JP7630027B2 - Information Processing System - Google Patents

Description

This disclosure relates to data processing technology, and in particular to information processing systems.

A service has been proposed that allows a lease contract holder to receive a discount on fuel costs when refueling a vehicle leased from a car leasing company at a service station using the lease holder's credit card (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

JP 2018-200711 A

For businesses that sell products at service stations such as gas stations, it is important to foster customer trust and affection (so-called customer loyalty) for the service stations associated with their company. This disclosure has been made in consideration of such issues, and one objective is to provide technology that supports the fostering of customer loyalty for service stations such as gas stations.

To solve the above problem, an information processing system according to one aspect of the present disclosure includes a first storage unit that registers information indicating that a user has selected a support service station from among multiple service stations associated with a certain business operator, and a billing unit that bills the user for an amount discounted based on a first discount rule from the regular price of an item purchased by the user at the multiple service stations when the user has selected a support service station.

In addition, any combination of the above components, or any conversion of the expressions of this disclosure between an apparatus, a method, a computer program, or a recording medium having a computer program recorded thereon, is also valid as an aspect of this disclosure.

This disclosure can help foster customer loyalty to service stations such as gas stations.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of a fuel sales system according to a related art. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing functional blocks of a fuel sales management system. 4 is a diagram showing an example of fuel sales information stored in a fuel sales information storage unit; FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of a fuel sales system according to a first embodiment; FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing functional blocks of the service management system. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing functional blocks of a sales management system. FIG. 11 is a diagram showing the configuration of a fuel sales system according to a second embodiment. FIG. 13 is a diagram showing the configuration of a fuel sales system according to a third embodiment. FIG. 13 is a diagram showing the configuration of a fuel sales system according to a fourth embodiment. 4 is a diagram showing a configuration of user information stored in a user information storage unit; FIG.

The subject of the device or method of the present disclosure includes a computer. The computer executes a computer program to realize the functions of the subject of the device or method of the present disclosure. The computer includes, as its main hardware configuration, a processor that operates according to a computer program. The type of processor is not important as long as it can realize the functions by executing a computer program. The processor is composed of one or more electronic circuits including a semiconductor integrated circuit (IC, LSI, etc.). The computer program is recorded on a non-transitory recording medium such as a computer-readable ROM, optical disk, or hard disk drive. The computer program may be stored in advance on the recording medium, or may be supplied to the recording medium via a wide area communication network including the Internet.

The technology of the present disclosure will be described below with reference to the drawings based on preferred embodiments. The embodiments are illustrative and do not limit the invention, and all features and combinations thereof described in the embodiments are not necessarily essential to the invention. The same or equivalent components, members, and processes shown in each drawing are given the same reference numerals, and duplicated descriptions are omitted as appropriate. In addition, the scale and shape of each part shown in each drawing are set for convenience to facilitate explanation, and are not to be interpreted as being limiting unless otherwise specified. In addition, when terms such as "first" and "second" are used in this specification or claims, they do not represent any order or importance, but are intended to distinguish one configuration from another, unless otherwise specified.

First, related art related to the embodiments of the present disclosure will be described, and then the embodiments will be described.
<Related Technology>
First, an overview of the related technology will be described. Conventionally, a service has been proposed that allows a discount on fuel costs to be received when a vehicle (hereinafter also referred to as a "lease vehicle") rented from a car leasing company to a contract holder of a car leasing contract (hereinafter also referred to as a "user") is refueled using the contract holder's own credit card. However, the fuel cost discount is limited to leased vehicles. In addition, since refueling using the credit card of the contract holder of a car leasing contract by anyone other than the user is a violation of the credit card terms and conditions, in order to receive the discount on fuel costs, the user himself/herself had to refuel the vehicle.

In the fuel sales system of the related technology, the scope of the fuel price discount is expanded, and the fuel price discount is applied to the entire household of the car lease contract holder (the user household, described below). Specifically, the fuel price discount is not limited to cases where fuel is pumped with the credit card of the user who is the car lease contract holder (hereinafter also referred to as the "personal card"), but is also applied when fuel is pumped with a family card attached to the personal card. A family card is an additional card issued in association with the personal card based on the user's application, and is used by the user's family members (for example, the user's spouse, children over 18 years old, or parents after retirement). Usually, the amount used on the family card is treated as one with the personal card.

For example, if a family member of a user, rather than the user who signed the car lease contract, fills up a leased vehicle at a service station, and purchases fuel using a family card, the user can receive a discount on the fuel price even when the user is not present. This increases convenience for car lease users.

A service station (hereinafter also referred to as "SS") is a store that sells energy sources as products. An energy source is a resource used to drive a power source, and is provided, for example, to drive a moving body such as an automobile. Energy sources include vehicle fuel (gasoline, diesel, hydrogen, etc.), as well as kerosene and electricity. Examples of service stations include gas stations, hydrogen stations, charging stations, etc. A product is any tangible or intangible thing that is traded for a fee or free of charge, and is a concept that includes the provision of services. In the related art, an example of purchasing fuel for a vehicle at a service station is shown, but the technical concept of the present disclosure is broadly applicable to the purchase of products (for example, the various energy sources mentioned above) sold at service stations.

In addition, in the fuel sales system of the related technology, the vehicles eligible for the fuel price discount are not limited to leased vehicles. For example, if the user who has signed a car lease contract uses his/her personal card, and if the user's family member uses a family card, the fuel price discount is not limited to refueling leased vehicles, but also applies to refueling vehicles other than leased vehicles (for example, vehicles owned by the user's household, hereinafter also referred to as "non-leased vehicles"). This further increases convenience for car lease users. Also, since non-leased vehicles, in addition to leased vehicles, visit SSs more frequently, opportunities for fuel and non-oil sales at SSs can be expanded.

The details of the related technology will be described. Figure 1 shows the configuration of a fuel sales system 10 of the related technology. The fuel sales system 10 comprises a store system 20, a fuel sales management system 22, a car lease management system 24, and a billing management system 26. These devices are connected via a communication network including a LAN, a WAN, the Internet, etc.

A leased vehicle 12 and a non-leased vehicle 14 are used in the household of a user who has entered into a car leasing contract with a car leasing company. The user holds a personal card 16, and the user's family members, a spouse and children, hold family cards 18a and 18b (collectively referred to as "family cards 18"). The user, spouse and children use their own credit cards (personal card 16, family card 18a, family card 18b) to purchase fuel for the leased vehicle 12 and non-leased vehicle 14 at a gas station.

A store system 20 is installed in the SS. The store system 20 is an information processing system that manages sales and other matters at the SS. The store system 20 transmits refueling data relating to fuel purchased by a user using the personal card 16, or refueling data relating to fuel purchased by the user's family using the family card 18, to the fuel sales management system 22. Note that while FIG. 1 shows one SS (store system 20), an actual fuel sales system 10 will have multiple SSs (store systems 20).

The car lease center is provided with a car lease management system 24. The car lease management system 24 is an information processing system that processes data related to car lease contracts and fuel benefit applications. The car lease management system 24 transmits fuel benefit information related to fuel benefit recipients who have applied for a fuel benefit (in other words, a fuel price discount benefit) to the fuel sales management system 22.

The credit card company is provided with a billing management system 26. The billing management system 26 is an information processing system that manages billing to credit card contract holders.

The fuel sales management system 22 is an information processing system that manages information related to the sale of fuel at a gas station, in other words, manages information related to purchasers who purchase fuel at a gas station, and also manages the billing of fuel fees to purchasers. The fuel sales management system 22 transmits fuel billing data to the billing management system 26 to bill the user collectively for the cost of fuel purchased by the user and his/her family.

There are no limitations on the physical configuration of the store system 20, fuel sales management system 22, car lease management system 24, and billing management system 26 in FIG. 1. For example, each system may be realized by a single information processing device, or may be realized by multiple information processing devices working together.

Figure 2 is a block diagram showing the functional blocks of the fuel sales management system 22 in Figure 1. The fuel sales management system 22 includes a control unit 30, a memory unit 32, and a communication unit 34. The control unit 30 executes various data processing. The memory unit 32 stores data referenced or updated by the control unit 30. The communication unit 34 communicates with external devices according to a predetermined communication protocol. The control unit 30 transmits and receives data to and from the store system 20, the car lease management system 24, and the billing management system 26 via the communication unit 34.

