Method and device for providing gift certificate information

Abstract

A method, a device, and a computer program stored in a recording medium for executing the method are disclosed, the method comprising the steps in which: a plurality of images stored in a memory or accessible by a link stored in the memory are acquired; a processor determines a gift certificate image usable as a gift certificate among the plurality of images; the processor acquires essential information including a validity period corresponding to the gift certificate image on the basis of an analysis result for the gift certificate image; and the processor provides a message related to the use of the gift certificate image on the basis of the essential information.

Description

Methods and devices for providing gift certificate information

[0001] The technical field of the present disclosure relates to providing gift certificate information, and more specifically, to a technical field of determining a gift certificate image from a plurality of images stored in a device and providing a message related to the use of the gift certificate image in different ways according to the priority of the gift certificate image.

[0002]

[0003] Recently, the practice of exchanging gift certificates via messenger services or receiving various types of gift certificates via messages from credit card companies or financial institutions has become increasingly common. However, gift certificates are often stored in different locations on a device, such as in the device's photo folder or message folder, making management difficult. Consequently, there's a growing trend of gift certificates expiring and becoming unusable.

[0004] Therefore, there is a need for a service that can integrate and manage gift certificates stored on devices and provide users with information about gift certificates at an appropriate time.

[0005]

[0006] The problem to be solved in this disclosure is a method for providing gift certificate information scattered across a device, and for providing a message related to gift certificate use to a user.

[0007] The problems to be solved in the present disclosure are not limited to the problems mentioned above, and other problems not mentioned will be clearly understood by those skilled in the art from the description below.

[0008]

[0009] As a technical means for achieving the above-described technical task, a method for providing gift certificate information according to a first aspect of the present disclosure may include: a step in which a processor obtains a plurality of images stored in a device or accessible through a link stored in the device; a step in which the processor determines a gift certificate image usable as a gift certificate among the plurality of images; a step in which the processor obtains essential information including an expiration date corresponding to the gift certificate image based on an analysis result of the gift certificate image; and a step in which the processor provides a message related to the use of the gift certificate image based on the essential information.

[0010] Additionally, the step of obtaining the plurality of images may obtain the plurality of images from a photo folder of the device or a message service related folder of the device.

[0011] In addition, the step of determining the gift certificate image may include the steps of: obtaining a plurality of characters included in the plurality of images; determining a character-to-character distance ratio indicating a distance between the plurality of characters; and determining the gift certificate image among the plurality of images based on the character-to-character distance ratio.

[0012] In addition, the step of determining the gift certificate image may include the step of obtaining a plurality of characters included in the plurality of images; and the step of determining an image including the essential information among the plurality of images as the gift certificate image based on the character recognition result for the plurality of characters.

[0013] Additionally, the required information may include information on at least one of the validity period, company name, product name, exchange location, and order number.

[0014] In addition, the processor may further include a step of comparing the inter-character distance ratio with a pre-stored inter-character distance ratio, and if the inter-character distance ratio is equal to the pre-stored inter-character distance ratio, the gift certificate image may be determined as a gift certificate type corresponding to the pre-stored inter-character distance ratio.

[0015] Additionally, the step of providing the message may include a step of determining different notification signals according to the type of the gift certificate; and a step of providing the message including the determined notification signal.

[0016] In addition, the processor may further include a step of determining the importance of the gift certificate image based on the essential information; and the step of providing the message may include a step of determining a usage priority for the gift certificate image based on the importance; a step of determining a different message output method according to the usage priority for the gift certificate image; and a step of providing the message based on the message output method.

[0017] A device providing gift certificate information according to a second aspect of the present disclosure may include a processor that obtains a plurality of images stored in the device or accessible through a link stored in the device, determines a gift certificate image usable as a gift certificate among the plurality of images, obtains essential information including a validity period corresponding to the gift certificate image based on an analysis result of the gift certificate image, and provides a message related to the use of the gift certificate image based on the essential information.

[0018] A third aspect of the present disclosure may provide a computer-readable recording medium having recorded thereon a program for executing the method according to the first aspect on a computer. Alternatively, a fourth aspect of the present disclosure may provide a computer program stored on a recording medium for implementing the method according to the first aspect.

[0019]

[0020] According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, by acquiring gift certificate images scattered across a device to acquire information and providing a message related to the use of the gift certificate image to a user based on the information, there is an effect of preventing the gift certificate from being unusable due to the expiration of the validity period of the gift certificate image.

