JP7583131B2 - Setting device, setting method and setting program - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a setting device, a setting method, and a setting program.

Conventionally, there are known technologies for managing various fees charged to providers who provide trading objects. One example of such a technology is a technology that calculates evaluation information, including the loan amount or interest rate to be offered to a business operator, based on operational data related to the business operation of the business operator.

JP 2018-180815 A

However, the above-mentioned technologies may not be able to appropriately set the fees charged to providers based on their use of the platform.

For example, the technology described above can only calculate the loan amount and interest rate available to businesses, and cannot be said to calculate fees based on the use of the platform.

This application has been made in light of the above, and aims to appropriately set fees to be charged to providers in accordance with the use of the platform.

The setting device according to the present application is characterized by having an acquisition unit that acquires provider information related to a provider who provides a trading object using a specified platform, and a setting unit that sets a fee for the provider for use of the platform based on the provider information acquired by the acquisition unit.

According to one aspect of the embodiment, it is possible to appropriately set the fees charged to providers depending on the use of the platform.

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a setting process according to the first embodiment. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a setting process according to the second embodiment. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of an information providing device according to an embodiment. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of a provider database according to the embodiment. FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of a platform information database according to the embodiment. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a consideration database according to the embodiment. FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a procedure of the setting process according to the embodiment. FIG. 8 is a hardware configuration diagram showing an example of a computer that realizes the functions of the information providing device.

Below, the configuration for implementing the setting device, setting method, and setting program according to the present application (hereinafter, referred to as "embodiments") will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. Note that the setting device, setting method, and setting program according to the present application are not limited to these embodiments. Furthermore, the same parts in the following embodiments will be given the same reference numerals, and duplicated descriptions will be omitted.

1. Embodiment
1-1. Example of setting process in the first embodiment
Next, a setting process according to the first embodiment, which is realized by a setting device or the like of the present embodiment, will be described with reference to Fig. 1. Fig. 1 is a diagram showing an example of the setting process according to the first embodiment. Note that in Fig. 1, the setting process according to the embodiment is realized by an information providing device 10, which is an example of the setting device according to the present embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 1, the setting system 1 according to the embodiment includes an information providing device 10, a user terminal 100, a provider terminal 200, and a server device 301. The information providing device 10, the user terminal 100, the provider terminal 200, and the server device 301 are connected to each other via a network N (see FIG. 3, for example) so as to be able to communicate with each other by wire or wirelessly. The network N is, for example, a wide area network (WAN) such as the Internet. Note that the setting system 1 shown in FIG. 1 may include multiple information providing devices 10, multiple user terminals 100, multiple provider terminals 200, and multiple server devices 301.

The information providing device 10 shown in FIG. 1 is an information processing device that performs setting processing, and is realized, for example, by a server device or a cloud system. For example, the information providing device 10 acquires information on a provider that provides a trading object (e.g., a product) to a user, and information on the provision of the trading object, and provides information according to the acquired information.

The user terminal 100 shown in FIG. 1 is an information processing device used by a user. The user terminal 100 is realized, for example, by a smartphone, a tablet terminal, a notebook PC (Personal Computer), a desktop PC, a mobile phone, a PDA (Personal Digital Assistant), etc. The user terminal 100 also displays information distributed by the server device 301 using a web browser or an application. Note that the example shown in FIG. 1 shows a case where the user terminal 100 is a smartphone.

The provider terminal 200 shown in FIG. 1 is an information processing device used by a provider who provides transaction objects to users in a physical store. The provider terminal 200 is realized, for example, by a smartphone, a tablet terminal, a notebook PC, a desktop PC, a mobile phone, a PDA, etc. Furthermore, the user terminal 100 displays information distributed by the server device 301 using a web browser or an application. Note that the example shown in FIG. 1 shows a case where the user terminal 100 is a notebook PC.

The server device 301 shown in FIG. 1 is an information processing device that provides electronic payment services related to electronic payments using the user terminal 100 and performs various payments, and is realized, for example, by a server device or a cloud system. For example, the server device 301 manages the accounts of providers of transaction objects and users to whom transaction objects are provided, and realizes various payments by transferring electronic money between accounts in accordance with payment requests from users. Note that electronic money may be, for example, points or currency used independently by various companies, or it may be electronically tradable currency provided by a country, such as Japanese yen or dollars.

Here, an example of a payment (electronic payment) using the user terminal 100 will be described prior to the payment process executed by the user terminal 100. Note that in the following description, an example will be described in which a user U makes a payment using the user terminal 100 using a two-dimensional code (QR code (registered trademark)) placed in a physical store A, which indicates store identification information that identifies the physical store A, but the embodiment is not limited to this. The example of a payment described below can also be applied when an arbitrary user U makes a payment at an arbitrary store using an arbitrary user terminal 100. Furthermore, the store identification information may be not only a QR code (registered trademark), but also a barcode, a specified mark, a number, etc.

For example, when user U makes a payment for the use or purchase of payment items such as various products and services at physical store A, user U launches a payment application pre-installed on user terminal 100. User U then photographs the store identification information installed at physical store A via the application. In such a case, user terminal 100 displays a screen for inputting the price of the payment item and accepts input of the payment amount from user U or a salesperson at physical store A. User terminal 100 then transmits user information identifying user U, store identification information (or information indicated by the store identification information, i.e., information indicating the store), and payment information indicating the payment amount to server device 301.

