Point management device and point management method

Abstract

To use points given to a user for purchasing NFTs.SOLUTION: A transaction system comprises: a point management device that manages points held by a user, and causes the points to be consumed according to a point consumption request from the user; and a transaction information providing device that acquires, from a market that deals with non-fungible tokens in which a holder is managed on a block chain, market data related to the non-fungible tokens, and provides the user with the acquired market data. The market data includes information indicating the transaction price of the non-fungible tokens. The point management device causes points corresponding to the transaction price of the non-fungible tokens that are requested to be purchased to be consumed from the points held by the user who requests purchasing of the non-fungible tokens.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a point management device and a point management method.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, points are given to users who purchase goods or use services, the points given to users are managed, and the points held by users are exchanged for goods or the like, or point operation based on the operation information of financial products such as stocks is performed (for example, see Patent Documents 1, 2, and 3).

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Patent Document 2

Patent Document 3

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] In recent years, for digital assets such as digital art, game items, and trading cards, NFTs (Non-Fungible Tokens) that can prove uniqueness and the owner have attracted attention. And a marketplace (NFT marketplace) for handling such NFTs has been established, and it has become possible to purchase and sell NFTs using the NFT marketplace.

[0005] In this NFT situation, one possible use of the points awarded to users, as described above, is to use the points held by the user to purchase NFTs. However, the point management technologies described in the aforementioned Patent Documents 1, 2, and 3 make it difficult to use the points held by the user to purchase NFTs. For example, in NFT marketplaces, a specific cryptocurrency is used as the settlement currency for NFT purchases, or users are required to create a dedicated cryptocurrency wallet.

[0006] This invention was made in consideration of these circumstances, and its purpose is to enable users to use points awarded to them to purchase NFTs. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] One aspect of the present invention is a point management device that manages points held by a user and receives purchase request data from a user terminal used by the user making the purchase request in response to a purchase request to purchase a non-fungible token using the held points, comprising: a point management table that stores held points for each user; and a point management unit that identifies the held points held by the user making the purchase request indicated by the purchase request data using the point management table, identifies the consumption points to be consumed based on the purchase request for the non-fungible token that is the target of the purchase request indicated by the purchase request data and the market trading price of the non-fungible token that is the target of the purchase request, subtracts the identified consumption points from the identified held points, and stores the resulting held points in the point management table as the held points of the user making the purchase request. The point management table stores the points held by a user and the purchased non-fungible token data relating to the non-fungible tokens purchased by that user who made the purchase request. The purchased non-fungible token data is data relating to the purchased non-fungible tokens purchased at the request of the user who made the purchase request, and is data that proves who the holder of the purchased non-fungible tokens is, and is managed on the blockchain. This is a point management device. One aspect of the present invention is a point management device in which the point management device acquires information that identifies transaction price equivalent points, which are points equivalent to the market transaction price of the nonfungible token that is the subject of the purchase request. One aspect of the present invention is a point management device in which the point management device compares the points equivalent to the transaction price with the identified points held and confirms whether the identified points held are equal to or greater than the points equivalent to the transaction price. One aspect of the present invention is a point management device in which, when the point management device receives purchase notification information indicating that the non-fungible token that is the subject of the purchase request has been purchased by the purchase requestor, the point management unit performs a deduction of the consumed points. One aspect of the present invention is a point management device in which, upon receiving the purchase notification information, the point management device transmits purchase report information to the user terminal indicating that the purchase of the non-fungible token that is the subject of the purchase request has been completed.

[0008] One aspect of the present invention provides a point management device that manages points held by a user and receives purchase request data from a user terminal used by the user making the purchase request in response to a purchase request to purchase a non-fungible token using the held points. The point management device includes a point management table that stores the held points for each user, and the point management device identifies the held points held by the user making the purchase request indicated by the purchase request data using the point management table, identifies the points to be consumed based on the purchase request for the non-fungible token that is the target of the purchase request and the market trading price of the non-fungible token that is the target of the purchase request, subtracts the identified points to be consumed from the identified held points, and stores the resulting held points in the point management table as the held points of the user making the purchase request. death , The aforementioned point management table stores a user's points in association with purchased non-fungible token data relating to non-fungible tokens purchased by that user for which the purchase request originated. The purchased non-fungible token data is data relating to purchased non-fungible tokens purchased at the request of the user who made the purchase request, and is data that proves who the holder of said purchased non-fungible tokens is, and is managed on the blockchain. This is a point management method. [Effects of the Invention]

[0009] According to the present invention, the effect is obtained that points awarded to users can be used to purchase NFTs.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0010] [Figure 1] It is a block diagram showing a configuration example of a transaction system according to an embodiment. [Figure 2] It is a block diagram showing a configuration example of a point management device according to an embodiment. [Figure 3] It is a diagram showing a configuration example of a point management table according to an embodiment. [Figure 4] It is a block diagram showing a configuration example of a purchase management device according to an embodiment. [Figure 5] It is a diagram showing a configuration example of a purchase management table according to an embodiment. [Figure 6] It is a block diagram showing a configuration example of a transaction information providing device according to an embodiment. [Figure 7] It is a diagram showing an example of providing NFT market data according to an embodiment. [Figure 8] It is a sequence diagram showing an example of the procedure of a transaction method according to an embodiment. [Figure 9] It is a sequence diagram showing an example of the procedure of a transaction method according to an embodiment. [Figure 10] It is a diagram showing a modified example of a point management table according to an embodiment. [Figure 11] It is a block diagram showing a configuration example of a transaction system according to an embodiment. [Figure 12] It is a block diagram showing a configuration example of a management device according to an embodiment. [Figure 13] It is a sequence diagram showing an example of the procedure of a transaction method according to an embodiment.

