Information management server, information management system, information management method, and information management program

Abstract

To provide an information management server which supports verification of actual items of purchased articles (tax-free articles) at emigration.SOLUTION: An information management server comprises an acquisition unit, an information processing unit, and an output unit. The acquisition unit acquires purchase information including purchaser identification information to be read out in a purchase procedure, purchased article identification information, and a tax payment history, and acquires taking-out information including emigrant identification information and taking-out article feature information to be read out in a taking-out procedure. The information processing unit detects purchase and taking-out of a predetermined article by a predetermined person, based on the purchase information, the taking-out information, and sales article registration information including sales article identification information and sales article feature information, and generates procedure information about a tax of the predetermined article, based on the tax payment history. The output unit outputs the procedure information.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

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[0001] Embodiments of the present invention relate to an information management server, an information management system, an information management method, and an information management program.

Background Art

[0002] In Japan, non-residents such as foreign tourists can purchase goods duty-free under certain conditions at export item sales outlets (hereinafter referred to as duty-free shops). When purchasing duty-free goods, a purchase procedure for duty-free is required. Also, when leaving the country, a procedure for taking duty-free goods out of the country is required. In the procedure for taking goods out of the country, it is declared in a declaration form that duty-free goods have been purchased.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] As described above, when leaving the country, it is declared in a declaration form that duty-free goods have been purchased, but it takes time to physically check the duty-free goods, and improvement is desired.

[0005] The problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide an information management server, an information management system, an information management method, and an information management program that support physical verification of purchased items (duty-free goods) when leaving the country.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0007] [Figure 1] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram showing an example of an information management system according to the embodiment. [Figure 2] Figure 2 shows an example of sales registration information, purchase information, and take-out information according to the embodiment. [Figure 3] Figure 3 shows an example of information processing corresponding to the purchase procedure according to the embodiment. [Figure 4] Figure 4 shows an example of information processing corresponding to the removal procedure according to the embodiment. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0008] The embodiments will be described below with reference to the drawings.

[0009] [composition] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram showing an example of an information management system according to the embodiment. As shown in Figure 1, the information management system 1 comprises an information management server 2, a duty-free goods purchase procedure terminal 3 (first information reading device), a duty-free goods take-out procedure terminal 4 (second information reading device), and a tax processing terminal 5.

[0010] The information management server 2 is connected to multiple duty-free purchase procedure terminals 3 located in duty-free shops nationwide, and multiple duty-free take-out procedure terminals 4 located at departure counters in airports and ports nationwide. The information management server 2 receives information from the duty-free purchase procedure terminals 3 and the duty-free take-out procedure terminals 4, and also transmits information to these terminals. Furthermore, the information management server 2 is connected to multiple tax processing terminals 5 located at departure counters in airports and ports nationwide.

[0011] Information management server 2 stores sales item registration information and manages purchase information based on purchase procedures and export information based on export procedures. For example, information management server 2 receives purchaser identification information, purchase item identification information, and accounting information transmitted from duty-free purchase procedure terminal 3, and manages purchase information including purchaser identification information, purchase item identification information, and accounting information. In addition, information management server 2 receives exporter identification information and export item characteristic information transmitted from duty-free export procedure terminal 4, and manages export information including exporter identification information and export item characteristic information.

[0012] Accounting information is a tax payment history, including the value of the goods and the amount of tax paid. If the amount of tax paid is the correct amount relative to the value of the goods, the tax has been paid; if the amount of tax paid is 0 or less than the correct amount, the tax is unpaid. The sales item identification information, purchase item identification information, and export item identification information assigned to a specified item (i.e., the same item) are identical. In addition, the passport information, purchaser identification information, and departure identification information of a specified person (i.e., the same person) are identical.