The storage unit 32 includes a fuel sales information storage unit 36 and a discount rule storage unit 38. The fuel sales information storage unit 36 stores fuel sales information. The fuel sales information includes information about the personal card, which is the credit card of the user who entered into the car lease contract, and information about the family card linked to the personal card. Figure 3 shows an example of fuel sales information stored in the fuel sales information storage unit 36. The fuel sales information is information that associates a customer number, a parent number, a credit card number, a date of birth, a fuel purchase quantity, and a fuel purchase price.

The customer number can also be called a customer identification number, and is a number specific to each individual (for example, each of the user and his/her family). The customer number can also be called a number that is unique to each individual. The customer number of a car lease contract holder (personal card holder) and the customer number of his/her family (family card holder) have different values in the last digit, but the other digits are the same. The parent number is information for linking the personal card and the family card, and is specifically the customer number of the personal card holder corresponding to the family card holder. Records 50 and 56 in FIG. 3 are records related to the car lease contract holder (personal card holder). Meanwhile, records 52, 54, and 58 in FIG. 3 are records related to the car lease contract holder's family (family card holders).

The credit card number is the card number of the personal card and the family card. The date of birth is the birth date of each individual. The fuel purchase quantity is the quantity of fuel (in liters) purchased by each individual using either the personal card or the family card. The fuel purchase amount is the purchase amount (in yen) of fuel purchased by each individual using either the personal card or the family card. The fuel purchase quantity and fuel purchase amount may be cumulative values of the unbilled fuel amount, and may be cleared when the fuel fee is billed.

Returning to FIG. 2, the discount rule storage unit 38 stores discount rule A regarding fuel costs for the household of the user who has signed a car lease contract (in other words, the user and his/her family). Discount rule A stipulates that the discount applies to the total amount of fuel purchased using the personal card and the amount of fuel purchased using the family card, up to a predetermined upper limit of the purchase quantity. The upper limit is, for example, 100L.

The control unit 30 includes a card information reception unit 40, a refueling data reception unit 42, a fuel bonus information reception unit 44, a billing amount derivation unit 46, and a billing unit 48. The functions of these multiple functional blocks may be implemented in a computer program. This computer program may be stored on a recording medium, or may be installed in the storage of the fuel sales management system 22 via the recording medium. Alternatively, the computer program may be installed in the storage of the fuel sales management system 22 via a network. The CPU of the computer of the fuel sales management system 22 may perform the functions of the multiple functional blocks of the control unit 30 by reading the computer program into main memory and executing it.

The card information acceptance unit 40 accepts card information related to credit cards issued by credit card companies, sent from the credit card company's device. The card information includes customer number, parent number, credit card number, and date of birth as information related to the principal's card and family card. The card information acceptance unit 40 stores the accepted card information in the fuel sales information storage unit 36.

The refueling data reception unit 42 receives refueling data transmitted from the SS store system 20, including information indicating that fuel for a vehicle has been purchased using a personal card or a family card. The refueling data includes various data read from the customer's credit card by the SS's information terminal, including at least the customer number, the fuel purchase quantity (also referred to as the fuel sales quantity), and the fuel purchase price (also referred to as the fuel sales price). The refueling data reception unit 42 refers to the fuel sales information storage unit 36 to identify a record of fuel sales information including the customer number indicated by the refueling data, and increases the values of the fuel purchase quantity and fuel purchase price of the identified record by the fuel purchase quantity and fuel purchase price indicated by the refueling data.

The fuel bonus information reception unit 44 receives fuel bonus information sent from the car lease management system 24 of the car lease center. The fuel bonus information includes information about each car lease contract holder who is to receive a discount on the fuel price, and in the related technology, includes a set of customer number, date of birth, and discount rule B. Discount rule B may include a discount rate or discount amount. For example, discount rule B may stipulate a discount of 5 to 10 yen per liter of fuel. Discount rule B may also include a different discount rate or discount amount for each car lease contract holder (in other words, for each customer number).

The billing amount derivation unit 46 derives the billing amount for fuel to each car lease contract holder. The billing amount derivation unit 46 derives the sum of the fuel purchase quantity by the personal card and the fuel purchase quantity by the family card stored in the fuel sales information storage unit 36 for each user's household (a set of the personal card and the family card) (hereinafter also referred to as the "household fuel purchase quantity"). The billing amount derivation unit 46 also derives the sum of the fuel purchase amount by the personal card and the fuel purchase amount by the family card stored in the fuel sales information storage unit 36 for each user's household (a set of the personal card and the family card) (hereinafter also referred to as the "household fuel purchase amount").

The billing amount derivation unit 46 derives the billing amount for the user for each user household based on the household fuel purchase quantity, the household fuel purchase amount, discount rule A stored in the discount rule storage unit 38, and discount rule B indicated by the fuel benefit information.

The billing unit 48 executes a process of billing the user for the fuel cost billed to the user derived by the billing amount derivation unit 46. Specifically, the billing unit 48 transmits fuel billing data including the credit card number of the user's personal card and the fuel cost billed to the user derived by the billing amount derivation unit 46 to the billing management system 26.

The operation of the fuel sales system 10 having the above configuration will now be described with reference to FIG.
A user applies to a credit card company for a credit card (personal card and family card), and the credit card company issues a personal card 16 for the user, a family card 18a for the user's spouse, and a family card 18b for the user's child. The user enters into a car lease contract with a car lease company, and at that time also applies for a fuel benefit (fuel price discount benefit). A leased vehicle 12 is provided to the user household based on the car lease contract. In addition to the leased vehicle 12, the user household also owns a non-leased vehicle 14.

The credit card company's device transmits card information relating to the issued principal card 16, family card 18a, and family card 18b to the fuel sales management system 22. The card information reception unit 40 of the fuel sales management system 22 receives the card information and stores the contents of the card information (e.g., customer number, parent number, credit card number, date of birth) in the fuel sales information storage unit 36.

The user uses the personal card 16 at an SS to purchase fuel and refuel the leased vehicle 12. The user also uses the personal card 16 at an SS to purchase fuel and refuel the non-leased vehicle 14. Similarly, the user's spouse (or child) uses the family card 18a (or family card 18b) at an SS to purchase fuel and refuel the leased vehicle 12. The user's spouse (or child) also uses the family card 18a (or family card 18b) at an SS to purchase fuel and refuel the non-leased vehicle 14.

Each time fuel is purchased at a gas station, the gas station store system 20 transmits refueling data including the fuel purchase quantity, fuel purchase price, and card information (customer number, etc.) used to purchase the fuel to the fuel sales management system 22. The refueling data reception unit 42 of the fuel sales management system 22 receives the refueling data and identifies a record in the fuel sales information storage unit 36 specified by the card information indicated by the refueling data. The refueling data reception unit 42 adds the values indicated by the refueling data to the values of the fuel purchase quantity and fuel purchase price of the identified record.

Record 50 in FIG. 3 is a record related to the user in FIG. 1 (personal card 16). Record 50 indicates that 50 L of fuel was purchased using personal card 16 for a purchase amount of 7,000 yen. Record 52 in FIG. 3 is a record related to the spouse (family card 18a) of the user in FIG. 1. Record 52 indicates that 30 L of fuel was purchased using family card 18a for a purchase amount of 4,200 yen. Record 54 in FIG. 3 is a record related to the child (family card 18b) of the user in FIG. 1. Record 54 indicates that 40 L of fuel was purchased using family card 18b for a purchase amount of 5,600 yen.

The car lease management system 24 of the car lease center periodically transmits fuel benefit information regarding the recipients of fuel price discounts (car lease contract holders in the related technology) to the fuel sales management system 22 at predetermined timing. The fuel benefit information reception unit 44 of the fuel sales management system 22 receives the fuel benefit information. The fuel benefit information here includes the customer number of the user in FIG. 1, and also sets a discount of 10 yen per liter as discount rule B.

The billing amount derivation unit 46 of the fuel sales management system 22 derives the household fuel purchase quantity, which is the sum of the fuel purchase quantity by the personal card and the fuel purchase quantity by the family card stored in the fuel sales information storage unit 36, for each user's household (a pair of corresponding personal card and family card). The billing amount derivation unit 46 also derives the household fuel purchase amount, which is the sum of the fuel purchase amount by the personal card and the fuel purchase amount by the family card stored in the fuel sales information storage unit 36, for each user's household (a pair of corresponding personal card and family card).

The billing amount derivation unit 46 identifies the user household in FIG. 1 as eligible for the discount based on the customer number of the user in FIG. 1 indicated in the fuel benefit information. The billing amount derivation unit 46 derives 120 L, which is the sum of the fuel purchase quantities in records 50, 52, and 54 in FIG. 3, as the household fuel purchase quantity for the user household in FIG. 1. The billing amount derivation unit 46 also derives 16,800 yen, which is the sum of the fuel purchase amounts in records 50, 52, and 54 in FIG. 3, as the household fuel purchase amount for the user household in FIG. 1.

