JP4154216B2 - Information processing system and information processing method - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a consumables collection technique.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, in consideration of environmental problems, consumables are generally collected. In order to increase the user's (customer's) willingness to return the consumables, there is known a method in which the collection underwriter provides an incentive to the collection requester who cooperated with the collection of the consumables.
[0003]
For example, a method for accumulating point values corresponding to cartridges collected from a user at a cartridge recycling factory and awarding a privilege to the user if the accumulated point value exceeds a preset privilege award threshold Is known (see Patent Document 1).
[0004]
[Patent Document 1]
JP 2002-83097 A
[0005]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in the above conventional method, the user can receive the collection incentive only when the collected item is delivered directly to the collection undertaker. The user can supply the consumable item to the collection agent. When returned, the user was not able to obtain any benefits.
[0006]
The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems of the prior art, and an object thereof is to further promote the collection of consumables.
[0007]
  In order to achieve the above object, an information processing system according to the present invention provides:
  A dealer server,Send / receive information to / from the store serverAn information processing system including a manufacturer server,
  The store server is
  A first input means for inputting a point issuing cartridge code attached to the returned cartridge;
  A first issuing means for issuing a point to a user based on the point issuing cartridge code input by the first input means with reference to a point issuing calculation database that associates the point issuing cartridge code with the issuing point;
  A transmission means for transmitting a serial ID for identifying a cartridge and a dealer code for identifying a dealer to the manufacturer server;
  Have
  The manufacturer server
  A second input means for inputting a serial ID attached to the returned cartridge;
  The serial ID input by the second input means is referred to by referring to the store-specific point database that associates the store code and the serial ID.If it is determined whether there is a matching serial ID and it is determined that there is no matching serial ID, if it is determined that there is a matching serial ID without issuing a point to the store,A second issuing means for issuing points to a store;
  It is characterized by having.
  In order to achieve the above object, an information processing method according to the present invention includes:
  With the dealer server, Send and receive information to and from the store serverAn information processing method executed by an information processing system having a manufacturer server,
  The dealer server inputs the point issuance cartridge code attached to the returned cartridge, and the inputted point issuance cartridge code is associated with the point issuance calculation database that associates the point issuance cartridge code and the issuance point. Issue points to users based onA serial ID for identifying the cartridge and a dealer code for identifying the dealer are transmitted to the manufacturer server;
  The manufacturer server inputs the serial ID attached to the returned cartridge, and the input serial IDThe serial ID that matchesStore-specific point database with store code and serial IDWhen it is determined that there is no matching serial ID, if it is determined that there is a matching serial ID without issuing points to the dealer,It is characterized by issuing points to dealers.
[0008]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. However, the constituent elements described in this embodiment are merely examples, and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention only to them.
[0009]
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an overall configuration of an embodiment of an information processing system according to the present invention. This information processing system processes information between the store 20 and the manufacturer 30. The information processing method will be described below.
[0010]
First, a user 10 of a cartridge (CRG in the figure) such as a toner cut ridge or an ink cartridge returns a used serial ID-attached cartridge to the store 20 ((1)). The serial ID is uniquely assigned to each cartridge at the time of manufacture or sale in the cartridge manufacturer 30. This serial ID may be attached by a bar code, stored in a memory tag attached to the cartridge, or simply printed with a numerical value. Although the serial ID is used here, it may not be a consecutive number as long as it is unique for each cartridge.
[0011]
The salesperson of the store 20 inputs the serial ID to the store client 21 when the user 10 keeps the cartridge. As the input method here, various methods can be adopted depending on how the ID is assigned. For example, a method of reading by a bar code reader or a magnetic reader, or a method in which a human reads the key and inputs a key is conceivable.
[0012]
The salesperson of the store 20 also inputs the user ID to the store client 21 from the point card owned by the user. Similar to the serial ID input method, the user ID input method can be read by a bar code reading device or a magnetic reading device, or can be read by the human eye and key input.