[0021] The effects of the present disclosure are not limited to the effects mentioned above, and other effects not mentioned will be clearly understood by those skilled in the art from the description below.

[0022]

[0023] Figure 1 is a block diagram schematically illustrating the configuration of a device according to one embodiment.

[0024] FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram illustrating how a memory and a processor of a device transmit and receive information according to one embodiment.

[0025] Figure 3 is a flowchart illustrating each step of operation of a device according to one embodiment.

[0026] FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a method for a device according to one embodiment to determine a character-to-character distance ratio of characters included in a gift certificate image.

[0027] FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a method for a device according to one embodiment to determine a usage priority based on an importance value of a gift certificate image.

[0028] FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a method for a device according to one embodiment to determine a message output method based on usage priority.

[0029]

[0030] The advantages and features of the present disclosure, and the methods for achieving them, will become clearer with reference to the embodiments described below in detail together with the accompanying drawings. However, the present disclosure is not limited to the embodiments disclosed below and may be implemented in various different forms. These embodiments are provided solely to ensure that the disclosure is complete and to fully inform those skilled in the art of the scope of the present disclosure.

[0031] The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing embodiments only and is not intended to limit the present disclosure. In this specification, the singular also includes the plural unless specifically stated otherwise. As used herein, the terms "comprises" and / or "comprising" do not exclude the presence or addition of one or more other components in addition to the mentioned components. Like reference numerals refer to like components throughout the specification, and "and / or" includes each and any combination of one or more of the mentioned components. Although "first", "second", etc. are used to describe various components, these components are not limited by these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish one component from another. Therefore, it should be understood that a first component mentioned below may also be a second component within the technical spirit of the present disclosure.

[0032] Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientific terms) used herein may be used in their common sense to those skilled in the art. Furthermore, terms defined in commonly used dictionaries should not be interpreted ideally or excessively unless explicitly defined otherwise.

[0033] Spatially relative terms such as "below," "beneath," "lower," "above," and "upper" can be used to easily describe the relationship between one component and other components as depicted in the drawings. Spatially relative terms should be understood to include different orientations of the components during use or operation in addition to the orientations depicted in the drawings. For example, if a component depicted in the drawings were flipped over, a component described as "below" or "beneath" another component could end up "above" the other component. Thus, the exemplary term "below" can include both the above and below orientations. Components can also be oriented in other directions, and thus spatially relative terms can be interpreted accordingly.

[0034] Below, various embodiments are described in detail with reference to the drawings.

[0035] Figure 1 is a block diagram schematically illustrating the configuration of a device (100) according to one embodiment.

[0036] Referring to FIG. 1, the device (100) may include a memory (110) and a processor (120).

[0037] According to one embodiment, the processor (120) may acquire multiple images stored in the memory (110) or accessible through links stored in the memory (110). Furthermore, the processor (120) may determine a gift certificate image usable as a gift certificate from among the multiple images. Furthermore, the processor (120) may acquire essential information, including an expiration date corresponding to the gift certificate image, based on the analysis results of the gift certificate image. Furthermore, the processor (120) may provide a message related to the use of the gift certificate image based on the essential information.

[0038] A device (100) providing gift certificate information obtains a plurality of images stored in the device (100) or accessible through a link stored in the device (100) from a processor (120), determines a gift certificate image usable as a gift certificate among the plurality of images, obtains essential information including an expiration date corresponding to the gift certificate image based on an analysis result of the gift certificate image, and provides a message related to the use of the gift certificate image based on the essential information. The device (100) may be combined by a combination of various conventional networks, such as an Internet network or a mobile communication network, and is not particularly limited thereto.

[0039] In addition, those skilled in the art will understand that, in addition to the components illustrated in FIG. 1, the device (100) for providing gift certificate information may further include other general-purpose components. For example, the device (100) for providing gift certificate information may include a driving control module, a path detection module, a data processing module, etc. for performing each step, and may include a sensing unit that acquires sensing data from a plurality of sensors. In addition, the device (100) may be controlled by a control unit and may further include a transmitting unit (not illustrated) for transmitting gift certificate information. Alternatively, those skilled in the art will understand that, according to another embodiment, some of the components illustrated in FIG. 1 may be omitted.

[0040] A device (100) providing gift certificate information according to an embodiment can be used by a user and can be linked with all kinds of handheld-based wireless communication devices equipped with a touch screen panel, such as a mobile phone, a smart phone, a PDA (Personal Digital Assistant), a PMP (Portable Multimedia Player), a tablet PC, etc. In addition, it can be included in or linked with a device that has a foundation for installing and executing applications, such as a desktop PC, a tablet PC, a laptop PC, an IPTV including a set-top box.