Modes for Carrying Out the Invention

[0011] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. <​​​​FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of a transaction system according to the first embodiment. In FIG. 1, the point management device 2 manages points held by users. The user is registered in the point management device 2 and is given user identification information (user ID) for identifying the user. The point management device 2 manages points given to each user when the user purchases goods or uses services. The point management device 2 transmits and receives data to and from a terminal (user terminal) 7 used by the user via a communication line. Further, the point management device 2 transmits and receives data to and from the transaction information providing device 6 via the communication line.

[0013] The user uses the user terminal 7 to make a point consumption request to the point management device 2. The point consumption request is, for example, a request such as exchanging points held by the user for goods or the like. In this embodiment, as one of the point consumption requests, a request (NFT purchase request) to purchase an NFT (non-fungible token) using points held by the user is provided. The user can use the user terminal 7 to make an NFT purchase request to the point management device 2.

[0014] The point management device 2 causes points to be consumed in response to a point consumption request from the user. For example, when the user exchanges points held by the user for goods, the number of consumed points set for the exchange target goods is subtracted from the remaining number of points held by the user. For example, when the user purchases an NFT using points held by the user, the number of consumed points converted from the transaction price (virtual currency price) of the purchase target NFT is subtracted from the remaining number of points held by the user.

[0015] The point management device 2 makes an NFT purchase request to the purchase management device 3 in response to an NFT purchase request from the user.

[0016] The purchase management device 3 sends and receives data with the point management device 2 via a communication line. The purchase management device 3 also sends and receives data with the NFT market 4 via a communication line. The NFT market 4 is a marketplace for the purchase and sale of NFTs. Furthermore, NFT Market 4 may be implemented by a computer (NFT Market Server) that runs a computer program (NFT Market Software) to implement functions of an NFT marketplace, such as displaying NFT sales information, accepting NFT purchase requests, processing NFT payments, and managing NFT holder information. Therefore, NFT Market 4 may refer to the NFT Market Server.

[0017] NFTs handled by NFT Market 4 have their ownership managed on Blockchain 5. Blockchain 5 records the history of the NFTs handled by NFT Market 4. This Blockchain 5 verifies the ownership of the NFTs handled by NFT Market 4.

[0018] Purchase management device 3 executes an NFT purchase process on NFT market 4 in response to an NFT purchase request from point management device 2. During the NFT purchase process, purchase management device 3 requests NFT market 4 to change the holder of the NFT to be purchased. In response to the request to change the holder of the NFT to be purchased, NFT market 4 executes a process on blockchain 5 to change the holder of the NFT to be purchased. As a result, the holder of the NFT to be purchased, as managed on blockchain 5, is changed.

[0019] The purchase management device 3 obtains data regarding the NFT to be purchased, whose owner has been changed on blockchain 5, from the NFT market 4. The data regarding the NFT to be purchased includes metadata on blockchain 5 related to the NFT to be purchased. The metadata on blockchain 5 related to the NFT to be purchased contains information about the NFT to be purchased, such as an identifier, creation date and time, owner address indicating the owner, and object URL. The object URL is a URL (Uniform Resource Locator) that indicates the location of the digital asset (original digital data) that the NFT to be purchased proves as its owner. Digital assets that the NFT to be owned by can be various, such as digital art, game items, trading cards, digital photographs, digital audio, and digital text.

[0020] The purchase management device 3 records data regarding the purchased NFT whose ownership has been changed on the blockchain 5, outside of blockchain 5.

[0021] The purchase management device 3 performs payment settlement processing in conjunction with the NFT purchase process to the NFT market 4. In the payment settlement process, the purchase management device 3 performs payment settlement processing corresponding to the transaction price of the NFT to be purchased.

[0022] The transaction information provider 6 sends and receives data with the NFT market 4 via a communication line. The transaction information provider 6 also sends and receives data with the point management device 2 via a communication line.

[0023] The transaction information provider 6 obtains market data (NFT market data) related to NFTs from the NFT market 4. The NFT market data includes information such as identifiers, categories of objects, transaction prices (prices of cryptocurrencies), and URLs of objects for NFTs handled by the NFT market 4.

[0024] The transaction information provider 6 sends and receives data with the user terminal 7 via a communication line. The transaction information provider 6 provides the user with NFT market data acquired from the NFT market 4. The user uses the user terminal 7 to acquire NFT market data from the transaction information provider 6.

