JP7548971B2 - Information Processing Method - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an information processing method.

Electronic payments using electronic currency have become widespread (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

JP 2021-056777 A

When making payments with electronic currency, the ease with which payments can be made means that it is difficult for users to keep track of the amount of their spending. For this reason, some users would like to make it easier to manage their spending.

The present invention was made in consideration of these points, and aims to provide a way for users to easily manage their spending.

The information processing method according to the first aspect of the present invention includes the steps of acquiring user identification information for identifying a user, executed by a computer, identifying a base amount to be charged to the user, calculating a difference obtained by subtracting the payment amount for the purchase of the product by the user from the identified base amount, storing the calculated difference in association with the acquired user identification information, and granting a privilege to the user according to the total amount of the difference stored in association with the user identification information.

The information processing method further includes a step executed by the computer of associating the user identification information with a base unit amount, which is a unit amount used to calculate the base amount, and storing the associated information in a storage unit. In the step of identifying the base amount, the computer may identify as the base amount the smallest amount equal to or greater than the payment amount among amounts corresponding to multiples of the base unit amount stored in the storage unit in association with the user identification information.

In the step of storing the base unit amount, the computer may receive the base unit amount from a user terminal used by the user, and store the base unit amount in the storage unit in association with the user identification information of the user.

The information processing method further includes a step executed by the computer of accepting a selection of a benefit to be granted for the total amount of the difference, and storing in a storage unit the user identification information of the user and benefit identification information for identifying the accepted benefit in association with each other, the storage unit storing the benefit identification information, information indicating the content of the benefit indicated by the benefit identification information, and condition information indicating a predetermined condition corresponding to the benefit in association with each other, and in the step of granting the benefit, the computer may identify the condition information corresponding to the benefit identification information associated with the user identification information, and grant the benefit to the user when the total amount of the difference accumulated in association with the user identification information satisfies the predetermined condition indicated by the identified condition information.

The predetermined condition is that the total amount of the difference is equal to or greater than a predetermined amount, and in the step of granting the bonus, the computer may grant the bonus to the user on the condition that the total amount of the difference accumulated in association with the user identification information is equal to or greater than the predetermined amount.

In the step of granting the bonus, the computer may grant the user the bonus corresponding to the predetermined amount on condition that the total amount of the difference accumulated in association with the user identification information is equal to or greater than the predetermined amount.

In the step of granting the bonus, the computer may grant the bonus to the user and deduct an amount corresponding to the bonus from the total amount of the accumulated difference.
In the storing step, the computer may store the difference, the use of which is restricted for purposes other than the granting of the privilege, in association with the acquired user identification information.
In the step of granting the reward, the computer may grant the user the reward having a monetary value greater than an amount deducted from the total amount of the difference.

In the step of granting the benefit, the computer may grant the benefit to the user when the total amount of the difference accumulated in association with the user identification information satisfies a predetermined condition, without receiving an operation related to granting the benefit from a user terminal used by the user.

In the acquiring step, the computer acquires the payment amount, the user identification information, and store identification information for identifying the store where the user purchases the product or the business that operates the store, and in the storing step, the computer stores the calculated difference in association with the acquired user identification information and the acquired store identification information, and when the total amount of the difference stored in association with the user identification information and the store identification information indicating the user satisfies a predetermined condition, the computer may grant the user the benefit corresponding to the store indicated by the store identification information.

The information processing method further includes a step executed by the computer to receive, from a user terminal used by the user, bonus information indicating a bonus selected by the user from among multiple bonuses, and to store the bonus information in a storage unit in association with the user identification information corresponding to the user, and in the bonus granting step, the computer may grant to the user the bonus indicated by the bonus information stored in the storage unit in association with the user identification information when the total amount of the difference accumulated in association with the user identification information satisfies a predetermined condition.

In the step of granting the bonus, the computer may grant the user a bonus selected by lottery from among multiple bonuses when the total amount of the difference accumulated in association with the user identification information indicating the user satisfies a predetermined condition.

The information processing method may further include a step executed by the computer to transmit, upon receiving a request for obtaining the total amount of the accumulated difference from a user terminal used by the user, information indicating the total amount of the difference associated with the user identification information of the user to the user terminal.

In the step of granting the bonus, the computer grants a bonus to the user when the total amount of the difference accumulated in association with the user identification information becomes equal to or exceeds a predetermined amount, and in the step of transmitting information indicating the total amount of the difference, the computer may transmit to the user terminal information indicating the total amount of the difference and information indicating the ratio of the total amount of the difference to the predetermined amount.

In the acquiring step, the computer acquires the payment amount corresponding to the payment made by a specified payment method, and in the storing step, the computer may store the difference calculated based on the payment amount corresponding to the payment made by the specified payment method in association with the acquired user identification information.

In the step of granting the benefit, the computer grants the benefit to the user and subtracts a portion of the amount corresponding to the benefit from the total of the accumulated difference, and the information processing method may further include a step executed by the computer of identifying the remaining amount of the amount corresponding to the benefit as the amount to be paid by a business operator providing a payment service related to the specified payment method.

