JP7611068B2 - Subscription product contract information management system, subscription product contract information management method, and computer program for managing subscription product contract information - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a subscription product contract information management system for managing contract information for subscription products provided through wholesale or purchase, a subscription product contract information management method, and a computer program for managing subscription product contract information.

The applicant has already proposed a system for selling (providing) this type of subscription product (service) in the form of a patent application that is capable of managing product information related to subscription products in association with subscription contract information (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

JP 2020-67777 A

According to the proposed system described above, it is possible to manage information exchanged between, for example, a distributor of a stockist and an end user (product information for subscription products and subscription contract information).
Incidentally, when subscription products are handled through wholesalers and stockists in the same way as general one-time sales products, there is also a demand for the wholesalers and stockists to appropriately manage contract information.

The present invention has been made to solve these problems, and aims to provide a subscription product contract information management system, a subscription product contract information management method, and a computer program for managing subscription product contract information that enable wholesalers and purchasers that handle subscription products to properly manage contract information.

The first aspect of the present invention is
A subscription product contract information management system for managing contract information regarding subscription products provided by wholesale or purchase,
a first contract information management means for creating and managing first contract information when trading the subscription product as the contract information between a wholesale user who wholesales and provides the subscription product and a purchaser user who purchases the subscription product from the wholesaler user and provides it to an end user;
a second contract information management means for creating and managing second contract information when the subscription product is purchased as the contract information between the purchaser user who purchases the subscription product from the wholesaler user and an end user who purchases the subscription product from the purchaser user,
The first contract information management means is characterized in that, when a specified item of the second contract information is changed, an item in the first contract information corresponding to the specified item is changed so as to be consistent with the specified item.

According to this, first contract information is created and managed when a subscription product is traded between a wholesale user and a purchase user, and second contract information is created and managed when an end user purchases a subscription product from a purchase user. If a specific item in the second contract information is subsequently changed between the end user and the purchase user, the corresponding item in the first contract information is also changed to match the specific item. Therefore, even when subscription products are traded between intermediate businesses such as wholesale users (wholesalers) and purchase users (purchasers), the contract information exchanged in connection therewith can be appropriately managed while allowing the purchase user to subsequently change it.

A preferred embodiment of the first aspect of the present invention is as follows:
The second contract information management means creates the second contract information by copying the first contract information.

In this way, the purchasing user creates the second contract information by duplicating the first contract information, so that the first contract information exchanged between the wholesale user and the purchasing user and the second contract information exchanged between the purchasing user and the end user can be managed without any discrepancies.

Another preferred embodiment of the first aspect of the present invention is
the first contract information management means manages a plurality of items included in the first contract information by distinguishing between changeable items and unchangeable items;
The second contract information management means is
changing, in the second contract information, an item corresponding to the changeable item of the first contract information;
In the second contract information, an item corresponding to the unchangeable item of the first contract information is created to have the same content as the unchangeable item.

According to this, in the first contract information, changeable items and non-changeable items are managed separately, and in the second contract information, predetermined items corresponding to the changeable items of the first contract information are made changeable, while items corresponding to the non-changeable items of the first contract information are created with the same content, so that the first contract information and the second contract information can be managed without discrepancies even though they have changeable items.

Another preferred embodiment of the first aspect of the present invention is
The system further includes a connection permission means for permitting a connection between a wholesale user terminal used by the wholesale user and a purchaser user terminal used by the purchaser user,
The first contract information management means creates the first contract information in the wholesaler user terminal and the supplier user terminal that are permitted to be connected.

With this, when a subscription product is traded between a wholesaler user terminal and a purchaser user terminal that are permitted to connect to each other, first contract information is created to be exchanged between them, so that the first contract information exchanged between the wholesaler and the purchaser can be reliably managed without discrepancies.

A second aspect of the present invention is
A subscription product contract information management method for managing contract information relating to subscription products provided by wholesale or purchase, comprising:
The computer
a first contract information management step of creating and managing first contract information when trading the subscription product as the contract information between a wholesale user who wholesales and provides the subscription product and a purchaser user who purchases the subscription product from the wholesaler user and provides it to an end user;
The purchaser user who purchases the subscription product from the wholesaler user;
a second contract information management step of creating and managing second contract information when the subscription product is purchased as the contract information between the purchaser user and an end user who purchases the subscription product from the purchaser user;
a contract information changing step of changing a predetermined item of the second contract information and changing an item in the first contract information corresponding to the predetermined item so as to be consistent with the predetermined item;
The present invention is characterized by comprising:

This makes it possible to achieve the same effect as the system according to the first aspect of the present invention.

