JP7757335B2 - Information processing device, system, information processing method, and program - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to technology for handling points that can be used for sales transactions between customers and stores.

As part of their customer attraction or customer service efforts, many stores offer points to customers when they visit or purchase products at their stores.

In addition, local currencies such as digital coins and coupons are being used to increase the number of visitors to shopping districts and malls and to improve customer convenience. Generally, legal tender and local currencies are exchanged at a set rate according to the customer's wishes.

In recent years, systems have been considered that utilize flat-rate or subscription-based services to grant service users a set amount of points (including local currency) for a set period of time (e.g., one month) during the contract period. These systems are called point services or point programs.

Fixed-fee services provide customers with products or services on an ongoing basis for a set fee. Subscription services, on the other hand, grant users the right to use content such as movies and music selected by the subscription service in exchange for a periodic fee collected from users who sign up for the service.

Patent document 1 describes how members of an internet game are given points each month that can be used in the game.

Patent document 2 describes a system for awarding points to users of a point service when they make a transaction, in which the expiration date of the points awarded to the user is determined based on the user's transaction history over a specific period.

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2005-27889 Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2006-53812 Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2020-91759

In many cases, points are set with an expiration date (for example, see Patent Document 2). If a user is unable to use all of the points granted by a point service by the expiration date, the remaining points will expire. This can cause dissatisfaction among users.

The present invention was made in consideration of the above-mentioned problems, and its purpose is to improve the convenience of points with expiration dates.

An information processing device according to one aspect of the present invention includes a management means for managing the expiration date of points granted to users of a point service, a provision means for providing the user with an opportunity to enter a lottery using the managed points when the expiration date of the managed points is within a predetermined time, and a determination means for determining prizes for the lottery based on at least one of inventory data of products handled by stores affiliated with the point service and sales data of the stores.

A system according to one aspect of the present invention comprises a points management device that manages information indicating the number of points granted to users of a points service, a lottery device used by the users to enter lotteries using the granted points, and an information processing device. The information processing device manages the expiration date of the points granted to the users, and when the expiration date of the managed points is within a predetermined time, provides the users with an opportunity to enter lottery using the points, and determines prizes for the lottery based on at least one of inventory data of products handled by stores affiliated with the points service and sales data of the stores.

In one aspect of the present invention, an information processing method involves a computer managing the expiration date of points granted to a user of a point service, and when the expiration date of the managed points is within a predetermined time, providing the user with an opportunity to enter a lottery using the points, and determining the prizes for the lottery based on at least one of inventory data for products handled by stores affiliated with the point service and sales data for the stores.

A program according to one aspect of the present invention causes a computer to manage the expiration date of points granted to users of a point service, provide the users with an opportunity to enter a lottery using the points when a predetermined time remains until the expiration date of the managed points, and determine prizes for the lottery based on at least one of inventory data for products handled by stores affiliated with the point service and sales data for the stores.

One aspect of the present invention can improve the convenience of points with expiration dates.

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a system according to a first embodiment. FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of an application of the system according to the first embodiment. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating another example of an application of the system according to the first embodiment. FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a network configuration of a system according to a first embodiment. FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an information processing device according to a second embodiment. 10 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of an information processing device according to a second embodiment. FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an information processing device according to a third embodiment. 10 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of an information processing device according to a third embodiment. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of a hardware configuration of an information processing device according to second and third embodiments.

[Embodiment 1]
A first embodiment will be described with reference to Figures 1 to 4. In the first embodiment, a system 1 for giving points from a store to a customer will be described.

(System 1)
1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a system 1 according to the present embodiment 1. The system 1 is a mechanism for a store to provide a point service to customers.

As shown in FIG. 1, system 1 includes information processing device 10 (20), point management server 100, POS (Point of Sales) register 200, and lottery device 300. Here, "information processing device 10 (20)" refers to either information processing device 10 or 20 according to embodiments 2 and 3 described below. The information processing device 10 (20), point management server 100, POS register 200, and lottery device 300 are communicatively connected via a communication network.

Note that the POS register 200 can be replaced with a terminal device (e.g., a barcode reader) that handles only point card information (e.g., barcodes) and prize information, so the POS register 200 is not required in the configuration of System 1. Hereinafter, "POS register 200 or terminal device" will be referred to as "POS register 200."