The present invention has the effect of making it easier for users to manage their spending.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an overview of a payment system. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a functional configuration of a payment processing device. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of setting information. FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of difference management information. FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of benefit management information. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a functional configuration of a user terminal. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a functional configuration of a store terminal. FIG. 2 is an operational sequence diagram of the payment system. FIG. 11 is an operational sequence diagram of a payment system compatible with MPM code payment.

[Overview of payment system S]
1 is a diagram showing an overview of a payment system S. The payment system S is a system that, when a user purchases a product or service at a store, performs payment in response to a payment request received from a user terminal 2 carried by the user or a store terminal 3 used by the store.

The payment system S comprises a payment processing device 1 as an information processing device, a user terminal 2, and a store terminal 3. The payment processing device 1 is a server that processes the payment of the purchase amount. The user terminal 2 is an information terminal used by a user, such as a smartphone, tablet, or personal computer. The store terminal 3 is, for example, a POS terminal.

Below, with reference to FIG. 1, the flow up to the completion of payment will be explained. In the following explanation, products or services are collectively referred to as products. First, a user purchases a product at a store. The payment processing device 1 receives, corresponding to a predetermined payment method, from at least one of the user terminal 2 and the store terminal 3, a user ID for identifying the user, a store ID for identifying the store, and payment information including the payment amount for the purchase of the product at the user's store ((1) in FIG. 1). The user ID is, for example, an ID given to the user by a payment business providing a payment service related to the payment processing device 1. The store ID is, for example, an ID given to the store by the payment business. The store ID identifies the store, but may also be information for identifying the operator of the store or the business operating the store.

The specified payment method is, for example, a payment method using a code. Payment methods using codes include the CPM (Consumer Presented Mode) payment method and the MPM (Merchant Presented Mode) payment method. The CPM method is a method in which a payment code such as a two-dimensional barcode is displayed on the user terminal 2, and payment is made when the payment code is read by the store. The MPM method is a method in which a payment code is presented at the store, and payment is made when the payment code is read by the user. In the following explanation, the payment method using a code is referred to as code payment.

When the payment processing device 1 receives the user ID, store ID, and payment information, it identifies a base amount to be charged to the user, which is greater than the payment amount included in the payment information ((2) in Figure 1). The base amount is the smallest amount that is greater than or equal to the payment amount among amounts that correspond to multiples of the base unit amount. The payment processing device 1 calculates the difference by subtracting the payment amount included in the received payment information from the identified base amount ((3) in Figure 1).

The payment processing device 1 makes a payment based on the received user ID, store ID, the calculated difference, and the payment amount ((4) in Figure 1). For example, the payment processing device 1 subtracts the base amount from the balance of the user's account associated with the user ID, and deposits the payment amount into the balance of the account associated with the store ID. This makes it easier for the user to manage their spending, as the user's expenditure on purchasing products is a multiple of the base unit amount.

The payment processing device 1 accumulates the calculated difference amount in association with the user ID. As a result, the difference amount is calculated each time a payment is made, and the total amount of the difference amount associated with the user ID increases. The payment processing device 1 grants a bonus when the total amount of the difference amount accumulated in association with the user ID satisfies a predetermined condition ((5) in Figure 1). In this way, a bonus is granted according to the difference amount accumulated in the user ID, so the user can accumulate the difference amount with the aim of being granted a bonus.

The configurations of the payment processing device 1, the user terminal 2, and the store terminal 3 are described in detail below. Note that the following description is given assuming that the specified payment method is a CPM code payment.

[Functional configuration of payment processing device 1]
2 is a diagram showing the functional configuration of the payment processing device 1. The payment processing device 1 has a communication unit 11, a storage unit 12, and a control unit 13.

The communication unit 11 is a communication interface for transmitting and receiving data to and from the user terminal 2 and the store terminal 3 via a network such as the Internet.
The storage unit 12 is a storage medium that stores various data, and includes a ROM (Read Only Memory), a RAM (Random Access Memory), a hard disk, etc. The storage unit 12 stores a program executed by the control unit 13. The storage unit 12 stores a payment program that causes the control unit 13 to function as a setting unit 131, a request receiving unit 132, a token transmitting unit 133, a payment information receiving unit 134, a payment processing unit 135, a privilege granting unit 136, and a notification unit 137.

The memory unit 12 also stores setting information indicating a base unit amount for each user. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of the setting information. As shown in FIG. 3, the setting information is information that associates a user ID, a base unit amount, and a benefit ID for identifying a benefit specified by the user. Here, the base unit amount is an amount such as 10 yen, 50 yen, or 100 yen, where multiplication does not change the relatively smaller numerical values, or where the change in the smaller numerical values is small.

The storage unit 12 also stores difference management information for managing the total amount of the difference. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of the difference management information. As shown in FIG. 4, the difference management information is information that associates a user ID with the total amount of the difference. Note that the difference management information may also include difference detail information that associates the user ID of the user, the payment time when each of multiple payments corresponding to the user was made, and the difference calculated for each of the multiple payments.

The memory unit 12 also stores reward management information that manages the rewards granted based on the total amount of the accumulated difference. Figure 5 is a diagram showing an example of reward management information. As shown in Figure 5, the reward management information is information that associates a reward ID of a reward, reward information indicating the content of the reward, and condition information indicating the conditions under which the reward is granted.