[0025] The transaction information provider 6 converts the transaction prices (cryptocurrency prices) of NFTs included in the NFT market data into points managed by the point management device 2. This conversion rate is set in advance. The transaction information provider 6 includes the converted transaction price points, which are the result of converting the transaction prices (cryptocurrency prices) of NFTs into points, in the NFT market data provided to the user.

[0026] The NFT market data allows users to identify the category of each NFT sold on NFT Market 4, including its transaction price conversion points. Therefore, by comparing the number of points they hold with the transaction price conversion points of each NFT, users can determine that an NFT with a transaction price conversion point equal to or less than their remaining points is an NFT they can purchase. Furthermore, the user can use user terminal 7 to access the object URL included in the NFT market data and verify the object of the NFT (the original digital data).

[0027] Figure 2 is a block diagram showing an example configuration of a point management device according to this embodiment. In Figure 2, the point management device 2 comprises a point management unit 21 and a point control unit 22. The point management unit 21 includes a point management table 23.

[0028] Each function of the point management device 2 is realized by the point management device 2 being equipped with computer hardware such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit) and memory, and the CPU executing computer programs stored in memory. The point management device 2 may be configured using a general-purpose computer device, or it may be configured as a dedicated hardware device. For example, the point management device 2 may be configured using a server computer connected to a communication network such as the Internet. Furthermore, each function of the point management device 2 may be realized through cloud computing. Also, the point management device 2 may be implemented by a single computer, or its functions may be distributed across multiple computers. Additionally, the point management device 2 may be configured to establish a website using, for example, a WWW system.

[0029] The point management unit 21 manages the points held by users. The point management unit 21 manages each user's points using the point management table 23.

[0030] Figure 3 shows an example of the configuration of the point management table according to this embodiment. In the example in Figure 3, for each user, the user ID, the remaining number of points held by the user (points held), and data related to purchased NFTs (purchased NFT data) are stored in the point management table 23. The purchased NFT data is obtained from the purchase management device 3.

[0031] The point control unit 22 performs control related to points. In response to a point consumption request from the user, the point control unit 22 instructs the point management unit 21 to consume the points. The point management unit 21 consumes the points in accordance with the instructions from the point control unit 22.

[0032] For example, when a user exchanges points for a product, the point control unit 22 instructs the point management unit 21 to deduct the number of points required for the exchangeable product from the user's remaining points. The point management unit 21 then deducts the number of points required from the user's remaining points according to the instructions from the point control unit 22.

[0033] For example, when a user purchases an NFT using points they hold, the point control unit 22 instructs the point management unit 21 to deduct the number of points consumed, which is the transaction price conversion points for the NFT to be purchased, from the remaining number of points held by the user. The point management unit 21 deducts the number of points consumed from the remaining number of points held by the user in accordance with the instruction from the point control unit 22. The transaction price conversion points for the NFT to be purchased are the converted value (transaction price conversion points) obtained from the transaction information providing device 6, which converts the transaction price (virtual currency price) of the NFT to be purchased.

[0034] The point control unit 22 makes an NFT purchase request to the purchase management device 3 in response to a user's request to purchase an NFT.

[0035] Figure 4 is a block diagram showing an example configuration of a purchase management device according to this embodiment. In Figure 4, the purchase management device 3 comprises a purchase management unit 31 and a purchase control unit 32. The purchase management unit 31 comprises a purchase management table 33.

[0036] Each function of the purchasing management device 3 is realized by the purchasing management device 3 being equipped with computer hardware such as a CPU and memory, and the CPU executing a computer program stored in memory. The purchasing management device 3 may be configured using a general-purpose computer device, or it may be configured as a dedicated hardware device. For example, the purchasing management device 3 may be configured using a server computer connected to a communication network such as the Internet. Furthermore, each function of the purchasing management device 3 may be realized by cloud computing. In addition, the purchasing management device 3 may be implemented by a single computer, or its functions may be distributed and realized by multiple computers.

[0037] The purchasing management unit 31 manages the purchase of NFTs. The purchasing management unit 31 uses the purchasing management table 33 to manage each NFT that has been requested for purchase from the point management device 2.

[0038] Figure 5 shows an example of the configuration of the purchase management table according to this embodiment. In the example in Figure 5, for each user, the user ID, purchased NFT data, and the identifier of the holder of the purchased NFT (NFT holder ID) are stored in the purchase management table 33. The purchased NFT data is obtained from the purchase management device 3. The user ID is the user ID of the user who made the purchase request. The purchased NFT data is the NFT data purchased at the request of the user who made the purchase request. The NFT holder ID is the identifier of the holder of the NFT purchased at the request of the user who made the purchase request. Therefore, the NFT holder ID is the identifier of the holder indicated by the holder address included in the purchased NFT data.

[0039] In this embodiment, the holder of a purchased NFT is a designated purchase administrator. The purchase administrator is a different person from the user who made the purchase request. Therefore, the NFT holder ID is the identifier of the purchase administrator (purchase administrator ID) and is different from the user ID. The purchase administrator is, for example, the administrator of the point management device 2.

