Apparatus and method of receiving order, storage medium, and method of point service

• US 7,292,997 B2
• Filed: 06/07/2001
• Issued: 11/06/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 06/08/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Computer Entertainment Incorporated (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Computer Entertainment Incorporated (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Kuwahara, Toru
• Primary Examiner(s): Kramer; James
• Assistant Examiner(s): Apple; Kirsten Sachwitz
• Application Number:
  US09/876,884
• Publication Number:
  US 20020032606A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,343 Days
• Field of Search: 705/14, 705/39, 705/35
• US Class Current: 705/39
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/10 specially adapted for electronic funds transfer [EFT] systems; specially adapted for home banking systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0226 Incentive systems for frequent usage, e.g. frequent flyer miles programs or point systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/00 Finance; Insurance; Tax strategies; Processing of corporate or income taxes
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/04 Trading; Exchange, e.g. stocks, commodities, derivatives or currency exchange

Abstract

A store apparatus stores a point calculation method that is applied usually, and stores also specific combinations of commodities names, as well as a specific point calculation method that is applied to those specific combinations. When an order of commodities is received from an ordering apparatus, it is judged if those commodities are one of the specific combinations of commodities When it is one of the specific combinations, points are calculated using the specific point calculation method. By making the specific point calculation method more advantageous to customers than the usual point calculation method, it is possible to excite customers'"'"' will to purchase the specific commodities.

Claims

1. An order receiving apparatus that receives an order of commodity transaction from a commodity ordering apparatus through a network, comprising:

a first storage means adapted to store commodity information that includes at least a commodity name and a selling price of a commodity as an object of transaction;

a second storage means adapted to store information specifying combinations of two or more different commodities, and adapted to store specific parameters concerning economic return, which are applied respectively to said combinations, relating said information and said specific parameters, respectively;

a third storage means adapted to store a general-purpose parameter concerning economic return, which is applied to commodities other than said combinations of commodities;

a means adapted to perform steps of;

receiving a request to display information on commodities, from said commodity ordering apparatus;

referring to the first storage means, to output said commodity information to said commodity ordering apparatus; and

referring to the second and third storage means, to output information on said combinations of commodities and said specific parameters applied respectively to said combinations, and information on said general-purpose parameter, to said commodity ordering apparatus; and

a point generation means that performs steps of;

receiving an order request including information to specify ordered commodities, from said commodity ordering apparatus;

judging if a group of the ordered commodities specified includes commodities related to a combination recorded in the second storage means;

calculating first points when it is judged that the commodities related to the combination are included, said first points being decided based on a specific parameter applied to said combination, or based on the specific parameter applied to said combination and on selling prices of the commodities related to said combination;

calculating second points with respect to commodities other than the commodities related to said combination, based on the general-purpose parameters based on the general-purpose parameter and selling prices of the commodities in question; and

outputting total points of the first points and the second points, to said ordering apparatus.

2. The order receiving apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

a means adapted to receive identification information on a user of said ordering apparatus; and

a fourth storage means adapted to store said total points, relating said total points to said identification information received.

3. The order receiving apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:

said general-purpose parameter is a value defining a rate to a selling price of a commodity; and

said second points are decided by multiplying the selling prices of the commodities in question by said rate.

4. The order receiving apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:

said specific parameters is a value defining a rate to the selling prices of the commodities related to the combination concerned; and

said first points are decided by multiplying the selling prices of the commodities related to the combination by said rate.

5. The order receiving apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:

said specific parameter decides the number of said first points.

