JP2002259853A - Rental product auction device, rental product auction system, rental product auction method, and program - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [PROBLEMS] To provide a rental service according to the needs of a user, and to enable the service supply side to efficiently earn profits according to demand. When a user tries to borrow a rental product, the user inputs user individual information by using a user terminal,
A borrowed product is designated, and a rental fee for the borrowed product is declared and input. The auction management server 1 includes a user terminal 4
Received through the Internet 3 from among the rental fees declared for each product and for each user, the user who has the highest price is determined, and the determined user is determined as the borrower of the product. To be determined.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a rental item auction device for managing auction of rental items, a rental item auction system and a rental item auction method using such a rental item auction device, and a computer. The present invention relates to a program for realizing a function of a rental product auction apparatus.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, a rental business for renting various products such as CDs, videos, and travel goods to users for a predetermined period has been widely developed.

In such a rental service,
A user goes to a rental store that rents rental products and borrows desired rental products.

[0004]

However, when renting a rental product, the user only has to select from the inventory of the rental store, that is, the rental product that is not being lent to another user. Can not. That is,
In the conventional rental service, means for preferentially renting limited rental products has not been provided. Therefore,
When there is much demand for rental products desired by users, it has been difficult to rent those rental products. In other words, until demand for the rental product falls,
Customers had the disadvantage of having to wait for rental priorities.

On the rental service supply side, that is, a rental store, a uniform rental fee is set for each rental product, such as a purchase amount, regardless of the demand. Efficient profitability has been impaired.

Conventionally, inefficiencies in the supply and demand of rental services as described above have occurred.

[0007] It is an object of the present invention to provide a rental service according to the needs of the user, and to enable the supply side of the service to efficiently obtain profits according to demand.

[0008]

In order to achieve the above object, a rental commodity auction apparatus according to the present invention uses a personal communication terminal of each user to specify individual user information, designation of a borrowed commodity, and Receiving means for receiving a rental fee of a borrowed product, determining means for determining a user having a higher amount of the rental fee received by the receiving means for each product and declared for each user, and Determining means for determining the determined user as a borrower of the product.

[0009] A rental commodity auction system according to the present invention connects a user terminal and a rental trader's device by communication, and the user terminal is used when renting a rental commodity. A user individual information input unit for inputting individual information, a borrowed product specifying unit for specifying a borrowed product, and a rental fee reporting unit for declaring and inputting a rental fee for the borrowed product; It is provided with a discriminating means for discriminating a user who has a high amount of money from a rental fee filed for each product and for each user, and a discriminating means for determining the user discriminated by the discriminating means as a borrower of the product. It is characterized by doing.

[0010] Also, in the rental commodity auction method according to the present invention, a user terminal and a rental trader's device are connected for communication, and user individual information is input from the user terminal.
From the terminal of the user, specify the borrowed product, declare and enter the rental fee of the borrowed product from the terminal of the user, and use the device of the rental company to declare the rental fee for each product and for each user. Among them, a user having a high amount of money is determined, and the user determined by the determination means is determined as a borrower of the product by the apparatus of the rental company.

The program according to the present invention has a function of receiving user individual information, designation of a borrowed product, and a rental fee of the borrowed product from a terminal of each user communicatively connected to the computer. A function for determining a user who has a high amount of money among rental fees declared for each product and for each user, and a function for determining the determined user as a borrower of the product. Characterized in that:

That is, according to the rental product auction apparatus, the rental product auction system, the rental product auction method, and the program of the present invention, when borrowing a rental product, a rental fee is set for each user in a predetermined time zone for each product. Declaration is made, and the server (rental equipment) determines the user with the highest price among the users as a borrower.

Therefore, while providing a rental service according to the needs of the user, it becomes possible for the supply side of the service to efficiently obtain profits according to the demand.

[0014]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention.
This will be described with reference to FIGS.