[0013] The information management server 2 detects the purchase and export of specified items by a specified person based on sales registration information including sales item identification information and sales item characteristic information, purchase information including purchaser identification information, purchased item identification information, and accounting information, and export information including departure person identification information and export item characteristic information. Based on the tax payment history included in the purchase information, it generates procedural information regarding taxes on the specified items and outputs the procedural information to the tax processing terminal 5. Furthermore, the export information may also include export item identification information.

[0014] In this embodiment, the case in which the duty-free goods removal procedure terminal 4 and the tax processing terminal 5 are arranged separately is described, but the duty-free goods removal procedure terminal 4 and the tax processing terminal 5 may also be implemented in a single terminal.

[0015] The duty-free purchase terminal 3 is a terminal that accepts purchase procedures. The duty-free purchase terminal 3 reads purchaser identification information from the purchaser's passport, etc., reads purchase item identification information from the purchased item or its packaging, performs accounting processing based on cash or credit card etc. presented by the purchaser, and transmits purchase information including purchaser identification information, purchase item identification information, and accounting information. The purchase item identification information is a barcode, a two-dimensional code, or a combination of letters and numbers. The accounting information is tax payment history, information generated in response to accounting processing, and includes the price of the goods and the amount of tax paid.

[0016] The duty-free goods export procedure terminal 4 is a terminal that accepts departure procedures. The duty-free goods export procedure terminal 4 reads the departure identification information from the departurer's passport, reads the item characteristic information from the items being exported, and transmits export information including the read departure identification information and item characteristic information. Furthermore, the duty-free goods export procedure terminal 4 may read the item identification information from the items being exported or their packaging, and transmit export information including the departure identification information, item characteristic information, and item identification information.

[0017] For example, the characteristic information of the items being taken out of the country is image information of the items being taken out of the country, obtained by taking pictures of the items from one direction or from multiple directions. The identification information of the items being taken out of the country is a barcode, a two-dimensional code, or a combination of letters and numbers. In the case of items purchased at a duty-free shop and taken out of the country, the purchased items are considered the items being taken out of the country.

[0018] The tax processing terminal 5 receives and outputs procedural information regarding taxes on specified goods transmitted from the information management server 2. For example, the tax processing terminal 5 displays or prints the procedural information.

[0019] The information management server 2 can be configured by one or more general-purpose computers, and includes a processor 21, a storage unit 22, and a communication interface (communication I / F) 23.

[0020] The processor 21 is a CPU (central processing unit), MPU (micro processing unit), DSP (digital signal processor), etc., and performs operations such as calculations necessary for various processes. The processor 21 realizes various functions by executing programs stored in the storage unit 22.

[0021] Further, the processor 21 includes an acquisition unit 211, an information processing unit 212, and an output unit 213. The acquisition unit 211 acquires purchase information including purchaser identification information, purchased item identification information, and accounting information transmitted from the duty-free purchase procedure terminal 3 in the duty-free purchase procedure. Also, in the duty-free carry-out procedure, the acquisition unit 211 acquires carry-out information including traveler identification information and carry-out item characteristic information read and transmitted by the duty-free carry-out procedure terminal 4. In the duty-free carry-out procedure, when the identification information of the carry-out item is read from the carry-out item or its package by the duty-free carry-out procedure terminal 4, the acquisition unit 211 further acquires the identification information of the carry-out item in the duty-free carry-out procedure.

[0022] The information processing unit 212 detects the purchase and carry-out of a predetermined item by a predetermined person based on the purchase information, the carry-out information, and the sales item identification information and sales item characteristic information included in the sales item registration information. Also, the information processing unit 212 generates procedure information regarding the tax of a predetermined item based on the tax payment history included in the purchase information. The tax payment history indicates the payment status of the tax for the purchased item specified by the purchased item identification information included in the purchase information. That is, the tax payment history indicates that the tax has been paid or the tax has not been paid.

[0023] The output unit 213 outputs the generated procedural information. The procedural information indicates whether there is a refund or collection of taxes on the goods being taken out. For example, the procedural information indicates whether there is a refund or no refund of taxes on the goods being taken out, and whether or not taxes are being collected.

