Method to raise accuracy of targeting the segmentation for sample distribution

Abstract

There is provided a center server and a store terminal to enhance the targeting accuracy in providing services. The center server gives a unique ID to a member application, sends it to a particular mobile information terminal and manages it as authentication information about a member who is the user of the mobile information terminal. In response to purchases of a particular article by the member, the store terminal inputs the ID from the mobile information terminal and inputs purchase information about the article the member purchases. The center server then acquires attribute information about a member identified by the ID. Then, by checking the purchase information, the attribute information and service information set in association with attribute information about the member and kinds of articles and stored in particular storage means, information about a service to be provided for the member is identified.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A service provision system, comprising:
 a server comprising a central processing unit (CPU) and a memory connected to the CPU for managing information about members; and   a terminal device connected to the server via a network;   the server comprising:
 a member information management mechanism configured to manage identification information and attribute information about the members, wherein the attribute information includes points accumulated from purchases of articles by the members; and 
 a service information management mechanism configured to manage service information set in association with the attribute information about the members and kinds of articles; and 
   the terminal device comprising:
 a purchase information input mechanism configured to input purchase information about an article; and 
 a member identification information input mechanism configured to input identification information about a member; 
   wherein, in response to purchases of a particular article by the member, the terminal device inputs purchase information about the article and identification information about the member with the purchase information input mechanism and the member identification information input mechanism to send the information to the server,   the server identifies the attribute information about the member corresponding to the received identification information and identifies the service information managed by the service information management mechanism using the attribute information, the purchase information, and a targeting definition table,   the targeting definition table comprises the purchase information and the attribute information and if the purchase information correlates with the attribute information and the identification information correlates with the attribute information, then an intersection point of the correlated purchase information and the correlated attribute information provides sample information including a target demographic to receive a sample,   the server returns the sample information determined using the targeting definition table to the terminal device,   the terminal device outputs information indicating the sample to be provided to the member based on the returned sample information,   the terminal device further comprises a purchase information management section configured to calculate an amount of points based on the purchase of the particular article,   the terminal device sends the calculated points to the server, and the server adds the points to the points accumulated from purchases of articles by the member,   the terminal device sends the points accumulated from purchases of articles by the member to a mobile information terminal for storage in a member information management storage section,   the server further comprises a service information storage section that stores the service information, and content of the service information is set based on the attribute information of the member, wherein the content of the service information includes information or digital content that matches particular interests of the member provided in the attribute information,   the information or the digital content is provided to the member according to the points accumulated from purchases of articles by the member, and   a questionnaire form is sent to the mobile information terminal via infrared communication from the terminal device.   
     
     
         2 . The service provision system according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 the service information management mechanism of the server manages the information about the samples to be distributed to the member as the service information and returns the sample information identified using the identification information and the purchase information, to the terminal device.   
     
     
         3 . The service provision system according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 the server further comprises:   an application storage mechanism storing an application program that manages the members; and   an application program sending control mechanism configured to give a unique ID to the application program stored in the application storage mechanism and sending the application program to a particular information processor; and   the terminal device inputs the unique ID of the application program via the member identification information input mechanism to send the unique ID to the server; and   the member information management mechanism of the server manages the unique ID given to the application program by the application program sending control mechanism as authentication information about a member who is the user of the information processor, and, when receiving the unique ID from the terminal device, performs authentication using the unique ID.   
     
     
         4 . The service provision system according to  claim 3 , wherein:
 the service information management mechanism of the server manages data files available in the application program as the service information and returns a data file identified using the identification information and the purchase information, to the terminal device; and   the terminal device returns the data file, the service information returned from the server, to the information processor.   
     
     
         5 . The service provision system according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 the terminal device further comprises a questionnaire storage mechanism configured to store questionnaire forms created according to the kinds of the service information to be provided for the members; and   the server sends information identifying the questionnaire form to be distributed the member together with the service information, to the terminal device.   
     
     
         6 . The service provision system according to  claim 1 , wherein the terminal device is a terminal of a POS (point-of-sales) system. 
     
