Information processing device, information processing method, and program

Abstract

To appropriately mange the number of stamp cards issued for each user.SOLUTION: An information processing device disclosed herein comprises a setting unit for setting an upper limit on the number of issuance per user of digital stamp cards associated with an affiliated store to which a store belongs, and an issuance unit configured to control issuance of the stamp cards on the basis of the set upper limit on the number of issuance per user and the actual number of stamp cards issued for each user.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an information processing device, an information processing method, and a program. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, services using stamp cards have been provided as a measure to encourage users to purchase products at stores. In particular, in recent years, with the spread of electronic payments, services related to electronic stamp cards using applications that run on users' terminal devices have also been provided (see Patent Document 1). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2023-79883 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In conventional services related to electronic stamp cards, the issuer of the stamp card sets the contents of the benefits to be provided to the user, the conditions for providing the benefits, etc. However, since there is no limit to the number of stamp cards that can be issued, in cases such as when there is a flood of users, the number of times benefits are provided increases, which may result in an unexpected burden on the stamp card issuer. In particular, when providing stamp cards with the aim of increasing the number of users, issuing excessive stamp cards to certain users (e.g., heavy users) may not lead to profits for the issuer.

[0005] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above circumstances, and one of its objects is to provide an information processing device, an information processing method, and a program that can appropriately manage the number of stamp cards issued per user. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] One aspect of the present invention is an information processing device that includes a setting unit that sets an upper limit on the number of electronic stamp cards that can be issued per user, which are linked to an affiliated store to which a store belongs, and an issuing unit that controls the issuance of stamp cards based on the set upper limit on the number of stamp cards that can be issued per user and the actual number of stamp cards issued per user. Effect of the Invention

[0007] According to one aspect of the present invention, it is possible to provide an information processing device, an information processing method, and a program capable of appropriately managing the number of stamp cards issued per user. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a configuration for realizing the electronic payment service according to the first embodiment. [Diagram 2] FIG. 1 is a sequence diagram (part 1) illustrating an example of a general flow of electronic payment according to the first embodiment. [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 is a sequence diagram (part 2) illustrating an example of a general flow of electronic payment according to the first embodiment. [Figure 4] 1 is a configuration diagram of a payment server 100 according to a first embodiment. [Diagram 5] FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of the contents of user information 172 according to the first embodiment. [Figure 6] FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of the contents of affiliated store / store information 176 according to the first embodiment. [Figure 7] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of the contents of stamp card setting information 178 according to the first embodiment. [Figure 8] 11 is a diagram showing an example of the contents of stamp card performance information 180 according to the first embodiment. FIG. [Figure 9] 13 is a flowchart showing an example of a stamp card setting process according to the first embodiment. [Figure 10]13 is a flowchart showing an example of a display process of a stamp card acquisition screen according to the first embodiment. [Figure 11] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a stamp card acquisition screen P1 according to the first embodiment. [Figure 12] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of a stamp card record screen P2 according to the first embodiment. [Figure 13] 13 is a flowchart showing an example of a display process of a payment completion screen according to the first embodiment. [Figure 14A] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of a payment completion screen (stamp achievement screen) P3 according to the first embodiment. [Figure 14B] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of a payment completion screen (with stamp card) P4 according to the first embodiment. [Figure 14C] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of a payment completion screen (without stamp card) P5 according to the first embodiment. [Figure 15] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of the contents of stamp card setting information 178A according to the second embodiment. [Figure 16] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of the contents of stamp card record information 180A according to the second embodiment. [Figure 17] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of a stamp card record screen P6 according to the second embodiment. [Figure 18] 13 is a flowchart showing an example of a display process of a stamp card acquisition screen according to the second embodiment. [Figure 19] 13 is a flowchart showing an example of a payment completion screen display process according to the second embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0009] <First embodiment> Hereinafter, with reference to the drawings, an embodiment of an information processing device, an information processing method, and a program of the present invention will be described. Various devices for providing services to users and performing internal analysis, such as a "server," "management device," and "information providing device" that will appear below, may be realized by a group of distributed devices, and each device may be operated by a different business operator. Furthermore, the owner of the hardware of the device (the provider of the cloud server) and the business that actually operates the device may also be different. An application program and a payment server work together to provide an electronic payment service. In the following description, the application program is referred to as a payment application. An electronic payment service is a service that supports payments related to the purchase of goods and services at a store. A store is, for example, a physical store (real store) that exists in the real world, but may also include a virtual store for electronic commerce. A virtual store may include a store provided by an entity different from the operator of the electronic payment service. In that case, when making a payment for shopping at a virtual store, the screen is controlled to transition to an interface screen of the electronic payment service. In an electronic payment service, a store is treated as belonging to, for example, an affiliated store (brand), and processing such as payment when a purchase is made at a store is mainly performed between the user and the affiliated store. Alternatively, processing such as payment may be carried out between the user and the store.

[0010] [Electronic payment service] Fig. 1 is a diagram showing an example of a configuration for realizing an electronic payment service according to the first embodiment. The electronic payment service is realized mainly by a payment server 100. The payment server 100 communicates with, for example, one or more user terminal devices 10, one or more first store terminal devices 50, one or more second store terminal devices 70, and one or more manager terminal devices 80 via a network NW. The network NW includes, for example, the Internet, a LAN (Local Area Network), a wireless base station, a provider device, and the like.

[0011] The user terminal device 10 is, for example, a portable terminal device such as a smartphone or a tablet terminal. The user terminal device 10 is a computer device having at least an optical reading function, a communication function, a display function, an input reception function, and a program execution function. In the following description, components for realizing these functions are referred to as a camera, a communication device, a touch panel, a CPU (Central Processing Unit), etc. In the user terminal device 10, a processor such as a CPU executes a payment application 20, thereby operating to provide an electronic payment service to a user in cooperation with a payment server 100. The payment application 20 is installed in the user terminal device 10 from, for example, an application store, and controls the camera, communication device, touch panel, etc.