[First Embodiment] FIG. 1A is a diagram showing a configuration of a rental commodity auction system according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

That is, the auction management server 1 as a rental merchandise auction according to the first embodiment of the present invention is connected to the rental shop terminal 2 and, via the Internet 3, uses the auction owned by each user. Terminal 4 (only one is shown as a representative in the figure) and a credit company terminal 5 provided in a credit company.

In the first embodiment, the auction management server 1 and the rental store terminal 2 are arranged in a CD rental store that handles CDs as rental products. The description will be made assuming that a Web site “site xx” is provided.

The auction management server 1 is, for example, a personal computer (PC). The PC includes a CPU 11, a storage device 12, an RA, as shown in FIG.
M13, a transmission control unit 14, and the like.

Here, the CPU 11 is a control unit for controlling the entire PC.

The storage device 12 stores a program,
Data and the like are stored in advance, and the storage device 12 includes a recording medium 15 readable by the CPU 11 such as a magnetic or optical recording medium or a semiconductor memory. The recording medium 15 includes a portable medium such as a CD-ROM and a memory card and a fixed medium such as a hard disk. The program, data, and the like stored in the recording medium 15 may be partially or wholly received from the transmission control unit 14 via a network such as a WAN or LAN or the Internet 3 from a server or a client. Further, the recording medium 15 may be a recording medium of a server or a client constructed on a network.

The RAM 13 is a work memory used by the CPU 11 during execution of a program. This RA
M13 includes a reservation reception buffer 131, a user borrowed memory 132, and a sales memory 13 as shown in FIG.
3, etc. are stored.

That is, the reservation reception buffer 131 stores, for each CD, the order of the amount of use presented from the user terminal 4 on the “rental CD site XX” Web page provided by the auction management server 1 in descending order. The user name (nickname) and the amount are stored. Further, the user borrowed memory 132 stores each CD during a certain use period.
The user name (nickname), user information, amount, and return flag are stored. Here, since there are a plurality of identical CDs, this user borrowed memory 132
Will have multiple records. The return flag indicates whether or not the CD has been returned. If the CD has been returned, it has been reset to “0”. The sales memory 133 stores the total sales amount and rental amount for each CD. That is, when all the products (CDs) stored in the user borrowing memory 132 have been repaid, the amount and quantity of each product are added to the sales memory 133, and the user borrowing memory 132 is cleared. It is supposed to be.

The transmission control unit 14 communicates with other devices connected via the Internet 3 and further with the rental store terminal 2 connected via a network such as a WAN or LAN. The data is transmitted and received between the devices.

On the other hand, the rental store terminal 2 is also constituted by a PC, and this PC has a CPU 21, an input device 22, a display device 23, a printing device 24, a storage device, as shown in FIG. 25, RAM 26, transmission control unit 2
7 mag.

Here, the CPU 21 is a control section for controlling the entire PC.

The input device 22 is a keyboard, which may further include a pointing device such as a mouse. Further, the display device 23 has a C
The printing device 24 is an RT or a liquid crystal display.
Is a printer.

The storage device 25 stores programs, data, and the like in advance.
The above-mentioned CPU such as an optical recording medium or a semiconductor memory
21 includes a recording medium 28 readable. The recording medium 28 includes a portable medium such as a CD-ROM and a memory card, and a fixed medium such as a hard disk.

The RAM 26 is a work memory used by the CPU 21 during execution of a program.

The transmission control unit 27 is provided with a WAN, L
It transmits and receives data to and from the auction management server 1 connected via a network such as an AN.

Note that the user terminal 4 and the credit company terminal 5 also have a PC having the same configuration as the rental store terminal 2 as shown in parentheses in FIG.
Therefore, the details are omitted.
However, in the user terminal 4 and the credit company terminal 5, the transmission control units 47 and 57 transmit and receive data to and from a network such as a WAN or a LAN or another device connected via the Internet 3. Is what you do.

