JP7698965B2 - Point management system, server device, point management method, and point management program - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a point management system, a server device, a point management method, and a point management program.

One example of a mechanism for alleviating the financial shortfall of service provider groups and organizations is the Bellmark campaign, which can supplement the financial resources of schools that provide educational services (see non-patent document 1).

The Bell Mark campaign is a campaign in which students and other users of educational services at school purchase products bearing the Bell Mark (registered trademark) to collect Bell Mark points, which they then exchange for goods.

Bellmark Educational Support Foundation, [online], [searched on December 25, 2019], Internet <URL: https://www.bellmark.or.jp/>

The Bellmark campaign mentioned above awards Bellmark points to schools, which are the service providers, but there was a demand for technology that would enable points generated by factors on the part of service users to be awarded to various organizations providing other services.

The present invention has been made in consideration of the above, and aims to provide a points management system, server device, points management method, and points management program that can award points generated by factors on the service user's side to various organizations that provide services.

According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a points management system comprising a memory unit and a points granting unit that grants points to a service provider when a coupon is made displayable on a terminal device of a service user or a person related to the service user, and stores the granted points in the memory unit in association with information indicating the service provider.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a points management system comprising a terminal device of a service user or a person related to the service user, and a server device connectable to the terminal device via a network, the terminal device having a display unit capable of displaying coupons, the server device having a coupon management unit that distributes the coupons to the terminal device, a memory unit, and a points allocation unit that allocates points to a service provider, which are generated when the coupons are distributed by the coupon management unit and made displayable on the terminal device, and stores the allocated points in the memory unit in association with information indicating the service provider.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a server device that can be connected to a terminal device of a service user or a related person of the service user via a network, the server device comprising: a coupon management unit that distributes coupons to the terminal device; a storage unit; and a point granting unit that grants points to a service provider that are generated when the coupon is distributed by the coupon management unit and made displayable on the terminal device, and that stores the granted points in the storage unit in association with information indicating the service provider.

According to another aspect of the present invention, a points management method is provided, which includes a step of granting points to a service provider, which points are generated when a coupon is made displayable on a terminal device of a service user or a person related to the service user, and a step of storing the points granted to the service provider in a storage unit in association with information indicating the service provider.

According to another aspect of the present invention, a point management program is provided for causing a point management system having a point granting unit and a memory unit to execute a step in which the point granting unit grants points to a service provider that are generated when a coupon is made displayable on a terminal device of a service user or a person related to the service user, and a step in which the point granting unit stores the points granted to the service provider in the memory unit in association with information indicating the service provider.

According to the present invention, points generated by factors on the service user's side can be awarded to various organizations that provide services.

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram of an overview of a business model realized in an embodiment. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a points management system according to an embodiment. 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a server device of the point management system shown in FIG. 2. FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an advertisement management table. FIG. 13 illustrates a coupon management table. FIG. 13 illustrates a region management table. FIG. 13 illustrates a school management table. FIG. 13 illustrates a class management table. FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a child management table. FIG. 13 illustrates a parent/guardian management table. FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a browsing history table. FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a parent terminal of the point management system shown in FIG. 2. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a home screen of an application. FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an advertisement list screen. 11 is a sequence diagram for explaining the operation of the point management system when browsing an advertiser site. FIG. FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a screen displaying the number of points acquired by viewing an advertisement. FIG. 13 shows a coupon screen. FIG. 13 illustrates a points usage page. 11 is a sequence diagram for explaining an operation when points are exchanged for goods in the point management system. FIG.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. Note that identical or equivalent parts and components are designated with the same or equivalent reference numerals throughout the drawings, and their description will be omitted or simplified.

[Business model overview]
An outline of a business model realized in an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.

The service provider 1 shown in FIG. 1 is an organization or group that provides a service. The service provided by the service provider 1 is not an internet service, but a public service in the real world. For example, the service provider 1 is a school that provides educational services, a hospital that provides medical services, etc. The service provider 1 is not limited to a public institution, but may also be a private school, hospital, etc.

The service user side 2 is a service user who uses the service provided by the service provider 1, or a related party. Service users are children or students at a school, patients at a hospital, etc. Related parties of the service user are the family members of the service user, etc.

The operations manager 3 is a business operator who operates and manages the overall activities under this business model. Specifically, the operations manager 3 grants points that can be exchanged for goods to the service provider 1, processes the exchange of points for goods, reviews advertisements from the advertisers 5 (described below), manages advertising fees, etc.