[0012] The first store terminal device 50 is installed, for example, in a store. The first store terminal device 50 is a computer device having at least a product price acquisition function, an optical reading function, a program execution function, and a communication function. The first store terminal device 50 includes a so-called POS (Point of Sale) device, and the product price acquisition function and the optical reading function may be realized by the POS device. The store code image 60 is placed in the store, and is a code image such as a QR code (registered trademark) printed on a paper or plastic medium. The store code image 60 may be displayed on a display placed in the store (which may be the display of a terminal device such as a smartphone).

[0013] The second store terminal device 70 is used by the operator of the affiliated store. The second store terminal device 70 is a smartphone, a tablet terminal, a personal computer, or the like. An interface 72 for affiliated stores runs on the second store terminal device 70. The interface 72 for affiliated stores may be an app for affiliated stores or a browser. The interface 72 for affiliated stores accepts settings such as stamp cards and coupons made by the operator of the affiliated store and transmits them to the payment server 100. The second store terminal device 70, which is a smartphone, has the function of displaying a code image corresponding to a store code image and reading a code image displayed by the user terminal device 10 by executing the app for affiliated stores.

[0014] The administrator terminal device 80 is used by an administrator (such as a sales representative) who manages the electronic payment service. The administrator terminal device 80 is a smartphone, a tablet terminal, a personal computer, or the like. An administrator interface 82 runs on the administrator terminal device 80. The administrator interface 82 may be an administrator app or a browser. The administrator interface 82 accepts settings such as stamp cards and coupons made by the administrator in response to requests from affiliated stores, and transmits them to the payment server 100.

[0015] The payment server 100 realizes electronic payment based on payment information received from the user terminal device 10 or the first store terminal device 50. The first store terminal device 50 may include a POS device and an affiliated store server, in which case the payment information is sent from the POS device via the affiliated store server to the payment server 100. In the following explanation, no distinction is made between these two and it is assumed that the payment information is sent from the first store terminal device 50.

[0016] 2 and 3 are sequence diagrams illustrating an example of a general flow of electronic payment according to embodiment 1. There may be two patterns, pattern 1 and pattern 2, for electronic payment.

[0017] In the case of pattern 1 (hereinafter referred to as user scan) shown in FIG. 2, the user terminal device 10 with the payment application 20 activated decodes the store code image 60 by the optical reading function (S1). The store code image 60 includes store URL (Uniform Resource Locator) information. This store URL is an electronic payment service domain to which store-identifying information is added, and is associated with an affiliated store ID, a store ID, etc. in the payment server 100 (described later). The payment application 20 transmits the first payment information including the store URL and the account ID to the payment server 100 (S2). The payment server 100 searches for store information (described later) from the affiliated store ID and the store ID corresponding to the store URL, acquires the affiliated store name and the store name information (S3), and transmits it to the payment application 20 (S4). The user inputs the payment amount into the user terminal device 10 on the screen on which the affiliated store name and the store name are displayed (S5). Then, the user terminal device 10 generates second payment information including at least the payment amount, and transmits it to the payment server 100 (S6). The payment server 100 performs electronic payment based on the received second payment information (S7). The payment server 100 then transmits a payment completion notice (information for displaying a payment completion screen) to the payment application 20 (S8), and the payment application 20 displays the payment completion screen (S9). Note that when the store code image 60 is displayed on a display installed in the store, the store code image 60 may include not only the store URL but also information on the payment amount. In this case, the step of the user inputting the payment amount is omitted, and the information on the payment amount is included in the first payment information and transmitted to the payment server 100. Information on the affiliated store name and the store name may be included in the payment completion screen and displayed.

[0018] In the case of pattern 2 (hereinafter referred to as store scan) shown in FIG. 3, when the payment application 20 is started, when a payment operation is performed in the payment application 20, when an automatic update timing (e.g., every minute) occurs, and at other timings, the payment application 20 transmits a request for issuing a one-time code to the payment server 100 (S11). The payment server 100 generates a one-time code (S12) and transmits it to the payment application 20 (S13). The payment application 20 displays a code image such as a QR code or a barcode generated based on the one-time code (S14). The user holds (presents) the display surface of the user terminal device 10 over the first store terminal device 50, and the first store terminal device 50 decodes the code image by an optical reading function and obtains the one-time code, etc. (S15). The first store terminal device 50 then generates payment information including the one-time code, payment amount, affiliated store ID, store ID, etc., and transmits it to the payment server 100 (S16). The payment amount information is acquired in advance by reading a barcode or manually entering it. The payment server 100 identifies the user corresponding to the one-time code based on the received information and performs electronic payment (S17). The payment server 100 then transmits a payment completion notice to the payment application 20 (S18), and the payment application 20 displays a payment completion screen (S19).

[0019] Note that electronic payment may be performed using only one of the above patterns. Furthermore, the "account ID" described in FIG. 2 may be other information (e.g., a phone number) that can be used as user identification information. Furthermore, issuance of a one-time code may be omitted in the store scan, and the payment application 20 may display a code image generated based on the user's account ID. In this case, the payment server 100 identifies the user corresponding to the account ID instead of identifying the user corresponding to the one-time code.

[0020] [Payment server] FIG. 4 is a configuration diagram of the payment server 100 according to the first embodiment. The payment server 100 includes, for example, a communication unit 110, a payment content providing unit 120, a payment processing unit 130, an information management unit 140, a stamp card management unit 150, and a storage unit 170. The components other than the communication unit 110 and the storage unit 170 are realized by, for example, a hardware processor such as a CPU executing a program (software). Some or all of these components may be realized by hardware (including circuitry) such as an LSI (Large Scale Integration), an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit), an FPGA (Field-Programmable Gate Array), or a GPU (Graphics Processing Unit), or may be realized by cooperation between software and hardware. The program may be stored in advance in a storage device (a storage device having a non-transient storage medium) such as a hard disk drive (HDD) or a flash memory, or may be stored in a removable storage medium (a non-transient storage medium) such as a DVD or a CD-ROM, and may be installed in the storage device by mounting the storage medium in a drive device. The payment server 100 is an example of an "information processing device."

