Information processing apparatus

Abstract

To improve the convenience of payment processing when a customer purchases goods at a mobile store.SOLUTION: An information processing apparatus acquires first payment information in which payment means used for opening a mobile store in a store opening area are recorded together with a use frequency and second payment information in which a use history of the payment means of a customer having a purchase history of goods at the mobile store is recorded, from a server, transmits to the server an application for using a first mobile store provided with a payment device necessary for first payment means to commonly use the first payment information and the second payment information and causes the payment device to present the first payment means to the customer.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to an information processing device. [Background technology]

[0002] There are known techniques for processing payments for product purchases at mobile stores. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a technique for tracking the movements of customers at a mobile store with a camera, and processing payments after checking the video of the customer taking a product off a shelf and moving it. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Patent Publication No. 2022-89456 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] There is room to improve the convenience of payment processing when customers purchase products at mobile stores.

[0005] In consideration of such circumstances, an information processing device and the like are disclosed that can improve the convenience of payment for purchasing products. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] An information processing device according to one embodiment of the present disclosure is an information processing device having a communication unit and a control unit that communicates via the communication unit, wherein the control unit sends to the server an application to use a first mobile store that has a payment device required for use of a first payment means that is common to first payment information obtained from a server and recording the payment means used in the store area where the mobile store is located along with their frequency of use, and second payment information recording the payment means usage history of a customer who has a product purchase history at the mobile store, and causes the payment device to present the first payment means to the customer of the first mobile store. Effect of the Invention

[0007] According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, the convenience of payment processing when a customer purchases an item at a mobile store is improved. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration example of an information processing system according to an embodiment. [Diagram 2] 11 is a flowchart illustrating an example of the operation of the information processing device. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0009] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present disclosure will be described. <Overview of the embodiment> 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration example of an information processing system 1 according to an embodiment. The information processing system 1 includes a mobile store 10, a payment device 20, an information processing device 30, and a server 40. The mobile store 10, the payment device 20, the information processing device 30, and the server 40 are communicatively connected via a network 2.

[0010] The mobile store 10 is, for example, but is not limited to, an automobile equipped with store facilities. The automobile may be, but is not limited to, a gasoline-powered automobile, a BEV (Battery Electric Vehicle), a HEV (Hybrid Electric Vehicle), a PHEV (Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle), or a FCEV (Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle).

[0011] The payment device 20 is a computer that is provided in the mobile store 10 and performs payment processing for purchasing products. The payment device 20 is connected to the mobile store 10, the information processing device 30, and the server 40 via the network 2 so as to be able to communicate with each other.

[0012] The information processing device 30 is, for example, a computer owned by a store operator. The information processing device 30 is connected to the mobile store 10, the payment device 20, and the server 40 via the network 2 so as to be able to communicate with each other.

[0013] The server 40 is, for example, a computer owned by the operator of the information processing system 1. The server 40 is connected to the mobile store 10, the payment device 20, and the information processing device 30 via the network 2 so as to be able to communicate with each other.

[0014] The information processing device 30 transmits to the server 40 an application for use of the mobile store 10A (corresponding to the "first mobile store") equipped with a payment device 20 required for use of a first payment means common to the first payment information acquired from the server 40, which records the payment means used in the store area where the mobile store 10 is located together with the frequency of use, and the second payment information records the use history of the payment means of a customer who has a purchase history of goods at the mobile store 10, and causes the payment device 20 to present the first payment means to the customer of the mobile store 10A. The information processing device 30 presents to the customer the first payment means common to the payment means frequently used in the store area of ​​the mobile store 10 and the payment means in the customer's use history, thereby increasing the probability that the customer will use the first payment means. This makes it possible to improve the convenience of payment processing when the customer purchases goods at the mobile store 10.

[0015] (Mobile store configuration) The mobile store 10 (10A to 10N) includes a communication unit 11, a positioning unit 12, a control unit 13, and a payment device 20. The configuration of the payment device 20 will be described later.

[0016] The communication unit 11 includes one or more communication interfaces that connect to the network 2. The communication interfaces correspond to mobile communication standards such as, but are not limited to, 4G (4th Generation) or 5G (5th Generation). In this embodiment, the mobile store 10 communicates with the payment device 20, the information processing device 30, and the server 40 via the communication unit 11 and the network 2.

[0017] The positioning unit 12 includes one or more devices (for example, a receiver compatible with GPS) that acquires location information of the mobile store 10.

[0018] The control unit 13 includes one or more processors, one or more programmable circuits, one or more dedicated circuits, or a combination thereof. The control unit 13 controls the overall operation of the mobile store 10.

[0019] (Configuration of payment device) The payment device 20 includes a communication unit 21, a storage unit 22, an input unit 23, an output unit 24, and a control unit 25.

