JP2004246548A - Coupon display - Google Patents

Abstract

A coupon to be displayed on a terminal device such as a mobile phone is easily managed.
A mobile phone (10) can send and receive e-mail using the Internet (50) and browse a homepage. The Web server 30 stores homepages of the store 40 and other stores, and the homepage contains various coupon data. The user of the mobile phone 10 can enjoy various services such as a discount service by displaying the coupon data downloaded from the Web server 30 on the screen of the mobile phone 10 and presenting it to the clerk of the store 40. After displaying the coupon image based on the conditions such as the expiration date set in the coupon data, the mobile phone 10 deletes the coupon data after a predetermined time has elapsed. By doing so, it is possible to manage the coupon not on the Web server 30 but on the mobile phone 10 side.
[Selection diagram] Fig. 1

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a technology for managing coupons used in a terminal device such as a mobile phone.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In recent years, mobile phones have been able to connect to the Internet, and can also browse home pages in addition to sending and receiving e-mails. For this reason, some stores provide various services to customers who display coupons posted on a homepage on a mobile phone and present them to clerks, in the same manner as conventional paper coupons.
[0003]
[Patent Document 1]
JP 2002-133243 A [Patent Document 2]
JP 2002-116833 A
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in the past, coupons can be displayed at any time by simply accessing the homepage, allowing the same customer to receive services as many times as possible, and providing equal service opportunities to other customers There was a case that could not be done. In addition, the store side has to frequently update the homepage in order to manage the expiration date of the coupon, which is very troublesome.
[0005]
The present invention has been made in view of such a problem, and has as its object to easily manage coupons displayed on a terminal device such as a mobile phone.
[0006]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to solve at least a part of the above problems, the present invention is configured as a coupon display device as described below. That is, a coupon display device for displaying coupon data obtained via a network, wherein at least display data used for displaying the coupon is recorded in the coupon data, and a predetermined operation by a user is performed. A display unit for displaying the coupon data based on the display data, and a control unit for disabling the coupon data at a predetermined timing after the display, regardless of a user operation. That is the gist. “Independently of the user's operation” means “without performing a direct operation for making the coupon unusable by the user”.
[0007]
ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to the coupon display device of this invention, after displaying a coupon, the coupon can be automatically disabled at a predetermined timing. Therefore, it is possible to suppress the same customer from receiving the service many times, and to provide equal services to other customers. The predetermined timing may be a timing that is temporally defined, for example, 10 seconds or 1 day later, an operation for switching from displaying a coupon to another screen, or another function such as a voice call. For example, an operation other than an operation for using a coupon, such as an operation for switching to a coupon, the number of times of operation, the type of function to be operated, and the like may be set as the timing. Making the coupon unusable can be realized by, for example, deleting the coupon data or making the user inaccessible to the data.
[0008]
Further, the present invention can also be configured as the following coupon display device. That is, a coupon display device that displays coupon data acquired via a network, wherein the coupon data includes display data used for displaying the coupon and condition data in which usage conditions for the coupon are set, Is recorded, and in response to a predetermined operation from a user, a coupon display comprising: a display unit that displays the coupon data based on the display data; and a control unit that controls the display based on the condition data. Device.
[0009]
According to such a coupon display device, it is possible to restrict the display of coupons based on the conditions set for each coupon. Therefore, as long as the coupon provider only provides the coupon data, subsequent management such as management of the expiration date becomes unnecessary. Note that “controlling the display” refers to, for example, deleting the coupon data so that it cannot be displayed, or adding a mark indicating that it has been used to the display data.
[0010]
In the coupon display device, in the condition data, a usable period of the coupon is set, and the control unit performs control such that the display is not performed except for the usable period. Coupons with an expiration date or coupons that can be used only on weekdays can be provided.
[0011]
In addition, in the condition data, the number of times the coupon can be displayed is set, and if the control unit performs control so as not to perform the display beyond the number of times that the coupon can be displayed, the coupon is used. The number of possible times can be limited.
