TW202536767A - System for providing content, method thereof, and computer program - Google Patents

Abstract

The problem of the present invention is that in a system where two or more web sites separately provide content and goods/services associated with the content, it is difficult to distinguish which of the two or more web sites is the source site. The solution of the present invention is that an embodiment of a system according to the present invention comprises: a server device, which associates items or the information about the aforementioned items with content information, the content information being the content associated with the aforementioned items or the information about the aforementioned content associated with the aforementioned items; a source site server device, which is a source site server device that registers the aforementioned content information in the aforementioned server device and manages a source site, the source site providing the aforementioned content to users and the aforementioned users purchasing the aforementioned items by referring to the aforementioned content; and a target site server device, which manages a target site, the target site obtaining the aforementioned content information registered by the source website server device, and providing the aforementioned content to the user; The aforementioned server device has a website association identifier, and sends the aforementioned website association identifier and the aforementioned content information to the aforementioned target site server device. The aforementioned website association identifier indicates that the aforementioned source site server device has registered the aforementioned content information and has obtained the aforementioned content information through the aforementioned target site server device. The aforementioned target site server device sends the aforementioned website association identifier and the aforementioned content information to the aforementioned server device in response to the situation that the user utilizes the aforementioned content in the aforementioned target site.

Description

The systems, methods, and computer programs that provide content.

This invention relates to a system, method and computer program for providing content.

In online shopping, users provide content related to goods/services on a website, and can decide whether to purchase by confirming the content. Users can purchase goods/services associated with the content after confirming it on a website provided by store employees or others. Once a user confirms the content and purchases the goods/services, the contribution of the content provider (e.g., store employees) to the sales of the goods/services is calculated. This involves summing the contribution of one or more goods/services for each individual content provider. Corresponding to the sum of the contributions, the content provider is rewarded (with company evaluations, money, prizes, merchandise, etc.).

Patent document 1 discloses a technique for calculating contribution based on both the sales of goods on a website and the sales of goods in a physical store, which are brought about by the content provided by the store clerks.

Furthermore, in a system where a first website (also known as the source website) possesses a first e-commerce system and a second website (also known as the target website) utilizes a second e-commerce system different from the first e-commerce system, the first website, as the source website, generates and/or manages content and sells goods related to that content, while the second website, as the target website, receives content from the source website and sells goods related to that content. In such a system where at least two or more websites sell the same goods/services, contribution is calculated based on sales from the source website, not sales from the target website.

[Previous Art Documents] (Patent Documents) Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2023-037021

(The problem the invention aims to solve) In a system where two or more websites each provide content and related goods/services, it is difficult to determine which website is the source website and which is the target website.

For content providers offering specific content, the contribution of a single website and physical store can be calculated. However, it is not yet possible to calculate the contribution based on the total sales performance of more than two websites.

(Means for solving the problem) A system according to an embodiment of the present invention can include: a server device that attaches an association to information about or related to the items, content information, and a website identifier of a source website, wherein the content information is content related to or about the aforementioned content related to the aforementioned items; a source website server device that manages the source website, which provides the aforementioned content to the user, and the user purchases the aforementioned items by using the aforementioned content; and a target website server device, whose... The system manages a target website that obtains the aforementioned content information from the source website and provides that content to a user. The server device has the capability to attach a linking identifier to both the source website and the target website, and sends this linking identifier to the target website server device. In response to a user using the content on the target website, the target website server device sends the linking identifier and the content information to itself.

In a system according to an embodiment of the present invention, the following configuration is possible: the aforementioned user on the aforementioned target website uses the aforementioned content, including the aforementioned user purchasing the aforementioned items by referring to the aforementioned content in the aforementioned target website server device.