A third aspect of the present invention is
A computer program for managing subscription product contract information to be executed by a computer in order to manage contract information relating to subscription products provided by wholesale or purchase,
a program for functioning as a first contract information management means for creating and managing first contract information when trading the subscription product as the contract information between a wholesale user who wholesales and provides the subscription product and a purchaser user who purchases the subscription product from the wholesaler user and provides it to an end user;
a program for functioning as a second contract information management means for creating and managing second contract information when the subscription product is purchased as the contract information between the purchaser user who purchases the subscription product from the wholesaler user and an end user who purchases the subscription product from the purchaser user;
a program for causing the program to function as a contract information changing means for changing a predetermined item of the second contract information and changing an item in the first contract information corresponding to the predetermined item so as to be consistent with the predetermined item;
The present invention is characterized by comprising:

This makes it possible to achieve the same effect as the system according to the first aspect of the present invention.

The present invention allows wholesalers and suppliers who handle subscription products to properly manage contract information.

1 is a conceptual diagram illustrating an overall picture of a management system for subscription products according to an embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of a management system for subscription products according to an embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an identification token ledger TL in a management system for subscription products according to one embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a diagram illustrating contract information in a management system for subscription products according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a sequence diagram showing the flow of information exchanged in a management system for subscription products according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG.

Below, a management system for subscription products (hereinafter referred to as the "management system") according to one embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings.

[Overall view of the management system]
First, the overall picture of the management system will be described with reference to FIG. 1. FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram showing the overall picture of the management system. The management system of this embodiment is for managing so-called subscription products, which are generally based on a contractual act and in which product or service provision and charging for the product or service provision are repeated within a certain period of time. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 1, the management system is constructed as a network system on the Internet, and in the management system, subscription products SP and associated contract information A, A' (see FIG. 3) are exchanged between end users C and manufacturers M, who are the main providers of products and services (e.g., downloading programs and data via the Internet), via multiple middlemen W, S, and the middlemen W, S and the contract information A, A' related to the exchange are exclusively managed. In other words, the management system is provided by an operating company OM as a platform for managing the contract information A, A' exchanged between end users C and the middlemen S and between the middlemen S and the wholesalers W, as well as multiple wholesalers W and multiple stockers S, who are middlemen in the intermediate transaction of the subscription product SP.

In a business transaction to which the management system of this embodiment is applied, the subscription product SP is provided directly from the manufacturer M or wholesaler W to the end user C, while the purchaser S does not generally provide the subscription product SP to the end user C. Instead, only a contract for the purchase and sale of the subscription product SP is exchanged between the wholesaler W and the purchaser S, or between the purchaser S and the end user C. In other words, before the subscription product SP is provided to the end user C by the manufacturer M or the wholesaler W, contract information for the subscription product SP is exchanged between the manufacturer M and the wholesaler W, then contract information A for the subscription product SP is exchanged between the wholesaler W and the purchaser S, and finally contract information A' for the subscription product SP is exchanged between the purchaser S and the end user C, and as a result, the end user C receives the subscription product SP. In such a business transaction, the management system is applied as a network system suitable for managing contract information with the intermediaries W and S. In the example shown in FIG. 1, the manufacturer M, which is the entity that provides the product or service, is included, but the wholesaler W may also be the entity that provides the product or service. In this case, the manufacturer M and the contract information for the subscription product SP between the manufacturer M and the wholesaler W are omitted.

The wholesaler user terminal W1 and the purchaser user terminal S1 are assigned unique terminal IDs by the identification tokens of each terminal. These terminal IDs are sent from each user terminal to the operation server OM1, where they are monitored and managed in the identification token ledger TL. The operation company OM mainly monitors and manages the identification token ledger TL. The functions of the operation server OM1, the wholesaler user terminal W1, and the purchaser user terminal S1 are described below with reference to FIG. 2.

[Functional configuration of the management system]
Fig. 2 is a block diagram showing the functional configuration of the management system. As shown in Fig. 2, the operation server OM1, the wholesaler user terminal W1, and the purchaser user terminal S1 are computers equipped with communication functions that can be connected to the Internet and operated. In the operation server OM1, the wholesaler user terminal W1, and the purchaser user terminal S1, programs and data for making the CPU function as each means described later are mainly installed in a storage device as a storage means. Specifically, the wholesaler user terminal W1 and the purchaser user terminal S1 have a program installed as a web application, and the user terminals are connected to each other via this web application. In addition, a terminal ID unique to each terminal is initially set by an identification token, which is one function of the program, and this terminal ID is notified (transmitted) to the operation server OM1. The terminal ID of each user terminal is monitored and managed by the operation server OM1. In this embodiment, the terminal ID is initially set by the identification token of each user terminal, but this is not limited to this. Each user terminal W1, S1 may access the operation server OM1 to call a program, etc., and the operation server OM1 may centrally create and manage the terminal ID. The identification token is not limited to being a function of the above program, but may be obtained using another device and notified to the operation server OM1 from each user terminal. For convenience of explanation, the wholesale user terminal W1 and the purchase user terminal S1 are described separately, but in this management system, each user terminal can function as the wholesale user terminal W1 and/or the purchase user terminal S1. In this management system, the end user C can purchase (contract) a subscription product by accessing the purchase user terminal S1 with the end user terminal C1 consisting of a general personal computer or smartphone operated by the end user C.