[0040] In this embodiment, the reason for designating the holder of a purchased NFT as the purchase administrator is, for example, that in the NFT market 4, the purchase administrator can create a centralized cryptocurrency wallet as the purchase point, eliminating the need to create a user-specific cryptocurrency wallet for each user.

[0041] The purchase control unit 32 controls the purchase of NFTs. In response to an NFT purchase request from the point management device 2, the purchase control unit 32 executes an NFT purchase process on the NFT market 4. In the NFT purchase process, the purchase control unit 32 requests the NFT market 4 to change the holder of the NFT to be purchased to a predetermined purchase administrator. In this embodiment, the purchase administrator is a different person from the user who made the purchase request.

[0042] NFT Market 4, in response to a request to change the holder of the NFT to the purchase manager, executes a process on Blockchain 5 to change the holder of the NFT to the purchase manager. As a result, the holder of the NFT managed on Blockchain 5 is changed to the purchase manager.

[0043] The purchase control unit 32 retrieves data (purchased NFT data) related to the NFT to be purchased, whose holder has been changed to the purchase administrator on the blockchain 5, from the NFT market 4. The purchase control unit 32 instructs the purchase management unit 31 to record the purchased NFT data retrieved from the NFT market 4. The purchase management unit 31 stores the purchased NFT data in the purchase management table 33, associating it with the user ID of the purchase requester and the purchase administrator ID as the NFT holder ID, in accordance with the instructions from the purchase control unit 32.

[0044] Furthermore, the purchase control unit 32 provides the purchased NFT data obtained from the NFT market 4 to the point management device 2. The point management device 2 stores the purchased NFT data provided by the purchase control unit 32 in the point management table 23, associating it with the user ID of the purchase requester.

[0045] The purchase control unit 32 executes a payment settlement process in conjunction with the NFT purchase process on NFT Market 4. In the payment settlement process, the purchase control unit 32 executes a payment settlement process corresponding to the transaction price of the NFT to be purchased. In NFT Market 4, a specific cryptocurrency is used as the settlement currency for NFT purchases. Therefore, the purchase control unit 32 executes the payment settlement process using the cryptocurrency used in NFT Market 4.

[0046] Figure 6 is a block diagram showing an example configuration of a transaction information providing device according to this embodiment. In Figure 6, the transaction information providing device 6 comprises a market data acquisition unit 61, a point conversion unit 62, and an information provision control unit 63.

[0047] Each function of the trading information provider 6 is realized by the trading information provider 6 being equipped with computer hardware such as a CPU and memory, and the CPU executing a computer program stored in memory. The trading information provider 6 may be configured using a general-purpose computer device, or it may be configured as a dedicated hardware device. For example, the trading information provider 6 may be configured using a server computer connected to a communication network such as the Internet. Furthermore, each function of the trading information provider 6 may be realized by cloud computing. In addition, the trading information provider 6 may be implemented by a single computer, or its functions may be distributed and realized by multiple computers. Furthermore, the trading information provider 6 may be configured to open a website using, for example, a WWW system.

[0048] The market data acquisition unit 61 acquires NFT market data from the NFT market 4 at predetermined timings. For example, the market data acquisition unit 61 acquires NFT market data from the NFT market 4 at regular intervals. For example, the market data acquisition unit 61 acquires NFT market data from the NFT market 4 at predetermined times. For example, the market data acquisition unit 61 acquires NFT market data from the NFT market 4 when a predetermined event occurs. Examples of events include the registration of new NFTs, the completion of NFT transactions, and changes in NFT trading prices.

[0049] The point conversion unit 62 converts the trading price (virtual currency price) of NFTs included in the NFT market data into points managed by the point management device 2. This conversion rate is set in advance.

[0050] The information provision control unit 63 controls the provision of NFT market data to the user. The information provision control unit 63 transmits the NFT market data to the user terminal 7. The NFT market data transmitted to the user terminal 7 includes transaction price converted points, which are the converted value of the NFT transaction price (virtual currency price) converted into points.

[0051] Figure 7 shows an example of the provision of NFT market data according to this embodiment. In the example in Figure 7, for each NFT (sales NFT) sold on the NFT market 4, information such as the category to which the sales NFT belongs, the sales NFT identifier (sales NFT ID), the transaction price conversion points, and the URL of the item are included in the NFT market data and provided to the user. The user uses the user terminal 7 to recognize the information included in the NFT market data.

[0052] In this embodiment, the user is provided with transaction price converted points as NFT market data, which are the converted value of the transaction price of an NFT (the price of the cryptocurrency) converted into points. Therefore, the user does not need to convert the price of the cryptocurrency, which is the transaction price of the NFT, into points themselves. This makes it easy for the user to determine which NFTs for sale can be purchased with the points they hold.

[0053] Furthermore, in this embodiment, transaction price conversion points are provided from the transaction information providing device 6 to the point management device 2. Therefore, the point management device 2 does not need to convert the price of the virtual currency, which is the transaction price of the NFT, into points itself. This makes it easy for the point management device 2 to compare the points held by the user with the transaction price conversion points.

