Gift-valuable article exchange assisting device and method, and computer product

[0001] The present invention relates to a gift-valuable article exchange assisting device and method, and a computer product which make it possible to easily and efficiently perform an exchange of gifts and valuable articles.

[0002] Conventionally, in midyear gift-giving and year-end gift-giving seasons, some people receive the same gifts from different consignors or unwanted gifts, and may have difficulty to dispose the gifts. Therefore, a gift retailer such as a department store offers exchange service that the gifts are exchanged to valuable articles such as other articles of commerce, or merchandise coupons.

[0003] In the above-mentioned conventional exchange service, a receiver of a gift must inconveniently carry the gift to a department store or the like.

[0004] In the conventional exchange service, some of the gifts are rejected to be exchanged because they are perishable goods or campaign packets such as novelty goods. Therefore, conventionally, the receiver has no idea whether a department store accepts the gift as an exchangeable one before actually bringing the gift in the department store. Once it is found that the department store does not accept the gift article, the receiver has to bring it back, which is wasteful at all.

[0005] It is an object of this invention to provide a gift-valuable article exchange assisting device and method, and a computer product which make it possible to easily and efficiently perform an exchange of a gift and a valuable article.

[0006] The gift-valuable article exchange assisting device according to one aspect of this invention comprises a memory unit which stores exchangeable article information that indicates whether a gift can be exchanged to a valuable article and stores exchange conditions in correspondence with the gifts and the valuable articles that can be exchanged. The device also comprises a determination unit which, when a first party decides that a gift belonging to the first party is unwanted to the first party, determines whether the gift can be exchanged to a valuable article belonging to a second party based on the exchangeable article information stored in the memory unit. The device further comprises a calculation unit which calculates a predetermined service charge when the decision unit decides that the exchange is possible, and a decision unit which decides a valuable article, to which the gift can be actually exchanged, equivalent to a value obtained by subtracting the service charge from a value of the gift based on the exchange conditions.

[0007] The gift-valuable article exchange assisting method according to another aspect of this invention comprises a step of storing exchangeable article information that indicates whether a gift can be exchanged to a valuable article and storing exchange conditions in correspondence with the gifts and the valuable articles that can be exchanged, in a memory unit. The method also comprises steps of collectively downloading delivery management information related to delivery of a gift from a delivery management device at the start of a delivery affair, and determining, when a first party decides that the gift belonging to the first party is unwanted to the first party, whether the gift can be exchanged to a valuable article belonging to a second party based on the exchangeable article information stored in the memory unit. The method further comprises steps of calculating a predetermined service charge when it is determined that the exchange is possible in the determination step, deciding a valuable article, to which the gift is actually exchanged, equivalent to a value obtained by subtracting the service charge from a value of the gift based on the exchange conditions, and uploading exchange result information to the delivery management device after completion of all delivery affairs.

[0008] The computer program according to still another aspect of this invention contains instructions which when executed on a computer causes the computer to execute the gift-valuable article exchange assisting method.

[0009] Other objects and features of this invention will become apparent from the following description with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0010] FIG. 1 is a block diagram which shows the configuration of an embodiment of the present invention,

[0011] FIG. 2 is a diagram which shows a table structure of a delivery request information database 310 shown in FIG. 1,

[0012] FIG. 3 is a diagram which shows a table structure of a delivery management information database 320 shown in FIG. 1,

[0013] FIG. 4 is a diagram which shows a table structure of an exchange result information database 330 shown in FIG. 1,

[0014] FIG. 5 is a diagram which shows a table structure of an exchangeable article information database 510 shown in FIG. 1,

[0015] FIG. 6 is a diagram which shows a table structure of a service charge information database 520 shown in FIG. 1,

[0016] FIG. 7 is a flow chart which explains an operation of a portable terminal 500 shown in FIG. 1,

[0017] FIG. 8 is a flow chart which explains an operation of a delivery management server 300 shown in FIG. 1,

[0018] FIG. 9 is a diagram which explains an outline of the operation of the embodiment,

[0019] FIG. 10 is a diagram which shows a printed example of a gift article statement 800 in the embodiment,

[0020] FIG. 11 is a diagram which shows a printed example of an exchange result statement 900 in the embodiment, and

[0021] FIG. 12 is a block diagram which shows the configuration of a modification of the embodiment.

[0022] Embodiments of the gift-valuable article exchange assisting device and method according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0023] FIG. 1 is a block diagram which shows the structure of an embodiment according to the present invention. In FIG. 1, department store terminals 100_l to 100_n are computer terminals installed in department stores of n companies, from which delivery request information is transmitted to a delivery management server 300 via a network 200.