In such a case, the server device 301 transfers electronic money in the amount indicated by the payment amount from the account of user U indicated by the user information to the account of physical store A indicated by the store identification information. The server device 301 then sends a notification to the user terminal 100 that the payment has been completed. In such a case, the user terminal 100 notifies the user that the payment has been made with electronic money by outputting a screen or a specified sound indicating that the payment has been completed.

Note that the payment using the user terminal 100 is not limited to the above-mentioned process. For example, the payment using the user terminal 100 may be made using a store terminal installed in the physical store A. For example, the user terminal 100 displays user identification information for identifying the user U on the screen. In such a case, the store terminal installed in the physical store A reads the user identification information displayed on the user terminal 100, and transmits payment information indicating the user identification information, the payment amount, and information identifying the physical store A to the server device 301. In such a case, the server device 301 transfers electronic money in an amount indicated by the payment amount from the account of the user U indicated by the user identification information to the account of the physical store A, and may notify the store terminal of the physical store A or the user terminal 100 that the payment has been completed by outputting a screen or a specified sound indicating that the payment has been completed.

Furthermore, payment using the user terminal 100 may not only be a process of transferring electronic money from an account to which user U has previously charged electronic money to an account at physical store A, but may also be, for example, a payment using a credit card that user U has previously registered. In such a case, for example, the server device 301 may transfer the electronic money of the payment amount to the account at physical store A, and bill the management company of user U's credit card for the payment amount.

Here, a conventional technology for managing various fees imposed on providers (businesses) that offer trading objects is known that calculates evaluation information, including the loanable amount or interest rate to be offered to the business, based on operational data related to the business's operations. However, such a technology is only capable of calculating the loanable amount and interest rate of the business, and cannot be said to calculate fees according to the use of the platform.

The information providing device 10 then executes a setting process according to the embodiment. The setting process executed by the information providing device 10 will be described below with reference to FIG. 1. In the following description, it is assumed that the user terminal 100 is used by a user U. In the following description, it is assumed that the setting system 1 has provider terminals 201 and 202 (hereinafter sometimes collectively referred to as "provider terminals 200") managed by a provider who uses an electronic payment service (hereinafter sometimes simply referred to as "electronic payment service") provided by the server device 301 as a payment means for accepting payments from users. It is noted that the setting system 1 may include any number of user terminals 100 and provider terminals 200.

In addition, in the following description, the user terminal 100 may be regarded as the user U, and the provider terminal 200 may be regarded as the provider and a store (physical store) managed by the provider. In other words, in the following, the user terminal 100 may be read as the user U, and the provider terminal 200 may be read as the physical store and the provider.

First, the information providing device 10 acquires provider information related to the provider (step Sa1). For example, the information providing device 10 acquires provider information including the amount of payment (sales) accepted from the user using an electronic payment service. As a specific example, the information providing device 10 acquires provider information including sales status indicating sales by day of the week and time period (for example, weekday daytime (10:00-17:00 on weekdays), weekday night (17:00-2:00 on weekdays), etc.) from the provider terminal 200 or the server device 301.

Next, the information providing device 10 sets the payment fee rate for the electronic payment service for each physical store based on the acquired provider information (step Sa2). For example, the information providing device 10 sets the payment fee rate to be charged to the physical store when accepting payments from users using the electronic payment service on each day of the week and each time period according to the sales situation on the corresponding day of the week and time period. As a specific example, for physical store A (a store managed by provider M1 using the provider terminal 201) that has higher sales on weekday evenings than on weekday afternoons, the information providing device 10 sets a higher payment fee rate to be charged to payments accepted from users on weekday evenings than to payments accepted from users on weekday afternoons. Furthermore, for physical store B (a physical store managed by provider M2 using provider terminal 201) that has higher sales during the day on weekdays than during the night on weekdays, information providing device 10 sets a higher payment fee rate for payments accepted from users during the day on weekdays than for payments accepted from users during the night on weekdays.

Next, the server device 301 executes processing related to the electronic payment of the user U (step Sa3). For example, the user U transmits payment information related to the payment associated with the use or purchase of transaction items such as various goods and services at each physical store to the server device 301 using a payment method using the above-mentioned QR code (registered trademark) or the like. The server device 301 then executes processing related to the user's electronic payment using the above-mentioned payment method using the QR code (registered trademark) or the like.

Next, the information providing device 10 acquires payment information related to the payment using electronic payment from the server device 301 (step Sa4). For example, the information providing device 10 acquires payment information accepted from the user U from the server device 301. As a specific example, the information providing device 10 acquires payment information including information such as the transaction object provided to the user U at a physical store, information indicating the physical store providing the transaction object (physical store ID), the date and time when the electronic payment was made (payment date and time), the payment amount, etc.

Then, the information providing device 10 sets a payment fee based on the rate set for the physical store and the payment information (step Sa5). For example, the information providing device 10 identifies the payment fee rate to be applied to the payment accepted from the user U based on the payment date and time indicated in the payment information acquired in step Sa4 and the physical store ID. Then, the information providing device 10 sets the payment fee to be charged to the physical store based on the identified rate and the payment amount indicated in the payment information.

Next, the information providing device 10 notifies the server device 301 of the set payment fee (step Sa6). For example, the information providing device 10 notifies the server device 301 of the payment fee to be charged to the physical store for the payment indicated by the payment information, together with information indicating the payment information.