In a system according to an embodiment of the present invention, the following configuration is possible: the aforementioned server device associates a source website category identifier with a content identifier, wherein the source website category identifier identifies a category in the aforementioned source website, and the content identifier identifies content associated with the aforementioned category; the aforementioned target website server device associates the aforementioned source website category identifier with a target website category identifier, wherein the target website category identifier... The identifier is the identifier of the aforementioned category in the aforementioned target website, which is identified by the aforementioned source website category identifier. The aforementioned target website server device further obtains the source website category identifier associated with the aforementioned content from the aforementioned server device based on the aforementioned content information, and in response to the use of the aforementioned content in the aforementioned target website, identifies the source website category identifier of the aforementioned content based on the aforementioned target website category identifier associated with the aforementioned content.

In a system according to an embodiment of the present invention, the following configuration is possible: when the target website server device responds to the source website category identifier that has been identified as the content, the source website category identifier is sent to the server device.

In a system according to an embodiment of the present invention, the server device can identify, based on the aforementioned website association identifier, the aforementioned content information, the identifier of the aforementioned target website, and the aforementioned source website category identifier, the situation in which the aforementioned user on the aforementioned target website has used the aforementioned content.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, a server device communicates with a source website server device and a target website server device. The source website server device manages the source website, which provides content to users, and the users purchase items using the content. The target website server device manages the target website, which obtains the aforementioned content information from the source website and provides the content to the users. The server device is configured to: store information about items or related to the items, content information, and the website of the source website. An identifier is appended with an association, the content information being the aforementioned content related to the aforementioned item or information about the aforementioned content related to the aforementioned item; it has an association identifier that appends an association between the aforementioned source website and the aforementioned target website, and sends the aforementioned website association identifier to the aforementioned target website server device; in response to a user using the aforementioned content on the aforementioned target website, it receives the aforementioned website association identifier, the aforementioned content information, and the website identifier of the website managed by the aforementioned target website server device from the aforementioned target website server device.

[System Configuration] Figure 1 illustrates a system 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention. System 100 includes: a server device 105, a source website server device 110, a target website server device 115, one or more user terminals 120, and one or more content provider terminals 125. Server device 105 manages the source website server device 110 and the target website server device 115, and manages some or all of the functions provided by the source website server device 110 and the target website server device 115. Server device 105, source website server device 110, target website server device 115, one or more user terminals 120, and one or more content provider terminals 125 are connected via a network 199. Network 199 can be implemented using various networks such as the Internet, public telephone lines, or a combination of some or all of these networks. Network 199 can be implemented using wired, wireless, or a combination thereof.

The source website server device 110 and the target website server device provide a website for selling goods and/or services as items. The source website server device 110 and the target website server device can further provide content in the sale of items. Users can access the website provided by the source website server device 110 or the target website server device through their user terminal 120 and view the content. Items associated with the content are displayed on the website along with the content, or if content is selected on the website, items associated with the content are displayed on the website in a manner similar to displaying the content on the website. Users can purchase goods/services displayed as items on the website of the source website server device 110 or the target website server device via their own user terminal 120.

Server device 105 can receive and remember content associated with specified categories from the content provider via content provider terminal 125. In this case, by having the content provider send content after logging into the server device 105's service, server device 105 can identify the source website associated with the content provider. In other embodiments, the content provider can send the source website identification information along with the content to server device 105. In this way, server device 105 can identify the source website associated with the content.

In other embodiments, the source website server device 110 can receive and remember content associated with specified categories from the content provider via the content provider terminal 125. The source website server device 110 can send the content and/or content-related information, i.e., content association information (such as content identifiers, content creation date and time, content update date and time, content provision date and time, etc.), to the server device 105. The server device 105 can receive and remember the content and/or content association information. Furthermore, because the server device 105 can identify the source website server device 110 as the communication source, it can identify the source website.

The target website server device 115 requests content from the source website server device 110 or server device 105. The target website server device 115 receives the requested content and displays it on its website. The target website server device 115 can then use the displayed content to sell items, i.e., goods/services.

