Information processor

• US 20030078841A1
• Filed: 07/31/2002
• Published: 04/24/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 12/04/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Hirayama, Tomoshi
• Application Number:
  US10/182,601
• Publication Number:
  US 20030078841A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/14
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/045 using payment protocols involving tickets
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/387 Payment using discounts or coupons relating to marketing G06Q30/02
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0235 constrained by time limit or expiration date
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/42 for ticket printing or like apparatus , e.g. apparatus for dispensing of printed paper tickets or payment cards

Abstract

The present invention is associated with an information processing apparatus adapted to electronically quickly realize the provision of coupon services, the totaling of coupon data, and the fee-charging of the provided services. A coupon issuing apparatus 11 issues coupon conditions to a distribution apparatus 13. The distribution apparatus 13 distributes coupon data along with program broadcast signals. A user receives a desired coupon from a user receiving apparatus 14 and stores the received coupon into a memory stick. A store terminal apparatus 16 receives coupon data distributed by all programs and stores the received coupon data into its internal storage section. The user loads the memory stick 15 into the store terminal apparatus 16. The store terminal apparatus 16 displays usable coupons. When the user selects a desired usable coupon, the store terminal apparatus 16 provides a predetermined service and sends coupon totaled data and fee-charge data to a totaling server 17. The totaling server 17 accumulates the received totaled data and sends the accumulated totaled data and the fee-charge data to the coupon issuing apparatus.

Claims

1. An information processing apparatus comprising:

storage means for storing an electronic coupon; and

distribution means for distributing said electronic coupon stored in said storage means;

wherein said electronic coupon includes at least two of a valid chain store ID, a valid area ID, a valid product ID, and valid period.

2. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said valid product ID includes a sub ID.

3. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said distribution means distributes said same electronic coupon to an apparatus of a user who uses said electronic coupon and an apparatus of a provider who provides services based on said electronic coupon.

4. An information processing method comprising:

a storage step for storing an electronic coupon; and

a distribution step for distributing said electronic coupon stored by said storage step;

wherein said electronic coupon includes at least two of a valid chain store ID, a valid area ID, a valid product ID, and valid period.

5. A recording medium recorded with a computer-readable program comprising:

a storage control step for controlling storage of an electronic coupon; and

a distribution control step for controlling distribution of said electronic coupon stored by said storage control step;

wherein said electronic coupon includes at least two of a valid chain store ID, a valid area ID, a valid product ID, and valid period.

6. An information processing apparatus comprising:

selection means for selecting a predetermined electronic coupon from a plurality of distributed electronic coupons;

reception means for receiving said predetermined electronic coupon selected by said selection means;

storage means for storing said electronic coupon received by said reception means; and

electronic coupon transmission means for transmitting said electronic coupon stored in said storage means to another information processing apparatus.

7. The information processing apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said electronic coupon includes at least two of a valid chain store ID, a valid area ID, a valid product ID, and a valid period.

8. The information processing apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said valid product ID includes a sub ID.

9. The information processing apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said electronic coupon is the same as said electronic coupon which is distributed to an apparatus of a provider who provides services based on said electronic coupon.

10. An information processing method comprising:

a selection step for selecting a predetermined electronic coupon from a plurality of distributed electronic coupons;

a reception step for receiving said predetermined electronic coupon selected in said selection step;

a storage step for storing said electronic coupon received in said reception step; and

an electronic coupon transmission step for transmitting said electronic coupon stored in said storage step to another information processing apparatus.

11. A recording medium recorded with a computer-readable program comprising:

a selection control step for controlling selection of a predetermined electronic coupon from a plurality of distributed electronic coupons;

a reception control step for controlling reception of said predetermined electronic coupon selected in said selection control step;

a storage control step for controlling storage of said electronic coupon received in said reception control step; and

an electronic coupon transmission control step for controlling transmission of said electronic coupon stored in said storage control step to another information processing apparatus.

12. An information processing apparatus comprising:

reception means for receiving a plurality of distributed electronic coupons;

storage means for storing said plurality of electronic coupons received by said reception means;

acceptance means for accepting an electronic coupon from another information processing apparatus which received said electronic coupon;

retrieval means for retrieving the electronic coupon accepted by said acceptance means from said plurality of electronic coupons stored in said storage means; and

service provision means for providing services corresponding to the electronic coupon accepted by said acceptance means in response to a result of the retrieval made by said retrieval means.

13. The information processing apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said electronic coupon includes at least two of an valid chain store ID, a valid area ID, a valid product ID, and a valid period.

14. The information processing apparatus according to claim 13, further comprising registration means for registering a plurality of said valid chain store IDs;

wherein said storage means stores said electronic coupon corresponding to said valid chain store ID registered by said registration means.

15. The information processing apparatus according to claim 14, further comprising, if said retrieval means fails to retrieve said electronic coupon corresponding to said electronic coupon accepted by said acceptance means, notification means for notifying a provider of services based on said electronic coupon of the failure of retrieval.

16. The information processing apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said valid product ID includes a sub ID.

17. The information processing apparatus according to claim 13, further comprising valid period confirmation means for confirming if said electronic coupon is usable on the basis of said valid period.

18. The information processing apparatus according to claim 13, further comprising valid area confirmation means for confirming if said electronic coupon is usable on the basis of said valid area ID.

19. The information processing apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said electronic coupon is the same as said electronic coupon to be distributed to said another processing apparatus.