[0041] A device (100) that provides gift certificate information can be implemented as a terminal such as a computer that operates through a computer program to realize the functions described in this specification.

[0042] A device (100) providing gift certificate information according to one embodiment may include, but is not limited to, a system (not shown) providing gift certificate information and a related server (not shown). The server according to one embodiment may support an application that provides information related to gift certificate information.

[0043] Hereinafter, the description will focus on an embodiment in which a device (100) providing gift certificate information according to an embodiment independently provides gift certificate information. However, as previously described, this may also be implemented through linkage with a server. In other words, the device (100) providing gift certificate information according to an embodiment and the server may be implemented in an integrated manner in terms of their functions, or the server may be omitted, and it will be understood that the present invention is not limited to any one embodiment.

[0044]

[0045] FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram illustrating how a memory (110) and a processor (120) of a device (100) transmit and receive information according to one embodiment.

[0046] According to one embodiment, a device (100) may have a processor (120) that obtains a plurality of images from a memory (110) that are stored in the memory (110) or accessible through a link stored in the memory (110), analyzes the obtained plurality of images, and temporarily stores a determined gift certificate image in the memory (110).

[0047] In addition, when the device (100) according to one embodiment provides a message related to the use of a gift certificate image, it may load a gift certificate image temporarily stored in the memory (110) and provide a message related to the use of the gift certificate image based on the gift certificate image.

[0048] Figure 3 is a flowchart illustrating each step of operation of a device (100) according to one embodiment.

[0049] Referring to step S210, the device (100) according to one embodiment may obtain multiple images that are stored in the memory (110) or accessible through links stored in the memory (110). In addition, the device (100) according to one embodiment may obtain multiple images from a photo folder of the device (100) or a message service-related folder of the device (100). Specifically, the link may refer to a URL (Uniform Resource Locator) address that can access a web page via wired or wireless communication, and an image related to a gift certificate may be obtained from the web page. In addition, the photo folder may refer to a gallery or a photo app provided by the user terminal, and the message service-related folder may refer to a message app that transmits and receives SMS and MMS provided by the user terminal, but is not limited thereto. For example, the device (100) may obtain multiple images existing in a gallery app or a message app provided by the user terminal.

[0050] Referring to step S220, the device (100) according to one embodiment may determine a gift certificate image that can be used as a gift certificate from among a plurality of images. Furthermore, the device (100) according to one embodiment may acquire a plurality of characters included in the plurality of images, determine an inter-character distance ratio indicating the distance between the plurality of characters, and determine a gift certificate image from among the plurality of images based on the inter-character distance ratio. Specifically, to acquire the plurality of characters included in the plurality of images, a known character recognition means, such as an optical character recognition (OCR) means, may be utilized.

[0051] For example, the device (100) can obtain multiple characters included in multiple images through optical character recognition (OCR) means, obtain coordinate values ​​for the upper left corner of each of the multiple characters obtained, and calculate the coordinate distance between the multiple characters through this, thereby determining a distance ratio between the multiple characters.

[0052] After this, if the distance ratio between characters included in the acquired plurality of images corresponds to a distance ratio between characters of a plurality of gift certificate types already stored in the database, the device (100) can determine the plurality of images as gift certificate images.

[0053] In addition, the device (100) according to one embodiment may compare the character distance ratio with a pre-stored character distance ratio, and if the character distance ratio is the same as the pre-stored character distance ratio, determine the gift certificate image as a gift certificate type corresponding to the pre-stored character distance ratio. Specifically, the gift certificate type may be determined according to the gift certificate 'issuing agency', and the pre-stored character distance ratio may refer to a plurality of character distance ratios included in gift certificate images for each 'issuing agency' pre-stored in a database. That is, each character included in a gift certificate image of a specific issuer is located in a fixed area, and since the area where the characters are fixed is different for each issuer, the gift certificate type may be determined based on the character distance ratio.

[0054] FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a process in which a device (100) according to one embodiment determines a distance ratio between multiple characters included in a gift certificate image.

[0055] The device (100) can obtain the exchange location "Starbucks," a barcode number, and the characters "exchange location" from multiple images through optical character recognition (OCR) means. Thereafter, the distance between the upper left coordinates of the characters "Starbucks" (②) and the distance between the upper left coordinates of the characters "exchange location" (③) can be calculated based on the upper left coordinates of the barcode number, thereby determining the distance ratio between the characters.