Sponsoring company 4 is a company that delivers goods (sponsorship goods) that can be exchanged for points to service provider 1. Sponsoring company 4 is a company that supports the idea of supporting the financial resources of service provider 1 through this business model.

The advertiser 5 is a company that places advertisements in applications used on terminal devices such as smartphones of the service users 2. The advertiser 5 pays advertising fees to the operations manager 3. The advertising fees are used to pay for goods from the supporting companies 4 that are exchanged for points.

As shown in FIG. 1, in this business model, advertisements from advertisers 5 are placed in applications used on the terminal devices of service users 2 (step S1).

The service user 2 accesses the advertiser site, such as the homepage of the advertiser 5, from the advertisement posted in the application and browses the advertiser site (step S2). As a result, the operations manager 3 grants points that can be exchanged for goods to the service provider 1 (step S3).

As described below, the operations manager 3 also awards points to the service provider 1 for enabling coupons to be displayed on the terminal device of the service user 2.

To exchange the points for goods, the service provider 1 makes a request to the operations manager 3 to exchange the points for the desired goods (step S4). Upon receiving this request, the operations manager 3 orders the requested goods from the supporting company 4 (step S5). The operations manager 3 also pays the supporting company 4 for the goods. The supporting company 4 delivers the goods to the service provider 1 (step S6).

As described above, according to this business model, when an advertiser site is viewed on the terminal device of the service user 2, points that can be exchanged for goods are given to the service provider 1. In addition, points are also given to the service provider 1 when coupons become available for display on the terminal device of the service user 2. In this way, points based on factors of the service user 2 can be given to the service provider 1, which is various organizations that provide services. And by exchanging the points for goods, it is possible to support the financial resources of the service provider 1.

[Embodiment]
Next, an embodiment for implementing the above-mentioned business model will be described. In this embodiment, the service provider 1 in Fig. 1 is a school, which is an organization that provides educational services.

As shown in FIG. 2, the point management system 11 according to this embodiment includes a server device 12, an operations manager terminal 13, a school terminal 14, a printing device 15, and a parent terminal (corresponding to a terminal device) 16. The operations manager terminal 13, the school terminal 14, and the parent terminal 16 are connectable to the server device 12 via a network 17 such as the Internet.

Here, the school terminal 14 and the printing device 15 are provided in a school 200. There may be one or more schools 200 in which the school terminal 14 and the printing device 15 are provided. Furthermore, there may be one or more school terminals 14 provided in one school 200. The school 200 may be an elementary school, a junior high school, etc., and may be public or private.

The guardian terminal 16 is a terminal device such as a smartphone or tablet owned by the guardian (parent) of a child or student who commutes to the school 200. There may be one guardian terminal 16 for each student, or there may be multiple guardian terminals 16. The children or students who commute to the school 200 are simply referred to as "children." Children are people who use the educational services provided by the school 200, correspond to the service users described above, and are included in the service user side 2 in FIG. 1. The guardian (parent) of a child corresponds to a related party of the service user, and is included in the service user side 2.

The server device 12 is a server that provides a point-granting service in which the operations manager 3 grants points that can be exchanged for goods to the school 200. The server device 12 is configured by a computer equipped with a CPU, ROM, RAM, a hard disk, etc. The server device 12 may be a cloud server provided on the cloud.

As shown in FIG. 3, the server device 12 includes a control unit 21, a database unit (corresponding to a storage unit) 22, a program storage unit 23, and an external communication unit 24.

The control unit 21 controls the operation of the entire server device 12. The control unit 21 is configured to include a CPU and the like. The control unit 21 includes a user management unit 31, an advertisement management unit 32, a coupon management unit 33, and a point management unit 34. Each unit of the control unit 21 is configured by the CPU executing a program stored in the program storage unit 23.

The user management unit 31 performs processing for user registration for the point-granting service described above. Specifically, in the processing for user registration, the user management unit 31 associates the child ID, the child's nickname, the grade ID, and the class ID, and stores them in a child management table 56 of the database unit 22 described below. The user management unit 31 also associates the guardian ID, the guardian's nickname, the guardian's generation, the guardian's relationship to the child, the terminal ID, the terminal name, the child ID, the grade ID, and the class ID, and stores them in a guardian management table 57 of the database unit 22 described below.

Here, the parent ID is information for uniquely identifying each parent. The terminal ID is information for uniquely identifying each parent terminal 16. The grade ID is information for uniquely identifying each grade in the school 200. The class ID is information for uniquely identifying each class in the grade. The child ID is information for uniquely identifying a child.

The user management unit 31 can register multiple parent terminals 16 (parent ID, terminal ID) in association with one child (child ID).