The website provided by the source website server device 110 is associated with the content of the content provider terminal 125. The source website server device 110 provides the website that first provides the content; in other words, it is the source website. The target website server device 115 receives content from the source website server device 110 and provides the same content as the source website. The target website server device 115 provides content on the website as a provider from the perspective of the source website server device 110. Such a website is called a target website because the content is provided by the source website server device 110. Server devices 110 and 115 can correspond to either the source or the provider of content, acting as either a source website server device or a target website server device.

Figure 2 illustrates an apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in Figure 2, the server apparatus 105, the source website server apparatus 110, the target website server apparatus 115, one or more user terminals 120, and one or more content provider terminals 125 at least include: a processor 205, a memory 210, a storage device 215, an input/output device 220, and a communication device 225. In apparatuses 105, 110, 115, 120, and 125, the processor 205 reads a computer program stored in the storage device 215 into the memory 210 and executes it. The input/output device 220 includes: a touch panel on a display, a keyboard, a mouse, and a display device, etc. Users can input information into a computer via a keyboard or touch panel and confirm information output to a display device. Devices 105, 110, 115, 120, and 125 can communicate with at least one of the other devices via communication device 225 and exchange data with them.

[Content Registration] Figure 3 illustrates the processing flow related to content registration. The content provider terminal 125 is used by the store clerk or advertising provider (i.e., the content provider) of the store offering the goods or services. The content provider can use the content provider terminal 125, or a camera device (not shown) connected to the content provider terminal 125 wirelessly or via wired means, to create content such as text, still images, animations, and audio describing the goods (step 300).

Content provider terminal 125 can send product information, such as product identifiers, along with the content to source website server device 110 (step 305). Once the source website server device 110 receives the content, it can associate the content with the identifier of its own website. In one embodiment, content provider terminal 125 can also send the content to server device 105. In this case, server device 105 can pre-identify the website associated with the content provider based on the content provider's login to its system, thereby identifying the associated website as the source website. In other embodiments, when a content provider sends content to server device 105, it may also send information about a specified source website. In other embodiments, content provider terminal 125 may only send content to server device 105. The content provider may pre-register the content provider identifier of the website managed by source website server device 110 in server device 105 and thus possess that content provider identifier. The content provider may also use the content provider identifier to log in to the website managed by source website server device 110. Therefore, depending on the content sent after login, server device 105 or source website server device 110 can more easily identify the content provider based on the content provider identifier identified through login. In other embodiments, when the content provider terminal 125 sends content, the content may also be associated with one or more item information.

Server device 105 and/or source website server device 110 are capable of generating content identifiers (step 310). Server device 105 and/or source website server device 110 register the sent content and category information (such as category identifiers) by associating them with the content identifiers (step 315). When the source website server device 110 generates the content identifiers, the source website server device 110 can send the content identifiers, which have been associated with the category information and content, to server device 105. In this way, server device 105 and source website server device 110 can use a common content identifier.

In this embodiment, server device 105 and/or source website server device 110 can register both the content identifier and the source website identifier. This makes it easy to identify the website where the content was first registered.

Figure 4 illustrates an example of data items managed through content registration. Once content is registered, server device 105 and/or source website server device 110 manage information related to the content as data (hereinafter referred to as content registration data). Data management can also be implemented using a database system. Content registration data can include: content identifier, category identifier, content, source website identifier, and content provider identifier.

In the example in Figure 4, five pieces of content were registered. The content with content identifiers "contentID001", "contentID002", and "contentID003" pertains to the same item (item identifier: "item001"). The content with content identifiers "contentID001" and "contentID002" is provided by the same content provider (content identifier: "provider001"), but from different source websites. The content with content identifiers "contentID001" and "contentID002" was initially registered on the source websites of source website identifiers "site001" and "site002", respectively.

The content with content identifiers "contentID003", "contentID004", and "contentID005" was originally registered by the provider with content provider identifier "provider002" on the source website with source website identifier "site001". It can be understood from the content with content identifiers "contentID004" and "contentID005" that the content was created by the provider with content provider identifier "provider001" for the same item (item identifier "item002"). In other embodiments, a piece of content may also be associated with two or more items.