[0056] After this, if the acquired character distance ratio corresponds to the character distance ratio of multiple gift certificate types stored in the database, the device (100) can determine multiple images as gift certificate images and determine the gift certificate type of the corresponding gift certificate image.

[0057] In addition, the device (100) according to one embodiment may acquire a plurality of characters included in a plurality of images, and, based on the character recognition results for the plurality of characters, determine an image among the plurality of images that includes essential information as a gift certificate image. Specifically, the essential information may refer to information about at least one of an expiration date, a company name, a product name, an exchange location, and an order number, and the device (100) may determine an image including the essential information among the plurality of characters acquired from the plurality of images as a gift certificate image.

[0058]

[0059] Referring to step S230, the device (100) according to one embodiment may obtain essential information, including an expiration date corresponding to the gift certificate image, based on the analysis results of the gift certificate image. Specifically, the essential information may refer to at least one of the expiration date, company name, product name, exchange location, and order number.

[0060]

[0061] Referring to step S240, the device (100) according to one embodiment may provide a message related to the use of a gift certificate image based on the required information. In addition, the device (100) according to one embodiment may determine different notification signals depending on the gift certificate type. The notification signal may refer to an audio signal corresponding to each gift certificate type pre-stored in a database. For example, when providing a message related to the use of a gift certificate image determined to be a specific gift certificate type, the device (100) may determine and output an audio signal corresponding to the corresponding gift certificate type from among the audio signals corresponding to each gift certificate type pre-stored in the database.

[0062] Additionally, the device (100) according to one embodiment may further determine the importance of the gift certificate image based on the essential information in order to provide a message related to the use of the gift certificate image, and the device (100) may determine the usage priority for the gift certificate image based on the determined importance.

[0063] Additionally, the device (100) can set different weights for each of the essential information, such as the expiration date, company name, product name, and exchange location, to determine the importance of the gift certificate image.

[0064] For example, since gift certificates expire if they are not extended or used within their validity period, the validity period can be given the highest weight of 50% when determining the importance of the gift certificate image.

[0065] Additionally, since the price varies depending on the type of product, and a higher price may indicate a higher importance, you can set the second highest weight of 30% for the product name.

[0066] Additionally, because accessibility to exchange locations in a user's residential or primary area can be a significant factor, the next highest weighting of 10% can be assigned to exchange locations. Furthermore, a 10% weighting can be assigned to the names of companies frequently used by users (e.g., messenger service providers, credit card companies, or financial institutions).

[0067] After this, the device (100) can determine a score for each essential information element obtained from the gift certificate image. Specifically, the essential information elements may refer to expiration date information, company name information, product name information, and exchange location information obtained from the actual gift certificate image.

[0068] For the validity period element, scores can be determined based on the preset validity period range. Specifically, 5 points can be awarded for a validity period of less than 5 days from the current date, 4 points for 5 to 10 days, 3 points for 10 to 15 days, 2 points for 15 to 20 days, and 1 point for 20 days or more. In other words, scores can be determined inversely proportional to the validity period.

[0069] In the case of the product name element, the device (100) determines whether the product type (e.g., coffee voucher, bag voucher, or restaurant voucher) obtained from the gift certificate image exists in the product list previously stored in the database, and if so, determines the score corresponding to the product as the score of the product type obtained from the gift certificate image. Specifically, the score corresponding to the product type previously stored in the database may be an average value of scores determined based on the usage history of users who use the gift certificate information providing device (100).

[0070] For the exchange location element, it can be classified into designated exchange locations, partially designated exchange locations, or nationwide exchange locations, and a score corresponding to each exchange location can be determined in units of 1 point, from 1 to 3 points. Specifically, the device (100) can determine a score corresponding to 3 points for a designated exchange location, 2 points for partially designated exchange locations, and 1 point for a nationwide exchange location. In other words, the score for the exchange location element can be determined inversely proportional to the number of exchange locations at which a user can exchange a gift certificate for a product.

[0071] In the case of the company name element, the device (100) determines whether the company name obtained from the gift certificate image exists in the list of gift certificate issuing companies already stored in the database, and if so, determines the score corresponding to the gift certificate issuing company already stored in the database as the score of the company name element obtained from the gift certificate image. Specifically, the score corresponding to the gift certificate issuing company already stored in the database may be an average value of scores determined based on the usage history of users who use the gift certificate information providing device (100).