Next, the operation in such a configuration will be described. FIGS. 3 and 4 show a series of flowcharts for explaining the operation of the rental right auction (hereinafter, referred to as auction) process in the user terminal 4. That is, this flowchart is for explaining a program for causing the computer constituting the user terminal 4 to realize each function in the first embodiment of the present invention.
This program will be described with an example in which the program is stored in the recording medium 48 in the form of a program code that can be read by the CPU 41. However, it is not necessary to store all the functions in the recording medium 48, and the A part or the whole may be realized by receiving it from the transmission control unit 47 via the network or the Internet 3.

That is, first, the transmission control unit 47 makes a dial-up connection to the Internet 3 (step S4).
01). Of course, if the user terminal 4 is in an environment where the user terminal 4 can always be connected to the Internet 3, this step is unnecessary.

Next, it is determined whether or not a URL of any Web site has been input (step S402). If no URL has been input, it is further determined whether or not dial-up disconnection has been specified (step S403). And
If there is no designation of dial-up cutting, the above step S4
02, if there is, the connection with the line is disconnected (step S404), and the process is terminated.

On the other hand, if the URL of any Web site is input, the URL of the input Web site is input.
After transmitting the RL by the transmission control unit 47 (step S405), it waits for the transmission control unit 47 to receive the file data of the Web site (step S4).
06). Then, when the file data of the Web site is received, it is determined whether or not the file data is the password authentication screen data of the rental CD site XX (step S407). Here, if the received file data of the Web site is not the password authentication screen data of the rental CD site XX, the received Web site
After the file data of the site is displayed on the display device 43 (step S408), the process proceeds to step S403.

On the other hand, if the received file data of the Web site is the password authentication screen data of the rental CD site xx, the password authentication screen is displayed to input the rental reception data. It is displayed on the device 43 (step S409). Here, in this password authentication screen, FIG.
, An input area for inputting information such as a nickname, an e-mail address, a credit card number, a user ID, and a password (hereinafter, referred to as user information);
A "confirm" button and a "cancel" button are displayed.

Then, on this password authentication screen, the user inputs user information using the input device 42 (step S410), and if the "confirm" button is operated,
The transmission control unit 47 transmits the input user information to the auction management server 1 that provides the rental CD site XX (step S411). Thereby, the user logs on to the auction management server 1.

Thereafter, the transmission control unit 47 determines whether or not rental CD name data has been received from the auction management server 1 (step S412). If the rental CD name data has not been received yet,
It is determined whether an error notification has been received from the auction management server 1 (step S413). Here, if an error notification has been received, the process proceeds to step S403, and if not, the process returns to step S412.

When the rental CD name data is received from the auction management server 1, the rental CD name data screen is displayed on the display device 43 in accordance with the received data (step S414). Here, on the rental CD name data screen, as shown in FIG. 5B, a list of rental products (CD) (CD name, maximum rental fee and rental days predetermined on the rental store side) is displayed. )When,
The "presentation discard" button and the "presentation confirmation" button are displayed.

Then, the user operates the input device 42 to select and input a CD name to be rented (step S415). This selection input is performed by, for example, performing a mouse click operation on a check box next to the CD name in the rental product list. And the above "Confirmation of presentation"
It is determined whether or not the button has been operated (step S416),
If it has not been operated, it is further determined whether or not the "presentation discard" button has been operated (step S41).
7). If the "discard" button has not been operated, the process returns to step S416. If the button has been operated, the selection of the rental CD name is cleared (step S418). It returns to step S415.

When the "confirm" button is operated, the name of the rental CD selected in the upper unit is transmitted to the transmission control unit 4.
7 to the auction management server 1 (step S
419). Thereafter, it waits for the transmission control unit 47 to receive the auction result list data from the auction management server 1 (step S420).

When the auction result list data is received from the auction management server 1, the auction result list data screen is displayed on the display device 43 in accordance with the received auction result list data (step S421). Here, on the auction result list data screen, as shown in FIG. 5C, the current auction status, the input area of the presented amount, and the "disposed amount" button for the selected rental CD are displayed. And an "Amount presentation" button.

