Abstract:
The present invention realizes on an electronic shopping system a discount service that makes use of a discount coupon. Electronic data that serves as a discount coupon comprises data for identifying a product to be discounted, data for indicating a discount amount, and an electronic signature, and the like. The discount coupon is provided to a customer computer having as the media electronic mail, an Internet site, CD-ROM and so forth. The customer computer sends the discount coupon together with data indicating the purchase product and purchase quantity when ordering a product at a merchant Internet site. The merchant computer provides a discount service to a customer when the electronic signature of the received discount coupon is valid.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to an electronic shopping system, wherein products are bought and sold using a computer and a telecommunications network. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     An electronic shopping system is known as one aspect of a commercial transaction that does not rely on the physical distribution. An electronic shopping system is a system for buying and selling products using, for example, the Internet or some other telecommunications network and a computer. 
     With an electronic shopping system, there are cases, in which a discount service is provided, similar to ordinary commercial transactions of stores and the like. Discount service refers to a merchant reducing the selling price of a product in accordance with fixed conditions. 
     A time service system, volume count system, and point service system, and the like are known as discount services provided by electronic shopping systems. A time service system is a system, wherein a merchant provides a discount service to a customer, who purchases a specified product at a specified time or during a specified time period. A volume count system is a system, wherein a merchant provides a discount service to a customer, who purchases more than a specified quantity of a specified product at the same time. And a point service system is a system, wherein points corresponding to a purchase price or the like are provided to a customer each time he purchases a product, and a discount service of a value that corresponds to the total number of points is provided to the customer. 
     An electronic shopping system that employs a time service system and a volume count system can readily provide a discount service in accordance with setting in the merchant computer the targeted time or time period, the targeted product, and the purchase quantity which constitute the criteria. However, a system that employs these systems provides a uniform discount service to all customers, and is not capable of providing a different discount service to each customer. 
     A point service system can provide a different discount service to each customer. However, in an electronic shopping system that employs this system, the merchant&#39;s computer system has to manage the points of all the customers. In addition, with an electronic shopping system of this system, even if a merchant would like to provide a service which allows a customer to transfer points to another customer, it is difficult to realize because of the large burden of managing the points of all the customers. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     An object of the present invention is to provide an electronic shopping system, which is capable of easily and flexibly providing a different discount service to each customer. 
     Consequently, an electronic shopping system related to the present invention comprises a purchasing system, having means for storing in memory discount coupons constituted of electronic data, and means for transmitting to a telecommunications network a discount coupon and data for ordering a product; and a selling system, having means for receiving this discount coupon and this ordering data from a telecommunications network, and means for authenticating the validity of the discount coupon. 
     The present invention makes possible an easy and flexible discount service in accordance with realizing on an electronic shopping system a discount service that makes use of a discount coupon. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     Other objects and advantages of the present invention are explained below with reference to the accompanying figures. 
     FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the constitution of an electronic shopping system related to a first embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the constitution of an electronic shopping system related to a second embodiment of the present invention; and 
     FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the constitution of an electronic shopping system related to a third embodiment of the present invention. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     First Embodiment 
     FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the constitution of an electronic shopping system related to a first embodiment. 
     The electronic shopping system  100  of this embodiment comprises a customer computer  110 , a merchant computer  120 , and the Internet telecommunications network  130 . 
     A customer computer  110  comprises a computer main unit, constituting a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a hard disk, memory, and a telecommunications modem, a display or other outputting device, and an inputting device, such as a keyboard, and a mouse, among others. A merchant computer  120  comprises a computer main unit, an outputting device, and an inputting device, just like computer  110 . A customer computer  110  can access a merchant computer  120  via the Internet telecommunications network  130 . A merchant computer  120  provides a product catalog, and prices, and other product information in response to a computer  110  request. A customer computer  110  orders a product on the basis of this product information. 
     A customer computer  110  utilizes electronic mail (E-mail) receiving software  111 , discount coupon storing software  112 , and product purchasing software  113 . 
     Receiving software  111  is software for receiving as electronic mail data a discount coupon  140  from a computer  120 . 
     Storing software  112  is software for storing on a hard disk or other memory a discount coupon  140  that software  111  received. Computer  110  acquires software  112  by downloading software  112  from computer  120  via the telecommunications network  130 , and by installing software  112  from CD-ROM or other memory. 
