Information processing system, information processing method, and program

Abstract

The purpose of the present invention is to implement a method for providing a rental function for a predetermined product to a seller who sells the predetermined product through a sales site, said method being simple and less burdensome for the seller. A sales site HW is managed in a store server 1, with a module embedded therein (step S1) for performing at least a procedure screen deployment function as a rental function to deploy, on a predetermined page of the sales site HW, a procedure screen for an end user U to perform a rental procedure for the predetermined product. When a user terminal 3 accesses the sales site HW (step S2 in Fig. 1), the store server 1 causes the module to perform the procedure screen deployment function, and thereby presents the procedure screen as deployed on the predetermined page to the user terminal 3 (steps S3 and S4).

Description

Information processing system, information processing method and program

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

[0002] In recent years, there has been a demand for a technology that provides a rental function for a predetermined product to sellers (for example, stores) that sell the predetermined product through a website (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

[0003] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2021-105880

[0004] However, there is a demand for a method that is simple and less burdensome for sellers who sell specified products through websites to provide rental functions for the specified products, but conventional technologies, including the technology of Patent Document 1, are unable to fully meet this demand.

[0005] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above situation, and aims to provide a method for providing a seller who sells a specified product through a website with a rental function for the specified product, which is simple and less burdensome for the seller.

[0006] In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, one aspect of the present invention provides an information processing system including: a seller device managed by a seller who sells specified products to end users through a sales site; and a provider device managed by a provider who provides the sales site with a rental function that enables the end user to rent the specified product, wherein the seller device comprises: a sales site management means for managing the sales site in a state in which a module is embedded that performs, as the rental function, at least a procedure screen expansion function that expands a procedure screen on a specified page of the sales site so that the procedure screen can be used by the end user to complete the rental procedure of the specified product; and a sales site presentation control means for, when the end user's terminal accesses the sales site, causing the module to perform the procedure screen expansion function, thereby obtaining rental information necessary for creating the procedure screen from the provider device, generating the procedure screen based on the rental information, and presenting the procedure screen on the terminal in a state in which it is expanded on the specified page; and the provider device comprises: rental information provision means for providing the seller device with the rental information of the specified product in response to a request from the seller device.

[0007] An information processing method and a program according to one aspect of the present invention are a method and a program corresponding to an information processing system according to one aspect of the present invention.

[0008] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a seller who sells a specified product through a website with a rental function for the specified product, in a way that is simple and less burdensome for the seller.

[0009] 1 is a diagram illustrating an overview of this service that can be realized by an information processing system according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of an information processing system according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an example of the hardware configuration of a store server in the information processing system of FIG. 2. FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram illustrating an example of the functional configuration of the information processing system of FIG. 2. FIG. 4 is an example of a portion of a sales site in which a module is embedded. FIG. 5 is an example of a portion of a sales site in which a module is embedded. FIG. 6 is an arrow chart illustrating a specific example of the series of processes executed by the store server and rental function providing server having the functional configuration of FIG. 4, i.e., the series of processes of steps S2 to S8 of FIG. 1. FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a product page on which a procedure screen is displayed, from the sales site. FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a rental page. FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a rental cart page on which a procedure screen is displayed, i.e., an example different from the procedure screen of FIG. 11. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a product page on which a procedure screen is displayed, from the sales site, which is an example different from FIG. 11, i.e., an example different from the procedure screens of FIG. 11 and FIG. 13. 13 is a diagram showing an example of a rental page, which is an example different from that shown in FIG. 12; FIG. 14 is a diagram showing an example of a rental page, which is an example of a page displayed after the page shown in FIG. 15; FIG.

[0010] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0011] First, an overview of a service (hereinafter referred to as "this service") that can be realized by an information processing system according to one embodiment of the present invention (see FIG. 2, which will be described later) will be described with reference to Fig. 1. Fig. 1 is a diagram showing an overview of this service that can be realized by an information processing system according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0012] This service provides a rental function to a store website HW (hereinafter referred to as the "sales site HW") that sells specified products to end users U, enabling the end users U to rent the specified products.