[0013]
The input serial ID and user ID of the cartridge are transmitted from the store client 21 to the store server 22. The store server 22 calculates the number of points to be issued to the cartridge user 10 using data in the point calculation database 23 (in the figure, the database is referred to as DB). Then, the store 20 gives the number of points unique to the store to the user 10 who has returned the cartridge ((2)). This point is given to various customers by the store 20 as part of the means for attracting customers. For example, it is issued as a kind of incentive (reward) to customers who have purchased products at the store 20. The customer can use this point as an actual discount after the next purchase. For example, if 100 points are issued to a customer by purchasing the product A, the customer can purchase the product B at a discount of 100 yen by using the point at the next purchase of the product B. Become. Needless to say, incentives for customers are applicable if they are profitable to customers, such as cash.
[0014]
Next, the dealer server 22 registers the point issuance information in the user-specific point management database 24 using the user ID input from the dealer client 21 and the calculated number of points ((3)). This database 24 registers the number of points stored so far for each customer.
[0015]
Further, the dealer server 22 registers in the cartridge management database 25 what kind of cartridge has been collected from the user, and at the same time transmits the serial ID and the dealer ID of the returned cartridge to the manufacturer server 32 ((4) ▼). The manufacturer server 32 registers the information in the store-specific point management database 33.
[0016]
When the store 20 sends the collected serial ID-attached cartridge itself to the manufacturer 30 (5), the store server 22 registers in the cartridge management database which cartridge was sent to the manufacturer.
[0017]
On the other hand, the manufacturer client 31 provided in the collection center of the manufacturer 30 reads the serial ID of the collected cartridge and sends it to the manufacturer server 32. The manufacturer server 32 uses the serial ID sent from the manufacturer client 31 to refer to the store-specific point management database 33 ((6)), and if the information matches, sells the manufacturer's own points. Issue to the store (7). Here, the manufacturer's unique point issued to the dealer is a profit compensated by the manufacturer for the dealer, and corresponds to, for example, transfer of money to a predetermined account via the Internet bank. Hereinafter, these compensated profits will be referred to as points.
[0018]
As described above, in the information processing system according to the present embodiment, the points that should be originally issued by the manufacturer to the user are issued in a form that the dealer replaces.
[0019]
Therefore, the user can receive points more quickly and can also use the points for other products sold at the store, which increases the willingness to return the cartridge. Therefore, as a result, the cartridge collection service can be received very effectively.
[0020]
On the other hand, the dealer can compensate the points issued to the user later with the points from the manufacturer, so there is no loss, and conversely, the cartridge user actively visits the dealer, It is possible to promote sales of products.
[0021]
In addition, since this system reduces the need for users to bring cartridges directly to the manufacturer, the need for the manufacturer to deal with each user is reduced, and point management for each user can be saved. Further, by increasing the user's willingness to return the cartridge, it is possible to promote cartridge collection, which is a maker's goal.
[0022]
Furthermore, since the manufacturer server matches the actually collected cartridge with the information by the serial ID, it is possible to prevent an illegal report from a store. For example, it is possible to prevent an injustice that a dealer requests points from a manufacturer by saying that “the cartridge has been collected from the user” even though the store has not actually issued points.
[0023]
In FIG. 1, it is illustrated that one dealer client 21 and one dealer server 22 are provided in the dealer 20, but of course this is merely an illustrative example, There may be a plurality of dealer clients 21. That is, in the case of a large-scale store having a plurality of stores, a store client 21 is provided for each store or sales counter, and information collected from the plurality of store clients 21 is stored in the store server. The structure collected in 22 may be sufficient.
[0024]
The same applies to the maker 30 and may have one maker client 31 for each of a plurality of collection centers, or a plurality of maker clients 31 exist in each of the plurality of collection centers. A configuration in which information from the many maker clients 31 is collected in the maker server 32 is also possible.
[0025]
<Device configuration>
Next, typical hardware internal configurations of the store client 21, the store server 22, the manufacturer client 31, and the manufacturer server 32 will be described with reference to FIG.
[0026]
Reference numeral 201 denotes an arithmetic / control CPU for controlling the entire apparatus, 202 denotes a ROM for storing programs executed by the CPU 201, fixed values, and the like, and 203 denotes a data storage unit such as an HD. A RAM for temporary storage 204 includes a program load area for storing a program to be loaded.
[0027]
Reference numeral 205 denotes an input / output interface (I / O) for inputting / outputting data to / from an external device. Data is exchanged with other computers (servers and clients) via this I / O.