[0024] The storage unit 22 stores a program that causes the processor 21 to function as an acquisition unit 211, an information processing unit 212, and an output unit 213. The storage unit 22 also stores a database in which sales product registration information is registered. The sales product registration information includes information about duty-free goods (sales products) sold nationwide. For example, the sales product registration information includes sales product identification information and sales product characteristic information. The sales product identification information is a barcode, a two-dimensional code, or a combination of letters and numbers. The sales product characteristic information is image information of the sales product and its packaging captured by a camera, and is image information obtained by taking pictures of the sales product and its packaging from multiple directions. For example, the sales product characteristic information is dictionary information for identifying the items being taken out, and includes top, front, back, side, and bottom images of the sales product, as well as front, back, and side images of the packaging.

[0025] The communication interface 23 communicates with the duty-free purchase procedure terminal 3 to send and receive information, or with the duty-free take-out procedure terminal 4 to send and receive information. For example, the communication interface 23 receives purchaser identification information, purchase item identification information, and accounting information transmitted from the duty-free purchase procedure terminal 3. The communication interface 23 also receives departure identification information and item characteristic information transmitted from the duty-free take-out procedure terminal 4. If the duty-free take-out procedure terminal 4 reads and transmits item identification information from the item being taken out, the communication interface 23 also receives the item identification information transmitted from the duty-free take-out procedure terminal 4.

[0026] The duty-free purchase procedure terminal 3 comprises a processor 31, a storage unit 32, a communication interface (communication I / F) 33, a reader 34 (first reader), and an information output unit 35.

[0027] The processor 31 is a CPU, MPU, or DSP, and performs calculations necessary for various processes. The processor 31 realizes various functions by executing programs stored in the memory unit 32.

[0028] The memory unit 32 stores a program for operating the processor 31. The memory unit 32 also stores information read by the reader 34. Furthermore, the memory unit 32 stores a product database, which includes product identification information and product value, and accounting processing for products is performed based on the product database.

[0029] Communication interface 33 is the first communication interface and communicates with the information management server 2 to send and receive information. For example, communication interface 33 sends purchase information, including purchaser identification information, purchased item identification information, and accounting information, to the information management server 2.

[0030] Reader 34 is a camera and wireless communication unit that reads passport information (including purchaser identification information) from the passport, and also reads identification information such as barcodes, two-dimensional codes, or combinations of letters and numbers (purchase item identification information) from purchased items or their packaging at duty-free shops. In other words, Reader 34 reads purchaser identification information from the passport and purchase item identification information from purchased items or their packaging.

[0031] The information output unit 35 is a display or the like, and displays various kinds of information.

[0032] The duty-free goods take-out procedure terminal 4 comprises a processor 41, a storage unit 42, a communication interface (communication I / F) 43, a reader 44 (second reader), and an information input / output unit 45.

[0033] The processor 41 is a CPU, MPU, or DSP, and performs calculations necessary for various processes. The processor 41 realizes various functions by executing programs stored in the memory unit 42.

[0034] The memory unit 42 stores the program for operating the processor 41. The memory unit 42 also stores information to be read by the reader 44.

[0035] Communication interface 43 is a second communication interface that communicates with the information management server 2 to send and receive information. For example, communication interface 43 transmits export information, including the departure identification information and export item characteristic information read by the reader 44, to the information management server 2. Alternatively, communication interface 43 transmits export information, including the departure identification information, export item identification information, and export item characteristic information read by the reader 44, to the information management server 2.

[0036] Reader 44 is a camera and wireless communication unit that reads passport information (including departure identification information) from the passport and also reads characteristic information of items purchased at duty-free shops and intended to be taken out of the country, or their packaging. Characteristic information of items is image information of the items or their packaging. Furthermore, Reader 44 may also read identification information (item identification information) such as barcodes, two-dimensional codes, or combinations of letters and numbers from the items or their packaging. In other words, Reader 34 reads departure identification information from the passport and reads item identification information from the items or their packaging.