     
         7 . A service provision system comprising:
 a server comprising a central processing unit (CPU) and a memory connected to the CPU for managing information about members;   a terminal device connected to the server via a network; and   a mobile information terminal;   the server comprising:
 a member information management mechanism configured to manage identification information and attribute information about the members, wherein the attribute information includes points accumulated from purchases of articles by the members; and 
 a service information management mechanism configured to manage service information set in association with the attribute information about the members and kinds of articles; and 
   the terminal device comprising:
 a purchase information input mechanism configured to input purchase information about an article; and 
 a member identification information input mechanism configured to input identification information about a member; 
   wherein, in response to a purchases of a particular article by the member, the terminal device inputs identification information about the member via the member identification information input mechanism to send the identification information to the server,   the server identifies the attribute information about the member corresponding to the identification information and identifies, using a targeting definition table, service information associated with the attribute information among the service information managed by the service information management mechanism and returns the service information to the terminal device, wherein the targeting definition table comprises the purchase information about the article and the attribute information about the member and if the purchase information correlates with the attribute information and the identification information correlates with the attribute information, then an intersection point of the correlated purchase information and the correlated attribute information defines the service information including one of predetermined samples and predetermined digital content to be provided to the member,   the terminal device identifies a service to be provided for the member using the purchase information inputted by the purchase information input mechanism and the service information returned by the server,   the terminal device further comprises a purchase information management section configured to calculate an amount of points based on the purchase of the particular article,   the terminal device sends the calculated points to the server, and the server adds the points to points accumulated from purchases of articles by the member,   the terminal device sends the points accumulated from purchases of articles by the member to the mobile information terminal for storage in a member information management storage section,   the server further comprises a service information storage section that stores the service information, and content of the service information is set based on the attribute information of the member, wherein the content of the service information includes the one of the predetermined samples and the predetermined digital content that matches particular interests of the member provided in the attribute information,   the predetermined samples and the predetermined digital content is provided to the member according to the points accumulated from purchases of articles by the member, and   a questionnaire is sent to the mobile information terminal via infrared communication from the terminal device.   
     
     
         8 . The service provision system according to  claim 7 , wherein:
 the service information management mechanism of the server manages information about samples to be distributed to the members as the service information; and   the terminal device determines the predetermined samples to be distributed to the member who has purchased the particular article based on the sample information returned from the server.   
     
     
         9 . The service provision system according to  claim 7 , wherein:
 the server further comprises:
 an application storage mechanism storing an application program that manages members; and 
 an application program sending control mechanism configured to give a unique ID to the application program stored in the application storage mechanism and sending the application program to a particular information processor; and 
   the terminal device inputs the ID of the application program via the member identification information input mechanism to send the ID to the server; and   the member information management mechanism of the server manages the ID given to the application program by the application program sending control mechanism as authentication information about a member who is the user of the information processor, and, when receiving the ID from the terminal device, performs authentication using the ID.   
     
     
         10 . The service provision system according to  claim 9 , wherein:
 the service information management mechanism of the server manages data files available in the application program as the service information; and   the terminal device returns the data file, the service information returned from the server, to the information processor.   
     
     
         11 . The service provision system according to  claim 7 , wherein:
 the terminal device further comprises a questionnaire storage mechanism configured to store questionnaires created according to the kinds of the service information to be provided for the members; and   the server sends information identifying the questionnaire to be distributed to the member together with the service information, to the terminal device.   
     
     
         12 . A service provision system according to  claim 7 , wherein the terminal device is a terminal of a POS (point-of-sales) system. 
     
     
         13 . A server comprising:
 a central processing unit (CPU);   a memory connected to the CPU;   a sending/receiving mechanism configured to send/receive data to/from other information processors via a network;   an application storage mechanism configured to store an application program that manages members;   an application program sending control mechanism configured to give a unique ID to the application program stored in the application storage mechanism and controlling the sending/receiving mechanism to send the application program to a particular mobile information terminal of a member;   a member information management mechanism configured to manage the unique ID given to the application program by the application program sending control mechanism as authentication information about the member who is the user of the mobile information terminal;   a service information management mechanism configured to manage service information to be provided for particular members in association with information about the members to be provided with services; and   a service information storage section that stores the service information, and content of the service information is set based on attribute information of the member, wherein the content of the service information includes at least one of predetermined samples and predetermined digital content that matches particular interests of the member provided in the attribute information,   wherein, in response to a receipt of the unique ID of the application program from the particular mobile information terminal, the member information management mechanism performs authentication using the unique ID, and the service information management mechanism identifies the service information to be provided for the member identified by the authenticated unique ID using a targeting definition table,   the member information management mechanism manages identification information and the attribute information about the members in association with each other,   the service information management mechanism manages the service information set in association with the attribute information about the members,   the targeting definition table comprises purchase information about an article purchased by the member and the attribute information and if the purchase information correlates with the attribute information and the identification information correlates with the attribute information, then an intersection point of the correlated purchase information and the correlated attribute information identifies the service information including a target demographic to receive at least one of a predetermined sample and a predetermined digital content,   the server returns sample information determined using the targeting definition table to a terminal device that is for output information indicating the at least one of the predetermined sample and the predetermined digital content to be provided to the member based on the returned service information and input information about the at least one of the predetermined sample and the predetermined digital content when the at least one of the predetermined sample and the predetermined digital content is provided to the member,   the attribute information includes points accumulated from purchases of articles by the members;   the member information management mechanism receives an amount of points based on the purchase of the article and adds the points to the points accumulated from purchases of articles by the member,   the at least one of the predetermined sample and the predetermined digital content is provided to the member according to the points accumulated from purchases of articles by the member, and   the sending/receiving mechanism sends information identifying a questionnaire to be distributed to the member together with the service information, to the terminal device.   
     