[0024] Each department store sells gifts such as midyear gifts or end-year gifts. The department store receives orders from consignors and requests a delivery company (or a second party in claims) to deliver the gifts to receivers (or a first party in the claims). Delivery request information is constituted by gift article number, company name, desired delivery date, desired delivery time, size, gift contents, address for delivery, name of receiver, telephone number for delivery, address of consignor, name of consignor, and telephone number of consignor which are shown in FIG. 2.

[0025] The gift article number is a number for identifying a gift. The company name is the name of a department store. The desired delivery date is a desired date for delivery of a gift. The desired delivery time is desired time for delivery of a gift. The size is a size (depthwidth height) of a gift (pack to be delivered). The gift contents are the contents of a gift such as beer or canned goods.

[0026] The address for delivery is the address of a receiver of a gift. The name for delivery is the name of a receiver. The telephone number for delivery is the telephone number of a receiver. The address of consignor is the address of a consignor of a gift. The name of consignor is the name of a consignor. The telephone number of consignor is the telephone number of a consignor.

[0027] Returning to FIG. 1, the delivery management server 300 is a server which is arranged on the delivery company side, which accepts a delivery request of a gift from a department store, and performs management of delivery and exchange result of gifts and valuable articles (merchandise coupons or the like).

[0028] In this delivery management server 300, a communication section 301 controls communications with an external terminal according to a predetermined communication protocol. A control section 302 controls respective sections of the delivery management server 300. The details of the operation of the control section 302 will be described later. The storage unit 303 stores various pieces of information used in the control section 302.

[0029] A delivery request information database 310 is a database in which pieces of delivery request information transmitted from the department store terminals 100_l to 100_n are stored. More specifically, the delivery request information database 310 has fields, as described above, of gift article number, . . . , telephone number of consignor shown in FIG. 2.

[0030] Returning to FIG. 1, a delivery management information database 320 is a database in which delivery management information used for performing delivery management of gifts is stored. More specifically, as shown in FIG. 3, the delivery management information database 320 has fields of delivery number, completion flag, gift article number, . . . , telephone number of consignor.

[0031] The delivery number is a number for identifying deliveries on the delivery company side. The completion flag is a flag representing completion of delivery. When the delivery is completed, the completion flag is set at 1. On the other hand, when the delivery is not completed, the completion flag is set at 0. The gift article number, . . . , telephone number of consignor correspond to the gift article number, . . . , telephone number of consignor shown in FIG. 2, respectively.

[0032] Returning to FIG. 1, an exchange result information database 330 is a database in which exchange result information related to achievement of exchanges of gifts and valuable articles is stored. More specifically, the exchange result information database 330, as shown in FIG. 4, has fields of delivery number, gift contents, size, equivalent-value article, service charge, article actually exchanged, and address for return.

[0033] The delivery number corresponds to the delivery number shown in FIG. 3. The gift contents and the size correspond to the gift contents and the size (not shown) of the delivery management information database 320 shown in FIG. 3, respectively. The equivalent-value article indicates that a gift is exchangeable to a valuable article equivalent to a value of the gift with service charge included, described later.

[0034] The service charge is a service charge paid to a delivery company in an exchange affair which is an agency affair of a receiver of a gift. The article actually exchanged indicates a valuable article that is actually exchanged and corresponds to a price obtained by subtracting the service charge from the price of the exchangeable article (or the gift). The address for return is information related to an address for return, that is, the address of a department store which has sold a gift exchanged to a valuable article.

[0035] Returning to FIG. 1, a portable terminal 500 is a terminal which is carried by a delivery person (who is included in the second party in the claims), and is used for assisting in an exchange of a gift to a valuable article, calculation of a service charge, printing of various slips (see FIGS. 10 and 11), and delivery management. The portable terminal 500 is connected to the delivery management server 300 via a network 400 at the start of a delivery affair (in a download process) and upon completion of the delivery affair (in an upload process).

[0036] In this portable terminal 500, a communication section 501 controls communications with the delivery management server 300 according to a predetermined communication protocol. A control section 502 controls respective sections of the portable terminal 500. The details of the operation of the control section 502 will be described later. A storage section 503 stores various pieces of information used in the control section 502.

[0037] An input section 504 is constituted by ten keys, function keys, and the like. A display section 505 is a liquid-crystal display or the like, and displays various pieces of information required for exchange affair. A print section 506 prints a gift article statement 800 (see FIG. 10) and an exchange result statement 900 (see FIG. 11) which will be described later.