[0054] Next, the transaction method according to this embodiment will be described with reference to Figures 8 and 9. Figures 8 and 9 are sequence diagrams showing an example of the procedure of the transaction method according to this embodiment.

[0055] [Transaction Information Provision Stage] The transaction information provision stage in the transaction method according to this embodiment will be explained with reference to Figure 8. Figure 8 shows an example of the procedure for the transaction information provision stage in the transaction method according to this embodiment.

[0056] (Step S11) The transaction information provider 6 acquires NFT market data from the NFT market 4 at a predetermined timing.

[0057] (Step S12) The NFT market data includes the trading price of NFTs expressed in cryptocurrency. The trading information provider 6 converts the trading price of NFTs (price of cryptocurrency) included in the NFT market data into points managed by the point management device 2 at a predetermined conversion rate.

[0058] (Step S13) The transaction information provider 6 transmits NFT market data to the user terminal 7. The NFT market data transmitted to the user terminal 7 includes transaction price conversion points, which are the converted value points of the conversion result in step S12. The user terminal 7 receives the NFT market data transmitted from the transaction information provider 6.

[0059] (Step S14) The user terminal 7 displays NFT market data on its screen. The user recognizes each piece of information in the NFT market data displayed on the user terminal 7, for example, as shown in Figure 7. The user can use the user terminal 7 to access the URL of the desired NFT for sale, and then display and confirm the object of that NFT for sale (for example, the original digital data of digital art) on the user terminal 7 screen. The user can also determine which NFTs for sale can be purchased with the points they hold, based on the transaction price conversion points of each NFT for sale included in the NFT market data. Furthermore, in the example of NFT market data provided as illustrated in Figure 7, the NFTs for sale are classified by category, so the user can easily search for NFTs for sale in the desired category.

[0060] Furthermore, the user may use the user terminal 7 to request NFT market data from the transaction information provider 6 by specifying a category. The information provision control unit 63 of the transaction information provider 6 extracts information for the specified category from the NFT market data and transmits the NFT market data related to the NFTs for sale in the specified category to the user terminal 7. This allows the user to access the NFT market data related to the NFTs for sale in the specified category using the user terminal 7.

[0061] Another example of providing NFT market data is to establish virtual stores that handle one or more categories, and classify the NFTs sold by each virtual store. For example, this could include a virtual store (art-related NFT shop) that handles art-related NFTs (e.g., digital art, artist autograph images, artist interview audio, etc.) or a virtual store (idol-related NFT shop) that handles idol-related NFTs (e.g., idol trading cards, digital photos, digital audio, etc.). The user uses the user terminal 7 to request NFT market data from the transaction information provider 6 by specifying a virtual store. The information provision control unit 63 of the transaction information provider 6 extracts information about the specified virtual store from the NFT market data and transmits the NFT market data related to the NFTs sold by the specified virtual store to the user terminal 7. This allows the user to access the NFT market data related to the NFTs sold by the specified virtual store using the user terminal 7.

[0062] In this embodiment, categories and virtual stores are examples of NFT sales categories.

[0063] Furthermore, the transaction information provider 6 may provide the user with NFT market data relating to NFTs selected from among multiple NFTs handled by the NFT market 4 in accordance with predetermined sales conditions.

[0064] As a sales condition, for example, an upper limit on the points used to convert the transaction price based on the user's remaining points (point balance) may be set. In this case, the information provision control unit 63 of the transaction information provision device 6 obtains the user's remaining points from the point management device 2 and transmits NFT market data for the NFTs for sale, which have transaction price conversion points less than or equal to the user's remaining points, to the user's user terminal 7.

[0065] Other sales conditions may include, for example, sales conditions based on user attributes. Examples of sales conditions based on user attributes include age restrictions for each NFT being sold and recommendations based on age group.

[0066] [NFT purchase stage] The NFT purchase stage in the transaction method according to this embodiment will be explained with reference to Figure 9. Figure 9 shows an example of the procedure for the NFT purchase stage in the transaction method according to this embodiment.

[0067] (Step S21) The user (purchase requesting user) selects a desired NFT (purchase target NFT) from among the NFTs for sale included in the NFT market data provided by the transaction information provider 6. The purchase requesting user uses the user terminal 7 to submit an NFT purchase request for the purchase target NFT to the point management device 2. The user terminal 7 transmits the NFT purchase request data to the point management device 2 in response to the user's operation to submit the NFT purchase request. The NFT purchase request data includes the user ID of the purchase requesting user and the identifier of the purchase target NFT (purchase target NFT_ID). The point management device 2 receives the NFT purchase request data transmitted from the user terminal 7.

[0068] (Step S22) The point management device 2 compares the transaction price conversion points of the NFT for sale (NFT for purchase) corresponding to the NFT ID for purchase shown in the NFT purchase request data received from the user terminal 7 with the remaining points (points held) of the user making the purchase request, and confirms whether the points held by the user making the purchase request are equal to or greater than the transaction price conversion points. The transaction price conversion points of the NFT for sale are obtained from the transaction information provider 6. If, as a result of this confirmation, the points held by the user making the purchase request are less than the transaction price conversion points of the NFT for purchase, the device sends a response to the user terminal 7 of the user making the purchase request indicating that the purchase is not possible due to insufficient points.