In the "Content" column of the form, you can enter information that represents the content, such as the content file itself (text, jpeg file, mp4 file used for animation or audio, etc.) or the file path that identifies the destination of the content.

[Content Provision] Figure 5 illustrates the processing flow related to content provision. Users can access the source website server device 110, which provides the source website, using user terminal 120 and search for content (step 500). Content searching can be performed using keyword search, image search, etc. In other embodiments, the source website server device 110 can display items on the source website and simultaneously display one or more pieces of content related to those items. In this case, the search is for content associated with the item identifier of the requested item. In other embodiments, the name or preferences of the content provider can also be used as search criteria to search for content. In other embodiments, user terminal 120 may access server device 105 and search for content, with or without origin website server device 110. Even if the content search is performed via either server device 105 or origin website server device 110, the information required for the content search can be entered in user terminal 120 and sent from user terminal 120 to each server device. Origin website server device 110 displays the searched content on the origin website (step 505).

[Item Listing on the Target Website] The target website can provide items that are offered on the source website. Both the target and source websites can sell the same items. Furthermore, the target website can display content listed on the source website and promote the sale of those items.

Figure 6 illustrates the processing flow related to the registration of items on the target website. The target website server device 115 is capable of registering items to the target website (step 600). When registering an item, the target website server device 115 generates an item identifier for the item to be registered on the target website (step 605). In other embodiments, item registration can also be performed by the server device 105. In this case, the server device 105 can receive the information required for item registration and register it. Furthermore, the server device 105 can also generate item identifiers. Additionally, item registration from the source website can be performed in the same manner as on the target website. The administrator of the target website server device 115 confirms whether the registered items are sold on the source website. If so, the administrator obtains the item identifier for that item from the source website from server device 105 or source website server device 110. The administrator associates the item identifier from the source website with the item identifier from the target website and registers them on the target website server device 115 (step 610). In this embodiment, when registering item identifiers from both the source and target websites, the source website identifier can also be registered. This source website identifier is used to identify the source website from which the associated item is registered.

Once an item is registered, the target website server device 115 manages the corresponding information for that item as data (hereinafter referred to as item mapping data). Data management can also be implemented using a database system. The item mapping data includes the item identifier from the source website, the item identifier from the target website, and the source website identifier.

Figure 7 illustrates an example of data managed by registering items from a source website to a target website. The target website server device 115 manages the item identifiers from the source website, the item identifiers from the target website, and the source website identifier once an item is registered to the target website. Figure 7 shows the following scenario: Items with source website item identifiers "item001" and "item002" are sold on both the source website identified by the source website item identifier "site001" and the target website. Also, the scenario shows the following scenario: Item with source website item identifier "item003" is sold on both the source website identified by the source website item identifier "site002" and the target website.

The item mapping data can also be managed by server device 105, rather than target website server device 115. In this case, server device 105 can receive the data required for the item mapping data from target website server device 115. In this embodiment, the item mapping data can include the target website identifier in addition to the items shown in Figure 7. This allows for the association between the item identifier of the source website and the item identifier of the target website.

In other implementations, item mapping data can be created after items are listed, rather than when they are listed on the target website. For example, the administrator of the target website can create item mapping data after items are listed.

[Website Association Identifier Registration] When an item on the target website also exists on the source website, the target website server device 115 can provide content from the target website that is associated with the item, and also provide content from the source website that is associated with the item. The target website server device 115 and server device 105 can identify the source and target websites of the content using website association identifiers.

The target website server device 115 can reference the content of the source website. Reference to the content of the source website can be made by the target website server device 115 specifying the content or content identifier of the source website. In other embodiments, when item-corresponding data (Figure 7) is pre-registered, and a user references an item through the target website, the target website server device 115 and/or server device 105 identify the item-corresponding data (Figure 7) and append the associated source website item identifier to the item identifier of the target website. The target website server device 115 and/or server device 105 identify the category identifier in the content registration data (Figure 4) that matches the category identifier of the source website (identifying the category identifier of the content registration data that matches the category identifier of the source website corresponding to the category data). The target website server device 115 and/or server device 105 can then identify, in the content registration data (Figure 4), append associated content identifiers and content to the category identifiers in the identified content registration data. The target website server device 115 can provide the identified content to the user by referring to the content in the source website. The target website server device 115 can obtain the content of the source website from the server device 105 that can freely manage the content and/or the source website server device 110.

