WO2001065434A1

WO2001065434A1 - Site guide system

Info

Publication number: WO2001065434A1
Application number: PCT/JP2001/001435
Authority: WO
Inventors: Kazumi Mizuguchi
Original assignee: Adc Technology Inc.
Priority date: 2000-02-29
Filing date: 2001-02-26
Publication date: 2001-09-07
Also published as: JP2001243180A; AU2001234182A1

Abstract

An Internet terminal (8) registers user information including an e-mail address to a point processing server (4) and the point processing server (4) transmits an e-mail including the link to a shopping site (6) in consideration of the user information. The Internet terminal (8) receives the e-mail. When the user clicks the link, the point processing server (4) gives the user a point and connects the Internet terminal (8) to the shopping site (6), and thereby the content is displayed. When the user purchases a commodity on the Web site, a point is given to the user. If the accumulated points reach a predetermined value, a privilege is given to the user. Therefore the user can use the site guide system thereafter. As a result, the sites introduced by the system are accessed more than sites introduced by another system.

Description

Description Site guidance system Technical field

The present invention relates to a site guidance system for guiding a site connected to a network. Background art

A variety of servers and sites are connected to a network and are actively used for mutual use. In particular, the Internet uses a wide-area information system called the World Wide Web (WWW). If the site is connected to the Internet, it can be accessed across national borders simply by specifying a URL, or can be accessed using a hypertext. It is possible to move inside and outside of the building with one touch. For this reason, various sites provided by organizations such as corporations, universities, local governments, and government agencies are open to the public on the Internet.

Some of these sites have been set up by individuals other than those provided by the organization. The purpose of opening a site for individuals is to gather fellows with the same interests, communicate with the gathered fellows, and use it as a place for self-expression.

However, in a large-scale network such as the Internet, the number of connected sites is enormous, and it is often difficult to access the sites opened by oneself. In this case, the above objectives cannot be sufficiently achieved.

Also, organization sites may not receive much access. For companies, their sites can publicize their business and promote products. Can be a place to go. For this reason, URLs are posted on newspaper advertisements and packages of their products to encourage access, but it is hard to say that they are working effectively. This is true even if the site provider is a local government or government agency.

Therefore, these sites are being guided by sending site advertisements, etc., to Internet users by e-mail. However, many users do not like to receive such direct mails via e-mail. For example, if a large amount of direct mail is sent, the e-mail that is originally exchanged between users may be buried in these direct mails. Communication costs may be required to receive these direct mails. As a result, such direct mail sometimes had the opposite effect. Disclosure of the invention

An object of the present invention is to solve such a problem and to provide a site guidance system that makes it easy to access a site by using electronic mail.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, the site guide system of the present invention transmits an e-mail including link-related information to an e-mail address of a user. Then, when a predetermined action is performed on the user terminal based on the link-related information in the e-mail, the point of the site stored in the site information storage means is stored in the user information terminal. Granted as user points.

Here, the point of the site can be a useful point for the user, and may be an abstract one such as a numerical value itself, or a numerical value that specifically indicates something (for example, the amount of money, mileage, etc.). Distance). The link-related information is information for directly or indirectly linking to the site. That is, any information that can be led to the site may be used. Information for directly linking to a site includes information indicating the site, such as the URL of the site. On the other hand, information for indirectly linking to a site includes, for example, information that can be transferred to that site via another site. Specifically, for example, information of a transfer site Examples include a set of URL and ID. In this case, for example, the URL of the site and the ID are stored in the transfer site in association with each other, and when the transfer site is accessed, the ID is received, and the ID corresponding to the ID is received. Link to the site by sending the URL of the site to the accessing side. The user terminal is, for example, a device equipped with a computer connected to a communication network.

As described above, since the e-mail to be transmitted includes the link-related information to the site, the user who has received the e-mail may access the site based on the link-related information in the e-mail. Occurs. For this reason, site operators, etc. (hereinafter referred to as advertisers, etc.) will be more likely to access the site. On the other hand, if there is a predetermined action based on this link-related information, points are given to the user, so that the discomfort the user has with conventional direct mail is reduced. Therefore, the system has advantages for both advertisers and users.

Further, the site information storage means can store site information of a plurality of sites. That is, when an e-mail containing link-related information to each site is transmitted, the user terminal receives the e-mail, and when there is a predetermined action based on the link-related information in the e-mail, Points at each site can be given as user points. For this reason, each advertiser etc. manages the e-mail destination on each site, This eliminates the need to provide a system for assigning cards. Therefore, the burden on advertisers and the like is reduced. In addition, since points are centrally managed by users, points are not recorded in multiple sites in a distributed manner, which does not cause usability problems. Therefore, the user can further enjoy the pleasure of accumulating points, and is more likely to visit the site based on the link-related information in the e-mail. This makes it easier to access the site.

Note that the above-mentioned predetermined action may be of one type, but when there are a plurality of actions, a user point may be given according to the content of the action. For example, in the site information storage means, three types of points, point 1 and point 2 and point 3, are stored for each site. Point 1 is for action A, point 2 is for action B, and so on. For action C, as in point 3, user points can be assigned for each action. Also, multiple actions correspond to one type of point, such as point 1 for actions A and B, point 2 for actions C, D, and E, and point 3 for action F. Including cases.

Examples of the predetermined function include a case where a site is accessed based on link-related information, and the following cases.