[0069] On the other hand, if the results of this verification show that the points held by the user making the purchase request are equal to or greater than the transaction price equivalent points of the NFT to be purchased, the point management device 2 subtracts those transaction price equivalent points from the points held by the user making the purchase request. The result of this point deduction is recorded in the point management table 23.

[0070] (Step S23) Point management device 2 transmits NFT purchase request information to purchase management device 3 if the points held by the user making the purchase request are equal to or greater than the transaction price conversion points of the NFT to be purchased. The NFT purchase request information includes the NFT_ID to be purchased, the user ID of the user making the purchase request (user ID of the user making the purchase request), and purchase fund payment data. The purchase fund payment data is data indicating that purchase funds equivalent to the transaction price conversion points of the NFT to be purchased have been paid. These purchase funds are paid in legal tender (e.g., Japanese yen) by any payer (e.g., the administrator of point management device 2 (point administrator)) to a designated payee (e.g., a bank account specified by purchase management device 3). The conversion rate between points and legal tender (e.g., Japanese yen) is set in advance. Purchase management device 3 receives the NFT purchase request information transmitted from point management device 2.

[0071] (Step S24) When the purchase management device 3 receives NFT purchase request information from the point management device 2, it executes the NFT purchase and payment settlement process for the NFT market 4.

[0072] In the NFT purchase process, the purchase management device 3 requests the NFT market 4 to change the holder of the NFT to be purchased (purchase target NFT_ID) to a designated purchase administrator. In this embodiment, the purchase administrator is a different person from the user who made the purchase request, and is, for example, the administrator of the point management device 2.

[0073] The purchase management device 3 executes the settlement process for the amount corresponding to the transaction price (cryptocurrency price) of the NFT to be purchased during the payment settlement process. Specifically, the purchase management device 3 executes the process of paying the amount corresponding to the transaction price (cryptocurrency price) of the NFT to be purchased from the purchase manager's cryptocurrency wallet. In the NFT market 4, the purchase manager's cryptocurrency wallet is created in advance. The purchase management device 3 deposits the amount of cryptocurrency corresponding to the transaction price (cryptocurrency price) of the NFT to be purchased into the said wallet. The amount corresponding to the transaction price (cryptocurrency price) of the NFT to be purchased is, for example, the amount of cryptocurrency obtained by adding transaction fees and other fees (amount of cryptocurrency) to the transaction price (cryptocurrency price) of the NFT to be purchased. After depositing the amount into the said wallet, the purchase management device 3 executes the process of paying the amount from the said wallet.

[0074] (Step S25) Once the purchase management device 3 has completed the NFT purchase and payment processing, the NFT Market 4, in response to a request to change the holder of the NFT to be purchased (NFT_ID), executes a process on Blockchain 5 to change the holder of the NFT to the purchase manager. As a result, the holder of the NFT to be purchased (NFT_ID) managed on Blockchain 5 is changed to the purchase manager. After this change of holder, the metadata on Blockchain 5 for the NFT to be purchased records an address indicating the purchase manager (purchase manager address) as the holder address. The purchase manager address is registered in advance on the NFT Market 4.

[0075] (Step S26) The purchase management device 3 obtains data (purchased NFT data) from the NFT market 4 regarding the NFT to be purchased, whose holder has been changed to the purchase manager on the blockchain 5. The purchased NFT data is data that includes metadata on blockchain 5 regarding the NFT to be purchased. The purchase manager's address is recorded in the metadata as the holder's address. Therefore, the purchased NFT data is data that proves that the holder of the NFT to be purchased is the purchase manager.

[0076] (Step S27) The purchase management device 3 stores the purchased NFT data obtained from the NFT market 4 in the purchase management table 33, as illustrated in Figure 5. Therefore, the purchased NFT data is recorded outside of the blockchain 5, associated with the purchase requesting user ID. The purchased NFT data is also associated with the purchase administrator ID, which is the NFT holder ID.

[0077] (Step S28) The purchase management device 3 transmits NFT purchase notification information to the point management device 2. The NFT purchase notification information includes the NFT_ID to be purchased, the user ID of the purchase requester, and the purchased NFT data. The point management device 2 receives the NFT purchase notification information transmitted from the purchase management device 3.

[0078] (Step S29) When the point management device 2 receives NFT purchase notification information from the purchase management device 3, it records the NFT purchase by the user who made the purchase request. In recording the NFT purchase by the user who made the purchase request, the point management device 2 stores the purchased NFT data included in the NFT purchase notification information in the point management table 23, as illustrated in Figure 3, in association with the user ID who made the purchase request included in the NFT purchase notification information. The point management device 2 also overwrites the points held by the user ID who made the purchase request in the point management table 23 with the result of the point deduction recorded in step S22. As a result, the points held by the user ID who made the purchase request in the point management table 23 are updated with the result of the point deduction.

