Stamp card management system, stamp card management method, and stamp card management program

Abstract

To provide a stamp card management system and management method that enable users to obtain stamps using any of two or more payment means.SOLUTION: In a stamp card management system S, a system control unit of a stamp card management server 1 includes: a selected payment related means information generation unit configured to acquire selected payment means information indicating at least one selected payment means selected as payment means by which a stamp is assigned to a specific stamp card to be created from among multiple payment means that can be used to settle the price of a transaction; a payment related information acquisition unit configured to acquire payment information indicating that a payment was made using any of the at least one selected payment means indicated by the selected payment means information; and an assignment unit configured to assign a stamp based on the payment information and user information indicating the user of the stamp card, on condition that any of the selected payment means was used.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a method for adding a stamp to a stamp card of a user who has made a payment, on the condition that a payment means has been used. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, a technology is known in which an electronic stamp card is issued to a user, and a stamp is given on the condition that the user takes a predetermined action. Also known is a technology in which a stamp is given on the condition that the user pays for a fee using a payment method, as the predetermined action. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a stamp saving function that allows stamps to be saved when paying for expenses. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2015-176469 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, if only a stamp card that specifies that stamps can be earned by only one specific payment method can be provided, there is a risk that the situations in which the stamp card can be used will be limited.

[0005] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above points, and one example of its objective is to provide a stamp card management system, a stamp card management method, and a stamp card management program that enable selection of the payment method to which a stamp is applied depending on the stamp card created. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] One aspect of the present invention is a stamp card management system comprising: a selected payment method information acquisition means for acquiring selected payment method information indicating at least one selected payment method selected as a payment method to be assigned to a specified stamp card to be created from among a plurality of payment methods that can be used to pay for a transaction; a payment information acquisition means for acquiring payment information indicating that a payment was made using one of the at least one selected payment methods indicated by the acquired selected payment method information, the payment information including payment method user information indicating the user who used the selected payment method; and an assignment means for assigning a stamp based on the acquired payment information and user information indicating the user of the specified stamp card, on the condition that one of the at least one selected payment method among the plurality of payment methods was used.

[0007] According to this aspect, at least one of the multiple payment methods is selected as a selected payment method for which a stamp is to be applied to a specified stamp card. When any of the selected at least one payment method is used, the stamp is applied to the user of the used payment method, who is also the user of the stamp card. Therefore, it is possible to select the payment method for which the stamp is to be applied depending on the stamp card to be created.

[0008] Another aspect of the present invention is a stamp card management system characterized in that, when granting the stamp, the granting means grants a benefit different from the stamp on the specified stamp card to the user of the specified stamp card.

[0009] According to this aspect, a user who acquires a stamp can also acquire a benefit other than the stamp, which further encourages the user of the stamp card to use at least one of the at least one selected payment means.

[0010] Yet another aspect of the present invention is a stamp card management system characterized in that the at least one selected payment means includes a first payment means and a second payment means which are different from each other, and the awarding means differs in value of the awarding benefit when the payment means used is the first payment means and when the payment means used is the second payment means.

[0011] According to this aspect, at least two payment methods are selected as the selected payment methods to which the stamps are awarded. Depending on the payment method used among the two payment methods, the value of the special benefit that the user who acquires the stamps acquires may differ. Therefore, it is possible to further encourage the use of a specific payment method among the selected payment methods.

[0012] Yet another aspect of the present invention is a stamp card management system characterized in that the at least one selected payment means includes a first payment means and a second payment means which are different from each other, and the granting means differs the number of stamps granted when the payment means used for payment is the first payment means and when the payment means used for payment is the second payment means.

[0013] According to this aspect, at least two payment methods are selected as the selected payment methods to which stamps are to be awarded. The number of stamps that a user of the stamp card acquires may differ depending on the payment method used among the selected payment methods. This can further encourage the use of a specific payment method among the selected payment methods.

[0014] Yet another aspect of the present invention is a stamp card management system in which the at least one selected payment means includes a first payment means and a second payment means which are different from each other, the granting means grants the stamp when the manner in which any of the at least one selected payment means is used satisfies a predetermined granting condition, and the granting condition differs when the payment means used is the first payment means and when the second payment means.

[0015] According to this aspect, at least two payment methods are selected as selected payment methods to which a stamp is to be awarded. For at least some of the payment methods, a user must satisfy a predetermined awarding condition when using the payment method in order to obtain a stamp using the payment method. Here, the awarding condition that the user must satisfy varies depending on the payment method. Therefore, a stamp can be awarded under different conditions depending on the payment method.

[0016] Yet another aspect of the present invention is a stamp card management system further comprising a profit acquisition means usage information acquisition means for acquiring profit acquisition means usage information indicating that a profit acquisition means has been used, the profit acquisition means being capable of being used in conjunction with at least one of the at least one selected payment means, and enabling a user of the profit acquisition means to at least one of the profit acquisition means to acquire a profit and the user of the profit acquisition means to use previously acquired profits to pay for the purchase, the acquired profit acquisition means usage information including profit acquisition means usage user information indicating the user who used the profit acquisition means, and the granting means for granting the stamp based on the acquired profit acquisition means usage information and the user information, on the condition that the profit acquisition means has been used.

[0017] According to this invention, in addition to being able to acquire stamps when using any of the at least one selected payment means, the user of the stamp card can also acquire stamps when using the benefit acquisition means, so that the user can be encouraged to use the benefit acquisition means in addition to the at least one selected payment means.

[0018] Yet another aspect of the present invention is a stamp card management system characterized in that the awarding means awards the stamp only for either the use of the selected payment means or the use of the profit earning means when the selected payment means and the profit earning means are used together in the same transaction.

[0019] According to this aspect, when a payment method and a profit-earning method are used in the same transaction, a stamp is given only for the use of either the payment method or the profit-earning method, which prevents a double stamp from being given for a single transaction due to the combined use of a payment method and a profit-earning method.

[0020] Yet another aspect of the present invention is a stamp card management system characterized in that the acquired payment information includes payment means usage transaction information regarding a transaction in which the payment means was used, and the acquired profit earning means usage information includes profit earning means usage transaction information regarding a transaction in which the profit earning means was used, and the granting means determines whether the selected payment means and the profit earning means were used in combination based on the payment means usage transaction information included in the acquired payment information and the profit earning means usage transaction information included in the acquired profit earning information.

[0021] According to this aspect, it is determined whether the payment method and the profit-earning method are the same. Therefore, it is possible to prevent stamps from being given twice for a single transaction due to the combined use of a payment method and a profit-earning method.

[0022] Yet another aspect of the present invention is a stamp card management system characterized in that the payment means usage transaction information indicates the time when the selected payment means was used, the profit earning means usage transaction information indicates the time when the profit earning means was used, the awarding means awards the stamp up to once per specified period, and the awarding of the stamp in response to the use of either the selected payment means or the profit earning means is included in the awarding of the stamp for the specified period which includes the time when either of them was used.

[0023] According to this aspect, a stamp is given at most once for each predetermined period. The period to which the stamp is given is determined according to the time when the payment means or profit-earning means is used. When a payment means and a profit-earning means are used in combination, there is a high probability that the time when the payment means is used and the time when the profit-earning means is used fall within the same period. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the double giving of stamps for a single transaction due to the combined use of a payment means and a profit-earning means.

[0024] Yet another aspect of the present invention is a stamp card management system characterized in that the payment means usage transaction information indicates the time when the selected payment means was used, the profit earning means usage transaction information indicates the time when the profit earning means was used, and when the stamp is granted for use of either the selected payment means or the profit earning means, the granting means suppresses the granting of the stamp for use of the other of the selected payment means and the profit earning means within a specified period starting from the time when the one of the means was used.

[0025] According to this aspect, when a stamp is given for the use of either a payment means or a profit-earning means, a stamp is not given even if the other means is used within a predetermined period starting from the time when the first means was used. When a payment means and a profit-earning means are used in combination, it is highly likely that the time when the other means was used is included in the period. Therefore, it is possible to prevent double stamping for a single transaction due to the use of a payment means and a profit-earning means in combination.

[0026] Yet another aspect of the present invention is a stamp card management system characterized in that the at least one selected payment means includes a code payment means that enables payment in response to an electronic device optically reading code information indicating either the payer or the recipient of the price in a transaction, and an online transaction payment means that can be used in transactions in an electronic commerce service and enables payment in response to providing the electronic commerce service with account identification information that identifies a user's account in a payment service other than the electronic commerce service.

[0027] According to this aspect, at least code payment and online transaction payment means are selected as the selected payment means to which stamps are given. A user of the stamp card can obtain stamps by using either the code payment or the online transaction payment means. This can encourage the use of code payment and online transaction payment means.

[0028] Yet another aspect of the present invention is a stamp card management system characterized in that the at least one selected payment means includes a first code payment means and a second code payment means which are different from each other and can make payments in response to an electronic device optically reading code information indicating either the payer or the recipient of the price in a transaction.

[0029] According to this aspect, at least two code payments are selected as the selected payment means to which stamps are awarded. A user of the stamp card can earn stamps by using either of the two code payment means. This can encourage the use of the two code payment means.

[0030] Yet another aspect of the present invention is a stamp card management system characterized in that the at least one selected payment means includes a first payment means and a second payment means which are different from each other, the acquired payment information includes payment destination store information indicating the store to which the payment is to be made, and the granting means grants the stamp when the first payment means is used to make a specified offline store the payment destination, and grants the stamp when the second payment means is used to make an online store operated by at least one of a business operator operating the offline store and an affiliate of the business operator the payment destination.

[0031] According to this aspect, at least two payment methods are selected as the selected payment methods to which stamps are awarded. A user of the stamp card can earn stamps when using either an offline store or an online store operated by the same business or by businesses related to each other. Here, even if the user uses different payment methods at the offline store and the online store, he or she can earn stamps for each use.

[0032] Yet another aspect of the present invention is a stamp card management system characterized in that it further comprises: a stamp information storage control means for storing, in a stamp information storage means, stamp information indicating that the stamp has been granted, associated with user information indicating the user of the stamp card, and capable of identifying the selected payment means used among the at least one selected payment means, when the stamp is granted by the granting means; and a stamp card screen information transmitting means for transmitting, to a terminal device of the user of the stamp card, stamp card screen display information for causing the terminal device to display a screen of the stamp card including the granted stamp, and which differs the display mode of the stamp on the stamp card screen depending on the selected payment means used, based on the stamp information associated with the user information of the user of the stamp card.

[0033] According to this aspect, a stamp card screen is displayed on the user's terminal device. The stamp card on this screen includes the applied stamp. The stamp is displayed in a manner corresponding to the payment means used among at least one payment means selected as the selected payment means to which the stamp is applied. Therefore, the user can recognize through the stamp card screen which payment means was used as the reason for obtaining the stamp.

[0034] Yet another aspect of the present invention is a stamp card management system characterized in that it further comprises a stamp card screen information transmitting means for transmitting stamp card screen display information to a terminal device of a user of the stamp card, causing the terminal device to display a screen of the stamp card including the applied stamp, and a stamp card screen information transmitting means for including, on the stamp card screen, stamp target payment means information indicating the at least one selected payment means indicated by the acquired selected payment means information as the payment means to which the stamp is to be applied.

[0035] According to this aspect, a stamp card screen is displayed. On this screen, information indicating at least one payment means selected as the selected payment means to which the stamp will be awarded is displayed. Therefore, the user can recognize through the stamp card screen which of the multiple payment means can be used to earn the stamp.

[0036] Yet another aspect of the present invention is a stamp card management system characterized in that it further comprises: a stamp information storage control means for storing, in a stamp information storage means, stamp information indicating that the stamp has been granted, associated with user information indicating the user of the stamp card, and capable of identifying the selected payment means used among the at least one selected payment means, when the stamp is granted by the granting means; and a history screen information sending means for sending history screen information to a terminal device of the user of the stamp card, causing the terminal device to display a screen of the history of stamp acquisition on the terminal device, and which displays, on the history screen, payment means used information indicating the selected payment means used for the payment together with the history, based on the stamp information associated with the user information of the user of the stamp card.

[0037] According to this aspect, a screen showing the history of stamp acquisition is displayed on the user's terminal device. This screen shows the history of stamp acquisition as well as used payment means information showing the payment means used among at least one payment means selected as the selected payment means to which the stamp is to be awarded. Therefore, the user can recognize which payment means was used to acquire the stamp through the screen showing the history of stamp acquisition.

[0038] Yet another aspect of the present invention is a stamp card management system further comprising a corresponding store information acquisition means for acquiring corresponding store information indicating at least one store corresponding to the stamp card, each of the at least one store being a store where at least one of the at least one selected payment means can be used, the at least one store including a store where the selected payment means can be used for each of the at least one selected payment means, the acquired payment information including payment destination store information indicating the store to which the payment is made, and the granting means for granting the stamp when any of the at least one selected payment means indicated by the acquired selected payment method information is used with any of the at least one store corresponding to the stamp card as the payment destination for the payment.

[0039] According to this aspect, at least one store corresponding to the stamp card is determined. When the user uses any of the at least one store, the user can acquire stamps. Therefore, it is possible to provide a stamp card that allows the user to acquire stamps when using a selected payment method and allows the user to select in advance the store at which the user can acquire stamps.