The operation server OM1 has, as functions realized by a computer, a ledger information management means 1, a purchase group setting means 2 (abbreviated as "purchaser G setting means 2" in the following explanation and in the figures), and a storage means 3 that stores the identification token ledger TL.

The ledger information management means 1 manages the terminal ID (identification information) (described later) uniquely assigned to each of the multiple user terminals (multiple wholesale user terminals W1, multiple purchase user terminals S1) and the transaction terminal ID (connection destination designation information) to which the user terminal is connected during a transaction, by associating the terminal ID with the identification token ledger (ledger information) TL. The ledger information management means 1 also manages whether or not the user terminal, as the wholesale user terminal W1, can be connected to by other user terminals (wholesale setting information), by associating the information with the identification token ledger TL. Details of the identification token ledger TL will be described later.

The purchaser G setting means 2 sets a purchaser group for each of the multiple user terminals, which is a group of the multiple user terminals and to which the purchaser user terminal S1 belongs. The purchaser group may be defined by the operating company OM as a privilege and set by the purchaser G setting means 2, or may be set by the purchaser G setting means 2 based on the request of the administrator (wholesaler) of the wholesaler user terminal W1. Specifically, the purchaser G setting means 2 assigns a purchase GID to each set purchaser group and stores it in association with the terminal ID in the identification token ledger TL. Note that the purchaser G setting means 2 may not set a purchaser group for a user terminal. In this case, the user terminal will not belong to any purchaser group.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an identification token ledger TL in a management system for subscription products according to an embodiment of the present invention.
The identification token ledger TL is stored in the storage means 3. In the identification token ledger TL, a terminal ID (identification information) uniquely assigned to the user, which will be described later, is associated with user information (e.g., company information such as company name, MAC address of the user terminal, etc.), wholesale permission information ("wholesale permission" in FIG. 3), wholesale target information ("wholesale target" in FIG. 3), and wholesale product information ("wholesale product" in FIG. 3) as wholesale setting information to be described later, a purchase GID set by the purchase side G setting means 2, and transaction terminal information ("transaction terminal" in FIG. 3) and connection mode information with the transaction terminal ("connection mode" in FIG. 3) as connection destination designation information to be described later.

Returning to FIG. 2, when the user terminal functions as a wholesale user terminal W1, it has the following functions realized by a computer: an identification information initial setting means 10, a wholesale setting means 11, a connection permission means 12, a connection destination designation information generation means 13, and a first contract information management means 14.

The identification information initial setting means 10 initializes a unique terminal ID (identification information) based on an identification token, which is a function of a program installed in the wholesale user terminal W1. The identification information initial setting means 10 notifies (sends) the set terminal ID to the operation server OM1. The operation server OM1 is registered in the identification token ledger TL (see FIG. 3) by the ledger information management means 1. The terminal ID of the wholesale user terminal W1 may be issued by the operation server OM1. In detail, for example, the identification information initial setting means 10 sends the user information of the user terminal to the operation server OM1 along with the terminal ID. The ledger information management means 1 of the operation server OM1 stores the user information in the identification token ledger TL in association with the terminal ID, as shown in FIG. 3.

Based on the user's operation, the wholesale setting means 11 sets whether the user terminal can be connected to other user terminals as a wholesale user terminal. This wholesale setting information can be set for each subscription product provided. Such wholesale setting information includes wholesale permission information, wholesale target information, and wholesale product information. When the wholesale permission information of the wholesale setting information is set to "Yes" ("ON" shown in FIG. 3) by the wholesale setting means 11, the user terminal functions as a wholesale user terminal W1. The wholesale setting means 11 transmits such wholesale setting information to the operation server OM1. The ledger information management means 1 of the operation server OM1 stores the wholesale setting information in association with the terminal ID of the user terminal in the identification token ledger (see FIG. 3). On the other hand, when the wholesale permission information of the wholesale setting information is set to "No" by the wholesale setting means 11 ("OFF" shown in FIG. 3), the user terminal functions only as a purchase user terminal S1. That is, the wholesale user terminal W1 is a user terminal in which the wholesale permission information of the wholesale setting information is set to "allowed" ("ON" shown in Figure 3) by the wholesale setting means 11.

The wholesale setting means 11 also sets wholesale target information in the wholesale setting information that specifies other user terminals that the user terminal can connect to as the wholesale user terminal W1. Specifically, the wholesale setting means 11 may set all other user terminals belonging to this management system as wholesale targets as the wholesale target information ("Wholesale Target" in FIG. 3), may set only other user terminals belonging to the purchase GID to which the user terminal belongs, or may set only specific other user terminals as wholesale targets. The wholesale setting means 11 transmits such wholesale target information to the operation server OM1. The ledger information management means 1 of the operation server OM1 stores the wholesale target information in association with the terminal ID of the user terminal in the identification token ledger (see FIG. 3). For example, in the example shown in FIG. 3, the terminal ID (BP0001) is associated with "all" (all other user terminals belonging to this management system) as the wholesale target information. On the other hand, only other user terminals belonging to the purchasing GID (G2) to which the user terminal belongs are associated with the terminal ID (BP0002) as wholesale target information. Note that in the example shown in FIG. 3, the wholesale permission information in the wholesale setting information for terminal ID (BP0003) is set to "No" ("OFF" in FIG. 3), so no wholesale target is set ("-" in FIG. 3).