6. An order receiving apparatus that receives an order of commodity transaction from a commodity ordering apparatus trough a network, comprising:

a first storage means adapted to store commodity information that includes at least a commodity name and a selling price of a commodity as an object of transaction;

a second storage means adapted to store information specifying combinations of two or more different commodities, specific parameters concerning economic return, which arc applied respectively to said combinations, and periods applied respectively to said combinations, relating said information, said specific parameters, and said periods respectively;

a third storage means adapted to store a general-purpose parameter concerning economic return, which is applied to commodities other than said combinations of commodities;

a means adapted to perform steps of;

receiving a request to display information on commodities, from said commodity ordering apparatus;

referring to the first storage means, to output said commodity information to said commodity ordering apparatus; and

referring to the second and third storage means, to output information on said combinations of commodities, said specific parameters and periods applied respectively to said combinations, and information on said general-purpose parameter, to said commodity ordering apparatus; and

a point generating means, said point generating means performing steps of;

receiving an order request including user identification and information for specifying ordered commodities, from said commodity ordering apparatus;

judging it commodities related to a combination stored in the second storage means arc included in a group of the ordered commodities specified or in the group of the ordered commodities specified and commodities that are specified by the information stored in the fourth storage means and have dates included in the periods stored in the second storage means;

calculating first points when it is judged that the commodities related to the combination are included, said first points being decided based on a specific parameter applied to said combination, or based on the specific parameter applied to said combination and on selling prices of the commodities related to said combination;

calculating second points with respect to commodities other than the commodities related to said combination, based on the general-purpose parameter, or basal on the general-purpose parameter and selling prices of the commodities in question; and

outputting total points of the first points and the second points, to said ordering apparatus.

7. The order receiving apparatus according to claim 6, further comprising:

a fourth storage means adapted to store user identification information on a user of a commodity ordering apparatus related to the order received, information for specifying commodities, and a date, related said user information, said information for specifying commodities and said date.

8. An order receiving method, in which an order of commodity transaction is received from a commodity ordering apparatus through a network, comprising steps of:

storing commodity information that includes at least a commodity name and a selling price of a commodity as an object of transaction;

storing information specifying combinations of two or more different commodities, and specific parameters concerning economic return, which are applied respectively to said combinations, relating said information and said specific parameters, respectively;

storing a general-purpose parameter concerning economic return, which is applied to commodities other than said combinations of commodities;

receiving a request to display information on commodities, from said commodity ordering apparatus;

displaying said commodity information to said commodity ordering apparatus;

displaying information on said combinations of commodities and said specific parameters applied respectively to said combinations, and information on said general-purpose parameter, onto said commodity ordering apparatus;

receiving an order request including information to specify ordered commodities from said commodity ordering apparatus;

judging if a group of the ordered commodities specified includes commodities related to a combination recorded in the second storage means;

calculating first points when it is judged that the commodities related to the combination are included, said first points being decided based on a specific parameter applied to said combination based on the specific parameter applied to said combination and on selling prices of the commodities related to said combination;

calculating second points with respect to commodities other than the commodities related to said combination, based on the general-purpose parameter based on the general-purpose parameter and selling prices of the commodities in question; and

outputting total points of the first points and the second points, to said ordering apparatus.

9. An order receiving method, in which an order of commodity transaction is received from a commodity ordering apparatus through a network, comprising steps of:

storing commodity information that includes at least a commodity name and a selling price of a commodity as an object of transaction;

storing information specifying combinations of two or more different commodities, specific parameters applied respectively to said combinations, and periods applied respectively to said combinations, relating said information, said specific parameters, and said periods respectively;

storing a general-purpose parameter applied to commodities other than said combinations of commodities;

receiving a request to display information on commodities, from said commodity ordering apparatus;

displaying said commodity information to said commodity ordering apparatus; and

displaying information on said combinations of commodities, said specific parameters and periods applied respectively to said combinations, and information on said general-purpose parameter onto said commodity ordering apparatus;

receiving an order request including information to specify ordered commodities, from said commodity ordering apparatus;

judging if a group of the ordered commodities specified includes commodities related to a combination recorded in the second storage means;

calculating first points when it is judged that the commodities related to the combination are included, said first points being decided based on a specific parameter applied to said combination, or based on the specific parameter applied to said combination and on selling prices of the commodities related to said combination;

calculating second points with respect to commodities other than the commodities related to said combination, based on the general-purpose parameter, or based on the general-purpose parameter and selling prices of the commodities in question; and

outputting total points of the first points and the second points, to said ordering apparatus.