[0038] An exchangeable article information database 510 is a database which stores exchangeable article information representing the relationship between gift contents and target articles for exchange. More specifically, the exchangeable article information database 510, as shown in FIG. 5, has fields of gift contents and equivalent-value article. The gift contents correspond to the gift contents of the delivery request information database 310 and the delivery management information database 320. The equivalent-value article is information related to a valuable article (merchandise coupons or the like) to which a gift can be exchanged.

[0039] Returning to FIG. 1, a service charge information database 520 is a database which stores service charge information related to a service charge paid in an exchange of a gift and a valuable article. More specifically, the service charge information database 520, as shown in FIG. 6, has fields of size, address of consignor, address for delivery, and service charge.

[0040] The size, the address of consignor, and the address for delivery correspond to the size, theaddress of consignor, and the address for delivery of the delivery request information database 310 and the delivery management information database 320, respectively. The service charge is information related to a service charge required for an exchange.

[0041] The operation of another embodiment will be described below with reference to flow charts shown in FIGS. 7 and 8. FIG. 7 is a flow chart which explains the operation of the portable terminal 500 shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 8 is a flow chart which explains the operation of the delivery management server 300 shown in FIG. 1.

[0042] At step SB1 shown in FIG. 8, the control section 302 of the delivery management server 300 decides whether any one of the department store terminals 100_l to 100_n receives delivery request information or not. In this instance, the decision result is assumed to be No.

[0043] At step SB2, the control section 302 decides whether the delivery management server 300 receives a download request from the portable terminal 500 or not. In this instance, the decision result is assumed to be No. This download request is made at the start of a delivery affair and is a request for downloading delivery management information for that day from the delivery management server 300 to the portable terminal 500 via the network 400.

[0044] At step SB3, the control section 302 decides whether the delivery management server 300 receives an upload request from the portable terminal 500 or not. In this instance, the decision result is assumed to be No. This upload request is made upon completion of a delivery affair and is a request for uploading delivery management information and exchange result information of that day from the portable terminal 500 to the delivery management server 300 via the network 400. Subsequently, the control section 302 repeats the decisions at step SB1 to step SB3.

[0045] For example, when the delivery management server 300 receives delivery request information (gift article number, . . . , telephone number for delivery) from the department store 100_l, the control section 302 of the delivery management server 300 sets the decision result at step SB1 as Yes. At step SB4, the control section 302 stores the received delivery request information in the delivery request information database 310 (see FIG. 2). The control section 302 stores the delivery request information in correlation with delivery number in the delivery management information database 320 (see FIG. 3).

[0046] As shown in FIG. 9, at the start of the delivery affair, a delivery person operates a predetermined key of the input section 504 after the portable terminal 500 is connected to the delivery management server 300 through the network 400. At step SA1 shown in FIG. 7, the control section 502 executes a download process. More specifically, the control section 502 outputs a download request through the network 400.

[0047] In this manner, the control section 302 of the delivery management server 300 sets the decision result at step SB2 shown in FIG. 8 as Yes. At step SB5, the control section 302 downloads the delivery management information for that day from the delivery management information database 320 shown in FIG. 3 into the portable terminal 500. In this instance, the control section 502 of the portable terminal 500 stores the downloaded delivery management information in the storage section 503.

[0048] Upon completion of the download process, the delivery person loads the gifts (packs) on a delivery vehicle 600 shown in FIG. 9 and starts delivery of the gifts while carrying the portable terminal 500 in a scheduled order: house A 700A house B 700Bhouse C 700C.

[0049] At step SA2, the control section 502 of the portable terminal 500 decides whether one delivery is completed or not. In this instance, the decision results are assumed to be No. At step SA3, the control section 502 decides whether final delivery is completed or not. In this instance, the decision results are assumed to be No. Subsequently, the control section 502 repeats the decisions at step SA2 and step SA3.

[0050] The delivery person operates the input section 504 of the portable terminal 500 to display delivery management information related to the house A 700A and drives the delivery vehicle 600 toward the house A 700A. When the delivery vehicle 600 arrives at the house A 700A, the delivery person delivers the gift at the house A 700A and operates the input section 504.

[0051] In this manner, the control section 502 sets the decision result at step SA2 shown in FIG. 7 as Yes. At step SA4, the control section 502 updates a completion flag of the delivery management information corresponding to the house A 700A of the delivery management information stored in the storage section 503, from 0 to 1.