[0037] The information input / output unit 45 is a touch panel and display, etc., which accepts input of various types of information and displays various types of information.

[0038] The tax processing terminal 5 comprises a processor 51, a storage unit 52, a communication interface 53, an information output unit 54, and a deposit / withdrawal processing unit 55.

[0039] The processor 51 is a CPU, MPU, or DSP, and performs calculations necessary for various processes. The processor 51 realizes various functions by executing programs stored in the memory unit 52.

[0040] The memory unit 52 stores the program for operating the processor 51. The memory unit 52 also stores the procedure information transmitted from the information management server 2.

[0041] The communication interface 53 communicates with the information management server 2 to send and receive information. For example, the communication interface 53 receives procedural information indicating tax refunds or collections transmitted from the information management server 2.

[0042] The information output unit 54 outputs procedural information. For example, the information output unit 54 displays or prints the procedural information.

[0043] The deposit and withdrawal processing unit 55 executes tax refund or collection processing based on the procedural information. Tax refund or collection processing may be done in cash or by means of payment other than cash.

[0044] Figure 2 shows an example of sales registration information, purchase information, and take-out information according to the embodiment. The storage unit 22 of the information processing server 2 stores a database for registering sales product registration information, and also stores a database for registering purchase information transmitted from the duty-free purchase procedure terminal 3, and a database for registering take-out information transmitted from the duty-free take-out procedure terminal 4.

[0045] Sales item registration information includes sales item identification information, sales item name, and sales item characteristic information. Purchase information may include purchaser identification information, purchase item identification information, and accounting information, or it may include purchaser identification information, purchase item identification information, purchase item characteristic information, and accounting information. Export information may include departure information and export item characteristic information, or it may include departure information, export item identification information, and export item characteristic information.

[0046] The information processing unit 212 of the processor 21 detects the purchase and removal of specified items by a specified person based on purchase information, removal information, and sales item registration information registered in the database.

[0047] For example, the information processing unit 212 of the processor 21 associates the sales registration information a with the purchase information b based on the match between the sales item identification information a1 contained in the sales item registration information a and the purchase item identification information b1 contained in the purchase information b. The information processing unit 212 also associates the purchase information b with the export information c based on the match between the buyer identification information b2 contained in the purchase information b and the exporter identification information c2 contained in the export information c. Furthermore, the information processing unit 212 associates the sales registration information a with the export information c if the comparison result between the sales item characteristic information a3 contained in the sales registration information a and the export item characteristic information c3 contained in the export information c satisfies predetermined conditions.

[0048] In the departure procedure, if the item identification information is read from the item being taken out or its packaging, the information processing unit 212 further associates the item registration information a with the item identification information c based on the match between the item identification information a1 contained in the item registration information a and the item identification information c1 contained in the item information c.

[0049] The information processing unit 212 detects the purchase and export of a predetermined item (sales item identification information a1 = purchase item identification information b1) by a predetermined person (purchase item identification information b1 = departure person identification information c2) based on the association between sales item registration information a, purchase information b, and export information c.

[0050] Furthermore, the information processing unit 212 may update the sales registration information based on purchase information, or it may update the sales registration information based on take-out information.

[0051] For example, if the purchase information includes purchase item identification information and purchase item characteristic information, and this purchase item identification information does not match the sales item identification information included in the sales registration information, the information processing unit 212 may add the purchase information to the sales registration information. In this way, the sales registration information can be updated and enhanced based on information on duty-free goods handled at duty-free stores nationwide.

[0052] Furthermore, if the comparison result between the sales product characteristic information included in the sales product registration information and the export product characteristic information included in the export information satisfies predetermined conditions, the information processing unit 212 may add the export product characteristic information to the sales registration information. In this way, the sales registration information can be updated and enhanced based on the export product characteristic information read at counters in airports or ports nationwide.