The benefit may be, for example, a product provided at a store, a refund of a specified amount to the user after payment, or points that the user can use at a store, etc. The benefit may also be a discount of a specified amount on the payment amount corresponding to the payment at the store. Here, the specified condition for the benefit indicated by the condition information to be granted is, for example, that the total amount of the difference is equal to or greater than a specified amount. The benefit is also considered to have a monetary value equal to or greater than a specified amount.

For example, if a user selects to be granted a reward with reward ID "T001", the condition for granting the reward associated with reward ID "T001" is "total difference amount ≧ 1000 yen". In this case, when the total amount of the accumulated difference amount corresponding to the user becomes 1000 yen or more, the user is granted 1100 points with a monetary value of 1000 yen or more as a reward in exchange for 1000 yen of the total amount of the difference.

The control unit 13 is, for example, a CPU (Central Processing Unit). The control unit 13 executes a payment program stored in the memory unit 12, thereby functioning as a setting unit 131, a request receiving unit 132, a token transmitting unit 133, a payment information receiving unit 134, a payment processing unit 135, a privilege granting unit 136, and a notification unit 137. The operation of each unit of the control unit 13 will be described in detail later.

[Functional configuration of user terminal 2]
6 is a diagram showing a functional configuration of the user terminal 2. The user terminal 2 has an operation unit 21, a communication unit 22, a display unit 23, a storage unit 24, and a control unit 25. The control unit 25 has an operation acceptance unit 251, a request transmission unit 252, a code generation unit 253, and a display control unit 254.

The operation unit 21 is an operation device that accepts user operations, and is, for example, a touch panel provided on the surface of the display unit 23. The operation unit 21 notifies the operation acceptance unit 251 of a signal indicating the position touched by the user.

The communication unit 22 is, for example, a wireless communication interface for transmitting and receiving data to and from a base station of a mobile phone network. The communication unit 22 inputs a payment token or the like, which is payment data received from the payment processing device 1, to the code generation unit 253.
The display unit 23 is a display that displays various information. The display unit 23 displays a payment code under the control of the code generation unit 253.

The memory unit 24 is a storage medium including ROM, RAM, etc. The memory unit 24 stores a program executed by the control unit 25. The memory unit 24 stores a program that causes the control unit 25 to function as an operation reception unit 251, a request transmission unit 252, a code generation unit 253, and a display control unit 254. The memory unit 24 also stores a payment token received from the payment processing device 1, a payment code generated based on the payment token, etc.

The control unit 25 is, for example, a CPU, and functions as an operation reception unit 251, a request transmission unit 252, a code generation unit 253, and a display control unit 254 by executing the programs stored in the memory unit 24.

The operation reception unit 251 identifies the user's operation content based on a signal input from the operation unit 21. If the identified operation content is an operation for displaying a payment code on the user terminal 2, the operation reception unit 251 notifies the request transmission unit 252 of the operation content. The request transmission unit 252 transmits the user ID and a request to issue a payment code to the payment processing device 1 via the communication unit 22.

When a payment token is transmitted from the payment processing device 1, the code generation unit 253 generates a payment code based on the payment token. The code generation unit 253 generates the payment code based on, for example, predetermined rules.

The display control unit 254 causes the display unit 23 to display the payment code generated by the code generation unit 253. When the display control unit 254 receives payment completion information indicating that the payment has been completed from the payment processing device 1, it causes the display unit 23 to display the payment completion information.

[Functional configuration of store terminal 3]
7 is a diagram showing the functional configuration of the store terminal 3. The store terminal 3 has an operation unit 31, a reading unit 32, a communication unit 33, a display unit , a storage unit 35, and a control unit .

The operation unit 31 is an operation device that accepts operations by the user, and is, for example, buttons for the user to select a product to purchase, or a touch panel provided on the surface of the display unit 34.
The reading unit 32 is, for example, a barcode reader and a camera, and reads a barcode attached to a product purchased by the user and a payment code displayed by the user terminal 2. The reading unit 32 outputs information indicated by the read barcode and payment code to the control unit 36.

The communication unit 33 is, for example, a communication interface for transmitting and receiving data to and from the payment processing device 1. The communication unit 33 transmits a payment request including a payment token and payment information to the payment processing device 1 in response to control by the control unit 36.
The display unit 34 is a display that displays various information, such as the payment amount.

The memory unit 35 is a storage medium including a ROM, a RAM, and the like. The memory unit 35 stores a program executed by the control unit 36. The memory unit 35 stores a program that causes the control unit 36 to function as a payment information generation unit 361, a token acquisition unit 362, and a payment information transmission unit 363. The memory unit 35 also stores a product DB that associates product IDs with product prices.

The control unit 36 is, for example, a CPU, and functions as a payment information generation unit 361, a token acquisition unit 362, and a payment information transmission unit 363 by executing a program stored in the memory unit 35.

The payment information generation unit 361 identifies one or more items to be paid for and generates payment information. Specifically, the payment information generation unit 361 acquires an item ID entered by a store clerk on the operation unit 31 or an item ID read by the reading unit 32 from a barcode attached to the item, and identifies the item with the acquired item ID as the item to be paid for. The payment information generation unit 361 references the item DB stored in the memory unit 35, identifies the price of the item associated with the acquired item ID, and tallies the prices of the identified items. When the payment information generation unit 361 accepts a settlement operation on the operation unit 31, it determines the tallied item price as the payment amount.

