JP2001290935A - System for incentive - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a system for incentive which gives a member a motive for introducing many introducers and a motive for prompting introduced members to consumption in stores of store members and reduces the pecuniary burden to stores and return incentive to customers from much capital. SOLUTION: This system is provided with a fundamental data management system 100 which manages the introduction relationship between members, a purchase amount data management system 200 which manages purchase amounts of members, and an incentive determining means 300 which calculates the incentive of each member on the basis of the purchase amount of the member himself or herself and purchase amounts of lower-order members specified by the introduction membership between members. This system for incentive is provided with a publishing system 400 which displays information concerned with this incentive and advertisement information for an advertisement income as capital for incentive originated from an executive office in a web site.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an incentive system for organizing a customer such as a consumer as a member and returning a predetermined profit to the customer according to the purchase amount of the customer.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an incentive system, called a point card system or the like, has been used as a means for promoting purchases by consumers. In this system, a member organization is composed of a member, a store (a member store), and a secretariat, and a consumer is provided with a predetermined amount in accordance with the purchase amount of a product or a sashihi (hereinafter referred to as a product) at the store. By accumulating the points, a predetermined incentive (prize) such as provision of an article or discount is given by accumulating the points, thereby promoting the purchase at the store of the consumer. However, conventional point card systems provide incentives, such as giving lots of incentives by lottery when giving incentives, providing attractive products to the contents of incentives, and giving large discounts on the next purchase of products. Although there are various variations in the method and content of the award, points are basically only accumulated based on the purchase amount of the member himself. As a result, for consumers, despite joining the membership, there was no way to increase their points beyond purchasing products. From the perspective of franchisees and the secretariat, only the secretariat and franchisees are the main actors to increase membership, and consumers cannot actively participate in increasing membership. It means that. Therefore, besides product purchases, consumers will be able to gain greater incentives through their activities and provide a more attractive incentive system for consumers. There is a demand for the development of a system that effectively utilizes consumers to increase members. Further, in the past, the point card sysmute relied solely on the profits from the purchases made at the merchant's merchant as the source of the incentive. That is, only a few percent of the sales profit at the member store is returned to the consumer, and a greater incentive cannot be given to the consumer unless the profit of the member store is reduced.

[0003]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide consumers and other customers with an opportunity to obtain greater incentives by means other than product purchase. An object of the present invention is to provide a system for determining incentives, which can be effectively used for increase. More specifically, an incentive system that can provide a large incentive by introducing a new member by a customer member and consuming by the introduced member is provided. Another object of the present invention is to provide a system for managing incentives that can obtain information on relationships and connections between customers, including information directly related to actual consumption activities. It is. Another object of the present invention is to provide a system for managing incentives that can give a greater incentive to customers without reducing the profit of the member store.

[0004] The invention of claim 1 of the present application is directed to a member organization constituted by introducing and joining a new member, wherein the member system comprises means for determining an incentive to be given to the member. Means for inputting a referral relationship between members, means for inputting a purchase amount by a member, and at least purchase of a subordinate member specified from the purchase amount of each member and the input relationship between the members input above. A system for calculating an incentive for each member based on the amount of money and determining an incentive to be given to each member. The invention according to claim 2 of the present application is a member organization composed of a customer member, a store member, and a secretariat, and includes means for determining an incentive to be given to at least one of the customer member and the store member. In the incentive system provided, the means for determining the source of incentives originating from the store based on the amount of payment paid by the store member to the secretariat, and the amount of revenue obtained by the secretariat such as advertising revenue Means for determining incentive funds originating from the secretariat based on the amount of income other than the above-mentioned payments, as well as customer members and dealer members from resources including incentive resources originating from dealers and the secretariat. Means for determining an incentive fund to be given to at least one of the members. Determining means for determining an incentive to be given to at least one of the members. In addition, the means for determining the source of incentives originating from the store based on the amount of the payment paid by the store member to the secretariat may be a method of calculating based on the purchase amount of the store member by the customer member, It can be calculated based on the gross profit and net profit generated by the purchase by the customer member at the store member. Other factors (uniform, the number of employees, capital (Calculation, store size). The invention of claim 3 of the present application is constituted by a customer member, a store member, and a secretariat, each member is introduced by introducing a new member and enrolled, and in a member organization, at least an incentive given to the customer member is provided. In the incentive system having means for determining, a means for storing a referral relationship between members, a means for storing a purchase amount by a customer member at a store member, and a method of selling based on a purchase amount by a customer member at a store member Based on the means of determining the store-based incentive funding and the amount of income obtained based on the activities of the secretariat, such as the amount of advertising revenue, based on the revenue other than the above-mentioned revenue from the store-derived incentive funding Means for determining the incentive fund originating from the secretariat, the incentive fund originating from the dealer, and the incentive fund originating from the secretariat. From the funds, including, means for determining the incentive for funds to be given to at least distributor member, at least, and the purchase amount in the dealer member of each member's own,
Means for calculating the allocation ratio of each member when allocating incentive funds to members based on the purchase amount of members lower than the member specified from the introduction relationship between members described above, and this allocation ratio And a deciding means for deciding an incentive to be given to each member from the above incentive resources. The invention according to claim 4 of the present application provides a means for displaying a member's incentive on a website on a network,
4. An incentive system according to claim 2 or 3, further comprising means for displaying, on said website, advertisement information for advertising revenue, which is a source of incentive money originating from the secretariat. . Claim 5 of the present application
In the invention of the above, the means for determining the incentive is such that each member and, if the member has a lower member, the lower member constitutes one group,
A step of specifying a group in the member organization; a step of calculating a group incentive obtained by giving a predetermined redemption point to the total purchase amount of all members belonging to one group; Calculating the member's personal incentive by subtracting the total amount of personal incentives from the member of the lowest hierarchy having no lower members to the members of the higher hierarchy sequentially. An incentive system according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that: According to the invention of claim 6 of the present application, the means for determining the incentive is such that each member and, if the member has a lower member, one group is formed by the lower member, Identifying a group of
Obtaining a group incentive obtained by giving predetermined return points according to the total purchase amount of all members belonging to the group for each group;
Obtaining the personal incentive of the highest member in each group by subtracting the total incentive of the highest group (direct group) among the lower groups belonging to each group from the incentive of each group; The system for incentive according to any one of claims 1 to 4, further comprising a calculation means for performing the following. The invention according to claim 7 of the present application is characterized in that the above-mentioned redemption points are determined so that more points are given in stages as the purchase amount increases.
Or an incentive system according to 6.
More specifically, the present invention can be implemented as means for multiplying the purchase amount by a stepwise higher return rate as the purchase amount increases, or as means for determining the stepwise higher amount as an incentive as the purchase amount increases. The invention according to claim 8 of the present application includes means for specifying subordinate members subordinate to each member from the referral relationship between members, and the means for specifying subordinate members is such that members can be directly and / or indirectly introduced. From the member who joined
7. The incentive system according to claim 1, further comprising a determination unit for specifying a member excluding a member corresponding to a predetermined condition as a lower-level member. The invention of claim 9 of the present application resides in a member organization constituted by a member introducing and joining a new member, and in a method for determining an incentive to be given to a member, a computer is provided with a relation of introduction between members and Inputting the purchase amount by the member; and providing an incentive to be given to each member based on at least the input purchase amount of each member as described above and the purchase amount of the lower member specified from the relationship of introduction between members. Calculating the incentive in the incentive system. Claim 1 of the present application
Invention 0 is a recording medium which records a program for determining an incentive to be given to a member in a member organization constituted by introducing a new member to a computer and introducing the member to the computer, Means for specifying the subordinate members subordinate to each member from the referral relationship between them, means for specifying the purchase amount of each member from the input purchase amount by the member, and at least the purchase amount of each specified member itself A computer program for calculating the incentive of each member based on the purchase amount of the lower member specified from the introduction relationship between the members and determining the incentive to be given to each member. A recording medium on which is recorded.