[0013] Specifically, for example, in the example of Fig. 1, a rental function is provided from a service provider to a store that manages a sales site HW. Therefore, the service in the example of Fig. 1 uses a server 1 (hereinafter referred to as "store server 1") on the store side that manages the sales site HW, a server 2 (hereinafter referred to as "rental function providing server 2") managed by the service provider (rental function provider), and a terminal 3 (hereinafter referred to as "user terminal 3") that has a browser for an end user to access the sales site HW.

[0014] 1, in step S1, a module M that provides a rental function to the sales site HW is embedded. For example, as the rental function, a module is embedded that provides at least a procedure screen display function that displays a procedure screen for an end user U to carry out a procedure for renting a predetermined product on a predetermined page (e.g., a sales page for the predetermined product) of the sales site HW. Specific examples of step S1 will be described later with reference to FIGS. 5 to 10.

[0015] In step S2, the end user U accesses the sales site HW of the store server 1 using the browser on the user terminal 3. In step S3, the store server 1 registers, as rental information, information required for renting a predetermined product (such as product information for the predetermined product) provided by the rental function providing server 2. In step S4, a procedure screen is displayed on the sales site HW based on the registered rental information. A specific example of the sales site HW on which the procedure screen is displayed will be described later with reference to FIG. 11.

[0016] In step S5, the end user U applies for rental of a predetermined product using the procedure screen of the sales site HW displayed on the browser of the user terminal 3. For example, in this embodiment, as shown in Fig. 11 described later, a button for applying for rental of a predetermined product is arranged on the procedure screen, and the end user U applies for rental of the predetermined product by pressing the button.

[0017] When the button is pressed, a rental page is displayed on the browser of the user terminal 3. The rental page refers to a group of one or more pages managed by the rental function-providing server 2 of the service provider (rental function provider) on which the end user U performs a series of operations necessary to rent a specific product. Specific examples of rental pages will be described later with reference to FIG. 12. In step S6, the end user U performs rental procedures using the rental page displayed on the browser of the user terminal 3. Specifically, for example, the end user U selects rental dates, registers their address and performs identity verification, and enters payment information to make payment. In step S7, when the end user U applies for rental, information necessary for management, such as the user's name, the selected specific product, and the rental period, is transmitted to the rental function-providing server 2. To be more precise, the "information necessary for management" may be transmitted collectively after step S6. However, in this embodiment, the information is transmitted to the rental function-providing server 2 sequentially each time the specific information is entered on the rental page in step S6.

[0018] In step S8, the rental function providing server 2 requests the rental warehouse center of the service provider (rental function provider) to ship the specified product for which rental has been requested to the end user U. In step S9, the service provider (rental function provider) ships the specified product for which rental has been requested (the store holds ownership), and also handles subsequent return and reservation. Note that at least some of the tasks of shipping, returning, and reserving the specified product may be transferred to the store.

[0019] As described above, in this service, the sales site HW is managed by the store server 1 in a state in which, as a rental function, a module that performs at least a procedure screen display function for displaying a procedure screen on a predetermined page of the sales site HW, through which the end user U can proceed with the rental of a predetermined product, is embedded (the state after step S1 in FIG. 1 ). When the user terminal 3 accesses the sales site HW (step S2 in FIG. 1 ), the store server 1 causes the above-mentioned module (the tags in FIGS. 5 to 9 and the SDK loaded from the tags, etc.) to perform the procedure screen display function, thereby obtaining rental information necessary to create the procedure screen from the rental function-providing server 2 (step S3 in FIG. 1 ), generating a procedure screen based on the rental information, and presenting the procedure screen displayed on a predetermined page to the user terminal 3 (step S4 in FIG. 1 ). Here, the module is provided to the store by the service provider (rental function provider), and the process of embedding the module in the sales site HW is simple and not burdensome for the store. Then, as long as the sales site HW with the embedded module is managed, the store itself can automatically realize the rental function of the specified product on the sales site HW without any special work. In this way, by applying this service, it is possible to realize a method that is simple and less burdensome for the store as a method of providing the rental function of the specified product to the store that sells the specified product through the sales site HW.