     Purchasing software  113  is software for communicating with selling software  122  of a merchant computer  120 , and perusing product information and ordering a product. When ordering a product, purchasing software  113  sends to selling software  122  a discount coupon  140  received from storing software  112 . An ordinary WWW (World Wide Web) browser, for example, can be used as software  113 . 
     A merchant computer  120  utilizes electronic mail sending software  121 , product selling software  122 , and a discount coupon authenticating server  123 . 
     Sending software  121  is software for sending as electronic mail data a discount coupon  140  to the receiving software  111  of computer  110 . 
     Selling software  122  is software for managing a product that a merchant sells, for allowing the purchasing software  113  of computer  110  to peruse product information, and for receiving a product order from software  113 . In addition, software  122  receives a discount coupon  140  from purchasing software  113 . An ordinary WWW browser, for example, can be used as software  122 . 
     An authenticating server  123  prepares a discount coupon  140 . Further, when selling software  122  receives a discount coupon  140 , the authenticating server  123  authenticates the validity of the discount coupon  140  in response to a software  122  request. 
     A discount coupon  140  comprises a classification code for specifying a product that can be used, a discount amount, and an expiration date, and has an electronic signature of a merchant attached. 
     The operation of the electronic shopping system  100  shown in FIG. 1 is described hereinbelow. 
     First, the operation of the electronic shopping system, when a customer computer  110  receives a discount coupon  140 , is described. 
     The authenticating server  123  of computer  120  prepares a discount coupon using the classification code, discount amount, expiration date and other data, and electronic signature data stored inside the server. A discount coupon  140  can be prepared by type of product. 
     The sending software  121  sends a discount coupon  140  to the receiving software  111  of computer  110 . For example, a computer  110 , which is registered in a merchant computer  120  as a customer, who wants a discount coupon  140  to be sent, and for which the electronic mail address is known, is selected as the addressee of a discount coupon  140 . 
     The receiving software of the computer  110  extracts data related to a discount coupon  140  from received electronic mail, and sends it to the storing software  112 . 
     The storing software  112  stores the discount coupon  140  on hard disk or other memory. 
     Next, the operation of the electronic shopping system, when a customer computer  110  purchases a product using a discount coupon  140 , is described. 
     The purchasing software  113  of computer  110  accesses computer  120  and peruses the product information of the selling software  122 . 
     When ordering a product, the purchasing software  113  sends to the selling software  122  the data specifying the product to be purchased, and the purchase quantity, as well as the discount coupon  140  to be utilized in this purchase. 
     Upon receiving the discount coupon  140  from the purchasing software  113 , the selling software  122  sends an authentication request to the authenticating server  123 . 
     The authenticating server  123  authenticates the validity of the discount coupon  140 , and sends the authentication results to the selling software  122 . 
     When a discount coupon  140  is authenticated as being valid, the selling software  122  calculates an amount by subtracting the discount amount of the discount coupon  140  from the regular selling price of the ordered product. Next, the selling software  122  sends the calculation results to the purchasing software  113  as the actual selling price. Conversely, when a discount coupon  140  is determined to be invalid, the selling software  122  sends to the purchasing software  113  a notice to the effect that the discount coupon  140  is invalid, and the regular selling price of the ordered product. 
     The purchasing software  113 , upon receiving the actual selling price, sends to the selling software  122  a final decision as to whether or not an order will be placed. 
     With the electronic shopping system  100  related to this embodiment, because it is possible to distribute to a customer system  110  from a merchant computer  120  a discount coupon  140 , which has been converted to electronic data, a different discount service can be provided to each customer. 
     In addition, since it is not necessary to manage a product targeted for a discount service, and a discount value on a customer-by-customer basis, the management burden on a merchant computer  120  is small. 
     A customer computer  110  can transfer a discount coupon to another customer by either copying or transmitting the discount coupon  140  data. Therefore, even if a merchant provides a service that allows the transfer of a discount coupon  140 , the management burden of the merchant computer  120  does not increase. 
     Further, since the electronic signature of the merchant is attached to a discount coupon  140 , the fraudulent use of this discount coupon  140  can be prevent. That is, the electronic shopping system  100  has high security. 
     Second Embodiment 
     FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the constitution of an electronic shopping system related to a second embodiment. 
     The electronic shopping system  200  of this embodiment has a customer computer  210 , a merchant computer  220 , an advertising agent computer  230 , and the Internet telecommunications network  240 . 
