creation" in Figure 17). Then, the system administrator or the information processing device 100 accepts the application for group creation and creates the group (shown as "2. Application accepted and group created" in Figure 17). At that time, the system (for example, the information processing device 100) may notify the members of the created group (in Figure 17, the group creator, group participant A, group participant B, and group participant C) that the group has been created (shown as "3. Notify of group" in Figure 17). Regarding who to register as members of the created group, the group creator may send a member list to the system, or the system may be able to register them freely.

[0076] Then, when a group check-in is actually performed at a store or other location (as shown in "4. Check-in" in Figure 17), rewards will be distributed. In this embodiment, the terms related to these rewards are defined as follows. System Administrator: The operator of this service (may be a corporation). Group Administrator: A user (person) who organizes / coordinates group check-ins. Server account: Internal balance within the server (information processing system 100) (ledger stored in the storage unit 120) Administrator Wallet: The system administrator's cryptocurrency wallet (blockchain wallet). User wallet: Cryptocurrency wallet for participating users (automatically issued for storage, or connected to an existing wallet) Smart contract: An automated program executed on the blockchain. Claims (requests for payment) are made to smart contracts. Management Reward: A management reward distributed when a group check-in is completed (the recipient is the system administrator or group administrator, etc., and can be set at the discretion of the system administrator or group administrator). Distribution rule information: This is information that collects multiple distribution rules, which bundle together the distribution ratio of rewards, rounding, upper limits, payment timing, etc., and is stored in the distribution rule storage unit 126 of the storage unit 120. Distribution Rule ID: An identifier used to distinguish each distribution rule (stored in the distribution rule storage unit 126 as distribution rule information) that bundles together the reward distribution ratio, rounding, upper limit, payment timing, etc. Anchor information: Information on the time and location of the first check-in within the group.

[0077] Furthermore, "distributing rewards" means recording rewards (exchange vouchers such as coupons / gift certificates) in a ledger (server account (internal balance within the server)) or blockchain (cryptocurrency wallet or smart contract) and making them usable. However, since users cannot confirm whether or not rewards have been distributed simply by recording them in the ledger or blockchain, the rewards recorded therein are made available to each user's user terminal 200 (for example, as cache). Therefore, objectively, it may appear as if the rewards have been distributed to the user terminal 200, and for convenience, it is sometimes said that "rewards are distributed to the user terminal 200," which actually means that the rewards recorded in the ledger (or blockchain) are being referenced from the user terminal 200.

[0078] While rewards are usually in the form of coupons or gift certificates, cash may also be offered as rewards. In this case, the system administrator and participating users may register their bank account numbers and other information for receiving the cash separately on the server (information processing device 100) as settlement information. In this case, for settlement operations involving cash, the deposit destination will be the system administrator's (or participating user's) bank account.

[0079] Furthermore, when rewards are recorded on the blockchain, either a cryptocurrency wallet or a smart contract can be used. For example, a system design could be such that a cryptocurrency wallet is used for immediate distribution, while a smart contract is used for conditional distribution or distribution based on a claim (receiving request). Even when rewards are recorded on a cryptocurrency wallet, the distributed rewards are not limited to cryptocurrencies; they could also be tokenized coupons or NFT (Non-Fungible Token) gift certificates, for example.

[0080] When distributing rewards off-chain, they are credited to the system administrator's server account. If the reward is in cash, the system administrator then aggregates the funds and pays them to the group administrator's (and participating users') bank account upon request from the group administrator. In this case, payments do not have to be made individually each time; periodic settlements (such as monthly lump-sum transfers) may be used. This reduces fees and makes it easier to correct any misdeliveries and handle audits. The distribution of rewards itself is completed through ledger recording (crediting to the server account), which can be accessed on user terminal 200, so coupons and gift certificates can be used immediately by presenting user terminal 200.

[0081] When distributing rewards on-chain, they can be automatically sent to the administrator's wallet or deposited into a smart contract (the system administrator owns this smart contract). Furthermore, rewards deposited into the smart contract can be received by participating users by claiming them from a user terminal 200, etc., to an automated contract program on blockchain 400 (corresponding to the information processing device 100, as described later). This raises concerns that users might forget to claim their rewards, but to address this, the user terminal 200 can be notified of any unclaimed rewards, the claim deadline can be notified, and rewards that have expired due to the deadline can be redistributed. Conversely, distributing rewards based on user claims offers advantages such as reduced fees, the ability to receive rewards after KYC (Know Your Customer) verification, and increased transparency (distribution logs can be visualized on the blockchain). Participating users can receive their rewards either (A) through a storage wallet automatically generated by the server for each user, or (B) through an existing wallet connection that connects to a cryptocurrency wallet the user already possesses. Furthermore, reward distribution is not limited to the system administrator and may be sent directly to participating users. However, distributing rewards through the system administrator's smart contract ensures transparency and fair automated distribution.