[0020] Next, the configuration of an information processing system that realizes the provision of the above-described service, i.e., an information processing system according to one embodiment of the present invention, will be described with reference to Fig. 2. Fig. 2 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of an information processing system according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0021] 2 is configured to include a store server 1, a rental function providing server 2, and a user terminal 3. The store server 1, the rental function providing server 2, and the user terminal 3 are connected to each other via a network such as the Internet.

[0022] The store server 1 is an information processing device managed by a store that sells predetermined products to end users U through a sales site HW. The rental function providing server 2 is an information processing device managed by a rental function provider (service provider) that enables the sales site HW to rent predetermined products to end users U. The user terminal 3 is an information processing device operated by the end users U, and is configured by a smartphone, tablet, personal computer, etc.

[0023] FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an example of the hardware configuration of the store server in the information processing system shown in FIG.

[0024] The store server 1 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 11, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 12, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 13, a bus 14, an input / output interface 15, an input unit 16, an output unit 17, a memory unit 18, a communication unit 19, and a drive 20.

[0025] The CPU 11 executes various processes according to programs recorded in the ROM 12 or programs loaded from the storage unit 18 into the RAM 13. The RAM 13 also stores data and the like necessary for the CPU 11 to execute various processes.

[0026] The CPU 11, ROM 12, and RAM 13 are interconnected via a bus 14. An input / output interface 15 is also connected to this bus 14. An input unit 16, an output unit 17, a storage unit 18, a communication unit 19, and a drive 20 are connected to the input / output interface 15.

[0027] The input unit 16 is configured with, for example, a keyboard and is used to input various types of information. The output unit 17 is configured with a display such as an LCD, a speaker, and the like and outputs various types of information as images and sounds. The storage unit 18 is configured with, for example, a DRAM (Dynamic Random Access Memory) and the like and stores various types of data. The communication unit 19 communicates with other devices (for example, the rental function providing server 2 and user terminal 3 in FIG. 2) via a network N including the Internet.

[0028] Removable media 30, such as a magnetic disk, optical disk, magneto-optical disk, or semiconductor memory, is appropriately attached to the drive 20. Programs read from the removable media 30 by the drive 20 are installed in the storage unit 18 as needed. The removable media 30 can also store various data stored in the storage unit 18 in the same way as the storage unit 18.

[0029] Although not shown, the rental function providing server 2 and the user terminal 3 in Fig. 2 can also have basically the same hardware configuration as that shown in Fig. 2. Therefore, a description of the hardware configuration of the rental function providing server 2 and the user terminal 3 will be omitted.

[0030] The various hardware and software components constituting the information processing system of FIG. 2, including the server 1 of FIG. 3, work together to execute various processes for providing the present service of FIG.

[0031] 4 is a functional block diagram showing an example of the functional configuration of the store server and rental function providing server of FIG. 3 in the information processing system of FIG. 2. As described above, the store server 1 and the rental function providing server 2 can each have the hardware configuration of FIG. 3, so in order to clearly distinguish between the components of the store server 1 and the rental function providing server 2, the respective reference numerals will be added after the reference numerals of the components. Specifically, the CPU 11 and memory unit 18 of the store server 1 will be referred to as "CPU 11-1" and "memory unit 18-1," respectively. On the other hand, the CPU 11 and memory unit 18 of the rental function providing server 2 will be referred to as "CPU 11-2" and "memory unit 18-2," respectively.