The point management server 100 and POS register 200 will be described with reference to Figure 2. Figure 2 is a diagram showing an example of an application of the system 1 according to this embodiment 1.

(Point management server 100)
The point management server 100 manages point card information linked to information identifying a customer. The point management server 100 is an example of a point management device.

In one example, the point management server 100 is provided as application software installed on a customer's smartphone, etc., similar to the lottery device 300 (Figure 2) described below.

The information identifying a customer is, for example, a number or identifier (ID) unique to the customer. The point card information includes a unique point card number. Furthermore, the point card information may also include personal information and attribute information about the customer.

In addition, the point management server 100 accepts operations to input point card information and payment information. Payment information is information used or referenced for payment, such as a credit card number or debit card number.

The point management server 100 links the point card information and payment information with information identifying the customer and stores it in a customer database (not shown).

The point management server 100 obtains information indicating the number of points to be awarded to the customer, along with point card information, from the POS register 200 (described below). At this time, the point management server 100 links the information indicating the number of points to be awarded to the customer to the information identifying the customer. The point management server 100 then identifies the customer's contact information (e.g., email address or telephone number) from the information identifying the customer, and sends information indicating the number of points to be awarded to the customer (a "points acquisition notification") to the identified customer contact information.

Alternatively, when the point management server 100 acquires information indicating the number of points used along with point card information from the POS register 200 (described below), it links the information indicating the number of points used to information identifying the customer. The point management server 100 then sends information indicating the number of points used (a "point usage notification") to the customer's contact information identified from the customer identification information.

Furthermore, the point management server 100 awards a certain amount of points to users of the point service each time a contract is renewed or at certain intervals during the contract period. There are no particular restrictions on how many points the point management server 100 awards to a user. In one example, the point management server 100 may increase or decrease the number of points awarded to a user depending on the amount paid by the user.

(POS register 200)
When a customer purchases a product sold by a store or uses a service provided by a store, the customer pays the price and presents the point card to a store clerk. The store clerk uses a barcode reader or scanner to have the POS register 200 read the point card information (including the point card number) from the point card held by the customer.

The POS register 200 sends the point card information read from the customer's point card, along with information indicating the number of points to be awarded to the customer, to the point management server 100. Note that there are no particular limitations on how the store determines the number of points to be awarded to the customer.

Alternatively, when a customer requests the store clerk to use points in place of all or part of the purchase price, the store clerk performs an input operation on the POS register 200 to use the points linked to information identifying the customer. The store clerk then uses a barcode reader or scanner to have the POS register 200 read the point card information (including the point card number) from the point card held by the customer.

The POS register 200 sends the point card information read from the customer's point card, along with information indicating the number of points used, to the point management server 100.

The information processing device 10 (20) and the lottery device 300 will be described with reference to Figure 3. Figure 3 is a diagram showing another example of an application of the system 1 according to this embodiment 1.

(Information processing device 10 (20))
The information processing device 10 (20) manages the expiration date of points given to users (customers) of the point service. The expiration date of points is set by the point management server 100 (FIG. 1) when points are given to the user (customer). There are no particular limitations on how the point management server 100 determines the expiration date of points.

The information processing device 10 (20) provides users with the opportunity to use points to enter a lottery. Here, "lottery" includes not only a method in which winning and losing are determined randomly (by chance), but also a method in which the probability of winning varies depending on various conditions such as the user's attributes and store inventory. For example, "lottery" could be a lottery drawing.

For example, the information processing device 10 (20) obtains information indicating the expiration date set for points granted to a user from the point management server 100. Then, when the expiration date of the points is within a predetermined time, the information processing device 10 (20) notifies the user of the lottery information along with an alert that the points will soon expire.

At this time, the information processing device 10 (20) transmits the lottery information to the lottery device 300 (described later). For example, the lottery information includes data on the execution program that the lottery device 300 uses to conduct the lottery, data on the winning probability for each prize, and information indicating the prizes in the lottery.