[0072] After this, the device (100) can calculate an importance value by adding the values ​​obtained by multiplying the weights determined for the validity period, product name, exchange location, and business name and the scores determined for the validity period element, product name element, exchange location element, and business name element obtained from the gift certificate image, and can determine the usage priority in order of high importance value.

[0073] Additionally, the device (100) according to one embodiment may determine a higher usage priority for a gift certificate image with a higher score for the validity period element when the importance values ​​of different gift certificate images are the same.

[0074] In addition, the device (100) according to one embodiment may determine different message output methods according to the usage priority for the gift certificate image, and may provide a message related to the usage of the gift certificate image based on the message output method. Specifically, the message output method may mean displaying a gift certificate image, outputting a sound, vibrating the number of times, or blinking a light, etc., which enable the user to recognize the usage priority of the gift certificate image when providing a message related to the usage of the gift certificate image to the user, and may also mean a method combining one or more of these.

[0075] For example, a device (100) according to one embodiment may determine a combination of displaying a gift certificate image, outputting sound, vibrating five times, and blinking the light five times as a message output method for a gift certificate image with the highest usage priority. In addition, a device (100) according to one embodiment may determine only displaying a gift certificate image as a message output method for a gift certificate image with the lowest usage priority.

[0076]

[0077] Referring to FIG. 5 below, a specific example of determining usage priority according to the importance value of a gift certificate image is described.

[0078] The device (100) determines gift certificate images A, B, C, D and E that can be used as gift certificates from a plurality of images obtained from the photo folder or message service-related folder of the device (100), and obtains essential information such as an expiration date, company name, product name, exchange location and order number from each gift certificate image.

[0079] In the case of gift certificate image A, since the validity period expires in 2 days, the device (100) can determine the score of the validity period of gift certificate image A as 5 points according to the preset validity period range.

[0080] In addition, since the product name is a coffee voucher, the device (100) can determine 3 points, which is a score corresponding to a coffee voucher among the product names already stored in the database, as the score for the coffee voucher, which is the product name of the voucher image A.

[0081] Additionally, since the exchange location is a designated merchant, the device (100) can determine 3 points as the score for the designated merchant, which is the exchange location for gift certificate image A.

[0082] In addition, since the company name is a messenger service company, the device (100) can determine 5 points, which is a score corresponding to the messenger service company among the company names already stored in the database, as the score of the messenger service company of the gift certificate image A.

[0083] After this, the device (100) can calculate the importance value of the gift certificate image A by adding up the values ​​obtained by multiplying the weights determined for the validity period, product name, exchange location, and business name and the scores determined for the validity period element, product name element, exchange location element, and business name element obtained from the gift certificate image. That is, by calculating (validity period weight 50% X validity period score 5 of gift certificate image A) + (product name weight 30% X product name score 3 of gift certificate image A) + (exchange location weight 10% X exchange location score 3 of gift certificate image A) + (business name weight 10% X business name score 5 of gift certificate image A), the importance value of the gift certificate image A can be calculated as 4.2, and the importance values ​​of the gift certificate images B, C, D, and E can be calculated as 4.2, 3.2, 2.6, and 1.7, respectively, in the same way.

[0084] After this, the device (100) can determine the usage priority of the gift certificate images according to the size of each importance value for gift certificate images A, B, C, D, and E.

[0085] In addition, referring to FIG. 5, since the importance values ​​of gift certificate images A and B are each 4.2, the device (100) can determine that gift certificate image A, which has a higher score of the validity period element, has a higher usage priority of 1 than gift certificate image B.

[0086]

[0087] Figure 6 is a drawing that determines the message output method according to the usage priority of the gift certificate image.

[0088] In one embodiment, a device (100) may display gift certificate image A, output an audio signal corresponding to the issuer of gift certificate image A, and determine five vibration outputs and five light blinks as a message output method to provide a message related to the use of gift certificate image A to a user when providing a message related to the use of gift certificate image A determined to have the highest usage priority.

[0089] In addition, when a device (100) according to one embodiment provides a message related to the use of a gift certificate image C determined to have the third highest usage priority, the device may display the gift certificate image C, output a notification signal corresponding to the issuer of the gift certificate image C, and determine three vibration outputs as a message output method to provide a message related to the use of the gift certificate image C to the user.

[0090] In addition, the device (100) according to one embodiment may display the gift certificate image E when providing a message related to the use of the gift certificate image E determined to have the lowest usage priority, and determine a notification signal output corresponding to the issuer of the gift certificate image E as a message output method to provide the user with a message related to the use of the gift certificate image E.