[0053] [Operation] Figure 3 shows an example of information processing corresponding to the purchase procedure according to the embodiment. Non-residents, such as foreign tourists, must complete the tax-free purchase procedure when purchasing goods at duty-free shops throughout Japan. The reader 34 of the duty-free purchase procedure terminal 3 reads passport information (purchaser identification information) from the presented passport, and also reads purchase identification information from the presented purchased goods or their packaging. The processor 31 performs accounting processing for purchased goods using cash or credit cards, etc., based on the product database stored in the memory unit 32, and outputs accounting information corresponding to the accounting processing.

[0054] The communication interface 33 of the duty-free purchase procedure terminal 3 transmits purchase information, including purchaser identification information, purchase item identification information, and accounting information, to the information management server 2.

[0055] The communication interface 23 of the information management server 2 receives purchase information, including purchaser identification information, purchased item identification information, and accounting information, and the acquisition unit 211 of the processor 21 acquires the purchase information (ST11).

[0056] The information processing unit 212 of the processor 21 compares the purchased item identification information contained in the acquired purchase information with the sales item identification information contained in the sales item registration information registered in the database (ST12). If the purchased item identification information and the sales item identification information match (ST13, YES), the information processing unit 212 registers the purchase information in the database (ST15). If the purchased item identification information and the sales item identification information do not match (ST13, NO) and the purchase information does not include purchased item characteristic information (ST14, NO), the information processing unit 212 requests purchased item characteristic information (ST16). The communication interface 23 transmits the request for purchased item characteristic information to the duty-free purchase procedure terminal 3.

[0057] The communication interface 33 of the duty-free purchase procedure terminal 3 receives a request for purchase item characteristic information, and the information output unit 35 displays the request for purchase item characteristic information. The person in charge then causes the duty-free purchase procedure terminal 3 to read the purchase item characteristic information according to the request. In other words, the reader 34 reads the purchase item characteristic information of the purchased item or its packaging, and the communication interface 33 transmits purchase information, including purchaser identification information, purchase item identification information, purchase item characteristic information, and accounting information, to the information management server 2.

[0058] The communication interface 23 receives purchase information including purchaser identification information, purchase item identification information, purchase item characteristic information, and accounting information, and the acquisition unit 211 of the processor 21 acquires the purchase information (ST11).

[0059] The information processing unit 212 compares the purchased item identification information contained in the acquired purchase information with the sold item identification information contained in the sold item registration information registered in the database (ST12). If the purchased item identification information and the sold item identification information do not match (ST13, NO) and the purchase information includes purchased item characteristic information (ST14, YES), the information processing unit 212 registers the purchase information in the database (ST15). Furthermore, the information processing unit 212 registers the purchased item identification information and purchased item characteristic information contained in the purchase information as sold item identification information and sold item characteristic information in the sold item registration information. This registration allows new information to be added to the sold item registration information.

[0060] Figure 4 shows an example of information processing corresponding to the removal procedure according to the embodiment. Non-residents, such as foreign tourists who purchase goods at duty-free shops, must go through the procedure to take their purchased goods out of the country when departing from an airport or port nationwide. The reader 44 of the duty-free goods export procedure terminal 4 reads passport information (departure identification information) from the presented passport, and also reads characteristic information of the exported goods from the presented goods or their packaging.

[0061] The communication interface 43 of the duty-free goods removal procedure terminal 4 transmits removal information, including departure identification information and information on the characteristics of the goods being removed, to the information management server 2.

[0062] The communication interface 23 of the information management server 2 receives export information, including the departure identification information and the characteristics of the items being exported, and the acquisition unit 211 of the processor 21 acquires the export information (ST21).

[0063] The information processing unit 212 of the processor 21 compares the buyer identification information contained in the buyer information registered in the database with the departure identification information contained in the acquired export information, and also compares the sales product characteristic information contained in the sales registration information with the export product characteristic information contained in the acquired export information (ST22).