The advertisement management unit 32 manages advertisements of the advertiser 5 that are posted in a dedicated application used on the parent terminal 16. Specifically, the advertisement management unit 32 delivers advertisements to the parent terminal 16, etc.

The coupon management unit 33 manages coupons (electronic coupons) displayed on the parent terminal 16 in a dedicated application. Specifically, the coupon management unit 33 distributes coupons to the parent terminal 16. Coupons can be presented in stores to receive benefits such as discounts on products.

The point management unit 34 performs processes such as granting points to the school 200 in the point granting service. The point management unit 34 includes a point granting unit 41 and a point exchange unit 42. Each unit of the point management unit 34 is configured by the CPU executing a point management program stored in the program storage unit 23.

The point allocating unit 41 allocates points generated by a parent terminal 16 browsing an advertiser site to the school 200 attended by a child associated with the parent terminal 16. The point allocating unit 41 also allocates points generated by making a coupon displayable on the parent terminal 16 to each school 200 within the coupon distribution area. Here, a parent terminal 16 registered with the server device 12 can display coupons distributed to the area in which the school 200 attended by a child associated with the parent terminal 16 is located. The point allocating unit 41 associates the points allocated to the school 200 with the school ID of the school 200 and stores them in the school management table 54 of the database unit 22 described later.

When the point exchange unit 42 receives a point exchange request from the school 200 to exchange points for a desired item, it performs point exchange processing and ordering processing. The point exchange processing is a process of subtracting points corresponding to the requested item from the number of points held by the school 200 in the school management table 54 described below. The ordering processing is a process of ordering the item from the sponsoring company 4.

The database unit 22 stores an advertisement management table 51, a coupon management table 52, a region management table 53, a school management table 54, a class management table 55, a child management table 56, a guardian management table 57, a browsing history table 58, and an item table 59. The database unit 22 is composed of a hard disk, etc.

As shown in FIG. 4, the advertising management table 51 is a table that associates an advertising ID, advertising image data, a company ID, an advertising distribution area, an advertising distribution period, advertiser site information, a cost per click, and advertising point information.

The advertisement ID is information for uniquely identifying each advertisement registered in the server device 12. One advertiser 5 may register multiple types of advertisements.

Advertisement image data is image data of an advertisement image. The advertisement image data includes advertisement image data to be displayed in the banner advertisement area 102 (see FIG. 14) described below, and advertisement image data to be displayed in the advertisement area 104 (see FIG. 15) on the advertisement list screen 103 described below.

The company ID is information for uniquely identifying a company. In the advertisement management table 51, the advertisement ID of each advertisement is associated with the company ID of the respective advertiser 5 company. The advertisement distribution area indicates the area in which each advertisement is distributed. The advertisement distribution period indicates the period in which each advertisement is distributed. The advertiser site information is the URL of an external advertiser site, such as the homepage of the advertiser 5 company.

The cost per click is the number of points generated by one viewing of each advertiser site. The advertising point information is information indicating the total number of points generated by viewing each advertisement.

The URL stored in the advertisement management table 51 as the advertiser site information may be the URL of a flyer image. Furthermore, the flyer image may be stored in the server device 12.

As shown in FIG. 5, the coupon management table 52 is a table that associates coupon IDs, coupon image data, company IDs, coupon distribution areas, and coupon distribution periods.

The coupon ID is information for uniquely identifying each coupon registered in the server device 12. In the coupon management table 52, the coupon ID of each coupon is associated with the company ID of the company that provides the coupon. Coupons are provided by the advertiser 5 company or other companies. One company may register multiple types of coupons.

The coupon image data is image data of a coupon that can be displayed on the parent terminal 16. The coupon distribution area indicates the area in which each coupon is distributed. The coupon distribution period indicates the period in which each coupon is distributed.

As shown in FIG. 6, the area management table 53 is a table that associates areas with the school IDs of each school 200 located in each area.

The school management table 54 is a table that associates school IDs, school names, and the number of points held, as shown in FIG. 7.

As shown in FIG. 8, the class management table 55 is a table that associates a grade ID, a class ID, a class name, the number of students, and a school ID. The number of students is the number of students in each class. Each class has multiple students.

The child management table 56 is a table that associates a child ID, a child's nickname, a grade ID, and a class ID, as shown in FIG. 9.

The child's nickname is entered on the parent/guardian terminal 16 when registering the parent/guardian terminal 16 with the server device 12. The child's nickname is different from the child's name. The child's nickname is used to display the child in applications used on the parent/guardian terminal 16.