Next, the server device 301 notifies the physical store of the payment fee (step Sa7). For example, the information providing device 10 notifies the physical store indicated by the payment information of the payment fee, and transfers electronic money in an amount equal to the payment amount minus the payment fee to the account of the physical store.

As described above, the information providing device 10 according to the first embodiment sets the payment fee to be charged to the provider according to the sales status of the provider. As a result, the information providing device 10 according to the first embodiment varies the payment fee according to the balance of supply and demand of the transaction object provided by the provider, and therefore, for example, when the demand for the transaction object is high and the provider is in a busy season, in other words, when the provider wishes to improve the customer turnover rate in the store by simplifying the store's operations related to payments from users by using a payment method using the above-mentioned QR code (registered trademark), etc., the payment fee can be set high. In other words, the information providing device 10 according to the first embodiment can appropriately set the fee to be charged to the provider according to the use of the platform.

1-2. An example of setting process in the second embodiment
The platform used by the provider is not limited to the one related to the payment method shown in the first embodiment. Here, the setting process according to the second embodiment realized by the setting device of the present embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 2. Fig. 2 is a diagram showing an example of the setting process according to the second embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 2, the setting system 2 according to the embodiment includes an information providing device 10, a user terminal 100, a provider terminal 200, and a server device 302. The information providing device 10, the user terminal 100, the provider terminal 200, and the server device 302 are connected to each other via a network N (see FIG. 3, for example) so as to be able to communicate with each other by wire or wirelessly. The network N is, for example, a WAN such as the Internet. Note that the setting system 2 shown in FIG. 2 may include multiple information providing devices 10, multiple user terminals 100, multiple provider terminals 200, and multiple server devices 302.

The information providing device 10 shown in FIG. 2 has the same configuration as the setting system 1 shown in FIG. 1, and therefore a description thereof will be omitted. Also, the user terminal 100 and the provider terminal 200 shown in FIG. 2 have the same configuration as the setting system 1 shown in FIG. 1, except for displaying information distributed by the server device 302, and therefore a description thereof will be omitted.

The server device 302 shown in FIG. 2 is an information processing device that provides an e-commerce service, and is realized, for example, by a server device or a cloud system. Here, the e-commerce service provided by the server device 302 is a service known as an e-shopping street (or e-mall), which consolidates the product sales pages of multiple stores that sell products via the Internet into a single service and sells a variety of products. The server device 302 is managed by a business operator that operates the e-commerce service. In the following, the name of the e-commerce service provided by the server device 302 is referred to as "e-commerce service EC1."

The setting process executed by the information providing device 10 will be described below with reference to FIG. 2. In the following description, it is assumed that the user terminal 100 is used by a user U. In the following description, it is assumed that the setting system 2 has provider terminals 203 and 204 (hereinafter, sometimes collectively referred to as "provider terminals 200") that are managed by a provider who opens a store in the e-commerce service EC1 and provides trading objects (products) on the e-commerce service EC1. It is noted that the setting system 2 may include any number of user terminals 100 and provider terminals 200.

In addition, in the following description, the user terminal 100 may be regarded as the user U, and the provider terminal 200 may be regarded as the store that the provider opens in the electronic commerce service EC1 and the provider. In other words, in the following, the user terminal 100 may be read as the user U, and the provider terminal 200 may be read as the store and the provider.

First, the information providing device 10 acquires provider information related to the provider (step Sb1). For example, the information providing device 10 acquires provider information including the sales status of products provided by each provider in a store on the electronic commerce service EC1. As a specific example, the information providing device 10 acquires provider information including sales status indicating product sales by day of the week and time period (for example, weekday daytime (10:00-17:00 on weekdays), weekday night (17:00-2:00 on weekdays), etc.) from the provider terminal 200 or the server device 302.

Next, the information providing device 10 sets the sales commission rate for the sale of products on the electronic commerce service EC1 for each store based on the acquired provider information (step Sb2). For example, the information providing device 10 sets the sales commission rate to be imposed on the store for the sale of products on each day of the week and each time period according to the sales situation of the corresponding day of the week and time period. As a specific example, for store C (a store opened (managed) by provider M3 using the provider terminal 203) that has higher sales on weekday nights than on weekday daytime, the information providing device 10 sets a higher sales commission rate for the sale of products on weekday nights than the sales commission rate for the sale of products on weekday daytime. In addition, for store D (a store opened by provider M4 using the provider terminal 204) that has lower sales than store C, the information providing device 10 sets a lower rate than the rate set for store D.

Then, the server device 302 accepts a product purchase request from the user U (step Sb3). For example, the user terminal 100 accesses the server device 302 to display product information about products offered by a store that operates the electronic commerce service EC1, and transmits to the server device 302 a purchase request for the product that the user U has performed a purchase operation on.

Then, the information providing device 10 acquires sales information related to the sale of the product from the server device 302 (step Sb4). For example, the information providing device 10 acquires sales information of a product corresponding to a purchase request received from the user U from the server device 302. As a specific example, the information providing device 10 acquires sales information including information such as the product purchased by the user U, information indicating the store that provides the product (store ID), the date and time when the purchase was made (purchase date and time), and the sales price of the product.