[0028]
Reference numeral 206 denotes an input device such as a keyboard or a mouse that receives data input from the operator, and reference numeral 207 denotes a display device such as a CRT or a liquid crystal display that displays data to the operator. These input device 206 and display device 207 are also connected to the I / O 205.
[0029]
<Sequence>
Next, the exchange of data or cartridges among the user 10, the dealer client 21, the dealer server 22, the manufacturer server 32, and the manufacturer client 31 will be described in detail with reference to FIG.
[0030]
First, in step S301, when the user 10 provides personal information to the store 20 to be registered in the point system of the store, the store clerk of the store 20 inputs the user name, address, and the like to the store client 21. The personal information is sent from the store client 21 to the store server 22 and stored in a user information database (not shown) of the store server 22.
[0031]
Next, in step S <b> 302, the store server 22 assigns a unique user ID to the name, address, etc., and transmits it to the store client 21. A point card with this user ID is issued and handed to the user at the store. A plurality of user IDs are assigned to the store client 21 in advance, and after the store client 21 issues a point card with the user ID, the user ID and the user's personal information are stored on the store server 22 side. May be registered in the database in association with each other. Further, the user ID may be notified to the terminal owned by the user by e-mail.
[0032]
On the other hand, the manufacturer 30 sells the cartridge with the serial ID to the store 20 in step S303, and the store sells the cartridge to the user 10 in step S304.
[0033]
When the user 10 runs out of consumables such as toner using the cartridge, the user 10 returns it to the store 20 in step S305.
[0034]
In step S306, the client terminal 21 of the store 20 reads the serial ID and the point issuing cartridge code attached to the cartridge, and further reads the user ID from the point card owned by the user. These pieces of information are sent to the store server 22 in step S307.
[0035]
The dealer server 22 performs user point issuance processing in step S308. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing in detail the user point issuing process. The processing shown in FIG. 4 is all performed by the store server 22.
[0036]
In FIG. 4, first, in step S <b> 401, the store server 22 acquires a user ID from the store client 21. Subsequently, in step S402, the store server 22 acquires the cartridge serial ID from the store client 21. In step S403, the store server 22 acquires a point issuing cartridge code from the store client 21. Next, in step S404, the point calculation database 23 is referred to.
[0037]
FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the contents of the point issuance calculation database 23.
[0038]
This database stores a table 600 that includes both an issue point calculation formula 601 for purchase of merchandise and an issue point calculation formula 602 for cartridge collection.
[0039]
That is, it is used when issuing points for normal merchandise sales and when issuing points for cartridges brought in by the user.
[0040]
The generation points for the purchase of a product are managed for each JAN code of each product. On the other hand, since the cartridge ID to be serialized cannot be registered in advance at the store, it cannot be used as a material for deriving the generated points, and there is a separate cartridge code for issuing points for registering the point settings. Prepared and attached to the cartridge. This code may be different for each apparatus in which the cartridge is mounted, or may be different for each cartridge manufacturer.
[0041]
Here, the serial ID and the cartridge code are completely different information, but a collection point issuing code may be embedded in a part of the serial ID (for example, the upper four digits).
[0042]
In FIG. 6, a difference is provided in the generation point for each type of cartridge, but the same point may be issued to all cartridges. In this case, the point issuing cartridge code is not necessary.
[0043]
Returning to FIG. 4, after issuing points are calculated in step S405, the points are registered in the user-specific point management database 24 in step S406.
[0044]
FIG. 7 is a diagram showing the contents of the user-specific point management database 24 managed by the store server 22.
[0045]
As shown in FIG. 7, the database 24 stores, for each user ID 701, the date 702 when points are issued as a store server, the type of service received from the store on that day (product purchase or cartridge collection), and the service. A table 700 in which issued points are registered is stored. Also, the cartridge serial ID 705 is registered.
[0046]
Returning to FIG. 4, in step S407, information about the collected cartridge is registered in the cartridge management database 25, and the process proceeds to step S309 in FIG.
[0047]
FIG. 9 is a diagram showing the contents of the cartridge management database 25 managed by the store server 22.