[0040] Yet another aspect of the present invention is a stamp card management system further comprising: an available payment means information acquisition means for acquiring available payment means information indicating which payment means among the plurality of payment means are available at each of the at least one store indicated by the acquired compatible store information; and a selected payment means information generation means for generating selected payment means information indicating at least one payment means as the selected payment means among the payment means indicated by the acquired available payment means information, wherein the granting means acquires the generated selected payment means information.

[0041] According to this aspect, the payment means to which the stamp is to be given is determined according to at least one store corresponding to the stamp card. Here, the payment means to which the stamp is to be given are determined so that the payment means available at each of the at least one store corresponding to the stamp card include at least one of the payment means to which the stamp is to be given. Therefore, it is possible to create a stamp card with a payment means selected so that a stamp can be obtained at the store corresponding to the stamp card.

[0042] Yet another aspect of the present invention is a stamp card management system in which the specified stamp card is a stamp rally card which, for each of a plurality of stores, grants the user a stamp on condition that the user pays the fee at the store, and grants the user a benefit different from the stamp on condition that the user acquires the stamp at the plurality of stores, the at least one store being one of the plurality of stores corresponding to the stamp rally card, and the granting means grants the stamp when any of the at least one selected payment means indicated by the acquired selected payment means information is used to pay the fee to any of the plurality of stores corresponding to the stamp rally card.

[0043] According to this aspect, the stamp card is a stamp rally card. A plurality of stores corresponding to the stamp rally card are defined. When the user uses any of the plurality of stores, the user can acquire a stamp. Furthermore, when the user uses all of the plurality of stores, the user can acquire another benefit. Therefore, it is possible to hold a stamp rally in which the user can acquire a stamp when using a selected payment method and in which the user can select in advance a plurality of stores from which the user can acquire a stamp.

[0044] Yet another aspect of the present invention is a stamp card management method executed by a computer, comprising: a selected payment method information acquisition step of acquiring selected payment method information indicating at least one selected payment method selected as a payment method to be assigned to a specified stamp card to be created from among a plurality of payment methods that can be used to pay for a transaction; a payment information acquisition step of acquiring payment information indicating that a payment was made using one of the at least one selected payment methods indicated by the acquired selected payment method information, the payment information including payment method user information indicating the user who used the selected payment method; and an assignment step of assigning a stamp based on the acquired payment information and user information indicating the user of the specified stamp card, on the condition that one of the at least one selected payment method among the plurality of payment methods was used.

[0045] Yet another aspect of the present invention is a stamp card management program that causes a computer to function as: a selected payment means information acquisition means for acquiring selected payment means information indicating at least one selected payment means selected as a payment means to be assigned to a specified stamp card to be created from among a plurality of payment means that can be used to settle the price of a transaction; a payment information acquisition means for acquiring payment information indicating that a payment was made using one of the at least one selected payment means indicated by the acquired selected payment means information, the payment information including payment means user information indicating the user who used the selected payment means; and an assignment means for assigning a stamp on the condition that one of the at least one selected payment means among the plurality of payment means was used, based on the acquired payment information and user information indicating the user of the specified stamp card. Effect of the Invention

[0046] According to the present invention, the payment method to which the stamp is to be applied can be selected depending on the stamp card to be created. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0047] [Figure 1] 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a schematic configuration of a communication system S according to an embodiment. [Diagram 2] 1 is a block diagram showing an example of a schematic configuration of a stamp card management server 1 according to an embodiment. [Diagram 3] 4 is a diagram showing an example of the contents stored in a database of the stamp card management server 1. FIG. [Figure 4] 1 is a block diagram showing an example of a schematic configuration of a member information management server 2 according to an embodiment. [Diagram 5] 13 is a diagram showing an example of the contents stored in a database of a member information management server 2. FIG. [Figure 6] 2 is a diagram showing an example of a functional block of a system control unit 11 of the stamp card management server 1 according to an embodiment. FIG. [Figure 7] 13A to 13D are diagrams showing examples of stamp application. [Figure 8] 10(a) and 10(b) are diagrams showing an example of stamp application, and FIG. 10(c) is a diagram showing an example of payment information and point card usage information. [Figure 9] 13A and 13B are diagrams showing an example of how points are awarded. [Figure 10] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of a stamp card screen. [Figure 11] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of the acquisition history page of a stamp card. [Figure 12] 2 is a diagram showing an example of functional blocks of a system control unit 21 of a member information management server 2 according to an embodiment. FIG. [Figure 13] 1 is a sequence diagram showing an example of an operation of a communication system S according to an embodiment. [Figure 14] 10 is a flowchart showing an example of a stamp control process executed by a system control unit 11 of the stamp card management server 1 according to an embodiment. [Figure 15]10 is a flowchart showing an example of a stamp giving process executed by a system control unit 11 of the stamp card management server 1 according to an embodiment. [Figure 16] 10 is a flowchart showing an example of a point giving process executed by a system control unit 11 of the stamp card management server 1 according to an embodiment. [Figure 17] 10 is a flowchart showing an example of a stamp screen information transmission process executed by a system control unit 11 of the stamp card management server 1 according to an embodiment. [Figure 18] 13 is a flowchart showing an example of a stamp acquisition history screen information transmission process executed by a system control unit 11 of the stamp card management server 1 according to an embodiment. [Figure 19] 13 is a diagram showing an example of the contents stored in a stamp card DB 14d of the stamp card management server 1. FIG. [Figure 20] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of setting selected payment related means information. [Figure 21] 2 is a diagram showing an example of a functional block of a system control unit 11 of the stamp card management server 1 according to an embodiment. FIG. [Figure 22] 13A to 13D are diagrams showing examples of stamp application. [Diagram 23] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of a stamp card screen. [Figure 24] 1 is a sequence diagram showing an example of an operation of a communication system S according to an embodiment. [Diagram 25] 10 is a flowchart showing an example of a stamp screen information transmission process executed by a system control unit 11 of the stamp card management server 1 according to an embodiment. [Figure 26] 2 is a diagram showing an example of a functional block of a system control unit 11 of the stamp card management server 1 according to an embodiment. FIG. [Figure 27] 13A is a diagram showing an example of store selection, and FIG. 13B is a diagram showing an example of setting selected payment related means information. [Figure 28]13A is a diagram showing an example of store selection, and FIGS. 13B and 13C are diagrams showing examples of setting selected payment related means information. [Figure 29] 13A is a diagram showing an example of store selection, and FIGS. 13B to 13C are diagrams showing examples of setting selected payment related means information. [Diagram 30] 11 is a diagram showing an example of contents stored in a stamp card DB 14d and a stamp card-accepting store DB 14e of the stamp card management server 1. FIG. [Diagram 31] 10 is a flowchart showing an example of a stamp control process executed by a system control unit 11 of the stamp card management server 1 according to an embodiment. [Diagram 32] 10 is a flowchart showing an example of a stamp giving process executed by a system control unit 11 of the stamp card management server 1 according to an embodiment. [Diagram 33] 1 is a block diagram showing an example of a schematic configuration of a stamp card management server 1 according to an embodiment. [Diagram 34] 13 is a diagram showing an example of the contents stored in the stamp card-compatible payment-related means DB14j of the stamp card management server 1. FIG. [Diagram 35] An example of setting the number of points to be awarded is shown below. [Diagram 36] 10 is a flowchart showing an example of a point giving process executed by a system control unit 11 of the stamp card management server 1 according to an embodiment. [Figure 37] 13 is a diagram showing an example of the contents stored in the stamp card-compatible payment-related means DB14j of the stamp card management server 1. FIG. [Figure 38] An example of setting the number of stamps to be given is shown below. [Figure 39] 10 is a flowchart showing an example of a stamp giving process executed by a system control unit 11 of the stamp card management server 1 according to an embodiment. [Diagram 40] 10 is a diagram showing an example of contents stored in a stamp card DB 14d and a stamp card-compatible payment-related means DB 14j of the stamp card management server 1. FIG. [Diagram 41]An example of setting the reward condition is as follows: For example, the reward condition is set based on the payment amount. [Diagram 42] 10 is a flowchart showing an example of a stamp control process executed by a system control unit 11 of the stamp card management server 1 according to an embodiment. [Diagram 43] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of stamp application. [Diagram 44] 10 is a flowchart showing an example of a stamp control process executed by a system control unit 11 of the stamp card management server 1 according to an embodiment. [Diagram 45] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of stamp application. [Figure 46] 10 is a flowchart showing an example of a stamp control process executed by a system control unit 11 of the stamp card management server 1 according to an embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0048] [1. First embodiment] Hereinafter, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

[0049] [1-1. Communication system configuration] First, the configuration and functional overview of a communication system S according to this embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 1. Fig. 1 is a diagram showing an example of a schematic configuration of a communication system S according to this embodiment.

[0050] As shown in FIG. 1, the communication system S may be configured to include a stamp card management server 1, a member information management server 2, a point program system 3, a plurality of payment systems 4, a plurality of store terminals 5, one or a plurality of electronic commerce servers 6, a creator terminal 7, and a plurality of user terminals 8. These devices may be connected to a network NW. The network NW is constructed, for example, by the Internet, a dedicated communication line (for example, a CATV (Community Antenna Television) line), a mobile communication network (including base stations, etc.), and a gateway, etc. Here, the stamp card management server 1 may correspond to an example of the stamp card management system of the present invention. Alternatively, a combination of the stamp card management server 1 and the member information management server 2 may correspond to an example of the stamp card management system. Alternatively, a combination of the stamp card management server 1 and one or a plurality of payment systems 4 may correspond to an example of the stamp card management system. In addition, they may be appropriately integrated into one device, or the devices may be further dispersed.

[0051] The stamp card management server 1 may be a server device that executes processing related to a predetermined stamp card service. This stamp card service may be a service that issues an electronic stamp card to a user and grants a stamp to the user who uses a payment means. The payment means may be a means that can be used to settle the price in a transaction of a transaction object. The transaction object may be something that can be traded commercially. Examples of the transaction object include goods and services. Details of the payment means will be described later. Granting a stamp to a user may correspond to stamping a stamp card owned by the user. The stamp card management server 1 may execute processing such as, for example, creating a stamp card, issuing the created stamp card, and granting a stamp. Creating a stamp card may, for example, determine the specifications of the stamp card and put the stamp card in a state where it can be issued. For example, creating a stamp card may correspond to creating a stack of stamp cards. A stamp card may have multiple stamp columns. Each stamp column is an area where a stamp can be pressed. The number of stamp columns in one stamp card is called the number of stamp columns. The number of stamp columns may be previously determined in common for all stamp cards. Alternatively, the number of stamp columns may be set by the creator of the stamp card for each stamp card. In the following description, it is assumed that the number of stamp columns is common to all stamp cards. Issuing a stamp card may, for example, be providing a created stamp card to an individual user. For example, issuing a stamp card may correspond to distributing each card in a stack of created stamp cards to individual users.

[0052] The stamp card management server 1 may distribute information encouraging the use of stamp cards to the user terminal 8. For example, the stamp card management server 1 may distribute the information via a web page, email, or other means. At this time, the stamp card management server 1 may select a stamp card to encourage the user to use based on the attributes of the stamp card and the attributes and past behavior history of the user. For example, assume that a stamp card is created for a specific store. The stamp card management server 1 may control whether or not to encourage the user to use the stamp card based on the user's history of use of the store. The stamp card management server 1 may issue a stamp card in response to an entry operation by the user.

[0053] The member information management server 2 may be a server device that manages information about members of a predetermined service. The predetermined service may include an online service or a service that can be provided using information and communication technology. The predetermined service may be, for example, an Internet comprehensive service. The Internet comprehensive service may be, for example, a collection of multiple services including an online service as a main service. The online service may include a service provided through a website. The online service may include an electronic commerce service. The electronic commerce service may be a service that enables electronic commerce between consumers and businesses or electronic commerce between consumers. At least one electronic commerce service may include a service that enables businesses to operate an online store. The online store may be a virtual store online. Examples of services included in the Internet comprehensive service include an online shopping mall, a flea market service, a facility reservation service, a service reservation service, an online securities, an online bank, a web search, video distribution, a point program, a coupon service, a mobile communication service, a carrier payment, an optical fiber connection service, a credit card, an app payment, electronic money, an online securities, an online bank, a social networking service (SNS), a rich communication service (RCS) or an instant messaging service, an email service, and the like. The stamp card service described above may also be included in the Internet comprehensive service. For convenience, in this embodiment, the specified service is assumed to be the Internet comprehensive service. A user ID may be assigned to each user who becomes a member of the Internet comprehensive service. The user ID is identification information for identifying a member in the Internet comprehensive service. The member information management server 2 may manage information on each member using the user ID. A user who becomes a member of the Internet comprehensive service may be able to use many of the services included in the Internet comprehensive service.In order to use some services, the user may need to register as a separate member on the condition that he or she is a member of the Internet general service.