10. A computer-readable storage medium containing a set of instructions for a general purpose computer, the set of instructions for causing a computer to execute an order receiving processing, in which an order of commodity transaction is received from a commodity ordering apparatus connected through a network, which causes the computer to execute processes of:

storing commodity information that includes at least a commodity name and a selling price of a commodity as an object of transaction;

storing information specifying combinations of two or more different commodities, and specific parameters concerning economic return, which are applied respectively to said combinations, relating said information and said specific parameters, respectively;

storing a general-purpose parameter concerning economic return, which is applied to commodities other than said combinations of commodities;

receiving a request to display information on commodities, from said commodity ordering apparatus;

outputting said commodity information to said commodity ordering apparatus;

outputting information on said combinations of commodities and said specific parameters applied respectively to said combinations, and information on said general-purpose parameter, onto said commodity ordering apparatus;

receiving an order request including information to specify ordered commodities, from said commodity ordering apparatus;

judging if a group of the ordered commodities specified includes commodities related to a combination recorded in the second storage means;

calculating first points when it is judged that the commodities related to the combination are included, said first points being decided based on a specific parameter applied to said combination, or based on the specific parameter applied to said combination and on selling prices of the commodities related to said combination;

calculating second points with respect to commodities other than the commodities related to said combination, based on the general-purpose parameter, or based on the general-purpose parameter and selling prices of the commodities in question; and

outputting total points of the first points and the second points, to said ordering apparatus.

12. A computer readable storing medium that stores die program according to any one of claims 10 and 11.

11. A computer-readable storage medium containing a set of instructions for a general purpose computer, the set of instructions for causing a computer to execute an order receiving processing, in which an order of commodity transaction is received from a commodity ordering apparatus connected through a network, which causes the computer to execute processes of:

storing commodity information that includes at least a commodity name and a selling price of a commodity as an object of transaction;

storing information specifying combinations of two or more different commodities, specific parameters applied respectively to said combinations, and periods applied respectively to said combinations, relating said information, said specific parameters, and said periods respectively;

storing a general-purpose parameter applied to commodities other than said combinations of commodities;

receiving a request to display information on commodities, from said commodity ordering apparatus;

outputting said commodity information to said commodity ordering apparatus;

outputting information on said combinations of commodities, said specific parameters and periods applied respectively to said combinations, and information on said general-purpose parameter, to said commodity ordering apparatus;

receiving an order request including information to specify ordered commodities, from said commodity ordering apparatus;

judging if a group of the ordered commodities specified includes commodities related to a combination recorded in the second storage means;

calculating first points when it is judged that the commodities related to the combination are included, said first points being decided based on a specific parameter applied to said combination, or based on the specific parameter applied to said combination and on selling prices of the commodities related to said combination;

calculating second points with respect to commodities other than the commodities related to said combination, based on the general-purpose parameter, or based on the general-purpose parameter and selling prices of the commodities in question; and

outputting total points of the first points and the second points, to said ordering apparatus.

13. A point service method, in which points corresponding to an amount of purchase are given to a customer who has purchased commodities in an online shop, wherein:

when an order is received, a method of calculating points to be given is changed according to a combination of commodities related to the purchase, referring to a file that includes data relating the combination of commodities and information required for calculation of the points; and

a point generating means performs steps of;

receiving an order request including information to specify ordered commodities from said commodity ordering apparatus;

judging if a group of the ordered commodities specified includes commodities related to a combination recorded in the second storage means;

calculating first points when it is judged that the commodities related to the combination are included, said first points being decided based on a specific parameter applied to said combination, or based on the specific parameter applied to said combination and on selling prices of the commodities related to said combination;

calculating second points with respect to commodities other than the commodities related to said combination, based on the general-purpose parameter, or based or the general-purpose parameter and selling prices of the commodities in question; and

outputting total points of the first points and the second points, to said ordering apparatus.