For example, a user point is given when a site is notified in a state where the user can recognize it. The notification of the site in a state in which the user can recognize it means, for example, when the site is displayed on the display device of the user terminal or when the user terminal loads the site in a viewable state. In addition, this includes cases where the user terminal outputs the contents of the site by voice. In this way, for example, when the user browses the site based on the link-related information, the user gets points and the possibility of browsing the site increases. You. This makes it easier to access the site.

Further, the predetermined action may be a case where a product is purchased on the site, and in this case, it is preferable to give user points. Therefore, since the user can obtain a point at the time of purchase, the frequency of browsing the site and the like is increased, and the guide of the site can be effectively performed. On the site side, it is expected that the number of purchasers will increase.

Further, the predetermined action may be a case where a question is answered on the site, and in this case, a user point may be given. In this way, the user can get a point in response to the question. Advertisers, on the other hand, can obtain the opinions and information of users by asking them, and they will be more likely to access the site.

As described above, in addition to giving points according to a predetermined function, a predetermined point may be given to a user point of a destination user when an electronic mail is transmitted. In this way, users can get points just by receiving e-mail. Therefore, it is easy to increase the number of users of this system. Increasing the number of users of this system can make the site more accessible. The predetermined point may be a fixed point for each site, or a site point stored in the site information storage means.

As mentioned above, it is up to the point where points are awarded. For example, you may not be able to get points unless you purchase it, or you may get points only by browsing, and you may be able to get more points if you purchase there. As described above, in the case where the points are given by both parties, as described above, the site information storage means stores, for example, points for browsing and points for purchase separately, and in each case, May be provided. Similarly, for example, an answer given when a question is answered The time point and the transmission time point provided at the time of transmission may be divided. By doing so, for example, it is possible to obtain a larger point when answering a question than when browsing, and to maximize the point when purchasing. Therefore, points can be awarded to the customer step by step, and the site can be more easily accessed. In particular, sites that sell products can increase the likelihood of tying them to sales.

In addition, the user points may be stored for each site, but may be added and stored. If it is stored for each site, it can be used as a point that can be used at that site. On the other hand, if they are added together, they can be shared points that can be used at participating sites. Points may also be exchanged for something with a common value, such as cash or gift certificates.

When giving points to the user in this way, the points given for each site may be stored. In this way, the points given to the user for each site can be known. Therefore, for example, a contract fee can be collected from each site according to the assigned points. In the following description, this point is referred to as a site point.

By the way, the given user points may be made available to the user at any time, but the privilege may be given when the point reaches a predetermined amount. Benefits include, for example, product purchase rights, cash, gift certificates, airline tickets, free viewing rights for paid programs, free usage rights for Internet paid sites, free usage rights for telephone calls, and discount tickets.

When cash is given as points, the cash given as 1 yen, 3 yen, etc. may be used as it is, or these may be used as a coherent value such as 500 yen, 100 yen, etc. Only available as a privilege May be. This cash may be transferred to a user's account or may be given as electronic money usable on a network or the like.

In addition, it is recommended that user points and site points can be confirmed via a network. If the user points can be confirmed in this way, the user can easily know how much his / her user points have accumulated. In particular, when the system is applied to a system that gives a privilege when the number of points reaches a predetermined amount, it is possible to know how many points to save the privilege. Therefore, for example, it can be used as a motivation for browsing or purchasing, and the site can be easily accessed.

Similarly, if the site points can be confirmed, for example, the site provider can easily know how much the site points of the own site have been given to the user. As a result, it is possible to prevent an excessive point from being given.

I hope that the site points can be set via the network. In this way, the points given to the user by the site provider can be freely changed according to the situation.

Also, when a point is given to a user based on the link-related information according to a predetermined action, the user is pointed out again according to the same action based on the same link-related information of the same user. Should not be given. In this way, for example, if a site once browsed based on the link-related information in the e-mail is browsed again based on the link-related information, no points will be given. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the site from being burdened by excessive access. If you cannot get the point even after browsing, you will see the message "You have already browsed this site so you can get the point even if you access it." To the user that points cannot be obtained. A warning message should be displayed. In addition, the state in which this point cannot be obtained may be released after a predetermined period (for example, one week, one month, etc.) has elapsed, and the point may be obtained only once. If you are confident about the sustainability of the PR effect of the site, or if the provider is affordable, give them points, for example, up to three times instead of only once. Is also good. It is desirable that the number of times can be set by the provider according to the provider's business policy and the advertising expenses that can be generated.

It should be noted that even if the above-mentioned abuse is not performed, the burden on the provider may be excessive. For example, when a huge number of users browse the site, aiming at the PR effect of the site. In response, the provider may set an upper limit on the contract fee paid to the operator (for example, up to 200,000 yen per month). Also in this case, when displaying the site information of the site, a point such as "This site has a very large number of accesses, so even if you browse this site now, you will not get points" It is advisable to display a warning that informs the user that he / she cannot get the data.

For example, you can get points only by browsing for the first time, but you can always get points when you purchase, or you can give a fixed value to each point you purchase. Further, a different value may be given to each of the purchase price / purchased product.

There are various methods for detecting such a predetermined action from a user terminal based on the link-related information in the e-mail. For example, there are various methods. Using the linkable information, the point assigning means detects the predetermined action by receiving from the site that there is a predetermined action to the site by the link-related information. You may. In this way, the point providing means determines whether there is a predetermined action on the site side. The need to monitor resources.

On the other hand, the link related information includes information that can be linked to the point providing means, and the point providing means may detect a predetermined action by monitoring the access based on the link related information. Good. This eliminates the need for the site to determine whether there is a predetermined action, thereby simplifying the processing on the site.