The target website server device 115 and/or server device 105 are capable of registering website association identifier data (Figure 8) for managing website association identifiers. The website association identifier data can be pre-registered by the administrator, or it can be registered in the website association identifier data when the target website server device needs to obtain information required by the source website, such as when the target website server device 115 needs to obtain information required by the source website. The target website server device 115 and/or server device 105 use the website with the source website identifier in the content registration data (Figure 4) accessed by the target website server device 115 as the source website and use the website managed by the target website server device 115 as the target website. In other words, website association identifier data can attach a link between the source website and the target website.

Figure 8 shows an example of website association identifier data. Website association identifier data includes: website association identifier, source website identifier, and target website identifier. In the website association identifier "relationhip001", the website with source website identifier "site001" is identified as the source website, and the website with target website identifier "site002" is identified as the target website. Similarly, in the website association identifiers "relationhip002" and "relationhip003", the website with source website identifier "site001" is identified as the source website, and the websites with target website identifiers "site003" and "site004" are identified as target websites. Furthermore, the website association identifiers "relationhip004" and "relationhip005" identify the website with the source website identifier "site002" as the source website, and the websites with the target website identifiers "site001" and "site003" as the target websites. Here, as can be understood from the content registration data in Figure 4 and the category correspondence data in Figure 7, content identifiers are unique across all websites. On the other hand, category identifiers are unique within a single website. That is, regarding category identifiers, the category identifiers of the source website are unique within the source website, and the category identifiers of the target website are unique within the target website.

Referring to the content registration data (Figure 4) and website association identifier data (Figure 8), when a target website wants to obtain content from a source website, it identifies the website association identifier based on the relationship between the source and target websites by checking the source website identifier in the content registration data (Figure 4), the source website identifier in the website association identifier data corresponding to that source website identifier (Figure 8), and the target website identifier in the website association identifier data of the target website from which the content is to be obtained (Figure 8). For example, based on the source website identifier "Site001" and the target website identifier "Site004", the website association identifier "relationhip003" is identified. By using website association identifier data, server device 105, source website server device 110, and/or target website server device 115 can more easily identify the source and target websites of certain content. Furthermore, when a website is provided via the HTTP protocol, the website's webpage can include website association identifiers as necessary data, without containing source and target website identifiers. For example, when using the GET or POST method, if a third party confirms the URL or HTML source, they can know the website association identifier, but cannot know the source and target website identifiers. Because the system and server devices use the source and target website identifiers for internal processing when converting website association identifiers, these identifiers are not exposed externally. Therefore, using website association identifiers helps prevent information leakage and improves security.

In other embodiments, the website association identifier data (Figure 8) can include a content identifier in addition to the website association identifier, source website identifier, and target website identifier. This allows each server device to identify the relationship between the source and target websites for each piece of content, and to determine the website association identifier by identifying either the content identifier or either the source or target website identifier.

[Item Sales] Figure 9 illustrates the processing flow related to item sales. Server device 115 retrieves items and related content—that is, content managed by server device 115 as a source website—from the content registration data recorded in Figure 4, using the source website identifier of server device 115. (Step 900) Items are identified by users of user terminal 120 requesting or retrieving items from server device 115. Server device 115 retrieves content related to the items, that is, content not managed by server device 115 as a source website (content as a target website). (Step 905) Specifically, server device 115 identifies if the category identifier of the target category matches the target website category identifier in the category-corresponding data (Figure 7), and obtains the source website category identifier associated with the identified target website category identifier. Server device 115, or server device 115 and server device 105 (in this case, server device 105 receives the obtained source website category identifier from server device 115), identifies the category identifier of the content registration data (Figure 4) that matches the obtained source website category identifier, and obtains the content, content identifier, and source website identifier of the row corresponding to the identified category identifier.