[0005]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. First, FIG. 1 shows an outline of the entire system. This system includes a basic data management system 100, a purchase data management system 200,
The system includes a fund determination system 300, an incentive determination system 400, a publication system 500, and an incentive execution system 600.

[Overall] Basic Data Management System 100
Manages information about the relationship of introduction between members, and manages basic data of customers and dealers. This data includes not only the relationship between the customer and the retailer,
Contains data about referral relationships between customers. In the following description, a member refers to at least one of a customer (customer member) and a store (a store member). The purchase data management system 200 is a system that manages the purchase amount of a member at a store, and manages consumption activity data such as the purchase amount when a customer performs a consumption activity at the store. The funding determination system 300 is a system for determining the source of incentives given to customers.
The incentive determination system 400 is a system for determining an incentive to be returned to a member. More specifically, the purchase amount by the member managed by the purchase data management system 200 and the basic data management system 100
Data on referral relationships between members managed by
This is a system for determining an incentive to be returned to the member based on the source of the incentive determined by the source determination system 300. The publishing system 500 is a system for publishing the determined incentive and advertising at the same time, and is provided mainly through a server (web server) on a network such as the Internet. The incentive execution system 600 provides a means for finally returning the determined incentive to the member. These systems are configured by using hardware resources such as computers managed by the secretariat. This hardware resource includes a central processing unit and a storage unit, and information of a database in the following description is stored in the storage unit.

[Basic Data System] As shown in FIG. 2, a basic data system 100 is a system for managing basic data of customers and dealers, and means 101 and 102 for inputting basic information of members. And databases 110 and 120 for storing and managing the information. The means for inputting the basic information of the member can be considered separately as the input means 101 for the customer information and the input means 102 for the store information. However, the hardware resources may be implemented as one unit. obtain. Further, the database can be considered as being divided into a database 110 of customer information and a database 120 of store information, but can be implemented as a single hardware resource.

[Customer Information] The customer information includes customer attribute information 111, customer-customer relationship information 112, and customer-store relationship information 113. The customer attribute information 111 includes information specifying the individual customer and information on the destination of the incentive given to the individual customer. Specifically, the name or name, address, age,
A postal code, a bank account number, a cash card number, an e-mail address, and the like are given. Each customer is given an ID number, and a password is given as necessary, and is managed by the database 110. The customer-to-customer relationship information 112 is information that identifies which customer introduced the customer. A newly joined customer can also introduce another customer to join, so that the customer can be organized in a tree-like hierarchical structure. That is, the members are associated with each other by this information. The information 113 on the relationship between the customer and the store is information for specifying which store the customer joined by introducing. The incentive can be given only to the customer, or can be given to both the customer and the dealer. In the latter case, the incentive for the store and the incentive for the customer can be determined by one system. In this case, all members are associated with each other by the information 112 and 113 on the above two relationships. In particular, since it is considered that the first customer's new member often joins by introducing a dealer, the dealer is often systematized as the highest member of the whole.

[Store Information] The store information 120 includes store attribute information 121 and information 122 on the relationship between the store and the secretariat. As the attribute information 121 of the store,
The information shall include information specifying the retailer, information on the destination of the incentive given to the retailer, and information on the billing destination for the retailer. Specifically, the name or name, address, age, etc. , A postal code, a bank account number, a cash card number, and the like. Each store is provided with an ID number, and a password is provided as necessary, and is managed by the database 120. The information 122 on the relationship between the store and the secretariat may include information on communication means between the store and the secretariat, in addition to the contract between the store and the secretariat.

Next, as shown in FIG. 2, a card issuing means 130 and a mail processing means 140 can be added to the basic data system 100. [Card Issuing Means] The card issuing means 130 issues a card 150 which magnetically records information including at least information specifying a customer such as an ID number.
10, means for selecting information to be recorded on the card from customer attribute information 111, customer-customer relationship information 112, customer-member store relationship information 113, and the like. Means for outputting to the issuing machine 131. The card issuing machine 131 issues a card 150 on which information input from the card issuing unit 130 is recorded based on an instruction from the card issuing unit 130.

[Mail Processing Means] The mail processing means 140
This is a means for outputting an address for sending mail to customers and retailers. For example, in order to mail the card 150 to a customer, the present invention may be embodied as a means for acquiring information on a name and an address from the customer information database 110 and outputting the information by printing it on an address sticker or an envelope. Also, when sending necessary documents to the store, the information of the name or name or address is obtained from the store information database 120,
It can be implemented as a means for outputting.