Then, the information providing device 10 sets a sales commission based on the rate set for the store and the sales information (step Sb5). For example, the information providing device 10 identifies the sales commission rate to be applied to the sale of the product to user U based on the purchase date and time indicated in the sales information acquired in step Sb4 and the store ID. Then, the information providing device 10 sets the sales commission to be charged to the store for the sale of the product to user U on the electronic commerce service EC1 based on the identified rate and the sales amount of the product indicated in the sales information.

Next, the information providing device 10 notifies the server device 302 of the set sales commission (step Sb6). For example, the information providing device 10 notifies the server device 302 of the sales commission to be charged to the store for the sale of the product indicated by the sales information, together with information indicating the sales information.

Then, the server device 302 notifies the store of the sales commission (step Sb7). For example, the information providing device 10 performs a payment process for the purchase price (sales amount) of the product (for example, a process for confirming a payment from the user U using the electronic payment service in the first embodiment, and a process for notifying the store when a payment has been made, etc.), and notifies the store that is the provider of the product of the sales commission corresponding to the product.

As described above, the information providing device 10 according to the second embodiment sets the sales commission to be charged to each provider depending on the sales status of each provider on the e-commerce service. As a result, the information providing device 10 according to the second embodiment varies the sales commission depending on the balance of supply and demand of the transaction objects provided by the provider and the scale of the provider's sales, and therefore, for example, for providers who have newly opened stores on the e-commerce service, in other words, providers whose sales scale is still small, it is possible to support transactions on the e-commerce service by setting a low sales commission. In other words, the information providing device 10 according to the embodiment can appropriately set the fees to be charged to providers depending on the use of the platform.

In addition, the information providing device 10 according to the embodiment can make the fees corresponding to various platforms, such as payment fees for payments by the above-mentioned payment method using the user terminal 100 in the first embodiment and the sales fee (commerce fee) in the second embodiment, as well as payment fees for electronic payments using various electronic money and credit cards, advertising sales, information publishing fees, and financial income (interest rates), dynamic (changing the fee according to the balance of supply and demand), real-time (changing the fee in a timely manner according to the monetization conditions), and personalized (changing the fee according to the status of the provider (beneficiary)). In other words, the information providing device 10 according to the embodiment can promote the use of each platform by making various fees dynamic, real-time, and personalized, and setting and applying the optimal fee/rate.

2. Configuration of the information providing device
Next, the configuration of the information providing device 10 will be described with reference to Fig. 3. Fig. 3 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of the information providing device according to the embodiment. As shown in Fig. 3, the information providing device 10 has a communication unit 20, a storage unit 30, and a control unit 40.

(Regarding communication unit 20)
The communication unit 20 is realized by, for example, a network interface card (NIC), etc. The communication unit 20 is connected to the network N by wire or wirelessly, and transmits and receives information between the user terminal 100, the provider terminal 200, the server device 300 (for example, the server device 301 shown in FIG. 1 or the server device 302 shown in FIG. 2), etc.

(Regarding the storage unit 30)
The storage unit 30 is realized by, for example, a semiconductor memory element such as a random access memory (RAM) or a flash memory, or a storage device such as a hard disk or an optical disk. As shown in FIG. 3, the storage unit 30 has a provider database 31, a platform information database 32, and a consideration database 33.

(Regarding the provider database 31)
The provider database 31 stores various information related to providers. An example of information stored in the provider database 31 will now be described with reference to Fig. 4. Fig. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a provider database according to an embodiment. In the example of Fig. 4, the provider database 31 has items such as "provider ID", "transaction target information", and "provision history".

"Provider ID" indicates identification information for identifying the provider. "Transaction object information" indicates information about the transaction object provided by the provider to the user. "Provision history" indicates the history of the provider providing a user transaction object, and has items such as "date and time," "recipient," "transaction object," and "payment method." "Date and time" indicates the date and time when the provider provided the transaction object to the user. "Recipient" indicates the user to whom the provider provided the transaction object. "Transaction object" indicates the transaction object provided by the provider to the user. "Payment method" indicates the payment method used by the provider when accepting payment from the user (for example, cash or payment methods provided by various platforms).

In other words, Figure 4 shows an example in which the transaction object provided by a provider identified by provider ID "MID#1" is "Transaction object information #1", and the provider provides the transaction object "Transaction object #1" to the recipient "User #1" on date and time "Date and time #1", and accepts payment from the user using the payment method "Electronic payment (PID#1)".

(Regarding the platform information database 32)
The platform information database 32 stores various information related to the platform used by the provider. An example of information stored in the platform information database 32 will now be described with reference to Fig. 5. Fig. 5 is a diagram showing an example of a platform information database according to an embodiment. In the example of Fig. 5, the platform information database 32 has items such as "platform ID", "provider", "recipient", and "usage details".

"Platform ID" indicates identification information for identifying the platform. "Provider" indicates a provider who uses the platform to provide a trading object. "Recipient" indicates a user to whom the provider has provided a trading object using the platform. "Usage details" indicates information related to the use of the platform, and includes information such as the date and time the platform was used, the transaction amount between the provider and user (e.g., payment amount, sales amount), and the trading object.

In other words, Figure 5 shows an example in which a provider "MID#1" uses a platform identified by a platform ID "PID#1" to provide a trading object to a recipient "user#1," and the content of use is "content of use #1."