Server device 115 sends the items, source website, and target website content, along with website association identifiers, to user terminal 120. User terminal 120 receives the items and the content from the source and target websites and displays them on the screen (step 910). When there are two or more items, the two or more items and their associated content can be grouped and displayed by user terminal 120. In other embodiments, target website server device 115 may also request server device 105 to send the items and the content from the source and target websites to user terminal 120.

Users can reference content via user terminal 120. User terminal 120 sends the identifier of the referenced content to server device 115 and/or server device 105. Users can purchase items after referencing content (step 915). Once an item is purchased, user terminal 120 can send the identifier of the referenced content, the item identifier, and the website association identifier to server device 115 and/or server device 105. When a user references content or makes purchases based on content, it means that the content has been used. Server device 115 sends the identifier of the purchased item to server device 105. For example, if the item is a novel or movie, the user can view a summary of the item's contents and decide whether to purchase it. Similarly, if the item is a fashion item such as shoes or clothing, the user can view still images or animations showing outfit combinations that include the item they are considering purchasing and decide whether to buy it.

In other embodiments, if the item identifier in the source website differs from the item identifier in the target website, server device 115 can identify the target website item identifier corresponding to the item in Figure 7 that matches the item identifier in the target website, and obtain the source website item identifier corresponding to the target website item identifier. In this case, server device 115 can send the source website item identifier to server device 105, and server device 105 can use the source website item identifier as the item identifier for the entire website.

The target website server device 115 performs the purchase processing related to the item identifier of the item to be purchased. If necessary, the purchase processing can also be performed using the name, address, payment method, etc. of a pre-registered user.

The target website server device 115 determines the referenced content based on the item identifier of the purchased item and the content identifier of the referenced content (step 920). Users can reference one or more pieces of content before purchasing an item. When there are two or more pieces of content being referenced, the last referenced content before the purchase can be set as the content that was referenced once. In other embodiments, when there are N or more pieces of content being referenced, the number of times a content is referenced can be calculated as 1/N times. The number of times content is referenced can also be calculated using other methods such as weighting. Once the content to be referenced is determined, the target website server device 115 can send the website identifier managed by server device 115, the content identifier of the referenced content, and the website association identifier to server device 105. In this way, server device 105 can determine whether the referenced content is from the source website or the target website based on the website identifier, content identifier, and website association identifier, from the content registration data in Figure 4 and the website association identifier data in Figure 9.

The target website server device 115 and/or server device 105 can calculate the contribution of the content purchased for the item (step 1025). The contribution can be set as the sum of the number of times each piece of content is referenced. In other embodiments, the contribution can also be obtained based on the sum of the number of times each piece of content is referenced, through weighted calculations, etc. The target website server device 115 and/or server device 105 can more easily identify which website (source website or target website)'s content is being referenced based on the website identifier, content identifier, and website association identifier of the website purchased for the item, using the website association identifier data in Figure 9.

The processing described in Figures 3, 5, 6, 8, and 10 above can be implemented using one or more hardware devices, including server device 105, source website server device 110, target website server device 115, one or more user terminals 120, and one or more content provider terminals 125. Furthermore, this method can be implemented as a computer program for one or more of these hardware devices, and the computer program can also be executed by one or more of these hardware devices, including server device 105, source website server device 110, target website server device 115, one or more user terminals 120, and one or more content provider terminals 125. When a computer program is executed in at least a portion of server device 105, source website server device 110, target website server device 115, one or more user terminals 120, one or more content provider terminals 125, and other devices, the computer program causes such devices or terminals to perform part or all of the processing described in the above embodiments.