As shown in FIG. 10, the guardian management table 57 is a table that associates a guardian ID, a guardian nickname, a guardian's generation, a relationship to a child, a terminal ID, a terminal name, a child ID, a grade ID, and a class ID. The guardian's nickname, the guardian's generation, and the relationship to a child are input in the guardian terminal 16 when the guardian terminal 16 is registered in the server device 12. The guardian's nickname is different from the guardian's name. The guardian's nickname is used to display the guardian in applications used in the guardian terminal 16. The terminal name of the guardian terminal 16 is obtained from the guardian terminal 16 when the guardian terminal 16 is registered in the server device 12. Information such as the model name held by the guardian terminal 16 can be used as the terminal name.

The browsing history table 58 is a table that registers the browsing history of the advertiser site by the parent terminal 16. As shown in FIG. 11, the browsing history table 58 is a table that associates the browsing date and time when the advertiser site was viewed by the parent terminal 16, the advertiser site information of the advertiser site, the terminal ID of the parent terminal 16 that viewed the advertiser site, the child ID associated with the terminal ID, the school ID of the school 200 attended by the child of the child ID, the number of times the advertiser site was viewed by the parent terminal 16, and the number of points acquired by the parent terminal 16 for viewing the advertiser site.

As shown in FIG. 12, item table 59 is a table that associates item names, item image data, and the number of required points.

The item name is the name of an item that can be exchanged for points in the point-granting service. The item image data is image data of a photograph of each item. The required number of points is the number of points required to exchange each item for points. The required number of points for each item is preset according to the price of each item, etc.

The program storage unit 23 stores various programs executed by the CPU of the server device 12. The program storage unit 23 is configured with a hard disk, etc.

The external communication unit 24 performs communication processing with external devices via the network 17.

The operations manager terminal 13 is a terminal device that allows the operations manager 3 to perform operations related to the point-granting service. The operations manager terminal 13 is configured with a computer equipped with a CPU, ROM, RAM, a hard disk, a display unit consisting of an LCD panel, etc., and an input unit having a keyboard, mouse, etc. A browser for accessing the server device 12 is installed on the operations manager terminal 13.

The school terminal 14 is a terminal device that allows teachers at the school 200 to perform operations related to the point-granting service. The school terminal 14 is configured as a computer similar to the operations manager terminal 13. A browser for accessing the server device 12 is installed on the school terminal 14.

The printing device 15 prints the registration guide and other documents described below.

The parent terminal 16 is a terminal device that allows the child's parent to perform operations related to the point allocation service. As mentioned above, the parent terminal 16 is a smartphone, tablet terminal, etc.

As shown in FIG. 13, the parent terminal 16 includes a control unit 71, a program storage unit 72, an application information storage unit 73, a display unit 74, an input unit 75, and an external communication unit 76.

The control unit 71 controls the overall operation of the parent terminal 16. The control unit 71 is configured to include a CPU and the like. The control unit 71 includes a display control unit 81, an advertisement processing unit 82, and a point processing unit 83. Each unit of the control unit 71 is configured by the CPU executing a dedicated application program for using the point-granting service, which is stored in the program storage unit 72.

The display control unit 81 controls the display unit 74 to display various screens.

The advertisement processing unit 82 performs processes such as sending an advertiser site information request to the server device 12 to request advertiser site information in order to view the advertiser site.

When the school 200 earns points by browsing the advertiser site on the parent terminal 16, the point processing unit 83 performs a process to update the terminal point information in the app information storage unit 73.

The program storage unit 72 stores various programs such as a dedicated application program for using the point-granting service. The program storage unit 72 is configured with a flash memory or the like. The dedicated application program for using the point-granting service can be obtained, for example, from any app store server via the network 17.

The application information storage unit 73 stores the terminal ID of the parent terminal 16, the child ID of the child associated with the parent terminal 16, the school ID of the school 200 attended by the child, terminal point information, etc. The terminal point information is information indicating the history of points earned by browsing the advertiser site on the parent terminal 16.

The display unit 74 displays various screens. The display unit 74 is composed of a liquid crystal display panel or the like.

The input unit 75 accepts various input operations by the operator of the parent terminal 16. The input unit 75 includes a touch panel (not shown). The touch panel is disposed on top of the display unit 74. The touch panel detects contact operations by the operator.

The external communication unit 76 performs communication processing with external devices via the network 17.

Next, we will explain the operation when viewing an advertiser site to receive points by viewing advertisements in the point-granting service in the point management system 11.