[0054] The point program system 3 may be a server device that executes processing related to a predetermined point program. The point program may be, for example, a service that grants points to a user who purchases a transaction object, which is a predetermined ratio of the purchase price, and allows the user to use the points he or she owns to pay for the transaction object. The user may be able to at least either earn or use points with, for example, each of the electronic commerce services and stores that are members of the point program. A point card may be given to each user of the point program. The point card is an example of a profit acquisition means. The profit acquisition means may be a means that can be used at the time of settlement in a transaction, and that allows the user of the profit acquisition means to earn profits and to use profits that have been earned in the past to settle the price. At the time of settlement, the payment means and the profit acquisition means may be used in combination. The payment means and the profit acquisition means may be used in combination at the same time, or at different times. For example, after a settlement is made by the payment means, the profit for the same settlement may be earned by using the profit acquisition means after a predetermined period. An information code indicating a membership number for identifying the user as a user of the point program may be printed on the point card. Examples of the information code include a one-dimensional barcode and a two-dimensional code. The user may use the point card to acquire and use points at a store. The point card may be used by optically reading the information code printed on the point card by the store terminal 5. A point card application may be installed in the user terminal 8. The user terminal 8 may display the information code on the screen in accordance with this application. The user's acquisition or use of points using the point card application may correspond to the use of the point card. The point program system 3 may store the number of available points for each user. The number of available points indicates the number of points currently owned by the user.For example, the point program system 3 may store the number of available points in association with the user ID of each user. The point program system 3 may be configured to include, for example, one or more server devices. When a point card is used, information on the use of the point card and the settlement in the transaction may be received from the store terminal 5 of the store where the transaction is performed. The point program system 3 may execute a process for granting points to the user and a process for using the points for settlement based on the received information. The settlement system 4 may generate point card usage information each time it executes a process for granting or using points. The point card usage information may be information indicating that the point card has been used. The point card usage information may include information on the process and transaction related to the use of the point card. The point program system 3 may transmit the generated point card usage information to the member information management server 2 or the stamp card management server 1.

[0055] Each of the multiple payment systems 4 may be a system that executes a process for providing a predetermined payment service. The payment service may be a service that enables payment of a price using a payment means. The payment means may be a means that can be used to settle a price in a transaction. Each of the multiple payment systems 4 may be a system related to a determination means that the payment system 4 supports among multiple predetermined payment means. At least one payment system 4 may support two or more payment means. The multiple payment means may include electronic payment. The multiple payment means may not include cash. The multiple payment means may include a payment means that allows a user to select a payment method to be used from multiple types of payment methods when settling a price. Among the multiple predetermined payment means, payment means having different identification information or types are different payment means. In addition, even if the payment means are the same type, payment means provided by different companies that provide payment services using each of those payment means are defined as different payment means. In addition, even if the payment means are the same type and provided by the same company, payment means with different brands may be defined as different payment means. Examples of types of payment means include credit cards, debit cards, IC-type electronic money, online electronic money, code payment, ID payment, prepaid cards, and point cards. Note that even if the payment means are the same type, if the identification information of the payment means is different, they are considered to be different payment means. For example, if the same user has two credit cards, the identification information (credit card number, etc.) of each card is different, so they are considered to be different payment means. The IC-type electronic money may be a type of electronic money whose balance is managed in an IC (Integrated Circuit) chip provided in the card or the user terminal 8. The online electronic money may be a type of electronic money whose balance is managed online. The code payment may be a means that enables payment in response to an electronic device optically reading code information indicating either the payer or the recipient of the price in a transaction. The payer of the price in the code payment may be a member of an Internet general service. The recipient of the price may be an offline store.The offline store is a real store. When the electronic device reads the code information indicating the payer of the price, the code information may be displayed on the screen of the user terminal 8 used by the user as the payer. Alternatively, the information code indicating the payer may be printed on a card held by the payer for the payment method. The electronic device that reads the information code may be the store terminal 5. For example, the store terminal 5 may read the information code with a barcode reader provided in the store terminal 5 or connected to the store terminal 5. When the electronic device reads the information code indicating the payee of the price, the information code may be displayed on the screen of the store terminal 5 of the store. Alternatively, the information code indicating the payee of the price may be printed on paper or other objects prepared by the store. The electronic device that reads the information code may be the user terminal 8. For example, the user terminal 8 may read the information code by capturing an image with a camera built into the user terminal 8. A point card may also be included in the payment method or code payment. When a user uses points acquired in the past to pay for the price, the point card may be included in the code payment. Code information indicating the payer is also printed on the point card. However, the processing related to the point card may be executed by the point program system 3, not the payment system 4. For convenience, the payment means and the point card as a means of acquiring benefits are collectively referred to as the payment-related means. Hereinafter, when referring to the payment means or the code payment, the payment means or the code payment may include the point card or may not include the point card. When the point card is mentioned together with the payment means or the code payment, the payment means or the code payment may not include the point card. When the point card is not mentioned together with the payment means or the code payment, the payment means or the code payment may include the point card. ID payment is a payment means available for online electronic commerce. ID payment may be a means that enables payment in response to providing the electronic commerce service with account identification information that identifies the user's account in a specified service. The specified service may be a service different from the electronic commerce service in which the transaction is performed.Examples of the predetermined service include the above-mentioned Internet general service and a service that enables ID payment. For example, a user may be able to associate a payment method other than ID payment with ID payment in advance. A user may input a user ID and password of a predetermined service in advance or at the time of payment on a website of an electronic commerce service, and the user may be authenticated by a payment system 4 that supports ID payment. This allows the user to pay the price with a payment method associated with ID payment. When a payment method corresponding to the payment system 4 is used, each payment system 4 may receive information about the payment from the store terminal 5 of the store where the transaction is performed or the electronic commerce server 6 of the electronic commerce service where the transaction is performed. The payment system 4 may execute a process to settle the price based on the received information. The payment system 4 may generate payment information each time a payment process is executed. The payment information may be information indicating that a payment has been made. The payment information may include information about the executed payment. The payment system 4 may transmit the generated payment information to the member information management server 2 or the stamp card management server 1.

[0056] Each store terminal 5 may be a terminal device installed in an offline store affiliated with at least one of a plurality of services that respectively allow the use of a plurality of payment-related means. The store terminal 5 may be a terminal device used by the manager or employee of the store. The store terminal 5 may be used, for example, to calculate the usage fee of the service provided by the store or the purchase price of a product. Examples of the store terminal 5 include a personal computer, a tablet computer, and a POS (Point of Sale) register. At least one store terminal 5 may be equipped with a predetermined reading device. This reading device may be capable of reading information recorded on a magnetic tape, information recorded on an IC chip, or an information code printed or displayed on a screen. The reading device may include a barcode reader.

[0057] Each electronic commerce server 6 may be a server device that executes processes related to the electronic commerce service that the electronic commerce server 6 corresponds to. Each electronic commerce server 6 may manage a website for conducting electronic commerce. Each electronic commerce server 6 may execute processes such as searching for a transaction object that satisfies conditions specified by a user, providing information about the transaction object, and completing an order or reservation for the transaction object. The electronic commerce service that each electronic commerce server 6 corresponds to may or may not be included in the Internet comprehensive service.

[0058] The creator terminal 7 may be a terminal device used by the creator of the stamp card. Examples of the creator of the stamp card include an operator of a stamp card service, an operator of a payment service, an operator of an electronic commerce service, an operator who operates a store, an operator who operates a group of stores, a local government, an advertiser of the stamp card, and a member of an Internet general service. The operator of the stamp card service who receives a request for the creation of a stamp card from another business may create the stamp card by operating a database stored in the stamp card management server 1. In this case, the creator of the stamp card may be the business that made the request. Alternatively, the stamp card management server 1 may provide the creator terminal 7 with a user interface for creating a stamp card. As an example of this user interface, the stamp card management server 1 may provide the creator terminal 7 with a stamp card creation screen. The stamp card creation screen may be configured, for example, by a web page. The stamp card management server 1 may create a stamp card by operating a database based on information entered into the stamp card creation screen. Statistical information regarding the created stamp card may be provided from the stamp card management server 1 to the creator terminal 7.

[0059] Each user terminal 8 may be a terminal device used by a user who is a member of the Internet general service. The user terminal 8 transmits and receives information to and from the stamp card management server 1, allowing the user to use the stamp card service. The user terminal 8 transmits and receives information to and from any of the electronic commerce servers 6, allowing the user to use the electronic commerce service. The user may use code payment, a point program, and the like, using the user terminal 8. Examples of the user terminal 8 include personal computers, smartphones, portable information terminals such as tablet computers, mobile phones, PDAs (Personal Digital Assistants), set-top boxes, and the like. A web browser may be installed in each user terminal 8. The portable type user terminal 8 may be capable of executing an application for using the stamp card service. This application may be a native application, a web application, or a mini-application. The mini-application may be a web application that can be executed from a predetermined native application. The portable type user terminal 8 may be capable of installing an application for using code payment, an application for using a point program or a point card, and the like.

[0060] [1-2.Device configuration] [1-2-1. Stamp card management server] Next, the configuration of the stamp card management server 1 will be described with reference to Fig. 2 and Fig. 3. Fig. 2 is a block diagram showing an example of a schematic configuration of the stamp card management server 1 according to this embodiment. As shown in Fig. 2, the stamp card management server 1 includes a system control unit 11, a system bus 12, an input / output interface 13, a storage unit 14, and a communication unit 15. The system control unit 11 and the input / output interface 13 are connected via the system bus 12.

[0061] The system control unit 11 includes a central processing unit (CPU) 11a, a read only memory (ROM) 11b, a random access memory (RAM) 11c, and the like.

[0062] The input / output interface 13 performs interface processing between the storage unit 14 and the communication unit 15 and the system control unit 11 .

[0063] The storage unit 14 is composed of, for example, a hard disk drive. The storage unit 14 may store databases such as a payment-related means DB 14a, a business operator DB 14b, a store DB 14c, a stamp card DB 14d, a stamp card-compatible store DB 14e, an issued card DB 14f, a payment-related information DB 14g, a stamp acquisition history DB 14h, and a privilege DB 14i. "DB" is an abbreviation for database. At least one database may be stored in a server device different from the stamp card management server 1. The stamp card management server 1 may be able to access the database through the server device. The stamp card DB 14d, the stamp card-compatible store DB 14e, and the issued card DB 14f may be managed as the same database. Alternatively, the databases may be appropriately consolidated into one database, or the databases may be further divided into smaller databases.

[0064] FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of contents stored in the database of the stamp card management server 1. As shown in FIG. 3, the payment-related means DB 14a may store payment-related means information related to each of two or more predetermined payment-related means among a plurality of predetermined payment-related means. Each of the predetermined plurality of payment-related means may be a payment-related means from which the stamp card management server 1 or the member information management server 2 can obtain payment information or point card use information. Each of the predetermined two or more payment-related means may be a payment-related means for which a stamp is given to a user by using the payment-related means, as described later. The predetermined two or more payment-related means may be the same as the predetermined plurality of payment-related means. Alternatively, the predetermined two or more payment-related means may be a part of the predetermined plurality of payment-related means. For example, the payment-related means DB 14a may store a payment-related means ID and a payment-related means name, etc., in association with each other as payment-related means information. The payment-related means ID is identification information for identifying the payment-related means. The payment-related means name indicates the name of the payment-related means.

[0065] The business DB 14b may store business information on each business that is affiliated with at least one payment-related means service. Examples of business operators that are affiliated with the payment-related means service include a business operator that operates a specific offline store, a business operator that operates an online store, a business operator that operates a chain of stores, and a business operator that operates a franchise. There may be a business operator that operates both an offline store and an online store. Also, the business operator that operates the offline store and the business operator that operates the online store may be related parties to each other. For example, the offline store business operator may entrust the operation of the online store to another business operator. Also, for example, the offline store business operator and the business operator that operates the online store may be related companies included in a predetermined corporate group. Also, for example, the offline store business operator and the online store business operator may be in a partnership relationship. For example, the business ID and the business name may be stored in the business DB 14b as business information in association with each other. The business ID is identification information that identifies the business operator. The business name indicates the name of the business operator.

[0066] The store DB 14c may store store information on each store operated by a business that is affiliated with at least one payment-related means service. For example, the store DB 14c may store, as store information, a store ID, a store name, a business ID, a store type, an address, an e-commerce service ID, payment-related service membership status information, and the like, in association with one another. The store ID is identification information for identifying a store. The store name indicates the name of the store. The business ID indicates the business that operates the store. The store type indicates whether the store is an offline store or an online store. The address is valid when the store is an offline store. The address indicates the location of the store. The e-commerce service ID is valid when the store is an online store. The e-commerce service ID is identification information for identifying an e-commerce service with which the store performs transactions. The payment-related service membership status information is information indicating whether the store is affiliated with the payment-related means service for each of a plurality of predetermined payment-related means. In addition, in cases where the affiliation status of payment-related means services is determined for each business operator, rather than for each store, payment-related service affiliation status information may be stored in the business operator DB.