[0064] The information processing unit 212 detects the purchase and export of a specified item by a specified person based on the purchase information registered in the database, the export information acquired, and the sales item registration information registered in the database. Specifically, if the purchaser identification information and the exporter identification information match (ST23, YES), the information processing unit 212 detects a specified person based on the matching purchaser identification information and the exporter identification information. Furthermore, if the comparison result between the export item characteristic information and the sales item characteristic information satisfies a predetermined condition (ST24, YES), the information processing unit 212 detects a specified item based on the sales item identification information corresponding to this sales item characteristic information, and detects the purchase and export of a specified item by a specified person (ST25).

[0065] Furthermore, during the export procedure, the export identification information may be read from the exported items or their packaging. In this case, the reader 44 of the duty-free export procedure terminal 4 further reads the export identification information from the presented exported items or their packaging, and the communication interface 43 transmits the export information, including the departer identification information, the exported item identification information, and the exported item characteristic information, to the information management server 2.

[0066] The information processing unit 212 detects a predetermined person based on the matching purchaser identification information and departure identification information if the purchaser identification information and departure identification information match. Furthermore, if the export item identification information and purchase item identification information match, and the matching result of the export item characteristic information and the sold item characteristic information satisfies predetermined conditions, the information processing unit 212 detects a predetermined item based on the matching export item identification information and purchase item identification information. In this way, the information processing unit 212 detects the purchase and export of a predetermined item by a predetermined person.

[0067] Here, we will provide further details about the predetermined conditions. The sales product feature information includes top, front, back, side, and bottom images of the sales product, as well as front, back, and side images of the package. The take-out product feature information includes one or more images read from the take-out product or its package. The information processing unit 212 calculates the similarity between the images included in the sales product feature information and the images included in the take-out product feature information. If the similarity is equal to or greater than a predetermined value, it determines that the predetermined conditions are met. If the similarity is less than a predetermined value, it determines that the predetermined conditions are not met.

[0068] Next, we will explain how to generate procedural information regarding taxes on specified goods.

[0069] The information processing unit 212 generates procedural information regarding taxes on specified goods based on the tax payment history included in the purchase information. Specifically, the information processing unit 212 generates procedural information indicating tax refund or collection based on the tax payment history.

[0070] For example, if the tax payment history indicates that taxes have been paid, the information processing unit 212 generates procedural information indicating that there will be a tax refund. Also, if the tax payment history indicates that taxes have not been paid, the information processing unit 212 generates procedural information indicating that there will be no tax refund. Furthermore, if the purchase of specified goods by a specified person is detected, and the removal of specified goods by the specified person is not detected, the information processing unit 212 generates procedural information indicating that taxes will be collected.

[0071] In this embodiment, we will describe a case in which an officer visually determines whether an item to be taken out is unused or used, and in response to the reader 44 reading the item's characteristic information or item identification information, inputs information indicating the usage status of the item to the duty-free item take-out procedure terminal 4. In this case, the information input / output unit 45 receives the input information, and the communication interface 43 transmits the input information to the information management server 2. The information management server 2 receives the input information and generates procedural information regarding taxes on the specified item based on the tax payment history and usage status (input information).

[0072] For example, if the tax payment history indicates that the tax has been paid (ST26, YES) and the input information indicates that it has not been used (ST27, YES), the information processing unit 212 generates procedural information indicating that there is a tax refund (ST31). Also, if the tax payment history indicates that the tax has been paid (ST26, YES) and the input information indicates that it has been used (ST27, NO), the information processing unit 212 generates procedural information indicating that there is no tax refund (ST32).

[0073] Furthermore, if the tax payment history indicates that taxes are unpaid (ST26, NO) and the input information indicates that it is unused (ST28, YES), the information processing unit 212 generates procedural information indicating that there is no tax refund (ST33). Also, if the tax payment history indicates that taxes are unpaid (ST26, NO) and the input information indicates that it has been used (ST28, NO), the information processing unit 212 generates procedural information indicating that taxes have been collected (ST34).