[0012]
Further, the control unit may delete the coupon data when the number of times of display exceeds the number of times that can be displayed. Further, with respect to a coupon for which an expiration date has been set in the condition data, the coupon data may be deleted when the expiration date has passed.
[0013]
Further, these coupon display devices may include a point input unit for inputting points issued according to use of the coupon, and a point recording unit for recording the input points in the coupon data. By doing so, the user can enjoy the service corresponding to the point from the store.
[0014]
The various aspects described above in the present invention can be applied by appropriately combining or partially omitting them. In addition to the configuration as the coupon display device described above, the present invention may be configured as, for example, a computer program for managing a coupon management method and coupon data, and a computer-readable recording medium recording such a program. it can. In any of the configurations, the above-described embodiments can be appropriately applied. As the recording medium, for example, various media such as a flexible disk, a CD-ROM, a DVD-ROM, a magneto-optical disk, an IC card, and a hard disk can be used.
[0015]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in the following order.
A. Overall configuration of the coupon usage system:
B. Data structure of coupon data:
C. Coupon usage processing:
(C1) Coupons A and B:
(C2) Coupon C:
(C3) Coupon D:
D. Point addition:
[0016]
A. Overall configuration of the coupon usage system:
FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing the overall configuration of the coupon utilization system. The coupon utilization system includes a mobile phone 10, a base station 20, a Web server 30, and a store 40. Here, these are shown one by one for convenience of explanation, but the number is not limited. The mobile phone 10 and the base station 20 perform communication by predetermined wireless communication. The base station 20, the Web server 30, and the store 40 are interconnected by the Internet 50.
[0017]
The mobile phone 10 can perform transmission and reception of e-mails using the Internet 50 and browsing of a homepage in addition to a normal voice call. The Web server 30 stores homepages of the store 40 and other stores, and the homepage contains various coupon data. The user of the mobile phone 10 can enjoy various services such as a discount service by displaying the coupon data downloaded from the Web server 30 on the screen of the mobile phone 10 and presenting it to the clerk of the store 40. Details of the coupon data will be described later.
[0018]
The mobile phone 10 incorporates a microcomputer equipped with a CPU, a RAM, and a ROM, and a flash memory. A control program for controlling the mobile phone 10 is recorded in the ROM. The CPU performs various processes by executing this program using the RAM as a work area. In the lower part of the figure, some of the functions realized by this program are shown in a block diagram. That is, as shown, the control program includes a coupon acquisition unit 11, a coupon storage unit 12, a coupon display unit 13, a coupon control unit 14, a point management unit 15, and the like.
[0019]
The coupon acquisition unit 11 downloads coupon data from the Web server 30 based on an instruction from a user. The coupon storage unit 12 records the coupon data acquired by the coupon acquisition unit 11 in the flash memory. The coupon display unit 13 displays an image of the coupon read from the flash memory using the coupon storage unit 12 on a liquid crystal screen of the mobile phone 10. The coupon control unit 14 controls the coupon storage unit 12 and the coupon display unit 13 based on various conditions recorded in the coupon data, and also performs overall control of each functional unit. The point management unit 15 manages points, such as inputting points issued from the store 40 or the like in accordance with the use of coupons and recording the coupon data.
[0020]
B. Data structure of coupon data:
FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing the data structure of the coupon data. As shown, the coupon data includes a header and display data. In the header, conditions for using the coupon and the like are set, and in the display data, text data and graphic data for displaying the coupon on the screen are recorded. In this embodiment, four types of coupon data are illustrated as illustrated.
[0021]
The header of the coupon data shown in FIG. 2A records “coupon ID”, “use flag”, “expiration date”, and “service contents”. This coupon is a coupon that can be used only once within the set expiration date. In the following description, such a coupon is described as “coupon A”. The coupon ID is ID information uniquely assigned in advance to identify the coupon data. The use flag is a flag for recording whether or not the coupon has been used. As the expiration date, a date and time indicating the expiration date when the coupon can be used is recorded, for example, "until 11:00 am on January 10, 2003". Information such as “5% discount” and “1000 yen discount” is recorded as the service content.