[0052] At step SA5, the control section 502 decides whether the receiver of the gift desires to exchange the gift to a valuable article based on the operation state of the input section 504. More specifically, the delivery person explains that the gift is exchangeable to a valuable article, to the receiver of the gift and confirms whether the gift is required to be exchanged to the valuable article or not. In this state, when the receiver does not desire to exchange the gift, the delivery person operates a predetermined key of the input section 504. In this manner, the control section 502 sets the decision result at step SA5 as No.

[0053] On the other hand, when the receiver of the gift desires to exchange the gift, the delivery person operates the predetermined key of the input section 504. In this manner, the control section 502 sets the decision result in step SA5 as Yes.

[0054] At step SA6, the control section 502 searches the exchangeable article information database 510 shown in FIG. 5 for an equivalent-value article by using gift contents as a key, of delivery management information corresponding to the gift. At step SA7, the control section 502 decides whether the equivalent-value article has been searched for or not at step SA6, i.e., whether the gift can be exchanged or not. When the equivalent-value article has not been searched for, the control section 502 sets the decision result at step SA7 as No.

[0055] On the other hand, when the decision result at step SA7 is Yes, at step SA8, the control section 502 searches the service charge information database 520 shown in FIG. 6 for a service charge by using the size, the address of consignor, and the address for delivery of the delivery management information of the gift as keys.

[0056] The control section 502 obtains a price (the price of an article to which a gift is actually exchanged) through calculation of subtracting the service charge from the price of the equivalent-value article for exchange (see FIG. 5) at step SA6. For example, when the price of the exchangeable gift article is 3,000 yen and the service charge is 500 yen, the value of the article to be actually exchanged is 2,500 yen.

[0057] At step SA9, an exchange process is executed. More specifically, the receiver exchanges the gift to the article with a net value (e.g., merchandise coupons of 2,500 yen) with the delivery person. In this manner, the receiver receives the merchandise coupons of 2,500 yen, and the delivery person receives the gift. The gift is returned to the department store which is the sender. The control section 502 forms exchange result information (see FIG. 4) related to the gift through an operation of the input section 504 as a trigger, and stores the exchange result information in the storage section 503.

[0058] At step SA10, the control section 502 instructs the print section 506 to print the gift article statement 800 shown in FIG. 10 and the exchange result statement 900 shown in FIG. 11. The gift article statement 800 is a statement of the gift in which information constituted by the name of a delivery company, a delivery date and time, gift contents, the name of a consignor, a delivery person, and the like is printed. The exchange result statement 900 is a statement in which information constituted by the name of a delivery company, an exchange date and time, gift contents, an equivalent-value article (merchandise coupons, service charge), a delivery person, and the like is printed.

[0059] The gift article statement 800 and the exchange result statement 900 are given to a receiver. Therefore, the receiver can recognize what the original gift is by checking the exchange result statement 900 after the gift is exchanged to the valuable article, and gives a reward to the consignor.

[0060] At step SA3, the control section 502 decides whether the final delivery affair is completed or not. In this instance, the decision result is assumed to be No. Subsequently, delivery (exchange) affairs to the house B 700B and the house C 700C shown in FIG. 9 are executed. Upon completion of the final delivery affair, the control section 502 sets the decision result at step SA3 as Yes.

[0061] At step SA11, an upload process is executed. More specifically, the delivery person connects the portable terminal 500 to the delivery management server 300 via the network 400 and then operates a predetermined key of the input section 504. In this manner, the control section 502 outputs an upload request via the network 400 and uploads the delivery management information and the exchange result information stored in the storage section 503.

[0062] In this manner, the control section 302 of the delivery management server 300 sets the decision result at step SB3 shown in FIG. 8 as Yes. At step SB6, the control section 302 stores the uploaded delivery management information in the delivery management information database 320 (see FIG. 3) and stores the exchange result information in the exchange result information database 330 (see FIG. 4).

[0063] As described above, according to the embodiment, in a delivery affair, when the gift is decided as an unwanted gift by the receiver and decided as an exchangeable article by the control section 502, a predetermined service charge is calculated based on the service charge information database 520 (see FIG. 6), and an article actually exchanged (see FIG. 4) having a value obtained by subtracting the service charge from the price of the gift is determined based on the exchange conditions between the target article to be exchanged and the gift. For this reason, the exchange of the gift and the article actually exchanged (valuable article) can be easily and efficiently performed.