Here, discount rule A stored in discount rule storage unit 38 of fuel sales management system 22 specifies that 100L of fuel is the upper limit of the discount target. Billing amount derivation unit 46 specifies that 100L of fuel is the discount target of the household fuel purchase quantity of 120L of the user household in FIG. 1. Also, as described above, the discount unit price determined by the fuel benefit information is 10 yen/L. Billing amount derivation unit 46 derives 15,800 yen, which is the amount obtained by discounting 1,000 yen (i.e., discount unit price 10 yen/L x 100L) from the household fuel purchase amount, as the billing amount to the user in FIG. 1.

Note that record 56 in FIG. 3 corresponds to the personal card of the car lease contract holder not shown in FIG. 1, and record 58 in FIG. 3 corresponds to the family card of the family of the car lease contract holder. In this case, the billing amount derivation unit 46 derives 70L as the household fuel purchase quantity of the car lease contract holder, and derives 9,800 yen as the household fuel purchase amount. The billing amount derivation unit 46 subjects the entire household fuel purchase quantity (70L) to the discount. The billing amount derivation unit 46 derives 9,100 yen, which is the amount obtained by deducting 700 yen (i.e., discount unit price 10 yen/L x 70L) from the household fuel purchase amount, as the billing amount to be paid to the car lease contract holder.

The billing unit 48 of the fuel sales management system 22 transmits fuel billing data including the credit card number of the user's personal card 16 and the billing amount to the user derived by the billing amount derivation unit 46 to the billing management system 26 of the credit card company. The billing management system 26 executes a process of billing the user for the total amount of the billing amount indicated by the fuel billing data and other billing amounts according to the use of the personal card 16 and the family card 18.

According to the fuel sales system 10 of the related technology, the discount on the fuel price is applied when the family of the car lease contract holder uses a family card to purchase fuel, and also when refueling a non-leased vehicle. This further increases the convenience of the car lease user. It also reduces the risk of a person other than the car lease contract holder using the car lease contract holder's credit card, resulting in a violation of the credit card terms and conditions. In other words, it reduces the risk of the car lease contract holder's credit card being reused or used fraudulently. In addition to leased vehicles, non-leased vehicles will visit the SS more frequently, which will increase the opportunities for fuel sales and non-oil sales at the SS. In addition, by setting an upper limit on the amount of fuel purchased to which the discount is applied, it is possible to prevent the discount from being applied indefinitely and ensure the feasibility of the fuel price discount.

Next, the process will be described when the user in FIG. 1 enters into multiple car lease contracts (here, a first car lease contract and a second car lease contract). In the fuel sales system 10, a first principal card and a first family card corresponding to the first car lease contract are issued, and a second principal card (a principal card different from the first principal card) and a second family card (a family card different from the first family card) corresponding to the second car lease contract are also issued. The fuel sales information storage unit 36 of the fuel sales management system 22 stores information on the first principal card and the first family card, and information on the second principal card and the second family card. For example, the fuel sales information storage unit 36 stores two sets of records corresponding to records 50, 52, and 54 in FIG. 3.

The billing amount derivation unit 46 of the fuel sales management system 22 derives a first billing amount to the user based on the sum of the amount of fuel purchased by the first principal card and the amount of fuel purchased by the first family card, and in accordance with discount rules A and B. The billing amount derivation unit 46 also derives a second billing amount to the user based on the sum of the amount of fuel purchased by the second principal card and the amount of fuel purchased by the second family card, and in accordance with discount rules A and B. That is, the billing amount derivation unit 46 applies a discount up to a predetermined upper limit (e.g., 100 L) to the fuel purchases by the principal card and family card corresponding to each contract for each car lease contract.

The billing unit 48 of the fuel sales management system 22 transmits first fuel billing data including the credit card number of the first principal card and the first billing amount to the billing management system 26. The billing unit 48 also transmits second fuel billing data including the credit card number of the second principal card and the second billing amount to the billing management system 26. This causes the user to be billed for the discounted billing amount for the fuel purchase using the first principal card and the first family card, and the discounted billing amount for the fuel purchase using the second principal card and the second family card.

According to this embodiment, the more car lease contracts a car lease user enters into, the greater the fuel price discount he or she can enjoy. For example, if the fuel price discount is 100L when one car lease contract is entered into, the fuel price discount increases to 200L when two car lease contracts are entered into. This provides users with an incentive to enter into many car lease contracts, and promotes the use of car leases.

A modified example will be described. In the above related technology, when a user enters into multiple car lease contracts, a discount up to a predetermined upper limit is applied to fuel purchases made with the personal card and family card corresponding to each contract for each car lease contract. As a modified example, even when a user enters into multiple car lease contracts, there may be only one set of the personal card held by the user and the family card held by the user's family. In this case, discount rule A stored in discount rule storage unit 38 may stipulate that the upper limit of the fuel purchase quantity subject to discount is increased according to the number of car lease contracts entered into by the user.

In this variant, the fuel bonus information sent from the car lease management system 24 of the car lease center to the fuel sales management system 22 may include the number of car lease contracts concluded by the user. The billing amount derivation unit 46 of the fuel sales management system 22 may increase the upper limit of the fuel purchase quantity subject to discount the greater the number of car lease contracts concluded by the user indicated by the fuel bonus information. For example, the upper limit may be 100L when there is one car lease contract, 200L when there are two car lease contracts, and 300L when there are three car lease contracts.

For example, if a certain user has two car lease contracts and the user's household fuel purchase quantity is 200L, the billing amount derivation unit 46 may discount all of the household fuel purchase quantity (200L). The billing amount derivation unit 46 may deduct 2,000 yen (i.e., discount unit price 10 yen/L x 200L) from the user's household fuel purchase amount. Even in this modified fuel sales system 10, the more car lease users enter into car lease contracts, the greater the fuel price discount they can enjoy. This provides users with an incentive to enter into many car lease contracts, and promotes the use of car leases.

Another modified example will be described. In the above related technology, discount rule A is stored in the discount rule storage unit 38 of the fuel sales management system 22, and discount rule B is set in the fuel bonus information sent from the car lease management system 24 to the fuel sales management system 22, but the location (device, area) where discount rule A and discount rule B are stored or set is not limited to this. Discount rule A and discount rule B may be stored or set in a location (device, area) that can be referenced when the billing amount derivation unit 46 of the fuel sales management system 22 derives the billing amount. For example, discount rule A and discount rule B may both be stored in the discount rule storage unit 38 of the fuel sales management system 22.

First Example
The first embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with a focus on differences from the related art, and descriptions of commonalities will be omitted as appropriate. The features of the first embodiment can be arbitrarily combined with the features of the related art and its modified examples. Components of the first embodiment that are the same as or correspond to those of the related art will be appropriately denoted with the same reference numerals.

Figure 4 shows the configuration of a fuel sales system 60 of the first embodiment. In the fuel sales system 60 of the first embodiment, similar to the fuel sales system 10 of the related art, a customer (hereinafter also referred to as "user") who uses a mobility service (hereinafter also simply referred to as "mobility service") provided by a specific company receives a discount on the price of fuel purchased at an SS. A mobility service can also be called a vehicle provision service, which is a service that provides a vehicle and its usage rights (or ownership) to a user and receives payment from the user. Mobility services include, for example, car leasing services, vehicle sales services with residual value credit, and used car sales services.

As in the related art, a leased vehicle 12 and a non-leased vehicle 14 are used in the user's household in the first embodiment. The leased vehicle 12 in the first embodiment refers to a vehicle provided to the user by a mobility service, and is not limited to car leasing, and may be a vehicle sold to the user by a vehicle sales service using residual value credit, or a vehicle sold to the user by a used car sales service. The non-leased vehicle 14 refers to a vehicle acquired by a method other than using a mobility service, and is, for example, a vehicle purchased or rented by the user without using a mobility service.

The fuel sales system 60 of the first embodiment differs from the fuel sales system 10 of the related art in the conditions for discounting the fuel price. In the fuel sales system 60 of the first embodiment, the fuel price is discounted when the contents of the ancillary procedures carried out in relation to the vehicle provided to the user by the mobility service satisfy the specified discount conditions. The ancillary procedures are not procedures related to the use of the vehicle itself, but additional procedures such as vehicle registration and maintenance. The conditions for discounting the fuel price in the fuel sales system 60 of the first embodiment are that the user has both concluded a maintenance pack contract and applied for a fuel benefit as the above-mentioned ancillary procedures.