[Subscription Procedure] In the subscription procedure, the following procedure is performed. When joining the customer, the customer A fills in the above information in the member application form 125, and the store B collects the information and sends it to the secretariat C. Alternatively, the customer A directly sends the member application form 125 to the secretariat C. Secretariat C
Enters the above information in the membership application form, sends it to the secretariat, and inputs the information to the computer from the customer information input means 101 to generate the database 110. Next, the card issuing unit 130 issues the card 150 on which the above-described necessary information is recorded, while the mail processing unit 140 outputs the address of the mailing destination of the card 150, and sends the issued card 150 to each customer. It will be able to be mailed. In the process of joining a store, the above information is entered in the membership application form and sent to the secretariat. The secretariat inputs the information to the computer from the store information input means 102, Generate the database 120. At this time, if it is necessary to send the documents from the secretariat to the store, the mail processing means 140 outputs the mailing address of the store, so that the necessary documents can be mailed.

[0013] It should be noted that the procedure for subscribing customers and dealers is performed by e-mail or LA on the Internet or the World Wide Web.
N can be performed through a computer network such as an online network. In this case, the above information is input from the computer of the customer or the store, and the information is sent to the computer of the secretariat via the network. The secretariat creates a database from these pieces of information, assigns an ID number to each customer or store, assigns a password as necessary, manages the database, and stores the ID number and password in each customer or store. Alternatively, the store is notified by e-mail or mail. Also, the means for providing the means for the customer to perform the joining procedure may be a virtual store on a network, or a website such as a homepage on a network such as the Internet established by each store or secretariat. Is also good.

[Purchase Data Management System] Next, the purchase data management system 200 manages the purchase price generated by the purchase of each product by the customer. This is shown in FIG.
It will be described based on. First, the purchase data management system 200 in the secretariat will be described. A purchase amount input processing means 201 for inputting information (for example, an ID number) for specifying a customer who has made a purchase and information on a purchase amount, and generating the information based on the information. And a purchase amount database 210 to be purchased. In addition, the purchase amount database 210 can be added with information such as purchase date and time, information on which store the purchase was caused by (purchase-occurring store information), and purchased items. Further, the purchase price input processing means 201 performs not only the simple input but also whether or not wrong data has been input (for example, whether or not there is an input of a non-existent ID number, input of a negative purchase price that cannot occur). Confirmation process can be performed, and the error list 203
May be generated.

[System at the store] Next, the system at the store will be described. When a customer purchases a product at the store, the ID number recorded on the card 150 presented by the customer is read by a card reader or the like. A means 211 for specifying a customer by inputting or inputting a name and an ID number from the customer, and a means 212 for specifying a purchase amount purchased by the customer. This system is compatible with existing P
It is also possible to use an OS system, in which information specifying the customer and information on the purchase amount purchased by the customer are input by the store cash register POS terminal 213 provided at the store. In addition to this information, information for specifying a purchased product, purchase date and time, etc. in the existing POS system are input.
Means 211 for specifying the customer and means 21 for specifying the purchase amount
2 is input to the POS system server 21
4 and stored in a database 215 for merchandise management at the store, and a purchase price input means 201 of the secretariat via a computer network including a LAN or the like.
To generate a purchase amount database 210. Accordingly, the purchase amount input processing means 201 of the secretariat transmits information specifying the customer from the store, information on the purchase amount purchased by the customer, and information on the purchase by the customer such as information on the purchase date and time as necessary. It can also be implemented as a means for accepting (receiving and accepting). In the case where the POS system is used together and the store does not want to disclose the information for specifying the purchased product to the secretariat, there is no need to send such information to the secretariat.

The above purchase data management system 200
It can also be performed using a computer network. The result of purchasing a product at a virtual store on the network, or at a homepage established by each store or the secretariat (information for identifying the customer who made the purchase (eg, ID number) and information on the purchase amount) can be directly or The purchase price input processing means 201 may indirectly capture the purchase price and generate the purchase price database 210 based on this information.

[Resource Determination System 300] Next, the resource determination system 300 will be described. Next, the resource determination system 300 is a system for determining the source of the incentive to be given to the customer. As shown in FIG. 4, a source 310 for determining the source for the incentive originating from the dealer, the source for the incentive source originating from the secretariat, Means for determining 320
And a resource database 330 that records the incentive resources originating from the dealer, the incentive resources originating from the secretariat, and the total incentive resources determined by these means. As described above, one of the features of the system of the present invention is that the system includes the means 320 for determining the incentive funding originating from the secretariat in addition to the means 310 for determining the incentive funding originating from the store. . The means 310 for determining the source for the incentive from the store is a means for determining the source for the incentive from the store based on the sales revenue from the store by the customer. Specifically, the means 310 is stored in the purchase amount database 210. Means for calculating the sum of the purchase amount of the customer during a predetermined period (appropriate period such as one month or one year). If necessary, a processing means for multiplying the sum by a predetermined return rate May be added. This return rate can be set to, for example, 10% of the purchase price for all products, but the return rate can be changed according to the type of product and the purchase period. This return rate can be ultimately multiplied at the stage of determining an individual's incentive. Means 320 for determining resources for incentives originating from the Secretariat
Is a means for determining incentive funding based on sales and profits generated by the activities of the secretariat, and is specifically determined based on advertising revenue and the like described later. Of course, arithmetic processing means for multiplying the advertising revenue by a predetermined return rate may be added. The return rate can be, for example, the total amount (100%) excluding the necessary expenses from the advertisement income, but the return rate can be changed according to the business content. This return rate can be ultimately multiplied at the stage of determining an individual's incentive.

[Incentive Determination System] The incentive determination system 400 is a system for determining an incentive to be returned to a member. More specifically, the incentive to be returned to the member is determined based on the purchase amount managed by the purchase data management system 200, the data managed by the basic data management system 100, and the source of the incentive determined by the source determination system 300. System. Here, as one of the features of the present invention, in determining the incentive,
Means for calculating the incentive score of each member by considering the purchase amount of lower members specified from the introduction relationship between members instead of determining the incentive given to each member based only on the purchase amount of each member itself Can be mentioned. Furthermore, when considering the purchase amount of lower members specified from the relationship of introduction between members, the purchase amount of lower members of predetermined requirements is not considered, rather than the purchase amount of all lower members. It is a further feature of the present invention that an exceptional means is provided so as not to be taken into account when determining the incentive. This exceptional means includes means for specifying subordinate members subordinate to each member from the referral relationship between members, and means for specifying subordinate members is introduced by the member directly and / or indirectly by the member. This corresponds to a determination unit that specifies members other than members satisfying predetermined conditions from members as lower-level members. Further, as described above, this embodiment is provided with a correction means for adding some incentive to the upper member when determining the incentive of the upper member who no longer considers the purchase amount of the lower member. This is a feature of the system.