[0091] Various embodiments of the present disclosure may be implemented as software comprising one or more instructions stored in a storage medium (e.g., memory) readable by a machine (e.g., a display device or a computer). For example, a processor (120) of the machine (e.g., processor (120)) may call at least one instruction among the one or more instructions stored from the storage medium and execute it. This enables the machine to operate to perform at least one function according to the at least one called instruction. The one or more instructions may include code generated by a compiler or code executable by an interpreter. The machine-readable storage medium may be provided in the form of a non-transitory storage medium. Here, 'non-transitory' simply means that the storage medium is a tangible device and does not contain signals (e.g., electromagnetic waves), and the term does not distinguish between cases where data is stored semi-permanently or temporarily on the storage medium.

[0092] According to one embodiment, the method according to the various embodiments disclosed in the present disclosure may be provided as included in a computer program product. The computer program product may be traded as a product between a seller and a buyer. The computer program product may be distributed in the form of a machine-readable storage medium (e.g., compact disc read only memory (CD-ROM)), or may be distributed online (e.g., downloaded or uploaded) via an application store (e.g., Play Store™) or directly between two user devices (e.g., smartphones). In the case of online distribution, at least a portion of the computer program product may be temporarily stored or temporarily generated in a machine-readable storage medium, such as the memory of a manufacturer's server, an application store's server, or an intermediary server.

[0093] Although the present invention has been described with reference to the drawings, it is not limited to the disclosed embodiments and drawings, and a person skilled in the art related to the present embodiment will understand that the present invention can be implemented in a modified form without departing from the essential characteristics of the above-described description. Therefore, the disclosed methods should be considered from an illustrative rather than a restrictive point of view. Even if the operation and effect according to the configuration of the present invention is not explicitly described and described while describing the embodiment, the effect that can be predicted by the configuration can also be recognized. The scope of the present invention is indicated by the claims rather than the foregoing description, and all differences within the equivalent scope should be interpreted as being included in the present invention.

Claims

1. In the method of providing gift certificate information, A step of obtaining a plurality of images stored in a memory or accessible by links stored in said memory by a processor; A step in which the processor determines a gift certificate image that can be used as a gift certificate among the plurality of images; A step in which the processor obtains essential information including an expiration date corresponding to the gift certificate image based on the analysis result of the gift certificate image; and A method comprising: providing a message related to the use of the gift certificate image based on the essential information; 2. In paragraph 1, The step of obtaining the above multiple images is A method for obtaining the plurality of images from a photo folder of the device or a message service related folder of the device.

3. In paragraph 1, The steps to determine the gift certificate image are: A step of obtaining a plurality of characters included in the plurality of images; a step of determining an inter-character distance ratio representing the distance between the plurality of characters; and A method comprising: determining the gift certificate image among the plurality of images based on the distance ratio between the characters; 4. In paragraph 1, The steps to determine the gift certificate image are: A step of obtaining a plurality of characters included in the plurality of images; and A method comprising: a step of determining an image including the essential information among the plurality of images as the gift certificate image based on the character recognition results for the plurality of characters.

5. In paragraph 4, The above required information is A method comprising information on at least one of the above-mentioned validity period, company name, product name, exchange location, and order number.

6. In paragraph 3, The processor further comprises a step of comparing the inter-character distance ratio with a previously stored inter-character distance ratio, A method of determining the gift certificate image as a gift certificate type corresponding to the pre-stored character distance ratio when the character distance ratio above is equal to the pre-stored character distance ratio above.

7. In paragraph 6 Further comprising a step of determining different notification signals according to the type of the gift certificate; A method for outputting a notification signal corresponding to the determined gift certificate type, when providing a message related to the use of a gift certificate image corresponding to the determined gift certificate type.

8. In paragraph 5, The above processor further includes a step of determining the importance of the gift certificate image based on the above essential information; The steps to provide the above message are: A step of determining the usage priority for the gift certificate image based on the above importance; A step of determining different message output methods according to the usage priority for the gift certificate image; and A method comprising: providing the message based on the message output method.

9. For devices that provide gift certificate information, memory; and Acquire a plurality of images stored in said memory or accessible by links stored in said memory, Among the above multiple images, determine a gift certificate image that can be used as a gift certificate, Based on the analysis results of the gift certificate image, essential information including the expiration date corresponding to the gift certificate image is obtained, A device comprising a processor providing a message related to the use of the gift certificate image based on the essential information.

10. A computer-readable recording medium having recorded thereon a program for executing the method of any one of clauses 1 to 8 on a computer.

Images