The information indicating the prizes in the lottery includes the name of the prize, the contents of the prize, the number of prizes, and an image of the prize (e.g., a photograph). The prizes in the lottery may be products sold by the store or services provided by the store. Alternatively, the prizes in the lottery may be intangible items such as coupons or rights.

The information processing device 10 (20) also receives information indicating the prizes won by the user (referred to as "used prize information") from the POS register 200. The information processing device 10 (20) uses the used prize information to determine prizes for lotteries for other users. For example, if the user wins "prize A," the information processing device 10 (20) will ensure that "prize A" is not included in the prizes for lotteries for other users.

In one example, the information processing device 10 (20) may be part of a POS server managed by a store (Figure 4). Alternatively, the information processing device 10 (20) may be a cloud server.

(Lottery device 300)
The lottery device 300 is used by users to hold lotteries using the points they have been given.

In one example, the lottery device 300 receives lottery information from the information processing device 10 (20). When a user performs an input operation on the lottery device 300 to execute a lottery, the lottery device 300 executes the lottery in accordance with a predetermined program. Alternatively, the lottery device 300 may automatically execute a lottery using points when the points' expiration date has arrived.

The lottery device 300 may vary a user's probability of winning depending on various conditions related to the user's attributes, behavioral history, etc. For example, the lottery device 300 may increase a user's probability of winning the more times the user has entered the lottery. Alternatively, the lottery device 300 may increase a user's probability of winning the more times the user has visited a store. Alternatively, the lottery device 300 may increase a user's probability of winning the more points the user uses in the lottery.

After the lottery, the lottery device 300 generates prize information indicating the prize the user has won. In one example, the lottery device 300 issues a QR code (registered trademark) corresponding to the prize the user has won. The lottery device 300 displays the issued QR code on the screen of a smartphone or other device carried by the customer. In addition, if the prize the user has won is sold as a product in a store, the lottery device 300 may display the location of the product (prize) in the store on the screen of a smartphone or other device carried by the customer.

The lottery device 300 may also display an image of the prize that the user has won on a smartphone or other device carried by the customer. If the customer has a smart device capable of displaying AR (Augmented Reality) images, the lottery device 300 may display an AR image of the prize that the user has won on the smart device.

(Delivery of the prizes won)
The customer goes to the store and presents the QR code issued by the lottery device 300 to a store clerk. The store clerk uses a barcode reader, scanner, or the like to have the POS register 200 read the QR code presented by the customer.

The POS register 200 outputs information (e.g., product name, product code) indicating the product (prize) corresponding to the QR code. The store clerk checks the prize the user has won based on the information output by the POS register 200. The store clerk then hands the prize to the user from the store's inventory. Alternatively, if the prize the user has won is not in the store's inventory, the store clerk will order the prize from another store or product supplier.

After handing over the prize to the user, the store clerk inputs used prize information indicating the prize handed over to the user into the POS register 200. The POS register 200 then transmits the used prize information indicating the prize handed over to the user to the information processing device 10 (20).

(Example of network configuration of system 1)
Fig. 4 shows an example of the network configuration of the system 1 according to the present embodiment 1. In the example shown in Fig. 4, an on-premise or cloud server (including the point management server 100 and the information processing device 10 (20)) and a user's smartphone (lottery device 300) communicate via the Internet. Meanwhile, a store (including a POS register 200) and a server (including the point management server 100 and the information processing device 10 (20)) communicate using a wired or wireless dedicated line.

In another example, the store (including the POS register 200) and the server (including the point management server 100 and the information processing device 10 (20)) may communicate via the Internet.

In yet another example, if there are multiple stores affiliated with System 1, such as multiple stores belonging to a shopping district or chain, a server (including the points management server 100 and information processing device 10 (20)) may be installed inside one of the stores. In this case, other stores communicate with that server via the Internet.

In this way, system 1 provides point service users with the opportunity to use their points to enter a lottery. This allows users to use their awarded points without wasting them. System 1 also allows users to receive prizes they have won at the store. This can attract customers (users) to the store, which is expected to revitalize the store.

In the following embodiments 2 and 3, the configuration and operation of the information processing device 10 (20) included in the system 1 according to embodiment 1 will be described in detail.

[Embodiment 2]
A second embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.