The payment information generation unit 361 generates payment information including the determined payment amount, the read product ID, a store ID for identifying the store, and payment time information indicating the current time as the time of payment. Here, the payment time information is not limited to the current time, and may be, for example, time information indicating the time when the payment code was read.

The token acquisition unit 362 acquires information extracted from the payment code displayed on the user terminal 2 by the reading unit 32, as a payment token.
When the payment information generation unit 361 generates payment information and the token acquisition unit 362 acquires a payment token, the payment information transmission unit 363 transmits a payment request including the payment token and the payment information to the payment processing device 1 via the communication unit 33.

[Operation of each part of the control unit 13]
Next, the operation of each part of the control unit 13 will be described.
The setting unit 131 accepts a base unit amount from the user terminal 2 used by the user. For example, in response to accepting a request to set a base unit amount from the user terminal 2, the setting unit 131 displays multiple base unit amounts on the user terminal 2 and accepts selection of one of the multiple base unit amounts. When the setting unit 131 accepts the selection of the base unit amount from the user terminal 2, it associates the user ID of the user with the accepted base unit amount and stores them in the storage unit 12 as part of the setting information.

The setting unit 131 also accepts from the user terminal 2 a selection of a benefit to be granted for the total amount of the difference. For example, in response to accepting a benefit selection request from the user terminal 2, the setting unit 131 associates the contents of multiple benefits included in the benefit management information stored in the memory unit 12 with the granting conditions indicated by the condition information, displays them on the user terminal 2, and accepts the selection of one of the multiple benefits. When the setting unit 131 accepts a benefit selection from the user terminal 2, it associates the user ID of the user with a benefit ID for identifying the accepted benefit, and stores them in the memory unit 12. In this way, the user can select the benefit he or she desires from multiple benefits as the benefit to be granted according to the total amount of the difference.

The request receiving unit 132 receives from the user terminal 2 the user ID of the user of the user terminal 2 and a request for issuing a payment code for the user to make a payment at a store.
When the request receiving unit 132 receives a payment code issuance request, the token transmitting unit 133 transmits to the user terminal 2 a payment token for generating a payment code corresponding to the user ID received together with the issuance request. Specifically, when the request receiving unit 132 receives a payment code issuance request, the token transmitting unit 133 first generates a payment token. Next, the token transmitting unit 133 associates the user ID received by the request receiving unit 132 with the generated payment token and stores them in the storage unit 12. The token transmitting unit 133 transmits the generated payment token to the user terminal 2 that transmitted the payment code issuance request.

The payment information receiving unit 134 receives a payment request from the store terminal 3 that has read the payment code displayed by the user terminal 2 based on the payment token transmitted by the token transmitting unit 133, the payment token corresponding to code payment as a specified payment method, extracted from the payment code, the store ID, and payment information corresponding to the payment for the purchase of a product at the user's store. The payment information includes the payment amount corresponding to the purchase of a product at the user's store.

When the payment token included in the received payment request is stored in the memory unit 12, the payment processing unit 135 performs payment based on the store ID and payment information included in the received payment request and the user ID received from the user terminal 2, which is associated with the payment token and stored in the memory unit 12.

Specifically, first, when the payment information receiving unit 134 receives a payment request, the payment processing unit 135 determines whether a payment token matching the payment token included in the payment request is stored in the storage unit 12. When the payment processing unit 135 determines that a matching payment token is stored in the storage unit 12, it identifies the user ID associated with the payment token and stored in the storage unit 12.

The payment processing unit 135 identifies a base amount to be charged to the user indicated by the identified user ID, which is greater than the payment amount included in the payment information received from the store terminal 3. For example, the payment processing unit 135 refers to the setting information stored in the memory unit 12 and identifies the base unit amount associated with the identified user ID. The payment processing unit 135 identifies the smallest amount that is greater than or equal to the payment amount among amounts corresponding to multiples of the identified base unit amount as the base amount.

For example, suppose the payment amount corresponding to a user is 473 yen, and the base unit amount for that user is 100 yen. In this case, the payment processing unit 135 identifies 500 yen as the base amount. The payment processing unit 135 also calculates the difference by subtracting the payment amount from the identified base amount. For example, if the payment amount corresponding to a user is 473 yen, and the base unit amount for that user is 100 yen, the payment processing unit 135 subtracts 473 yen from the base amount of 500 yen, and calculates the difference as 27 yen.

When the payment processing unit 135 identifies the reference amount, it executes a payment process to deduct the reference amount from the user's electronic currency account corresponding to the identified user ID. Here, the payment processing unit 135 executes a process to deduct the reference amount from the user's electronic account as the payment process, but this is not limited to this. For example, if the user selects a payment method using a credit card instead of deducting from an electronic account as the payment method, the payment processing unit 135 may, as the payment process, request a prior approval (authorization) for the payment of the reference amount from the credit card company. In this case, the payment process may be completed when approval is received from the credit card company.

The payment processing unit 135 executes a process of depositing an amount corresponding to the payment amount included in the received payment request into the account of the store identified by the store ID included in the payment information. For example, the payment processing unit 135 calculates the store receipt amount by subtracting a payment fee corresponding to the payment service from the payment amount, and executes a process of depositing the calculated store receipt amount into the account of the store identified by the store ID included in the payment information. Note that the payment processing unit 135 may add up the store receipt amounts calculated over a predetermined period (e.g., one month) at predetermined time intervals (e.g., one month), and deposit the total store receipt amount into the account of the store identified by the store ID.