By the way, the fact that a point is given in accordance with a predetermined action as described above may be notified to the user in advance, or may be output to the user terminal when a predetermined action is performed. However, it may be notified by describing it in the e-mail to be sent. The information indicating that a point is to be given may be content for notifying that a point is to be given, or may include a value of the point. In this way, by putting the information to give the points in the e-mail, the user's interest can be attracted and the site can be easily accessed. In addition, the user's discomfort regarding direct mail can be reduced.

Such a site guidance system is also effective in a guidance system that does not record user points. In this case, points and the like may be given by another system. In this case, it is preferable that information indicating that points are to be given is included in the e-mail.

In any of the systems described above, the point of the site may be entered in the title of the e-mail to be transmitted. In this way, the points that are useful to the user are described in the title, so that they are more noticeable and attract users' interest than ordinary direct mail. This makes it easier to access the site. Also, for example, even if a user receives many direct mails, the user can view the received e-mails in order from the one with the largest number of points by looking at the title. You. In other words, you can see the value and amount of points just by looking at the title. You do not need to open every email. For example, you can open and view only emails that receive a lot of points. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the time required for reading e-mails. Sites with many points also have a greater site guidance effect. The information that points are given can be a point entered in the title of the e-mail. This eliminates the need to include information that points are given in the content (body) of the e-mail. Needless to say, a point may be added to the title of the e-mail, and information indicating that a point may be added to the content of the e-mail may be added.

Also, at this time, it is good to put points in the user terminal so that the title of the e-mail can be output in the order of the points. For example, a general e-mail software used in a user terminal can output the e-mail title character strings sorted in character code order. Therefore, when inserting points into the title character string, it is advisable to insert them in the order of the character code. In this way, the user can immediately recognize the items having many points, and thus can easily see the items having many points in order. Note that the point order may be, for example, an order of larger points or an order of smaller points.

Further, the user information including the user's e-mail address may be settable from the user side terminal via the network. In this way, site guide e-mails can be sent only to those who wish. Conversely, e-mails are sent to those who do not wish to receive site guidance e-mails, and users will not feel uncomfortable.

When sending an e-mail, the e-mail can be sent to all users. The correspondence with the mail address may be determined and transmitted. Examples of the user information include attributes such as a user's address, name, age, occupation, telephone number, gender, annual income, e-mail address, hobbies, and genres of interest. In consideration of such user information, the correspondence between the site information to be transmitted and the e-mail address is determined and transmitted, so that it is possible to guide a site close to the attribute of the user. For example, taking into account the item of “hobbies” in the user information, it is possible to guide sites related to the user's hobbies, or to “guide from occupation J to sites related to work. In addition to providing information on sites for products and services according to age and age, and sending site information for nearby stores from an address, it is not only possible to use direct items, but also electronically. An e-mail address to be obtained and transmitted indirectly from information determined based on a predetermined rule such as an e-mail address and a telephone number may be determined. Based on the email address, it is possible to identify the area where the user lives, and if it is an e-mail address, the area where the user lives and the affiliation (school-related, company-related, government-related, etc.) May be able to gain access or the like) and the like information from the provider.

By determining the correspondence between the site information to be transmitted in consideration of the user information and the e-mail address to be transmitted, each site can efficiently guide the site to its own target. Can be. In addition, since the user can know the site in his / her field of interest, the access to the site can be further facilitated.

The systems described so far should be implemented as systems connected to the Internet. In this way, it is possible to access by simply specifying a URL on the WWW, or to move inside and outside the site with one touch by using hypertext. Therefore, further access It becomes easy to receive. In this case, the e-mail sending means may be configured in a computer connected to the Internet. Then, the user may receive the e-mail at a terminal device (a personal computer, a PDA (Personal Digital Assistant), a mobile phone, etc.) connected to the Internet.

The functions of the computer system to implement the e-mail transmission means, the point giving means, the privilege giving means, the given point output means, the point setting means, and the user information setting means in the site guidance system are, for example, computer systems. It can be provided as a program to be started on the side. In the case of such a program, for example, it is recorded on a computer-readable recording medium such as a floppy disk, a magneto-optical disk, a CD-ROM, or a hard disk, and is loaded into a computer system as needed to be used. Can be. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 is a schematic explanatory diagram of one embodiment to which a site guidance system of the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is an external view of an Internet terminal used by a user, and FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration inside a point processing server.

4A and 4B are explanatory diagrams showing data exchange between a user, a point processing server, and a shopping site.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an e-mail transmission process executed by the point processing server, and

FIGS. 6A and 6B are explanatory diagrams showing a mailer screen on the Internet terminal 8. BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a schematic explanatory diagram of one embodiment to which a site guidance system of the present invention is applied. In this embodiment, the Internet N, the point processing server 4 connected to the Internet N, the shopping site 6, the Internet terminal 8, the user database 10 connected to the point processing server 4, the site Database 11 as a main part.

FIG. 2 shows an example of the Internet terminal 8. The Internet terminal 8 is a personal computer having a CRT display 12 as an image display device, a main body 14 equipped with a CPU, a CD-ROM drive, a hard disk, etc., a keyboard 16 and a mouse 18. It is configured. The hard disk of the main body 14 has at least a WWW browser and an e-mail software installed as application software.