The fuel sales system 60 includes a store system 20, a service management system 62, a sales management system 64, and a billing management system 26. These devices are connected via a communication network including a LAN, a WAN, the Internet, etc.

The service management system 62 corresponds to the car lease management system 24 of the related technology. The service management system 62 is installed in a mobility center, which is an organization/facility that manages mobility services. The service management system 62 manages information about users who use mobility services. The sales management system 64 corresponds to the fuel sales management system 22 of the related technology. The sales management system 64 manages the sales of products (fuel in the first embodiment) at the gas station.

The service management system 62 and the sales management system 64 work together to realize an information processing system 66 that provides users with the benefit of a discount on fuel prices. Each of the service management system 62 and the sales management system 64 may be realized by a single computer, or may be realized by multiple computers working together. Similarly, the information processing system 66 may be realized by a single computer, or may be realized by multiple computers working together.

Figure 5 is a block diagram showing the functional blocks of the service management system 62. Each block shown in the block diagram in this specification can be realized in hardware terms by computer processors, CPUs, memory and other elements, electronic circuits, and mechanical devices, and in software terms by computer programs, etc., but here we depict functional blocks realized by the cooperation of these. Therefore, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that these functional blocks can be realized in various ways by combining hardware and software.

The service management system 62 includes a control unit 70, a memory unit 72, and a communication unit 74. The control unit 70 executes various data processing operations. The memory unit 72 stores data referenced or updated by the control unit 70. The communication unit 74 communicates with external devices according to a predetermined communication protocol. The control unit 70 transmits and receives data to and from the sales management system 64 via the communication unit 74.

The storage unit 72 includes a user information storage unit 76. The user information storage unit 76 stores multiple pieces of user information related to multiple users who use the mobility service. Each piece of user information includes a customer number, which is the user's identification number. Furthermore, each piece of user information includes the contents of ancillary procedures carried out in relation to a vehicle provided to the user by the mobility service, as information for determining whether or not a fuel price discount has been applied for. The contents of the ancillary procedures include (1) information indicating that a maintenance package contract has been concluded, (2) information indicating that a vehicle damage compensation service contract has been concluded, (3) information indicating that vehicle registration on the vehicle inspection certificate by the mobility service has been completed, and (4) information indicating that a fuel benefit application has been made.

(1) A maintenance pack is, for example, a service that includes a vehicle inspection, regular inspection, oil change, and replacement of consumables. (2) A vehicle damage compensation service is, for example, a service that compensates for vehicle damage up to a specified amount (for example, 50,000 yen) by paying a fixed amount (for example, 100 yen) per month. (3) is information that is registered when a mobility service (a person in charge of the service) completes the vehicle registration procedure (for example, the procedure at the Land Transport Bureau) on the vehicle inspection certificate.

The control unit 70 includes a user information registration unit 80, a discount determination unit 82, and a discount information provision unit 84. The functions of these multiple functional blocks may be implemented in a computer program. This computer program may be stored on a recording medium, or may be installed in the storage of the service management system 62 via the recording medium. Alternatively, the computer program may be installed in the storage of the service management system 62 via a network. The CPU of the computer of the service management system 62 may perform the functions of the multiple functional blocks of the control unit 70 by reading the computer program into main memory and executing it.

The user information registration unit 80 stores user information based on data input from a terminal (not shown) of an operator at the mobility center in the user information storage unit 76. The discount determination unit 82 determines whether the content of the incidental procedure indicated by the user information stored in the user information storage unit 76 satisfies the discount conditions for the product price of the SS.

The discount information providing unit 84, as a notification unit, notifies the sales management system 64 of discount information regarding the user when the discount determination unit 82 determines that the content of the above-mentioned incidental procedure satisfies the discount conditions. The discount information includes the same content as the fuel benefit information described in the related art. For example, the discount information includes a set of the customer number, date of birth, and discount rule B of the user who is to receive a discount on the fuel price.

Figure 6 is a block diagram showing the functional blocks of the sales management system 64. The sales management system 64 includes a control unit 90, a memory unit 92, and a communication unit 94. The control unit 90 executes various data processing operations. The memory unit 92 stores data referenced or updated by the control unit 90. The communication unit 94 communicates with external devices according to a predetermined communication protocol. The control unit 90 transmits and receives data to and from the store system 20, the billing management system 26, and the service management system 62 via the communication unit 94.

The storage unit 92 includes a sales information storage unit 96 and a discount rule storage unit 98. The sales information storage unit 96 corresponds to the fuel sales information storage unit 36 of the fuel sales management system 22 of the related art, and stores the fuel sales information configured as shown in FIG. 3. The discount rule storage unit 98 corresponds to the discount rule storage unit 38 of the fuel sales management system 22 of the related art, and stores discount rule A.

The control unit 90 includes a card information reception unit 100, a refueling data reception unit 102, a discount information reception unit 104, a billing amount derivation unit 106, and a billing unit 108. These functional blocks correspond to the card information reception unit 40, the refueling data reception unit 42, the fuel bonus information reception unit 44, the billing amount derivation unit 46, and the billing unit 48 of the fuel sales management system 22 of the related technology, and perform the same functions as the corresponding functional blocks.

For example, the sales information storage unit 96 stores fuel sales information including information about the user's credit card. The refueling data receiving unit 102 receives information indicating that a SS product has been purchased using the user's credit card. When the service management system 62 notifies the billing amount derivation unit 106 of discount information about the user, the billing amount derivation unit 106 derives the amount to be billed to the user based on the amount of SS products purchased with the user's credit card and on predetermined discount rules. The above-mentioned user's credit card may be a credit card related to the user's household, i.e., it may include both a personal card 16 and a family card 18.

More specifically, the sales information storage unit 96 stores fuel sales information including information on the credit card (personal card 16) of the user who uses the vehicle provision service, and information on an additional card (family card 18) that is an additional card that is issued in association with the personal card 16 and is used by the user's family. The refueling data reception unit 102 receives information (refueling data) indicating that a product from a service station has been purchased using the personal card 16 or the family card 18. When discount information related to a user is notified from the service management system 62, the billing amount derivation unit 106 derives the amount to be billed to the user based on the total amount of the product from the service station purchased using the personal card 16 and the amount of the product from the service station purchased using the family card 18, and in accordance with predetermined discount rules (discount rule A and discount rule B).

The operation of the fuel sales system 60 having the above configuration will be described with reference to FIG.
A user acquires a vehicle by using a mobility service provided by a specific company. Various incidental procedures may be carried out in relation to the vehicle (hereinafter referred to as leased vehicle 12) provided to the user by the mobility service. Information indicating that these incidental procedures have been carried out (e.g., an application form, a copy of the vehicle inspection certificate, etc.) is sent from the user or the SS to the mobility center.

For example, a user may enter into a maintenance pack contract for a leased vehicle 12. When an application form indicating that the user has entered into a maintenance pack contract arrives at the mobility center, an operator at the mobility center inputs the contents of the application form from his/her own terminal into the service management system 62. The user information registration unit 80 of the service management system 62 stores the user information indicating that a maintenance pack contract has been entered into the user information storage unit 76.

The user may also enter into a vehicle damage compensation service contract for the leased vehicle 12. When an application form indicating that the user has entered into a vehicle damage compensation service contract is received by the mobility center, an operator at the mobility center inputs the contents of the application form from his/her own terminal into the service management system 62. The user information registration unit 80 of the service management system 62 stores user information indicating that a vehicle damage compensation service contract has been entered into the user information storage unit 76.

The mobility service may also carry out procedures (agency services) for registering the leased vehicle 12 on its vehicle inspection certificate. When the mobility center receives a copy of the vehicle inspection certificate indicating that the mobility service has completed the vehicle registration of the leased vehicle 12 on its vehicle inspection certificate, the mobility center operator inputs the contents of the copy of the vehicle inspection certificate from his or her own terminal into the service management system 62. The user information registration unit 80 of the service management system 62 stores in the user information storage unit 76 the user information indicating that the mobility service has completed the vehicle registration of the leased vehicle 12 on its vehicle inspection certificate.

In addition, a user may apply for a fuel benefit when using a mobility service (in other words, when acquiring a leased vehicle 12). When a fuel benefit application form arrives at the mobility center, an operator at the mobility center inputs the contents of the application form from his/her own terminal into the service management system 62. The user information registration unit 80 of the service management system 62 stores user information indicating that a fuel benefit application has been made in the user information storage unit 76.