The payment processing unit 135 accumulates the calculated difference in association with the identified user ID, on the condition that the payment process of the reference amount to be charged to the user has been executed. The payment processing unit 135 updates the total amount of the difference by adding the calculated difference to the total amount of the difference associated with the identified user ID in the difference management information. Here, the payment processing unit 135 may accumulate the difference calculated based on the payment amount corresponding to code payment, which is a specified payment method, in association with the user ID. In this way, the user will make a payment using the specified payment method in an attempt to accumulate the difference. Therefore, the payment processing device 1 can promote the use of the specified payment method by users.

The payment processing unit 135 may also store the difference, which is restricted from the user's use for purposes other than the granting of the bonus, in association with the acquired user ID. For example, the total amount of the difference may be something that the user cannot use except for being deducted in response to the granting of the bonus. In this way, the user will make a payment to obtain a bonus instead of the total amount of the accumulated difference, so the payment processing device 1 can increase the number of payments in which a difference occurs by the user.

The payment processing unit 135 notifies the user terminal 2 and the store terminal 3 of payment completion information indicating that the payment has been completed when the process of debiting the reference amount from the user's account or the process of depositing the store receipt amount into the store's account is completed.

When the total amount of one or more differences accumulated in association with the identified user ID satisfies a predetermined condition, the reward granting unit 136 grants a reward to the user indicated by the user ID. For example, the reward granting unit 136 refers to the reward management information and the difference management information stored in the memory unit 12, and identifies the condition information corresponding to the reward ID associated with the identified user ID. Then, the reward granting unit 136 grants a reward to the user when the total amount of differences accumulated in association with the identified user ID in the difference management information satisfies the predetermined condition indicated by the identified condition information.

Specifically, the reward granting unit 136 grants the user a reward that corresponds to the specified amount indicated by the content of the reward associated with the condition information in the difference management information and has a monetary value greater than the amount deducted from the total difference, on the condition that the total difference is equal to or greater than the specified amount indicated by the specified condition. In this way, the user increases the number of payments that generate a difference in order to obtain a reward with a monetary value greater than the total difference, thereby increasing the accumulated total difference amount, thereby contributing to the payment service provider and the store.

When the total amount of the difference satisfies a predetermined condition indicated by the specified condition information, the reward granting unit 136 grants the reward to the user without receiving any operation related to the granting of the reward from the user terminal 2. In this way, the user can automatically receive the reward when the total amount of the difference becomes equal to or exceeds a predetermined amount.

When the content of the benefit associated with the condition information specified in the difference management information is determined by lottery, the benefit granting unit 136 performs a lottery process to select one of multiple benefits. Then, the benefit granting unit 136 grants the user the benefit selected by lottery. For example, when the benefit ID associated with the specified user ID is "T003", the benefit is a lottery selection from among products A, B, and C, as shown in FIG. 5. In this case, the benefit granting unit 136 performs a lottery process to select one of products A, B, and C, and grants the selected benefit to the user. The benefit granting unit 136 may display a video showing a lottery selection, such as a roulette or a lottery drawing, on the user terminal 2.

The bonus granting unit 136 also subtracts the amount corresponding to the bonus, i.e., a predetermined amount, from the total amount of the difference accumulated in association with the identified user ID. This results in an exchange of the predetermined amount of the total amount of the accumulated difference for the bonus.

Note that, although the bonus granting unit 136 subtracts a predetermined amount from the total amount of the difference accumulated in association with the identified user ID, this is not limited to the above. The bonus granting unit 136 may subtract a portion of the predetermined amount from the total amount of the difference accumulated in association with the identified user ID. The bonus granting unit 136 may then identify the remaining amount of the predetermined amount as the amount to be borne by the business providing the payment service related to the specified payment method, and bill the business for this amount. In this way, the amount to be subtracted from the total amount of the difference accumulated in association with the user ID is reduced, and the user is encouraged to accumulate a new difference to obtain a bonus. Therefore, the payment processing device 1 can increase the number of times the user purchases products at a store.

When the notification unit 137 acquires a request to acquire the total amount of accumulated differences from the user terminal 2, it transmits information indicating the total amount of differences associated with the user's user ID to the user terminal 2. Here, the request to acquire the total amount of differences includes the user ID of the user of the user terminal 2. When the notification unit 137 acquires a request to acquire the total amount of differences, it identifies the total amount of differences stored in association with the user ID included in the acquisition request in the difference management information stored in the memory unit 12. Then, the notification unit 137 transmits information indicating the identified total amount of differences to the user terminal 2.

The notification unit 137 may refer to the setting information and the benefit management information, identify condition information corresponding to the benefit ID associated with the user ID, and identify a predetermined amount corresponding to the condition for the benefit grant indicated by the condition information. The notification unit 137 may then transmit to the user terminal 2 information indicating the total amount of the identified differences and the ratio of the total amount of the differences to the predetermined amount. For example, the notification unit 137 causes the user terminal 2 to display a screen indicating the progress made until the benefit is granted, including the total amount of the identified differences and information indicating the ratio of the total amount of the differences to the predetermined amount. In this way, the user can know how much longer it will take for the benefit to be granted.