FIG. 3 shows a schematic configuration of the point processing server 4. The point processing server 4 is a CPU that executes various computer programs, a private memory, a RAM 24 that stores a control program, comparison determination data, and the like, and a point processing server 4. R 0 M 26 that stores programs and the like, a communication control unit 28 that controls the exchange of data with the Internet N, and an external storage device 3 that stores the site database 11 and the user database 10 0 and a bus 32 connecting these components as main components. The user database 10 stores information (user information) on users (users), and the site database 11 stores information on shopping sites 6. And user database 10 and site database The contents of 11 can be referred to from the CPU 22.

[Table 1] shows a part of an example of the stored contents of the user database 10 [Table 1]

As shown in [Table 1], the user database 10 contains information on user names, ID numbers, passwords, points assigned to the users so far, e-mail addresses, user addresses, ages, and hobbies. Is stored. In this site guidance system, points are given to a user when the user browses the site or purchases a product at the shopping site 6. By accumulating these points, the purchase right that can be used as a price at shopping site 6 is granted. Purchasing rights are worth 500 yen if you accumulate 100 points, earn 100 yen if you accumulate 180 points, and 200 yen if you accumulate 300 points .

Next, a part of an example of the site database 11 is shown in [Table 2].

[Table 2] 1

As shown in [Table 2], the site database 11 stores the site name, link information to the site, point 1, point 2, site point, mail content URL, and mail transmission conditions. Have been. Point 1 is the point given to the user who browsed the site, and point 2 is the point given to the user who ordered the purchase of the site. The site point is the total number of points given to users for the site. The email content URL is the URL where the content of the email to be sent is stored. The e-mail transmission conditions are information indicating conditions for transmitting e-mails. From the information in the user database 10 (for example, as shown in Table 1), the e-mails of the users who match the conditions described in this column are sent. Email address. In this embodiment, the value of the column of “hobby” in the user database 10 is described in this column.

It should be noted that the site database 11 stores not only information about the shopping site 6 but also information about news sites and sites related to corporate advertisements in a similar manner. Sites that cannot order such products have zero point 2. In the table, the point 2 of “Iroha Shoten” is indicated by “*”, which means that the value of point 2 differs depending on the purchased product.

The values of point 1 and point 2 can be changed from the provider (advertiser) terminal. This change may be based on changes in the market, user access, or the provider's marketing strategy. In addition to the information shown in [Table 2], the site database 11 stores the sales points of each site for each site. Next, the main flow of command and data exchanges between the Internet terminal 8, the point processing server 4, and the shopping site 6 in this system will be described with reference to Figs. Explain You. The numbers (1), (2), (3), ... shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B correspond to the numbers (1), (2), (3), ... shown in FIG. I have. First, if the user has not registered the user information in the point processing server 4, the user information is registered (0). In order to register user information, the user starts a WWW browser of the Internet terminal 8 and accesses the point processing server 4 via the Internet N. Then, an image for inputting the items shown in Table 1 is output to the screen 12a of the CRT display 12 (not shown). When the user inputs the user information shown in Table 1 and clicks the input completion button, the point processing server 4 receives the input user information from the Internet terminal 8 and receives the user data. Store in base 10.

On the other hand, the point processing server 4 performs e-mail transmission processing shown in FIG. 5 at predetermined time intervals, and transmits e-mail (1). The predetermined time interval may be, for example, every few hours, every day or every week. The transmission conditions in Table 2 may include such a time interval for each site, and transmission may be performed based on the transmission conditions. Next, the operation of a specific example will be described with reference to Tables 1 and 2, while explaining the electronic mail transmission processing in accordance with the flowchart of FIG.

In S100, one line is extracted from the site database 11 and the mail transmission condition is extracted from the line. Hereinafter, this line is referred to as a site DB selection line. For example, the first row in Table 2, “ABC Instrument”, is the site DB selection row, and the mail transmission condition is “music”.

At S 110, a table of users matching the transmission conditions extracted at S 100 is extracted from the user database 10. Hereinafter, the extracted table is referred to as a user DB extraction table. That is, since the mail transmission condition is now “music”, the column of “hobby” in FIG. Extract rows. Therefore, the table containing the rows “Taro Yamada” and “Saburo Watanabe” is the user DB extraction table.

Then, in S120, one row is fetched from the user DB extraction table, and the e-mail address of the fetched row is set as the destination mail address. This fetched row is called the user DB selection row. In other words, the line of "mountain TaTaro" becomes the user DB selected row, the destination mail address will be r yamadacg xx.xx.co.jpj ₀

At S130, the file specified by the mail content URL in the site DB selection line is acquired and set as the mail content. At this time, the link information is extracted from the site DB selection line, the mail address is extracted from the user DB selection line as user identification information to the link information, and the information is added. Insert a link to the processing server 4 with the URL for point processing in the mail content. In other words, the mail content URL “http: \ point.abcgakki.com/mail.txt” is extracted from the “ABC musical instrument” line, and the mail.txt of this UR is set as the mail content. For example, in the 楽 ABC Musical Instrument described in mail.txt, during the Spring Musical Instrument Fair, click on the link below and you will receive a 202 points. Click now! Is set as the mail content. Then, line from the row of "ABC musical instrument", take out the _{_{_{_{r www. A b C g a}}}} kki.com "is a link information, to the link information, and the user specific information" Yamada Taro ""M=yamada@xx.XX.co.jp&l=www.abbcgakki.com" by adding the e-mail address. (This is the URL for browsing point processing of this point processing server 4 Γ http: 〃 www.pointserver.ne.ip / point.pi J ¾: Add!) http://www.pointserver.ne.jp/point.pl?m=vamada@xx.xx.co.jp&l=www.ab cgakki.com ”as a link in the email content. “M = J indicates an email address, and“ 1 = ”indicates a link.