As described in the related technology, a user applies to a credit card company for issuance of a credit card (personal card and family card), and the credit card company issues a personal card 16 for the user, a family card 18a for the user's spouse, and a family card 18b for the user's child. As in the related technology, card information regarding the personal card 16, family card 18a, and family card 18b is notified from the credit card company to the sales management system 64 and stored in the sales information storage unit 96 of the sales management system 64.

The user purchases fuel at the SS using the personal card 16 and refuels the leased vehicle 12. The user also purchases fuel at the SS using the personal card 16 and refuels the non-leased vehicle 14. Similarly, the user's spouse (or child) purchases fuel at the SS using the family card 18a (or family card 18b) and refuels the leased vehicle 12. The user's spouse (or child) also purchases fuel at the SS using the family card 18a (or family card 18b) and refuels the non-leased vehicle 14. As described in the related art, each time fuel is purchased at the SS, refueling data (including the customer number) is sent from the SS store system 20 to the sales management system 64. The refueling data receiving unit 102 of the sales management system 64 adds the fuel purchase quantity and fuel purchase price to the record of the user (or the user's spouse, child) in the sales information storage unit 96 based on the refueling data.

The discount determination unit 82 of the service management system 62 periodically (e.g., once a month) determines whether the contents of the incidental procedures recorded in each of the multiple user information corresponding to the multiple users stored in the user information storage unit 76 satisfy the discount conditions for the fuel price. The discount determination unit 82 identifies the users who satisfy the discount conditions as users eligible for the discount. In the first embodiment, when the user information records, as incidental procedures, (1) the user's conclusion of a maintenance pack contract and (2) the user's application for a fuel benefit, the discount determination unit 82 determines that the discount conditions for the fuel price are satisfied, and extracts the user indicated by the customer number of the user information as a user eligible for the discount.

When a discount eligible user is extracted by the discount determination unit 82, the discount information providing unit 84 of the service management system 62 transmits discount information including the customer number, date of birth, and discount rule B of the discount eligible user to the sales management system 64.

The discount information receiving unit 104 of the sales management system 64 receives the discount information sent from the service management system 62. The billing amount deriving unit 106 of the sales management system 64 derives the billing amount for each user for each household of multiple users (a pair of corresponding personal card and family card), as in the related technology. In addition, for the discount target user indicated by the discount information, the billing amount deriving unit 106 derives the billing amount for the discount target user according to the household fuel purchase quantity and household fuel purchase amount of the user household, discount rule A stored in the discount rule storage unit 98, and discount rule B indicated by the discount information. The detailed method of deriving the billing amount and the billing process for users have already been explained in the related technology, so explanations are omitted here.

According to the fuel sales system 60 of the first embodiment, a fuel discount is provided to the user, taking into account the content of the ancillary procedures carried out in connection with a vehicle provided to the user through a mobility service such as car leasing. This fosters a sense of belonging among the user to the mobility service, and effectively promotes continued use of the mobility service.

Furthermore, the fuel sales system 60 of the first embodiment achieves the same effect as the fuel sales system 10 of the related art. For example, in the fuel sales system 60 of the first embodiment, the discount on the fuel price is applied not only to the mobility service user himself/herself, but also to the case where the family member purchases fuel using the family card 18, and is also applied to the refueling of the non-leased vehicle 14. This can further increase the convenience of households using the mobility service.

Second Example
The second embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with a focus on the differences from the related art and the first embodiment, and explanations of the commonalities will be omitted as appropriate. The features of the second embodiment can be arbitrarily combined with the features of the related art, the first embodiment, and the modified examples. The components of the second embodiment that are the same as or correspond to the components of the first embodiment will be described with the same reference numerals as appropriate.

Figure 7 shows the configuration of the fuel sales system 60 of the second embodiment. Like the fuel sales system 60 of the first embodiment, the fuel sales system 60 of the second embodiment also provides a discount on the price of fuel purchased at an SS by a user who uses a mobility service provided by a specified company. Also, like the fuel sales system 60 of the first embodiment, the fuel sales system 60 of the second embodiment also provides a discount on the price of fuel when the contents of the incidental procedures performed in connection with a vehicle (e.g., leased vehicle 12) provided to the user by the mobility service meet specified discount conditions.

However, the conditions for discounting the fuel price in the fuel sales system 60 of the second embodiment differ from those in the fuel sales system 60 of the first embodiment in that the user has both concluded a vehicle damage compensation service contract and applied for a fuel benefit as the above-mentioned additional procedures.

The functional blocks provided in the service management system 62 of the second embodiment are the same as the functional blocks provided in the service management system 62 of the first embodiment. In addition, the functional blocks provided in the sales management system 64 of the second embodiment are the same as the functional blocks provided in the sales management system 64 of the first embodiment.

When the user information in the user information storage unit 76 records, as an incidental procedure, (1) the user's conclusion of a vehicle damage compensation service contract and (2) the user's application for a fuel benefit, the discount determination unit 82 of the service management system 62 determines that the conditions for a discount on the fuel price are met, and extracts the user indicated by the customer number in the user information as a user eligible for the discount. The other processes are the same as those in the first embodiment, and therefore will not be described. The fuel sales system 60 of the second embodiment also achieves the same effects as the fuel sales system 60 of the first embodiment.

<Third Example>
The third embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with a focus on the differences from the related art and the first embodiment, and a description of the commonalities will be omitted as appropriate. The features of the third embodiment can be arbitrarily combined with the features of the related art, the first embodiment, and the modified example. The components of the third embodiment that are the same as or correspond to the components of the first embodiment will be described with the same reference numerals as appropriate.

Figure 8 shows the configuration of the fuel sales system 60 of the third embodiment. Like the fuel sales system 60 of the first embodiment, the fuel sales system 60 of the third embodiment also provides a discount on the price of fuel purchased at an SS by a user who uses a mobility service provided by a specified company. Also, like the fuel sales system 60 of the first embodiment, the fuel sales system 60 of the third embodiment also provides a discount on the price of fuel when the contents of the incidental procedures carried out in connection with a vehicle (e.g., leased vehicle 12) provided to the user by the mobility service meet specified discount conditions.

However, the condition for a discount on the fuel price in the third embodiment is that both of the following additional procedures are met: the vehicle registration on the vehicle inspection certificate of the vehicle (e.g., leased vehicle 12) has been completed by the mobility service, and the user has applied for a fuel benefit. In this respect, it differs from the fuel sales system 60 in the first embodiment.

The functional blocks provided in the service management system 62 of the third embodiment are the same as the functional blocks provided in the service management system 62 of the first embodiment. In addition, the functional blocks provided in the sales management system 64 of the third embodiment are the same as the functional blocks provided in the sales management system 64 of the first embodiment.

When the user information in the user information storage unit 76 records, as an additional procedure, that (1) the vehicle registration on the vehicle inspection certificate of the leased vehicle 12 has been completed by the mobility service, and (2) that the user has applied for a fuel benefit, the discount determination unit 82 of the service management system 62 determines that the conditions for a discount on the fuel price are met, and extracts the user indicated by the customer number in the user information as a user eligible for the discount. The other processes are the same as those in the first embodiment, and therefore will not be described. The fuel sales system 60 of the third embodiment also achieves the same effects as the fuel sales system 60 of the first embodiment.

The present disclosure has been described above based on the first to third embodiments. These embodiments are merely illustrative, and it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various modifications are possible in the combination of each component or each processing process, and that such modifications are also within the scope of the present disclosure.

In the first embodiment, the discount condition is that the user has concluded a maintenance pack contract and applied for a fuel benefit, but as a modified example, the discount condition may be only that the user has concluded a maintenance pack contract. In the second embodiment, the discount condition is that the user has concluded a vehicle damage compensation service contract and applied for a fuel benefit, but as a modified example, the discount condition may be only that the user has concluded a vehicle damage compensation service contract. In the third embodiment, the discount condition is that the vehicle registration on the vehicle inspection certificate has been completed by the mobility service and the user has applied for a fuel benefit, but as a modified example, the discount condition may be only that the vehicle registration on the vehicle inspection certificate has been completed by the mobility service.

<Fourth Example>
The fourth embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with a focus on the differences from the related art and each embodiment described above, and the description of the common points will be omitted as appropriate. The features of the fourth embodiment can be arbitrarily combined with the features of the related art, each embodiment, and the modified examples described above. The components of the fourth embodiment that are the same as or correspond to the components already described will be described with the same reference numerals as appropriate.