[Operation sequence]
8 is an operation sequence diagram of the payment system S. Note that, before the processing related to this sequence, the setting unit 131 accepts a base unit amount and a selection of a benefit from the user terminal 2, and stores the user ID of the user, the base unit amount, and the benefit ID of the benefit in association with each other in the storage unit 12 as setting information.

First, the user terminal 2 of a user who purchases a product or the like at a store accepts an operation to display a payment code (S1). The request sending unit 252 sends the user ID and a request to issue a payment code to the payment processing device 1 (S2).

When the request receiving unit 132 of the payment processing device 1 acquires the user ID and a request for issuing a payment code from the user terminal 2, the token transmitting unit 133 generates a payment token (S3). The token transmitting unit 133 associates the user ID with the generated payment token and stores them in the memory unit 12 (S4). The token transmitting unit 133 transmits the generated payment token to the user terminal 2 that transmitted the request for issuing a payment code (S5).

The code generation unit 253 of the user terminal 2 generates a payment code based on the payment token received from the payment processing device 1, and displays the generated payment code on the display unit 23 (S6). The user presents the payment code displayed on the user terminal 2 at the store, and the reading unit 32 of the store terminal 3 reads the payment code (S7).

The payment information generating unit 361 of the store terminal 3 determines the price of the product based on the product ID entered by the store clerk on the operation unit 31 or the product ID read by the reading unit 32 from the barcode attached to the product, and calculates the payment amount (S8). The payment information sending unit 363 of the store terminal 3 sends a payment request to the payment processing device 1, which includes payment information including the payment amount calculated in S8, the store ID, and the payment token included in the payment code read in S7 (S9).

The payment information receiving unit 134 of the payment processing device 1 receives a payment request including payment information and a payment token from the store terminal 3. If the payment token stored in the memory unit 12 matches the received payment token, the payment processing unit 135 calculates the reference amount and the difference corresponding to the user (S10).

Then, the payment processing unit 135 performs a payment process (S11). Specifically, the payment processing unit 135 performs a payment process to debit the reference amount from the account of the user corresponding to the user ID associated with the payment token, and performs a process to deposit the store receipt amount into the account of the store specified by the store ID included in the payment request.

Then, when the total amount of the difference corresponding to the user ID associated with the payment token satisfies the condition for granting the benefit, the reward granting unit 136 grants a reward to the user indicated by the user ID (S12). Specifically, the reward granting unit 136 refers to the reward management information and the difference management information stored in the memory unit 12, and identifies the condition information corresponding to the reward ID associated with the identified user ID. Then, the reward granting unit 136 grants a reward to the user when the total amount of the difference accumulated in association with the identified user ID in the difference management information satisfies the predetermined condition indicated by the identified condition information.

Then, the payment processing unit 135 transmits payment completion information to the user terminal 2 (S13). Here, if a bonus has been granted to the user, the payment processing unit 135 may transmit payment completion information including information indicating that the bonus has been granted to the user terminal 2. When the display control unit 254 of the user terminal 2 receives the payment completion information from the payment processing device 1, it causes the display unit 23 to display the payment completion information (S14).

[Modification 1]
In the above description, the payment processing device 1 stores the total amount of the difference in association with the user ID, but this is not limited to the above. The payment processing device 1 may store the total amount of the difference in association with the user ID and the store ID of the store where the product was purchased.

In this case, the setting unit 131 accepts from the user terminal 2 a selection of the store ID of the store and a bonus to be granted at the store for the total amount of the difference. When the setting unit 131 accepts the selection of the store ID and bonus from the user terminal 2, it associates the user ID of the user, the accepted store ID, and a bonus ID for identifying the accepted bonus, and stores them in the storage unit 12 as part of the setting information.

The payment processing unit 135 calculates a base amount based on the payment amount included in the payment request and the base unit amount corresponding to the user, and calculates the difference by subtracting the payment amount from the base amount. The payment processing unit 135 accumulates the calculated difference in association with the user ID stored in the memory unit 12 in association with the payment token included in the payment request, and with the store ID included in the payment request.

When the total amount of the difference accumulated in association with the user ID and store ID indicating the user satisfies a predetermined condition, the reward granting unit 136 grants the user a reward corresponding to the store indicated by the store ID. For example, the reward granting unit 136 refers to the reward management information and the difference management information stored in the memory unit 12, and identifies condition information corresponding to the reward ID associated with the identified user ID and the store ID included in the payment request. Then, the reward granting unit 136 grants the user a reward when the total amount of the difference accumulated in association with the user ID and store ID in the difference management information satisfies a predetermined condition indicated by the identified condition information. In this way, the payment processing device 1 can manage the difference corresponding to each store and grant a reward to the user for each store.

[Modification 2]
In the above explanation, the case where the predetermined payment method is the CPM code payment is explained as an example, but an example where the MPM code payment is used will be briefly explained below. Figure 9 is an operation sequence diagram of the payment system S that supports the MPM code payment.

First, when a user brings an item to be purchased to a store clerk, the clerk operates the store terminal 3. The store terminal 3 acquires the item ID entered by the clerk on the operation unit 31 or the item ID read by the reading unit 32 from the barcode attached to the item, and calculates the payment amount by identifying the price of the item associated with the item ID. The store terminal 3 displays the payment amount on the display unit 23 (S21).