[0074] The communication interface 23 of the information management server 2 transmits procedural information to the tax processing terminal 5. The communication interface 53 of the tax processing terminal 5 receives the procedural information, and the information output unit 54 outputs the procedural information.

[0075] For example, the procedural information includes information indicating the refund or collection of taxes, as well as information regarding the characteristics of the items taken out. Furthermore, the procedural information may also include sales item identification information, etc., corresponding to the information regarding the characteristics of the items taken out. The deposit and withdrawal processing unit 55 executes a tax refund process or a tax collection process based on the information indicating the refund or collection of taxes included in the procedural information.

[0076] According to the embodiments described above, it is possible to provide an information management server, an information management system, an information management method, and an information management program that support the physical verification of purchased goods (duty-free goods) at the time of departure from the country.

[0077] For example, during the purchase process, the duty-free purchase terminal 3 reads the purchaser information and the identification information of the purchased items. Similarly, during the procedure for taking items out of the country, the duty-free export terminal 4 reads the departure information and the characteristics of the exported items. Based on this information, the information management server 2 can detect the purchase and export of specified items by the same person, using the purchase information, export information, and sales registration information. Furthermore, the information management server 2 can generate procedural information regarding taxes on specified items based on the tax payment history included in the purchase information, and output this procedural information.

[0078] The tax processing terminal 5 can perform tax refund processing or tax collection processing based on procedural information generated by the information management server 2. By having the information management server 2 handle the physical verification of goods taken out by the person in charge, the burden on the person in charge can be reduced, and the failure to export tax-exempt goods, which would be illegal, can be prevented.

[0079] Furthermore, the duty-free goods export procedure terminal 4 receives input information indicating the usage status of the exported goods, and the information management server 2 generates procedure information based on the tax payment history and usage status, and outputs the procedure information. The tax processing terminal 5 can perform tax refund processing or tax collection processing based on the procedure information generated by the information management server 2. This prevents duty-free goods used domestically from being exported abroad and ensures that taxes are collected appropriately.

[0080] The program according to this embodiment may be transferred while stored in an electronic device such as the information management server 2, or it may be transferred without being stored in an electronic device. In the latter case, the program may be transferred via a network, or it may be transferred while stored in a storage medium. The storage medium is a non-temporary tangible medium. The storage medium is a computer-readable medium. The storage medium can be any medium that is capable of storing a program and can be read by a computer, such as an optical disc or memory card, and its form is not limited. The electronic device downloads the program transferred (provided) via the network and installs it into memory, or reads the program from the storage medium and installs it into memory.

[0081] While several embodiments of the present invention have been described, these embodiments are presented as examples only and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. These novel embodiments can be carried out in a variety of other forms, and various omissions, substitutions, and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. These embodiments and their variations are included in the scope and spirit of the invention, as well as in the claims of the invention and its equivalents. [Explanation of symbols]

[0082] 1…Information Management System 2… Information management server 3…Tax-free purchase procedure terminal 4… Terminal for processing duty-free goods. 5…Tax processing terminal 21… Processor 22...Storage section 23…Communication Interface 31… Processor 32...Storage section 33…Communication Interface 34... Leader 35... Information output unit 41… Processor 42...Storage section 43…Communication Interface 44... Leader 45…Information Input / Output Unit 51… Processor 52...Storage section 53…Communication Interface 54... Information output unit 55…Deposit and Withdrawal Processing Unit 211…Acquisition Department 212... Information Processing Unit 213...Output section

Claims

1. An acquisition unit that acquires purchase information including purchaser identification information, purchased item identification information, and tax payment history read during the purchase procedure, and an acquisition unit that acquires export information including departure identification information and export item characteristic information read during the export procedure, An information processing unit detects the purchase and removal of specified items by a specified person based on the purchase information, the removal information, and the sales item registration information including sales item identification information and sales item characteristic information, and generates procedural information regarding taxes on the specified items based on the tax payment history. An output unit that outputs the aforementioned procedural information, An information management server equipped with the following features.