[0048]
As shown in FIG. 9, the database 25 includes a serial ID 902 of a cartridge, a collection date 903 at the store 20 of the cartridge, a date 904 when the cartridge is shipped from the store 20 to the manufacturer 30, and the cartridge from the manufacturer. A table 900 for registering the date 905 when the point is issued is stored.
[0049]
With this database, it is possible to grasp problems such as delays in sending the collected cartridges to the manufacturer, and problems that the manufacturer has not issued points for the cartridge even though the cartridge was sent to the manufacturer. .
[0050]
Next, in step S309, the store server 22 transmits the issue point information, that is, the number of issued points and the total number of accumulated points for the user 10 who has brought the cartridge to the store client 21.
[0051]
In step S310, the store client 21 records the point issuance date received from the store server 22 as well as information such as the point issuance date, the type of cartridge received, the purchased product, and the like on the receipt. To issue. When the point card is an IC card, the information may be recorded in the IC card. Or you may transmit those information to a user terminal by mail.
[0052]
Next, in step S <b> 311, the store server 22 transmits cartridge collection information to the manufacturer server 32. That is, as information for specifying the cartridge collected by the store 20 on behalf of the manufacturer 30, the serial ID, the collection date at the store, etc. are read from the cartridge management database 25 shown in FIG. 9 and included in the input / output interface. It transmits to the maker server 22 via a network using a communication device (not shown). Further, at this time, a store code for identifying the store 20 is added and transmitted. The manufacturer server 23 also receives the information using a communication device (not shown) and registers it in the store-specific point management database 33.
[0053]
FIG. 8 is a diagram showing the contents of the store-specific point management database 33.
[0054]
The point management database 33 for each store manages point information for each store. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 8, a table 800 for registering a store code 801, a point issuance date 802 at the store, a serial ID 803 of the cartridge that issued the point at the store, and the like is stored. . FIG. 8A shows a database of timing when only cartridge information is received from the store server 22 and no actual cartridge is collected.
[0055]
Next, in step S312, the store 20 returns the cartridge with the serial ID to the manufacturer 30. In step S313, the manufacturer client 31 reads the returned serial ID and cartridge code of the cartridge. The read serial ID and cartridge code are sent from the manufacturer client 31 to the manufacturer server 32 in step S314.
[0056]
In step S315, the manufacturer server 32 determines whether or not the received serial ID is a serial ID that should be issued a point, and if it is determined that the point is a serial ID that may be issued, points are given to the store 20. In step S316, this is notified at a predetermined timing. As specific notification contents, the dealer ID is notified of the serial ID and the number of points issued as information indicating that points have been issued.
[0057]
FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing details of the processing in step S315. Each process shown in FIG. 5 is executed by the manufacturer server 32.
[0058]
In FIG. 5, first, in step S501, the cartridge serial ID and the cartridge code read in step S313 are received (input).
[0059]
Next, in step S503, the point management database 33 for each dealer shown in FIG. 8 is referred to, and it is determined whether or not there is a serial ID that matches the input serial ID in the point management database 33 for each dealer. If they do not match, the process ends and no points are issued to the store.
[0060]
If they match, the process advances from step S504 to step S505. In step S505, it is further determined whether or not the serial ID input in step S501 is registered as a point unissued cartridge in the point management database 33 for each store. That is, it is determined whether or not the serial ID has already entered a point issuance date in the point issuance date 806 column of FIG. If no data is input on the point issuance date 806, the point is regarded as a serial ID to be issued, the process proceeds to step S506, and a point to be issued to the store is calculated. If the point issuance date 806 has been input, the process proceeds to step S508, and the manufacturer server 32 transmits to the store server 22 that the cartridge is not eligible for point payment.
[0061]
In step S506, the points given to the store 20 are calculated using the cartridge code input in step S501. Although not shown, the maker server 32 includes a database storing a table similar to the table 600 shown in FIG. 6, and the maker server 32 calculates points by referring to the point calculation database. That is, the point calculation database stores a table in which the point issuing cartridge code is associated with the point to be issued. Therefore, different points can be issued for the same cartridge at the store 20 and the server 30. Of course, the same point is acceptable.
[0062]
In step S507, the point 804 calculated in step S506 is registered in the point management database 33 for each store. Then, information relating to the number of issued points accumulated by executing the flowchart of FIG. 5 in each collected cartridge is notified from the manufacturer server to the store server. This notification corresponds to step S316 described in FIG.