     In this embodiment, a customer computer  210  acquires a discount coupon  140  from an advertising agent computer  230 . 
     The hardware of a customer computer  210  is the same as the hardware of the computer  110  shown in FIG.  1 . The hardware of the merchant computer  220  is the same as the hardware of the computer  120  shown in FIG.  1 . 
     An advertising agent computer  230  comprises a computer main unit, outputting device, and inputting device the same as computers  210 ,  220 . 
     A customer computer  210  uses discount coupon storing software  112 , and product purchasing software  211 . Computer  210  does not use electronic mail receiving software. 
     As the discount coupon storing software  112 , the same software as in the case of the aspect of the first embodiment is used. 
     Purchasing software  211  peruses product data, and places a product order by communicating with the selling software  122  installed in a merchant computer  220 . When ordering a product, the purchasing software  211  sends to the selling software  122  a discount coupon  140  received from the storing software  112 . In addition, the purchasing software  211  peruses a discount coupon  140 , and advertising information (not illustrated) published on the Internet in accordance with advertising software  232 , and downloads a discount coupon  140  from the advertising software  232 . An ordinary WWW (World Wide Web) browser, for example, can be used as software  211 . 
     A merchant computer  220  uses electronic mail sending software  221 , product selling software  122 , and a discount coupon authenticating server  123 . 
     The sending software  221  sends a discount coupon  140  and advertising information to the receiving software  231  of computer  230 . 
     As the selling software  122 , and authenticating server  123 , the same software as in the case of the aspect of the first embodiment is used. 
     An advertising agent computer  230  uses electronic mail receiving software  231 , and advertising software  232 . 
     The receiving software  231  is software for receiving as electronic mail data a discount coupon  140 , and advertising information from the sending software  221  of a merchant computer  220 . 
     Advertising software  232  is software for publishing the discount coupon  140 , and advertising information that the receiving software  231  receives. 
     The data constitution of a discount coupon  140  is the same as in the case of the aspect of the first embodiment. 
     The operation of the electronic shopping system  200  shown in FIG. 2 is described hereinbelow. 
     First, the operation of the electronic shopping system, when a customer computer  210  receives a discount coupon  140 , is described. 
     The authenticating server  123  of computer  220  prepares a discount coupon  140  similar to the case of the first embodiment. 
     The sending software  221  sends to the receiving software  231  of computer  230  in accordance with electronic mail data, which appends a discount coupon  140  to advertising information. 
     The receiving software  231  extracts, and sends to the advertising software  232  data related to the discount coupon  140  and advertising information from the received electronic mail. The advertising software  232  publishes the discount coupon  140  and advertising information on the Internet. 
     The purchasing software  211  of computer  210  peruses via the Internet telecommunications network  240  the advertising information published in accordance with the advertising software  232 . In addition, the purchasing software  211  downloads from this advertising software  232  a discount coupon  140  of the type the user desires. 
     The storing software  112  stores a discount coupon  140  on a hard disk or other memory. 
     The customer computer  210  can acquire a discount coupon  140  in this manner. 
     The procedure for purchasing a product using a discount coupon  140  is the same as in the case of the system  100  of the first embodiment, and as such, the description thereof is omitted. 
     The system  200  of this embodiment can produce the same effects as the effects described with regard to the first embodiment. In addition, since system  200  is capable of publishing a discount coupon  140  in accordance with an advertising agent computer  230 , it becomes easy to distribute a discount coupon  140  to the computers  210  of large numbers of unspecified customers. 
     Third Embodiment 
     FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the constitution of an electronic shopping system related to a third embodiment. 
     The electronic shopping system  300  of this embodiment has a customer computer  110 , a merchant computer  320 , and the Internet telecommunications network  330 . 
     The hardware of the customer computer  110  is the same as the hardware of the computer  110  shown in FIG.  1 . The hardware of the merchant computer  320  is the same as the hardware of the computer  120  shown in FIG.  1 . 
     The customer computer  110  uses electronic mail receiving software  111 , discount coupon storing software  112 , and product purchasing software  113 , the same as computer  110 . 
     The merchant computer  320  uses electronic mail sending software  121 , product selling software  321 , a discount coupon authenticating server  322 , and serial number managing software  323 . 
     As the sending software  121 , the same software as in the case of the first embodiment is used. 