(Regarding the consideration database 33)
The consideration database 33 stores various information related to the consideration for the use of the platform. An example of information stored in the consideration database 33 will be described with reference to Fig. 6. Fig. 6 is a diagram showing an example of the consideration database according to the embodiment. In the example of Fig. 6, the consideration database 33 has items such as "provider ID", "platform", "rate", and "applicable conditions".

"Provider ID" indicates identification information for identifying the provider. "Platform" indicates the platform used by the provider. "Rate" indicates the rate of compensation for use of the platform. "Applicable conditions" indicates the conditions under which the rate is applied.

In other words, Figure 6 shows an example in which a fee rate of "10%" is applied when a provider identified by provider ID "MID#1" uses platform "PID#1" during "weekday daytime."

(Regarding the control unit 40)
The control unit 40 is a controller, and is realized, for example, by a central processing unit (CPU) or a micro processing unit (MPU) executing various programs stored in a storage device inside the information providing device 10 using a RAM as a working area. The control unit 40 is also a controller, and is realized, for example, by an integrated circuit such as an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) or a field programmable gate array (FPGA). As shown in FIG. 3, the control unit 40 according to the embodiment has an acquisition unit 41, a setting unit 42, and a notification unit 43, and realizes or executes the functions and actions of information processing described below.

(Regarding the Acquisition Unit 41)
The acquisition unit 41 acquires provider information related to a provider who provides a trading object using a predetermined platform. For example, the acquisition unit 41 acquires the provider information from the provider terminal 200 or the server device 300, and stores the provider information in the provider database 31 and the platform information database 32.

The acquisition unit 41 may also acquire provider information including the provider's provision status of the transaction object. For example, the acquisition unit 41 acquires the provision status (sales status) of the transaction object by date, day of the week, time period, and weather.

The acquisition unit 41 may also acquire the provision status when a provider uses a platform to provide a trading object. For example, in the example of FIG. 1, the acquisition unit 41 acquires a sales status indicating the amount of payment (sales) accepted from a user using an electronic payment service. In the example of FIG. 2, the acquisition unit 41 acquires the sales status of products provided by each provider in a store on the electronic commerce service EC1.

The acquisition unit 41 may also acquire provider information including attributes of users to whom the provider provides a trading object. For example, the acquisition unit 41 acquires information indicating whether a user to whom the provider provides a trading object via a platform is a new customer or an existing customer (e.g., a regular customer). To give a specific example, when the provider is a store manager on an electronic commerce service, the acquisition unit 41 acquires user attributes determined based on the user's usage history of the store (e.g., information stored in the platform information database 32, such as the number of times a product has been purchased and the total purchase amount). When the provider is a manager of a physical store (in other words, when the provider accepts payments from users using an electronic payment service), the acquisition unit 41 acquires user attributes determined based on the user's usage history of the physical store (e.g., the number of visits to the store and the total payment amount). To give a more specific example, the acquisition unit 41 acquires the user's attributes that are determined based on the user's location information (e.g., the number of visits to the store estimated based on various sensors (e.g., location information detected by a GPS (Global Positioning System) function) possessed by the user terminal 100, the provision history stored in the provider database 31, etc.

The acquisition unit 41 may also acquire provider information related to a provider who sells transaction objects to users using the platform. For example, in the example of FIG. 2, the acquisition unit 41 acquires provider information including the sales status of products offered at a provider who is the manager of a store opened in the electronic commerce service EC1.

The acquisition unit 41 may also acquire provider information about providers who sell financial products to users using the platform. For example, the acquisition unit 41 acquires provider information about financial institutions (e.g., banks, securities companies, insurance companies) that sell financial products (e.g., deposits, loans, securities, insurance, crowdfunding) to users using a platform that provides bank agency services.

The acquisition unit 41 may also acquire provider information about a provider who uses a specified payment means for accepting payments from users to whom a transaction object is provided. For example, in the example of FIG. 1, the acquisition unit 41 acquires provider information about a provider who accepts payments from users using an electronic payment service provided by the server device 301.

(Regarding the setting unit 42)
The setting unit 42 sets a fee for the use of the platform to the provider based on the provider information acquired by the acquisition unit 41. For example, in the example of Fig. 1, the setting unit 42 sets a payment fee rate in the electronic payment service for each physical store based on the provider information stored in the provider database 31 and the platform information database 32, and stores the set rate in the fee database 33. Then, when the setting unit 42 acquires payment information from the server device 301, it refers to the fee database 33 to specify a rate corresponding to the payment information, and sets a payment fee to be charged to the physical store based on the specified rate and the payment amount indicated by the payment information.

The setting unit 42 may also set the price depending on the provision status. For example, the setting unit 42 sets a different price for each provider depending on the provision status of the trading object provided by each provider.

Here, it is conceivable that there may be a desire to set a low fee to be charged to the provider depending on the balance between supply and demand of the trading object provided by the provider. Therefore, the setting unit 42 may set the fee depending on the sales situation of the trading object by the provider. For example, the setting unit 42 refers to the provider database 31, and sets a higher rate the higher the sales of the trading object by the provider. Also, the setting unit 42 sets a lower rate the lower the sales of the trading object by the provider. In other words, the setting unit 42 sets a higher rate during the provider's busy season and a lower rate during the provider's slow season.

The setting unit 42 may set a higher rate the lower the provider's sales of the transaction subject, and may set a lower rate the higher the provider's sales of the transaction subject.