[0021] The storage unit 170 is a HDD, a flash memory, a RAM (Random Access Memory), etc. The storage unit 170 may be a NAS (Network Attached Storage) device that the payment server 100 can access via a network. The storage unit 170 stores information such as user information 172, payment content information 174, affiliated store / shop information 176, stamp card setting information 178, stamp card performance information 180, etc.

[0022] The communication unit 110 is a communication interface for connecting to the network NW. The communication unit 110 is, for example, a network interface card.

[0023] The payment content providing unit 120 has, for example, a function of a Web server, and provides information (content) for displaying various screens of the electronic payment service to the user terminal device 10. The payment content providing unit 120 reads out necessary content from the payment content information 174 as appropriate, and provides it to the user terminal device 10. The user terminal device 10 accepts various inputs by the user while the content is being played by the payment application 20, and transmits the above-mentioned payment information and the like to the payment server 100. The payment content providing unit 120 is an example of a "content providing unit".

[0024] The payment processing unit 130 performs payment processing based on the payment information transmitted by the user terminal device 10 or the first store terminal device 50. The payment processing unit 130 performs payment processing while referring to the user information 172.

[0025] FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of the contents of the user information 172 according to the first embodiment. The user information 172 is an example of the registration information of a user. The user information 172 is, for example, a user URL, an account ID, a telephone number, a password, as well as information associated with an email address, a user ID, a name, an address, a date of birth, a registration date, a charge balance, a post-payment setting, a post-payment limit, a post-payment usage amount, a post-payment available amount, a payment method setting, a bank account, a credit card number, a charge history information, and a payment history information. The user URL is used for a remittance process between users. When registering for the electronic payment service, it is necessary to register a telephone number and a password. The account ID is issued to the user by the payment server 100, and the user ID is an ID that can be set by the user at will (does not have to be set). Similarly, the email address, and the name, address, and date of birth are information that can be set by the user at will (does not have to be set). The registration date is the date on which the user registered for the electronic payment service (the date on which the account was created). Hereinafter, the user's instance (electronic payment account) to which this information is associated will be referred to as an account.

[0026] The charge balance is information indicating the balance of electronic money that is set by a user by transferring money to an account in advance. The means of transfer include transfer from an ATM (Automatic Teller Machine) of a designated company (bank) and transfer from a registered bank account. The deferred payment setting is information indicating whether or not the setting for enabling electronic payment by deferred payment has been completed, and is set to either "completed" or "not completed." The deferred payment limit is the limit of deferred payment that can be used each month, the deferred payment usage amount is the amount of deferred payment that has already been used in the current month, and the deferred payment available amount is the amount of deferred payment that can be used in the current month, which is calculated by subtracting the deferred payment usage amount from the deferred payment limit. Although only one deferred payment limit is shown in the figure, in reality, there is also a daily upper limit, and the lower of these may be set as the deferred payment limit. Further details of deferred payment will be described later. The payment method setting is setting information indicating whether the user will perform electronic payment using the charge balance or payment by deferred payment at that time. The bank account and credit card number are information on a bank account or credit card number (account number, card number) that can be used to deposit funds into an electronic payment service. Charge history information is a history of the user's previous transfers to the electronic payment service to increase the charge balance. Payment history information is information that indicates the details of payments made by the user for each payment (date and time, store ID of the store where the purchase was made, payment amount, payment method, etc.).

[0027] 6 is a diagram showing an example of the contents of affiliated store / store information 176 according to the first embodiment. The affiliated store / store information 176 includes, for example, a first table 176A in which an affiliated store ID and a store ID are associated with a store URL, a second table 176B in which an affiliated store name and sales amount (described above) are associated with an affiliated store ID, and a third table 176C in which a store ID is associated with a store name. In addition to this information, the affiliated store / store information 176 may also include information such as the category of the affiliated store or store, the location of the store, and payment patterns.

[0028] The information management unit 140 manages user information 172 and affiliated store / store information 176 based on information acquired from the user terminal device 10 and the second store terminal device 70. The information management unit 140 adds new records to, edits, and deletes the user information 172 and affiliated store / store information 176.

[0029] [Electronic payment] When payment information is acquired from the user terminal device 10 or the first store terminal device 50, the payment processing unit 130 refers to the user information 172 to acquire the "payment method setting" of the user. For a user whose "payment method setting" is set to "charge balance", the payment processing unit 130 performs electronic payment as follows. For example, the payment processing unit 130 performs electronic payment by decreasing the charge balance managed in association with the user ID and increasing the item value of the affiliated store's sales. The item value of the affiliated store's sales is not used as electronic money itself, for example, and an amount corresponding to the item value of the sales is transferred to a bank account in a cycle according to an agreement between the affiliated store and the electronic payment service.

[0030] The payment processing unit 130 performs electronic payment for users whose "setting information" is set to "deferred payment" as follows. Deferred payment is set separately from "credit payment" in cooperation with a credit card company, which is a separate entity from the operator of the electronic payment service, and the operator of the electronic payment service acts as a creditor and allows electronic payment that is not dependent on the charge balance within the deferred payment limit. In order to receive the deferred payment service, a credit card provided by the operator of the electronic payment service may be required. The amount used for deferred payment is settled on the payment date of the following month, for example, by debiting from a bank account, for one month. In this case, the payment processing unit 130 performs provisional payment by adding the payment amount to the deferred payment amount and subtracting the same amount from the available deferred payment amount, and when the closing date comes, it performs processing to debit the payment for the current month on the payment date of the following month as described above, or requests the operator of the credit card company to perform such processing. In addition, if the payment amount exceeds the available deferred payment amount at the time of provisional payment, an error notification is returned to the payment application 20.