[0063]
As described above, the number of issue points is calculated and registered for each cartridge, and the accumulated points are issued to the dealer at a predetermined time (for example, at the end of the month). Then, the point issuance date is registered in the table 800 of FIG. 8 as the point issuance date 806.
[0064]
That is, when an actual cartridge is collected and points are issued to the dealer by the manufacturer for the cartridge, those dates and points are registered as shown in FIG.
[0065]
As a result, a warning is issued when an actual cartridge has not been collected for a long time even though cartridge information has been received from a dealer, or when a point has not been issued for a long time even though a cartridge has been collected. It is also possible to do.
[0066]
(Other embodiments)
In the above embodiment, the serial ID of the cartridge is collated, and when the serial ID is matched, the maker issues a point to the store. However, the present invention is not limited to this. Only the type and quantity of cartridge that issued points to the user are notified to the manufacturer, and if the manufacturer can confirm that the cartridge of the notified type and quantity has been collected from the dealer, the point is issued without verification. The sequence may be
[0067]
In the above embodiment, the case where the cartridge is collected as an example of the consumable item has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this. Examples of other consumables include a lens-attached film such as a disposable camera.
[0068]
In the above-described embodiment, the relationship between the manufacturer and the store has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and can be widely applied to the relationship between the consumables collection agent and the collection agent. In other words, the consumables are collected with the first trader who sells consumables and gives the first type of incentive to the customer who has purchased the consumables. The present invention can be applied to a second trader who gives a second type of incentive to a person who brings in consumables. In addition, you may specify a trader by the division unit etc. instead of the company unit.
[0069]
Moreover, although the case where the point was given as an example of incentive was described in the said embodiment, this invention is not limited to this. Other incentives include cash back, giveaways, or merchandise such as cartridges.
[0070]
Further, in the above-described embodiment, the table in which the type of cartridge and the number of points to be issued are associated with each other is independently provided by the dealer and the manufacturer. However, the present invention is not limited to this. Only the dealer may have such a table, and a point or a product or money according to the number of points issued by the dealer to the user may be passed from the manufacturer to the dealer.
[0071]
In the present invention, a software program that realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments is directly or remotely supplied to a system or apparatus, and the computer of the system or apparatus reads and executes the supplied program code. Including the case where it is also achieved by. In that case, as long as it has the function of a program, the form does not need to be a program.
[0072]
Accordingly, since the functions of the present invention are implemented by computer, the program code installed in the computer also implements the present invention. That is, the claims of the present invention include the computer program itself for realizing the functional processing of the present invention.
[0073]
In this case, the program may be in any form as long as it has a program function, such as an object code, a program executed by an interpreter, or script data supplied to the OS.
[0074]
As a recording medium for supplying the program, for example, floppy (registered trademark) disk, hard disk, optical disk, magneto-optical disk, MO, CD-ROM, CD-R, CD-RW, magnetic tape, nonvolatile memory card ROM, DVD (DVD-ROM, DVD-R) and the like.
[0075]
As another program supply method, a client computer browser is used to connect to an Internet homepage, and the computer program of the present invention itself or a compressed file including an automatic installation function is downloaded from the homepage to a recording medium such as a hard disk. Can also be supplied. It can also be realized by dividing the program code constituting the program of the present invention into a plurality of files and downloading each file from a different homepage. That is, a WWW server that allows a plurality of users to download a program file for realizing the functional processing of the present invention on a computer is also included in the claims of the present invention.
[0076]
In addition, the program of the present invention is encrypted, stored in a storage medium such as a CD-ROM, distributed to users, and key information for decryption is downloaded from a homepage via the Internet to users who have cleared predetermined conditions. It is also possible to execute the encrypted program by using the key information and install the program on a computer.
[0077]
In addition to the functions of the above-described embodiments being realized by the computer executing the read program, the OS running on the computer based on the instruction of the program is a part of the actual processing. Alternatively, the functions of the above-described embodiment can be realized by performing all of them and performing the processing.