     The selling software  321  is software for managing a product that a merchant sells, for perusing product information in accordance with the purchasing software  113  of computer  110 , and for receiving a product order from software  113 . When software  321  receives a discount coupon  340  from purchasing software  113 , software  321  requests that the authenticating server  322  make a determination as to the validity of the electronic signature, and asks the managing software  323  whether or not it is authorized to use the discount coupon. An ordinary WWW browser, for example, can be used as software  321 . 
     The authenticating server  322  prepares a discount coupon  340 , which has a serial number attached. Further, when the selling software  321  receives a discount coupon  340 , the authenticating server  322  authenticates the validity of the discount coupon  340  in response to a software  321  request. 
     Managing software  323  is software for managing, by classification code and serial number, the number of times a discount coupon  340  is capable of being used, and the number of times a discount coupon  340  has been used. 
     The discount coupon  340  comprises data, such as a classification code for specifying a product that can be used, a discount amount, and an expiration date, as well as a serial number. A merchant electronic signature is attached to the discount coupon  340 . 
     The operation of the electronic shopping system  300  shown in FIG. 3 is described hereinbelow. 
     First, the operation of the electronic shopping system when a customer computer  110  receives a discount coupon  340 , is described. 
     The authenticating server  322  of computer  320  prepares a discount coupon  340  using the classification code, discount amount, expiration date, serial number and other information, and electronic signature data stored inside the server. A discount coupon  340  can be prepared by type of product. The method for stipulating a serial number is arbitrary. For example, the serial number attached to each individual product can be utilized as-is as a discount coupon  340  serial number. 
     The sending software  121  sends a discount coupon  340  to the receiving software  111  of computer  110 , the same as the first embodiment. 
     The receiving software  111  extracts, and sends to the storing software  112  data related to the discount coupon  340  from the received electronic mail. 
     The storing software  112  stores the discount coupon  340  on hard disk or other memory. 
     Next, the operation of the electronic shopping system, when a customer computer  110  purchases a product using a discount coupon  340 , is described. 
     The purchasing software  113  of computer  110  peruses the product information of the selling software  321 , and sends data specifying a product to be purchased, and the discount coupon  340  via electronic mail. 
     Upon receiving an electronic mail, the selling software  321  sends an authentication request to the authenticating server  322 , and sends a determination request to the managing software  323 . 
     The authenticating server  322  authenticates the validity of the discount coupon  340 , and sends the authentication results to the selling software  321 . 
     The managing software  323  determines whether or not the number of times the discount coupon  340  was used exceeds the number of times the discount coupon  340  is capable of being used, and sends the determination results to the selling software  321 . When it is determined that the discount coupon  340  utilization frequency does not exceed the number of times the discount coupon  340  is capable of being used, the managing software  323  increments by “1” the utilization frequency stored value. 
     The selling software  321  determines whether or not a discount service is provided based on the authentication results and determination results. When a discount service is provided, the selling software  321  calculates a value by subtracting the discount value of the discount coupon  340  from the regular selling price of the ordered product. Next, the selling software  321  sends the calculation results to the purchasing software  113  as the actual selling price. Conversely, when a discount service is not provided, the selling software  321  sends to the purchasing software  113  a notice to the effect that the discount coupon  340  is invalid, and the regular selling price of the ordered product. 
     The purchasing software  113 , upon receiving the actual selling price, sends to the selling software  321  a final decision as to whether or not an order will be placed. 
     With the electronic shopping system  300  related to this embodiment, it is possible to attach a serial number to all discount coupons  340 , and to manage the utilization frequency thereof using a serial number. Therefore, in accordance with this system  300 , it is possible to prevent a single discount coupon  340  from being copied and used freely. This system  300  is especially effective, when providing a discount service, such as, for example, a service that provides a higher version of a software product to a specified customer only. 
     In addition, the electronic shopping system  300  related to this embodiment enables the provision of a different discount service to each customer, the same as the first embodiment, reduces the merchant management burden, and offers outstanding security. 
     In each of the above-described embodiments, a discount coupon was sent to the computer of a customer by electronic mail. When product information or discount coupon storing software stored on a CD-ROM or other memory is provided to a customer, a discount coupon can also be provided to the customer using this memory. When a discount coupon is provided using a memory, a function for storing on a hard disk or a similar storage the discount coupon data read from memory is attached to the discount coupon storing software.