[0031] The stamp card management unit 150 manages the stamp card. The stamp card management unit 150 includes, for example, a setting unit 152, an issuing unit 154, an imparting unit 156, and a providing unit 158. The setting unit 152 sets the stamp card based on a stamp card setting instruction by the operator of the affiliated store transmitted from the second store terminal device 70, or a stamp card setting instruction by the administrator in response to a request from the affiliated store transmitted from the administrator terminal device 80. The setting unit 152 stores the set stamp card setting information in the storage unit 170 as stamp card setting information 178. The setting unit 152 is an example of a "setting unit". That is, the setting unit 152 sets the upper limit of the number of stamp cards to be issued based on the budget of the affiliated store set for the electronic stamp card linked to the affiliated store to which the store belongs and the contents of the benefits provided according to the stamp imparting performance on the stamp card.

[0032] FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of the contents of the stamp card setting information 178 according to the first embodiment. As shown in FIG. 7, the stamp card setting information 178 includes items such as a stamp card ID, total number of stamps, granting conditions, achievement conditions, privilege contents, privilege cost, privilege granting rate, budget, upper limit of number of issues, number of issues, and upper limit setting, which are linked to an affiliated store ID. The stamp card ID indicates an identifier for identifying a stamp card. The total number of stamps indicates the total number of stamps that can be granted to one stamp card. The granting conditions indicate the conditions for granting one stamp to a stamp card. For example, the granting conditions are a payment amount of "yen" or more to grant one stamp (a payment amount required to grant one stamp), etc. The achievement conditions indicate the conditions for providing a privilege to a user. For example, the achievement conditions are a "number" of stamps granted to provide a privilege (the number of stamps to provide a privilege), etc. A plurality of achievement conditions may be set for one stamp card. For example, the achievement condition may be to provide a first benefit when "〇" stamps are given, and a second benefit when "△" stamps are given. The benefit content may be, for example, points, a specific product or novelty goods, or a coupon. The benefit cost indicates the cost of the benefit content. For example, if the benefit content is "points", the benefit cost is an amount calculated with 1 point being 1 yen. For example, if the benefit content is a "specific product", the benefit cost is the cost of that product. The benefit grant rate indicates a predicted value of the ratio of stamp cards to which a benefit is granted (achievement condition is met) to the total number of issued stamp cards. The benefit grant rate is predicted, for example, based on past performance data of stamp cards. The budget indicates the budget that a member store can spend on issuing stamp cards. The issue limit indicates the upper limit of the number of stamp cards that can be issued. The issue number indicates the actual value of the number of stamp cards issued. The upper limit setting is a flag that sets whether or not to set an upper limit on the number of stamp cards issued.

[0033] The issuing unit 154 performs a stamp card issuing process in response to a stamp card issuing request and payment information transmitted from the user terminal device 10 or the first store terminal device 50. The issuing unit 154 is an example of an "issuing unit." That is, the issuing unit 154 controls the issuance of stamp cards based on a set upper limit of the number of issuances and the actual number of stamp cards issued. The issuing unit 154 issues a stamp card when the actual number of issuances has not reached the upper limit of the number of issuances, and does not issue a stamp card when the actual number of issuances has reached the upper limit of the number of issuances.

[0034] The granting unit 156 grants a stamp to the stamp card in accordance with the payment information transmitted from the user terminal device 10 or the first store terminal device 50. The granting unit 156 is an example of an "granting unit." In other words, the granting unit 156 grants a stamp to the stamp card based on the payment information of the electronic payment made to the affiliated store.

[0035] The providing unit 158 ​​performs a process to provide a benefit to a user according to the status of stamps being given to the stamp card (achievement of the benefit). For example, if the benefit is "points", the providing unit 158 ​​performs a process to change the value of the points that are linked to the user and managed. For example, if the benefit is a "specific product", the providing unit 158 ​​performs a process to display an exchange ticket (coupon ticket) for the specific product on the screen displayed by the payment application 20. The providing unit 158 ​​is an example of a "providing unit". That is, the providing unit 158 ​​performs a process to provide a benefit according to the achievement of stamps being given to the stamp card.

[0036] The results of the processing by the issuing unit 154, the granting unit 156, and the providing unit 158 ​​are stored in the memory unit 170 as stamp card performance information 180.

[0037] Fig. 8 is a diagram showing an example of the contents of stamp card record information 180 according to the first embodiment. As shown in Fig. 8, the stamp card record information 180 can register information on one or more stamp cards linked to a user (account ID). For example, a first stamp card "stamp card 1" and a second stamp card "stamp card 2" are registered linked to a user with account ID "001". Information on stamp card ID "1001", number of stamps given "1", and special offer "not yet provided" is registered in "stamp card 1". Information on stamp card ID "1002", number of stamps given "3", and special offer "already provided" is registered in "stamp card 2".

[0038] [Stamp card setting process] Next, various processes related to the stamp card will be described, focusing on the process in the payment server 100. First, the stamp card setting process in the payment server 100 will be described. FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing an example of the stamp card setting process according to the first embodiment. The process of this flowchart is started, for example, when the operator of the affiliated store inputs a stamp card setting instruction via the second store terminal device 70, or when the administrator of the payment service inputs a stamp card setting instruction via the administrator terminal device 80 in response to a request from the affiliated store.

[0039] First, the setting unit 152 acquires setting instructions for the stamp card transmitted from the second store terminal device 70 or the manager terminal device 80 (step S101). The setting instructions transmitted from the second store terminal device 70 are input by the operator of the affiliated store via the affiliated store interface 72 displayed on the second store terminal device. The setting instructions transmitted from the manager terminal device 80 are input by the administrator of the payment service in response to a request from the affiliated store via the manager interface 82 displayed on the manager terminal device 80. The setting instructions include information such as the total number of stamps on the stamp card, the awarding conditions, the achievement conditions, the privilege content, the privilege cost, the privilege awarding rate, and the budget.