(Configuration of information processing device 10)
The configuration of an information processing device 10 according to the second embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 5. Fig. 5 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the information processing device 10. The information processing device 10 constitutes the system (Fig. 1) according to the first embodiment. The information processing device 10 may be incorporated into a POS server of any store affiliated with the system 1, or may be a cloud server that provides online services.

As shown in FIG. 5, the information processing device 10 includes a management unit 11, a provision unit 12, and a determination unit 13.

The management unit 11 manages the expiration dates of points granted to users of the point service. The management unit 11 is an example of a management means. In one example, the expiration dates of points are set by the point management server 100 (Figure 1).

For example, the management unit 11 obtains information indicating the expiration date of points granted to a user from the point management server 100.

The management unit 11 continues to manage the expiration date of points as long as the points granted to the user are not used. Specifically, the management unit 11 manages the time remaining until the expiration date of the points. The management unit 11 outputs information indicating the time remaining until the expiration date of the points to the provision unit 12.

The providing unit 12 provides the user with an opportunity to use the points to enter a lottery when a predetermined time remains until the expiration date of the managed points. The providing unit 12 is an example of a providing means.

For example, the providing unit 12 receives information from the management unit 11 indicating the time remaining until the points expire. The providing unit 12 determines whether the time remaining until the points expire is a predetermined time or shorter. If the time remaining until the points expire is the predetermined time or shorter, the providing unit 12 creates lottery information to send to the lottery device 300 (Figure 1).

The lottery information includes data on the execution program that the lottery device 300 uses to conduct the lottery, data on the winning probability for each prize, and information indicating the prizes in the lottery.

Before sending the lottery information to the lottery device 300, the providing unit 12 requests the determining unit 13 to determine the prize for the lottery. At this time, the providing unit 12 may notify the determining unit 13 of the number of points that are within a predetermined time until the expiration date.

In addition, when a user renews their point service contract, the providing unit 12 may provide the user with the right to enter a lottery without using points.

The determination unit 13 determines the prizes to be awarded in the lottery based on at least one of inventory data for products handled by stores participating in the point service and sales data for the stores. The determination unit 13 is an example of a determination means.

For example, the determination unit 13 is requested by the provision unit 12 to determine a prize for a lottery. The determination unit 13 acquires store sales data from the store's POS server (not shown). Then, based on the store's sales data, the determination unit 13 identifies the store's best-selling product or the store's standard product from among the products handled by the store. The determination unit 13 determines the store's best-selling product or the store's standard product as the prize for the lottery.

Alternatively, the determination unit 13 determines the products that the store wants to sell based on the store's inventory data. For example, the determination unit 13 determines that products that have not been sold for more than one month are products that the store wants to sell. Then, the determination unit 13 determines the products that the store wants to sell as prizes in a lottery.

Alternatively, the determination unit 13 may determine the prizes to be drawn based on a combination of inventory that the store wants to sell and points to be awarded to the user. Alternatively, the determination unit 13 may obtain data on products purchased using points from the point management server 100 or POS server, and determine the prizes to be drawn based on the obtained data.

After determining the prize for the lottery in this manner, the determination unit 13 outputs information indicating the determined prize for the lottery (e.g., product name or product code) to the provision unit 12.

After receiving information indicating the prize for the lottery determined by the determination unit 13, the providing unit 12 transmits the above-mentioned lottery information to the lottery device 300 (Figure 3).

(Operation of information processing device 10)
The operation of the information processing device 10 according to the second embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 6. Fig. 6 is a flowchart showing the operation of the information processing device 10.

As shown in FIG. 6, the management unit 11 manages the expiration date of points granted to users of the point service (S101). The management unit 11 outputs information indicating the time remaining until the expiration date of the points to the provision unit 12.

The providing unit 12 receives information from the management unit 11 indicating the time remaining until the points expire. The providing unit 12 determines whether the points expire within a predetermined time (S102). If the points expire not within the predetermined time (No in S102), the flow returns to step S101.

On the other hand, if the expiration date of the points is within a predetermined time (Yes in S102), the providing unit 12 provides the user with an opportunity to use the points to enter a lottery (S103). The providing unit 12 requests the determining unit 13 to determine the prize for the lottery.