[0032] As shown in Figure 4, a sales site management unit 51 and a sales site presentation control unit 52 function in the CPU 11-1 of the store server 1. In addition, a sales site DB 71 and an SDK DB 72 are stored in one area of ​​the storage unit 18-1 of the store server 1. The sales site DB 71 stores the sales site HW (HTML text and the like that constitutes it). The SDK DB 72 stores an SDK (Software Development Kit) made of JavaScript (registered trademark) that is provided by the service provider (rental function provider) and that is used to implement the procedure screen deployment function.

[0033] The CPU 11-2 of the rental function providing server 2 is provided with a rental information providing unit 81, a rental page management unit 82, a rental page presentation control unit 83, and a rental processing execution unit 84. Furthermore, a rental information DB 91 and a rental page DB 92 are stored in one area of ​​the storage unit 18-2 of the rental function providing server 2. The rental information DB 91 stores rental information. The rental page DB 92 stores rental pages (HTML text and the like that constitutes them). For the sake of convenience, in this embodiment, the rental information DB 91 and the rental page DB 92 are provided in the storage unit 18-2 of the rental function providing server 2, but are not limited to this and may be provided in another information processing device (not shown) managed by the service provider (rental function provider).

[0034] The sales site management unit 51 of the store server 1 stores and manages the sales site HW (the HTML text that constitutes it, etc.) in the sales site DB 71 in a state in which a module is embedded (the state after step S1 in Figure 1) that performs at least the procedure screen expansion function of expanding a procedure screen for the end user U to proceed with the rental of a specified product on a specified page of the sales site HW as a rental function.

[0035] Here, a specific example of sales site HW (HTML text and the like constituting it) in which modules are embedded will be described with reference to FIGS.

[0036] Fig. 5 shows an example of a portion of a sales site in which a module is embedded. In the sales site HW in which a module is embedded, a tag for loading an SDK as shown in Fig. 5 is placed in the Head tag. Fig. 6 shows an example of a portion of a sales site in which a module is embedded. When it is necessary to load an SDK in a verification environment, the tag shown in Fig. 6 is placed. This tag shown in Fig. 6 connects to the verification environment, enabling test payments and the like.

[0037] FIG. 7 shows an example of a portion of a sales site in which a module is embedded. In the sales site HW in which a module is embedded, the div tags in FIG. 7 are arranged to create a DOM (Document Object Model) in which the SDK is arranged. That is, the DOM is arranged in any location on the sales site HW, such as a product page, as shown in FIG. 7. Note that a div tag with a unique ID must be prepared. The arrangement and style can be changed as appropriate.

[0038] FIG. 8 shows an example of a portion of a sales site in which a module is embedded. In the sales site HW in which the module is embedded, the tag shown in FIG. 8 is arranged to initialize the SDK. In the tag shown in FIG. 8, a store ID separately notified by the service provider (rental function provider) is specified in "YOUR_STORE_ID." Furthermore, a product ID separately registered in the dashboard is specified in "YOUR_PRODUCT_ID." FIG. 9 shows an example of a portion of a sales site in which a module is embedded. When it is desired to dynamically change the product ID, such as in an SPA, a tag shown in FIG. 9, for example, is arranged instead of the tag shown in FIG. 8 to initialize the SDK. In the tag shown in FIG. 9, the product ID can be dynamically changed by using the function "marvle.setSkuId()."

[0039] In this way, a module that performs rental functions including at least a procedure screen display function is configured from the tags of Figures 5 to 9 placed on the sales site HW and the SDK, etc. read from the tags.

[0040] Returning to Fig. 4, when the user terminal 3 accesses the sales site HW (step S2 in Fig. 1), the sales site presentation control unit 52 of the store server 1 executes control to cause the above-mentioned modules (the tags in Figs. 5 to 9, the SDK read from the tags, etc.) to perform a procedure screen expansion function, thereby obtaining rental information necessary for creating a procedure screen from the rental function providing server 2 (step S3 in Fig. 1), generating a procedure screen based on the rental information, and presenting the procedure screen expanded into a predetermined page to the user terminal 3 (step S4 in Fig. 1). Here, in step S3 in Fig. 1 described above, the rental information providing unit 81 of the rental function providing server 2 provides rental information of a predetermined product to the store server 1 in response to a request from the store server 1.