Then, in the following S135, the value of the point 1 of the site D Β selected line is put in the mail title. The title should be in the format of "X X X points will be given just by browsing." Enter the number of points in "X X X". Enter "0" if the point value is less than 3 digits. By doing so, it is possible to sort in the order of small points or large points when sorting by title with ordinary mail software. This is because general mail software compares character code values of character strings in order from the first character and sorts them. In this case, the maximum value of the points is 999. Now, the point 1 of the ABC instrument is “2”, so put it in the title as “Just browse and you will get 102 points.”

Then, in S140, the title of the mail of S135 is added to the mail contents created by inserting the link in S130 with respect to the destination mail address set in S120. And send.

At S150, after a predetermined waiting time has passed, the error mail is checked, and if no error occurs, the point of the site DB selection line is added to the point of the user of the transmitted mail address. Is added. In other words, "2" is added to "1 2 3 4", which is the point of "Taro Yamada".

Then, in S160, the value is added to the site point of the selected site DB row. That is, “2” is added to “3 4 3 2 4 3”.

In subsequent S170, it is determined whether or not processing has been performed up to the last row of the user DB extraction table. If the last line has not been processed, the processing line is set to the next line, and the process returns to S120. On the other hand, if the processing has been performed up to the last line, the processing ends. That is, in the case of this example, the processing line is set to the next $ X sports line, and the process returns to S120. This process is repeated from the first row to the last row of the site database 11.

In this way, an e-mail including the content of the file specified by the transmission content URL can be transmitted to the user who matches the transmission condition. In addition, in the content of this e-mail, a link is added that includes the URL for browsing point processing, the link information to the site, and the e-mail address that is the user identification information.

When the user receives this mail from the mail server on the Internet terminal 8 (2) and displays the title on the screen 12a, a point is displayed in the title of the received mail.

Figures 6A and 6B show examples of the display of general mail software (hereafter called mailer) at this time. Figures 6A and 6B show the mailer screen 50 displayed on the screen 12a of Mr. Taro Yamada J—Internet terminal 8. The mailer screen 50 immediately after reception is shown in Figure 6A. FIG. 6B shows the mailer screen 50 after the subject sort button 62 is clicked.

The mailer screen 50 includes a folder selection area 52, a title display area 54, and a mail content display area 56. The folder selection area 52 is an area for selecting a folder for storing received mail (incoming mail), outgoing mail (outgoing mail), sent mail, deleted mail, draft mail, and the like. In Figs. 6A and 6B, received mail is selected. (The selected part is highlighted.) Therefore, a title list of the received mail is displayed in the title display area.

In the title display area 54, the sender, the subject, and the reception date and time are displayed as titles. In the example of FIG. 6A, the titles of seven e-mails are displayed in the title display area 54 in the reception date and time. Are displayed in this order. The user selects the title whose contents are to be viewed from this title list, and clicks the title. Then, the mail content of the title is displayed in the mail content display area 56. In FIGS. 6A and 6B, the mail content of the title 60 selected by the user is displayed. The selected mail is described as an operation of a specific example in the description of FIG. 5 described above, and is the mail transmitted in S140. In this way, it is easy to attract the user's interest in the title of the e-mail because it is displayed as "0.2 points just by browsing. J is displayed. In addition, since the point is displayed in the title, You can tell how many points you can get by just looking at the title, so you can click on the title of the email and click on it to display the email content, and look at it to check the points. It does not take.

Also, for example, when you are busy, you can click only the title with the highest points to display the mail content. In such a case, by clicking the subject sort button 62, the titles are displayed in the order of points as shown in Fig. 6B. Therefore, it is easy to click the title in the order of the number of points to be awarded to display the mail content.

Then, when the received mail is opened and the link in the mail is clicked, the link information of the link and the user identification information are transmitted to the point processing server 4 (3). For example, clicking on link 58 in FIGS. 6A and 6B activates the browser and returns to http://www.pointserver.ne.jp/point.pl «_ / Access.

Upon receiving the link information, the point processing server 4 connects to the shocking site 6 of the link information included in the link (4). For example, connect to www.abcgakki.com, which is included in link 58.

Then, the contents (contents) of the site are transmitted to the Internet terminal 8 (5), and displayed on the screen 12a. For example, the content of http: \ www.abcgakki.com is displayed on the browser. At this time, the point processing server 4 refers to the site database 11 using the user identification information, and stores the point 1 set corresponding to the shopping site 6 and the shopping site 6. Grant to viewed users. This assignment is performed by adding the user's point in the user database 10. Then, the point is added to the site point of the site database 11 of the corresponding shopping site 6. In this way, the points of both the user and the provider are counted. For example, this processing is performed by a program of point.pl that can be executed on a computer of www.pointserver.ne.jp corresponding to the point processing server 4. This program receives the email address yamada@xx.xx.co.jp, which is the user identification information included in link 58, and uses the email address of "Taro Yamada" Add "2" which is the point 1 of www.abcgakki.com included in the link 58 to the "pointer". Also, add “2” to the site points at www.abcgakki.com. In this way, points are given to “Taro Yamada” who clicks on the link 58 included in the mail content, and the site points of the provider www.abcgakki.com are also added.