In addition, the wholesale setting means 11 can set wholesale product information in the wholesale setting information for each subscription product provided by the user of the user terminal (provided as a wholesale user). Specifically, the wholesale setting means 11 may set all subscription products provided by the user of the user terminal as wholesale products as the wholesale product information ("wholesale products" in FIG. 3), or may set only some of the subscription products provided by the user of the user terminal as wholesale products. The wholesale setting means 11 transmits such wholesale product information to the operation server OM1. The ledger information management means 1 of the operation server OM1 stores the wholesale product information in association with the terminal ID of the user terminal in the identification token ledger (see FIG. 3). For example, in the example shown in FIG. 3, the terminal ID (BP0001) is associated with "all" (all subscription products provided by the user of the user terminal) as wholesale product information. On the other hand, only "SP1" (a portion of subscription products provided by the user of the user terminal) is associated with the terminal ID (BP0002) as wholesale product information. Note that in the example shown in FIG. 3, the wholesale permission information in the wholesale setting information for terminal ID (BP0003) is set to "No" ("OFF" in FIG. 3), so no wholesale products are set ("-" in FIG. 3).

When the connection permission means 12 receives connection permission request information from another user terminal requesting a connection as the supplier user terminal S1, it transmits connection permission information permitting a connection as the supplier user terminal S1 to the other user terminal that transmitted the connection permission request information, for example, based on a user operation.

When the connection destination designation information generating means 13 designates either another wholesale user terminal W1 or a purchase user terminal S1 existing in the management system as a connection destination, it generates the terminal ID of the connection destination as connection destination designation information.

In detail, the connection destination designation information generating means 13, for example, based on a user's operation, refers to the identification token ledger TL (see FIG. 3) stored in the storage means 3 of the operation server OM1, and designates a user terminal to be a connection destination from among other user terminals set as wholesale targets in the identification token ledger TL, and transmits connection permission request information to the designated user terminal, requesting permission to connect as the wholesale user terminal W1. Then, when the connection destination designation information generating means 13 receives connection permission information permitting a connection from the other user terminal that transmitted the connection permission request information, it generates connection destination designation information indicating that the terminal ID of the other user terminal is permitted to connect as a wholesaler, and transmits the generated connection destination designation information to the operation server OM1.

The ledger information management means 1 of the operation server OM1 associates the connection destination designation information with the terminal ID of the user terminal in the identification token ledger (see FIG. 3) and stores it. In detail, the ledger information management means 1 sets the terminal ID of the other user terminal as a trading terminal to the terminal ID of the user terminal that has sent the connection destination designation information indicating that the connection is permitted as a wholesaler to the terminal ID of the other user terminal, sets the connection mode to "wholesale", and stores it in the identification token ledger. In this case, the ledger information management means 1 also sets the terminal ID of the user terminal that has sent the connection destination designation information as a trading terminal to the terminal ID of this other user terminal, sets the connection mode to "purchase", and stores it in the identification token ledger.

For example, in the example shown in FIG. 3, the trading terminal in the connection destination designation information for terminal ID (BP0001) is set to "all," and the connection mode is set to "wholesale" and "purchasing." This indicates that terminal ID (BP0001) is permitted to connect to all user terminals in this management system in either "wholesale" or "purchasing." Additionally, the trading terminal in the connection destination designation information for terminal ID (BP0002) is set to "G2," and the connection mode is set to "wholesale" and "purchasing." This indicates that terminal ID (BP0002) is permitted to connect to only the purchase side group (belonging purchase GID (G2)) to which terminal ID (BP0002) belongs in either "wholesale" or "purchasing." Additionally, the trading terminal in the connection destination designation information for terminal ID (BP0003) is set to "BP0001," and the connection mode is set to "purchasing." This indicates that terminal ID (BP0003) is only allowed to connect to the user terminal with terminal ID (BP0001) for "purchase."

Returning to FIG. 2, the first contract information management means 14 creates and manages (stores and updates) contract information A (first contract information) when trading the subscription product as contract information between a wholesale user W who wholesales and provides the subscription product, and a purchaser user S who purchases the subscription product from the wholesaler user and provides it to an end user C.

Specifically, when purchase request information for purchasing a subscription product is sent from a user terminal functioning as a purchaser user terminal S1 (a user terminal with a terminal ID set as a transaction terminal in the identification token ledger (see Figure 3)) specified as a connection destination in the connection destination designation information generation means 13, the user terminal functioning as the wholesaler user terminal W1 sends information about the subscription product that can be provided wholesale to the user terminal functioning as the purchaser user terminal S1. Then, the user terminal functioning as the wholesaler user terminal W1 receives purchase product designation information that specifies the subscription product to be purchased from the user terminal functioning as the purchaser user terminal S1.