[0067] The stamp card DB 14d may store stamp card information related to each stamp card created. For example, the stamp card DB 14d may store stamp card information such as a stamp card ID, a stamp card name, a creator ID, an explanation, benefit setting information, and a condition for providing, in association with each other. The stamp card ID is identification information for identifying the created stamp card. The stamp card name indicates the name of the stamp card. The creator ID is identification information for identifying the creator of the stamp card. The explanation is a sentence that indicates the explanation of the stamp card. The benefit setting information indicates information related to a benefit that is provided to a user on the condition that the user acquires a predetermined number of stamps. The benefit provided may be a benefit that is provided physically or electronically by the creator of the stamp card. Alternatively, the benefit provided may be a specific benefit provided electronically by the stamp card management server 1 or another server device. Examples of the benefit provided include coupons, prizes, points of a point program, electronic money, and the like. The benefit setting information may include, for example, the number of benefit stamps, the name of the benefit, and the conditions for use. The number of benefit stamps indicates the number of stamps required to acquire a benefit. The number of bonus stamps may be equal to the number of stamp columns. The bonus name indicates the name of the bonus so that the content of the bonus that can be acquired can be identified. The usage conditions indicate the conditions for using the bonus. A bonus may be acquired multiple times for one issued stamp card. In this case, multiple bonus setting information may be stored in the stamp card DB 14d. At this time, the number of bonus stamps may differ between multiple bonuses. Here, the number of bonus stamps for any one of the multiple bonuses may be equal to the number of stamp columns. The number of other bonus stamps may be less than the number of stamp columns. The granting condition information may indicate additional granting conditions for granting stamps to a user. The granting condition may be a condition for the manner of use of the payment-related means by the user. Examples of the manner of use of the payment-related means include, for example, the purchased transaction object, the payment amount, the date or time of use of the payment-related means, and the number of points acquired by the user by using the payment-related means. The granting condition information may indicate multiple granting conditions.In this case, if the user satisfies all of the conditions for providing the stamp, the stamp may be provided. Alternatively, if the user satisfies at least one of the conditions for providing the stamp, the stamp may be provided. At least one of the pieces of information included in the stamp card information may be information that can be set by the creator of the stamp card. As described above, the operator of the stamp card service who receives a request from the creator of the stamp card may register the stamp card information in the stamp card DB 14d. Alternatively, the stamp card name, description, providing conditions, the number of bonus stamps, the contents of the bonus, etc. may be input on the stamp card creation screen provided to the creator terminal 7. The stamp card management server 1 may receive the input information from the creator terminal 7 and generate stamp card information including the received information.

[0068] The stamp card compatible store DB 14e may store stamp card compatible store information on a store corresponding to a stamp card for each combination of the stamp card and the store corresponding to the stamp card. The store corresponding to the stamp card may be a store that is determined to give a stamp to a user of the stamp card when the user uses a payment-related means at the store. The store corresponding to the stamp card may include at least one of an offline store and an online store. For example, the stamp card compatible store DB 14e may store a stamp card ID and a store ID, etc., in association with each other as stamp card compatible store information. The stamp card ID indicates the stamp card compatible with the store. The store ID indicates the store. The stamp card compatible store information may be information that can be set by the creator of the stamp card. For example, the creator may select one or more stores corresponding to the stamp card. For example, when a stamp card for a specific store is created, the store corresponding to the stamp card may be the specific store. Also, for example, when a stamp card for a specific business is created, the stores corresponding to the stamp card may be all stores operated by the business, or may be a part of those stores. The business may be able to select the stores corresponding to the stamp card. Also, for example, a stamp card that can be commonly used at each of the stores of a plurality of businesses may be created. For example, when a local government creates a stamp card, a plurality of stores in an area that is subject to administration by the local government may be selected. Each store corresponding to the stamp card may be a store where at least one of two or more predetermined payment-related means is available to users. When there is only one store corresponding to the stamp card, the store may be a store where all of the two or more predetermined payment-related means are available. When there are multiple stores corresponding to the stamp card, the multiple stores corresponding to the stamp card may include a store where each of the two or more payment-related means is available to users.As described above, the operator of the stamp card service who receives a request from the creator of the stamp card may register stamp card compatible store information in the stamp card compatible store DB 14e. Alternatively, a store may be selected on the stamp card creation screen provided to the creator terminal 7. Also, an operation for searching for a store may be possible on the stamp card creation screen. For example, it may be possible to input store search conditions. Examples of store search conditions include keywords such as store name and business name, store category, address, electronic commerce service, and stores operated by the creator of the stamp card. The stamp card management server 1 may search for stores that satisfy the input search conditions based on, for example, the business DB 14b and the store DB 14c. It may be possible to select a store corresponding to the stamp card from the searched stores. The stamp card management server 1 may receive information indicating the selected store from the creator terminal 7 and generate stamp card compatible store information.

[0069] In the issued card DB 14f, issued card information on stamp cards issued to users may be stored for each combination of a stamp card and a user to whom the stamp card was issued. For example, in the issued card DB 14f, the issued card number, the date and time of issue, the stamp card ID, the user ID, the number of issued cards, the current number of stamps, and the like may be stored in association with each other as the issued card information. The issued card number is a number that identifies the issuance of the stamp card. The date and time of issue indicates the date and time when the stamp card was first issued to the user. The stamp card ID indicates the issued stamp card. The user ID indicates the user to whom the stamp card was issued. The number of issued cards indicates how many stamp cards were issued to the user. The current number of stamps indicates the number of stamps pressed on the stamp card that was last issued among the stamp cards indicated by the number of issued cards. For example, information on one or more stamp cards that a user can enter may be held on a screen or web page of a stamp card application. When the user selects a stamp card, the stamp card management server 1 may generate issued card information including the stamp card ID of the selected stamp card and the user ID of the user who made the selection, and store it in the issued card DB 14f. When the number of stamps pressed on one stamp card reaches the number of stamp columns, a new stamp card may be automatically issued. In this case, the number of issued cards may be increased by 1, and the number of stamps may be reset to 0.

[0070] The payment-related information DB14g may store, for each of a plurality of predetermined payment-related means, payment-related information indicating that the payment-related means was used when the payment was made, each time the payment-related means is used. The payment-related information may include information regarding the transaction in which the payment-related means was used. Here, the payment-related information regarding the use of the payment means is payment information. Moreover, the payment-related information regarding the use of a point card is point card use information. For example, the payment-related information DB14g may store, as the payment-related information, a payment-related information ID, a user ID, a payment-related means ID, a business ID, a store ID, a use date and time, a payment amount, a transaction object ID, the number of points given, the number of points used, and a storage date and time, in association with each other. The payment-related information ID is identification information for identifying the payment-related information. The user ID indicates the user who used the payment-related means. The payment-related means ID indicates the payment-related means used. The store ID indicates the store where the user used the payment-related means. The transaction object ID indicates the transaction object purchased by the user using the payment-related means. The usage date and time indicates the date and time when the payment-related means was used. The number of points given indicates the number of points given to the user for the use of the payment-related means. When the user uses a point card, the user is given points. In addition, even if the user uses a payment means other than the point card that is determined in advance, the user may be given points. If no points are given, the number of points is set to 0. The number of points used indicates the number of points used to pay the price. Depending on the payment-related means, the payment-related information may not include some information. For example, the payment-related information of a certain payment-related means may not include the transaction target ID. The stamp card management server 1 may obtain the payment-related information of all the payment-related means or at least one of the payment-related means from the member information management server 2. In addition, the stamp card management server 1 may obtain the payment-related information of all the payment-related means or at least one of the payment-related means from the point program system 3 or the payment system 4. The format of the payment-related information may be different for each payment-related means.In this case, the stamp card management server 1 may convert the format of the payment-related information into a common format and store the payment-related information in the payment-related information DB 14g. Alternatively, the storage unit 14 may store a database of payment-related information for each payment-related means, instead of storing the payment-related information DB 14g. Depending on the payment-related means, the information included in the payment-related information that identifies the user who used the payment-related means may be identification information different from the user ID. In this case, the stamp card management server 1 may identify the user ID from the identification information, for example, based on a table showing the correspondence between the identification information and the user ID.

[0071] The stamp acquisition history DB14h may store a history of stamp acquisition by a user. For example, each time a stamp is given, the stamp acquisition history DB14h may store, as a stamp acquisition log, a stamp acquisition log ID, a stamp acquisition date and time, an issued card number, a stamp card ID, a user ID, the number of stamps issued, a stamp column number, a payment-related means ID, a store ID, and a payment-related information ID, etc., in association with one another. The stamp acquisition log ID is identification information for identifying the stamp acquisition log. The stamp acquisition date and time may indicate the date and time when the user used the payment-related means as the reason for the stamp being given. The issued card number and the stamp card ID indicate the stamp card on which the stamp was pressed. The user ID indicates the user who obtained the stamp. The number of stamps issued indicates which stamp card was issued on which stamp card the stamp was pressed. The stamp column number indicates which stamp column of the stamp columns included in the stamp card the stamp was given to. The payment-related information ID is identification information for identifying the payment-related information used to determine the giving of the stamp. The payment-related means ID indicates the payment-related means used by the user who obtained the stamp. The store ID indicates the store where the user used the payment-related means.

[0072] The privilege DB 14i may store privilege information on the status of a privilege given to a user who has acquired a predetermined number of stamps by using a stamp card, for each combination of an issued stamp card and a privilege set on the stamp card. For example, the privilege DB 14i may store, as privilege information, an issued card number, a stamp card ID, a user ID, the number of issued cards, the number of privilege stamps, and a privilege status, etc., in association with each other. The issued card number identifies the issuance of a stamp card on which a privilege is set. The stamp card ID indicates the issued stamp card. The user ID indicates the user to whom the stamp card is issued. The issued number indicates which stamp card the stamp card on which the privilege is set is issued to the user. The number of privilege stamps indicates the number of stamps required for the user to acquire the privilege. The privilege status indicates the status of the privilege. The privilege status may be set to, for example, any of "not acquired", "available", and "used". "Not acquired" indicates a state in which the user has not yet acquired the privilege. "Available" indicates a state in which the user has acquired the privilege but has not yet used the privilege. "Used" indicates a state where the user has already used the privilege. For example, when a stamp card is issued to a user, the stamp card management server 1 may store the stamp card information in the issued card DB 14f and store the privilege information in the privilege DB 14i. At this time, the stamp card management server 1 may obtain the number of privilege stamps from the privilege setting information stored in the stamp card DB 14d. For each obtained number of privilege stamps, the stamp card management server 1 may generate privilege information including the same combination of the issued card number, stamp card ID, user ID, and number of issued cards included in the issued card information, the number of privilege stamps, and a privilege status indicating "unused."

[0073] The storage unit 14 further stores various programs such as an operating system, a DBMS (Database Management System), and a stamp card management program. The stamp card management program is a program that causes the system control unit 11 to execute various processes related to the stamp card service. The stamp card management program may be obtained from another device via the network NW, or may be recorded on a recording medium such as a magnetic tape, an optical disk, or a memory card and read via a drive device.

[0074] The communication unit 15 is configured, for example, by a network interface card, etc. The communication unit 15 is connected to the member information management server 2, the point program system 3, the payment system 4, the creator terminal 7, the user terminal 8, etc. via the network NW, and controls the communication state with the connected devices.

[0075] [1-2-2. Membership information management server] Next, the configuration of the member information management server 2 will be described with reference to Figures 4 and 5. Figure 4 is a block diagram showing an example of a schematic configuration of the member information management server 2 according to this embodiment. As shown in Figure 4, the member information management server 2 includes a system control unit 21, a system bus 22, an input / output interface 23, a storage unit 24, and a communication unit 25. The system control unit 21 and the input / output interface 23 are connected via the system bus 22.

[0076] The system control unit 21 includes a CPU 21a, a ROM 21b, a RAM 21c, and the like.

[0077] The input / output interface 23 performs interface processing between the storage unit 24 and the system control unit 21, and between the communication unit 25 and the system control unit 21.

[0078] The storage unit 24 is configured, for example, with a hard disk drive, etc. This storage unit 24 may store databases such as a member DB 24a and a payment-related information DB 24b.

[0079] Fig. 5 is a diagram showing an example of the contents stored in the database of the member information management server 2. As shown in Fig. 5, the member DB 24a may store member information regarding each member of the Internet comprehensive service. For example, the member DB 24a may store, as member information, a user ID, name, sex, date of birth, telephone number, address, email address, and the like, in association with one another.

[0080] The payment-related information DB24b may store, for each of a plurality of predetermined payment-related means, payment-related information indicating that the payment-related means was used when the payment was made, each time the payment-related means is used. The payment-related information DB24b may store, for example, payment-related information equivalent to point card use information acquired from the point program system 3 and payment-related information equivalent to payment information acquired from each payment system 4. The storage unit 24 may store, instead of storing the payment-related information DB24b, a database of information indicating that the payment-related means was used for each payment-related means. In this case, the formats of the databases may be different from each other.

[0081] Storage unit 24 further stores various programs such as an operating system, a DBMS, and a member information management program. The member information management program is a program that causes system control unit 11 to execute various processes related to the management of member information. The member information management program may be obtained, for example, from another device via network NW, or may be recorded on a recording medium such as a magnetic tape, optical disc, or memory card and read via a drive device.

[0082] The communication unit 25 is configured, for example, by a network interface card, etc. The communication unit 25 connects to the stamp card management server 1, the point program system 3, the payment system 4, the user terminal 8, etc. via the network NW, and controls the communication state with the connected devices.