The determination unit 13 determines the prize for the lottery based on at least one of inventory data of products handled by stores participating in the point service and sales data of the stores (S104). The determination unit 13 outputs information indicating the determined prize for the lottery to the provision unit 12.

After receiving information indicating the prize for the lottery determined by the determination unit 13, the providing unit 12 transmits the above-mentioned lottery information to the lottery device 300 (Figure 3).

This completes the operation of the information processing device 10 according to embodiment 2.

(Effects of this embodiment)
According to the configuration of this embodiment, the management unit 11 manages the expiration date of points granted to users of the point service. The provision unit 12 provides users with an opportunity to use their points to participate in a lottery when a predetermined time is remaining until the expiration date of the managed points. The determination unit 13 determines prizes for the lottery based on at least one of inventory data of products handled by stores affiliated with the point service and sales data of the stores.

In this way, users of the point service are provided with an opportunity to use their points to enter a lottery when there is a specified amount of time left until the points expire. If users cannot find a use for their points, they can choose to take advantage of the lottery opportunity. If the user wins, they can receive a prize. Meanwhile, the store that presents the prize to the user benefits from increased customer traffic. This improves the convenience of points that have an expiration date.

[Embodiment 3]
A third embodiment will be described with reference to Figures 7 and 8. In this third embodiment, a configuration for awarding points to users of a point service each time a contract for the point service is renewed or at regular intervals will be described. In this third embodiment, the description of the second embodiment will be quoted for configurations common to the second embodiment, and a description of those configurations will be omitted.

(Configuration of information processing device 20)
The configuration of an information processing device 20 according to the third embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 7. Fig. 7 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the information processing device 20. The information processing device 20 constitutes the system (Fig. 1) according to the first embodiment. The information processing device 20 may be incorporated into a POS server of any store affiliated with the system 1, or may be a cloud server that provides online services.

As shown in FIG. 7, the information processing device 20 includes a management unit 11, a provision unit 12, and a determination unit 13. The information processing device 20 further includes an assignment unit 24.

The granting unit 24 grants points to the user each time the point service contract is renewed or at regular intervals. The granting unit 24 is an example of a granting means.

For example, if a points service uses a recurring billing system (e.g., a flat-rate service or subscription service), the user will continue to be subscribed to the points service unless they cancel their contract.

The awarding unit 24 references a customer database (not shown) to check the user's subscription status for the point service (e.g., the number of days under contract). The awarding unit 24 then determines whether the point service contract has been renewed within the last certain number of days. If the point service contract has been renewed within the last certain number of days, the awarding unit 24 awards points to the user.

Alternatively, the granting unit 24 may grant points to a user when a certain period of time has passed since the last time points were granted to the user.

(Operation of information processing device 20)
The operation of the information processing device 20 according to the third embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 8. Fig. 8 is a flowchart showing the operation of the information processing device 20.

As shown in FIG. 8, the granting unit 24 grants points to the user each time the point service contract is renewed or at regular intervals (S201).

The management unit 11 manages the expiration date of points granted to users of the point service (S202). The management unit 11 outputs information indicating the time remaining until the points expire to the provision unit 12.

The providing unit 12 receives information from the management unit 11 indicating the time remaining until the points expire. The providing unit 12 determines whether the points expire within a predetermined time (S203). If the points expire not within the predetermined time (No in S203), the flow returns to step S101.

On the other hand, if the expiration date of the points is within a predetermined time (Yes in S203), the providing unit 12 provides the user with an opportunity to use the points to enter a lottery (S204). The providing unit 12 requests the determining unit 13 to determine the prize for the lottery.

The determination unit 13 determines the prize for the lottery based on at least one of inventory data of products handled by stores participating in the point service and sales data of the stores (S205). The determination unit 13 outputs information indicating the determined prize for the lottery to the provision unit 12.

After receiving information indicating the prize for the lottery determined by the determination unit 13, the providing unit 12 transmits the above-mentioned lottery information to the lottery device 300 (Figure 3).

Then, the awarding unit 24 determines whether the point service contract has been renewed within the last certain number of days, or whether a certain period of time has passed since the last time points were awarded to the user (S206).