[0079] If, for any reason, the purchase of the target NFT in NFT Market 4 fails, the points held by the user ID making the purchase request will not be updated in the point management table 23, and the points held by the user ID making the purchase request before the point deduction in step S22 will remain unchanged.

[0080] In this embodiment, the consumption of points managed by the point management device 2 is recorded in the point management device 2 (point management table 23), but not on the blockchain 5. Therefore, the fact that the points held by the user making the purchase request were used to purchase the target NFT is not recorded on the blockchain 5.

[0081] (Step S30) The point management device 2 sends an NFT purchase report to the user terminal 7 of the user who made the purchase request. The NFT purchase report contains information indicating that the purchase of the target NFT has been completed, and includes information such as the target NFT_ID and a URL (purchased NFT data URL) indicating the location of the purchased NFT data in the point management table 23. The user who made the purchase request can use the user terminal 7 to access the purchased NFT data URL and confirm the purchased NFT data. The user who made the purchase request can also use the user terminal 7 to access the object URL included in the purchased NFT data and confirm the object (original digital data) of the target NFT.

[0082] Figure 10 shows a modified example of the point management table according to this embodiment. In this modified example, the points held by each user are managed separately for each point issuer. A point issuer is a person who awards points to a user when the user purchases a product or uses a service. In the example in Figure 10, the points held by each user are stored separately in the point management table 23 for each point issuer.

[0083] Furthermore, the point management device 2 may limit the point accrual of points usable for purchasing NFTs to the administrator of the point management device 2. In this case, in step S22 of Figure 13 described above, the point management device 2 compares the transaction price conversion points of the NFT to be purchased with the points held by the user requesting the purchase, which are points accrued by the administrator of the point management device 2 (target held points), and confirms whether the target held points are equal to or greater than the transaction price conversion points. If the target held points are less than the transaction price conversion points, the point management device 2 responds to the user terminal 7 of the user requesting the purchase that the purchase is not possible due to insufficient points. On the other hand, if the target held points are equal to or greater than the transaction price conversion points, the point management device 2 subtracts the transaction price conversion points from the target held points. This result of subtracting the target held points is recorded in the point management table 23. Furthermore, in step S29 of Figure 13 described above, the point management device 2, as a record of the NFT purchase by the requesting user, overwrites the target points held by the requesting user ID in the point management table 23 with the result of subtracting the target points held recorded in step S22.

[0084] Furthermore, the point management device 2 may limit the points usable for purchasing NFTs to those awarded to users who have used services provided by the administrator of the point management device 2. The administrator of the point management device 2 designates users who have used services provided by them as users to whom they are eligible to award points.

[0085] As described above, this embodiment provides the advantage that users can use the points they have been given to purchase NFTs.

[0086] [Second Embodiment] Figure 11 is a block diagram showing an example configuration of a trading system according to the second embodiment. In Figure 11, the same reference numerals are used for parts corresponding to parts in Figure 1, and their descriptions are omitted. In the first embodiment described above, as illustrated in Figure 1, the point management device 2 and the purchase management device 3 were configured as separate devices. In the second embodiment, the point management device 2 and the purchase management device 3 are configured as a single management device 8 as illustrated in Figure 11, which is different from the first embodiment described above. The differences from the first embodiment will be mainly explained below.

[0087] Figure 12 is a block diagram showing an example configuration of the management device according to this embodiment. In Figure 12, the same reference numerals are used for parts corresponding to the parts in Figures 2 and 4, and their descriptions are omitted. In the management device 8 illustrated in Figure 12, the control unit 81 has the functions of both the point control unit 22 in Figure 2 and the purchase control unit 32 in Figure 4.

[0088] Figure 13 is a sequence diagram showing an example of the procedure for the NFT purchase stage in the transaction method according to this embodiment. In Figure 13, the parts corresponding to each step in Figure 9 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and their descriptions are omitted. In this embodiment, the transaction information provision stage is the same as in the first embodiment of Figure 8 described above.

[0089] Steps S21 and S22 are the same as in the first embodiment shown in Figure 9 above. However, the management device 8 performs each process instead of the point management device 2 in the first embodiment shown in Figure 9. In this embodiment, after step S22, step S23 in Figure 9 is omitted and step S24a is executed.

[0090] (Step S24a) The management device 8 executes the NFT purchase and payment settlement process on the NFT market 4 if the points held by the user requesting the purchase are equal to or greater than the points equivalent to the transaction price of the NFT to be purchased. This NFT purchase and payment settlement process is the same as in the first embodiment of step S24 in Figure 9 described above.

[0091] After step S24a, steps S25 to S27 are executed. Steps S25 to S27 are the same as in the first embodiment shown in Figure 9 above. However, instead of the purchase management device 3 in the first embodiment of Figure 9, the management device 8 executes each process. In this embodiment, after step S27, step S28 in Figure 9 is omitted, and step S29 is executed by the management device 8. In step S29, the management device 8 records the NFT purchase by the purchase requesting user. This process of recording the purchase requesting user's NFT purchase is the same as in the first embodiment of step S29 in Figure 9 above.