[0022]
In the coupon data shown in FIG. 2B, “usable date and time” are recorded in addition to the data described in FIG. 2A. The usable date and time is, for example, a date and time when the coupon can be used, such as "weekdays only" or "only Sunday morning". By setting such date and time conditions in the coupon data, it is possible to expect to attract customers on days of the week when customers do not usually visit. In the following description, such a coupon is described as “coupon B”. This coupon is a coupon that can be used only once within the expiration date and at the usable date and time.
[0023]
In the coupon data shown in FIG. 2 (c), in addition to the data described in FIG. 2 (a), it is assumed that “displayable number” and “display number” are recorded. The “displayable number of times” is the upper limit number of times the user can display the coupon, and means the number of times the coupon can be used. In the “display count”, the number of times the coupon is displayed is recorded. In the following description, such a coupon is described as “coupon C”.
[0024]
In the coupon data shown in FIG. 2D, points can be recorded in addition to the data described in FIG. 2A. Points are points that are issued at the store 40 or the like according to the purchase price when a user purchases a product or the like. If a certain number of points are collected, the store can be provided with a predetermined service. it can. In the service content, for example, information such as "Save 50 points and save 3000 yen" is recorded. In the following description, such a coupon is described as “coupon D”.
[0025]
In the coupon data described above, the expiration date is set, but it is needless to say that there is no such restriction.
[0026]
C. Coupon usage processing:
(C1) Coupons A and B:
Hereinafter, processing of the mobile phone 10 when using a coupon will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 3 is a flowchart of the coupon use process executed by the CPU of the mobile phone 10 according to the control program. FIG. 4 shows various display examples displayed on the liquid crystal screen of the mobile phone 10 in each process. For the sake of simplicity, it is assumed that the coupon used by the user is coupon A or B.
[0027]
First, the CPU displays a menu on the screen (step S10) and receives a selection of a function from the user. FIG. 4A shows an example of such a display screen. The user operates a predetermined operation button provided on the mobile phone 10 to select a desired function from the displayed menu. Here, for example, it is assumed that functions such as use of a coupon, transmission and reception of an e-mail, browsing of a homepage, execution of a game, and the like can be selected. Next, the CPU determines whether or not “coupon” is selected (step S20). If a function other than “coupon” is selected (step S20: No), the CPU performs a process corresponding to that function. Execute (step S30).
[0028]
When "coupon" is selected in step S20, a coupon menu is further displayed (step S40), and the user receives a selection of acquiring a new coupon or using a coupon. FIG. 4B shows such a display example. Here, when "new acquisition" is selected by the user (step S50: Yes), a coupon acquisition process is executed (step S60). In the coupon acquisition process, the mobile phone 10 accesses the web server 30 and displays a predetermined home page on which coupon data is posted. The user downloads the coupon data by selecting a desired coupon from the list of coupons on the displayed homepage.
[0029]
On the other hand, in FIG. 4B, when "use" is selected (step S50: No), a list of coupon data recorded in the flash memory is displayed, and a user's selection is received from the list (step S50: No). Step S70). FIG. 4C shows a display example of such a list. Although only one coupon is displayed on the screen, other coupons can be viewed by scrolling the screen by a predetermined operation. The screen displays the expiration date and service contents recorded in the header of the coupon data.
[0030]
In step S70, when a coupon is selected by the user, the CPU refers to the header of the coupon data and determines whether or not the coupon is available (step S80). For example, when an expiration date is set in the header, it is determined whether or not the coupon is currently available by comparing the built-in clock of the mobile phone 10 with the date and time of the expiration date. When the usable date and time is set in the header, the determination is made based on whether or not the current date and time corresponds to the usable date and time. When both the expiration date and the usable date and time are recorded, if either one does not satisfy the condition, it is determined that the service cannot be used.
[0031]
If it is determined that the coupon is available (step S80: Yes), the coupon is displayed on the screen based on the display data recorded in the coupon data (step S90: FIG. 4D). reference). The clerk at the store 40 or the like can provide various services according to the coupon by presenting the displayed coupon screen from the customer.