[0041] The rental page management unit 82 of the rental function providing server 2 manages a rental page consisting of one or more pages for the end user U to perform a series of operations required for the procedure of renting a predetermined product. When a rental page presentation control unit 83 receives a request to present a rental page from the user terminal 3, it executes control to present the rental page to the terminal (step S6 in FIG. 1). The rental processing execution unit 84 executes a series of processes (rental processing consisting of steps S5 to S8 in FIG. 1) from when the end user U applies to rent a predetermined product, inputs the necessary information, makes a payment, and then ships the predetermined product.

[0042] Fig. 10 is an arrow chart illustrating a specific example of a series of processes executed by the store server and rental function providing server having the functional configuration of Fig. 4, i.e., the series of processes of steps S2 to S8 in Fig. 1. In Fig. 10, the processes executed by the sales site HW and SDK are executed under the control of the sales site presentation control unit 52 of the store server 1 in Fig. 4, etc. The main control unit of the rental function providing server 2 is made up of the rental information providing unit 81 to the rental process execution unit 84, etc. in Fig. 4. The database of the rental function providing server 2 is made up of the rental information DB 72 and rental page DB 92, etc. in Fig. 4.

[0043] In step S11, the user terminal 3 accesses a product page of the sales site HW managed by the store server 1. That is, step S11 corresponds to step S2 in Fig. 1. In step S12, the sales site HW loads the product page.

[0044] In step S13, the sales site HW sends an "HTTP request: JS code" to the rental function providing server 2. In step S14, the main control unit of the rental function providing server 2 sends an "HTTP response: JS code". In step S15, the sales site HW issues the JS code to the SDK. In step S16, the sales site HW initializes the SDK with a product ID, a store ID (affiliated store ID), and a button display destination HTML ID. In step S17, the SDK sends an "HTTP request: rental information (product information)" to the rental function providing server 2. In step S18, the main control unit (rental information providing unit 81) of the rental function providing server 2 sends a "database query: rental information (product information)" to the database (rental information DB 91) of the rental function providing server 2 for a specific product identified by the product ID. In step S19, the database (rental information DB 91) of the rental function providing server 2 sends a "query response: rental information (product information)" for the specified product identified by the product ID to the main control unit of the rental function providing server 2. In step S20, the main control unit (rental information providing unit 81) of the rental function providing server 2 sends an "HTTP response: rental information (product information)". In step S21, the SDK sends a "DOM update: display procedure screen" to the sales site HW. In step S22, the user terminal 3 checks the procedure screen through the browser.

[0045] FIG. 11 shows an example of a product page on a sales site where a procedure screen is displayed. In step S22 described above, the end user U confirms the procedure screen TG in the product page HWP, as shown in FIG. 11. In this manner, steps S12 to S22 in FIG. 11 correspond to steps S3 and S4 in FIG. 1 (steps S17 to S20 in FIG. 11 correspond to step S3 in FIG. 1). That is, in step S4 in FIG. 1, a rental procedure screen TG is displayed on the product page HWP of the sales site HW, as shown in FIG. 11. By pressing a button on this procedure screen TG, a rental application is made in step S5 in FIG. 1. In this case, the process of step S23 in FIG. 11 is executed.

[0046] In step S23, the user terminal 3 makes an "HTTP request: transition to rental page" to the rental function providing server 2. In step S24, the main control unit (rental page presentation control unit 83) of the rental function providing server 2 makes a "database query: rental page information" to the database (rental page DB 92) of the rental function providing server 2. In step S25, the database (rental page DB 92) of the rental function providing server 2 makes a "query response: rental page information" to the main control unit of the rental function providing server 2. In step S24, the main control unit (rental page presentation control unit 83) of the rental function providing server 2 makes an "HTTP response: rental page" to the user terminal 3.