Then, the user operates the input device 42 to input the presented amount into the presented amount input area (step S422). Thereafter, it is determined whether or not the "present amount" button has been operated (step S423). If it has not been operated, it is further determined whether or not the "present amount discard" button has been operated (step S423). Step S424). here,
If the "present amount discard" button has not been operated, the process returns to step S423. If it has been operated, the present amount entered in the present amount input area is cleared (step S423). S425), Step S42 above
Return to 2.

On the other hand, when the "present amount discard" button is operated, the confirmation screen is switched and displayed on the display device 43 (step S426). That is, as shown in FIG. 5 (D), the confirmation screen displays the presented amount and a message asking whether the amount is acceptable, and presses the “confirm” button and the “cancel” button. To display.

Then, it is determined whether or not the "confirmation" button has been operated (step S427). If it has not been operated, it is further determined whether or not the "cancel" button has been operated. (Step S428). Here, if the “cancel” button is not operated, the process returns to the step S423. If the “cancel” button is operated, the transmission control unit 47 cancels all the operations.
After transmission to the auction management server 1 (step S
429), and the process returns to step S403.

On the other hand, when the "confirmation" button is operated, the presented money is transmitted to the auction management server 1 by the transmission control unit 47 (step S43).
0), and return to step S403.

As described above, the rental acceptance data is input on each screen as shown in FIGS. 5A to 5D.

In the rental store terminal 2 as well, a user who has come to the rental store can operate the rental store terminal 2 to input similar rental reception data.

That is, the users who can participate in this auction are the user of the store terminal 2 that owns the credit card and the account transfer contract member (the password owner) that has the user terminal 4 that can be connected to the Internet.

Next, the operation of the auction management server 1 will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. That is, this flowchart is for describing a program for causing a computer constituting the auction management server 1 to realize each function in the first embodiment of the present invention. This program will be described with an example in which the program is stored in the recording medium 15 in the form of a program code that can be read by the CPU 11, but it is not necessary to store all functions in the recording medium 15, and the A part or the whole may be realized by receiving it from the transmission control unit 14 via the network or the Internet 3.

That is, first, a commodity return process is executed (step S11). This product return process is a process of updating the user borrowed memory 132 in accordance with the information sent from the rental store terminal 2 when the rental CD, which is a rental product, is returned from the rental store terminal 2. . That is, the return flag corresponding to the returned rental CD is reset to “0”. When all items have been returned, the user borrowed memory 132 may be cleared by adding the amount and quantity of each product to the sales memory 133.

Then, after executing a commodity auction main process as will be described in detail later (step S12), the process returns to step S11.

FIG. 6B shows a flowchart of the commodity auction main process executed in step S12.

That is, first, it is determined whether or not it is the end time of the auction (step S121). Here, the auction ending time is, for example, the business ending time of the store, and in the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 7, the business hours of the store are 10:00 to 22:59. Therefore, the auction end time is 22:59.

If it is not yet the auction end time,
The following processing is executed for each rental product (CD). In the following description, for simplicity, only one rental CD (a specific one of rental CDs having the same title) will be described. Of course, rental CDs can be managed.

That is, it is determined whether or not the rental CD is in the returned or received state by the return flag corresponding to the rental CD in the user borrowed memory 132 (step S122). If it is not in such a state, the commodity auction main processing ends, and the routine returns to the higher-level routine. That is, since the auction cannot be held unless the inventory of the rental product is determined (confirmation of occurrence of cancellation or return), confirmation is made here. In the case of a new product, the date of arrival is determined. Therefore, the auction holding time (hereinafter, referred to as an auction period) is from the completion of the arrival determination or return processing to the auction end time (for example, 22:59). In addition,
If the return is made at the end of store operation, the auction starts from the start of the next store operation.

On the other hand, if the rental CD is in a returned or received state, the registered member is notified by e-mail (step S123). Note that this need only be performed once for one CD. After that, after the processing during the auction period, which will be described in detail later, is executed (step S124), the main processing of the commodity auction ends, and the process returns to the upper routine.