[0083] [1-3. Functional overview of the system control unit] [1-3-1. Stamp management server] Next, a functional overview of the system control unit 11 of the stamp card management server 1 will be described with reference to Fig. 6 to Fig. 11. Fig. 6 is a diagram showing an example of a functional block of the system control unit 11 of the stamp card management server 1 according to this embodiment. The system control unit 11 may function as a payment related information acquisition unit 1101, a compatible store information acquisition unit 1102, an assignment unit 1103, a stamp information storage control unit 1104, a stamp card screen information transmission unit 1105, and a history screen information transmission unit 1106, etc., as shown in Fig. 6, by the CPU 11a reading and executing various program codes included in the stamp card management program.

[0084] The payment-related information acquisition unit 1101 may acquire payment information indicating that a payment has been made using a payment means. The acquired payment information may include payment means user information. The payment means user information may be information indicating a user who has used the payment means. The payment means user information may be, for example, a user ID. Alternatively, the payment means user information may be other information. For example, the payment means user information may be information that identifies a user by a payment service corresponding to the payment means. The payment information may also include payment means use transaction information regarding a transaction in which the payment means was used. The payment means use transaction information may include, for example, information indicating the contents of the transaction. The payment means use transaction information may or may not include information that can identify the transaction. For example, the payment means use transaction information may include at least one of information indicating a user who made a transaction, information indicating a business or store that made a transaction with a user, the time when the transaction was made or the time when the payment means was used, information indicating the object of the transaction, and the payment amount. The time when the transaction was made or the time when the payment means was used may include at least one of a date and a time. The information indicating a user who made a transaction may be payment means use user information.

[0085] Here, the payment-related information acquisition unit 1101 may acquire, for each of two or more predetermined payment means, payment information indicating that the payment means has been used. The two or more predetermined payment means may be all of the multiple payment means for which payment information can be acquired from the respective payment systems 4 corresponding to those payment means, or may be some of those payment means.

[0086] The payment-related information acquisition unit 1101 may acquire point card use information indicating that the point card has been used. The acquired point card use information may include point card user information. The point card user information may be information indicating a user who has used the point card. The point card user information may be, for example, a user ID. Alternatively, the point card user information may be other information. The point card user information may also include point card use transaction information regarding a transaction in which the point card was used. The point card use transaction information may include, for example, information indicating the contents of the transaction. The point card use transaction information may or may not include information that can identify the transaction. For example, the point card use transaction information may include at least one of information indicating the user who performed the transaction, information indicating the business operator or store who performed the transaction with the user, the time when the transaction was performed or the time when the point card was used, information indicating the transaction object, and the payment amount. The time when the transaction was performed or the time when the point card was used may include at least one of the date and time. As described above, the point card may or may not be included in the payment means. When a point card is included in the payment method, the point card usage information may correspond to payment information.

[0087] In this embodiment, the payment-related information acquisition unit 1101 may acquire payment-related information as each of the payment information and the point card usage information from the member information management server 2. Here, the payment-related information acquisition unit 1101 may acquire payment information of at least one payment method from the payment system 4. In addition, the payment-related information acquisition unit 1101 may acquire point card usage information from the point program system 3.

[0088] The corresponding store information acquisition unit 1102 may acquire stamp card corresponding store information indicating at least one store corresponding to the stamp card. For example, the corresponding store information acquisition unit 1102 may acquire all stamp card corresponding store information including the stamp card ID of the stamp card from the stamp card corresponding store DB 14e.

[0089] The assigning unit 1103 may assign a stamp to the user of the stamp card based on the payment information acquired by the payment-related information acquisition unit 1101 and user information indicating the user of the stamp card. The user information may be, for example, a user ID. The assigning unit 1103 may assign a stamp to the user of the stamp card when the user uses the user's own payment means. The assigning unit 1103 may also assign a stamp to the user of the stamp card when, for example, a family member of the user of the stamp card uses the user's payment means. The assigning unit 1103 may not assign a stamp simply because the user has purchased a transaction object. The assigning unit 1103 may assign a stamp when the user uses a specified payment means and is a user of the stamp card.

[0090] Here, the granting unit 1103 may grant a stamp on the condition that any one of two or more predetermined payment means is used. In this case, the granting unit 1103 may grant a stamp even if any one of the two or more predetermined payment means is used. For example, the two or more payment means include a predetermined first payment means and a predetermined second payment means different from the first payment means. The conditions for granting a stamp to a user include at least a first condition of using the first payment means and a second condition of using the second payment means. The user can acquire a stamp when the first condition is satisfied. The user can also acquire a stamp when the second condition is satisfied. The granting unit 1103 may grant a stamp in real time in response to the use of a payment means. Alternatively, the granting unit 1103 may grant a stamp in batches. Note that granting a stamp on the condition that any one of two or more payment means is used includes a case where only the use is a condition, but also includes a case where the stamp is granted in combination with the use of the payment means and other conditions. For example, a stamp may be given if a payment amount equal to or exceeds a predetermined amount even if any of two or more payment methods is used.

[0091] The assigning unit 1103 may assign a stamp regardless of where the payment means is used. Alternatively, the assigning unit 1103 may assign a stamp for each stamp card when the payment means is used at a store that is predetermined as the store corresponding to that stamp card. Alternatively, the assigning unit 1103 may assign a stamp when the payment means is used in a predetermined electronic commerce service regardless of the stamp card. Alternatively, the assigning unit 1103 may assign a stamp for each stamp card when the payment means is used in a predetermined electronic commerce service for that stamp card.

[0092] For example, the granting unit 1103 may grant a stamp on the condition that the payment is made to at least one store indicated by the stamp card compatible store information acquired by the compatible store information acquisition unit 1102, and that one of two or more predetermined payment methods is used.

[0093] The rules for selecting a store corresponding to a stamp card may be determined in advance. For example, when the stamp card corresponds to a single store, the store may be all affiliated stores of two or more predetermined payment methods. When the stamp card corresponds to a plurality of stores, each store may be all affiliated stores of two or more predetermined payment methods. Alternatively, each store may be an affiliated store of at least one of the two or more predetermined payment methods. However, in order to grant a stamp to a user regardless of which of the two or more payment methods is used, it may be determined that each affiliated store of the two or more payment methods must be included in the plurality of stores corresponding to the stamp card.

[0094] The two or more predetermined payment means may include a payment means that can be used to pay for offline transactions and a payment means that is different from the payment means and can be used to pay for online transactions. For example, the two or more predetermined payment means may include code payment and ID payment. Code payment is available for offline transactions, and ID payment is available for online transactions. Here, the store corresponding to the stamp card may include both offline stores and online stores operated by the same business operator. Also, for example, the store corresponding to the stamp card may include an offline store operated by a first business operator and an online store operated by a second business operator related to the first business operator. In this case, the granting unit 1103 may grant a stamp when a predetermined first payment means is used at the offline store of the business operator. Also, the granting unit 1103 may grant a stamp when a predetermined second payment means is used at an offline store operated by the business operator or a related party of the business operator. The first payment means and the second payment means may be different from each other. The first payment means may be code payment, for example. The second payment method may be, for example, ID payment.

[0095] The two or more predetermined payment methods may include two or more code payments. In this case, the two or more code payments may include payment by point card. The difference between the point card and normal code payment other than the point card may be whether or not points in a point program can be used to pay the price. In normal code payment, the price is paid with a pre-charged balance or a payment method pre-linked to the code payment.

[0096] Although partially overlapping with the above description, the granting unit 1103 may grant points to a user of a stamp card on the condition that the point card has been used, based on the point card usage information and user information acquired by the payment-related information acquisition unit 1101. The granting unit 1103 may grant points regardless of whether the point card has been used for the purpose of acquiring or using points, for example. The granting unit 1103 may grant a stamp to a user of a stamp card when the user uses his or her own point card. The granting unit 1103 may also grant a stamp to a user of a stamp card when, for example, a family member of the stamp card user uses the point card of the user.

[0097] Here, the granting unit 1103 may grant a stamp based on the payment information, the point card use information, and the user information. The granting unit 1103 may grant points on the condition that either the payment means or the point card is used. At this time, the granting unit 1103 may grant points regardless of whether the payment means or the point card is used. Therefore, the user of the stamp card can obtain a stamp even if the payment means is used, and can obtain a stamp even if the point card is used. The payment means in this case may be a payment means different from the point card. There may be one payment means to which the stamp is granted, or there may be two or more. When there are two or more payment means to which the stamp is granted, as described above, the granting unit 1103 may grant a stamp regardless of whether any of the two or more payment means is used. Here, the business providing the payment means and the business providing the point card may be the same or different.

[0098] 7(a) to 7(d) are diagrams showing examples of stamp giving. For example, the two or more predetermined payment methods include a predetermined code payment, a predetermined point card, and a predetermined ID payment. As shown in FIG. 7(a), a stamp card 110 is issued to a certain user U1. As shown in FIG. 7(b), the user U1 purchases a product at an offline sporting goods store 210. At this time, the user U1 makes the user terminal 8-1 held by the user U1 display code information on the screen and makes the store terminal 5 read the code information, thereby paying the price using the code payment. The sporting goods store 210 corresponds to the stamp card 110. In response to this payment, the giving unit 1103 gives a stamp to the user U1. As a result, the number of stamps pressed on the stamp card 110 becomes one. After that, as shown in FIG. 7(c), the user U1 uses a hair salon 220. At this time, the user U1 pays the usage fee with cash and earns points using the point card 310. The hair salon 220 corresponds to the stamp card 110. In response to this payment, the granting unit 1103 grants a stamp to the user U1. As a result, the number of stamps on the stamp card 110 becomes two. Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 7(d), the user U1 operates the user terminal 8-1 to purchase a product at a sporting goods store 230 in a predetermined online shopping mall. The operator of the online sporting goods store 230 is the same as the operator of the offline sporting goods store 210. The user U1 paid the price using ID payment. The sporting goods store 230 corresponds to the stamp card 110. In response to this payment, the granting unit 1103 grants a stamp to the user U1. As a result, the number of stamps on the stamp card 110 becomes three.

[0099] The granting unit 1103 may grant one stamp for each use of a payment method and a point card. Alternatively, the granting unit 1103 may grant stamps according to the accumulated payment amount. For example, assume that one stamp is granted for every 1,000 yen. For example, a user uses a payment method to pay for 500 yen. In this case, no stamp is granted. Then, the user makes a payment for 800 yen. Since the accumulated payment amount is 1,300 yen, one stamp is granted.

[0100] The granting unit 1103 may grant a stamp only when the manner of use of the payment-related means satisfies a predetermined granting condition when the payment-related means is used. Therefore, in order to obtain a stamp, the user may be required to use the payment-related means and satisfy the granting condition. The granting condition may be common to all stamp cards. Alternatively, the granting condition may be set by the creator for each stamp card. Depending on the stamp card, the granting condition may not be set. Examples of the granting condition include a purchased transaction object being a predetermined transaction object, a payment amount being a predetermined amount or more, a date of use of the payment-related means being within a predetermined period (including a predetermined day of the week), a time of use of the payment-related means being within a predetermined time period, and a number of points acquired by the user by using the payment-related means being a predetermined number or more. Regarding the granting of stamps according to the accumulated value of the payment amount as described above, the amount of the stamp to be granted may also be determined. Note that using the payment-related means at a store or electronic commerce service corresponding to the stamp card may be included in the granting condition, or may correspond to a condition other than the granting condition.

[0101] The point card can be used in combination with a payment method. For example, a user can use a payment method to pay for a purchase and earn points with a point card. A user can also use both a payment method and a point card to pay for a purchase. When a payment method and a point card are used in combination in the same transaction, the assigning unit 1103 may assign a stamp only to either the use of the payment method or the use of the point card. That is, the assigning unit 1103 may prevent double assignment of stamps in the same transaction. Here, the assigning unit 1103 may assign a stamp only to the use of the payment method, or may assign a stamp only to the use of the point card. Alternatively, the assigning unit 1103 may determine whether a stamp is assigned to either the use of the payment method or the use of the point card, depending on the situation at the time. The assigning unit 1103 may determine whether a payment method and a point card are used in combination in the same transaction, based on the payment method use transaction information included in the payment information and the point card use transaction information included in the point card use information. For example, the granting unit 1103 may determine that a payment method and a point card have been used in combination when the payment method usage transaction information and the point card usage transaction information match. When the payment method usage transaction information and the usage transaction information include the time of use of the payment method and the time of use of the point card, respectively, the granting unit 1103 may determine that a payment method and a point card may have been used in combination when the difference between the usage times is less than a predetermined value. Note that the granting unit 1103 may allow duplicate granting of stamps.