[Example] Figure 10 illustrates an embodiment of the present invention of purchasing goods/services by referencing content. The user terminal 120 identifies the content it wishes to reference and sends the content identifier of the identified content to the website server device 110/115 (step 1002). In this embodiment, the user terminal 120 obtains the content identifier in advance, for example, by pre-displaying content on the user terminal 120. The website server device 110/115 identifies the website association identifier based on a constant set to a fixed value (step 1004). Website server devices 110/115 identify website association identifiers based on website association identifier data (Figure 8) that designates its own website identifier as the target website. In other embodiments, website server devices 110/115 may also identify website association identifiers based on website association identifier data that combines the target website identifier and the source website identifier, wherein the target website identifier designates its own website identifier as the target website, and the source website identifier designates a certain website identifier as the source website.

As an example of using both the target website identifier and the source website identifier to identify a website association identifier, the following is one example. The content identifier is unique across all websites. Website server devices 110/115 access content registration data (Figure 4) stored in at least one of server devices 105, website server devices 110, and website server devices 115, and identify the content identifier in the content registration data based on the received content identifier. Website server devices 110/115 identify the source website identifier associated with the identified content identifier in the content registration data. The web server device 110/115 can identify its own website identifier as the target website identifier, and based on the identified source website identifier and target website identifier combination, search for the specified website association identifier from the website association identifier data.

Website server devices 110/115 send the website association identifier and content identifier to server device 105 (step 1006). Server device 105, based on the content identifier, obtains a category identifier associated with the content identifier from the content registration data (Figure 4) (step 1008). Server device 105, with or without going through website server devices 110/115, sends the sent website association identifier and content identifier along with the obtained category identifier to user terminal 120 (step 1010).

User terminal 120 memorizes the received website association identifier, content identifier, and category identifier (step 1012). User terminal 120 sends the category identifier to website server device 110/115 (step 1014). Website server device 110/115 identifies the source website category identifier associated with the received category identifier (step 1016). For example, website server devices 110/115 access item correspondence data (Figure 7) stored in at least one of server devices 105, website server devices 110 and 115, use the received item identifier as the target website item identifier, and identify the source website item identifier in the item correspondence data that is associated with the received item identifier. Website server devices 110/115 send the source website item identifier to user terminal 120 (step 1016). User terminal 120 associates the source website category identifier with the website association identifier, content identifier, and category identifier (which is used as the target website category identifier) pre-memorized in step 1012 and memorizes them (step 1020).

Users can purchase items related to the referenced content through user terminal 120. For example, user terminal 120 can use e-commerce websites to prompt users with content related to the items, and the e-commerce website can enable users to purchase items related to the content after they have referenced it. Once a purchase is made, user terminal 120 sends user identification information and the target website item identifier to website server device 110/115 (step 1022). In this way, the website server device 110/115 can perform purchase processing, checkout processing, and delivery-related processing for the items corresponding to the target website item identifier based on the user's information and the target website item identifier.

User terminal 120 sends the website association identifier, source website category identifier, and content identifier to server device 105 (step 1024). Server device 105 can determine the purchased category and the source and target websites of the content based on the received website association identifier, source website category identifier, and content identifier. Furthermore, server device 105 can identify the content provider from the content provider identifier in the content registration data (Figure 4) based on the content identifier. Because server device 105 can identify from website association identifiers whether content is sold on the source website or the target website, it can individually measure the contribution of content providers for both the source and target websites. In step 1024, user terminal 120 can also send sales amounts to server device 105. In this way, server device 105 can measure contribution based on sales amounts.

In the embodiments described above, the server device 105, the source website server device 110, the target website server device 115, one or more user terminals 120, and one or more content provider terminals 125 can be implemented by their respective hardware, or some or all of them can be implemented as integrated hardware.

[Other] It should be understood that, in the above embodiments, some or all of the elements described as being implemented in hardware can be implemented in software, and some or all of the elements described as being implemented in software can be implemented in hardware.

In the processing or processing order described above, as long as the processing does not involve data that should not be available in that processing, or does not create a contradiction in the processing order, the processing or processing order can be freely changed.