The first contract information management means 14 creates and manages (stores and updates) contract information A (first contract information) between the wholesale user W and the purchaser user S for the subscription product specified by the purchase product specification information. The first contract information management means 14 also manages the multiple items included in the contract information A by distinguishing between changeable items and unchangeable items. The first contract information management means 14 transmits the created contract information A to a user terminal that functions as the purchaser user terminal S1 that transmitted the purchase product specification information.

Next, a case where the user terminal functions as a purchase user terminal S1 will be described. When the user terminal functions as a purchase user terminal S1, it has the following functions realized by a computer: an identification information initial setting means 20, a wholesale setting means 21, a connection permission means 22, a connection destination designation information generating means 23, a first contract information management means 24, and a second contract information management means 25.

The identification information initial setting means 20 initializes a unique terminal ID (identification information) based on an identification token, which is a function of a program installed in the purchasing user terminal S1. The identification information initial setting means 20 notifies (sends) the set terminal ID to the operation server OM1. The operation server OM1 is registered in the identification token ledger TL (see FIG. 3) by the ledger information management means 1. The terminal ID of the purchasing user terminal S1 may be issued by the operation server OM1. In detail, for example, the identification information initial setting means 10 sends the user information of the user terminal to the operation server OM1 along with the terminal ID. The ledger information management means 1 of the operation server OM1 stores the user information in the identification token ledger TL in association with the terminal ID, as shown in FIG. 3.

The wholesale setting means 21 sets whether the user terminal can be connected to other user terminals as a wholesale user terminal based on the user's operation. This wholesale setting information can be set for each subscription product provided. In this embodiment, the user terminal functions as a purchase user terminal S1 regardless of whether the wholesale permission information of the wholesale setting information set by the wholesale setting means 21 is "Yes" ("ON" shown in FIG. 3) or "No" ("OFF" shown in FIG. 3). If the wholesale permission information of the wholesale setting information is set to "Yes" ("ON" shown in FIG. 3) by the wholesale setting means 21, the user terminal also functions as a wholesale user terminal W1. The wholesale setting means 21 transmits such wholesale setting information to the operation server OM1. The ledger information management means 1 of the operation server OM1 stores the wholesale setting information in association with the terminal ID of the user terminal in the identification token ledger (see FIG. 3).

When the connection permission means 22 receives connection permission request information from another user terminal requesting a connection as the wholesale user terminal W1, it transmits connection permission information permitting a connection as the wholesale user terminal W1 to the other user terminal that transmitted the connection permission request information, for example, based on a user operation.

When the connection destination designation information generating means 23 designates another wholesale user terminal W1 or a purchase user terminal S1 existing in the management system as a connection destination, it generates the terminal ID of the connection destination as connection destination designation information.

In detail, the connection destination designation information generating means 23, for example, based on the user's operation, refers to the identification token ledger TL (see FIG. 3) stored in the storage means 3 of the operation server OM1, and designates a user terminal to be connected from among user terminals (terminal IDs) whose wholesale permission information is "allowed" ("ON" in FIG. 3) and whose wholesale target information has the terminal ID of the user terminal or the affiliated purchasing GID to which the terminal ID belongs, and transmits connection permission request information to the specified user terminal, requesting permission to connect as the supplier user terminal S1. Then, when the connection destination designation information generating means 23 receives connection permission information permitting connection from another user terminal that transmitted the connection permission request information, it generates connection destination designation information indicating that the terminal ID of the other user terminal is permitted to connect as a supplier, and transmits the generated connection destination designation information to the operation server OM1.

The ledger information management means 1 of the management server OM1 associates the connection destination designation information with the terminal ID of the user terminal in the identification token ledger (see FIG. 3) and stores it. In detail, the ledger information management means 1 sets the terminal ID of the other user terminal as a trading terminal to the terminal ID of the user terminal that has sent the connection destination designation information indicating that the connection is permitted as a purchaser to the terminal ID of the other user terminal, sets the connection mode to "purchase", and stores it in the identification token ledger. In this case, the ledger information management means 1 also sets the terminal ID of the user terminal that has sent the connection destination designation information as a trading terminal to the terminal ID of this other user terminal, sets the connection mode to "wholesale", and stores it in the identification token ledger.

The first contract information management means 24 receives contract information A (first contract information) for the subscription product specified in the purchase product specification information sent to the user terminal functioning as the wholesale user terminal W1 from the user terminal functioning as the wholesale user terminal W1, and stores this contract information A in the storage means.