The setting unit 42 may also set the fee according to the number of users using the platform. For example, the setting unit 42 sets a higher rate the more users using the platform, and sets a lower rate the fewer users using the platform. That is, the setting unit 42 sets a higher rate during busy periods for the platform, and sets a lower rate during slow periods for the platform. The setting unit 42 may also set a lower rate the more users using the platform, and sets a higher rate the fewer users using the platform.

Furthermore, when market conditions are sluggish, there may be a desire to support the business of a provider by setting the compensation charged to the provider low. Therefore, the setting unit 42 may set the compensation according to the economic situation in the market corresponding to the provider's type. For example, the setting unit 42 sets the compensation lower the smaller the transaction scale in the market corresponding to the provider's type. To give a specific example, the setting unit 42 sets the compensation lower the smaller the transaction scale in the region to which the provider belongs (for example, the region in which the provider is located or the region in which the physical store managed by the provider is located) or in the market corresponding to the transaction object provided by the provider. Also, the setting unit 42 sets the compensation higher the larger the transaction scale in the region to which the provider belongs or in the market corresponding to the transaction object provided by the provider.

The setting unit 42 may set the price higher the smaller the trading volume in the market corresponding to the provider type, and may set the price lower the larger the trading volume in the market corresponding to the provider type.

The setting unit 42 may also set the price according to at least one of the sales status of the transaction subject by the provider and the economic status of the market corresponding to the provider's type.

Furthermore, there may be a desire to set the compensation to be charged to the provider according to the needs of the platform and the degree of use of the platform. Therefore, the setting unit 42 may set the compensation according to the number of times the provider uses the platform. For example, the setting unit 42 sets the compensation higher the more times the provider uses the platform (in other words, the higher the needs for the platform).

The setting unit 42 may set the compensation lower the more frequently the provider uses the platform (in other words, the higher the degree of platform usage).

The setting unit 42 may set the compensation according to the period during which the provider uses the platform. For example, the setting unit 42 sets the compensation lower the longer the period during which the provider uses the platform (in other words, the higher the degree of platform usage). The setting unit 42 may set the compensation higher the longer the period during which the provider uses the platform.

Furthermore, there may be a desire to set a compensation to be charged to providers in order to attract providers to the platform or to prevent providers from switching to other platforms. Therefore, the setting unit 42 may set a lower compensation the less frequently the provider uses the platform (in other words, the lower the degree of platform usage). The setting unit 42 may also set a lower compensation the shorter the period for which the provider uses the platform (in other words, the lower the degree of platform usage).

The setting unit 42 may set a higher fee the less frequently the provider uses the platform, and may set a higher fee the shorter the period for which the provider uses the platform.

The setting unit 42 may also set the compensation based on at least one of the number of times the provider uses the platform and the period during which the provider uses the platform.

Furthermore, there may be a desire to set a price including a customer referral fee related to the customer referral contributed by the platform depending on whether the user who receives the trading object via the platform is a new or existing customer for the provider (i.e., the attributes of the user). Therefore, when the provider uses the platform to provide a trading object to a user, the setting unit 42 may set the price depending on the attributes corresponding to the user. For example, when the user to whom the provider uses the platform to provide a trading object is a new customer, the setting unit 42 sets the price including a customer referral fee.

It is to be noted that if the user is an existing customer, the provider may wish to set the price lower in order to encourage the existing customer to continue using the platform. Therefore, when the user to whom the provider provides a trading object using the platform is an existing customer, the setting unit 42 may set a lower price (for example, a price not including a customer referral fee) than when the user is a new customer.

Furthermore, there may be a desire to set a price corresponding to various circumstances when a trading object is provided via a platform. Therefore, the setting unit 42 may set a price corresponding to the date and time when the trading object is provided, based on the provider information. For example, in the example of FIG. 1, the setting unit 42 sets a payment fee rate to be charged to a physical store when accepting a payment from a user using an electronic payment service on each day of the week and each time period, based on the provider information including a sales situation indicating sales by day of the week and time period. Note that the setting unit 42 may set a price corresponding to a date and time indicated in minutes.

The setting unit 42 may also set a price corresponding to the weather when the trading object is provided, based on the provider information. For example, the setting unit 42 sets a price to be charged to the provider when providing the trading object using the platform in each weather condition, based on the provider information including a sales status indicating sales for each weather condition (e.g., sunny, rainy, etc.).

The setting unit 42 may set the price higher the higher the amount the user pays to the provider using the platform (e.g., the payment amount in an electronic payment service or the sales amount of a product in an electronic commerce service), and may set the price lower the lower the amount the user pays to the provider using the platform.

The setting unit 42 may also set a price corresponding to at least one of the date and time when the trading object is provided and the weather when the trading object is provided, based on the provider information.

Furthermore, if the platform is an electronic commerce service, it is expected that a price (sales commission) for selling a trading object via the platform will be set. Therefore, the setting unit 42 may set a sales commission, which is a commission for the sale of the trading object, for the provider. For example, in the example of FIG. 2, the setting unit 42 sets a sales commission rate for the sale of a product on the electronic commerce service EC1 for each store.

Furthermore, it is assumed that financial products are sold via a platform. Therefore, the setting unit 42 may set a sales commission, which is a commission for the sale of financial products, for the provider. For example, the setting unit 42 sets the sales commission rate for financial products sold on a platform that provides bank agency services for financial institutions that use the platform. As a specific example, when a transfer between users' accounts is performed via a platform (e.g., network banking), the setting unit 42 sets a portion of the commission that the bank receives from the user as compensation for the use of the platform.