If the point service contract has been renewed within the last certain number of days, or if a certain period of time has passed since the last time points were awarded to the user (Yes in S206), the flow returns to step S201.

(Effects of this embodiment)
According to the configuration of this embodiment, the management unit 11 manages the expiration date of points granted to users of the point service. The provision unit 12 provides users with an opportunity to use their points to participate in a lottery when a predetermined time is remaining until the expiration date of the managed points. The determination unit 13 determines prizes for the lottery based on at least one of inventory data of products handled by stores affiliated with the point service and sales data of the stores.

In this way, users of the point service are provided with an opportunity to use their points to enter a lottery when there is a specified amount of time left until the points expire. If users cannot find a use for their points, they can choose to take advantage of the lottery opportunity. If the user wins, they can receive a prize. Meanwhile, the store that presents the prize to the user benefits from increased customer traffic. This improves the convenience of points that have an expiration date.

Furthermore, according to the configuration of this embodiment, the awarding unit 24 awards points to the user each time the point service contract is renewed or at regular intervals. This allows the user to feel that there is a benefit in continuing the point service contract.

(Hardware configuration of information processing devices 10 and 20)
The components of the information processing devices 10 and 20 described in the second and third embodiments are functional blocks. Some or all of these components are realized by an information processing device such as that shown in Fig. 9. Fig. 9 is a block diagram showing an example of the hardware configuration of the information processing device.

As shown in FIG. 9, the computer 110 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 111, a main memory 112, a storage device 113, an input interface 114, a display controller 115, a data reader/writer 116, and a communication interface 117. These components are connected to each other via a bus 121 so that they can communicate data with each other. Note that the computer 110 may include a GPU (Graphics Processing Unit) or an FPGA (Field-Programmable Gate Array) in addition to or instead of the CPU 111.

The CPU 111 performs various calculations by expanding the program (code) of this embodiment, which is stored in the storage device 113, into the main memory 112 and executing it in a predetermined order. The main memory 112 is typically a volatile storage device such as a DRAM (Dynamic Random Access Memory). The program of this embodiment is provided in a state stored on a computer-readable recording medium 120. The program of this embodiment may also be distributed over the Internet connected via the communication interface 117.

Specific examples of the storage device 113 include a hard disk drive and semiconductor storage devices such as flash memory. The input interface 114 mediates data transmission between the CPU 111 and input devices 118 such as a keyboard and mouse. The display controller 115 is connected to the display device 119 and controls the display on the display device 119.

The data reader/writer 116 mediates data transmission between the CPU 111 and the recording medium 120, reads programs from the recording medium 120, and writes the processing results of the computer 110 to the recording medium 120. The communication interface 117 mediates data transmission between the CPU 111 and other computers.

Specific examples of the recording medium 120 include general-purpose semiconductor storage devices such as CF (Compact Flash (registered trademark)) and SD (Secure Digital), magnetic recording media such as flexible disks, and optical recording media such as CD-ROMs (Compact Disk Read Only Memory).

[Note]
A part or all of the above-described embodiments can be described as, but not limited to, the following supplementary notes.

(Appendix 1)
a management means for managing the expiration date of points given to users of the point service;
providing means for providing the user with an opportunity to participate in a lottery using the points when a predetermined time remains until the expiration date of the points;
and a determination means for determining a prize for the lottery based on at least one of inventory data of products handled by stores affiliated with the point service and sales data of the stores.

(Appendix 2)
The information processing device according to claim 1, wherein the determination means determines the prize based on the number of points used in the lottery.

(Appendix 3)
3. The information processing device according to claim 1, further comprising: an awarding unit that awards the points to the user every time a contract for the point service is renewed or every fixed period of time.

(Appendix 4)
a point management device that manages information indicating the number of points given to users of the point service;
a lottery device used by the user to hold a lottery using the awarded points;
an information processing device,
The information processing device includes:
Manage the expiration date of the points granted to the user;
When the expiration date of the points is within a predetermined time, the user is provided with an opportunity to use the points to participate in a lottery;
A system for determining prizes for the lottery based on at least one of inventory data of products handled by stores affiliated with the point service and sales data of the stores.