[0102] 8(a) and (b) are diagrams showing examples of stamps. For example, suppose that stamps are given in response to the use of a predetermined code payment and in response to the use of a predetermined point card. As shown in FIG. 8(a), a stamp card 120 is issued to a certain user U2. As shown in FIG. 8(b), the user U2 purchases a product at a supermarket 240. At this time, the user U2 makes the code information appear on the screen of the user terminal 8-2 possessed by the user U2, and makes the store terminal 5 read the code information, thereby paying for the product using the code payment. The user U2 also earns points by using the point card 310. The supermarket 240 corresponds to the stamp card 120. FIG. 8(c) is a diagram showing an example of payment information and point card usage information. As shown in FIG. 8(c), the payment information corresponding to the use of the payment means shown in FIG. 8(b) and the point card usage information corresponding to the use of the point card each include a user ID, a store ID, a usage date and time, and a payment amount. The user ID, store ID, date and time of use, and payment amount are the same between the payment method and the point card usage information. Therefore, the granting unit 1103 determines that code payment and a point card have been used in combination. As a result, as shown in FIG. 8(b), the granting unit 1103 grants one stamp instead of two. Note that it may be determined that the transactions are the same when part of the payment information and the point card usage information are the same. In addition, in a store where code payment and a point card can be used in combination, it may be specified in advance that a stamp will be granted only to one of them.

[0103] In addition, in a situation where code payment or ID payment is used, two payment methods may be used simultaneously. For example, if a payment method such as a credit card is linked to code payment or ID payment, when code payment or ID payment is used, the price is ultimately settled with the linked payment method. In this case, the stamping unit 1103 may or may not stamp twice.

[0104] When the granting unit 1103 grants a stamp to a user of a stamp card, in addition to granting the stamp, the granting unit 1103 may grant a special benefit different from the stamp to the user. This special benefit is granted on the condition that the user has a stamp card. The condition for granting the special benefit is different from that of a conventional special benefit that is granted on the condition that the user uses a payment-related means even if the user does not have a stamp card. Examples of the special benefit to be granted include points of a point program, coupons, electronic money, and the like. The granting unit 1103 may grant the special benefit regardless of which payment means is used, as long as any of the payment means included in two or more predetermined payment means is used. In addition, the granting unit 1103 may grant the special benefit regardless of whether the payment means is used or the point card is used. The value of the special benefit to be granted may be determined in advance, for example. The granting unit 1103 may grant the special benefit in real time in response to the use of the payment means or the point card. Alternatively, the granting unit 1103 may grant the special benefit in batches. In the following, a description will be given assuming that points of a point program are granted.

[0105] 9(a) and (b) are diagrams showing an example of point allocation. For example, a stamp is allocated in response to the use of a predetermined credit card, and a stamp is allocated in response to the use of a predetermined point card. As shown in FIG. 9(a), a user U3 is a user who uses a stamp card 130. The user U3 purchases a product at a convenience store 250. At this time, the user U3 pays the price using a credit card. In response to this payment, the allocation unit 1103 allocates a stamp to the user U3. In addition, the allocation unit 1103 allocates 10 points to the user U3. As shown in FIG. 9(b), the user U3 purchases a product at a bookstore 260. At this time, the user U3 pays the price using both cash and the point card 330. In response to this payment, the allocation unit 1103 allocates a stamp to the user U3. In addition, the allocation unit 1103 allocates 10 points to the user U3.

[0106] When a stamp is granted by the granting unit 1103, the stamp information storage control unit 1104 may store a stamp acquisition log indicating that the stamp has been granted in the storage unit 14 in association with user information indicating the user of the stamp card. The stored stamp acquisition log may be information capable of identifying the payment means used among two or more predetermined payment means. The stamp acquisition log may also be information capable of identifying the means used among the payment means and the point card. For example, it may be possible to identify the means used from a payment-related means ID included in the stamp acquisition log. The user information may be a user ID.

[0107] The stamp card screen information transmission unit 1105 may transmit stamp card screen display information to the user terminal 8 of the user of the stamp card. The stamp card screen display information may be information that causes the user terminal 8 to display a screen of the stamp card including the stamp added by the adding unit 1103. The stamp card screen may be configured, for example, as a web page. In this case, the stamp card screen display information may be an HTML (HyperText Markup Language) document. Alternatively, the stamp card screen display information may be other information. Here, the stamp card screen information transmission unit 1105 may vary the display mode of the stamp on the stamp card screen according to the means used based on the stamp acquisition log associated with the user information of the user of the stamp card. This allows the user to recognize what means was used to acquire the stamp. Examples of the display mode include the shape, color, and pattern of the stamp image, the characters themselves in the stamp image, and the style, size, thickness, color, and pattern of the characters.

[0108] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a stamp card screen. For example, on the initial screen of a stamp card application or the initial screen of a stamp card website, a user selects a stamp card for displaying the stamp card screen from among stamp cards currently issued to the user. In response to this selection, as shown in FIG. 10, the user terminal 8 may display a stamp card screen 400. The stamp card screen 400 may include a stamp card name 410, a stamp card image 420, and a stamp acquisition history display menu item 440, etc. The stamp name 410 indicates the name of the selected stamp card. The stamp card image 420 is an image showing a stamp card. The stamp card image 420 may include, for example, stamp column images 421, 422, 423, 424, 425, 426, 427, 428, 429, and 430. Each stamp column image is an image showing a stamp column. Stamp column images 421, 422, 423, 424, 425, 426, 427, 428, 429, and 430 correspond to the first, second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh, eighth, ninth, and tenth stamp columns, respectively. Stamp column images 421, 422, 423, 424, and 425 each include a stamp image. A stamp image is an image showing a stamp. Stamp column images 426, 427, 428, 429, and 430 do not include a stamp image. Therefore, five stamps are currently stored. The stamp image shown in FIG. 10 includes characters indicating the name of the means used. For example, the stamp images included in stamp column images 421 and 422 indicate that ID payment has been used. The stamp images included in stamp column images 423 and 425 indicate that code payment has been used. The stamp image included in stamp column image 424 indicates that a point card has been used. The display stamp acquisition history menu item 440 is an element that can be operated to display a screen showing the stamp acquisition history for the selected stamp card.

[0109] The history screen information transmission unit 1106 may transmit the history screen information to the user terminal 8 of the user of the stamp card. The history screen information may be information that causes the user terminal 8 to display a screen of the stamp acquisition history. The screen of the stamp acquisition history may be configured, for example, as a web page. In this case, the history screen information may be an HTML document. Alternatively, the history screen information may be other information. Here, the history screen information transmission unit 1106 may display the means of use information indicating the means used together with the stamp card history on the screen of the stamp card history based on the stamp acquisition log associated with the user information of the user of the stamp card. The history screen information transmission unit 1106 may display the stamp acquisition history and the means of use information in a manner in which the means of use information is associated with each stamp acquisition log.

[0110] FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of a stamp card acquisition history page. For example, on the initial screen of a stamp card application or the initial screen of a stamp card website, a user selects to display a stamp acquisition history. In response to this selection, as shown in FIG. 11, the user terminal 8 may display a stamp acquisition history 500. The stamp acquisition history 500 may include one or more stamp acquisition log display fields 510. The stamp acquisition log display field 510 shows a stamp acquisition log corresponding to one stamp acquisition. The stamp acquisition log display field 510 may display, for example, the most recent date and time of use of the payment-related means used. Alternatively, the stamp acquisition log display field 510 may display the stores where the payment-related means was used in order of proximity from the current location of the user terminal 8. Each stamp acquisition log display field 510 may include a stamp card name 521, a stamp acquisition date and time 522, a place of use name 523, a means of use name 524, and a total number of stamps acquired 525. The stamp card name 521 shows the name of the stamp from which the user has acquired the stamp. The stamp acquisition date and time 522 indicates the date and time when the stamp was acquired. The date and time when the stamp was acquired may correspond to the date and time when the payment-related means was used. The name of the place of use 523 indicates a famous place at the place where the user used the payment-related means. If the place where the payment-related means was used is a store, the name of the place of use 523 indicates a famous place at the store. If the place where the payment-related means was used is an electronic commerce service, the name of the place of use 523 may indicate the name of the electronic commerce service or the name of the online store where the payment-related means was used in the electronic commerce service. The name of the means of use 524 indicates the name of the payment-related means used. The total number of stamps acquired 525 indicates the total number of stamps acquired by the user on the stamp card. The current number of stamps indicates the number of stamps pressed only on the most recently issued stamp card. In contrast, the total number of stamps acquired 525 indicates the number of stamps pressed on all stamp cards issued up to the present time, including stamp cards issued in the past.

[0111] When a user operates the stamp acquisition history display menu item 440 on the stamp card screen 400 shown in FIG. 10, the history screen information transmission unit 1106 may generate history screen information so that the user terminal 8 displays the stamp acquisition history only for the stamp cards issued to the user and whose information is displayed on the stamp card screen 400.

[0112] [1-3-2. Membership information management server] Next, a functional overview of the system control unit 21 of the member information management server 2 will be described with reference to Fig. 12. Fig. 12 is a diagram showing an example of a functional block of the system control unit 21 of the member information management server 2 according to this embodiment. As shown in Fig. 12, the system control unit 21 may function as a payment-related information acquisition unit 2101, a payment-related information transmission unit 2102, etc., by the CPU 21a reading and executing various program codes included in the member information management program.

[0113] The payment related information acquisition unit 2101 may acquire payment information of the payment means supported by each of the payment systems 4 from each of the multiple payment systems 4. The payment related information acquisition unit 2101 may acquire payment information from different payment systems 4 for each payment means. The payment related information acquisition unit 2101 may acquire payment information in real time or in batches according to the use of the payment means. The format of the payment information acquired from the payment system 4 may be a format unique to the payment means. The payment related information acquisition unit 2101 may convert the format of the acquired payment information into a format of the payment related information stored in the payment related information DB 24b. Then, the payment related information acquisition unit 2101 may store the payment information in the payment related information DB 24b as the payment related information. The payment means user information included in the payment information may be a user ID or may not be. For example, the payment means user information included in the payment information of a credit card may be a credit card number. The payment related information acquisition unit 2101 may convert the payment means user information into a user ID. For example, conversion may be performed based on a table showing the correspondence between payment method user information and user ID. This table may be stored, for example, in the memory unit 24 of the member information management server 2, or in the payment system 4. The payment related information acquisition unit 2101 may identify the payment method, for example, based on which payment system 4 the payment information was sent from. The payment related information acquisition unit 2101 may add a payment related method ID indicating the identified payment method to the payment related information. The payment related information acquisition unit 2101 may also add a new payment related information ID to the payment related information.

[0114] The payment-related information acquisition unit 2101 may acquire point card usage information from the point program system 3. The payment-related information acquisition unit 2101 may acquire the point card usage information in real time in response to the use of the point card, or may acquire it in batches. Similarly to the payment information, the payment-related information acquisition unit 2101 may convert the format of the point card usage information into the format of the payment-related information and store it in the payment-related information DB 24b. The payment-related information acquisition unit 2101 may convert the point card user information included in the point card usage information into a user ID. The payment-related information acquisition unit 2101 may add a payment-related means ID indicating the point card to the payment-related information.

[0115] The payment-related information transmitting unit 2102 may transmit the payment information acquired by the payment-related information acquiring unit 2101 to the stamp card management server 1. For example, in response to a request from the stamp card management server 1, the payment-related information transmitting unit 2102 may transmit the payment information stored in the payment-related information DB 24b as the payment-related information.

[0116] Furthermore, the payment-related information transmitting unit 2102 may transmit the point card usage information acquired by the payment-related information acquiring unit 2101 to the stamp card management server 1. For example, in response to a request from the stamp card management server 1, the payment-related information transmitting unit 2102 may transmit the point card usage information stored in the payment-related information DB 24b as payment-related information.

[0117] [1-4. Operation of communication system] Next, the operation of the communication system S will be described with reference to Figs. 13 to 18. The system control unit 11 of the stamp card management server 1 may execute the processes shown in Figs. 13 to 18 according to the program code included in the stamp card management program. The system control unit 21 of the member information management server 2 may execute the process shown in Fig. 13 according to the program code included in the member information management program. The processes shown in these figures are examples, and any process may be executed as long as the purpose is achieved. The order of the processes is not limited to the order shown in these figures. Furthermore, at least one of the steps shown in these figures may not be executed.

[0118] FIG. 13 is a sequence diagram showing an example of the operation of the communication system S according to this embodiment. As shown in FIG. 13, the payment system 4 transmits payment information to the member information management server 2 at any time or at a specified timing. In addition, the point program system 3 transmits point card usage information to the member information management server 2 at any time or at a specified timing (step S1). The payment-related information acquisition unit 2101 of the member information management server 2 stores the received payment information and point card usage information as payment-related information in the payment-related information DB 24b (step S2). At this time, the payment-related information acquisition unit 2101 may add a payment-related means ID to the payment-related information.

[0119] The payment-related information acquisition unit 1101 of the stamp card management server 1 transmits a payment-related information request to the member information management server 2 at a predetermined time interval (step S3). The payment-related information request indicates a request for payment-related information. Examples of the transmission interval of the payment-related information request include several seconds, several minutes, several hours, and one day. The payment-related information transmission unit 2102 of the member information management server 2 that has received the payment-related information request transmits, to the stamp card management server 1, one or more pieces of payment-related information that have been newly stored in the payment-related information DB 24b between the time of receiving the previous payment-related information request and the time of receiving the current payment-related information request (step S4). The transmitted payment-related information may include the payment information of each of two or more predetermined payment means. In addition, the transmitted payment-related information may or may not include point card usage information. The payment-related information acquisition unit 1101 of the stamp card management server 1 that has received the payment-related information stores the received payment-related information in the payment-related information DB 14g (step S5).