[0040] Next, the setting unit 152 calculates the upper limit of the number of stamp cards to be issued based on the acquired setting instructions (step S103). The setting unit 152 calculates the upper limit of the number of stamp cards to be issued, for example, using the budget, the bonus cost, and the bonus grant rate included in the setting instructions for the stamp card, according to the following formula (1).

[0041] Maximum number of stamp cards issued = budget / {(benefit cost 1 × benefit rate 1) + (benefit cost 2 × benefit rate 2) + ···} × 2··· formula (1)

[0042] As shown in the above formula (1), the setting unit 152 calculates the upper limit of the number of issuances by dividing the affiliated store's budget by a value based on the multiplication value of the cost of the benefit and the benefit grant rate. The multiplication value of the cost of the benefit and the benefit grant rate is the sum of the multiplication values ​​of the cost of the benefit and the benefit grant rate for each benefit (per slot) granted to the user. For example, the benefit cost 1 and the benefit grant rate 1 are for the first benefit content set on the stamp card, and the benefit cost 2 and the benefit grant rate 2 are for the second benefit content set on the stamp card. For example, if two benefits (benefit 1 for 5 stamps, benefit 2 for 10 stamps, etc.) are set on one stamp card, the benefit cost 1 and the benefit grant rate 1 are for the first specific content "benefit 1" on the single stamp card, and the benefit cost 2 and the benefit grant rate 2 are for the second specific content "benefit 2" on the single stamp card. Alternatively, if the first benefit content (benefit 1) is set on the first stamp card issued to a user, and the second benefit content (benefit 2) is set on the second stamp card issued to the user, benefit cost 1 and benefit grant rate 1 are for "benefit 1" set on the first stamp card, and benefit cost 2 and benefit grant rate 2 are for "benefit 2" on the second stamp card. The third and subsequent benefits can be specified in the same manner. In addition, the sum of the multiplication values ​​of the benefit cost and the benefit grant rate for each benefit (per slot) granted to the user may be calculated by combining the case where multiple benefits are set on one stamp card and the case where multiple benefits are set on multiple stamp cards issued to the same user. In addition, the number of benefit contents to be considered (up to how many slots to consider) when calculating the upper limit of the number of stamp cards to be issued can be arbitrarily set by the operator of the affiliated store or the administrator of the payment service. In addition, in the denominator of the above formula (1), the value "2" that is further multiplied by the sum of the multiplication values ​​of the cost of the reward and the reward allocation rate takes into consideration the usage fee that the affiliated store pays to the payment service. For example, in this case, the affiliated store will pay a usage fee to the payment service equal to the sum of the above multiplication values.

[0043] Next, the setting unit 152 registers the setting information of the stamp card, including the calculated upper limit of the number of issuances, in the storage unit 170 as the stamp card setting information 178 (step S105). With this, the process of this flowchart ends.

[0044] The setting information of the stamp card can be changed after it is set. The setting unit 152 changes various values ​​included in the stamp card setting information 178, for example, in response to a change instruction of the stamp card transmitted from the second store terminal device 70 or the manager terminal device 80. The setting unit 152 also changes the upper limit setting item included in the stamp card setting information 178 from "Yes" to "No", or from "No" to "Yes". However, for a stamp card whose current number of issues is approaching the upper limit of the number of issues (for example, a stamp card whose ratio of the current number of issues to the upper limit of the number of issues exceeds a predetermined threshold (for example, 80%)), the setting unit 152 does not permit changes to the items of the bonus cost, bonus grant rate, and budget used in the calculation of the upper limit of the number of issues, as well as the item of the upper limit of the number of issues. This is because, for a stamp card whose current number of issues is approaching the upper limit of the number of issues, information indicating that only a few issues remain (such as a message of "only a few remaining") is displayed on the user terminal device 10, and if a change occurs to the upper limit of the number of issues after that, the user may become confused. That is, when the ratio of the actual number of issuances to the upper limit of issuances is less than a predetermined threshold, the setting unit 152 allows the setting information of the stamp card that has already been set to be changed. The setting information of the stamp card includes at least one of the budget of the affiliated store, the contents of the benefit, and whether or not an upper limit of issuances is set.

[0045] [Display process for stamp card acquisition screen] Next, the display process of the stamp card acquisition screen will be described. Fig. 10 is a flowchart showing an example of the display process of the stamp card acquisition screen according to the first embodiment. The process of this flowchart is started, for example, when the user inputs a request to the stamp card acquisition screen (for example, when the user presses a transition button to the stamp card acquisition screen) via a screen (for example, a top screen) displayed on the display screen of the user terminal device 10 under the control of the payment application 20.

[0046] First, the issuing unit 154 acquires a request for a stamp card acquisition screen sent from the user terminal device 10 (step S201). Next, the issuing unit 154 refers to the stamp card setting information 178 stored in the storage unit 170, and extracts stamp cards whose current number of issues (actual value) has not reached the upper limit of the number of issues (upper limit of the number of issues>number of issues) (step S203).

[0047] Next, the payment content providing unit 120 transmits information (contents) for displaying a stamp card acquisition screen including information on the extracted stamp card to the user terminal device 10 (step S205). That is, the payment content providing unit 120 provides information for displaying a stamp card acquisition screen including information on at least one stamp card whose actual number of issuances has not reached the upper limit of the number of issuances to the user terminal device. As a result, the stamp card acquisition screen including information on stamp cards that can be issued at the present time is displayed on the display screen of the user terminal device 10. FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of the stamp card acquisition screen P1 according to the first embodiment. As shown in FIG. 11, the stamp card acquisition screen P1 displays information on "Affiliated Store 1", "Affiliated Store 2", and "Affiliated Store 3", which are stamp cards that can be issued at the present time. The user can acquire a stamp card by pressing an "Acquire" button displayed in association with each affiliated store. Here, for stamp cards whose current number of issues is approaching the upper limit (for example, stamp cards whose current number of issues is a ratio of the upper limit to the number of issues exceeds a predetermined threshold (for example, 80%), in this example "Affiliated Store 1"), it is also possible to display the message "Only a few left" in association with the card. This completes the processing of this flowchart.