Figure 14 is a diagram showing a home screen 101 of a dedicated application for using the point-granting service on the parent/guardian terminal 16. The home screen 101 is provided with a banner advertising area 102. The banner advertising area 102 is always provided on the display screen of the application, not just on the home screen 101.

The application on the parent/guardian terminal 16 can also display an advertisement list screen 103 shown in FIG. 15. The advertisement list screen 103 is a screen for displaying a list of advertisements currently being distributed in the area in which the school 200 attended by the child associated with the parent/guardian terminal 16 is located. An advertisement area 104 is displayed on the advertisement list screen 103. The advertisement list screen 103 also displays the point acquisition status (whether or not points have been acquired) for each advertisement.

In the banner advertising area 102 and the advertising area 104, advertising images are displayed based on advertising image data distributed by the advertising management unit 32 of the server device 12. The advertising management unit 32 distributes an advertising ID to the parent terminal 16 along with the advertising image data of each advertisement. The advertising image in the banner advertising area 102 is configured to change every time the display screen of the application changes.

In step S11 of FIG. 16, when the banner advertising area 102 or any of the advertising areas 104 is pressed as an operation to view an advertisement, in step S12, the advertisement processing unit 82 of the parent terminal 16 transmits an advertiser site information request to the server device 12. The advertiser site information request includes the advertisement ID of the advertisement displayed in the pressed banner advertising area 102 or advertising area 104, and the terminal ID of the parent terminal 16.

When the server device 12 receives the advertiser site information request, in step S13, the advertising management unit 32 refers to the advertising management table 51 and the browsing history table 58 to determine whether the number of times the requested advertiser site has been viewed by the parent terminal 16 that sent the advertiser site information request is equal to or greater than the maximum number of times points can be earned.

The maximum number of times points can be earned is preset as the maximum number of times points can be earned on one parent terminal 16 viewing one advertiser site. The maximum number of times points can be earned may be one or multiple times.

If it is determined that the number of views is equal to or greater than the upper limit for points acquisition (step S13: YES), in step S14, the advertising management unit 32 sends advertiser site information for the requested advertiser site to the parent terminal 16.

When the parent terminal 16 receives the advertiser site information, in step S15, the display control unit 81 causes the display unit 74 to display the advertiser site based on the advertiser site information. This completes the series of processes.

If the advertising management unit 32 determines in step S13 that the number of views is less than the upper limit for points acquisition (step S13: NO), in step S16, the point allocation unit 41 allocates points to the school 200 attended by the child associated with the parent terminal 16 that sent the advertiser site information request.

Specifically, the point allocation unit 41 acquires the cost per click (number of points) of the advertiser site requested by the advertiser site information request from the advertisement management table 51. Next, the point allocation unit 41 adds the number of points equivalent to the acquired cost per click to the number of points held in the school management table 54 that corresponds to the school ID of the school 200 to which points are to be assigned.

The point allocation unit 41 also updates the advertising point information in the advertising management table 51 for the advertiser site requested by the advertiser site information request to a value that includes the number of points equivalent to the cost per click for that advertiser site.

Next, in step S17, the point allocation unit 41 updates the number of views of the advertiser site requested by the parent terminal 16 that sent the advertiser site information request and the number of points acquired. Specifically, the point allocation unit 41 adds "1" to the number of views and adds the number of points equivalent to the cost per click to the number of points acquired.

Next, in step S18, the advertising management unit 32 transmits to the parent terminal 16 advertiser site information for the requested advertiser site and earned point information indicating the number of points that can be earned by viewing the advertiser site this time.

When the parent terminal 16 receives the advertiser site information and the acquired point information, in step S19, the display control unit 81 causes the display unit 74 to display the number of acquired points using a pop-up screen 105, as shown in FIG. 17. In addition, the point processing unit 83 updates the terminal point information in the application information storage unit 73.

Returning to FIG. 16, in step S20, the display control unit 81 causes the display unit 74 to display the advertiser site based on the advertiser site information. This completes the series of processes.

Next, we will explain how points are awarded using coupons in the point awarding service in the point management system 11.

The application for using the point-granting service on the parent terminal 16 can display a coupon screen 106 shown in FIG. 18. The coupon screen 106 is a screen for displaying a list of each coupon currently being distributed in the area where the school 200 attended by the child associated with the parent terminal 16 is located. Coupon screen 106 displays coupons 107. The owner of the parent terminal 16 can receive benefits such as discounts on products by presenting coupon 107 at a store.

In addition, after the application is launched on the parent terminal 16, the coupon screen 106 may be displayed before the home screen 101 is displayed. Also, the coupon screen 106 may be displayed after the advertisement list screen 103 is closed.