(Appendix 5)
The system according to claim 4, wherein the lottery device conducts the lottery using the points when the expiration date of the points has arrived.

(Appendix 6)
The system according to claim 4, wherein the lottery device increases the user's probability of winning the more times the user has entered the lottery.

(Appendix 7)
The system according to claim 4, wherein the lottery device increases the user's chances of winning the lottery the more times the user visits the store.

(Appendix 8)
The system according to claim 4, wherein the lottery device increases the user's chances of winning as the user uses more points in the lottery.

(Appendix 9)
The computer
Manage the expiration date of points given to users of the point service,
When the expiration date of the points is within a predetermined time, the user is provided with an opportunity to use the points to participate in a lottery;
An information processing method for determining prizes for the lottery based on at least one of inventory data of products handled by stores affiliated with the point service and sales data of the stores.

(Appendix 10)
Managing the expiration date of points given to users of the point service;
When a predetermined time remains until the expiration date of the points, providing the user with an opportunity to use the points to participate in a lottery;
and determining prizes for the lottery based on at least one of inventory data of products handled by stores affiliated with the point service and sales data of the stores.

(Appendix 11)
The information processing device according to claim 1, wherein when the user renews the contract for the point service, the providing means provides the user with the right to participate in the lottery without using the points.

(Appendix 12)
The information processing device according to claim 1, wherein the determining means determines a best-selling product or a standard product of the store as the prize for the lottery based on sales data of the store.

(Appendix 13)
The information processing device according to claim 1, wherein the determining means determines the stock that the store wants to sell as the prize for the lottery based on stock data of the store.

(Appendix 14)
The information processing device according to claim 1, wherein the determining means determines a combination of inventory that the store wants to sell and points to be awarded to the user as a prize for the lottery.

This invention can be used, for example, in point management applications and cash registers.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 System 10 Information processing device 11 Management unit 12 Provision unit 13 Determination unit 20 Information processing device 24 Granting unit 100 Point management server (point management device)
200 POS register (or terminal equipment)
300 Lottery device

Claims (5)

a management means for managing the expiration date of points given to users of the point service;
a determining means for determining prizes to be awarded based on at least one of inventory data of products handled by stores participating in the point service and sales data of the stores;
providing means for transmitting lottery information, including execution program data for the lottery device to conduct a lottery, data on the probability of winning each prize, and information indicating the determined prize, to a lottery device that conducts a lottery according to a predetermined program when the expiration date of the points is within a predetermined time ;
An information processing device comprising : 2. The information processing device according to claim 1 , further comprising: a granting unit that grants the points to the user every time a contract for the point service is renewed or every fixed period of time. a point management device that manages information indicating the number of points granted to a user of the point service and sets an expiration date for the points granted to the user ;
a lottery device that is used by the user to conduct a lottery using the awarded points, the lottery device executing the lottery in accordance with a predetermined program ;
an information processing device,
The information processing device includes:
acquires from the point management device information indicating an expiration date set for the points granted to the user;
When the expiration date of the points is within a predetermined time, a prize to be awarded in a lottery is determined based on at least one of inventory data of products handled by stores participating in the point service and sales data of the stores;
Transmitting lottery information to the lottery device, the data of an execution program for the lottery device to perform the lottery, the data of the winning probability for each prize, and information indicating the determined prize.
system. The computer
Manage the expiration date of points given to users of the point service,
When the expiration date of the points is within a predetermined time, a prize to be awarded in a lottery is determined based on at least one of inventory data of products handled by stores participating in the point service and sales data of the stores;
The lottery device executes the lottery according to a predetermined program, and lottery information including data on the execution program for the lottery device to execute the lottery, data on the winning probability for each prize, and information on the determined prize is transmitted to the lottery device.
An information processing method that performs the following: Managing the expiration date of points given to users of the point service;
When the expiration date of the points is within a predetermined time, a prize to be awarded in a lottery is determined based on at least one of inventory data of products handled by stores affiliated with the point service and sales data of the stores;
transmitting lottery information including data of an execution program for the lottery device to perform the lottery, data of the winning probability for each prize, and information indicating the determined prize to the lottery device which performs the lottery according to a predetermined program;
A program that causes a computer to execute the following.