The outline of the fourth embodiment will be described. For companies (hereinafter referred to as "energy business operators") who operate an energy business that sells fuel and other products at service stations (SS), it is important to foster customer loyalty to the SS associated with their company. The fourth embodiment proposes a technology that supports the fostering of customer loyalty to the SS of a specific energy business operator, and ultimately a technology for effectively promoting the use of vehicle provision services (car leasing, etc.) provided by the energy business operator. Note that energy business operators can also be considered fuel sales companies.

Figure 9 shows the configuration of a fuel sales system 60 of the fourth embodiment. As with the fuel sales system 60 of the first embodiment, the fuel sales system 60 of the fourth embodiment also provides a discount on the price of fuel purchased at an SS by a user who uses a mobility service provided by an energy company, if certain discount conditions are met.

In the fuel sales system 60 of the fourth embodiment, the condition for a discount on fuel prices is that a user who uses a mobility service provided by an energy company registers a specific SS from among multiple SSs associated with the energy company as a support service station (hereinafter referred to as a "support SS"). The multiple SSs associated with the energy company are SSs operated under the brand of the energy company. A support SS is an SS selected at the user's discretion as a so-called "regular" SS. It is thought that typically an SS located in a location that is highly convenient for the user is often selected as a support SS.

Furthermore, in the fuel sales system 60 of the fourth embodiment, if the content of the incidental procedures carried out in relation to a vehicle (e.g., leased vehicle 12) provided to a user by a mobility service provided by an energy company, in addition to registration with a support SS, meets a specified condition, a larger discount is provided than in the case of only registration with a support SS. The content of the incidental procedures that meet the specified condition is any one of the following, as described in the first to third embodiments: the user's conclusion of a maintenance package contract, the user's conclusion of a vehicle damage compensation service contract, and the completion of vehicle registration on the vehicle inspection certificate of the vehicle (e.g., leased vehicle 12) by the mobility service.

The device configuration of the fuel sales system 60 of the fourth embodiment is the same as that of the fuel sales system 60 of the first embodiment. The functional blocks of the service management system 62 constituting the information processing system 66 are the same as the functional blocks of the service management system 62 of the first embodiment shown in FIG. 5. Similarly, the functional blocks of the sales management system 64 of the fourth embodiment constituting the information processing system 66 are the same as the functional blocks of the sales management system 64 of the first embodiment shown in FIG. 6.

The user information storage unit 76 of the service management system 62 serves as a first storage unit, and when a user selects a support SS from among multiple SSs related to the energy provider, information indicating this is registered. In addition, the user information storage unit 76 serves as a second storage unit, and stores the contents of the ancillary procedures carried out in connection with a vehicle provided to the user by a mobility service provided by the energy provider.

Figure 10 shows the configuration of user information stored in the user information storage unit 76. The user information includes, as multiple information items, a customer number as a user ID, a service type used, support SS information, and ancillary procedure information. The service type used is information indicating the type of mobility service used (in other words, contracted) by the user. For example, the service type used includes information indicating a car leasing service, a vehicle sales service with residual value credit, or a used car sales service. The support SS information is information indicating that the user has selected a support SS, and includes identification information of the support SS selected by the user.

The ancillary procedure information includes information indicating the content of ancillary procedures carried out in connection with a vehicle provided to a user by a mobility service. For example, the ancillary procedure information may include at least one of the following: (1) information indicating that a maintenance package contract has been concluded; (2) information indicating that a vehicle damage compensation service contract has been concluded; and (3) information indicating that vehicle registration on the vehicle inspection certificate by the mobility service has been completed. As described above, the ancillary procedures indicated by information (1) to (3) are ancillary procedures that are conditions for a discount on the fuel price, and are hereinafter collectively referred to as "specific ancillary procedures."

When a user has selected a support SS, the billing unit 108 of the sales management system 64 bills the user for an amount discounted based on the first discount rule from the regular price of the product purchased by the user at multiple SSs related to the energy business operator. When a user has selected a support SS, it can be said that the support SS information is recorded in the user information of the user stored in the user information storage unit 76 of the service management system 62. In addition, the multiple SSs related to the energy business operator include both SSs selected as support SSs and SSs not selected as support SSs.

In addition, when the user has selected a support SS and the content of the ancillary procedures related to the user's vehicle meets a predetermined condition, the billing unit 108 bills the user an amount discounted from the regular price of the product purchased by the user at multiple SSs related to the energy business operator based on a second discount rule that provides a greater benefit to the user than the first discount rule.

The sales information storage unit 96 of the sales management system 64 serves as a third storage unit and stores information related to the personal card 16 used by the user himself and information related to the family card 18 used by the user's family. The fueling data reception unit 102 of the sales management system 64 serves as a reception unit and receives information indicating that fuel has been purchased at multiple gas stations related to the energy business operator using the personal card 16 or the family card 18. When the user has selected a support gas station, the billing unit 108 of the sales management system 64 bills the user for the total amount of fuel purchased using the personal card 16 and the family card 18, and the discounted amount based on the first discount rule or the second discount rule.

The first discount rule and the second discount rule in the fourth embodiment are both discount rule B included in the discount information transmitted from the service management system 62 to the sales management system 64. The first discount rule and the second discount rule may both include at least one of a discount rate and a discount amount. The second discount rule may include at least one of a discount rate greater than the first discount rule and a discount amount greater than the first discount rule. The first discount rule in the fourth embodiment is discount rule B (first level), and the second discount rule is discount rule B (second level). For example, discount rule B (first level) may stipulate a discount of 10 yen per liter of fuel, and discount rule B (second level) may stipulate a discount of 15 yen per liter of fuel.

The operation of the fuel sales system 60 having the above configuration will be described with reference to FIG.
A user acquires a vehicle by utilizing a mobility service provided by an energy business operator. Various incidental procedures (e.g., a maintenance package contract) may be performed in relation to the vehicle (hereinafter, referred to as leased vehicle 12) provided to the user by the mobility service. Information indicating the use of the mobility service and incidental procedures (e.g., an application form, a copy of the vehicle inspection certificate, etc.) is sent from the user or the SS to the mobility center. In response to an input operation by an operator of the mobility center, a user information registration unit 80 of the service management system 62 stores user information including the user's customer number, the type of service used, and incidental procedure information in a user information storage unit 76.

The user also selects a support SS from among multiple SSs (hereinafter, these multiple SSs are collectively referred to as "target SSs") associated with the energy provider providing the mobility service. Information about the support SS selected by the user (e.g., an application form, etc.) is sent from the user or the SS to the mobility center. In response to an input operation by an operator at the mobility center, the user information registration unit 80 of the service management system 62 adds the support SS information selected by the user to the user information. Note that the target SS includes both the support SS selected by the user and SSs other than the support SS.

As described in the related technology, a user applies to a credit card company for issuance of a credit card (personal card and family card), and the credit card company issues a personal card 16 for the user, a family card 18a for the user's spouse, and a family card 18b for the user's child. As in the related technology, card information regarding the personal card 16, family card 18a, and family card 18b is notified by the credit card company to the sales management system 64 and stored in the sales information storage unit 96 of the sales management system 64.

The user uses the personal card 16 at the target SS to purchase fuel and refuel the leased vehicle 12. The user also uses the personal card 16 at the target SS to purchase fuel and refuel the non-leased vehicle 14. Similarly, the user's spouse (or child) uses the family card 18a (or family card 18b) at the target SS to purchase fuel and refuel the leased vehicle 12. The user's spouse (or child) also uses the family card 18a (or family card 18b) at the target SS to purchase fuel and refuel the non-leased vehicle 14.

As described in the related art, each time a user purchases fuel at a target SS, refueling data is sent from the store system 20 of the target SS to the sales management system 64. The refueling data receiving unit 102 of the sales management system 64 adds the fuel purchase quantity and fuel purchase amount to the record of the user stored in the sales information storage unit 96 based on the refueling data. In addition, each time the user's spouse (or child) purchases fuel at a target SS, refueling data is sent from the store system 20 of the target SS to the sales management system 64. The refueling data receiving unit 102 of the sales management system 64 adds the fuel purchase quantity and fuel purchase amount to the record of the spouse (or child) stored in the sales information storage unit 96 based on the refueling data. The fuel purchase amount can be said to be the regular price or initial price of the fuel sold at the target SS.

The discount determination unit 82 of the service management system 62 periodically (e.g., once a month) determines whether the contents of each of the multiple user information corresponding to multiple users stored in the user information storage unit 76 satisfy the discount conditions for the fuel cost. If the user has selected a support SS but the contents of the additional procedures related to the user's vehicle do not satisfy the specified conditions for discounts, the discount determination unit 82 determines that the first level discount conditions for the user are satisfied. In addition, if the user has selected a support SS and the contents of the additional procedures related to the user's vehicle satisfy the specified conditions for discounts, the discount determination unit 82 determines that the second level discount conditions for the user are satisfied.