In the point management system 11, as shown in FIG. 18, by making the coupon 107 displayable on the parent terminal 16, points are generated according to the coupon publishing fee (advertising fee) paid by the provider of the coupon 107 to the operations manager 3. Here, the coupon 107 becomes displayable on the parent terminal 16 on the start date of the coupon distribution period, and points are generated. The point granting unit 41 of the server device 12 grants the points generated by making the coupon displayable on the parent terminal 16 to the school 200 attended by the child with whom the parent terminal 16 is associated.

Specifically, the point granting unit 41 grants points to schools 200 that are located in the coupon distribution area of a coupon registered in the coupon management table 52 and that have signed a contract to use the point granting service on the start date of the coupon distribution period of the coupon registered in the coupon management table 52. Here, the schools 200 that have signed a contract to use the point granting service are the schools 200 registered in the area management table 53 and the school management table 54. As described above, the school management table 54 stores the points (number of points held) held by each school 200.

When there are multiple schools 200 located in a coupon distribution area and that have signed a contract to use the point-granting service, the point-granting unit 41 distributes and grants points according to the coupon listing fee to the multiple schools 200. For example, the point-granting unit 41 distributes and grants points according to the coupon listing fee equally to the multiple schools 200.

In addition, points may be distributed to each school 200 in a ratio according to the coupon usage history on the parent/guardian terminal 16 associated with the children attending each school 200. For example, the more coupon usage history on the parent/guardian terminal 16 associated with the children attending the school, the more points may be distributed.

The points allocating unit 41 adds the points granted to the school 200 from the coupons described above to the number of points held in the school management table 54 corresponding to the school ID of the school 200 to which the points are to be granted.

Next, we will explain the operation of the point management system 11 when exchanging points held by the school 200 for items.

When the school 200 uses points, the school terminal 14 accesses a points usage page in the points allocation service provided by the server device 12 via a browser in response to the teacher's operation.

As a result, a points usage page 111 as shown in FIG. 19 is displayed on the display unit of the school terminal 14. The points usage page 111 lists photos, item names, and the number of points required for at least some of the items stored in the item table 59 of the server device 12. From this points usage page 111, teachers at the school 200 can select the items they wish to exchange for points.

When a desired item is selected and an operation is performed to exchange points for that item, in step S31 of FIG. 20, the school terminal 14 sends a point exchange request to the server device 12 to exchange the points for the selected item.

Next, in step S32, when the point exchange unit 42 of the server device 12 receives the point exchange request, it performs a point exchange process. Specifically, the point exchange unit 42 subtracts the points corresponding to the requested item from the number of points held by the school 200 that sent the point exchange request in the school management table 54.

Next, in step S33, the points exchange unit 42 performs an ordering process for the requested item from the supporting company 4 that provided the item. This completes the series of operations.

After the point exchange unit 42 has processed the order, the supporting company 4 delivers the ordered items to the school 200.

The school 200 may contact the operations manager 3 by email, telephone, etc. to specify an item and exchange the points for the item.

In this case, in response to an operation by an employee of the operations manager 3 who has been contacted by the school 200, the operations manager terminal 13 accesses the server device 12 and instructs the server device 12 to carry out the process of exchanging the points of the school 200, which has been instructed to exchange the points for an item, for the specified item.

In response, the point exchange unit 42 subtracts the points corresponding to the specified item from the number of points held by the school 200 that has been instructed to exchange points for an item in the school management table 54.

The operations manager 3 also orders the items specified by the school 200 from the supporting company 4 by email, telephone, etc. After this, the supporting company 4 delivers the ordered items to the school 200.

As described above, in the point management system 11, the point assigning unit 41 assigns points, which are generated when a coupon becomes displayable on a parent/guardian terminal 16, to each school 200 within the distribution area of the coupon. The point assigning unit 41 then associates the assigned points with the school ID of the school 200 and stores them in the school management table 54 of the database unit 22. This allows points to be assigned to the school 200 due to factors on the student's side rather than the school's side, such as the coupon becoming displayable on a parent/guardian terminal 16, in a mechanism different from that of the existing Bell Mark campaign.

As described below, the point management system 11's system for awarding points to the school 200 is a system that can be applied to various service providers 1 other than schools. Therefore, according to the point management system 11, the system that can be applied to various service providers 1 can award points generated due to factors on the student's side to the school 200.