Furthermore, if the platform is an electronic payment service, it is expected that a compensation (payment fee) will be set for a provider that accepts a payment from a user using the platform. Therefore, the setting unit 42 may set a payment fee, which is a fee for a payment between the provider and the user, for the provider. For example, in the example of FIG. 1, the setting unit 42 sets a payment fee rate to be charged to a physical store when accepting a payment from a user using an electronic payment service.

The setting unit 42 may combine a plurality of the above processes to set a fee for the provider for using the platform. For example, the setting unit 42 may set a fee corresponding to the date and time when the subject of a transaction is provided, based on the sales status of the subject of a transaction by the provider, the economic situation in the market corresponding to the type of provider, and the number of times the provider uses the platform.

(Regarding the notification unit 43)
The notification unit 43 notifies the provider of information regarding the consideration set by the setting unit 42. For example, in the example of Fig. 1, the notification unit 43 notifies the server device 301 of a payment fee to be charged to the physical store for the payment indicated by the payment information.

3. Setting process flow
Here, a procedure of the setting process of the information providing device 10 according to the embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 7. Fig. 7 is a flowchart showing an example of the procedure of the setting process according to the embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 7, the information providing device 10 acquires provider information about a provider who provides a trading object to a user (step S101). Next, the information providing device 10 sets a fee rate for using the platform based on the provided information (step S102). Next, the information providing device 10 determines whether or not the provider used the platform when providing the trading object to the user (step S103). If the provider did not use the platform (step S103; No), the information providing device 10 waits until the provider uses the platform.

On the other hand, if the platform is used (step S103; Yes), the information providing device 10 sets a fee to be charged to the provider according to the content of the platform use and the set rate (step S104). Next, the information providing device 10 notifies the server device that provides the platform of the set fee (step S105), and ends the process.

4. Modifications
The above-described embodiment is merely an example, and various modifications and applications are possible.

[4-1. About the platform]
In the above embodiment, the platform is an electronic payment service or an electronic commerce service, but the platform is not limited to such examples and may be any platform that provides various products, services, content, etc. As an example, the platform may provide a crowdfunding service. In this case, the setting unit 42 sets the compensation to be charged to the crowdfunding executor for using the crowdfunding service (for example, a fee incurred according to the amount of money raised through crowdfunding) based on information about the executor of the crowdfunding.

[4-2. Processing mode]
Among the processes described in the above embodiments, all or part of the processes described as being performed automatically can be performed manually, and conversely, all or part of the processes described as being performed manually can be performed automatically by a known method. In addition, the information including the processing procedures, specific names, various data and parameters shown in the above documents and drawings can be changed arbitrarily unless otherwise specified. For example, the various information shown in each drawing is not limited to the illustrated information.

In addition, each component of each device shown in the figure is a functional concept, and does not necessarily have to be physically configured as shown in the figure. In other words, the specific form of distribution and integration of each device is not limited to that shown in the figure, and all or part of them can be functionally or physically distributed and integrated in any unit depending on various loads, usage conditions, etc.

Furthermore, the above-mentioned embodiments can be combined as appropriate to the extent that the processing content is not contradictory.

5. Effects
As described above, the information providing device 10 according to the embodiment has an acquisition unit 41, a setting unit 42, and a notification unit 43. The acquisition unit 41 acquires provider information related to a provider who provides a trading object using a specified platform. The acquisition unit 41 also acquires provider information including the provision status of the trading object by the provider. The setting unit 42 sets a fee for the provider for use of the platform based on the provider information acquired by the acquisition unit 41. The setting unit 42 also sets the fee according to the provision status. The notification unit 43 notifies information related to the fee set by the setting unit 42 for the provider.

As a result, the information providing device 10 according to the embodiment can appropriately set the compensation charged to the provider depending on the use of the platform, since the compensation varies according to the needs of the platform, which change depending on the balance of supply and demand of the trading objects provided by the provider.

In the information providing device 10 according to the embodiment, for example, the setting unit 42 sets the consideration according to at least one of the sales status of the trading object by the provider and the economic status of the market corresponding to the type of provider. The acquisition unit 41 acquires the provision status when the provider provides the trading object using the platform. The setting unit 42 sets the consideration according to at least one of the number of times the provider uses the platform and the period during which the provider uses the platform. The acquisition unit 41 acquires provider information including attributes of the user to whom the provider provides the trading object. Then, when the provider provides the trading object to the user using the platform, the setting unit 42 sets the consideration according to the attributes corresponding to the user. The setting unit 42 sets the consideration corresponding to at least one of the date and time when the trading object is provided and the weather when the trading object is provided based on the provider information.

As a result, the information providing device 10 according to the embodiment sets the compensation to be charged to the provider depending on the market conditions, the needs of the platform, and the situation of the provider and user when providing the trading object, and can therefore appropriately set the compensation to be charged to the provider depending on the use of the platform.

In the information providing device 10 according to the embodiment, for example, the acquisition unit 41 acquires provider information related to a provider who sells a trading object to a user using a platform. Then, the setting unit 42 sets a sales commission, which is a commission for the sale of the trading object, for the provider. The acquisition unit 41 acquires provider information related to a provider who sells a financial product to a user using a platform. Then, the setting unit 42 sets a sales commission, which is a commission for the sale of the financial product, for the provider. The acquisition unit 41 acquires provider information related to a provider who uses a specified payment means for accepting payment from a user to whom the trading object is provided. Then, the setting unit 42 sets a payment commission, which is a commission for payment between the provider and the user, for the provider.