The second contract information management means 25 creates and manages (stores and updates) contract information A' (second contract information), which is a contract between a supplier S that has purchased a subscription product and an end user C that purchases the subscription product from the supplier S. The second contract information management means 25 also manages multiple items included in the contract information A' by distinguishing between changeable items and unchangeable items. The second contract information management means 25 also creates contract information A' by duplicating the same contents for basically the same items as those in the contract information A created and managed by the first contract information management means 24, and stores the information in the storage means. As a result, in the contract information A', items corresponding to unchangeable items in the contract information A are created with the same contents as the unchangeable items. The second contract information management means 25 also transmits the created contract information A' (second contract information) to the end user terminal C1 operated by the end user C.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating contract information in a management system for subscription products according to an embodiment of the present invention.
As shown in FIG. 4, the contract information A, A' includes product information (e.g., the product name of the subscription product, identification information of the subscription product, etc.) and contract content information. The contract content information is divided into changeable items (in the example shown in FIG. 4, the plan, the number of payments, etc.) and non-changeable items (in the example shown in FIG. 4, the fee, contract period, closing date, cancellation period, etc.). The changeable items are items whose contents can be changed at the purchaser user terminal S1 according to the request of the purchaser S or the end user C. On the other hand, the non-changeable items are items whose contents cannot be changed at the purchaser user terminal S1 from the contents set by the wholesaler user W (contents specified in the contract information A transmitted from the wholesaler user terminal W1).

The second contract information management means 25 updates contract information A' (contract information A' (second contract information) in the second row shown in FIG. 4), which is a copy of contract information A (contract information A (first contract information) in the first row shown in FIG. 4) sent from the wholesale user terminal W1, with changes to changeable items in response to requests from the supplier S and the end user C, and stores the information in the storage means (changed contract information A' (second contract information) in the third row shown in FIG. 4). In the example shown in FIG. 4, in the changeable items, the plan has been changed from "A" to "B", and the number of payments has been changed from "1 time/year" to "12 times/year".

When the second contract information management means 25 changes the contract content information of the contract information A' (second contract information), the first contract information management means 24 changes the items in the contract information A (first contract information) that correspond to the items in the contract information A' whose contract content information has been changed, so that they are consistent with the contract information A', and stores the changed items in the storage means. The first contract information management means 24 also transmits the changed contract information A to the user terminal functioning as the wholesale user terminal W1 (the user terminal that transmitted the contract information A).

The wholesaler user terminal W1 updates the contract information A stored in the storage means to the contract information A received from the buyer user terminal S1 (contract information A (first contract information) after synchronization in the fourth row shown in FIG. 4). As a result, when the contract information A' is changed, the contract information A is synchronized with the changed contents.

In addition, when contract information A is deleted in the wholesaler user terminal W1, for example, due to the suspension of wholesale of a subscription product, the first contract information management means 14 of the wholesaler user terminal W1 transmits deletion information of contract information A to the purchaser user terminal S1. When the first contract information management means 24 of the purchaser user terminal S1 receives the deletion information, it deletes contract information A. As a result, the second contract information management means 25 is unable to create new contract information A'. In other words, the end user C is unable to purchase subscription products related to the deleted contract information.

[Information flow in the management system]
Fig. 5 is a sequence diagram showing the flow of information exchanged in the management system. As shown in Fig. 5, first, as a premise, the identification information initial setting means 20 of the purchase user terminal S1 and the identification information initial setting means 10 of the wholesale user terminal W1 each initialize a unique terminal ID (identification information), and notify (send) this unique terminal ID to the operation server OM1. The ledger information management means 1 of the operation server OM1 stores these received terminal IDs in the identification token ledger TL (see Fig. 3). Then, in the example shown in Fig. 5, in the identification token ledger TL, the wholesale permission information for the terminal ID of the wholesale user terminal W1 is set to "OK"("ON" shown in Fig. 3), and the purchase user terminal S1 is set as a wholesale target.

Next, at the stage of connecting the supplier user terminal S1 and the wholesale user terminal W1, the connection destination designation information generating means 23 of the supplier user terminal S1 transmits connection permission request information to the wholesale user terminal W1, requesting connection as the supplier user terminal S1. When the connection permission means 12 of the wholesale user terminal W1 receives the connection permission request information, it transmits connection permission information to the supplier user terminal S1, for example, based on a user operation, to the supplier user terminal S1. When the connection permission information is received, the connection destination designation information generating means 23 of the supplier user terminal S1 generates connection destination designation information indicating that the wholesale user terminal W1 is permitted to connect as a supplier to its terminal ID, and transmits the generated connection destination designation information to the operation server OM1. This connects the supplier user terminal S1 and the wholesale user terminal W1.

In the example shown in FIG. 5, connection permission request information is sent from the supplier user terminal S1 to the wholesaler user terminal W1, but this is not limited to the above. Connection permission request information may be sent from the wholesaler user terminal W1 to the supplier user terminal S1, connection permission information may be sent from the supplier user terminal S1 to the wholesaler user terminal W1, and connection destination designation information may be sent from the wholesaler user terminal W1 to the operation server OM1.

Next, at the stage of purchasing a subscription product, the purchaser user terminal S1 transmits purchase request information indicating a desire to purchase the subscription product to the wholesaler user terminal W1. The wholesaler user terminal W1 transmits information regarding the subscription products that can be provided at wholesale to the purchaser user terminal S1. The wholesaler user terminal W1 then receives purchase product designation information that specifies the subscription product to be purchased from the purchaser user terminal S1.