In addition, in the point management system 11, when there are multiple schools 200 located in a coupon distribution area that have signed a contract to use the point-granting service, the point granting unit 41 distributes and grants points that are generated when a coupon is made displayable on the parent/guardian terminal 16 to the multiple schools 200. This allows points from coupons such as those described above to be granted to each school 200 in the coupon distribution area that has signed a contract to use the point-granting service.

In addition, in the point management system 11, points can be exchanged for goods, so the school 200 can use the points to purchase supplies. Therefore, the point management system 11 can support the financial resources of the school 200.

[Other embodiments]
Although the embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the description and drawings forming a part of this disclosure should not be understood as limiting the present invention. Various alternative embodiments, examples and operating techniques will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this disclosure.

In the above-described embodiment, the case where the service provider 1 is a school has been described. However, the service provider 1 is not limited to this, and may be, for example, a hospital that provides medical services, a nursing care facility that provides nursing care services, a nursery school, a kindergarten, a company, a department within a company, a public fire station, a mutual aid organization such as a fire brigade, a health center, etc. Furthermore, schools as the service provider 1 include elementary schools, junior high schools, high schools, universities, etc. The present invention is also applicable to cases where the service provider 1 is various organizations that provide services.

In the above embodiment, the service provider 1 is a school and the service users 2 are parents/guardians, but this is not limited to the above. The service users 2 may be students or children attending the school, graduates, or their families.

In addition, if the service provider 1 is a nursery school or kindergarten, the service user 2 may be children or their guardians, graduates or their guardians, or their families. If the service provider 1 is a hospital, the service user 2 may be patients, their caregivers, caregivers, those who have completed treatment, or their families. If the service provider 1 is a company or a department within a company, the service user 2 may include employees, full-time employees, temporary employees, shareholders, retirees, alumni, their families, etc. If the service provider 1 is a local government or other organization rooted in the community, such as a public fire station, health center, or mutual aid organization such as a fire brigade, the service user 2 may be local residents, visitors, or their families.

In the above-described embodiment, points are awarded for viewing advertisements by viewing an advertiser site using a parent terminal 16 owned by a child's parent. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, points may be generated by viewing an advertiser site using a terminal device owned by the child himself/herself. Any point may be generated by viewing an advertiser site using a terminal device of the service user or a person related to the service user.

In the above embodiment, a case has been described in which points according to the coupon posting fee are distributed and awarded to multiple schools 200 in the coupon distribution area, but this is not limited thereto. In a case in which there are multiple service providers 1, it is sufficient that points generated by making a coupon displayable on a terminal device of a service user or a related person of the service user who uses at least one service of the multiple service providers 1 are distributed and awarded to the multiple service providers 1.

In the above embodiment, the coupon is provided by a company, but this is not limited, and the coupon may be provided by a local government, etc.

Furthermore, the points awarded to the service provider 1 may be converted into coupons, increasing the discount amount of the coupons.

In the above-described embodiment, points are awarded to the service provider 1, but what is awarded is not limited to points, and may be electronic money, crypto assets (virtual currencies), goods, services, points in other point services, or a predetermined reward, etc., but is not limited to these.

In the above embodiment, the points can be exchanged for goods, but this is not limiting. For example, the points may be replaceable with points for services or other point services. This can increase the convenience of the points.

As such, the present invention naturally includes various embodiments not described here. Therefore, the technical scope of the present invention is determined only by the invention-specific matters related to the scope of the claims that are appropriate from the above explanation.

[Additional Notes]
This application discloses the following inventions.

(Appendix 1)
A storage unit;
a point allocation unit that allocates points to a service provider when a coupon is made displayable on a terminal device of a service user or a person related to the service user, and stores the allocated points in the memory unit in association with information indicating the service provider.

(Appendix 2)
The storage unit stores the points held by each of the plurality of service providers,
The point management system described in Appendix 1 is characterized in that the point allocating unit distributes and allocates to the multiple service providers the points generated when the coupon is made displayable on the terminal device of the service user or a related person of the service user who uses a service of at least one of the multiple service providers.

(Appendix 3)
The point management system described in appendix 1 or 2, characterized in that the points are exchangeable for goods.

(Appendix 4)
The service provider includes a terminal device of a service user or a related person of the service user, and a server device connectable to the terminal device via a network;
The terminal device
A display unit capable of displaying a coupon is provided,
The server device includes:
a coupon management unit that distributes the coupons to the terminal device;
A storage unit;
a point allocating unit that allocates points to a service provider, the points being generated when the coupon is distributed by the coupon management unit and made displayable on the terminal device, and that stores the allocated points in the memory unit in association with information indicating the service provider.