[0048] When the user inputs a request to a stamp card achievement screen to check the stamp card allocation status (for example, pressing an acquired stamp card) via a screen (for example, a list screen of acquired stamp cards) displayed on the display screen of the user terminal device 10 under the control of the payment application 20, the stamp card achievement screen is displayed on the display screen of the user terminal device 10. FIG. 12 is a diagram showing an example of a stamp card achievement screen P2 according to the first embodiment. As shown in FIG. 12, the stamp card achievement screen P2 displays information such as the achievement conditions for acquiring the stamp card privilege (in this example, 5 stamps and 10 stamps) and the current stamp allocation status (in this example, 2 stamps).

[0049] [Display process for payment completion screen] Next, the display process of the payment completion screen will be described. Fig. 13 is a flowchart showing an example of the display process of the payment completion screen according to the first embodiment. The process of this flowchart is started, for example, when payment information is transmitted from the user terminal device 10 or the first store terminal device 50 to the payment server 100.

[0050] First, the issuing unit 154 acquires the payment information transmitted by the user terminal device 10 or the first store terminal device 50 (step S301). Next, the issuing unit 154 uses the account ID and the affiliated store ID included in the payment information to determine whether or not a stamp card corresponding to the affiliated store ID has been issued to the account ID (step S303). For example, the issuing unit 154 refers to the stamp card setting information 178 to acquire the stamp card ID corresponding to the affiliated store ID included in the payment information. Furthermore, the issuing unit 154 refers to the stamp card performance information 180 to determine whether or not a stamp card of the acquired stamp card ID has been issued to the account ID included in the payment information.

[0051] If the issuing unit 154 determines that the stamp card has been issued (step S303: YES), the granting unit 156 grants a stamp to the issued stamp card according to the payment information (step S305). Next, the providing unit 158 ​​determines whether the stamp granting status of the stamp card satisfies the achievement condition (step S307).

[0052] If it is determined that the achievement condition is met (step S307: YES), the providing unit 158 ​​performs processing to provide the benefit, and the payment content providing unit 120 transmits information to the user terminal device 10 for displaying a payment completion screen including information indicating that the benefit has been provided (step S309). As a result, the payment completion screen (stamp achievement screen) is displayed on the user terminal device 10. FIG. 14A is a diagram showing an example of the payment completion screen (stamp achievement screen) P3 according to the first embodiment. As shown in FIG. 14A, the payment completion screen (stamp achievement screen) P3 displays information indicating that the benefit has been provided.

[0053] On the other hand, if it is determined that the achievement condition is not met (step S307: NO), the payment content providing unit 120 transmits information for displaying a payment completion screen including information indicating the stamp allocation status of the stamp card to the user terminal device 10 (step S315). As a result, the payment completion screen (stamp card present) is displayed on the user terminal device 10. FIG. 14B is a diagram showing an example of the payment completion screen (stamp card present) P4 according to the first embodiment. As shown in FIG. 14B, this payment completion screen (stamp card present) P4 displays information indicating the stamp allocation status of the stamp card (3 stamps in this example).

[0054] On the other hand, if the issuing unit 154 determines that the stamp card has not been issued (step S303: NO), the issuing unit 154 determines whether the actual value of the current number of issued stamp cards corresponding to the affiliated store ID included in the payment information has reached the upper limit of the number of issues (whether the upper limit of the number of issues is greater than the number of issues) (step S311). If the actual value of the current number of issued stamp cards has not reached the upper limit of the number of issues (step S311: YES), the issuing unit 154 issues a new stamp card corresponding to the affiliated store ID included in the payment information (step S313). After this, the processing from step S305 onwards is carried out.

[0055] On the other hand, when it is determined that the actual value of the number of stamp cards issued at the current time has reached the upper limit of the number of stamp cards issued (step S311: NO), the issuing unit 154 does not issue a stamp card, and the payment content providing unit 120 transmits information for displaying a payment completion screen that does not include information on the stamp card to the user terminal device 10 (step S317). As a result, the payment completion screen (without stamp card) is displayed on the user terminal device 10. FIG. 14C is a diagram showing an example of the payment completion screen (without stamp card) P5 according to the first embodiment. As shown in FIG. 14C, the payment completion screen (without stamp card) P5 does not display information on the stamp card, and only information related to the completion of the payment is displayed. That is, the payment content providing unit 120 provides the user terminal device 10 with information for displaying a payment completion screen including information on the stamp card when a stamp card is issued based on the payment information of the electronic payment to the affiliated store, and provides the user terminal device 10 with information for displaying a payment completion screen that does not include information on the stamp card when a stamp card is not issued. With the above, the processing of this flowchart is completed.

[0056] According to the first embodiment described above, the number of stamp cards issued for each member store can be appropriately managed. In particular, by setting an upper limit on the number of stamp cards issued according to the member store's budget, the upper limit on the number of stamp cards issued can be optimized within the range that meets the member store's needs.

[0057] <Second embodiment> Next, a second embodiment will be described. The settlement system of the second embodiment differs from the first embodiment mainly in that it limits the number of stamp cards issued per user (per user), but the configuration of each device is the same. The second embodiment will be described below, focusing on the differences from the first embodiment.