[0047] As a result, the rental page shown in FIG. 12 is displayed on the browser of the user terminal 3. FIG. 12 shows an example of a rental page. The rental page in the example of FIG. 12 is composed of a page RP1 for selecting a schedule, a page RP2 for confirming (inputting) information about the end user U, a page RP3 for inputting the delivery address of the rented item, a page RP4 for setting a payment method, a page RP5 for final confirmation, and pages RP6 and RP7 for presenting necessary information after the rental order is confirmed. That is, in step S6 of FIG. 1, the end user U performs rental procedures using each of pages RP1 to RP7 displayed sequentially on the browser of the user terminal 3. In step S7 of FIG. 1, the rental processing execution unit 84 of the rental function providing server 2 sequentially acquires the information confirmed or input on each of pages RP1 to RP7, thereby acquiring information necessary for management such as the user's name, the selected item, and the rental period.

[0048] Although one embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and modifications, improvements, etc. within the scope of achieving the object of the present invention are considered to be included in the present invention.

[0049] For example, the rental procedure screen TG and rental page incorporated into the sales site HW are not limited to the examples shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, but can employ various other screens and pages. FIG. 13 shows an example of a rental cart page on a sales site displaying a procedure screen, i.e., an example different from the procedure screen shown in FIG. 11. FIG. 14 shows an example of a product page on a sales site displaying a procedure screen, which is different from the procedure screen shown in FIG. 11, i.e., an example different from the procedure screens shown in FIGS. 11 and 13. The procedure screen TG arranged on the product page HWP in FIG. 14 includes radio buttons for selecting a desired rental plan between a monthly subscription plan and a one-time rental plan. In other words, the operator used by the end user U to request the presentation of a rental page for a specific product is not limited to a push button, but can be any other type, such as a radio button. Furthermore, if multiple rental plans are available, the screen for selecting a rental plan does not necessarily need to be provided on the procedure screen as shown in FIG. 14, but may be provided on the rental page as shown in FIG. 15. FIG. 15 shows an example of a rental page, and is an example different from that shown in FIG. 12. Page RP11 in the example of FIG. 15 is a page for first selecting a desired rental plan from a trial plan and a discount monthly plan. FIG. 16 is an example of a rental page, and is an example of a page displayed after the page of FIG. 15. Page RP12 in the example of FIG. 16 is a page displayed when the trial plan is first selected on page RP11 in the example of FIG. 15, and is a page for selecting a date.

[0050] Furthermore, for example, the system configuration shown in FIG. 2 and the hardware configuration of the server 1 shown in FIG. 3 are merely examples for achieving the object of the present invention, and are not particularly limited.

[0051] Furthermore, the functional block diagram shown in Fig. 4 is merely an example and is not particularly limited. That is, it is sufficient if the information processing system in Fig. 2 is provided with a function that can execute the various processes described above as a whole, and the functional blocks and databases used to realize this function are not particularly limited to the example in Fig. 4.

[0052] Furthermore, the locations of the function blocks and databases are not limited to those shown in Figure 4 and may be arbitrary. For example, at least some of the function blocks and databases located on the store server 1 side may be provided on the rental function providing server 2 side, the user terminal 3 side, or another information processing device (not shown). Specifically, for example, as described above, the rental information DB 91 and rental page DB 92 are provided in the storage unit 18-2 of the rental function providing server 2 in the above embodiment, but they are not limited to this and may be provided in another information processing device (not shown) managed by the service provider (rental function provider).

[0053] The above-described series of processes can be executed by hardware or software, and each functional block can be configured by hardware alone, software alone, or a combination of both.

[0054] When a series of processes is executed by software, the programs constituting the software are installed onto a computer or the like from a network or a recording medium. The computer may be a computer incorporated into dedicated hardware. The computer may also be a computer capable of executing various functions by installing various programs, such as a server, a general-purpose smartphone, or a personal computer.

[0055] The recording medium containing such a program may be composed not only of a removable medium (not shown) that is distributed separately from the device main body in order to provide the program to the user, but also of a recording medium that is provided to the user in a state that is pre-installed in the device main body.