Although the user identification information is an e-mail address, for example, a serial number may be used. In this case, the correspondence between the serial number and the ID number is stored in the external storage device 30 in S130, and when the user clicks the link to access the point processing server 4, the serial number is obtained. Then, a user who has accessed the information may be specified using the correspondence between the serial number and the ID number stored in the external storage device 30, and points may be given. Also, if the accessing user can be identified by other means, such as requesting the input of an ID number, the link is not included in the link but only the link information without user identification information in S130 of Fig. 5. , May be inserted into the mail content. Further, link information and user identification information may be directly added to the URL of the shopping site 6 to form a link. When this link is clicked, information (connection information) notifying that the user has viewed the shopping site 6 is transmitted from the shopping site 6 to the point processing server 4 (connection information). 6).

Further, the shopping site 6 may pay a contract fee to the point processing server 4 (7). It is assumed that the contract fee is contracted for points, how much for each point, and so on. Upon receiving the connection information, the point processing server 4 refers to the site database 11 and assigns the point 1 set corresponding to the shopping site 6 to a user who browsed the shopping site 6. I do. This assignment is made by adding the points of the user in the user database 10. Also, when this point reaches any one of the 1000, 1800, and 30000 points, the point processing server 4 notifies the user to that effect (8). This notification is made by e-mail. This can be done, for example, by sending the message "Point has reached 100". When the point reaches the above value, the purchase right generated in response to the point can be used for purchase at the shopping site 6 according to an instruction from the user. If you exercise this purchase right, the points will be subtracted from the accumulated points. The management of the grant of the purchase right and the subtraction accompanying the exercise thereof is performed by the point processing server 4, and this corresponds to the privilege grant means of the present invention. Up to this point, the same processing is performed when browsing sites other than the shopping site 6. After browsing the shopping site 6 and making further purchases, the data is exchanged as shown in Fig. 4B. (9) to (14) are performed in substantially the same manner as (1) to (6), respectively. However, in (14), the site is viewed A contract fee is paid for that. The user selects the desired product (or service) from the content displayed in (13) (specifically, the products and services sold at the shopping site 6). The customer places an order by entering the credit card number (15). Upon receiving this order, the shopping site 6 sends a notification that the order has been received to the Internet terminal 8 (16). In some cases, this may include an image for selecting the delivery method of the product or the payment method (for example, how many installments).

When the transaction procedure is completed, the order information is notified to the point processing server 4 (17). Then, from the shopping site 6, the contract processing fee corresponding to the point 2 given to the user for the purchase is paid to the point processing server 14 (18). The point processing server 14 that has received the order information of (17) refers to the site database 11 and refers to the site 2 and sets the point 2 set corresponding to the shopping site 6 to the shopping site 6. Is given to the browsing user (19). This assignment is made by adding the user's points in the user database 10 as in the case of the point 1. For example, if the user browses the ABC instrument and makes a further purchase, 7 points will be awarded to this user, which is the total value of “2” (point 1) and “5” (point 2). When the point reaches a preset value, the user is similarly notified. Shopping site 6 delivers the ordered product to the user (in the case of a service, implements the service) (20). The user pays for the product (or service) (21).

According to the site guidance system described above, users can get points by browsing the site by clicking the link in the e-mail or purchasing the product. Therefore, other systems (for example, It is more useful to use this system than to use a site called a search engine. Therefore, if the site provider who wants to receive access makes a contract with the point processing server 4 and stores the information of his own site in the site database 11, the site provider who does not make this contract is The likelihood of receiving access is higher than that of a mouse. It should be noted that information of the own site can be registered in the site database 11 via the homepage of the point processing server 4.

Also, since the points 1 and 2 (if the site is shopping site 6) that you get when browsing each site by clicking the link in the e-mail are displayed in the e-mail title, Users can use this information to make decisions when selecting a site. The higher the value of points, the higher the possibility of opening and viewing the e-mail and the higher the possibility of access.Therefore, competition for points occurs between sites, and the value of points increases. Is set. Therefore, the system has many advantages for users.

The site provider also has the following advantages. That is, it is not necessary to pay the contract fee just by being stored in the site database 11 or by sending an e-mail, but only when a purchase is made or (in the case of the shopping site 6) viewed by the user. You only have to pay the point processing server 1-4. In other words, the contract fee only needs to be paid when the PR effect and operating profit from the site itself are obtained, which is more reasonable than the case where the advertising fee is collected on a fixed fee system.

Moreover, as described above, there is an advantage that a site in which site information is stored in the site database 11 is highly likely to be browsed. In addition, since the entire site can be used as the display area for advertisements, effective public relations can be achieved by opening a site that is expressive. The content of the email is Since the URL is registered from the URL registered in the site database 11, the site can freely change the contents of the mail.

The embodiment to which the present invention is applied has been described above. However, the present invention is not limited to this embodiment and can be implemented in various modes.

For example, in the above embodiment, the transmitted mail is in a text format, but may be in a language such as html. In this way, an advertisement or the like using multimedia data such as images can be sent. Also, for example, by embedding a link to automatically access the point processing server 4 in the html file, the user can click the title to display the mail content at the stage where the mail content is displayed. It can also be provided.

Further, an advertisement such as a moving image or a sound may be transmitted by e-mail, and a point may be given when the advertisement or the like is viewed. The video and audio may be in a file format or a stream format, for example. Then, a point may be given when the video or audio is viewed to the end, or a point may be given when viewed to a predetermined position. In this way, it is possible to convey even those that do not sufficiently convey the characteristics of the product, etc., by using only characters, further attracting users' interest and increasing the access rate to the site. .