(Appendix 5)
A server device that can be connected to a terminal device of a service user or a person related to the service user via a network,
A coupon management unit that distributes coupons to the terminal device;
A storage unit;
a point allocating unit that allocates points to a service provider, the points being generated when the coupon is distributed by the coupon management unit and made displayable on the terminal device, and that stores the allocated points in the memory unit in association with information indicating the service provider.

(Appendix 6)
A step of granting points generated by making the coupon displayable on a terminal device of the service user or a person related to the service user to a service provider;
and storing the points granted to the service provider in a storage unit in association with information indicating the service provider.

(Appendix 7)
A point management system including a point allocating unit and a storage unit,
the point granting unit grants points to a service provider, the points being generated as a result of the coupon being made displayable on a terminal device of the service user or a person related to the service user;
and a step of causing the point granting unit to associate the points granted to the service provider with information indicating the service provider and store the points in a storage unit.

LIST OF SYMBOLS 1 Service provider 2 Service user 3 Operation manager 4 Sponsoring company 5 Advertiser 11 Point management system 12 Server device 13 Operation manager terminal 14 School terminal 15 Printing device 16 Parent terminal 21 Control unit 22 Database unit 23 Program storage unit 24 External communication unit 31 User management unit 32 Advertisement management unit 33 Coupon management unit 34 Point management unit 41 Point granting unit 42 Point exchange unit 51 Advertisement management table 52 Coupon management table 53 Area management table 54 School management table 55 Class management table 56 Child management table 57 Parent management table 58 Browsing history table 59 Item table 71 Control unit 72 Program storage unit 73 App information storage unit 74 Display unit 75 Input unit 76 External communication unit 81 Display control unit 82 Advertisement processing unit 83 Point processing unit 101 Home screen 102 Banner ad area 103 Ad list screen 104 Ad area 106 Coupon screen 107 Coupon 200 School

Claims (8)

a storage unit for storing a region management table that associates a region with information indicating a service provider located in the region, and a coupon management table that associates a coupon distribution region and a coupon distribution period displayed on a terminal device of a service user or a person related to the service user;
a point allocating unit that allocates points to the service provider registered in the area management table and located in the coupon distribution area during a distribution period of the coupon registered in the coupon management table, and that stores the allocated points in the memory unit in association with information indicating the service provider. The point management system according to claim 1, characterized in that the point allocation unit distributes and allocates the points to a plurality of service providers located in a coupon distribution area registered in the coupon management table and when there are a plurality of service providers registered in the area management table. The points management system described in claim 2, characterized in that the points are distributed to multiple service providers in a ratio based on the usage history of the coupon on the terminal device of the service user or a person related to the service user who uses the service of each of the multiple service providers. 4. The points management system according to claim 1, wherein the points are exchangeable for goods. The service provider includes a terminal device of a service user or a related person of the service user, and a server device connectable to the terminal device via a network;
The terminal device
A display unit capable of displaying a coupon is provided,
The server device includes:
a coupon management unit that distributes the coupons to the terminal device;
a storage unit for storing a region management table that associates a region with information indicating a service provider located in the region, and a coupon management table that associates the coupon distribution region with a distribution period ;
a point allocating unit that allocates points to the service provider registered in the area management table and located in the coupon distribution area during a distribution period of the coupon registered in the coupon management table, and that stores the allocated points in the memory unit in association with information indicating the service provider. A server device that can be connected to a terminal device of a service user or a person related to the service user via a network,
A coupon management unit that distributes coupons to the terminal device;
a storage unit for storing a region management table that associates a region with information indicating a service provider located in the region, and a coupon management table that associates the coupon distribution region with a distribution period ;
a point allocating unit that allocates points to the service provider that is located in the coupon distribution area and registered in the area management table during the distribution period of the coupon registered in the coupon management table, and that stores the allocated points in the memory unit in association with information indicating the service provider. a step of granting points to the service provider located in the coupon distribution area registered in a table correlating an area with information indicating a service provider located in the coupon distribution area during the coupon distribution period registered in the table correlating the coupon distribution area and distribution period displayed on a terminal device of the service user or a person related to the service user;
and storing the points granted to the service provider in a storage unit in association with information indicating the service provider. On the computer,
a step of granting points to the service provider located in the coupon distribution area registered in a table correlating an area with information indicating a service provider located in the coupon distribution area during the coupon distribution period registered in the table correlating the coupon distribution area and distribution period displayed on a terminal device of the service user or a person related to the service user;
and storing the points granted to the service provider in a storage unit in association with information indicating the service provider.