     
         14 . The server according to  claim 13 , wherein the service information management mechanism manages information about the at least one of the predetermined sample and the predetermined digital content to be distributed to members who satisfy a predetermined condition as the service information. 
     
     
         15 . The server according to  claim 13 , wherein the service information management mechanism manages data files available in the application program as the service information. 
     
     
         16 . A server comprising:
 a central processing unit (CPU);   a memory connected to the CPU;   a sending/receiving mechanism for sending/receiving data to/from other information processors via a network;   a member information management mechanism for managing identification information and attribute information about the members, wherein the attribute information includes points accumulated from purchases of articles by the members; and   a service information management mechanism for managing service information set in association with the attribute information about the members and kinds of articles;   wherein the server is configured to:
 receive identification information about a member, purchase information about an article which the member has purchased from a particular information processor with the sending/receiving mechanism, and additional points associated with the purchase of the article, 
 identify attribute information about the member corresponding to the received identification information and the additional points associated with the purchase of the article, 
 identify a service to be provided for the member who has purchased the article using the attribute information, the purchase information, and a targeting definition table comprising the purchase information about the article and the attribute information about the member and if the purchase information correlates with the attribute information and the identification information correlates with the attribute information, then an intersection point of the correlated purchase information and the correlated attribute information defines the service information including one of predetermined samples and predetermined digital content to be provided to the member, and 
 send information identifying a questionnaire to be distributed to the member together with the service information, to a terminal device. 
   
     
     
         17 . The server according to  claim 16 , wherein the service information management mechanism manages information about samples to be distributed to the members who satisfy a predetermined condition as the service information. 
     
     
         18 . The server according to  claim 16 , wherein the service information management mechanism manages data files available in an application program as the service information. 
     
     
         19 . A terminal device for inputting purchase information about an article; the terminal device comprising:
 a central processing unit (CPU);   a memory connected to the CPU;   a purchase information input mechanism configured to input the purchase information;   a member identification information input mechanism configured to input member identification information identifying a member who purchases the article;   a service information acquisition mechanism configured to acquire service information associated with the member identification information inputted by the member identification information input mechanism; and   a service identifying mechanism configured to identify a service to be provided for the member using the purchase information inputted by the purchase information input mechanism and the service information acquired by the service information acquisition mechanism,   wherein:
 the terminal device calculates points awarded for the purchase of the article; 
 the terminal device outputs information indicating a sample or distributed content to be distributed to the member based on returned sample information, the sample or distributed content being identified by a targeting definition table comprising the purchase information about the article and attribute information about the member and if the purchase information correlates with the attribute information and the member identification information correlates with the attribute information, then an intersection point of the correlated purchase information and the correlated attribute information identifies the sample or distributed content to be distributed to the member; 
 the attribute information includes the points awarded for the purchase of the article, 
 the terminal device inputs information about the sample or distributed content when the sample or distributed content is provided to the member, 
 the terminal device sends the calculated points to a server for addition to points accumulated from purchases of articles by the member, 
 the terminal device sends the points accumulated from the purchases of articles by the member to a mobile information terminal for storage in the mobile information terminal, and 
 when providing a particular service for the member, the terminal device outputs a questionnaire form corresponding to the service. 
   
     
     
         20 . The terminal device according to  claim 19 , wherein:
 the service information acquisition mechanism acquires information about the samples and the distributed content to be distributed to the member as the service information; and   the service identifying mechanism determines the sample or distributed content to be distributed to the member who has purchased the article based on the acquired sample information.   
     
     
         21 . The terminal device according to  claim 19 , further comprising a questionnaire storage mechanism configured to store the questionnaire form created according to the service information to be provided for the member. 
     