Further, in the above embodiment, the privilege granted to the user is a purchase right. However, the privilege may be changed to another privilege or may be selectable from a plurality of privileges. Further, the total value of the points necessary for receiving the privilege may be changed to a value different from the above-mentioned values (100 points, 1800 points, 30000 points). Although the e-mails were sent in the same order as in the site database 11, the e-mails may be sent in any other order. Specifically, it is conceivable to transmit the site name in the order of the 50th note, or to transmit in the order of the highest available point 1. In addition, the transmission priority is stored in the site database 11, and the transmission priority is stored. You may transmit based on a priority order. Furthermore, when transmitting, it may be determined whether or not a predetermined site point has been reached, and if the predetermined site point has been reached, transmission may not be performed. In this way, only the points specified by the provider will be given to the user, and when paying according to the points, etc., there is a possibility that a large amount of payment exceeding expectations is required. There is no.

When points are included in the title of the e-mail, the character codes are arranged in the order of the size of the points, but when the user receives the e-mail and displays the title list, It is only necessary to put the points in the title in the order of the points. For example, the type (software name) of the e-mail software used by the user is registered in the user database 10 and the software is registered. The points may be inserted into the title in the order of the points according to the display format of the title. In this way, when an e-mail is received, the titles are displayed in descending order of the points, so that the user can easily open the e-mail from the point with the largest point and view it. By doing so, the competition for points between sites will intensify, and points will be set higher, which is advantageous for users. When guiding to shopping site 6, the same effect can be obtained by displaying points 2 in descending order (in this case, sites with point 2 marked "*" are displayed first. May be displayed, or the highest point 2 obtained at the site may be displayed in the order in which the point 2 is regarded as the site's point 2). Also, both the point 1 and point 2 may be included in the email title.

Point 1 may be awarded only when one user browses the site for the first time. To achieve this, the user database 10 stores the site name (or URL, etc.) of the site viewed by each user. ), And if the site is viewed again, points

It is good not to give 1. In this way, even if the site is displayed (browsed), even though the site is not viewed at all, the site is displayed one after another, and users who earn points unreasonably or damage the provider economically are displayed. Can be prevented from appearing. Or (or in addition), if each site is not displayed for a certain period of time (for example, 15 seconds), you will not be able to get Point 1 or a site consisting of multiple images (called pages) You may not be able to get Point 1 unless you watch a certain number of pages. This time and the number of pages may be stored in the site database 11 for each site.

In the case of a very popular site, the contract fee paid to the point processing server 4 may be enormous even if the above measures are taken. In response to this, if the contract fee exceeds a certain amount, you may be able to browse the site and obtain no points. In this case, it is desirable to output a warning display notifying the user that point 1 cannot be obtained to the image in Fig. 6B or the like. In addition, the site may not be browsed through the present system by temporarily removing the site from the guide. If the user browses the site without going through this system, the provider of the site does not need to pay the contract processing fee to the point processing server 4, so that the burden on the provider becomes excessive. Can be prevented.

In addition, in the explanations regarding Figs. 4A and 4B, in (7) and (18), "payment of the contract fee" is described. Of course, it is good. These payments and user payments may be made by electronic money. Further, the points given to the user may be changed to electronic money.

In addition, in the above system, a site is browsed or purchased on the site. Site site pays the contract fee to the point processing server 4 only when the site information is stored, but the site site 11 also stores the site information in the site database 11 and also sends a fee when sending e-mail. You may make it pay to the point processing server 4. In this case, a fee is also collected from sites that are not browsed at all, and this fee is used as a cost for storing site information in the site database 11 and the like. Can be used.

Then, when the e-mail is transmitted, a point may be given to the transmitting user. For example, one point is given each time an email is sent. In this way, users can receive points only by receiving e-mails, which makes the system attractive to users and can easily increase the number of users.

Although the above-mentioned system uses each site using the Internet, other networks such as an i-mode network provided by NTT Mobile Communication Network Co., Ltd. It may be applied to personal computer communication and intranet.

In the above embodiment, the information on the user is stored in the user database 10 in the form shown in [Table 1], but the form in which the information is stored can be freely determined. For example, the types of points may be further subdivided.

In addition to points for browsing and purchasing, points may be given when answering questions prepared for each site. At the time of の content display (13) J in Fig. 4B described above, a question is sent, and instead of "order (15)", "answer (15)" is used and "order (16)" If "Response data display (16)" is used instead of J, it can be realized in almost the same way. In this case, (20) and (21) are not performed. Further, by changing the method of giving points, the user information storage means can be set to a mode in which no points are stored. In this case, the following embodiments can be exemplified. First, the address of each user is stored in the user database 10. Then, upon receiving the connection information from the site, the point processing server 4 mails the tickets for the points to be given to the user's address. The user who receives this ticket pastes the ticket on a predetermined sheet. The user who has reached the total score of 1000, 800, or 30000 points on the pasted ticket mails the paper to the point processing server 4. The point processing server 14 grants the purchase right to the user according to the total value of the ticket attached to the paper. Even in this case, a system having the same effects as described above can be obtained.

In the above embodiment, the item of “hobby J” in the user database 10 is set as the transmission condition, but other items may be set as the condition. Also, the condition may be determined over a plurality of items. Alternatively, a conditional expression of a combination of each item of the user database 10 may be entered in the transmission condition column of the site database, and the user DB extraction table may be extracted in S110 according to the conditional expression.

Further, the number of e-mails sent to the same user within a predetermined period may be limited. For example, add an equal limit of 10 per user per day. In this way, users will not be uncomfortable with a large number of emails.