As a result, the information providing device 10 according to the embodiment makes it possible to set the fees to be charged to providers who use various platforms, and therefore makes it possible to appropriately set the fees for using the platforms.

6. Hardware Configuration
The information providing device 10 according to each of the above-described embodiments is realized, for example, by a computer 1000 having a configuration as shown in Fig. 8. The information providing device 10 will be described below as an example. Fig. 8 is a hardware configuration diagram showing an example of a computer that realizes the functions of the information providing device. The computer 1000 has a CPU 1100, a ROM 1200, a RAM 1300, a HDD 1400, a communication interface (I/F) 1500, an input/output interface (I/F) 1600, and a media interface (I/F) 1700.

The CPU 1100 operates based on a program stored in the ROM 1200 or the HDD 1400, and controls each component. The ROM 1200 stores a boot program executed by the CPU 1100 when the computer 1000 is started, and programs that depend on the hardware of the computer 1000, etc.

HDD 1400 stores programs executed by CPU 1100 and data used by such programs. Communication interface 1500 receives data from other devices via communication network 500 (corresponding to network N in the embodiment) and sends it to CPU 1100, and also transmits data generated by CPU 1100 to other devices via communication network 500.

The CPU 1100 controls output devices such as a display and a printer, and input devices such as a keyboard and a mouse, via the input/output interface 1600. The CPU 1100 acquires data from the input devices via the input/output interface 1600. The CPU 1100 also outputs data generated via the input/output interface 1600 to the output devices.

The media interface 1700 reads a program or data stored in the recording medium 1800 and provides it to the CPU 1100 via the RAM 1300. The CPU 1100 loads the program from the recording medium 1800 onto the RAM 1300 via the media interface 1700 and executes the loaded program. The recording medium 1800 is, for example, an optical recording medium such as a DVD (Digital Versatile Disc) or a PD (Phase change rewritable Disc), a magneto-optical recording medium such as an MO (Magneto-Optical disk), a tape medium, a magnetic recording medium, or a semiconductor memory.

For example, when the computer 1000 functions as the information providing device 10, the CPU 1100 of the computer 1000 executes a program loaded onto the RAM 1300 to realize the functions of the control unit 40. In addition, the HDD 1400 stores each piece of data in the storage device of the information providing device 10. The CPU 1100 of the computer 1000 reads and executes these programs from the recording medium 1800, but as another example, these programs may be obtained from another device via a specified communication network.

[7. Other]
Although some of the embodiments of the present application have been described in detail above with reference to the drawings, these are merely examples, and the present invention can be embodied in other forms that incorporate various modifications and improvements based on the knowledge of those skilled in the art, including the aspects described in the Disclosure of the Invention section.

In addition, the information providing device 10 described above can be flexibly configured to implement some functions by calling external platforms, etc., using an API (Application Programming Interface) or network computing, etc.

In addition, the word "unit" in the claims can be read as "means" or "circuit." For example, an acquisition unit can be read as an acquisition means or an acquisition circuit.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 10 Information providing device 20 Communication unit 30 Storage unit 31 Provider database 32 Platform information database 33 Consideration database 40 Control unit 41 Acquisition unit 42 Setting unit 43 Notification unit 100 User terminal 200 Provider terminal 300 Server device

Claims (7)

an acquisition unit that acquires information indicating attributes of a user who has made a payment at a specific store using a payment means using a terminal device used by the user , the information indicating attributes related to the use of the specific store ;
and a setting unit that sets a rate for the payment amount related to the payment to be charged to the specified store when the user makes a new payment using the payment means at the specified store, based on the attributes of the user who made the payment at the specified store indicated by the information acquired by the acquisition unit. The setting device according to claim 1 , wherein the setting unit sets the rate based on whether or not a number of times the user has used the specified store satisfies a predetermined condition. The setting device according to claim 2, characterized in that, when the user has never used the specified store, the setting unit sets a rate higher than a rate that would be set when the user has used the specified store. 4. The setting device according to claim 1, wherein the setting unit further sets the rate depending on whether the user is a new customer or an existing customer. 5. The setting device according to claim 1, wherein the setting unit further sets the rate according to a total payment amount of the user at the specified store. 1. A computer implemented configuration method, comprising:
an acquiring step of acquiring information indicating attributes of a user who has made a payment at a predetermined store by a payment means using a terminal device used by the user , the information indicating attributes related to the use of the predetermined store ;
and a setting step of setting a rate for the payment amount of the consideration to be charged to the specified store when the user makes a new payment using the payment means at the specified store, based on the attributes of the user who made the payment at the specified store indicated by the information acquired by the acquisition step. an acquisition step of acquiring information indicating attributes of a user who has made a payment at a specific store using a payment means using a terminal device used by the user , the information indicating attributes related to the use of the specific store ;
A setting program for causing a computer to execute a setting procedure that sets a rate for the payment amount of the consideration to be charged to the specified store when a user makes a new payment at the specified store using the payment means, based on the attributes of the user who made the payment at the specified store indicated by the information acquired by the acquisition procedure.

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