Then, the first contract information management means 14 of the wholesale user terminal W1 creates first contract information between the wholesale user W and the purchaser user S for the subscription product specified by the purchase product specification information, and transmits the created first contract information to the purchaser user terminal S1.

Next, in the sales (contract) stage of the subscription product, the purchaser user terminal S1 receives contract request information indicating a request to purchase (contract) the subscription product from the end user terminal C1 operated by the end user C. The second contract information management means 25 of the purchaser user terminal S1 creates second contract information between the purchaser S who has purchased the subscription product and the end user C who purchases the subscription product from the purchaser S by duplicating the first contract information, and transmits the created second contract information to the end user terminal C1 operated by the end user C. At this time, the contract information management means 25 of the purchaser user terminal S1 updates the second contract information to the content in which the changeable items have been changed in the second contract information obtained by duplicating the first contract information, for example, in response to the request of the end user C. In addition, the first contract information management means 24 of the purchaser user terminal S1 changes the items in the first contract information that correspond to the changed items in the second contract information so as to be consistent with the second contract information, and transmits the changed first contract information to the wholesaler user terminal W1. This ensures that if the second contract information is changed, the first contract information is synchronized with the changed content.

The management system of this embodiment provides the following benefits:

Generally, stockists and wholesalers who handle sell-out products conduct business transactions through a process in which, for example, the stockist places an order for the product it wants to purchase with the wholesaler (stockist → wholesaler), the wholesaler delivers the ordered product to the stockist (wholesaler → stockist), and the payment is made in accordance with the order and delivery (stockist → wholesaler). Each process in such a business transaction for sell-out products does not have to be carried out simultaneously, but may be carried out sequentially with a time lag. Furthermore, each process is basically carried out face-to-face using existing communication methods such as fax and email.

On the other hand, subscription products, due to their unique nature, such as the set period of use, cannot be used to conduct commercial transactions as is using existing communication means. In other words, the unique nature of subscription products is that, first, transactions for subscription products are accompanied by contractual matters, particularly contractual matters that involve periods (e.g., payment period, service provision period), but existing systems that handle one-time sale products do not anticipate managing such contractual matters, and are therefore unable to manage them in the first place. Secondly, with subscription products, circumstances may arise where the buyer wishes to change, suspend, or cancel the contract, but existing systems that handle one-time sale products are only designed to transmit information in one direction, from the wholesaler to the purchaser, or from the purchaser to the wholesaler, and are therefore unable to handle such circumstances. Furthermore, as a third peculiarity, changes to the contract content, such as changes, suspension, or cancellation of the contract for subscription products, can occur at any time due to requests from end users, etc., and such changes must be reflected immediately on both the purchaser and wholesaler sides. However, the existing system only assumes one-way, asynchronous information transmission, so such changes to the contract content cannot be synchronized in both directions.

To deal with such peculiarities, the management system of this embodiment connects the purchaser user terminal S1 of the supplier S and the wholesaler user terminal W1 of the wholesaler W in both directions, and is capable of synchronizing the contract between the supplier S and the wholesaler W (first contract information) with the contract between the supplier S and the end user C (second contract information) at any time.

According to the management system of this embodiment, a unique terminal ID is initially set for each of the wholesale user terminal W1 and the supplier user terminal S1, and the destination wholesale user terminal W1 and the supplier user terminal S1 designated as the wholesaler or supplier are connected to each other based on destination designation information including the terminal ID. The terminal IDs and destination designation information of these multiple user terminals W1 and S1 are managed in association with the identification token ledger, so that the wholesaler W and the supplier S can be appropriately managed as multiple product providing users who provide subscription products.

In addition, for multiple user terminals that provide subscription products, whether they will act as both a wholesaler and a purchaser, or only as a wholesaler, is set as wholesale setting information, and this wholesale setting information is also managed in association with the identification token ledger TL, so that each user terminal can set up shop as a wholesaler or purchaser as desired.

In addition, in each of the multiple user terminals, whether or not other user terminals can be connected as the wholesale user terminal W1 is set as wholesale setting information, and the wholesale setting information is also managed in association with the identification token ledger TL, so that wholesalers who wholesale and dealers who only purchase can be managed separately.

In addition, wholesale setting information can be set for each subscription product provided as a connection destination, so product providing users can choose whether to wholesale each subscription product they provide to other businesses or sell it themselves.

In addition, for example, a wholesaler user W can choose to wholesale subscription products to all other buyer users S, or to only buyer users S who belong to a specific buyer group, making it easier to control the distribution channel of subscription products.

In addition, according to the management system of this embodiment, when a subscription product is traded between the wholesale user terminal W1 and the purchaser user terminal S1, first contract information is created and managed, and when a subscription product is purchased from the end user terminal C1 for the purchaser user terminal S1, second contract information is created and managed. When a specific item of the second contract information is changed between the end user terminal C1 and the purchaser user terminal S1, the corresponding item in the first contract information is changed in synchronization so as to match the specific item. Therefore, even when the wholesaler W and the purchaser S trade subscription products, the first contract information and the second contract information exchanged in association with the transaction can be managed by the purchaser S after the fact by appropriately synchronizing them while allowing them to be changed later.