When the auction end time comes (step S121), an end condition flag (not shown) provided in the CPU 11 or the RAM 13 is turned on (step S122), and the process proceeds to step S124 to execute processing during the auction period. Will be executed.

FIG. 8A shows a flowchart of the processing during the auction period executed in step S124.

That is, first, it is checked whether the end condition flag is on (step S124).
1) If it is not turned on, execute a user input reception process as described later in detail (step S124)
2). Then, after executing the reception order changing process described later in detail (step S1243), the process during the auction period is ended, and the process returns to the higher-level routine.

On the other hand, when the end condition flag is on, after executing the reservation right determination processing as described in detail later (step S1244), the processing during the auction period is ended and the upper routine is executed. Return to

FIG. 9 shows a flowchart of the user input receiving process executed in step S1242.

That is, first, the user data including the password authentication data input at the user terminal 4 is received by the transmission control unit 14 (step S12421), and it is determined whether or not the received input data has no omission. Is determined (step S12422). Here, if there is a data omission, after transmitting an error notification to the user terminal 4 by the transmission control unit 14 (step S12423), the user input accepting process is terminated and the process returns to the upper routine. .

On the other hand, if there is no data omission, it is further determined whether or not the user is a registered user, that is, whether or not the user is a new registration (step S124).
24). If it is a new registration, after newly registering the received user data (step S12425),
It returns to said step S12422.

When the user data of the registered user is received, the transmission control unit 14 further checks whether the above-mentioned rental reception data has been received from the user terminal 4 or not. Is determined (step S1242).
6). Here, if the rental reception data is not received, the process proceeds to step S12428 described below.

On the other hand, when the rental reception data is received, data corresponding to the received rental reception data is transmitted by the transmission control unit 14 to the user terminal 4.
(Step S12427). Then, the transmission control unit 14 determines whether the confirmation and the presentation amount have been received from the user terminal 4 (step S1242).
8) If they are not received, step S12
Return to 426. Also, when they are received, the user input receiving process is terminated, and the process returns to the higher-level routine.
The next reception order change process will be executed.

FIG. 10A shows the above step S124.
3 shows a flowchart of the reception order changing process executed in Step 3.

That is, first, the presented amount included in the rental reception data received in the user input reception processing is:
It is determined whether or not the rental amount of the rental CD to be auctioned exceeds the minimum amount registered in the reservation reception buffer 131 (step 14431). Here, if the amount is equal to or less than the minimum amount, the reception order change process ends, and the process returns to the higher-level routine. If the reservation reception buffer 131 of the rental CD is all empty, the minimum participation price at the start of the auction is calculated by the following formula.

Minimum amount = Last rental final amount × 0.5
÷ Reservation reception buffer total vacant days if (minimum amount <10 yen)
then minimum amount = 10 yen On the other hand, if the amount presented by the user is higher than the minimum amount, it is further determined whether or not the number is still within the number of the reservation reception buffer 131 of the rental CD. It is determined (step S12432).
If the number is still within the number of persons, the priority order is rearranged according to the presented amount of money (step S12433), and then the reception order change process is ended and the process returns to the upper routine. In this order of priority, if the amount of presentation is the same, the application with the earlier application is given priority.

If the number exceeds the number in the reservation reception buffer 131, the lowest priority person is deleted from the reservation reception buffer 131 (step S12434). Thereafter, it is determined whether or not a rental fee equal to or more than the set upper limit amount, which is a condition for terminating the auction, is presented (step S12435). Here, if a rental fee lower than the set upper limit is presented, the process proceeds to step S12433. On the other hand, when an amount equal to or more than the set upper limit amount is presented, the end condition flag is turned on (step S11536), and the process proceeds to step S12433. In the present embodiment, the set upper limit amount is 1,000 yen.

For example, as shown in FIG. 2A, if the stock is for seven people and if a rental fee of 501 yen or more is further presented, “Butasan” is out of the right. Therefore, if the user presents 565 yen because the maximum amount is 600 yen, the user is bargained between "Inu-san" and "Neko-san" and can get the rental right cheaply. Is possible.