[0020] The communication unit 21 includes one or more communication interfaces connected to the network 2. The communication interface corresponds to, for example, a mobile communication standard, a wired LAN (Local Area Network) standard, or a wireless LAN standard, but is not limited thereto and may correspond to any communication standard. In this embodiment, the payment device 20 communicates with the mobile store 10, the information processing device 30, and the server 40 via the communication unit 21 and the network 2.

[0021] The storage unit 22 includes one or more memories. Each memory included in the storage unit 22 may function as, for example, a main storage device, an auxiliary storage device, or a cache memory. The storage unit 22 stores any information used in the operation of the payment device 20. For example, the storage unit 22 may store a system program, an application program, a database, a first payment means, and the like. The information stored in the storage unit 22 may be updateable with information acquired from the network 2 via the communication unit 21.

[0022] The input unit 23 includes at least one input interface capable of accepting input by a purchaser of a product. The input interface is, for example, a credit card reader, a barcode (QR Code (registered trademark) or the like) reader, a contactless IC card (Suica (registered trademark) or the like) reader, a touch screen provided integrally with a display, a microphone, or the like, but is not limited thereto.

[0023] The output unit 24 includes at least one output interface capable of outputting data. The output interface is, for example, a display screen (for example, an LCD or an organic EL display) or a speaker, but is not limited to these.

[0024] The control unit 25 includes one or more processors, one or more programmable circuits, one or more dedicated circuits, or a combination thereof. The control unit 25 controls the operation of the entire payment device 20.

[0025] (Configuration of information processing device) The information processing device 30 includes a communication unit 31, a storage unit 32, and a control unit 33.

[0026] The communication unit 31 includes one or more communication interfaces connected to the network 2. The communication interfaces correspond to, for example, a mobile communication standard, a wired LAN standard, or a wireless LAN standard, but are not limited to these and may correspond to any communication standard. In this embodiment, the information processing device 30 communicates with the mobile store 10, the payment device 20, and the server 40 via the communication unit 31 and the network 2.

[0027] The storage unit 32 includes one or more memories. Each memory included in the storage unit 32 may function as, for example, a main storage device, an auxiliary storage device, or a cache memory. The storage unit 32 stores any information used in the operation of the information processing device 30. For example, the storage unit 32 may store a system program, an application program, a database, first payment information, second payment information, a first payment method, and the like. The information stored in the storage unit 32 may be updateable with information acquired from the network 2 via the communication unit 31.

[0028] The control unit 33 includes one or more processors, one or more programmable circuits, one or more dedicated circuits, or a combination of these. The control unit 33 controls the operation of the information processing device 30 as a whole.

[0029] (Server configuration) The server 40 includes a communication unit 41, a storage unit 42, and a control unit 43.

[0030] The communication unit 41 includes one or more communication interfaces that connect to the network 2. The communication interfaces correspond to, for example, a mobile communication standard, a wired LAN standard, or a wireless LAN standard, but are not limited to these, and may correspond to any communication standard. In this embodiment, the server 40 communicates with the mobile store 10, the payment device 20, and the information processing device 30 via the communication unit 41 and the network 2.

[0031] The storage unit 42 includes one or more memories. Each memory included in the storage unit 42 may function as, for example, a main storage device, an auxiliary storage device, or a cache memory. The storage unit 42 stores any information used in the operation of the server 40. For example, the storage unit 42 may store a system program, an application program, a database, first payment information, and registration information of the seller. The information stored in the storage unit 42 may be updateable with information acquired from the network 2 via the communication unit 41.

[0032] The control unit 43 includes one or more processors, one or more programmable circuits, one or more dedicated circuits, or a combination thereof. The control unit 43 controls the operation of the entire server 40.

[0033] (Operation flow of information processing device) 2 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the information processing device 30. This operation relates to improving the convenience of payment processing by the information processing device 30 when a customer purchases a product at a mobile store.

[0034] Step S101: The control unit 33 receives registration of a store owner from the server 40. The control unit 33 applies for registration of the store owner to the server 40. The server 40 examines the credit information of store owners who open mobile stores 10 and sell products in a specified store area, and registers store owners who pass the examination. The server 40 stores the registration information of the store owner in the memory unit 42.

[0035] Step S102: The control unit 33 acquires the first payment information from the server 40.

[0036] The first payment information is information in which the payment methods used in the store area where the mobile store is located are recorded together with the frequency of use. For each store area, the server 40 collects information on the payment methods used by multiple customers when purchasing products, and creates the first payment information by sorting the payment methods in order of frequency of use. When collecting the information on the payment methods, the server 40 may use location information measured by the positioning unit 12 of the mobile store 10 equipped with the payment device 20. Payment methods include, but are not limited to, credit cards, barcodes (QR codes, etc.), or contactless IC cards (Suica, etc.).

[0037] The server 40 transmits the first payment information to the information processing device 30 of the registered shopkeeper.

[0038] Step S103: The control unit 33 creates second payment information.

[0039] The second payment information is information that records the usage history of a payment method of a customer who has a history of purchasing products at the mobile store 10. The control unit 33 stores the second payment information in the storage unit 32.