[0058] Fig. 15 is a diagram showing an example of the contents of stamp card setting information 178A according to the second embodiment. As shown in Fig. 15, stamp card setting information 178A includes items for upper limit of number of stamp cards issued per user and upper limit setting per user, in addition to the contents of stamp card setting information 178 shown in Fig. 7. The upper limit of number of stamp cards issued per user indicates the upper limit of the number of stamp cards that can be issued per user. The upper limit setting per user is a flag that sets whether or not there is an upper limit set on the number of stamp cards that can be issued per user.

[0059] The upper limit of the number of stamp cards issued per user is set by the setting unit 152, for example, in response to a setting instruction input by the operator of the affiliated store via the second store terminal device 70, or in response to a setting instruction input by the administrator of the payment service in response to a request from the affiliated store via the administrator terminal device 80 (in response to an instruction by the issuer of the stamp card). That is, the setting unit 152 sets the upper limit of the number of stamp cards issued per user that are linked to the affiliated store to which the store belongs. The setting unit 152 may set the upper limit of the number of stamp cards issued per user based on history information of the number of stamp cards issued in the past (for example, the average number of stamp cards issued). The setting unit 152 may also change the upper limit of the number of stamp cards issued per user depending on the attributes of the user. For example, the setting unit 152 may set the number of stamp cards issued per user to be larger than the number of stamp cards issued per user for a heavy user.

[0060] Fig. 16 is a diagram showing an example of the contents of stamp card actual result information 180A according to the second embodiment. As shown in Fig. 16, the stamp card actual result information 180A includes, in addition to the contents of the stamp card actual result information 180 shown in Fig. 8, an item of the number of issuances that indicates the actual value of the number of issuances for each stamp card (each stamp card ID) that is linked to the user (account ID). The value of this number of issuances is updated every time the issuing unit 154 issues a stamp card.

[0061] FIG. 17 is a diagram showing an example of the stamp card result screen P6 according to the second embodiment. As shown in FIG. 17, in addition to information showing the stamp card granting result, information showing the upper limit of stamp cards per user is displayed on this stamp card result screen P6. FIG. 17 shows an example of a stamp card in which the upper limit of the number of stamp cards issued per user is set to "1" and the upper limit setting per user is set to "Yes" in the stamp card setting information 178A shown in FIG. 15. In this example, a message "stamp cards can be issued up to one per person" is displayed as information showing the upper limit of stamp cards per user. That is, the payment content providing unit 120 provides information for displaying a stamp card including information showing the upper limit of the number of stamp cards issued per user to the user terminal device 10. For this display, after the stamp card is issued by the issuing unit 154, the setting unit 152 does not allow the upper limit of the number of stamp cards issued per user to be changed. This is because if the upper limit of the number of stamp cards issued per user is changed, the user may become confused.

[0062] [Display process for stamp card acquisition screen] Next, the display process of the stamp card acquisition screen will be described. Fig. 18 is a flowchart showing an example of the display process of the stamp card acquisition screen according to the second embodiment. The process of this flowchart is started, for example, when the user inputs a request to the stamp card acquisition screen (for example, when the user presses a transition button to the stamp card acquisition screen) via a screen (for example, a top screen) displayed on the display screen of the user terminal device 10 under the control of the payment application 20.

[0063] First, the issuing unit 154 acquires a request for a stamp card acquisition screen sent from the user terminal device 10 (step S401). Next, the issuing unit 154 refers to the stamp card setting information 178A and the stamp card performance information 180A stored in the storage unit 170, and extracts stamp cards whose current number of issuances (performance value) of the user has not reached the upper limit of the number of issuances per user (upper limit of the number of issuances per user>number of issuances) (step S403). That is, the issuing unit 154 controls the issuance of stamp cards based on the set upper limit of the number of issuances per user and the performance value of the number of stamp cards issued per user. When the performance value of the number of issuances per user has not reached the upper limit of the number of issuances per user, the issuing unit 154 issues a stamp card to the user, and when the performance value of the number of issuances per user has reached the upper limit of the number of issuances, the issuing unit 154 does not issue a stamp card to the user.

[0064] Next, the payment content providing unit 120 transmits information (content) for displaying a stamp card acquisition screen including information on the extracted stamp card to the user terminal device 10 (step S405). As a result, a stamp card acquisition screen including information on stamp cards that can be issued at the present time is displayed on the display screen of the user terminal device 10. In other words, the payment content providing unit 120 provides information for displaying a stamp card acquisition screen including information on at least one stamp card for which the actual number of stamp cards issued to the user has not reached the upper limit of the number of stamp cards issued per user, to the user terminal device 10 of the user. With the above, the processing of this flowchart ends.

[0065] [Display process for payment completion screen] Next, the display process of the payment completion screen will be described. Fig. 19 is a flowchart showing an example of the display process of the payment completion screen according to the second embodiment. The process of this flowchart is started, for example, when the payment information is transmitted from the user terminal device 10 or the first store terminal device 50 to the payment server 100.

[0066] First, the issuing unit 154 acquires the payment information transmitted by the user terminal device 10 or the first store terminal device 50 (step S301). Next, the issuing unit 154 uses the account ID and the affiliated store ID included in the payment information to determine whether or not a stamp card corresponding to the affiliated store ID has been issued to the account ID (step S303). For example, the issuing unit 154 refers to the stamp card setting information 178 to acquire the stamp card ID corresponding to the affiliated store ID included in the payment information. Furthermore, the issuing unit 154 refers to the stamp card performance information 180 to determine whether or not a stamp card of the acquired stamp card ID has been issued to the account ID included in the payment information.

[0067] If the issuing unit 154 determines that the stamp card has been issued (step S303: YES), the granting unit 156 grants a stamp to the issued stamp card according to the payment information (step S305). Next, the providing unit 158 ​​determines whether the stamp granting status of the stamp card satisfies the achievement condition (step S307).