[0056] In this specification, the steps describing the program to be recorded on the recording medium include not only processes that are performed in chronological order, but also processes that are not necessarily performed in chronological order but are performed in parallel or individually.

[0057] To summarize the above, information processing to which the present invention is applied is sufficient as long as it has the following configuration, and can take various forms. That is, an information processing device system to which the present invention is applied includes: a seller device (e.g., store server 1 in FIGS. 2 and 4) managed by a seller (e.g., the store in FIG. 1) that sells predetermined products to end users (e.g., end user U in FIG. 1) through a sales site (e.g., sales site HW in FIG. 1), and a provider device (e.g., rental function providing server 2 in FIGS. 2 and 4) managed by a provider (e.g., the above-mentioned service provider (rental function provider)) that provides the sales site with a rental function that enables the end users to rent the predetermined products, in which the seller device a sales site management means (e.g., sales site management unit 51 in FIG. 4 ) for managing the sales site in a state (e.g., a state after step S1 in FIG. 1 ) in which a module (a module constituted by the tags in FIGS. 5 to 9 and the SDK in FIG. 10 read from the tags, etc.) for at least performing a procedure screen expansion function for expanding a procedure screen (e.g., procedure screen TG in FIG. 11 ) for the end user to proceed with the rental of the predetermined product on a predetermined page of the sales site (e.g., product page HWP in FIG. 11 ) is embedded as the rental function; and a sales site presentation control means (e.g., sales site presentation control unit 52 in FIG. 4 ) for executing control to cause the module to perform the procedure screen expansion function when the end user's terminal (e.g., user terminal 3 in FIGS. 1 and 4 ) accesses the sales site (e.g., step 2 in FIG. 1 ), thereby acquiring rental information required to create the procedure screen from the provider device (e.g., step S3 in FIG. 1 ), generating the procedure screen based on the rental information, and presenting the procedure screen expanded on the predetermined page to the terminal (e.g., step S4 in FIG. 1 ). The provider device is only required to include a rental information providing means (e.g., the rental information providing unit 81 in FIG. 4) for providing the seller device with the rental information of the specified product in response to a request from the seller device.

[0058] Here, the module is provided by a provider (such as a service provider) to a seller (such as a store), and the task of embedding the module in a sales site is simple and low-burden for the seller. Then, as long as the sales site with the embedded module is managed, the seller can automatically provide the rental function for the specified product on the sales site without any special work. Thus, by applying an information processing system to which the present invention is applied, it is possible to realize a simple and low-burden method for sellers who sell specified products through their sales sites to provide the rental function for the specified product.

[0059] The provider device may further comprise a rental page management means (e.g., rental page management unit 82 in FIG. 4) for managing a rental page consisting of one or more pages (e.g., pages RP1 to RP7 in FIG. 12) for the end user to perform a series of operations required to proceed with the rental of the specified product, and a rental page presentation control means (e.g., rental page presentation control unit 83 in FIG. 4) for executing control to present the rental page to the terminal when a request for presentation of the rental page is received from the end user's terminal, and the procedure screen may include an operator for the end user to request presentation of the rental page for the specified product.

[0060] Furthermore, as the procedure screen expansion function, the module can perform an SDK execution function (for example, a function to execute the series of processes shown in Figure 10) that, when the identifier of the specified product is notified to the provider device, acquires the rental information from the provider device, generates the procedure screen based on the rental information, and expands the display area to the specified page.

[0061] Furthermore, the module can perform the following as the procedure screen deployment functions: a function to read the SDK (for example, the tag function in Figures 5 and 6), a function to create a DOM in which the SDK is placed (for example, the tag function in Figure 7), and a function to initialize the SDK (for example, the tag function in Figure 8 or 9).