Further, when considering the purchase amount of the lower member specified from the relationship of introduction between members, not only the member immediately below the member (one member below one level) introduced by a member himself, but also the member immediately below that member One of the features of the present invention is that a means for referring to the purchase amount of a member (a member of two or less hierarchies) introduced by the member is provided. As a result, members are motivated not only to make efforts to gather members themselves, but also to encourage lower members to gather members,
Contribute significantly to membership growth. Further, not only the members immediately below the members but also members in the second or lower hierarchy can be motivated to recommend purchasing at the store, which leads to an increase in consumption. Further, the present invention is characterized in that, instead of considering the purchase amount of all lower members, the purchase amount of lower members having predetermined requirements is provided with an exception means which is not taken into account when determining the incentive of the upper member. A further feature. This eliminates the adverse effect that even high-ranking members can always obtain many incentives without effort, and motivates them to introduce new members.

[Outline of Processing Procedure until Determination of Incentive] An outline of processing procedure until determination of the incentive will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of a specific example of a group for determining an incentive, FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of a specific example of a group after applying an exceptional means for determining an incentive, and FIG. It is a flowchart which shows a procedure. In step s1, the primary group is determined based on the customer information database 110 managed by the basic data management system 100 (and the store information database 120 as necessary).

[Explanation of Group] Here, a group is defined as each member and members (lower-level members) directly and / or indirectly (in this example, direct and indirect) introduced by the member. At one point, it is a unit of its lower members. Note that the score determination system 400 can be applied to only the customers as a member of the group, but in this example, it is assumed that the dealer also applies the score determination system 400 as a member of the group. The following will be described. That is, when the store acquires a customer by its own activity (introduced), the store becomes a higher-level member (a first-level member), and the obtained customer is a lower-level member (a second-level member). Become. And if this customer introduces a new customer and becomes a member,
Further, it becomes a lower-level member (a third-level member). Here, a member directly introduced by a member is referred to as a direct member.

This group will be described with reference to FIG.
This will be described more specifically. First, in FIG. 5, the highest member a introduces two members b1 and b2, and further, the two members b1 and b2 each have one member c1 and c2.
Is introduced, one of the members c1 is three members d1,
This is an example in which d2 and d3 are introduced and a member is enrolled. Here, the highest member a is b1, b as members (lower members) directly and indirectly introduced by the member a.
2, c1, c2, d1, d2, and d3, and a member (a) and these lower members constitute one group (ga). The members b1 and b2 directly introduced by the member a among the lower members are members immediately below the member a. Similarly, each member constitutes one group with the member himself / herself as the first member and members introduced directly and indirectly. For example, in the case of member b2, member b2 itself One group (gb2) is formed by the immediately lower members c2. Similarly, the members b1 and c1 also form groups (gb1) and (gc1), each of which has the first member (the highest-level member). The lowest member (ie, the member who has not introduced any member) is d
1, d2, d3, c2, and these members themselves form one group (gd1), (gd2), (gd
3) and (gc2). Thus, one group (for example, a group (ga)) includes the plurality of groups described above.

[Step s1] Returning to FIG. 7, in step s1, in step s1, a group (here, a primary group) is stored in the database 110 of customer information managed by the basic data management system 100 (and as necessary). It is determined by the store information database 120) accordingly.
Here, the primary group is a group constituted by one member as a leading member and all lower members directly or indirectly introduced by the leading member. This primary group is determined based on information 112 on the relationship between customers in the customer information database 110. Since this customer-to-customer relationship information 112 includes information that identifies which customer the customer joined by introducing,
Thereby, the relationship between the customers is specified, and the group is determined. When processing is performed by this system including the introduction relationship between the store and the customer, the database 1 of the store information is added to the information 112 on the relationship between the customer and the customer.
20 is determined based on the information 121 on the relationship between the store and the customer. Therefore, in this case, both databases 1
10, 120 can be understood as one integrated data haze.

[Step s2] Next, step s2 is
The secondary group is determined by applying the exception of group independence, and the purchase price of each secondary group is calculated and determined. In the system of the present invention, as described above, a group is formed based on the member introduction relationship, and when determining the incentive of the first member, the purchase amount of the entire group is referred to. Instead of taking into account the purchase price of the member, there is provided an exceptional means (that is, determination means) that does not take into account the purchase price of the lower-level member having predetermined requirements when determining the incentive of the higher-level member. Step s2 corresponds to this exceptional means. For example, the immediate lower group (the group in which the immediate lower member of a certain member is the leading member)
When the purchase price exceeds a predetermined group purchase price (the total purchase price of the members constituting the group), the group may be excluded from the original group as an independent group and excluded. As another example, there is a means for excluding a certain layer or less (for example, five or less layers) counted from the first member from the group of the first member.

[Step s3] Next, step s3 is
A primary individual incentive is determined based on the purchase amount of the secondary group determined in step s2. The primary individual incentive is processed so that as the purchase amount of the secondary group increases, more incentives are obtained in a stepwise manner. Many incentives may give a certain point in a certain range of purchase amount, or multiply the purchase amount by a higher return rate as the purchase amount increases. In any case, in any case, an arithmetic process is performed so that more profit is given to the member.

[Step s4] Next, step s4 is
In this step, the primary individual incentive is modified by the independent group to determine a secondary individual incentive. Applying the group-independent exception in step s2,
When the immediately lower group is made independent, the purchase amount of the secondary group calculated as the secondary group decreases accordingly. As a result, the primary individual incentive determined in step s3 also decreases. However, since it is not preferable to make the reduction extremely, the secondary individual incentive is determined by adding and correcting some points to the primary individual incentive based on the purchase amount of the independent group.