In addition, for example, since the supplier S can create the second contract information by duplicating the first contract information within the scope permitted by the wholesaler W, the first contract information exchanged between the wholesaler W and the supplier S and the second contract information exchanged between the supplier S and the end user C can be managed without any discrepancies.

In addition, in the first contract information, changeable and non-changeable contract items are managed separately, and in the second contract information, specific items corresponding to the changeable contract items in the first contract information are made changeable, while items corresponding to the non-changeable contract items in the first contract information are created by duplicating them with the same content, so that the first contract information and the second contract information can be managed without discrepancies while providing changeable items.

In addition, when a subscription product is traded between the wholesaler user terminal W1 and the purchaser user terminal S1, which are permitted to connect to each other, the first contract information exchanged between them is created as synchronized information, so that the first contract information exchanged between the wholesaler W and the purchaser S can be reliably managed without discrepancies.

Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, it goes without saying that the technical scope of the present invention is not limited to the contents of the above-mentioned embodiments. It is clear to those skilled in the art that various modifications and improvements can be made to the above-mentioned embodiments. Furthermore, it is clear from the claims that forms incorporating such modifications or improvements are also included in the technical scope of the present invention.

OM Operating company M Manufacturer W Wholesaler S Purchaser C End user SP Subscription product TL Identification token ledger A, A' Contract information OM1 Operating server W1 Wholesaler user terminal S1 Purchaser user terminal C1 End user terminal 1 Ledger information management means 2 Purchaser G setting means 3 Contract information change means 10, 20, 30 Identification information initial setting means 11, 21 Wholesale setting means 12, 22, 31 Connection permission means 13, 23, 32 Connection destination designation information generation means 14, 24 First contract information management means 25, 33 Second contract information management means

Claims (6)

A subscription product contract information management system for managing contract information regarding subscription products provided by wholesale or purchase,
a first contract information management means for creating and managing first contract information when trading the subscription product as the contract information between a wholesale user who wholesales and provides the subscription product and a purchaser user who purchases the subscription product from the wholesaler user and provides it to an end user;
The purchaser user who purchases the subscription product from the wholesaler user;
a second contract information management means for creating and managing second contract information when the subscription product is purchased as the contract information between the purchaser user and an end user who purchases the subscription product from the purchaser user,
A subscription product contract information management system characterized in that, when a specified item of the second contract information is changed, the first contract information management means changes an item in the first contract information corresponding to the specified item so as to be consistent with the specified item. The subscription product contract information management system according to claim 1, characterized in that the second contract information management means creates the second contract information by duplicating the first contract information. the first contract information management means manages a plurality of items included in the first contract information by distinguishing between changeable items and unchangeable items;
The second contract information management means is
changing, in the second contract information, an item corresponding to the changeable item of the first contract information;
3. The subscription product contract information management system according to claim 1, wherein in the second contract information, items corresponding to the unchangeable items of the first contract information are created to have the same content as the unchangeable items. The system further includes a connection permission means for permitting a connection between a wholesale user terminal used by the wholesale user and a purchaser user terminal used by the purchaser user,
4. A subscription product contract information management system as described in any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the first contract information management means creates the first contract information at the wholesaler user terminal and the purchaser user terminal that are permitted to connect. A subscription product contract information management method for managing contract information relating to subscription products provided by wholesale or purchase, comprising:
The computer
a first contract information management step of creating and managing first contract information when trading the subscription product as the contract information between a wholesale user who wholesales and provides the subscription product and a purchaser user who purchases the subscription product from the wholesaler user and provides it to an end user;
The purchaser user who purchases the subscription product from the wholesaler user;
a second contract information management step of creating and managing second contract information when the subscription product is purchased as the contract information between the purchaser user and an end user who purchases the subscription product from the purchaser user;
a contract information changing step of changing a predetermined item of the second contract information and changing an item in the first contract information corresponding to the predetermined item so as to be consistent with the predetermined item;
A method for managing subscription product contract information, comprising: A computer program for managing subscription product contract information to be executed by a computer in order to manage contract information relating to subscription products provided by wholesale or purchase,
a program for functioning as a first contract information management means for creating and managing first contract information when trading the subscription product as the contract information between a wholesale user who wholesales and provides the subscription product and a purchaser user who purchases the subscription product from the wholesaler user and provides it to an end user;
The purchaser user who purchases the subscription product from the wholesaler user;
a program for functioning as a second contract information management means for creating and managing second contract information when the subscription product is purchased as the contract information between the purchaser user and an end user who purchases the subscription product from the purchaser user;
a program for causing the program to function as a contract information changing means for changing a predetermined item of the second contract information and changing an item in the first contract information corresponding to the predetermined item so as to be consistent with the predetermined item;
A computer program for managing subscription product contract information, comprising:

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