[0062] 1...Store server, 2...Rental function providing server, 3...User terminal, 11, 11-1, 11-2...CPU, 12...ROM, 13...RAM, 14...Bus, 15...Input / output interface, 16...Input unit, 17...Output unit, 18, 18-1, 18-2...Storage unit, 19...Communication unit, 20...Drive, 30...Removable media, 51...Sales site management unit, 52...Sales site presentation control unit, 71...Sales site DB, 72...SDKDB, 81...Rental information providing unit, 82...Rental page management unit, 83...Rental page presentation control unit, 84...Rental processing execution unit, 91...Rental information DB 92, and 92...Rental page DB

Claims

1. An information processing system comprising: a seller device managed by a seller who sells specified products to end users through a sales site; and a provider device managed by a provider who provides the sales site with a rental function that enables the end users to rent the specified products, wherein the seller device comprises: sales site management means for managing the sales site with an embedded module that performs at least a procedure screen expansion function, as the rental function, to expand a procedure screen on a specified page of the sales site so that the procedure screen for the end user to proceed with the rental of the specified product; and sales site presentation control means for, when the end user's terminal accesses the sales site, causing the module to perform the procedure screen expansion function, thereby obtaining rental information required to create the procedure screen from the provider device, generating the procedure screen based on the rental information, and presenting the procedure screen on the terminal with it expanded on the specified page; and the provider device comprises: rental information provision means for providing the seller device with the rental information of the specified product in response to a request from the seller device.

2. The information processing system described in claim 1, wherein the provider device further comprises: a rental page management means for managing a rental page consisting of one or more pages for the end user to perform a series of operations required to proceed with the rental of the specified product; and a rental page presentation control means for, when a request for presentation of the rental page is received from the end user's terminal, executing control to present the rental page to the terminal; and the procedure screen includes an operator for the end user to request presentation of the rental page for the specified product.

3. The information processing system of claim 1, wherein the module, as the procedure screen expansion function, performs an SDK execution function of acquiring the rental information from the provider device when notifying the provider device of the identifier of the specified product, generating the procedure screen based on the rental information, and expanding the display area to the specified page.

4. The information processing system according to claim 3, wherein the module performs the following functions as the procedure screen deployment function: a function to read the SDK; a function to create a DOM in which the SDK is placed; and a function to initialize the SDK.

5. An information processing method executed by an information processing system including: a seller device managed by a seller who sells specified products to end users through a sales site; and a provider device managed by a provider who provides the sales site with a rental function that enables the end users to rent the specified products, wherein the steps executed by the seller device include: a sales site management step of managing the sales site in a state where, as the rental function, a module that performs at least a procedure screen expansion function of expanding a procedure screen on a specified page of the sales site for the end user to proceed with the rental of the specified product is embedded; and a sales site presentation control step of, when the end user's terminal accesses the sales website, causing the module to perform the procedure screen expansion function, thereby obtaining rental information required to create a display area from the provider device, generating the procedure screen based on the rental information, and presenting the procedure screen on the terminal in a state where it is expanded on the specified page; and a rental information provision step of providing the seller device with the rental information of the specified product in response to a request from the seller device.

6. A program for causing a computer that controls an information processing system including: a seller device managed by a seller who sells specified products to end users through a sales site; and a provider device managed by a provider that provides the sales site with a rental function that enables the end users to rent the specified products, the program causing the computer that controls the seller device to execute control processes including: a sales site management step that manages the sales site in a state where a module that performs at least a procedure screen expansion function, as the rental function, expands a procedure screen on a specified page of the sales site so that the procedure screen for the end user to proceed with the rental of the specified product, is embedded in the sales site; and a sales site presentation control step that, when the end user's terminal accesses the sales website, causes the module to perform the procedure screen expansion function, thereby obtaining rental information necessary to create a display area from the provider device, generating the procedure screen based on the rental information, and presenting the procedure screen on the terminal in a state where it is expanded on the specified page; and the program causing the computer that controls the provider device to execute control processes including: a rental information provision step that provides the seller device with rental information of the specified product in response to a request from the seller device.

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