[Step s5] Step s5 is a step of finally calculating and determining an incentive to be returned to the member based on the secondary personal incentive and the incentive fund determined by the fund determination system 300. The present invention is intended to include not only the resources determined by the means 310 for determining the incentive funds originating from the store but also the resources determined by the means 320 for determining the incentive resources derived from the secretariat. It is one of the features.

[Details of Step s2] Step s2 will be described in more detail with reference to FIG. Step s2
Then, as described above, while determining the secondary group,
The purchase price of each secondary group is calculated and determined, and the calculation process is sequentially performed from the group of the lowest hierarchy to the group of the higher hierarchy. That is, the lowest order group is searched from the customer information database 110 (including the store information database 120 as necessary) managed by the basic data management system 100, and the purchase amount of the secondary group is calculated and determined. Then, a search is made for the higher-order group, and the purchase price of the secondary group is calculated and determined. The process of determining the secondary group and calculating the purchase price for each group is called a group confirmation process.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart of the group confirmation process for each group. In step s201, it is determined whether or not there is a lower group among the groups to be confirmed. If not, in step s202, the total purchase amount of the first member of the group is obtained, and this total amount is calculated as 2 for the group to be confirmed.
The purchase price is set as the next group purchase amount, and the process proceeds to step s208 described later. If there is a lower group, step s20
At 3, it is determined whether or not all lower groups have undergone group confirmation processing. If there is a group that has not been subjected to the group confirmation processing, an instruction is issued in step s204 to perform the group confirmation processing of the group, and the process returns to the start.
If all the lower groups have undergone the group confirmation processing, the process proceeds to step s205, and it is determined whether or not there is an independent group among the immediately lower groups. When there is an independent group, the process proceeds to step s206, and when there is no independent group, the process proceeds to step s207. Step s206
Then, the sum of the total purchase amount of the first member of the group subject to the confirmation process and the total purchase amount of the group immediately below and other than the independent group is calculated, and this total amount is calculated as The purchase price is determined as the secondary group purchase amount of the group to be confirmed, and the process proceeds to step S208 described later. In step s207, the sum of the total purchase amount of the first member of the group to be checked and the total purchase amount of the immediately lower group is calculated. The purchase price is set as the next group purchase amount, and the process proceeds to step s208 described later. In step s208, it is determined whether or not the check processing target group satisfies the requirements of a predetermined independent group. The requirement of the independent group is, for example, that the purchase amount of the secondary group is a predetermined amount (eg, 3
(Million yen) or more. If the requirement is satisfied, it is specified as an independent group in step s209, and if the requirement is not satisfied, step s210
Is specified as a non-independent group, in any case, the group confirmation processing is completed in step s211 and the processing ends.

[Specific description based on FIGS. 5 and 6] By performing the above-described processing for all the groups, the groups are reorganized. FIG. 6 shows an example in which the example of the primary group in FIG. 5 is reorganized into a secondary group. In this example, it is assumed that all the members shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 have a purchase amount of 1,000,000 yen, and the requirement of the independent group is that the purchase amount of the secondary group is 3,000,000 yen or more. It was decided that. First, the lowest members d1, d2, d3, and c2 form one group by themselves (gd1), (gd2), (gd3), and (gc2). The secondary group purchase price of these groups is determined in step s202 described above. That is, since the total purchase amount of the first member of the group is the secondary purchase amount, 1 million yen is the secondary purchase amount. Since the purchase amount of the secondary group is less than 3 million yen, the secondary group is not formed as an independent group but is formed as a non-independent group.

Next, the group (gb2) having the member b2 as the leading member is a group (gc
Although the group (gc2) is a non-independent group, it is calculated in step 207 described above. That is, the sum of the total purchase amount of the first member b2 of the group, 1 million yen, and the total purchase amount of the immediately lower group (gb2), 1 million yen, is calculated, and this total amount of 2 million yen is calculated as the secondary Group purchase price. Since the purchase amount of the secondary group is less than 3,000,000 yen, the secondary group is not formed as an independent group but is formed as a non-independent group. Next, a group (g
c1) is a group (gd
1), (gd2), (gd3), but member c
As in the case of 2, since these groups are all non-independent groups, they are calculated in step 207 described above. That is, the total amount of the individual purchase of the first member c1 of the group is 1,000,000 yen, and the immediately lower groups (gd1), (gd
2) The sum of the purchase amount of (gd3) and the total amount of 3 million yen is calculated, and the total amount of 4 million yen is set as the secondary group purchase amount. Since the secondary group purchase amount is 3 million yen or more, the group (gc1) in which the member c1 is the leading member
Becomes an independent group.

Next, the group (gb1) in which the member b1 is the leading member is a group (gc
Although this group has 1), since this group is an independent group, it is calculated in step 206 described above. That is, the total amount of the individual purchase of the first member b1 of the group is 1 million yen, and the total amount of the purchase of the group immediately below the group other than the independent group is 0 yen (in this case, there is no group other than the independent group. (Total amount of 0 yen) is calculated, and the total amount of 1 million yen is determined as the secondary group purchase amount of the group to be confirmed. Since the purchase amount of the secondary group is less than 3,000,000 yen, the secondary group is not formed as an independent group but is formed as a non-independent group. As described above, the group (gb1) having the independent group in the immediately lower group is the same as the immediately lower group (gc1) before applying the group-independent exception in FIG.
Further lower groups (gd1), (gd2),
(Gd3), and the primary group purchase amount is also 50
Although it was ¥ 0000, the inclusion of the group and the total purchase amount decreased with the independence of the group (gc1). Although a detailed description is omitted, the group (ga) in which the member a is the leading member is also referred to as the group (gc
With the independence of 1), the inclusion relation of the group and the total purchase amount are decreasing, and the secondary group purchase amount of the group (ga) is 1 million yen in total of the individual purchase amount of the first member a of the group. , The immediately lower group (gd1), (gb
2) Total purchase amount (1 million yen + 2 million yen = 300)
And 4,000,000 yen.