[0120] Next, the payment-related information acquisition unit 1101 selects one of the payment-related information received this time from the member information management server 2 (step S6). For example, the payment-related information acquisition unit 1101 may acquire the payment-related information with the oldest usage date and time. Next, the addition unit 1103 executes stamp control processing for the selected payment-related information (step S7).

[0121] FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing an example of stamp control processing executed by the system control unit 11 of the stamp card management server 1 according to this embodiment. As shown in FIG. 14, the granting unit 1103 judges whether the user who used the payment-related means is a user of any stamp card based on the selected payment-related information (step S101). For example, the granting unit 1103 may obtain a user ID from the payment-related information. The granting unit 1103 may search for issued card information including the user ID from the issued card DB 14f. If there is the corresponding issued card information, the granting unit 1103 may judge that the user who used the payment-related means is a user of the stamp card. If the user who used the payment-related means is not a user of the stamp card (step S101: NO), the stamp control processing ends.

[0122] If the user who used the payment-related means is a stamp card user (step S101: YES), the assigning unit 1103 acquires stamp card information from the stamp card DB 14d (step S102). For example, the assigning unit 1103 may acquire a stamp card ID from each of the searched issued card information. The assigning unit 1103 may acquire stamp card information including the stamp card ID. Next, the assigning unit 1103 acquires stamp card compatible store information including the stamp card ID from the stamp card compatible store DB 14e (step S103). Next, the assigning unit 1103 determines whether the store where the payment-related means was used is a store corresponding to any of the stamp cards used by the user (step S104). For example, the assigning unit 1103 may acquire a store ID from the payment-related information. If this store ID matches a store ID included in any of the acquired stamp card compatible store information, the assigning unit 1103 may determine that the store where the payment-related means was used is a store corresponding to the stamp card. If the store where the payment-related means was used does not support any stamp cards (step S104: NO), the stamp control process ends.

[0123] If the store where the payment-related means was used is a store corresponding to any of the stamp cards (step S104: YES), the granting unit 1103 identifies the stamp card information of the stamp card where the payment-related means was used at the corresponding store from among the acquired stamp card information. The granting unit 1103 determines whether the granting condition is met based on the payment-related information and the granting condition information included in the identified stamp card information (step S105). If the granting condition is not met (step S105: NO), the stamp control process ends.

[0124] If the granting condition is satisfied (step S105: YES), the granting unit 1103 judges whether the payment-related means used by the user is a point card based on the payment-related means ID included in the payment-related information (step S106). If the payment-related means used by the user is a point card (step S106: YES), the granting unit 1103 searches the payment-related information DB 14g for payment-related information indicating that the payment means was used in the same transaction as the transaction in which the point card was used (step S107). For example, the granting unit 1103 may acquire at least one predetermined piece of information from the selected payment-related information, among the user ID, the store ID, the payment amount, the date of use, and the time of use. In addition, the granting unit 1103 may search the stamp acquisition history DB 14h for a stamp acquisition log including a combination of the user ID acquired in step S101 and the stamp card ID of the stamp card determined to satisfy the granting condition in step S105. The assigning unit 1103 may acquire a payment-related information ID from each stamp acquisition log that has been searched. The assigning unit 1103 may search the payment-related information DB 14g for payment-related information including, for each acquired payment-related information ID, the payment-related information ID, a payment-related means ID indicating a payment means other than a point card, and information that matches the information acquired from the selected payment-related information. As a result of the search, the assigning unit 1103 determines whether or not there is corresponding payment-related information (step S108). If there is corresponding payment-related information (step S108: YES), the stamp control process ends. If there is no corresponding payment-related information (step S108: NO), the assigning unit 1103 executes a stamp assigning process (step S111). Details of the stamp assigning process will be described later.

[0125] If the payment-related means used by the user is a payment means other than a point card (step S106: NO), the assigning unit 1103 searches the payment-related information DB 14g for payment-related information indicating that a point card was used in the same transaction as the transaction in which the payment means was used (step S109). Step S109 may be the same as step S107, except that the search target is payment-related information related to a point card. As a result of the search, the assigning unit 1103 determines whether or not there is corresponding payment-related information (step S110). If there is corresponding payment-related information (step S110: YES), the stamp control process ends. If there is no corresponding payment-related information (step S110: NO), the assigning unit 1103 executes the stamp assigning process (step S111).

[0126] FIG. 15 is a flowchart showing an example of a stamp giving process executed by the system control unit 11 of the stamp card management server 1 according to this embodiment. As shown in FIG. 15, the giving unit 1103 searches the issued card DB 14f for issued card information including a combination of the user ID of the user who used the payment-related means and the stamp card ID of the stamp card determined to satisfy the adding condition (step S201). Next, the giving unit 1103 adds 1 to the current stamp number included in the searched issued card information to update the current stamp number (step S202). Next, the stamp information storage control unit 1104 stores the stamp acquisition log in the stamp acquisition history DB 14h (step S203). At this time, the stamp information storage control unit 1104 may obtain the issued card number, stamp card ID, number of issued cards, and current stamp number after update from the searched issued card information. The stamp information storage control unit 1104 may also obtain the user ID, payment-related means ID, store ID, date and time of use, and payment-related information ID from the selected payment-related information. The stamp information storage control unit 1104 may also set the stamp section number to the current stamp number. The stamp information storage control unit 1104 may generate a stamp acquisition log including the information acquired from the issued card information and the payment related information, as well as the stamp section number. The stamp information storage control unit 1104 may include the usage date and time in the stamp acquisition log as the stamp acquisition date and time.

[0127] Next, the granting unit 1103 acquires the privilege setting information stored in the stamp card DB 14d in association with the stamp card ID included in the searched issued card information. The granting unit 1103 judges whether the updated stamp number matches any of the privilege stamp numbers included in the privilege setting information (step S204). If the current stamp number matches any of the privilege stamp numbers (step S204: YES), the granting unit 1103 changes the privilege status stored in the privilege DB 14i in association with the same combination of the bonus stamp number that matches the current stamp number, the issued card number, the user ID, and the number of issued cards included in the searched issued card information to "available" (step S205).

[0128] After step S205, or if the current stamp number does not match any of the bonus stamp numbers (step S204: NO), the granting unit 1103 judges whether the current stamp number matches the number of stamp columns (step S206). If the current stamp number matches the number of stamp columns (step S206: YES), the granting unit 1103 adds 1 to the issued number included in the searched issued card information to update the issued number (step S207). Next, the granting unit 1103 changes the current stamp number included in the searched issued card information to 0 (step S208). Next, the granting unit 1103 generates new bonus information and stores it in the bonus DB 14i (step S209). At this time, the granting unit 1103 may obtain the number of bonus stamps from the bonus setting information. The granting unit 1103 may generate, for each acquired number of bonus stamps, bonus information including the same combination of the issued card number, the stamp card ID, the user ID, and the updated number of issued cards included in the issued card information, the number of bonus stamps, and a bonus status indicating "unused." After step S209, the stamp granting process ends.

[0129] Returning to FIG. 14, when the stamp giving process is completed, the giving unit 1103 executes a point giving process (step S112).

[0130] FIG. 16 is a flowchart showing an example of a point granting process executed by the system control unit 11 of the stamp card management server 1 according to this embodiment. As shown in FIG. 16, the granting unit 1103 generates a point addition request (step S301). The point addition request indicates a request to add a set number of points to the number of available points of any user. For example, the granting unit 1103 may generate a point addition request including the user ID of the user who used the payment-related means and a predetermined number of points. Next, the granting unit 1103 transmits the generated point addition request to the point program system 3 (step S302), and the point granting process ends. The point program system 3 adds the number of points included in the point addition request to the number of available points associated with the user ID included in the point addition request, among the number of available points stored in the point program system 3. This updates the number of available points.

[0131] Returning to FIG. 14, when the point allocation process is completed, the stamp control process is terminated. Returning to FIG. 13, when the stamp control process is completed, the payment-related information acquisition unit 1101 of the stamp card management server 1 determines whether or not there is any payment-related information that has not yet been selected among the payment-related information received from the member information management server 2 (step S8). If there is any payment-related information that has not yet been selected (step S8: YES), the process proceeds to step S6. In step S6, the payment-related information acquisition unit 1101 selects one piece of payment-related information from the payment-related information that has not yet been selected among the payment-related information received from the member information management server 2. At this time, the payment-related information acquisition unit 1101 may acquire the payment-related information in order of the oldest usage date and time. If all the payment-related information has been selected (step S8: NO), the process shown in FIG. 13 is terminated.

[0132] FIG. 17 is a flowchart showing an example of stamp screen information transmission processing executed by the system control unit 11 of the stamp card management server 1 according to this embodiment. For example, a user operates the user terminal 8 to select a stamp card on which a stamp screen is to be displayed. The user terminal 8, upon detecting this selection, may transmit a stamp screen information request to the stamp card management server 1. The stamp screen information request indicates a request for an HTML document of the stamp screen. The stamp screen information request may include the stamp card ID of the selected stamp card and the user ID of the user who made the selection. The system control unit 11 may execute the stamp screen information transmission processing in response to receiving the stamp screen information request from the user terminal 8.

[0133] As shown in FIG. 17, the stamp card screen information transmission unit 1105 acquires a template of an HTML document of a stamp screen from the storage unit 14 (step S401). This HTML document includes tag information for displaying a stamp card image. This tag information may include a URL of data of each stamp field image included in the stamp card image. The default URL included in this tag information may be a URL of data of a stamp field image indicating that a stamp is not applied. Next, the stamp card screen information transmission unit 1105 searches the stamp card DB 14d for stamp card information including the stamp card ID included in the stamp screen information request. In addition, the stamp card screen information transmission unit 1105 searches the issued card DB 14f for issued card information including a combination of the stamp card ID and the user ID included in the stamp screen information request (step S402). Next, the stamp card screen information transmission unit 1105 acquires a stamp name from the stamp card information. The stamp card screen information transmission unit 1105 adds the acquired stamp name to the HTML document (step S403). Next, the stamp card screen information transmission unit 1105 sets the stamp column number i to 1 (step S404). Next, the stamp card screen information transmission unit 1105 searches the stamp acquisition history DB 14h for a stamp acquisition log including a combination of the stamp card ID and user ID included in the stamp screen information request and the stamp column number indicating the i-th stamp column number (step S405). As a result of the search, the stamp card screen information transmission unit 1105 judges whether or not there is a corresponding stamp acquisition log (step S406). If there is a corresponding stamp acquisition log (step S406: YES), the stamp card screen information transmission unit 1105 acquires a payment-related means ID from the searched stamp acquisition log (step S407). Next, the stamp card screen information transmission unit 1105 rewrites the URL of the data of the i-th stamp column image among the URLs of the stamp column image included in the HTML document of the stamp screen to the URL of the data of the stamp column image including the stamp image corresponding to the payment-related means indicated by the acquired payment-related means ID (step S408).After step S408, or if there is no corresponding stamp acquisition log (step S406: NO), the stamp card screen information transmission unit 1105 judges whether the stamp column number i is less than the number of stamp columns (step S409). If the stamp column number i is less than the number of stamp columns (step S410: YES), the stamp card screen information transmission unit 1105 adds 1 to the stamp column number i to update the stamp column number i (step S410). Next, the process proceeds to step S405. If the stamp column number i matches the number of stamp columns (step S410: NO), the stamp card screen information transmission unit 1105 transmits the HTML document of the stamp screen to the user terminal 8 (step S411), and the stamp screen information transmission process ends.

[0134] The user terminal 8, which has received the HTML document from the stamp card management server 1, displays a stamp card screen based on this HTML document. At this time, the user terminal 8 displays the stamp card name included in the HTML document. The user terminal 8 also displays a stamp card image. The user terminal 8 transmits a stamp column image request to the stamp card management server 1 for each stamp column. The stamp column image request includes a URL for the data of the stamp column image included in the HTML document. The stamp card management server 1 transmits image data corresponding to the URL included in the stamp column image request to the user terminal 8. The user terminal 8 displays an image of each stamp column on the stamp card image based on the image data received from the stamp card management server 1.

[0135] FIG. 18 is a flowchart showing an example of a stamp acquisition history screen information transmission process executed by the system control unit 11 of the stamp card management server 1 according to this embodiment. For example, the user operates the user terminal 8 to select display of the stamp acquisition history screen. The user terminal 8 that detects this selection may transmit a stamp acquisition history screen information request to the stamp card management server 1. The stamp acquisition history screen information request indicates a request for an HTML document of the stamp acquisition history screen. The stamp acquisition history screen information request may include the user ID of the user who made the selection. If the user selects a stamp card, the stamp acquisition history screen information request may further include the stamp card ID of the selected stamp card. The system control unit 11 may execute a stamp acquisition history screen information transmission process in response to receiving the stamp acquisition history screen information request from the user terminal 8.