[0040] Step S104: The control unit 33 selects the first payment method.

[0041] The first payment method is a payment method common to the first payment information and the second payment information. Based on the second payment information, the control unit 33 selects, as the first payment method, one or more payment methods that are used by customers of the store at a frequency equal to or higher than a predetermined standard from among the payment methods included in the first payment information.

[0042] Step S105: The control unit 33 concludes a contract with the payment provider to introduce the first payment method.

[0043] The control unit 33 concludes a contract with the payment provider to introduce the selected first payment method. The payment provider decides whether to conclude a contract based on management information such as the products sold by the store owner and sales, and if it decides to provide the first payment method, it determines the contract period and concludes the contract. The contract period for the first payment method provided by the payment provider to the store owner is one day, one month, one year, or a specified period.

[0044] Step S106: The control unit 33 transmits to the server 40 an application for use of the mobile store 10A that is equipped with the payment device 20 required for use of the first payment means.

[0045] The control unit 33 transmits an application for use of the mobile store 10A equipped with the payment device 20 required for use of the first payment means to the server 40. The server 40 arranges for the mobile store 10A in response to the application for use from the information processing device 30. The period during which the server 40 allows the information processing device 30 to use the mobile store 10A is half a day, a day, or a predetermined period.

[0046] The payment device 20 includes a communication unit 21 that communicates with the information processing device 30, an input unit 23 that reads a QR code or a contactless IC card, an output unit 24 that presents information including the payment method to the customer, and a control unit 25 that performs payment for product sales.

[0047] Step S107: The control unit 33 receives a payment request for purchasing a product from a customer who has visited the mobile store 10A.

[0048] When the input unit 23 of the payment device 20 accepts a payment request for purchasing a product from a customer, the payment device 20 transmits the payment request to the communication unit 31 of the information processing device 30 via the communication unit 21 and the network 2. The control unit 33 receives the payment request via the communication unit 31.

[0049] Step S108: The control unit 33 causes the payment device 20 to present the first payment means to the customer of the mobile store 10A.

[0050] The payment device 20 presents a first payment means to the customer in response to an instruction from the control unit 33. The presented first payment means is a payment means common to a payment means for which the customer has a usage history included in the second payment information and one or more payment means included in the first payment means. If there is no first payment means common to the usage history of the customer, the control unit 33 presents one of the one or more payment means included in the first payment means to the customer.

[0051] As described above, the information processing device 30 transmits to the server 40 an application for use of the mobile store 10A equipped with the payment device 20 required for use of a first payment means common to the first payment information obtained from the server 40 and recording the payment means used in the store area where the mobile store 10 is located together with the frequency of use, and the second payment information recording the use history of the payment means of a customer who has a purchase history of goods at the mobile store 10, and causes the payment device 20 to present the first payment means to the customer of the mobile store 10A. According to this configuration, the information processing device 30 presents to the customer the first payment means common to the payment means frequently used in the store area where the mobile store 10 is located and the payment means with the customer's use history, thereby increasing the probability that the customer will use the first payment means. Therefore, it is possible to improve the convenience of payment processing when the customer purchases goods at the mobile store 10.

[0052] For example, in the above-described embodiment, the configuration and operation of the information processing device 30 may be distributed among a plurality of computers that can communicate with each other. Also, for example, a general-purpose computer may be made to function as the information processing device 30 according to the above-described embodiment. Specifically, a program describing the processing contents for realizing each function of the information processing device 30 according to the above-described embodiment is stored in the memory of a general-purpose computer, and the program is read and executed by a processor. Therefore, the present disclosure may also be realized as a program executable by a processor, or a non-transitory computer-readable medium that stores the program.

[0053] Although the present disclosure has been described based on the drawings and examples, it should be noted that those skilled in the art may make various modifications and alterations based on the present disclosure. Therefore, it should be noted that these modifications and alterations are included in the scope of the present disclosure. For example, the functions included in each component or step can be rearranged so as not to be logically inconsistent, and multiple components or steps can be combined or divided into one. [Explanation of symbols]

[0054] 1. Information Processing Systems 2 Network 10 Mobile Store 10A First Mobile Store (Mobile Store) 11 Communications Department 12 Positioning unit 13 Control section 20 Payment Device 21 Communications Department 22 Memory section 23 Input section 24 Output section 25 Control Unit 30 Information processing device 31 Communications Department 32 Storage section 33 Control Unit 40 Servers 41 Communications Department 42 Storage section 43 Control Unit

Claims

[Claim 1] The Communications Department and a control unit that performs communication by the communication unit, The control unit sends to the server an application to use a first mobile store equipped with a payment device necessary for using a first payment means that is common to first payment information obtained from a server and recording the payment means used in the store area where the mobile store is located along with their frequency of use, and second payment information recording the payment means usage history of a customer who has a product purchase history at the mobile store, and causes the payment device to present the first payment means to the customer of the first mobile store.

Images