When the store terminal 3 accepts an operation related to a payment code issuance request, it transmits the payment code issuance request and the store ID to the payment processing device 1 (S22). When the request receiving unit 132 of the payment processing device 1 acquires the payment code issuance request and the store information, the token transmitting unit 133 generates a payment token for generating a payment code (S23). The token transmitting unit 133 associates the generated payment token with the store ID and stores them in the memory unit 12 (S24). The token transmitting unit 133 transmits the generated payment token to the store terminal 3 that transmitted the payment code issuance request (S25).

The store terminal 3 generates a payment code based on the payment token received from the payment processing device 1, and displays the generated payment code on the display unit 34 (S26). The user operates the user terminal 2 to cause the user terminal 2 to read the payment code displayed on the store terminal 3 (S27).

When the user terminal 2 extracts the payment token from the payment code, it accepts input of the payment amount from the user (S28). The user terminal 2 sends a payment request including payment information including the payment amount, the payment token extracted from the payment code, and the user ID to the payment processing device 1 (S29).

The payment information receiving unit 134 of the payment processing device 1 receives a payment request including payment information, a payment token, and a user ID from the user terminal 2. If the payment token stored in the memory unit 12 matches the received payment token, the payment processing unit 135 calculates the reference amount and the difference corresponding to the user (S30).

Then, the payment processing unit 135 performs a payment process (S31). Specifically, the payment processing unit 135 performs a payment process to debit the reference amount from the account of the user corresponding to the user ID included in the payment request, and performs a process to deposit the store receipt amount into the account of the store specified by the store ID associated with the payment token included in the payment request.

The processing from S32 to S34 is similar to the processing from S12 to S14, so the explanation is omitted.

By operating the payment system S as described above, the payment processing device 1 can grant a privilege to the user identified by the user ID according to the total amount of the difference accumulated for that user ID, just as in the case of making a payment by receiving payment information from the store terminal 3 that reads the payment code displayed on the user terminal 2.

In the above description, in code payment using the MPM method, a request for issuing a payment code is made at the time of payment, but it may be made at a timing prior to the time of payment. In this case, the request for issuing a payment code may be made via the store terminal 3, or may be made by mail, email, or the like. In addition, although the store terminal 3 is configured to display the payment code on the display unit 34, this is not limited to this. For example, a store clerk may present the user with a payment code printed on paper, etc.

In this case, the user terminal 3 captures the payment code presented at the store using an imaging unit provided in the user terminal 3 in response to user operation, extracts a payment token from the captured payment code, and accepts input of the payment amount corresponding to the payment at the store from the user. The payment token may include a store ID so that the payment processing device 1 can identify the store. When the user terminal 3 accepts input of the payment amount, it transmits a payment request including payment information including the payment amount, the extracted payment token, and the user ID to the payment processing device 1. When the payment information receiving unit 134 receives a payment request including the payment information, the payment token, and the user ID from the user terminal 2, the payment processing unit 135 executes the payment process.

[Modification 3]
In the above description, the predetermined payment method is a payment method using a code, but is not limited to this. For example, as long as the payment processing device 1 can acquire a user ID, a store ID, and payment information at the time of a user's payment, the predetermined payment method may be a payment method using short-range wireless communication such as NFC, a credit card, or a prepaid card, which is different from a payment method using a code payment.

[Effects of payment system S]
As described above, the payment processing device 1 according to this embodiment acquires a payment amount corresponding to a purchase of a product at a store by a user and a user ID, specifies a reference amount to be charged to the user that is greater than the payment amount, associates the calculated difference with the acquired user ID and accumulates it on the condition that a payment process for the reference amount to be charged to the user has been executed, and grants a privilege to the user when the total amount of one or more differences accumulated in association with the user ID satisfies a predetermined condition. In this way, the payment processing device 1 can easily manage the user's expenditures.

Furthermore, this invention will make it possible to contribute to Goal 9 of the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which is "Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization, and promote innovation and infrastructure."

Although the present invention has been described above using embodiments, the technical scope of the present invention is not limited to the scope described in the above embodiments, and various modifications and changes are possible within the scope of the gist of the invention. For example, all or part of the device can be configured by distributing or integrating functionally or physically in any unit. In addition, new embodiments resulting from any combination of multiple embodiments are also included in the embodiments of the present invention. The effect of the new embodiment resulting from the combination also has the effect of the original embodiment.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 Payment processing device 2 User terminal 3 Store terminal 11 Communication unit 12 Memory unit 13 Control unit 21 Operation unit 22 Communication unit 23 Display unit 24 Memory unit 25 Control unit 31 Operation unit 32 Reading unit 33 Communication unit 34 Display unit 35 Memory unit 36 Control unit 131 Setting unit 132 Request receiving unit 133 Token transmitting unit 134 Payment information receiving unit 135 Payment processing unit 136 Benefit granting unit 137 Notification unit 251 Operation accepting unit 252 Request transmitting unit 253 Code generating unit 254 Display control unit 361 Payment information generating unit 362 Token acquiring unit 363 Payment information transmitting unit S Payment system

Claims (16)