     
         22 . A service provision method for providing a service for a member using a computer, the method comprising the steps of:
 giving an ID to an application program for management of members to send the application program to a particular information processor of a member;   storing the ID in a predetermined storage mechanism;   managing the ID as authentication information about the member who is a user of the information processor;   in response to a purchase of a particular article by the member, inputting the ID of the application program from the information processor of the member and inputting purchase information about the article purchased by the member;   authenticating the member with the inputted ID of the application program;   receiving an amount of points based on the purchase of the particular article and adding the points to points accumulated from purchases of articles by the member;   identifying attribute information about the member based on the authenticated ID, wherein the attribute information includes the points accumulated from the purchases of articles by the member;   checking the purchase information, the identified attribute information and service information set in association with the attribute information about the member and kinds of articles and stored in the predetermined storage mechanism to identify service information about a service to be provided for the member;   communicating the service information determined using a targeting definition table, the attribute information about the member, and the purchase information about the article, wherein the service information indicates a sample or digital content to be provided to the member;   inputting information about the sample or digital content when the sample or digital content is provided to the member; and   when providing a particular sample or digital content to the member, communicating information identifying a questionnaire to be distributed to the member together with the service information,   wherein the targeting definition table comprises the purchase information and the attribute information and if the purchase information correlates with the attribute information and the authenticated ID correlates with the attribute information, then an intersection point of the correlated purchase information and the correlated attribute information provides the service information including a target demographic to receive the sample or digital content.   
     
     
         23 . The service provision method according to  claim 22 , further comprising the step of sending a data file available in the application program to the information processor carried by the member as a service to be provided for the member. 
     
     
         24 . A service provision method for providing a service for a member using a computer, the method comprising the steps of:
 in response to purchases of a particular article by the member, inputting identification information about the member and purchase information about the article purchased by the member;   searching a predetermined storage mechanism in which identification information and attribute information are stored in association with each other, based on the inputted identification information, to identify attribute information associated with the identification information, wherein the attribute information includes points accumulated from purchases of articles by the member;   searching the predetermined storage mechanism which stores service information set in association with the attribute information and kinds of articles, based on the identified attribute information, to identify a service to be provided for the member who has purchased the article, wherein the service information set comprises a targeting definition table comprising the purchase information about the article and the attribute information about the member and if the purchase information correlates with the attribute information and the identification information correlates with the attribute information, then an intersection point of the correlated purchase information and the correlated attribute information defines the service information including one of predetermined samples and predetermined digital content to be provided to the member;   providing the identified service information; and   communicating information identifying a questionnaire to be distributed to the member together with the service information.   
     
     
         25 . A program for controlling a computer to manage provision of a service for a member, the program being provided in a magnetic disk, an optical disk, or a semiconductor memory, and causing the computer to:
 send/receive data to/from other information processors via a network and receiving identification information about the member and purchase information about an article which the member has purchased, from a particular information processor;   manage identification information and attribute information about the member, wherein the attribute information includes points accumulated from purchases of articles by the member;   manage service information set in association with the attribute information about the member and kinds of articles;   identify the attribute information about the member corresponding to the received identification information and identifying a service to be provided for the member who has purchased the article using the attribute information and the purchase information;   communicate sample or digital content information determined using a targeting definition table, the attribute information about the member, and the purchase information about the article;   output information indicating a sample or digital content to be provided to the member based on the communicated sample or digital content information;   communicating information identifying a questionnaire to be distributed to the member together with the output information; and   input information about the sample or digital content when the sample or digital content is provided to the member,   wherein the targeting definition table comprises the purchase information about the article and the attribute information about the member and if the purchase information correlates with the attribute information and the identification information correlates with the attribute information, then an intersection point of the correlated purchase information and the correlated attribute information defines the sample or digital content information.   
     
     
         26 . The program according to  claim 25 , further comprising the step of causing the computer to manage information about the samples or digital content to be distributed to members who satisfy a predetermined condition as the service information. 
     
     
         27 . The program according to  claim 25 , further comprising the step of causing the computer to manage data files available in the application program as the service information. 
     
     
         28 . A program for controlling a computer to manage information about purchase of articles by members, the program being provided in a magnetic disk, an optical disk, or a semiconductor memory, and causing the computer to function as:
 a mechanism configured such that, when a particular member purchases an article, inputting the purchase information about the article and points awarded for the purchase of the article;   a mechanism configured to input member identification information identifying the member who purchases the article;   a mechanism configured to acquire service information associated with the inputted member identification information and the inputted purchase information, from a predetermined server;   a mechanism configured to check the inputted purchase information and the service information acquired from the server to identify a service to be provided for the member using a targeting definition table comprising the purchase information about the article and attribute information about the member, wherein the attribute information includes the points awarded for the purchase of the article, and if the purchase information correlates with the attribute information and the identification information correlates with the attribute information, then an intersection point of the correlated purchase information and the correlated attribute information defines one of predetermined samples and predetermined digital content to be distributed to the member; and   a mechanism configured to communicate the identified service and a questionnaire to be distributed to the member.