[Details of Step s3] Next, the processing of step s3 will be described in more detail with reference to FIG. In step s3, a primary individual incentive is determined based on the secondary group purchase amount determined in step s2. In step s301, a predetermined purchase amount return rate determination table is determined from the secondary group purchase amount. To determine the rate of return on purchase amount. As shown in FIG. 10, the purchase price reduction rate determination table for the purchase price range 3
01a and the purchase price return rate 301b used for the secondary group purchase price in that range.
As the secondary group purchase price increases, a higher rate of return to purchase price is defined. For example, the group (g
Since the secondary group purchase amount of a) is 4 million yen,
The rate of return on purchase amount is 7%. Similarly, the group (gb
Since the secondary group purchase amount of 1) is 1,000,000 yen, the return rate to purchase amount is 5%, and the secondary group purchase amount of the group (gb2) is 2 million yen, so the return ratio to purchase amount is 6%, and the purchase amount of the secondary group of the group (gc2) is 1,000,000 yen, so that the return rate to purchase amount is 5%. Next, in step s302, each secondary group purchase amount is multiplied by the purchase amount return rate determined in step s301, and this is set as the group incentive amount of each group. The group incentive amount of the group (ga) is 280,000 yen calculated by 4 million yen × 7%. Similarly, the group incentive amount of the group (gb1) is 50,000 yen, the group incentive amount of the group (gb2) is 120,000 yen, and the group incentive amount of the group (gc2) is 50,000 yen. Next, step s
At 303, the secondary group to be processed is
It is determined whether there is an immediate lower secondary group (a primary group does not include an independent group even if it is immediately lower). If there is no immediate lower secondary group, the process proceeds to step 304, and the group incentive amount obtained in step s302 is directly used as the primary individual incentive amount. For example, the groups (gb1) and (gc2)
Is the same as the group incentive amount of 50,000 yen. If there is a secondary group immediately below, the process proceeds to step 305, and step s30
From the group incentive amount calculated in 2,
Subtract the sum of the group incentive amount of the next group. The amount calculated in this way is set as the primary individual incentive amount of the first member of the group. For example, the primary individual incentive amount of the first member b2 of the group (gb2) is 70,000 yen, which is obtained by subtracting the group incentive amount of the group (gc2) 50,000 yen from the group incentive amount of the group (gb2) 120,000 yen. Become. Group (g
The primary individual incentive amount of the first member a of the item a) is a total of the group incentive amount of the group (gb1) and the group (gb2) (50,000 yen + 120,000 yen) from the group incentive amount of 280,000 yen of the group (ga). 170,000 yen), which is 110,000 yen.

[Details of Step s4] Next, the processing of step s4 will be described in more detail with reference to FIG. Step s4 is a step of correcting the primary individual incentive by the independent group and determining a secondary individual incentive. In step s401, it is determined whether or not there is an independent group among the groups immediately below the primary group. If there is no independent group, the process proceeds to s402, and the primary individual incentive is directly used as the secondary individual incentive. In the above specific example, they are groups (gb2) and (gc2). As for the group (ga), the groups (gb1) and (gb2) immediately below the primary group are:
Since neither is an independent group, the secondary individual incentive amount of the first member a of the group (ga) is
It is determined to be 110,000 yen, the same as the primary individual incentive amount. If there is an independent group, the process proceeds to s403. In s403, an amount obtained by multiplying the group purchase amount of the group that has become an independent group by a predetermined modified return rate (for example, 1%) is added to the primary individual incentive, and this is set as a secondary individual incentive. In the above specific example, since the group (gb1) is a group (gc1) that has become an independent group, the secondary individual incentive amount of the first member b1 of the group (gb1) is
It is determined to be 90,000 yen which is the sum of 40,000 yen obtained by multiplying the group incentive amount of 4 million yen of c1) by 1% and the group incentive amount of the group (gb1) of 50,000 yen.

[Details of Step s5] Next, the processing of step s5 will be described in more detail with reference to FIG. Step s5 is a step of finally calculating and determining an incentive to be returned to the member based on the secondary individual incentive and the incentive source determined by the source determination system 300. In step s501, the ratio between the secondary individual incentive and the source of incentives derived from the store obtained by the means 310 for determining the source of incentives derived from the store is obtained, and the ratio is calculated as the share rate (distribution rate) of the member. I do. In the specific example described above, the total sales amount of the store is equal to the total purchase amount, so that the total purchase amount of eight people is 8 million yen. And, for example, since the secondary individual incentive amount of the first member b1 of the group (gb1) is 90,000 yen, the share rate of the member b1 is 9/80.
It becomes 0. In step s502, the share rate of the member is
Multiply the total funding (the sum of the incentive funding originating from the dealer and the incentive funding originating from the secretariat (that is, the incentive funding determined by the resource determination system 300)). Thereby, the incentive of the member is finally determined. In the specific example described above, if the incentive fund originating in the secretariat is 2 million yen, the total amount of the incentive fund is 10 million yen. If the share rate of the member b1 is multiplied by 9/800, 90 / 80,000 yen = 112,500 yen, which is determined as the incentive for the member b1. It should be noted that the incentive fund originating from the store and the incentive fund originating from the secretariat may be separately multiplied with respect to the share rate of the members to obtain incentives for each origin, and these may be added. .

[Summary of Incentive Determination System]
As described above, incentives for members are determined.
Member incentives are settled at regular intervals. The unit may be an appropriate period such as one month or one year, and the member's incentive is added as needed during that period. The calculation process of the member's incentive may be performed at least once during the settlement period. However, as the number of times increases, the incentive can be confirmed in the middle of the settlement period. It is desirable to perform it more than once. Further, a means for executing an incentive determination calculation process based on a member request may be provided. This incentive determining means may be applied only to customers, or may be applied not only to customers but also to stores. In this case, the store is generally positioned as the highest member. In addition, for retailers, the entire system is applied in common, such as by using a table for determining the return rate on purchase price different from that of customers. Can also. For example, for a customer, the system may be executed only at the dealer, without executing the step s2 of applying the group-independent exception and the system s4 of making correction by the independent group.

[Decision System Database] The incentive determination system 400 includes a database 410 for incentives for storing numerical values and conditions calculated or determined in each of the above steps.
This database contains information identifying members, such as membership numbers and names, primary and / or secondary group purchases, primary and / or secondary personal incentives, final incentives, dealer and / or secretariat origins Information such as an incentive, a share rate of the member, and a rate of return on purchase amount is stored.