[0078]
Furthermore, after the program read from the recording medium is written in a memory provided in a function expansion board inserted into the computer or a function expansion unit connected to the computer, the function expansion board or The CPU or the like provided in the function expansion unit performs part or all of the actual processing, and the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized by the processing.
[0079]
Embodiments of the present invention are described below.
[0080]
[Embodiment 1]
In order for a first trader who sells consumables to give a first type of incentive to a customer who purchased the consumables, information on the first type of incentive is given to the customer who purchased the consumables. A first information processing apparatus managed in association with
In order for the second contractor who collects the consumables to give the second type of incentive to the consumables provider who brought in the consumables, information on the second type of incentives is provided. A second information processing apparatus that manages the information in association with the person,
An information processing system including
The first information processing apparatus
First management means for managing information related to the first type of incentive in association with the customer who brought in the consumable when the first contractor keeps the consumable from the customer;
Transmitting means for transmitting information about the consumables managed by the first management means to the second information processing apparatus;
Have
The second information processing apparatus
Receiving means for receiving information about the consumables managed by the first managing means from the transmitting means;
The second type of incentive when the information is received by the receiving unit and the consumable item managed by the first management unit is collected from the first vendor by the second vendor. Second management means for managing information related to the first contractor,
An information processing system comprising:
[0081]
[Embodiment 2]
The first information processing apparatus
In addition, it further has an informing means for informing the customer of the first type incentive,
The second information processing apparatus
The information processing system according to claim 1, further comprising notification means for notifying the first information processing apparatus that the second type incentive is given to the first trader.
[0082]
[Embodiment 3]
The first information processing apparatus further includes first input means for inputting a consumable ID attached to the consumable collected from a customer,
The transmission means transmits the consumable ID input by the input means to the second information processing apparatus,
The receiving means receives the consumable ID from the transmitting means;
The second management means manages the consumable ID received by the receiving means in association with the first contractor,
The second information processing apparatus
A second input means for inputting a consumable ID assigned to the consumable collected from the first supplier;
Determination means for determining whether or not the consumable ID input by the second input means matches the consumable ID managed by the second management means;
Further comprising
When the determination unit determines that the consumable IDs match, the second management unit manages the second type incentive corresponding to the consumable ID in association with the first supplier. The information processing system according to Embodiment 1 is characterized.
[0083]
[Embodiment 4]
The first input means and the second input means further input an incentive code attached to the consumable item,
The first information processing apparatus
Means for deriving the first type of incentive to give to the customer from the incentive code;
The second information processing apparatus
The information processing system according to claim 3, further comprising means for deriving the second type of incentive given to the customer from the incentive code.
[0084]
[Embodiment 5]
A program that, when executed by a computer, realizes each unit included in the information processing system according to any one of the first to fourth embodiments.
[0085]
[Embodiment 6]
A computer-readable storage medium storing the program according to the fifth embodiment.
[0086]
[Embodiment 7]
An information processing method used in a consumables collection company,
A receiving step of receiving information on the consumables collected by another vendor from the other vendor;
A registration step of registering the information in a memory in association with the other vendor;
A determination step of determining whether the information registered in the registration step corresponds to the consumable when collecting consumables from the other contractor;
A step of providing an incentive to the other merchant when it is determined that the determination step corresponds;
An information processing method comprising:
[0087]
[Embodiment 8]
An information processing apparatus used in a consumables collection company,
Receiving means for receiving information on consumables collected by another vendor from the other vendor;
Registration means for registering the information in the memory in association with the other vendor;
A determination unit that determines whether the information registered by the registration unit corresponds to the consumable when collecting consumables from the other contractor;
Have
The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the registration unit registers an incentive in association with the other contractor when it is determined that the determination unit supports the registration unit.
[0088]
[Embodiment 9]
A program that, when executed by a computer, realizes each unit included in the information processing apparatus according to Embodiment 8.
[0089]
[Embodiment 10]
A computer-readable storage medium storing the program according to the ninth embodiment.