[0082] Furthermore, when distributing rewards, they will be allocated according to pre-set distribution rules. While these distribution rules can be set arbitrarily, an example is shown below. Ratio: System administrators 30%, group administrators 30%, other users 40% equally distributed (system administrators receive 30%, group administrators receive 30%, and the remaining 40% is equally distributed among users other than group administrators (users who checked into the group)). Rounding: Rounds less than 1 yen are truncated; any rounding errors are absorbed by the system administrator. Limit (Cap Setting): A limit is set on the amount (or quantity) received for each unit, such as one transaction, one day, or one tour. Payment timing: Immediately after completion / Batch / Monthly, etc. (Note that "batch" refers to processing in batches at specific times, such as once per transaction, per day, or per tour, while "monthly" refers to settling accumulated rewards in a lump sum the following month.) However, the above is merely an example and is not limited to these. Multiple allocation rules, each containing such information, are collected and stored as allocation rule information in the allocation rule storage unit 126 within the storage unit 120. Businesses and system administrators using group check-in can freely combine and select from these rules. In Figure 17, each parameter of the allocation rule (ratio, rounding, upper limit, payment timing, etc.) is bundled together and assigned a single allocation rule ID, but each parameter may also be assigned an allocation rule ID.

[0083] Furthermore, for a group check-in to be successful, all members of the group must check in simultaneously, but it is practically difficult for them to check in perfectly at the same time. Therefore, the control unit 110 of the information processing device 100 records the time and location of the first person to check in as anchor information, and determines that the check-ins were made simultaneously if the deviation from the anchor information is within a predetermined range (for example, within 10 minutes and within 50m). However, this is only one example of the conditions for a successful group check-in, and various variations can be adopted.

[0084] Returning to Figure 17, when a group check-in is performed at a store or other location (shown as "4. Check-in" in Figure 17), the control unit 110 verifies the check-in information of each user (shown as "5. Check Check-in Information" in Figure 17). If the conditions for a successful group check-in are met, the control unit 110 grants the group check-in reward to the system administrator's server account, etc. (shown as "6. Receive Group Check-in Reward" in Figure 17).

[0085] The control unit 110 then distributes the group check-in reward according to the pre-configured distribution rule ID. Depending on the setting of the distribution rule ID, the system administrator can receive all of the reward, or the system administrator can receive a portion and distribute the rest to the group participants (as shown in Figure 17, "7. Distribution based on distribution rule ID").

[0086] Furthermore, such a check-in system using the information processing device 100 may also be an automated contract program (smart contract) that operates on the blockchain 400, as shown in Figure 17. In this case, the information processing device 100 can be considered as an automated contract program that is executed in a distributed manner by multiple nodes on the blockchain 400 network, rather than as a specific central server. This automated contract program can also be considered to include a control unit 110 for defining processing logic, etc., and a storage unit 120 for holding state, etc. The blockchain 400 is a distributed ledger technology consisting of one or more servers. By operating the check-in system as an automated contract program on the blockchain 400, it is possible to automate the management of group check-ins (for example, contracts with stores and group members involved in group check-ins) and further improve the reliability of the system.

[0087] The following are specific examples of measures to prevent fraud and improve system reliability. (1) Linking terminal ID and account (corresponding to the user ID shown in Figure 3): For example, linking can be done by including the ID of user terminal 200 in the user information shown in Figure 3. This linking allows for detection of an anomaly if the terminal ID is different, even if multiple people log in with the same account. However, since some users use multiple user terminals 200, or share one user terminal 200, detecting such an anomaly does not necessarily mean that it is an unauthorized login. (2) One-time (or short-lived) QR code (or token, etc.): A code valid for only a short time is presented at the check-in venue, and the server verifies the time, location, and signature. This deters fraudulent check-ins from remote locations by taking a picture of the QR code used for check-in. (3) Detection of location spoofing (unnatural movement, etc.): For example, the system detects instantaneous movement or inconsistencies with the location of the access point by using the movement history of each user immediately before check-in and the base station information of the Wi-Fi or data communication being used at that time. (4) Deterring multiple check-ins (rate limits): For example, limiting the number of check-ins or the interval between check-ins at the same location to "once per hour" or "up to N times per day" will deter multiple check-ins. However, the above are merely examples and are not limited to these.

[0088] In the above embodiment, the information processing device 100 was described as managing all information, including information related to the user terminal 200 and the store terminal 300. However, if necessary, the store terminal 300 may be used for distributed management, or other server computers may be connected to the network 500 and used for distributed management. Furthermore, the types of data and data structures in the above embodiment are merely examples, and the types of data to be stored, as well as the data structure, may be freely deleted, added, or modified.