[Publication System] Next, the publication system 50
0 will be described with reference to FIG. The publishing system 500 is a system that announces the determined incentive and simultaneously advertises, and mainly provides information on the incentive and advertisement information through a server (web server) on a network such as the Internet. That is, the publication system 500 is a means for distributing necessary information on incentives and advertisement information through the network from the information of the various databases described above. Use as a resource. The publication system 500 includes a customer information database 110, a store information database 120, and a purchase amount database 210.
And a database 410 relating to the above-mentioned incentives
And a content database 510 and a mail transmission history database 520. Information on the member's incentive, such as the member's final incentive, and the advertisement information that the advertiser wants to post are generated and recorded based on the information of these databases, and are sent to the secretariat via the server computer of the publication system 500. Will be posted on websites etc.

FIG. 14 shows an example of a screen transmitted to the customer side. The screen includes a display 531 of the total purchase amount during the settlement period of the member to be displayed and a display 532 of the total purchase amount yesterday.
Is performed based on information in the purchase amount database 210. The display 533 of the total advertisement amount during the settlement period and the display 534 of the total incentive are displayed in the source database 33.
This is performed based on information of 0. Indication of the secondary group purchase amount of the group in which the member immediately below the target member is the leading member 5
36, a display 535 of the name of the immediate lower-level member, a display 537 of the return rate to purchase price, and a display 538 of the group incentive of the group having the immediate lower-level member as the leading member
At the same time, the incentive is made based on information of the database 410. In addition, a display 539 of the secondary group purchase amount of the group having the target member as the leading member, a display 540 of a return rate of the target member to the purchase amount, a display 541 of the group incentive of the group having the target member as the lead member, A display 542 of the target member's secondary individual incentive, a display 543 of the final incentive of the target member, a display 544 of an incentive derived from the secretariat of the target member, and a display 54 of the membership share of the target member
5 is made. In addition, it is desirable to display the advertisement 546 at the same time. The screen sent to the customer side is
The information can be displayed by inputting the password of each customer.

This screen example includes the information that each member wants to know most, that is, the display 543 of the final incentive, and each member accesses a network site such as the homepage to see this. By displaying an advertisement based on the content database 510 on this network site, or by linking to the advertiser's website, it is considered that the advertisement effect is enhanced. Therefore, regarding this ad placement,
The Secretariat can make a profit and use it as a resource originating from the Secretariat. An e-mail including the same information can be sent to each member, and the transmission history is recorded in the mail transmission history database 520. In this e-mail, the URL of a website such as an advertiser's pom page is described. Further, advertisement may be performed using a paper medium such as a flyer or a direct mail. In the above example, the incentive is determined based on the purchase amount of the customer. However, the incentive may be given to the member based on the number of accesses to a website such as a homepage established by the secretariat.

[Incentive Execution System] The incentive execution system 600 provides means for finally returning the determined incentive to the members. Specifically, the incentive execution system 600
Is a customer information database 11 as shown in FIG.
0, a store information database 120, a purchase amount database 210, and a database 410 related to the incentives described above. The incentive execution system 600 obtains necessary information from the information of these databases, and pays the payment details data 60 for the customer.
1, monthly payment report 602, payment history 603, billing detail data 604 for the dealer, monthly bill 605, payment history 6
06 is output. This output may be a paper output or electronic information. The payment details data 601 includes
This is data for paying the final incentive to the member, and includes information on the customer's bank account and final incentive. The incentive execution system 600 instructs the financial institution 607 to transfer a predetermined amount of cash to a predetermined customer's account based on the information of the final incentive amount recorded in the incentive database 410. Output means. In this way, besides transferring cash, at the time of the next purchase, we will take the method of discounting for the final incentive, etc.
The method can be appropriately changed. When issuing discount points, issuing discount tickets, recording discount points on the server for transactions on the computer network and deducting them from the next purchase at the next purchase, e-mail etc. You can also notify each member of the discount points. The dealer is charged for the payment to be paid to the secretariat. For example, when a payment at a predetermined rate (for example, 10%) with respect to the purchase price is to be paid, means for obtaining the total purchase price at each store from the purchase price database 210, and means for multiplying the total price by a predetermined rate. It can be implemented by adding a means for issuing an invoice and a means for instructing a financial institution to withdraw the payment amount from the account of the store based on the requested payment amount. In the case where an incentive is also given to a store, offset means can be added to the means for determining the payment to be paid to the secretariat. In other words, the final incentive amount determined as described above and recorded in the incentive-related database 410 can be subtracted from the payment amount to add an offsetting means for determining an offset payment amount.

[Search] Information on a database such as the database 410 relating to incentives can be searched at any time by appropriate search means. In particular, the data on the group can specify the relationship between the customers, and can recognize the actual consumption activity including the purchase amount of the customer as a group. As a result, even if you use search results for marketing,
It is possible to capture not only the relationship with the individual consumer but also the connection between the customers in a form tied to the actual consumption activity, and it is possible to use information in various ways.

[0043]

According to the invention of claim 1 of the present application, an incentive to be given to each member by calculating the incentive score of each member based on the purchase amount of the lower member specified from the introduction relationship between the members. Therefore, each member is provided with an opportunity to obtain an incentive based on the purchase amount of the lower member in addition to the incentive based on the purchase amount of the member. As a result, it was possible to provide an incentive system that could not motivate the member to introduce many introducers to the member, and could also motivate the member who introduced the merchant to consume the merchant at the store. . In the invention of claim 2 of the present application, the amount of revenue obtained based on the activities of the secretariat such as the amount of advertising revenue, and originated from the secretariat based on the amount of revenue other than the purchase amount by the customer member among the dealer members Since it includes means for determining incentive funding, it is possible to return as many incentives to customers from many sources as compared to using only incentive resources originating from dealers. It is possible to provide an incentive system that can reduce a financial burden. According to the invention of claim 3 of the present application, an incentive system that does not introduce a large number of introducers to a member and can motivate the introduced member to consume in a store of a store member can be provided. At the same time, it is possible to provide more incentives to customers from many sources as compared to using only the incentive resources originating from the store, and reduce the financial burden on the store. The incentive system can be provided. According to the invention as set forth in claim 4, the means for displaying the incentive of the member on the web site on the network, and the advertisement information for the advertising revenue, which is the source of the incentive source originating from the secretariat, are transmitted to the web site. In order to confirm their own incentives, many customers have attracted power to this website in order to confirm their incentives. Based on the customer's attracting power, it was possible to provide an incentive system that can increase the resources for incentives originating from the secretariat by posting advertisements on the site and earning advertising revenue. . In the invention according to claims 5 and 6, without unduly reducing the interests of the lower members,
It is possible to provide an incentive system that also has an effect of giving an incentive to a higher-level member. According to the invention described in claim 7, as the amount of purchase increases, more incentives can be obtained in a stepwise manner, so that the customer is motivated to spend more in the store of the store member. An incentive system could be provided. Claim 8
In the invention described in (1), an incentive is provided for the incentive that prevents only the upper member from enjoying a large amount of profit forever because of the exceptional means that does not calculate the incentive score for the purchase amount of the lower member under the predetermined conditions. The system could be provided. In the invention according to claim 9, a method of determining an incentive, which does not introduce a large number of introducers to a member and can further motivate the introduced member to consume at a store of a store member. Was able to be provided. In the invention according to claim 10, an incentive system for an incentive system, which does not introduce many introducers to the member and can motivate the introduced member to consume in the store of the store member. A recording medium on which a computer program is recorded can be provided.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of an incentive system according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of a basic data management system of the system.

FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram of a purchase data management system.

FIG. 4 is a configuration diagram of a resource determination system.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of a specific example of a group for determining an incentive.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of a specific example of a group after applying an exception means for determining an incentive.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart of a process up to determination of an incentive.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart of a group confirmation process.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart of a process of determining an individual primary incentive amount.

FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram of a table of a purchase amount return rate.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart of a process of determining an individual secondary incentive amount.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart of a final incentive determination process.

FIG. 13 is a configuration diagram of a publication system.

FIG. 14 is an explanatory diagram of a screen transmitted to a customer in the publication system.

FIG. 15 is a configuration diagram of an incentive execution system.

[Explanation of symbols]

 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 100 Basic data management system 200 Purchasing amount data management system 300 Funding determination system 400 Incentive determination system 500 Publication system 600 Incentive execution system

Claims (10)

[Claims] Claims: 1. An incentive system comprising means for determining an incentive to be given to a member in a member organization constituted by a member introducing a new member and joining the member, and inputting a relation of introduction between the members. Means for inputting the purchase amount by the member; and at least each member's own purchase amount based on the purchase amount of each member and the purchase amount of the lower member specified from the input relationship between the members entered above. Determining means for calculating an incentive and determining an incentive to be given to each member. 2. An incentive for a member organization comprising a customer member, a store member, and a secretariat, comprising means for determining an incentive to be given to at least one of the customer member and the store member. In the system, means to determine the source of incentives originating from the store based on the amount of payment paid by the store member to the secretariat, and the amount of income obtained by the secretariat such as advertising revenue and other than the above payment Means for determining incentive funding originating from the secretariat based on the amount of proceeds from the secretariat, and / or at least one of customer members and retailer members based on resources including incentive resources originating from the dealer and resources originating from the secretariat. Means for determining the source of incentive to be given to one member. Incentive for the system being characterized in that a determining means for determining incentive to be given to one of the members even without. 3. A member organization comprising a customer member, a store member, and a secretariat, wherein each member introduces a new member and joins the member, and a means for determining at least an incentive to be given to the customer member. In the incentive system provided, a means for storing the relationship of introduction between members, a means for storing the purchase amount of the customer member by the store member, and an incentive originating from the store based on the purchase amount of the store member by the customer member The means of determining the funding source and the amount of revenue obtained based on the activities of the secretariat such as the amount of advertising revenue, which are derived from the secretariat based on Means to determine the incentive funding of the retailer, including the incentive funding from the dealer and the secretariat Means to determine at least the source of incentives to be given to the shop member from the resources, at least the members who are subordinate to the member specified from the relationship between the purchase amount of the shop member and the referral between the above members Means for calculating the distribution ratio of each member when allocating the incentive funds to the members based on the purchase amount of the member, and determining means for determining the incentive to be given to each member from the distribution ratio and the above incentive resources. An incentive system comprising: 4. A means for displaying an incentive of a member on a web site on a network, and a means for displaying, on the above-mentioned web site, advertising information for an advertising revenue serving as an incentive fund originating from the secretariat. The incentive system according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the system is provided. 5. The means for determining the incentive includes specifying a group in the member organization as one group comprising each member and, if the member has a lower member, the lower member. Calculating a group incentive obtained by giving a predetermined redemption point to the total purchase amount of all members belonging to one group; and subtracting the total personal incentive of lower members belonging to the group. Calculating the personal incentive of the member by means of: from the lowest member having no lower members to the members of the higher hierarchy in order. Item 5. An incentive system according to any one of Items 1 to 4. 6. The means for determining the incentive includes specifying a group in a member organization as one group comprising each member and, if the member has a lower member, the lower member. Determining the incentive of the group obtained by giving a predetermined redemption point according to the total purchase amount of all members belonging to the group for each group; Subtracting the total incentive of the highest group (the immediate lower group) from the incentive of each group, thereby obtaining a personal incentive of the highest member in each group. The incentive according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein For systems. 7. The method according to claim 5, wherein the redemption points are determined such that more points are given in a stepwise manner as the purchase amount increases.
Incentive system according to 1. 8. A means for specifying lower-level members subordinate to each member based on the referral relationship between members, and the means for specifying lower-level members may be directly and / or indirectly introduced by a member and enrolled. 7. The incentive system according to claim 1, further comprising: a discriminating means for specifying, as members, members other than members meeting predetermined conditions, as members of lower rank. 9. A method for determining an incentive to be given to a member in a member organization constituted by a member introducing and joining a new member, comprising: And a step of calculating an incentive to be given to each member based on at least the input purchase amount of each member himself and the purchase amount of the lower member specified from the relationship of introduction between members. A method for determining an incentive in an incentive system, comprising: 10. A recording medium storing a program for determining an incentive to be given to a member in a member organization constituted by introducing a new member to a computer and enrolling the new member, wherein the input member Means for specifying the subordinate members subordinate to each member from the referral relationship between them, means for specifying the purchase amount of each member from the input purchase amount by the member, and at least the purchase amount for each of the above identified members themselves. ,
A computer program characterized by realizing a means for calculating an incentive for each member based on the purchase price of the lower member specified from the relationship of introduction between members and determining an incentive to be given to each member. The recording medium on which it was recorded.