FIG. 8B is a flow chart of the above step S1244.
3 shows a flowchart of the reservation right determination processing executed by the processing shown in FIG.

That is, first, it is determined whether or not it is the cancellation end time (step S12441). The cancellation end time may be any time after the store is closed and before the start of business on the next day.
Hour 59 minutes.

If the cancellation end time has not yet been reached, the transmission control unit 14 determines whether a cancellation has been received from the user terminal 4 via the Internet 3 (step S12442). Here, if there is no cancellation, the reservation right determination processing ends, and the process returns to the upper routine.

On the other hand, if there is a cancellation, a process of deleting the user from the reservation reception buffer 131 and increasing the order of the user with a lower priority than the user is executed. (Step S12443). Thereafter, the reservation right determination processing ends, and the process returns to the higher-level routine.

When the cancellation end time is reached, the order is notified by e-mail to all the users participating in the auction (step S12444). In addition, among the users, an upper-level user corresponding to the number of rentals (the number of stocks) is notified by e-mail that the user can rent, and information on the users and the rental fee are stored in the user borrowing memory 132. (Step S)
12445). Thereafter, the reception buffer 131 is cleared, and the end condition flag is turned off (step S
12446). Then, the reservation right determination processing ends, and the process returns to the higher-level routine.

As described above, if the finalized order is not canceled by 23:59, the user with the highest amount of money presented at that time will rent from the next business day to the user of the number of stocks from the next business day to two days and one night. The reservation is confirmed. Then, at any time during the period of the acquisition right, the user can receive the rental CD at the store.

FIG. 11A is an operation flowchart of the rental store terminal 2. That is, this flowchart is for explaining a program for causing the computer constituting the rental shop terminal 2 to realize each function in the first embodiment of the present invention. This program will be described with an example in which the program is stored in the recording medium 28 in the form of a program code that can be read by the CPU 21. However, it is not necessary to store all functions in the recording medium 28, and the A part or the whole may be received from the transmission control unit 27 and realized.

That is, first, it is determined whether or not the rental CD has been returned (step S201). If there is a return, the information of the user is input by the input device 22 and transmitted to the auction management server 1 by the transmission control unit 27 (step S202). In response to this, the information in the user borrowed memory 132 corresponding to the user information is sent from the auction management server 1, and accordingly, it is determined whether or not the rental period has been extended (step S1). S203).

If there is no extension of the rental period, the user presents the rental period and the user borrows the memory 132
Is obtained as the basic fee (step S204), and the obtained fee is collected (step S205). Then, after the transmission control unit 27 instructs the auction management server 1 to update the user borrowed memory 132 (step S206), the process returns to step S201.

If the rental period has been extended (step S203), the fee for the extended rental period is calculated and obtained (step S207), and the process proceeds to step S205 to collect the fee. Will be. In this case, for example, 150% of the rental fee presented by the user is charged for each extended day.

On the other hand, if it is determined that there is no return (step S201), it is determined whether or not the current time is the business end time (22:59) (step S208).
Otherwise, the process returns to step S201.

On the other hand, if it is the business end time, the transmission control unit 27 instructs the auction management server 1 to search for an unreturned user, A user who has not returned for a period of time, for example, 11 days or more, is searched (step S209). Then, when the retrieved information on the unreturned user is received from the auction management server 1, a fee for the rental period extension is calculated and obtained (step S210), and the fee and the information on the user are transmitted through the transmission. The control unit 14 transmits the credit to the credit company terminal 5 through the auction management server 1 via the Internet 3 to thereby debit the credit (step S211). After that, the operation of the rental store terminal 2 ends.

As described above, in principle, the rental period is two days and one night (from the start of store operation to the end of the next business day).
1 of rental fee presented per day up to 0 days
50% will be charged. Then, in the case of being overdue for more than 11 days, the rental fee is forcibly deducted from the credit company. In this case, 3
If a deadline such as a month is set and the delay is longer than that, it may be regarded as the purchase of the rental CD and the difference may be further credited.