[0092] After step S29, step S30 is executed. However, in the first embodiment shown in Figure 9, the management device 8 performs the processing instead of the point management device 2.

[0093] According to this embodiment, similar to the first embodiment described above, the effect is obtained that points awarded to the user can be used to purchase NFTs.

[0094] Furthermore, this will enable an overall improvement in service quality, for example, in systems that utilize points held by users, thereby contributing to Goal 9 of the United Nations-led Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): "Build resilient infrastructure, promote sustainable industrialization and foster innovation."

[0095] Although embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail above with reference to the drawings, the specific configuration is not limited to these embodiments, and design modifications and the like are also included within the scope of the gist of the present invention.

[0096] Alternatively, computer programs for realizing the functions of each of the above-mentioned devices may be recorded on a computer-readable recording medium, and the programs recorded on this recording medium may be loaded into a computer system and executed. The term "computer system" here may include hardware such as an operating system and peripheral devices. Furthermore, if a WWW system is being used, the "computer system" shall also include the homepage provisioning environment (or display environment). Furthermore, "computer-readable recording media" refers to writable non-volatile memory such as flexible disks, magneto-optical disks, ROMs, and flash memory, portable media such as DVDs (Digital Versatile Discs), and storage devices such as hard disks built into computer systems.

[0097] Furthermore, "computer-readable recording media" also includes volatile memory (such as DRAM (Dynamic Random Access Memory)) within computer systems that act as servers or clients when programs are transmitted via networks such as the Internet or communication lines such as telephone lines, which retain programs for a certain period of time. Furthermore, the above program may be transmitted from a computer system that stores the program in a memory device or the like to another computer system via a transmission medium or by transmission waves within the transmission medium. Here, the "transmission medium" used to transmit the program refers to a medium that has the function of transmitting information, such as a network (communication network) like the Internet or a communication line (communication line) like a telephone line. Furthermore, the above program may be intended to implement some of the functions described above. It may also be a so-called differential file (differential program) that can implement the aforementioned functions in combination with programs already recorded in the computer system. [Explanation of symbols]

[0098] 2...Point management device, 3...Purchase management device, 4...NFT market, 5...Blockchain, 6...Transaction information provision device, 7...User terminal, 8...Management device, 21...Point management unit, 22...Point control unit, 23...Point management table, 31...Purchase management unit, 32...Purchase control unit, 33...Purchase management table, 61...Market data acquisition unit, 62...Point conversion unit, 63...Information provision control unit, 81...Control unit

Claims

1. A point management device that manages points held by a user, and receives purchase request data from a user terminal used by the user making the purchase request in response to a purchase request to purchase a non-fungible token using the points held, A points management table that stores the points held by each user, A point management unit identifies the points held by the user who made the purchase request, as indicated by the purchase request data, using the point management table; identifies the points to be consumed based on the purchase request for the nonfungible token that is the target of the purchase request and the market trading price of the nonfungible token that is the target of the purchase request; subtracts the identified points to be consumed from the identified points held; and stores the resulting points held as the points held by the user who made the purchase request in the point management table. Equipped with, The aforementioned point management table stores the points held by a user and the purchased non-fungible token data relating to the non-fungible tokens that the user has purchased and for which the purchase request originated. Purchased non-fungible token data is data relating to purchased non-fungible tokens purchased through a purchase request from the user who made the purchase request, and is data that proves who the holder of said purchased non-fungible tokens is, and is managed on the blockchain. Point management device.

2. The point management device acquires information that identifies transaction price equivalent points, which are points equivalent to the market transaction price of the non-fungible token that is the subject of the purchase request. The point management device according to claim 1.

3. The point management device compares the points equivalent to the transaction price with the identified points held, and confirms whether the identified points held are equal to or greater than the points equivalent to the transaction price. The point management device according to claim 2.

4. When the point management device receives purchase notification information indicating that the non-fungible token that is the subject of the purchase request has already been purchased by the purchase requestor, the point management unit performs a deduction of the consumed points. The point management device according to claim 1.

5. When the point management device receives the purchase notification information, it sends purchase report information to the user terminal indicating that the purchase of the non-fungible token that was the subject of the purchase request has been completed. The point management device according to claim 4.

6. A point management device manages points held by a user, and in response to a purchase request to purchase a non-fungible token using those points, it receives purchase request data from a user terminal used by the user making the purchase request, and includes a point management table that stores the points held by each user. The point management device identifies the points held by the user who made the purchase request, as indicated by the purchase request data, using the point management table; identifies the points to be consumed based on the purchase request for the nonfungible token that is the target of the purchase request and the market trading price of the nonfungible token that is the target of the purchase request; subtracts the identified points to be consumed from the identified points held; and stores the resulting points held as the points held by the user who made the purchase request in the point management table. The aforementioned point management table stores the points held by a user and the purchased non-fungible token data relating to the non-fungible tokens that the user has purchased and for which the purchase request originated. Purchased non-fungible token data is data relating to purchased non-fungible tokens purchased through a purchase request from the user who made the purchase request, and is data that proves who the holder of said purchased non-fungible tokens is, and is managed on the blockchain. Point management methods.

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