[0032]
Next, after displaying the coupon screen in step S90, the CPU determines whether a predetermined time has elapsed (step S100). If the predetermined time has elapsed, the coupon data is deleted from the flash memory (step S110), and a series of processing ends. The predetermined time can be, for example, 10 seconds or 1 minute. The user of the mobile phone 10 presents the coupon screen to the store clerk during this time.
[0033]
If it is determined in step S80 that the coupon cannot be used (step S80: No), the reason is displayed on the screen (step S120). FIG. 4E shows an example of a screen display when the expiration date has expired. As described above, when the reason for the unavailability has expired (step S130: Yes), the process jumps to step S110 and deletes the coupon data. This is because such a coupon cannot be used again. If the coupon cannot be used for other reasons, for example, if the current date and time is not the usable date and time, the process ends without deleting the coupon. In such a case, the coupon can be used on another day of the week.
[0034]
According to the coupon use process described above, the coupon once used by the user can be automatically deleted. Therefore, it is possible to suppress the adverse effect that the same customer uses the same coupon many times, and to equalize the opportunity to provide services to other customers.
[0035]
In step 110, the coupon data is deleted. However, for example, the use flag described with reference to FIG. 2 is turned on, and such a coupon is not listed in the list illustrated in FIG. It may be invalidated by performing processing. Alternatively, the display data may be marked to indicate that the coupon has been used, so that the clerk can confirm that the coupon has already been used. In addition, before displaying the coupon on the screen in step S90, by displaying a confirmation message as shown in FIG. 4F, it is possible to present to the user that the coupon data will be deleted after a predetermined time has elapsed. desirable.
[0036]
(C2) Coupon C:
In the above description, the processing when coupon A and coupon B are used has been described. However, if the coupon selected in step S70 is coupon C, the following processing is performed. That is, in step S80, when it is determined that the “display count” recorded in the header is equal to or more than the “displayable count” (step S80: No), the process proceeds to step S120, and the fact that use is impossible is displayed on the screen. indicate. Then, the process jumps to step S110 to delete the coupon data. This is because such a coupon cannot be used again. On the other hand, if it is determined in step S80 that the “display count” is less than the “displayable count” (step S80: Yes), the process proceeds to step S90, and the coupon screen is displayed. Then, the “display count” recorded in the header is incremented, and the series of processing ends without deleting the coupon data. This is because if the number is within the “displayable number”, the coupon can be used again and there is no need to delete it.
[0037]
(C3) Coupon D:
Next, a case where the coupon selected in step 70 is coupon D will be described. In step S80, it is determined whether or not the “point” recorded in the header has reached the point specified in the “service content”. That is, in step S80, if the specified point has been reached, it is determined that the coupon is usable, and if not, the coupon is determined to be unusable. If the prescribed points have not been reached (step S80: No), a screen indicating that the coupon cannot be used because there are few points is displayed in step S120, and the process ends. If the specified point has been reached (step S80: Yes), the coupon screen is displayed in step S90, and the coupon data is deleted after a predetermined time according to steps S100 and S110. Although the coupon data is deleted here, the remaining points after using the points may be recorded in the header of the coupon data, and the coupon data itself may not be deleted.
[0038]
D. Point addition:
Next, a process of adding points to the above-described coupon D will be described. FIG. 5 is a flowchart of the point addition processing. First, the CPU of the mobile phone 10 inputs a point to be added and a coupon ID (step S200). Various methods can be considered as the input method. For example, the mobile phone 10 and a cash register of a store may be connected by a cable or the like, and a point corresponding to the purchase price of a product or the like and a coupon ID may be transferred via the cable. Alternatively, the cash register may be connectable to the Internet, and the information may be transmitted from the cash register to the mobile phone 10 by means such as e-mail via the Internet. Further, for example, a character string encrypted using a coupon ID and points is printed on a receipt by a cash register, and when the user inputs this character string to the mobile phone 10, the mobile phone 10 decodes the cipher text and the coupon The ID and the point may be extracted.
[0039]
Next, the CPU specifies coupon data to which points are to be added by referring to the header of the coupon data based on the coupon IDs input by the various methods described above (step S210). Finally, the CPU adds the input points to the specified coupon data (step S220). Through the processing described above, the mobile phone 10 can add points.