2. The information management server according to claim 1, wherein the information processing unit detects a predetermined person based on a match between the purchaser identification information and the departure identification information, and detects a predetermined item based on a match between the purchased item identification information and the sold item identification information.

3. The information management server of claim 2, wherein the information processing unit detects the purchase and removal of a predetermined item by a predetermined person when the result of matching the item characteristics information and the item characteristics information for sale satisfies predetermined conditions.

4. Furthermore, the aforementioned removal information includes the identification information of the items to be removed, which is read during the removal procedure. The information management server of claim 3, wherein the information processing unit detects the purchase and removal of a predetermined item by a predetermined person based on the matching of the item identification information taken out and the item identification information sold, and the satisfaction of the predetermined conditions.

5. The information management server of claim 3, wherein the information processing unit updates the sales product registration information based on the item characteristic information read in the item removal procedure when the matching result satisfies the predetermined conditions.

6. The information management server according to claim 1, wherein the information processing unit generates the procedural information indicating the refund or collection of taxes.

7. The information management server of claim 6, wherein the information processing unit generates procedural information indicating that there is a tax refund when the tax payment history indicates that the tax has been paid.

8. The information management server of claim 6, wherein the information processing unit generates procedural information indicating that there will be no tax refund if the tax payment history indicates that taxes have not been paid.

9. The information management server according to claim 6, wherein the information processing unit generates procedural information indicating that taxes will be collected if it is detected that a predetermined person has purchased a predetermined item and that the predetermined person has not taken the predetermined item out of the country.

10. The acquisition unit acquires input information indicating the usage status of the specified article, The information management server according to claim 6, wherein the information processing unit generates the procedural information based on the tax payment history and the usage status.

11. An information management system comprising an information management server for managing purchase information based on purchase procedures and export information based on departure procedures, a first information reading device for receiving the purchase procedures, and a second information reading device for receiving the departure procedures, The aforementioned information management server is An acquisition unit that acquires purchase information including purchaser identification information, purchased item identification information, and tax payment history read in the aforementioned purchase procedure, and an acquisition unit that acquires export information including departure identification information and export item characteristic information read in the export procedure, An information processing unit detects the purchase and removal of specified items by a specified person based on the purchase information, the removal information, and the sales item registration information including sales item identification information and sales item characteristic information, and generates procedural information regarding taxes on the specified items based on the tax payment history. It comprises an output unit that outputs the aforementioned procedural information, The first information reading device is A first reader that reads the aforementioned purchaser identification information and the aforementioned purchase item identification information, It comprises a first communication interface for transmitting the aforementioned purchase information, The second information reading device described above is A second reader that reads the aforementioned departure identification information and the aforementioned information on the characteristics of the items taken out of the country, An information management system comprising a second communication interface for transmitting the aforementioned information.

12. A computer is an information management server, During the purchase process, we obtain purchaser identification information, purchase item identification information, and purchase information including tax payment history. Furthermore, we acquire export information, including the exporter identification information and the characteristics of the exported goods, which are read during the export procedure. The aforementioned information management server Based on the aforementioned purchase information, the aforementioned removal information, and sales item registration information including sales item identification information and sales item characteristic information, the purchase and removal of a specified item by a specified person is detected. Based on the aforementioned tax payment history, procedural information regarding taxes on the specified goods is generated. The aforementioned information management server Output the aforementioned procedural information An information management method characterized by the following features.

13. On the computer, The procedure for obtaining purchase information, including purchaser identification information, purchased item identification information, and tax payment history, during the purchase process, and for obtaining export information, including departure identification information and export item characteristic information, during the export process, A procedure for detecting the purchase and removal of specified items by a specified person based on the aforementioned purchase information, the aforementioned removal information, and sales registration information including sales item identification information and sales item characteristic information, and for generating procedural information regarding taxes on the specified items based on the aforementioned tax payment history, A procedure for outputting the aforementioned procedural information, and an information management program for executing that procedure.

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