In the case of delay, it is preferable that the auction use ID and re-entry are invalidated until the rental fee including the delay fee is paid.

In the first embodiment of the present invention as described above, the auction system is incorporated in the priority order for renting rental goods, so that the rental business method can meet the demand in a certain period of time according to the conventional rental business method. This has the effect of efficiently earning profits. In addition, there is an effect that a service can be provided according to the needs of the user.

[Second Embodiment] In the first embodiment, the auction management server 1 is provided at one rental store, and auction is performed only for rental products of the rental store. It is also possible to register the auction rental data of the rental store in the auction rental site and allow the user to access this site to perform a rental auction.

That is, as shown in FIG. 11B, a plurality of rental store terminals 2 and a plurality of user terminals 4 are connected to the auction rental site 6 connected to the Internet 3 by the public line 7 and the provider. 8 so as to be accessible. Here, all the rental shops where the rental shop terminals 2 are arranged treat rental CDs as rental products as in the first embodiment.
It is one chain store, and the auction rental site 6 may be located at the head office of the chain store, or each rental store may have different rental products,
For example, they are independent stores that handle rental videos and rental books.
May be distributed to a service provider independent of the stores.

The auction rental site 6
It functions as the auction management server 1 in the first embodiment, and as shown in FIG.
WW server 61, application file 62, D
It comprises a B control unit 63 and a DB 64. And the above DB6
4 is provided with a rental product DB storing information on rental products handled by each rental store.

Although the present invention has been described based on the embodiments, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications and applications are possible within the scope of the present invention. Of course.

For example, in the above-described embodiment, the notification as to whether or not a rental item can be lent is made by e-mail, but the notification may be made by telephone.

The rental fee is paid in cash or credit at the store at the time of return, but the credit may be debited in advance at the time of vesting.

Further, the number of users corresponding to the number of stocks is stored in the reservation reception buffer 131. However, the number of users equal to or more than the number of stocks can be stored, and all auction participants are held. A departed participant may be allowed to participate in the auction without having to enter it again at the start of the auction on the next day. Further, in that case, a privilege such as advancing the priority by one may be given.

The present invention is also applicable to a rental service for distributing music data and the like that can be rented at a site, rather than renting an actual product from a store. However, in that case, the song data that can be rented,
It is necessary to devise a way to automatically delete the rental period.

[0094]

According to the present invention, a rental service according to the needs of the user can be provided, and the service supply side can efficiently obtain profits according to the demand.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1A is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a rental product auction system according to a first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 1B is a block configuration diagram of an auction management server in FIG.

FIG. 2A is a diagram for explaining storage contents of a reservation reception buffer, a user borrowed memory, and a sales memory provided in a RAM of an auction management server, and FIG. 2B is a diagram for explaining a storage content of FIG. It is a block diagram for explaining composition of a rental store terminal, a user terminal, and a credit company terminal inside.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a first half of a series of flowcharts for describing an operation of a rental right auction process in a user terminal.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the latter half of a series of flowcharts for explaining the operation of the rental right auction process in the user terminal.

FIG. 5A is a diagram showing a password authentication screen, and FIG.
Is a diagram showing a rental CD name data screen, (C) is a diagram showing an auction result list data screen, and (D) is a diagram showing a confirmation screen.

FIG. 6A is a diagram illustrating an operation flowchart of the auction management server, and FIG. 6B is a diagram illustrating a flowchart of a commodity auction main process in FIG.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a time chart of auction and rental.

8A is a diagram showing a flowchart of a process during an auction period in FIG. 6B, and FIG. 8B is a diagram showing a flowchart of a reservation right determination process in FIG.

9 is a diagram showing a flowchart of a user input receiving process in FIG. 8A.

10A is a diagram showing a flowchart of the reception order changing process in FIG. 8A, and FIG. 10B is a block diagram of an auction rental site in FIG. 11B.