[0068] If it is determined that the achievement condition is met (step S307: YES), the providing unit 158 ​​performs processing to provide the benefit, and the payment content providing unit 120 transmits information for displaying a payment completion screen including information indicating that the benefit has been provided to the user terminal device 10 (step S309). As a result, the payment completion screen (stamp achievement screen) is displayed on the user terminal device 10.

[0069] On the other hand, if it is determined that the achievement condition is not met (step S307: NO), the payment content providing unit 120 transmits information for displaying a payment completion screen including information showing the stamp allocation status of the stamp card to the user terminal device 10 (step S315). As a result, the payment completion screen (stamp card present) is displayed on the user terminal device 10.

[0070] On the other hand, if the issuing unit 154 determines that the stamp card has not been issued (step S303: NO), the issuing unit 154 determines whether the actual value of the current number of stamp cards issued corresponding to the member store ID for the account ID and member store ID included in the payment information has reached the upper limit of the number of stamp cards issued per user (whether the upper limit of the number of stamp cards issued per user is greater than the number of stamp cards issued) (step S511). If it determines that the number of stamp cards issued has not reached the upper limit of the number of stamp cards issued per user (step S511: YES), the issuing unit 154 issues a new stamp card corresponding to the member store ID included in the payment information (step S313). After this, the processing from step S305 onwards is carried out.

[0071] On the other hand, if it is determined that the current number of stamp cards issued has reached the upper limit of the number of stamp cards issued per user (step S511: NO), the issuing unit 154 does not issue a stamp card, and the payment content providing unit 120 transmits information for displaying a payment completion screen that does not include stamp card information to the user terminal device 10 (step S317). As a result, the payment completion screen (without stamp card) is displayed on the user terminal device 10. That is, based on the payment information of the electronic payment to the affiliated store, if a stamp card has been issued, the payment content providing unit 120 provides the user terminal device 10 with information for displaying a payment completion screen that includes stamp card information, and if a stamp card has not been issued, the payment content providing unit 120 provides the user terminal device 10 with information for displaying a payment completion screen that does not include stamp card information. With the above, the processing of this flowchart ends.

[0072] According to the second embodiment described above, the number of stamp cards issued to each user can be appropriately managed. In particular, by setting an upper limit on the number of stamp cards issued to each user, it is possible to prevent excessive issuance of stamp cards to a specific user within the range of the member store's requests regarding budgets, etc., and to enable issuance of stamp cards to a wide range of users, thereby promoting product purchases at member stores.

[0073] In addition, the configuration of setting an upper limit on the number of stamp cards that can be issued per affiliated store in the above-mentioned first embodiment and the configuration of setting an upper limit on the number of stamp cards that can be issued per user in the above-mentioned second embodiment may be implemented in combination.

[0074] The above describes the form for carrying out the present invention using an embodiment, but the present invention is not limited to such an embodiment, and various modifications and substitutions can be made within the scope that does not deviate from the gist of the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0075] 10 User terminal device 20. Payment App 50 First store terminal device 70 Second store terminal device 80 Administrator terminal device 100 Payment Server 110 Communications Department 120 Payment Contents Provider 130 Payment processing unit 140 Information Management Department 150 Stamp Card Management Department 152 Setting section 154 Publishing Department 156 Grant Department 158 Provision Department 170 Storage section

Claims

1. A setting unit that sets an upper limit on the number of electronic stamp cards that can be issued per user, the electronic stamp cards being linked to the affiliated store to which the store belongs; an issuing unit that controls issuance of the stamp cards based on a set upper limit of the number of stamp cards issued per user and a performance value of the number of stamp cards issued per user; An information processing device comprising:

2. The issuing unit: If the actual number of stamps issued to a user does not reach the upper limit of the number of stamps issued per user, the stamp card is issued to the user. When the actual number of stamp cards issued to a user has reached the upper limit of the number of stamp cards issued, the stamp cards are not issued to the user. The information processing device according to claim 1 .

3. The setting unit sets an upper limit of the number of stamp cards to be issued per user based on an instruction from an issuer of the stamp card. The information processing device according to claim 1 .

4. The setting unit sets an upper limit of the number of stamp cards to be issued per user based on history information of the number of stamp cards issued in the past. The information processing device according to claim 1 .

5. The setting unit changes the upper limit of the number of issuances per user according to the attributes of the user. The information processing device according to claim 1 .

6. After the stamp card is issued by the issuing unit, the setting unit does not permit a change to the upper limit of the number of issuances per user. The information processing device according to claim 1 .

7. an adding unit that adds a stamp to the stamp card based on payment information of electronic payment to the affiliated store; and a providing unit that performs processing to provide a benefit according to the stamp giving record on the stamp card. The information processing device according to claim 1 .

8. A content providing unit is further provided for providing information to a terminal device of a user for displaying the stamp card, the information including information indicating an upper limit of the number of stamps to be issued per user. The information processing device according to claim 1 .

9. the content providing unit provides information for displaying a stamp card acquisition screen including information on at least one stamp card for which the actual number of stamp cards issued to the user has not reached the upper limit of the number of stamp cards issued to the user, to the terminal device of the user; The information processing device according to claim 8.

10. The content provider, based on payment information of the electronic payment to the affiliated store, When the stamp card is issued, providing information to the terminal device for displaying a payment completion screen including information on the stamp card; If the stamp card has not been issued, provide the terminal device with information for displaying a payment completion screen not including information on the stamp card. The information processing device according to claim 8.

11. The computer Set a limit on the number of electronic stamp cards that can be issued per user, which are linked to the affiliated store to which the store belongs, controlling the issuance of the stamp cards based on the set upper limit of the number of stamp cards issued per user and the actual number of stamp cards issued per user; Information processing methods.

12. On the computer, Set an upper limit on the number of electronic stamp cards that can be issued per user, which are linked to the affiliated store to which the store belongs, controlling the issuance of the stamp cards based on the set upper limit of the number of stamp cards issued per user and the actual number of stamp cards issued per user; program.

Images