[0090]
[Embodiment 11]
A first vendor that sells consumables and provides a first type of incentive to customers who have purchased the consumables;
A second supplier that collects the consumables and provides a second type of incentive to the person who brought the consumables;
An information processing method executed by
A first incentive granting step of granting the first type of incentive to the customer who brought in the consumable when the first contractor keeps a consumable from a customer;
A notification step of notifying the second supplier of information about the consumables that have been subject to incentive provision in the first incentive provision step;
In the case where there is a notification of the information in the notification step and the second supplier collects the consumable item that has been subject to incentive provision in the first incentive provision step from the first supplier, the second A second incentive granting step of granting the type of incentive to the first trader;
An information processing method comprising:
[0091]
[Embodiment 12]
A first vendor that sells consumables and provides a first type of incentive to customers who have purchased the consumables;
A second supplier that collects the consumables and provides a second type of incentive to the person who brought the consumables;
An information processing method executed by
A first registration step of registering information related to the first type incentive in association with the customer who brought the consumable when the first contractor has deposited consumables from the customer;
A notification step of notifying the second vendor of information about the consumables registered in the first registration step;
When there is a notification of the information in the notification step and the second supplier collects the consumables registered in the first registration step from the first supplier, the second type A second registration step of registering information on incentives in association with the first contractor;
An information processing method comprising:
[0092]
【The invention's effect】
According to the present invention, the recovery of consumables can be further promoted.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram showing an information processing system as an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a hardware configuration of an apparatus constituting the information processing system as an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a diagram showing exchange of data and cartridges in the information processing system as an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing processing in a store server constituting the information processing system as an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing processing in a maker server constituting the information processing system as an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the contents of a database managed by a store server constituting the information processing system as an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 7 is a diagram showing the contents of a database managed by a store server constituting the information processing system as an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 8 is a diagram showing the contents of a database managed by a manufacturer server constituting the information processing system as an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 9 is a diagram showing the contents of a database managed by a manufacturer server constituting the information processing system as an embodiment of the present invention.

Claims (8)

An information processing system including a dealer server and a manufacturer server that transmits and receives information to and from the dealer server ,
The store server is
A first input means for inputting a point issuing cartridge code attached to the returned cartridge;
A first issuing means for issuing a point to a user based on the point issuing cartridge code input by the first input means with reference to a point issuing calculation database that associates the point issuing cartridge code with the issuing point;
A transmission means for transmitting a serial ID for identifying a cartridge and a dealer code for identifying a dealer to the manufacturer server;
Have
The manufacturer server is
A second input means for inputting a serial ID attached to the returned cartridge;
It is determined whether there is a serial ID that matches the serial ID input by the second input means with reference to the store-specific point database that associates the store code and serial ID, and it is determined that there is no matching serial ID. If it is determined that there is a matching serial ID without issuing points to the dealer, a second issuing means for issuing points to the dealer;
An information processing system comprising:   2. The information processing system according to claim 1, wherein the dealer server can further refer to a user-specific point management database that associates a user ID, a point issuing cartridge code, a serial ID, and a point.   2. The information processing system according to claim 1, wherein the point database for each store includes a cartridge collection date and a manufacturer point effective date.   The information processing system according to claim 1, wherein the dealer server can further refer to a cartridge management database that associates a serial ID, a collection date, a delivery date, and a point effective date. An information processing method executed by an information processing system having a dealer server and a manufacturer server that transmits and receives information between the dealer server and the dealer server ,
The dealer server inputs the point issuance cartridge code attached to the returned cartridge, and the inputted point issuance cartridge code is associated with the point issuance calculation database that associates the point issuance cartridge code and the issuance point. A point is issued to the user, and a serial ID for identifying the cartridge and a dealer code for identifying the dealer are transmitted to the manufacturer server,
The manufacturer server inputs the serial ID attached to the returned cartridge, determines whether the serial ID that matches the input serial ID is in the store-specific point database corresponding to the store code and the serial ID , An information processing method characterized in that, when it is determined that there is no matching serial ID , points are not issued to the dealer, and when it is determined that there is a matching serial ID , points are issued to the dealer.   6. The information processing method according to claim 5, wherein the store server further refers to a user-specific point management database that associates a user ID, a point issuing cartridge code, a serial ID, and a point.   6. The information processing method according to claim 5, wherein the point database for each store includes a cartridge collection date and a manufacturer point effective date.   6. The information processing method according to claim 5, wherein the store server further refers to a cartridge management database that associates a serial ID, a collection date, a delivery date, and a point effective date.

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