[0089] Furthermore, in the above embodiment, it was described that the programs for various processes executed by the control unit 110 (distance coupon distribution process, tour reward distribution process, etc.) are pre-stored in the storage unit 120. However, a computer capable of executing the above processes may be configured by distributing programs stored on non-temporary computer-readable recording media such as flexible disks, CD-ROMs (Compact Disc Read Only Memory), DVDs (Digital Versatile Discs), MOs (Magneto-Optical discs), memory cards, and USB (Universal Serial Bus) memory, and then loading and installing those programs into a computer.

[0090] Furthermore, the program can be superimposed on a carrier wave and applied via a communication medium such as the Internet. For example, the program could be posted and distributed on a bulletin board system (BBS) on a communication network. This program could then be launched and executed under the control of the operating system (OS), just like any other application program, to perform the aforementioned processes.

[0091] Furthermore, the control unit 110 may consist of any single processor, such as a single processor, multi-processor, or multi-core processor, or it may be configured by combining any of these processors with processing circuits such as an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit) or FPGA (Field-Programmable Gate Array).

[0092] Although preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to these specific embodiments, and the present invention includes the invention described in the claims and its equivalents. [Explanation of symbols]

[0093] 100... Information processing device, 110, 210, 310... Control unit, 120, 220, 320... Memory unit, 121, 221... User information memory unit, 122, 321... Store information memory unit, 123... Tour information memory unit, 124... User group memory unit, 125... Business operator group memory unit, 126... Allocation rule memory unit, 130, 230, 330... Communication unit, 200... User terminal, 222... Behavioral history memory unit, 223... Coupon information memory unit, 240, 340... Output unit, 250, 350... Input unit, 260... Location information acquisition unit, 270... Image information acquisition unit, 300... Store terminal, 400... Blockchain, 500... Network, 1000... Information processing system

Claims

1. Tour information is set up that links achievement conditions, which are achieved when a user checks in at multiple check-in points across multiple stores or businesses using their user terminal, with tour rewards corresponding to those achievement conditions. When the user checks in to the multiple check-in points using the user terminal, it is determined whether the achievement condition has been met. The tour reward corresponding to the achievement condition is distributed to the user who has achieved the achievement condition. Equipped with a control unit, The types of check-ins include not only individual check-ins performed by the user alone, but also group check-ins performed by the user together with multiple users within the group to which the user belongs. The control unit, When the aforementioned group check-in is performed, a group management reward will be distributed to the system administrator or group administrator who set up the group. Information processing device.

2. An information processing system comprising an information processing device and a user terminal, The aforementioned information processing device is Tour information is set up that links achievement conditions, which are achieved when a user checks in at multiple check-in points across multiple stores or businesses using the user terminal, with tour rewards corresponding to those achievement conditions. When the user checks in to the multiple check-in points using the user terminal, it is determined whether the achievement condition has been met. The tour reward corresponding to the achievement condition is distributed to the user who has achieved the achievement condition. Equipped with a control unit, The types of check-ins include not only individual check-ins performed by the user alone, but also group check-ins performed by the user together with multiple users within the group to which the user belongs. The control unit, When the aforementioned group check-in is performed, a group management reward will be distributed to the system administrator or group administrator who set up the group. Information processing system.

3. The control unit of the information processing device, Tour information is set up that links achievement conditions, which are achieved when a user checks in at multiple check-in points across multiple stores or businesses using their user terminal, with tour rewards corresponding to those achievement conditions. When the user checks in to the multiple check-in points using the user terminal, it is determined whether the achievement condition has been met. An information processing method for distributing the tour reward corresponding to the achievement condition to a user who has achieved the achievement condition, The types of check-ins include not only individual check-ins performed by the user alone, but also group check-ins performed by the user together with multiple users within the group to which the user belongs. The control unit further, When the aforementioned group check-in is performed, a group management reward will be distributed to the system administrator or group administrator who set up the group. Information processing methods.

4. In the control unit of the information processing device, Tour information is set up that links achievement conditions, which are achieved when a user checks in at multiple check-in points across multiple stores or businesses using their user terminal, with tour rewards corresponding to those achievement conditions. When the user checks in to the multiple check-in points using the user terminal, it is determined whether the achievement condition has been met. The tour reward corresponding to the achievement condition is distributed to the user who has achieved the achievement condition. A program that executes a process, The types of check-ins include not only individual check-ins performed by the user alone, but also group check-ins performed by the user together with multiple users within the group to which the user belongs. The control unit further includes, When the aforementioned group check-in is performed, a group management reward will be distributed to the system administrator or group administrator who set up the group. A program that executes a process.

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