It is preferable that the information such as various numerical values and data described above can be set via the Internet. These should be set after authentication so that those who should change each data can change them. For example, after authentication, information that can be changed is displayed on the page, and settings can be changed using the form provided on this page. For example, see Table 2. Points 1 and 2 of the site database 11 to be used, mail contents UR, and mail transmission conditions, etc., allow each site to change its own site information from the homepage via the Internet. In this case, a column of ID numbers and passwords will be provided on the site site overnight, and access will be permitted according to this authentication information. In this way, the site can freely set points and the like according to the situation. Also, this website should display information about your site in Table 2. In this way, the site can check the given points at any time. Similarly, the user side displays the user name, ID number, and point of the user database 10 shown in Table 1 while displaying other items in a form that can be changed. In this way, the user can change his or her own information at any time and can check the assigned points.

In this embodiment, the user database 10 corresponds to a user information storage unit, and the site database 11 corresponds to a site information storage unit. In addition, the Internet terminal 8 corresponds to a user terminal, and the point processing server 14 corresponds to an e-mail transmitting unit, a point providing unit, a privilege providing unit, a provided point output unit, and a point setting unit. Industrial applicability

As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide a site guidance system that makes it easy to access a site using electronic mail, and it is possible to significantly increase information communication.

Claims

The scope of the claims

1. Site information storage means for storing site information including link-related information for directly or indirectly linking to the site and points of the site that may be useful points for the user;

User information storage means for storing user information including a user's e-mail address and a user point which is a point of the user;

E-mail transmission means for transmitting an e-mail including the link-related information stored in the site information storage means to the e-mail address stored in the user information storage means,

When a predetermined action started by the user terminal is detected using the link-related information in the e-mail transmitted by the e-mail transmitting means, a point of the site indicated by the link-related information is transmitted. Point providing means for providing the above-mentioned user point.

Site guidance system characterized by:

2. In the site guidance system according to claim 1,

In the case where there are a plurality of the predetermined functions, the point providing means may provide the points of the site corresponding to the contents of the functions to the user points.

Site guidance system characterized by:

3. In the site guidance system according to claim 1 or 2,

The predetermined action is that the user terminal is notified of a site indicated by the link related information in a state where the user can recognize the predetermined action.

Site guidance system characterized by:

4. In the site guidance system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, The predetermined action is that a product was purchased from the user terminal at a site indicated by the link-related information.

Site guidance system characterized by:

5. The site guidance system according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the predetermined action is that a question is answered from the user terminal at a site indicated by the link-related information. thing

Site guidance system characterized by:

6. The site guidance system according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the point providing means, when the e-mail transmitting means transmits the e-mail, assigns a predetermined point to a transmission destination. To be granted to the user point of the user

Site guidance system characterized by:

7. The site guidance system according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the site information includes a site point indicating a point given to a user,

When giving the point of the site to the user point, the point giving means gives the point of the site as the site point.

Site guidance system characterized by:

8. The site guidance system according to any one of claims 1 to 7, further comprising a privilege granting means for granting a privilege when the number of user points reaches a predetermined amount.

Site guidance system characterized by:

9. The site guidance system according to any one of claims 1 to 8, further comprising: a point output means for outputting at least one of the user point and the site point via a network. Site guidance system characterized by:

10. The site guidance system according to any one of claims 1 to 9, further comprising a point setting means for setting a point of the site included in the site information via a network.

Site guidance system characterized by:

11. In the site guidance system according to any one of claims 1 to 10,

The point providing means, based on the link related information to the site, when the user point is provided in accordance with the predetermined action, the same user based on the same link related information of the same user. Do not give the user point again according to the action

Site guidance system characterized by:

12. In the site guidance system according to any one of claims 1 to 11,

The link-related information is information that can be directly linked to a site, and the point providing means is information indicating that a predetermined action has been received from the user terminal at the site indicated by the link-related information. Receiving the specified action from the site to detect the predetermined action.

Site guidance system characterized by:

13. In the site guidance system according to any one of claims 1 to 12,

The link-related information includes information linkable to a point providing means,

The point giving means detects the predetermined action by monitoring access based on the link-related information. Site guidance system characterized by:

14. In the site guidance system according to any one of claims 1 to 13,

The electronic mail transmitting means may include information indicating that a point is given in the electronic mail.

Site guidance system characterized by:

15. Site information storage means for storing site information including link-related information for directly or indirectly linking to the site and points of the site useful to users,

A user information storage means for storing user information including a user's e-mail address;

E-mail transmitting means for transmitting, to the e-mail address stored in the user information storage means, an e-mail including link-related information stored in the site information storage means,

The e-mail transmitting means may include information indicating that points are to be given in the e-mail.

Site guidance system characterized by:

16. In the site guidance system according to any one of claims 1 to 15,

The e-mail transmitting means may include the point of the site in a title of the e-mail to be transmitted.

Site guidance system characterized by:

17. In the site guidance system according to claim 16,

The e-mail transmitting means puts the points in the title in a state where titles of the e-mail can be output in the order of points on a user terminal. Site guidance system characterized by:

18. In the site guidance system according to any one of claims 1 to 17,

In addition, a user information setting means is provided,

A site guidance system, wherein the user information setting means stores user information input from a user terminal via a network in the user information storage means.

19. In the site guidance system according to any one of claims 1 to 18,

The electronic mail transmitting means may determine a correspondence between the site information to be transmitted and the electronic mail address to be transmitted in consideration of the user information.

Site guidance system characterized by:

20. E-mail sending means, point giving means, privilege giving means, given point output means, point setting means, user information setting means in the site guidance system according to any one of claims 1 to 19 A computer-readable recording medium on which a program for operating a computer system is recorded.