The embodiments described above can also be combined in part or in whole to form a single embodiment.

The embodiments described above are examples used to illustrate the present invention, but the present invention is not limited to these embodiments. The present invention can be implemented in various forms as long as it does not depart from its essence.

105: Server device 110: Source website server device 115: Target website server device 120: One or more user terminals 125: One or more content provider terminals 199: Network 205: Processor 210: Memory 215: Storage device 220: Input/output device 225: Communication device

Figure 1 illustrates a system according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 2 illustrates an apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 3 illustrates the processing flow related to content registration. Figure 4 illustrates an example of data items managed through content registration. Figure 5 illustrates the processing flow related to content provision. Figure 6 illustrates the processing flow related to item registration on a target website. Figure 7 illustrates an example of data items managed by registering items from a source website to a target website. Figure 8 illustrates an example of website association identifier data items. Figure 9 illustrates the processing flow related to item sales. Figure 10 illustrates an embodiment of the present invention for purchasing goods/services by referring to content.

105: Server Device

110: Source website server device

115: Target Website Server Device

120: One or more user terminals

125: One or more content provider terminals

199: Internet

Claims (6)

A system comprising: a server device that associates information about or related to an item, content information, and a website identifier of a source website, wherein the content information is content related to or relating to the aforementioned item; a source website server device that manages a source website that provides the aforementioned content to a user, and the user purchases the aforementioned item by using the aforementioned content; and a target website server device that manages a target website that obtains the aforementioned content information from the aforementioned source website and provides the aforementioned content to the user; the server device has a link identifier that associates the aforementioned source website with the aforementioned target website and sends the website link identifier to the target website server device; In response to a user's use of the aforementioned content on the target website, the aforementioned target website server device sends the aforementioned website association identifier and the aforementioned content information to the aforementioned server device. The system as described in claim 1, wherein, the situation where the aforementioned user on the aforementioned target website uses the aforementioned content includes the situation where, on the aforementioned target website server device, the aforementioned user purchases the aforementioned items by referring to the aforementioned content. The system as described in claim 1, wherein: The aforementioned server device associates a source website category identifier with a content identifier, wherein the source website category identifier identifies a category in the aforementioned source website, and the content identifier identifies content associated with the aforementioned category; The aforementioned target website server device associates the aforementioned source website category identifier with a target website category identifier, wherein the target website category identifier is the identifier of the aforementioned category in the aforementioned target website, as identified by the aforementioned source website category identifier; The aforementioned target website server device, based on the aforementioned content information, obtains a source website category identifier associated with the aforementioned content from the aforementioned server device, and in response to the use of the aforementioned content on the aforementioned target website, identifies the source website category identifier of the aforementioned content based on the aforementioned target website category identifier associated with the aforementioned content. The system as described in claim 3, wherein, the aforementioned target website server device, upon recognizing the source website category identifier of the aforementioned content, sends the aforementioned source website category identifier to the aforementioned server device. The system as described in claim 3, wherein, the aforementioned server device, based on the aforementioned website association identifier, the aforementioned content information, the identifier of the aforementioned target website, and the aforementioned source website category identifier, identifies a situation where the aforementioned user on the aforementioned target website has used the aforementioned content. A server device communicates with the source website server device and the target website server device, wherein the source website server device manages the source website, which provides content to a user, and the user purchases items using the content; the target website server device manages the target website, which obtains the aforementioned content information from the source website and provides the content to the user; The server device is configured to: attach associations to information about items or related to the items, content information, and the website identifier of the source website, wherein the content information is the aforementioned content related to the aforementioned items or information about the aforementioned content related to the aforementioned items; The device has the capability to attach an association identifier to the aforementioned source website and the aforementioned target website, and to send the aforementioned website association identifier to the aforementioned target website server device; In response to a situation where a user uses the aforementioned content on the aforementioned target website, the device receives the aforementioned website association identifier, the aforementioned content information, and the website identifier of the website managed by the aforementioned target website server device from the aforementioned target website server device.