[0040]
Although various embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to these embodiments, and it goes without saying that various configurations can be adopted without departing from the spirit of the present invention. For example, a function realized by software may be realized by hardware. Further, in the embodiment, the mobile phone is applied as the coupon display device. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and a mobile information terminal such as a PDA or PHS can be applied.
[0041]
【The invention's effect】
According to the present invention, by storing coupon data in a terminal device such as a mobile phone, it is possible to manage its expiration date, usable period, whether or not it has been used, and the like. The coupon that has been used once can be automatically deleted after the display for a predetermined time, so that the store that provides the coupon data can provide services equally to other customers. In addition, the user can enjoy a predetermined service from a store or the like by using the points recorded in the coupon data.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing the overall configuration of a coupon utilization system.
FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing a data structure of coupon data.
FIG. 3 is a flowchart of a coupon use process.
FIG. 4 shows various display examples displayed on the liquid crystal screen of the mobile phone 10;
FIG. 5 is a flowchart of a point addition process.
[Explanation of symbols]
Reference Signs List 10 mobile phone 11 coupon acquisition unit 12 coupon storage unit 13 coupon display unit 14 coupon control unit 15 point management unit 20 base station 30 Web server 40 store 50 Internet

Claims (12)

A coupon display device for displaying coupon data obtained via a network,
In the coupon data, at least display data used to display the coupon is recorded,
A display unit that displays the coupon data based on the display data in response to a predetermined operation from a user,
After the display, a control unit for disabling the coupon data at a predetermined timing regardless of a user operation,
A coupon display device comprising: The coupon display device according to claim 1,
The coupon display device, wherein the control unit makes the coupon data unusable by deleting the coupon data. A coupon display device for displaying coupon data obtained via a network,
In the coupon data, display data used for displaying the coupon and condition data in which usage conditions of the coupon are set are recorded,
A display unit that displays the coupon data based on the display data in response to a predetermined operation from a user,
A control unit that controls the display based on the condition data;
A coupon display device comprising: The coupon display device according to claim 3, wherein
In the condition data, a usable period of the coupon is set,
The coupon display device, wherein the control unit performs control such that the display is not performed during periods other than the usable period. The coupon display device according to claim 3, wherein
In the condition data, the number of times the coupon can be displayed is set,
The coupon display device, wherein the control unit performs control so that the display is not performed more than the displayable number of times. The coupon display device according to claim 5, wherein
The coupon display device, wherein the control unit deletes the coupon data when the number of times of display exceeds the number of times that can be displayed. The coupon display device according to claim 1 or 3,
Further, a point input unit for inputting points issued according to the use of the coupon,
A point recording unit that records the input points in the coupon data,
A coupon display device comprising: A coupon management method in which a computer manages coupon data obtained via a network,
In the coupon data, at least display data used to display the coupon is recorded,
Displaying the coupon data based on the display data in response to a predetermined operation from a user;
After the display, a step of disabling the coupon data at a predetermined timing irrespective of a user operation;
Coupon management method including. A coupon management method in which a computer manages coupon data obtained via a network,
In the coupon data, display data used for displaying the coupon and condition data in which usage conditions of the coupon are set are recorded,
Displaying the coupon data based on the display data in response to a predetermined operation from a user;
Controlling the display based on the condition data;
Coupon management method including. A computer program for managing coupon data obtained via a network,
In the coupon data, at least display data used to display the coupon is recorded,
A function of displaying the coupon data based on the display data in accordance with a predetermined operation from a user;
A function of disabling the coupon data at a predetermined timing after the display regardless of a user operation;
Computer program to make a computer realize. A computer program for managing coupon data obtained via a network,
In the coupon data, display data used for displaying the coupon and condition data in which usage conditions of the coupon are set are recorded,
A function of displaying the coupon data based on the display data in accordance with a predetermined operation from a user;
A function of controlling the display based on the condition data;
Computer program to make a computer realize. A computer-readable recording medium on which the computer program according to claim 10 is recorded.

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