Specifically, the discount determination unit 82 determines that the discount condition is not met if the support SS information is not recorded in the user information. The discount determination unit 82 determines that the first level discount condition is met if the support SS information is recorded in the user information but the additional procedure information indicating that a specific additional procedure has been performed is not recorded in the user information. Furthermore, the discount determination unit 82 determines that the second level discount condition is met if both the support SS information and the additional procedure information indicating that a specific additional procedure has been performed are recorded in the user information.

The discount determination unit 82 distinguishes between users who satisfy the first level discount conditions and users who satisfy the second level discount conditions. Users who satisfy the first level discount conditions and users who satisfy the second level discount conditions are collectively referred to as "discount eligible users."

When discount eligible users are extracted by the discount determination unit 82, the discount information providing unit 84 of the service management system 62 transmits discount information including a set of customer number, date of birth, and discount rule B for each discount eligible user to the sales management system 64. The discount information providing unit 84 sets discount rule B (first level) as discount rule B for users who satisfy the first level discount conditions. In addition, the discount information providing unit 84 sets discount rule B (second level) as discount rule B for users who satisfy the second level discount conditions.

The discount information receiving unit 104 of the sales management system 64 receives the discount information sent from the service management system 62. The billing amount derivation unit 106 of the sales management system 64, like the billing amount derivation unit 46 of the related technology, derives the billing amount for each user for each user's household, in other words, for each set of each user's personal card and family card. In addition, for the discount target users indicated by the discount information, the billing amount derivation unit 106 derives the billing amount for the discount target users according to the household fuel purchase quantity and household fuel purchase amount of the user household, discount rule A stored in the discount rule storage unit 98, and discount rule B (first level or second level) indicated by the discount information.

A specific example of derivation of the billing amount will be described. The billing amount derivation unit 106 identifies the user household in FIG. 9 as a discount target based on the customer number of the user in FIG. 9 indicated by the discount information. The billing amount derivation unit 106 derives 120L, which is the sum of the fuel purchase quantities in records 50, 52, and 54 in FIG. 3, as the household fuel purchase quantity for the user household in FIG. 9. The billing amount derivation unit 106 also derives 16,800 yen, which is the sum of the fuel purchase amounts in records 50, 52, and 54 in FIG. 3, as the household fuel purchase amount for the user household in FIG. 9. The household fuel purchase amount can be said to be the regular price or initial price of the fuel purchased by the user household in FIG. 9 at the target gas station.

Here, discount rule A specifies that the maximum amount of fuel that can be discounted is 100 L. The billing amount derivation unit 106 specifies that 100 L of fuel out of the household fuel purchase quantity of 120 L for the user household in FIG. 9 will be discounted. In addition, discount rule B (first level) specifies the discount unit price as 10 yen/L, and discount rule B (second level) specifies the discount unit price as 15 yen/L.

If the user in FIG. 9 satisfies the first level discount conditions, the billing amount derivation unit 106 derives 15,800 yen, which is the amount obtained by discounting 1,000 yen (i.e., discount unit price 10 yen/L x 100L) from the household fuel purchase amount, as the billing amount for the user in FIG. 9. On the other hand, if the user in FIG. 9 satisfies the second level discount conditions, the billing amount derivation unit 106 derives 15,300 yen, which is the amount obtained by discounting 1,500 yen (i.e., discount unit price 15 yen/L x 100L) from the household fuel purchase amount, as the billing amount for the user in FIG. 9.

Record 56 in FIG. 3 corresponds to the principal card of a car lease contract holder (referred to as the "second user") different from the user shown in FIG. 9, and record 58 in FIG. 3 corresponds to the family card of the family of the second user. In this case, the billing amount derivation unit 106 derives 70L as the household fuel purchase quantity of the second user, and derives 9,800 yen as the household fuel purchase amount. The billing amount derivation unit 46 subjects the entire household fuel purchase quantity (70L) to the discount. If the second user is a user who satisfies the first level discount condition, the billing amount derivation unit 106 derives 9,100 yen, which is the amount obtained by deducting 700 yen (i.e., discount unit price 10 yen/L x 70L) from the household fuel purchase amount, as the billing amount to the second user. If the second user satisfies the second level discount conditions, the billing amount derivation unit 106 derives the billing amount to the second user as 8,750 yen, which is the amount obtained by deducting 1,050 yen (i.e., the discount unit price of 15 yen/L x 70L) from the household fuel purchase amount.

The billing unit 108 of the sales management system 64 bills the user the billing amount derived by the billing amount derivation unit 106 via the credit card company. As described above, the billing amount for a user who satisfies the first level discount conditions is the amount discounted from the regular price of the fuel purchased by the user at the target SS based on the first discount rule (discount rule B (first level) in the fourth embodiment). The billing amount for a user who satisfies the second level discount conditions is the amount discounted from the regular price of the fuel purchased by the user at the target SS based on the second discount rule (discount rule B (second level) in the fourth embodiment).

The billing unit 108 transmits fuel billing data, including the credit card number of the user's principal card 16 and the billing amount to the user derived by the billing amount derivation unit 106, to the credit card company's billing management system 26. The credit card company's billing management system 26 executes a process of billing the user for the total amount of the billing amount indicated by the fuel billing data and other billing amounts corresponding to the use of the principal card 16 and the family card 18.

According to the fuel sales system 60 of the fourth embodiment, when a user registers a specific SS from among multiple SSs associated with an energy business operator as a support SS, the price of fuel purchases at the multiple SSs associated with the energy business operator is discounted. This can help foster customer loyalty to SSs associated with the energy business operator. In addition, by limiting users eligible for the discount to those who use the mobility service provided by the energy business operator, it is possible to promote the use of the mobility service provided by the energy business operator.

Furthermore, according to the fuel sales system 60 of the fourth embodiment, if, in addition to registration with a support SS, a specified incidental procedure is carried out in relation to a vehicle provided to a user by a mobility service provided by an energy company, a larger discount is provided than in the case of only registration with a support SS. This makes it possible to more effectively promote the use of the mobility service provided by the energy company.

Furthermore, the fuel sales system 60 of the fourth embodiment achieves the same effects as the fuel sales system 10 of the related art. For example, in the fuel sales system 60 of the fourth embodiment, the discount on the fuel price is applied not only to the mobility service user himself/herself, but also to the case where the family member purchases fuel using the family card 18, and is also applied to the refueling of a non-leased vehicle 14. This can further increase the convenience of households using the mobility service.

As mentioned above, it is generally believed that an SS located in a location that is highly convenient for the user will be selected as the support SS from among multiple SSs associated with an energy provider. According to the fuel sales system 60 of the fourth embodiment, by increasing the user's sense of belonging to a support SS located in a location that is highly convenient for the user, it becomes easier for the support SS to continuously refuel, maintain, repair, etc. the user's vehicle. As a result, it becomes easier for the energy provider to accumulate various information about the user's vehicle (e.g., maintenance history, refueling history, etc.). By analyzing and utilizing the information accumulated in this way, the energy provider can realize activities to effectively increase user convenience, such as providing useful information to the user.

The present disclosure has been described above based on the fourth embodiment. This embodiment is merely illustrative, and it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various modifications are possible in the combination of each component or each processing process, and that such modifications are also within the scope of the present disclosure.

A modified example of the fourth embodiment will be described. When the user has selected a support SS and the content of the ancillary procedures related to the user's vehicle meets certain conditions, the billing unit 108 of the sales management system 64 may bill the user for an amount discounted based on a certain discount rule (e.g., the first discount rule in the fourth embodiment) from the regular price of the product purchased by the user at the target SS. In this modified example, a discount is implemented when both (1) the user has selected a support SS and (2) a specific ancillary procedure related to the user's vehicle has been carried out, whereas no discount is implemented when at least one of (1) and (2) is not met.

Specifically, the discount determination unit 82 of the service management system 62 may determine that the discount condition is not met when the support SS information is not recorded in the user information of the user information storage unit 76. The discount determination unit 82 may also determine that the discount condition is not met when the support SS information is recorded in the user information but the additional procedure information indicating that a specific additional procedure has been performed is not recorded in the user information. The discount determination unit 82 may determine that the discount condition is met only when both the support SS information and the additional procedure information indicating that a specific additional procedure has been performed are recorded in the user information. This discount condition may be the first level discount condition of the fourth embodiment. In this modified example, the second level discount of the fourth embodiment may not be performed.