[0064] According to the embodiment, at the start of a delivery affair, the delivery management information related to the delivery of gifts is collectively downloaded from the delivery management server 300 (step SA1: see FIG. 7). Thus, the delivery affair can be efficiently performed.

[0065] According to the embodiment, the portable terminal 500 stores the exchange result information related to the exchange of a gift and an article actually exchanged (valuable article) and shows the exchange result information to a receiver with the exchange result statement 900. Thus, the receiver can recognize what the gift is, and can avoid an impolite attitude to a consignor.

[0066] According to the embodiment, upon completion of the delivery affair, the exchange result information is uploaded to the delivery management server 300. Thus, the delivery affair can be made more efficient.

[0067] According to the embodiment, by exchanges of gifts to valuable articles, demand of taking gifts back by using service charges as counter values can be evoked to delivery companies. In addition, since department stores entrust exchange affairs to delivery companies, costs and time required for the exchanges can be reduced.

[0068] The embodiment according to the present invention has been described in detail above with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, a concrete configuration is not limited to the embodiment, and a change in design in the range where does not deviate from the spirit and scope of the invention is included in the invention.

[0069] For example, in the embodiment described above, a program for realizing the functions of the delivery management server 300 or the portable terminal 500 is recorded on a computer readable recording medium 1100 shown in FIG. 12, and the program recorded on the computer readable recording medium 1100 is loaded on a computer 1000 shown in FIG. 12 and executed, so that a gift-valuable article exchange may be assisted. The computer readable recording medium 1100 may be a hard disk, an optical disk, a removable disk, or the like.

[0070] The computer 1000 shown in FIG. 12 is constituted by a central processing unit (CPU) 1010 which executes the program, an input device 1020 such as a keyboard and a mouse, a read only memory (ROM) 1030 which stores various data, a random access memory (RAM) 1040 which stores calculation parameters and the like, a read device 1050 which reads the program from the recording medium 1100, an output device 1060 such as a display and a printer, and a bus 1070 which connects the respective sections of the devices.

[0071] The CPU 1010 loads the program recorded on the recording medium 1100 through the read device 1050 and executes the program to assist the gift-valuable article exchange.

[0072] In the embodiment, a delivery trouble such as breakage of a gift occurs, the responsibility of defects may be placed on a delivery company or an insurance company. Further, in the embodiment, an exchange is not performed in delivery, exchange points are added, the exchange points are accumulated in the delivery management server 300, and a valuable article depending on the exchange points is sent to the receiver later on.

[0073] As described above, according to one aspect of the present invention, at the time of delivery, when a receiver decides a gift as an unwanted gift and the exchange possible/impossible unit determined that the gift is exchangeable, a predetermined service charge is calculated. A valuable article, to which the gift is actually exchanged, equivalent to a value obtained by subtracting the service charge from a value of the gift is then decided based on the exchange conditions. Therefore, it is advantageous that an exchange of the gift to the valuable article can be performed easily and efficiently.

[0074] Furthermore, at the start of a delivery affair, the delivery management information related to delivery of gifts is collectively downloaded from the delivery management device. Therefore, it is advantageous that the delivery affair can be performed more efficiently.

[0075] Moreover, the exchange result information related to an exchange of a gift and a valuable article actually exchanged is accumulated, and the exchange result information is shown to a receiver. Therefore, it is advantageous that the receiver can recognize what the gift is and can avoid an impolite attitude to a consignor.

[0076] Furthermore, upon completion of a delivery affair, the exchange result information is uploaded to the delivery management device. Therefore, it is advantageous that the delivery affair can be performed more efficiently.

[0077] According to another aspect of the present invention, at the time of delivery, when a receiver decides a gift as an unwanted gift and it is determined in the exchange possible/impossible step that the gift is exchangeable, it is possible to easily and efficiently exchange from the gift to a valuable article to which the gift can be actually exchanged. Because a predetermined service charge is calculated, and the valuable article equivalent to a value obtained by subtracting the service charge from a value of the gift is determined based on the exchange conditions. Further, at the start of the delivery affair, delivery management information related to delivery of gifts is collectively downloaded from the delivery management device. Upon completion of the delivery affair, the exchange result information is uploaded to the delivery management device. Therefore, it is advantageous that the delivery affair can be performed more efficiently.

[0078] Although the invention has been described with respect to a specific embodiment for a complete and clear disclosure, the appended claims are not to be thus limited but are to be construed as embodying all modifications and alternative constructions that may occur to one skilled in the art which fairly fall within the basic teaching herein set forth.