11A is a diagram illustrating a flowchart for explaining the operation of a rental store terminal, and FIG. 11B is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a rental product auction system according to a second embodiment of the present invention; is there.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 1 auction management server 2 rental store terminal 3 internet 4 user terminal 5 credit company terminal 6 auction rental site 7 public line 8 provider 11, 21, 41, 51 CPU 12, 25, 45, 55 storage device 13, 26, 46, 56 RAM 14, 27, 47, 57 Transmission control unit 15, 28, 48, 58 Recording medium 22, 42, 52 Input device 23, 43, 53 Display device 24, 44, 54 Printing device 61 WWW server 62 Application file 63 DB control unit 64 DB 131 Reservation reception buffer 132 User borrowed memory 133 Sales memory

Claims (14)

[Claims] 1. A receiving means for receiving user-specific information, designation of a borrowed product, and a rental fee for the borrowed product from a terminal of each user connected through communication, and A determination unit for determining a user who has a higher amount of the rental fee declared for each user; and a determination unit for determining the user determined by the determination unit as a borrower of the product. A rental commodity auction apparatus characterized by the following. 2. The rental merchandise auction apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the discriminating means and the deciding means determine a borrower of the goods in the same cycle every day. 3. The rental product auction apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a decision notifying means for notifying a user determined as a borrower by said determining means. 4. An information holding unit for holding information received by the receiving unit, and when a cancellation is received from a terminal of the user, the information corresponding to the user stored in the information holding unit is deleted. 2. The rental product auction apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a deletion unit, wherein the determination unit performs the determination based on information held in the information storage unit. 5. The information held by the information holding means,
The rental merchandise auction apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising a rearranging means for rearranging in order of the amount of money. 6. The rental according to claim 5, further comprising a browsing unit for allowing each user terminal to browse the information held in the information holding unit rearranged by the rearranging unit. Commodity auction equipment. 7. A communication terminal for connecting a user terminal and a rental agent device, wherein the user terminal inputs user individual information when borrowing a rental product. Input means, borrowed goods designating means for designating borrowed goods, and rental fee reporting means for declaring and inputting the rental fee of the borrowed goods, wherein the equipment of the rental company is declared for each product and for each user. Of the rental fee made,
A rental merchandise auction system, comprising: a judging means for judging a user having a high price; and a judging means for judging the user judged by the judging means as a borrower of the merchandise. 8. The apparatus of the rental agent, comprising: a shop terminal provided at a rental shop; and a server connected to the shop terminal and connected to the user terminal. The rental product auction system according to claim 7. 9. The rental merchandise auction system according to claim 8, wherein said determination means and determination means are provided in said server. 10. The rental merchandise auction according to claim 8, wherein the store terminal includes a settlement unit for performing a settlement based on a rental fee entered and declared by the user when returning the rental commodity. system. 11. The store terminal further includes delinquency determining means for determining the presence or absence of delinquency when the rental product is returned. The production means, when the delinquency determination means determines that delinquency is present, 11. The rental merchandise auction system according to claim 10, wherein the delinquent fee is settled. 12. The shop terminal according to claim 10, wherein the store terminal further comprises means for performing settlement of an unpaid rental product late payment fee and withdrawing the late payment fee from a predetermined credit company. Rental product auction system. 13. A user's terminal and a rental agent's device are connected for communication, user individual information is input from the user's terminal, and a borrowed product is specified from the user's terminal. From the user's terminal, declare and enter the rental fee for the borrowed product, and use the equipment of the rental company to determine the user who has the highest price among the rental fees declared for each product and for each user. A rental merchandise auction method, comprising: determining, by a device of a trader, a user determined by the determining means as a borrower of the merchandise. 14. User individual information,
A function of designating a borrowed product and receiving a rental fee of the borrowed product; a function of determining a user who has a higher amount of the received rental fees for each product and declared for each user; A function to determine the designated user as a borrower of the product, and a program to realize the function.