The discount determination unit 82 may identify a user who satisfies the discount conditions as a user eligible for a discount. The discount information provision unit 84 of the service management system 62 may transmit discount information regarding the user eligible for a discount (e.g., discount rule B (first level) as discount rule B) to the sales management system 64. As a result, the billing unit 108 of the sales management system 64 bills the user who has selected a support SS and is using a vehicle for which a specified ancillary procedure has been performed, for the discounted amount based on the first discount rule (i.e., discount rule B (first level)).

According to this modified fuel sales system 60, in addition to registration of a support SS, if a specified incidental procedure is carried out in relation to a vehicle provided to a user by a mobility service provided by an energy provider, the purchase price of fuel at the SS is discounted. This makes it possible to more effectively promote the use of the mobility service provided by the energy provider.

Another modified example of the fourth embodiment will be described. In the fourth embodiment, both the first discount rule and the second discount rule are discount rule B specified in the discount information from the service management system 62 to the sales management system 64. However, as a modified example, both the first discount rule and the second discount rule may be discount rule A stored in the discount rule storage unit 98 of the sales management system 64. In this case, the first discount rule may be discount rule A (first level), and the second discount rule may be discount rule A (second level). For example, discount rule A (first level) may set the upper limit of the fuel purchase quantity to be discounted at 100L. Also, discount rule A (second level) may set the upper limit of the fuel purchase quantity to be discounted at 150L, which is larger than discount rule A (first level).

In this modified example, the discount information providing unit 84 of the service management system 62 sets a common discount condition B for users who satisfy the first level discount conditions in the discount information sent to the sales management system 64, and further sets information to the effect that the first level discount conditions have been satisfied. In addition, the discount information providing unit 84 sets a common discount condition B for users who satisfy the second level discount conditions in the discount information, and further sets information to the effect that the second level discount conditions have been satisfied.

The billing amount deriving unit 106 of the sales management system 64 derives the billing amount for a user who meets the first level discount conditions indicated by the discount information according to the household fuel purchase quantity of the user household, the household fuel purchase amount, discount rule A (first level), and common discount rule B. For example, a discount of 10 yen/L is applied with an upper limit of 100L of the household fuel purchase quantity. On the other hand, for a user who meets the second level discount conditions indicated by the discount information, the billing amount deriving unit 106 derives the billing amount for the user according to the household fuel purchase quantity of the user household, the household fuel purchase amount, discount rule A (second level), and common discount rule B. For example, a discount of 10 yen/L is applied with an upper limit of 150L of the household fuel purchase quantity. In this way, the discount rule A (second level) can provide a greater fuel price discount benefit to a user who meets the second level discount conditions because the upper limit of the fuel purchase quantity subject to discount is greater than the discount rule A (first level).

This modified fuel sales system 60 also provides the same effects as the fourth embodiment. For example, if, in addition to registration of a support SS, a specified incidental procedure is carried out in relation to a vehicle provided to a user by a mobility service provided by an energy provider, a larger discount can be offered than in the case of only registration of a support SS, thereby more effectively promoting the use of the mobility service provided by the energy provider.

In the above first to fourth examples, examples of purchasing fuel for a vehicle at a gas station are shown, but as with related technologies, the technical ideas described in the first to fourth examples are broadly applicable to the purchase of products sold at gas stations (e.g., various energy sources such as gasoline, diesel, hydrogen, kerosene, and electricity).

As described above, the technical ideas described in the related art are applicable to the first to fourth embodiments. That is, the discount rule A stored in the discount rule storage unit 98 of the sales management system 64 may stipulate that the discount is applied to the total amount of the purchases of the SS's merchandise made by the principal's card and the purchases of the SS's merchandise made by the family card, up to a predetermined upper limit of the purchase amount.
Furthermore, the sales information storage unit 96 of the sales management system 64 may store information on the first principal card and the first family card corresponding to the first car lease contract concluded by the user, and information on the second principal card and the second family card corresponding to the second car lease contract concluded by the user. The billing amount derivation unit 106 of the sales management system 64 may derive a first billing amount to the user in accordance with the sum of the amount of merchandise purchased by the SS using the first principal card and the amount of merchandise purchased by the SS using the first family card, and the discount rules. At the same time, the billing amount derivation unit 106 may derive a second billing amount to the user in accordance with the sum of the amount of merchandise purchased by the SS using the second principal card and the amount of merchandise purchased by the SS using the second family card, and the discount rules.
In addition, discount rule A stored in the discount rule memory unit 98 of the sales management system 64 may stipulate that the upper limit of the purchase amount of products at the SS that are subject to discounts is increased depending on the number of car lease contracts concluded by the user.

In the related technology and each embodiment, (1) data linked to the principal card is identified (or can be said to be identified) based on the customer number on the principal card, and data linked to the family card is identified based on the customer number on the family card. As a variation, (2) both data linked to the principal card and data linked to the family card may be identified based on the customer number on the principal card. Also, (3) both data linked to the principal card and data linked to the family card may be identified based on the customer number on the family card.

The above examples (2) and (3) will be described.
(A) An application form (such as a fuel benefit application form or a support SS registration application form) on which the customer number of the car lease contract holder is written may be linked to the mobility center from the SS. The customer number linked to the mobility center may be the customer number on the principal's card or the customer number on a family card.
(B) The operator at the mobility center may register the contents of the application form (customer number, date of birth, etc.) in the service management system 62.
(C) The service management system 62 may transmit information including the customer number, date of birth, and special offer code (the special offer code corresponds to the discount rule of the embodiment) of the discount recipient to the sales management system 64. This information corresponds to the fuel special offer information of the related art and the discount information of the first embodiment.
(D) After receiving the customer number from the service management system 62, the sales management system 64 may automatically link the refueling data from the personal card or family card linked to that customer number, and provide a discount on the usage (fuel purchases) of all credit cards of the car lease contract holder's household. This makes it possible to provide a discount on the fuel price without obtaining the customer numbers of the personal cards of persons other than the car lease contract holder or the customer numbers of the family cards of persons other than the car lease contract holder.
(E) The discounted amount in (D) above may be linked to a credit card company, and the credit card company may then bill the car lease contract holder for the credit card usage fee.

Any combination of the above-mentioned examples and modifications is also useful as an embodiment of the present disclosure. A new embodiment resulting from the combination will have the combined effects of each of the examples and modifications. It will also be understood by those skilled in the art that the functions to be performed by each of the constituent elements recited in the claims can be realized by each of the constituent elements shown in the examples and modifications alone or in combination with each other.

60 Fuel sales system, 62 Service management system, 64 Sales management system, 76 User information storage unit, 82 Discount determination unit, 84 Discount information provision unit, 96 Sales information storage unit, 102 Refueling data reception unit, 106 Billing amount derivation unit, 108 Billing unit.

Claims (5)

a first storage unit in which, when a user selects a support service station from among a plurality of service stations associated with a certain company and applies for a fuel benefit , information indicating this is registered;
a billing unit that, when the user has selected a support service station and has applied for a fuel reward , bills the user for an amount discounted based on a first discount rule from a regular price of a product purchased by the user at the plurality of service stations;
An information processing system comprising: A second storage unit that stores the contents of ancillary procedures performed in relation to a vehicle provided to the user by the vehicle provision service provided by the business operator,
The content of the incidental procedure includes that the user has applied for a fuel reward;
the billing unit, when the user has selected a support service station and the content of the incidental procedure satisfies a predetermined condition, bills the user for an amount discounted from the regular price of the product purchased by the user based on a second discount rule that brings a greater benefit to the user than the first discount rule;
The information processing system according to claim 1 . A second storage unit that stores the contents of ancillary procedures performed in relation to a vehicle provided to the user by the vehicle provision service provided by the business operator,
The content of the incidental procedure includes that the user has applied for a fuel reward;
the billing unit bills the user for an amount discounted based on the first discount rule from a regular price of the product purchased by the user when the user has selected a support service station and the content of the incidental procedure satisfies a predetermined condition;
The information processing system according to claim 1 . a third storage unit that stores information about a principal card, which is a credit card of the user, and information about a family card, which is an additional card that is associated with the principal card and issued and used by a family member of the user;
a reception unit that receives information indicating that a product has been purchased at the plurality of service stations using the principal card or the family card,
the billing unit, when the user has selected a support service station and applied for a fuel benefit , bills the user for the discounted amount based on the total amount of the product purchased using the main card and the product purchased using the family card and on the first discount rule;
The information processing system according to claim 1 . The user is a user of a vehicle provision service provided by the business operator.
5. An information processing system according to claim 1.

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