20. The information processing apparatus according to claim 12, further comprising:

recording means for recording a log of said electronic coupon accepted by said acceptance means; and

transmission means for transmitting said log recorded in said recording means to a totaling apparatus.

21. The information processing apparatus according to claim 20, further comprising fee-charge data transmission means for transmitting fee-charge data for services provided on the basis of said electronic coupon to said totaling apparatus.

22. An information processing method comprising:

a reception step for receiving a plurality of distributed electronic coupons;

a storage step for storing said plurality of electronic coupons received in said reception step;

an acceptance step for accepting an electronic coupon from another information processing apparatus which received said electronic coupon;

a retrieval step for retrieving the electronic coupon accepted in said acceptance step from said plurality of electronic coupons stored in said storage step; and

a service provision step for providing services corresponding to the electronic coupon accepted in said acceptance step in response to a result of the retrieval made in said retrieval step.

23. A recording medium recorded with a computer-readable program comprising:

a reception control step for controlling reception of a plurality of distributed electronic coupons;

a storage control step for controlling storage of said plurality of electronic coupons received in said reception control step;

an acceptance control step for controlling acceptance of an electronic coupon from another information processing apparatus which received said electronic coupon;

a retrieval control step for controlling retrieval of the electronic coupon accepted in said acceptance control step from said plurality of electronic coupons stored in said storage control step; and

a service provision control step for controlling provision of services corresponding to the electronic coupon accepted in said acceptance control step in response to a result of the retrieval made in said retrieval control step.

24. An information processing system comprising a first information processing apparatus for distributing an electronic coupon, a second information processing apparatus for selectively receiving and storing said distributed electronic coupon, and a third information processing apparatus for receiving and storing all distributed coupons,

said first information processing apparatus comprising:

first storage means for storing said electronic coupon; and

distribution means for distributing said electronic coupon stored in said first storage means;

said second information processing apparatus comprising;

selection means for selecting a predetermined electronic coupon from a plurality of distributed electronic coupons;

first reception means for receiving said predetermined electronic coupon selected by said selection means;

second storage means for storing said electronic coupon received by said first reception means; and

electronic coupon transmission means for transmitting said electronic coupon stored in said second storage means to said third information processing apparatus; and

said third information processing apparatus comprising;

second reception means for receiving a plurality of distributed electronic coupons;

third storage means for storing said plurality of electronic coupons received by said second reception means;

acceptance means for accepting an electronic coupon from said coupon transmission means;

retrieval means for retrieving the electronic coupon accepted by said acceptance means from said plurality of electronic coupons stored in said third storage means; and

service provision means for providing services corresponding to the electronic coupon accepted by said acceptance means in response to a result of the retrieval made by said retrieval means.

25. An information processing method for an information processing system comprising a first information processing apparatus for distributing an electronic coupon, a second information processing apparatus for selectively receiving and storing said distributed electronic coupon, and a third information processing apparatus for receiving and storing all distributed coupons,

the information processing method for said first information processing apparatus comprising:

a first storage step for storing said electronic coupon; and

a distribution step for distributing said electronic coupon stored in said first storage step;

the information processing method for said second information processing apparatus comprising;

a selection step for selecting a predetermined electronic coupon from a plurality of distributed electronic coupons;

a first reception step for receiving said predetermined electronic coupon selected in said selection step;

a second storage step for storing said electronic coupon received in said first reception step; and

an electronic coupon transmission step for transmitting said electronic coupon stored in said second storage step to said third information processing apparatus; and

the information processing method for said third information processing apparatus comprising;

a second reception step for receiving all of a plurality of distributed electronic coupons;

a third storage step for storing said plurality of electronic coupons received in said second reception step;

an acceptance step for accepting an electronic coupon from said coupon transmission step;

a retrieval step for retrieving the electronic coupon accepted in said acceptance step from said plurality of electronic coupons stored in said third storage step; and

a service provision step for providing services corresponding to the electronic coupon accepted in said acceptance step in response to a result of the retrieval made in said retrieval step.

26. A recording medium recorded with a computer-readable program for controlling an information processing system comprising a first information processing apparatus for distributing an electronic coupon, a second information processing apparatus for selectively receiving and storing said distributed electronic coupon, and a third information processing apparatus for receiving and storing all distributed coupons,

said program stored in the recording medium of said first information processing apparatus comprising:

a first storage control step for controlling storage of said electronic coupon; and

a distribution control step for controlling distribution of said electronic coupon stored in said first storage control step;

said program stored in the recording medium of said second information processing apparatus comprising;

a selection control step for controlling selection of a predetermined electronic coupon from a plurality of distributed electronic coupons;

a first reception control step for controlling reception of said predetermined electronic coupon selected in said selection control step;

a second storage control step for controlling storage of said electronic coupon received in said first reception control step; and

an electronic coupon transmission control step for controlling transmission of said electronic coupon stored in said second storage control step to said third information processing apparatus; and

said program stored in the recording medium for said third information processing apparatus comprising;

a second reception control step for controlling reception of a plurality of distributed electronic coupons;

a third storage control step for controlling storage of said plurality of electronic coupons received in said second reception control step;

an acceptance control step for controlling acceptance of an electronic coupon from said coupon transmission control step;

a retrieval step for controlling retrieval of the electronic coupon accepted in said acceptance control step from said plurality of electronic coupons stored in said third storage control step; and

a service provision control step for controlling provision of services corresponding to the electronic coupon accepted in said acceptance control step in response to a result of the retrieval made in said retrieval control step.