The computer executes
a step of storing in a storage unit user identification information for identifying a user and a reference unit amount, which is a unit amount used for calculating a reference amount to be charged to the user, in association with each other;
obtaining said user identification information;
identifying the smallest amount equal to or greater than a payment amount for the purchase of the product by the user among amounts corresponding to multiples of the reference unit amount stored in the storage unit in association with the acquired user identification information as the reference amount ;
A step of calculating a difference obtained by subtracting a payment amount for the purchase of the product by the user from the specified reference amount;
storing the calculated difference in association with the acquired user identification information;
a step of granting a privilege to the user according to a total amount of the difference accumulated in association with the user identification information;
An information processing method comprising the steps of: In the step of storing the base unit amount, the computer receives the base unit amount from a user terminal used by the user, and stores the user identification information of the user and the base unit amount in the storage unit in association with each other.
The information processing method according to claim 1 . The method further includes a step of receiving a selection of a benefit to be granted for the total amount of the difference, executed by the computer, and storing the user identification information of the user and benefit identification information for identifying the received benefit in a storage unit in association with each other;
the storage unit stores the benefit identification information, information indicating a benefit indicated by the benefit identification information, and condition information indicating a predetermined condition corresponding to the benefit, in association with each other;
In the step of granting the privilege, the computer identifies the condition information corresponding to the privilege identification information associated with the user identification information, and grants the privilege to the user when the total amount of the difference associated with the user identification information and accumulated satisfies the predetermined condition indicated by the identified condition information.
3. The information processing method according to claim 1 or 2 . The predetermined condition is that the total amount of the differences is equal to or greater than a predetermined amount,
In the step of granting the privilege, the computer grants the privilege to the user on condition that the total amount of the difference accumulated in association with the user identification information is equal to or greater than the predetermined amount.
The information processing method according to claim 3 . In the step of granting the privilege, the computer grants the privilege corresponding to the predetermined amount to the user on condition that the total amount of the difference accumulated in association with the user identification information is equal to or greater than the predetermined amount.
The information processing method according to claim 4 . In the step of granting the reward, the computer grants the reward to the user and subtracts an amount corresponding to the reward from the total amount of the accumulated difference.
The information processing method according to claim 5 . In the storing step, the computer stores the difference, the use of which is restricted for purposes other than the provision of the benefit, in association with the acquired user identification information.
The information processing method according to claim 6 . In the step of granting the reward, the computer grants the user the reward having a monetary value greater than the amount deducted from the total amount of the difference.
The information processing method according to claim 6 or 7 . In the step of granting the privilege, when the total amount of the difference accumulated in association with the user identification information satisfies a predetermined condition, the computer grants the privilege to the user without receiving an operation related to the granting of the privilege from a user terminal used by the user.
The information processing method according to any one of claims 1 to 8 . In the acquiring step, the computer acquires the payment amount, the user identification information, and store identification information for identifying a store where the user purchases the product or a business operator of the store,
In the step of storing, the computer stores the calculated difference in association with the acquired user identification information and the acquired store identification information;
When a total amount of the difference accumulated in association with the user identification information indicating the user and the store identification information satisfies a predetermined condition, the privilege corresponding to the store indicated by the store identification information is granted to the user.
The information processing method according to any one of claims 1 to 9 . The method further includes a step of receiving, from a user terminal used by the user, bonus information indicating a bonus selected by the user from among a plurality of bonuses, and storing the user identification information corresponding to the user and the bonus information in a storage unit in association with each other, the step being executed by the computer;
In the step of granting the privilege, when the total amount of the difference accumulated in association with the user identification information satisfies a predetermined condition, the computer grants to the user the privilege indicated by the privilege information stored in the storage unit in association with the user identification information.
The information processing method according to any one of claims 1 to 10 . In the step of granting the benefit, when the total amount of the difference accumulated in association with the user identification information indicating the user satisfies a predetermined condition, the computer grants the user a benefit selected by lottery from among a plurality of benefits.
The information processing method according to any one of claims 1 to 11 . The method further includes a step of transmitting, when a request for obtaining the total amount of the accumulated difference is received from a user terminal used by the user, information indicating the total amount of the difference associated with the user identification information of the user to the user terminal, the step being executed by the computer.
The information processing method according to any one of claims 1 to 12 . In the step of providing the privilege, the computer provides the privilege to the user when the total amount of the difference accumulated in association with the user identification information becomes equal to or exceeds a predetermined amount;
In the step of transmitting information indicating the total amount of the difference, the computer transmits to the user terminal information indicating the total amount of the difference and information indicating a ratio of the total amount of the difference to the predetermined amount.
The information processing method according to claim 13 . In the acquiring step, the computer acquires the payment amount corresponding to a payment made by a predetermined payment method,
In the storing step, the computer stores the difference calculated based on the payment amount corresponding to the payment made by the predetermined payment method in association with the acquired user identification information.
The information processing method according to any one of claims 1 to 14 . In the step of granting the bonus, the computer grants the bonus to the user and subtracts a part of the amount corresponding to the bonus from the total amount of the accumulated difference;
The method further includes a step of specifying, executed by the computer, a remaining amount of the amount corresponding to the benefit as an amount to be paid by a business providing a payment service related to the predetermined payment method.
The information processing method according to claim 15 .

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