[0136] As shown in FIG. 18, the history screen information transmission unit 1106 acquires a template of an HTML document of a stamp acquisition history screen from the storage unit 14 (step S501). Next, the history screen information transmission unit 1106 judges whether a stamp card is selected based on whether the stamp acquisition history screen information request includes a stamp card ID (step S502). If a stamp card is selected (step S502: YES), the history screen information transmission unit 1106 searches the stamp acquisition history DB 14h for a stamp acquisition log including a combination that matches the combination of the user ID and the stamp card ID included in the stamp acquisition history screen information request (step S503). If a stamp card is not selected (step S502: NO), the history screen information transmission unit 1106 searches the stamp acquisition history DB 14h for a stamp acquisition log including a user ID that matches the user ID included in the stamp acquisition history screen information request (step S504).

[0137] After step S503 or step S504, the history screen information transmission unit 1106 selects one of the stamp acquisition logs from the searched stamp acquisition logs (step S505). For example, the history screen information transmission unit 1106 may select the stamp acquisition log with the most recent stamp acquisition date and time. Next, the history screen information transmission unit 1106 adds tag information for displaying the stamp acquisition log display column to the HTML document of the stamp acquisition history screen based on the selected stamp acquisition log (step S506). For example, the history screen information transmission unit 1106 may acquire a stamp card ID, a stamp acquisition date and time, a store ID, a payment related means ID, the number of issued sheets, a stamp column number, and the like from the stamp acquisition log. The history screen information transmission unit 1106 may search the stamp card DB 14d for stamp card information including the acquired stamp card ID. The history screen information transmission unit 1106 may acquire a stamp card name from the stamp card information. The history screen information transmission unit 1106 may also search the store DB 14c for store information including the acquired store ID. The history screen information sending unit 1106 may obtain the store name from the store information. The history screen information sending unit 1106 may also obtain the payment-related means name associated with the obtained payment-related means ID from the payment-related means DB 14a. The history screen information sending unit 1106 may also calculate the total number of stamps acquired based on the number of issued stamps, the number of stamp columns, and the current number of stamps. The history screen information sending unit 1106 may generate tag information including the stamp card name, stamp acquisition date and time, store name, payment-related means name, and the total number of stamps acquired.

[0138] Next, the history screen information transmission unit 1106 determines whether or not there is a stamp acquisition log that has not yet been selected among the searched stamp acquisition logs (step S507). If there is a stamp acquisition log that has not yet been selected (step S507: YES), the process proceeds to step S505. In step S505, the history screen information transmission unit 1106 selects one stamp acquisition log from among the stamp acquisition logs that have not yet been selected. At this time, the history screen information transmission unit 1106 may select the stamp acquisition logs in order of the most recent stamp acquisition date and time, for example. If all stamp acquisition logs have been selected (step S507: NO), the history screen information transmission unit 1106 transmits the HTML document of the stamp acquisition history screen to the user terminal 8, and the stamp acquisition history screen information transmission process ends.

[0139] The user terminal 8 that receives the HTML document from the stamp card management server 1 displays a stamp acquisition history screen based on this HTML document. At this time, the user terminal 8 displays each stamp acquisition log display field based on the tag information included in the HTML document. For example, the user terminal 8 displays the stamp card name, stamp acquisition date and time, store name, payment method name, and total number of stamps acquired.

[0140] As described above, according to this embodiment, the stamp card management server 1 may acquire payment information for each of two or more predetermined payment means. Also, the stamp card management server 1 may grant a stamp to the user of the stamp card on the condition that any of the two or more payment means is used, based on the payment information and user information indicating the user of the stamp card. At this time, the stamp card management server 1 may grant a stamp regardless of which of the two or more payment means is used. In this case, it is possible to provide a stamp card that allows the user to obtain a stamp regardless of which of the two or more payment means is used.

[0141] The stamp card management server 1 may also acquire point card usage information. The stamp card management server 1 may also grant a stamp on the condition that the point card is used, based on the point card usage information and user information. In this case, the stamp card user can earn stamps even if the point card is used. Therefore, it is possible to encourage users to use the point card in addition to two or more payment methods.

[0142] Here, when the stamp card management server 1 grants a stamp to a user of a stamp card based on the payment information, the point card usage information, and the user information indicating the user of the stamp card, the stamp may be granted regardless of whether the payment means or the point card is used. In this case, the stamp is granted regardless of whether the means used is the payment means or the point card. Therefore, it is possible to provide a stamp card that allows a user to obtain a stamp regardless of whether the payment means or the point card is used.

[0143] Here, when a payment method and a point card are used in the same transaction, the stamp card management server 1 may give a stamp only for either the use of the payment method or the use of the point card. In this case, it is possible to prevent the double giving of a stamp for a single transaction caused by the use of both a payment method and a point card.

[0144] At this time, the stamp card management server 1 may determine whether or not a payment means and a point card have been used in combination based on the payment means use transaction information included in the payment information and the point card use transaction information included in the point card use information. In this case, it is determined whether or not the means used for the payment means and the transaction for which the point card was used are the same. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the double granting of stamps for one transaction due to the combined use of a payment means and a point card.

[0145] In addition, the business providing the payment method and the business providing the point card may be different. In this case, a user can earn stamps by using the payment method and the point card provided by the different businesses.

[0146] Here, when the stamp card management server 1 awards a stamp, it may award points. In this case, a user who acquires a stamp can also acquire points. Therefore, for example, the user of the stamp card can be further encouraged to use at least one of two or more payment means. Also, for example, the user of the stamp card can be further encouraged to use a payment means and a point card.

[0147] The two or more payment methods may include code payment and ID payment. In this case, a stamp card user can earn stamps by using either code payment or ID payment. This can encourage the use of code payment and ID payment.

[0148] The two or more payment methods may include two code payments. In this case, a stamp card user can earn stamps by using either of the two code payment methods. This can encourage the use of the two code payment methods.

[0149] The stamp card management server 1 may also grant a stamp when a first payment means is used with a specific offline store as the payment destination. The stamp card management server 1 may also grant a stamp when a second payment means is used with an online store operated by the same business operator as the business operator operating the offline store and / or an affiliate of the business operator as the payment destination. In this case, the user of the stamp card can earn stamps whether he / she uses an offline store or an online store operated by the same business operator. Here, even if the user uses different payment means at the offline store and the online store, he / she can earn stamps for each use.

[0150] Furthermore, when the stamp card management server 1 gives a stamp, the stamp acquisition log may be stored in the stamp acquisition history DB 14h in association with user information indicating the user of the stamp card. Furthermore, the stamp card management server 1 may transmit stamp card screen display information to the user terminal 8 of the user of the stamp card. At this time, the stamp card management server 1 may vary the display mode of the stamp on the stamp card screen according to the means used, based on the stamp acquisition log associated with the user information of the user of the stamp card. In this case, the stamp included in the stamp card on the stamp card screen is displayed in a mode according to the means used. Therefore, the user can recognize through the stamp card screen which means was used as the reason for acquiring the stamp.

[0151] The stamp card management server 1 may also transmit history screen information for displaying a stamp acquisition history screen on the user terminal 8. At this time, the stamp card management server 1 may display information indicating the means used along with the history on the stamp acquisition history screen based on the stamp acquisition log associated with the user information of the stamp card user. In this case, the stamp acquisition history screen displays information indicating the means used along with the stamp acquisition history. Therefore, the user can recognize which means was used as the reason for acquiring the stamp through the stamp acquisition history screen.

[0152] The stamp card management server 1 may also obtain corresponding store information indicating at least one store corresponding to the stamp card. The stamp card management server 1 may also grant a stamp when any of two or more payment methods are used to pay for any of the at least one store corresponding to the stamp card. In this case, the user can earn a stamp when using any of the at least one store. Therefore, it is possible to provide a stamp card that allows the user to earn a stamp using any of two or more payment methods and allows the user to select in advance the store at which the user can earn a stamp.

[0153] The stamp card management server 1 may also grant a stamp when a payment method or a point card is used to pay for at least one store corresponding to the stamp card. In this case, the user can earn a stamp when using at least one of the stores. Therefore, it is possible to provide a stamp card that allows the user to earn stamps using either a payment method or a point card and allows the user to select in advance the store at which the user can earn stamps.

[0154] [2. Second embodiment] Next, the second embodiment will be described with reference to Figs. 19 to 25. Except for the points described below, the second embodiment may be the same as the first embodiment. In this embodiment, the creator of the stamp card can select a payment-related means corresponding to the stamp card to be created. The payment-related means corresponding to the stamp card is a payment-related means that allows the user of the stamp card to acquire stamps by using the payment-related means.

[0155] FIG. 19 is a diagram showing an example of contents stored in the stamp card DB 14d of the stamp card management server 1. As shown in FIG. 19, in the stamp card DB 14d, in addition to the stamp card ID, stamp card name, creator ID, description, benefit setting information, and granting conditions, selected payment related means information may be stored in association with the stamp card ID, etc., as stamp card information. The selected payment related means information may be information indicating whether or not each of a plurality of predetermined payment related means is selected as a payment related means by which a stamp is granted to a user of a stamp card indicated by a stamp card ID. Each of the plurality of predetermined payment related means may be a payment related means that is determined to be selectable as a payment related means by which a stamp is granted to a user of a stamp card on the condition that it is used. The plurality of predetermined payment related means may be, for example, all of the payment means for which the member information management server 2 or the stamp card management server 1 can obtain payment related information from the payment system 4, or may be a part of those payment means. The plurality of predetermined payment related means may or may not include a point card. The operator of the stamp card service may set the selected payment related means information in response to a request from the creator of the stamp card. Alternatively, the payment related means corresponding to the stamp card to be created may be selectable on the stamp card creation screen provided by the stamp card management server 1 to the creator terminal 7. The stamp card management server 1 may obtain the selected payment related means information corresponding to the selection of the payment related means on the stamp card creation screen from the creator terminal 7 and store this selected payment related means information in the stamp card DB 14d. One of a plurality of predetermined payment related means may be selectable, two or more payment related means may be selectable, or all payment related means may be selectable.

[0156] FIG. 20 is a diagram showing an example of setting selected payment related means information. As shown in FIG. 20, the predetermined multiple payment related means include a predetermined code payment, a predetermined point card, a predetermined IC type electronic money, a predetermined credit card, and a predetermined ID payment. For example, only code payment is selected for stamp card 601. Only point card is selected for stamp card 602. Only IC type electronic money is selected for stamp card 603. Code payment, credit card, and ID payment are selected for stamp card 604. Code payment and point card are selected for stamp card 605. Code payment, point card, IC type electronic money, credit card, and ID payment are all selected for stamp card 606.

[0157] Fig. 21 is a diagram showing an example of functional blocks of the system control unit 11 of the stamp card management server 1 according to this embodiment. In Fig. 21, the same elements as those in Fig. 6 are given the same reference numerals. As shown in Fig. 21, the system control unit 11 may function as a selected payment related means information acquisition unit 1107 in addition to a payment related information acquisition unit 1101, an available store information acquisition unit 1102, an assignment unit 1103, a stamp information storage control unit 1104, a stamp card screen information transmission unit 1105, and a history screen information transmission unit 1106.

[0158] The selected payment related means information acquisition unit 1107 may acquire selected payment related means information indicating at least one payment means selected as a selected payment means to which a stamp will be added to the stamp card to be created, from among a plurality of predetermined payment means. The plurality of predetermined payment means may or may not include a point card. The at least one selected payment means may or may not include a point card. The selected payment related means information acquisition unit 1107 may acquire selected payment related means information from the stamp card DB 14d, or may acquire selected payment related means information from the creator terminal 7.

[0159] The payment related information acquisition unit 1101 may acquire payment related information indicating the use of at least one selected payment means indicated by the selected payment related means information acquired by the selected payment related means information acquisition unit 1107 among a plurality of predetermined payment means. The payment related information acquisition unit 1101 may acquire payment related information for each selected payment means. The payment related information acquisition unit 1101 may acquire payment related information from the member information management server 2, or may acquire payment information or point car usage information from the point program system 3 or the payment system 4. The payment related information acquisition unit 1101 may acquire payment related information for the selected payment means indicated by the selected payment related means information, regardless of whether the selected payment means is any one of a plurality of predetermined payment means.

[0160] The assigning unit 1103 may assign a stamp on the condition that at least one selected payment means indicated by the selected payment related means information acquired by the selected payment related means information acquisition unit 1107 has been used. When there are two or more selected payment means, as in the first embodiment, the assigning unit 1103 may assign a stamp regardless of which of the two or more selected payment means has been used. The two or more payment means selected as the selected payment means may correspond to the two or more predetermined payment means described in the first embodiment.

[0161] 22(a) to (d) are diagrams showing examples of stamps. As shown in FIG. 22(a), a stamp card 605 is issued to a user U4. As shown in FIG. 20, code payment and point card are selected for the stamp card 605. As shown in FIG. 22(b), the user U4 purchases a product with code payment using the user terminal 8-4 owned by the user U4. The granting unit 1103 grants a stamp in response to the use of code payment. As a result, the number of stamps pressed on the stamp card 605 becomes one. As shown in FIG. 22(c), the user U4 purchases a product with cash. At this time, the user U4 uses the point card 340 to acquire points. The granting unit 1103 grants a stamp in response to the use of the point card. As a result, the number of stamps pressed on the stamp card 605 becomes two. As shown in FIG. 22(d), the user U4 purchases a product with a credit card 350. The granting unit 1103 does not grant a stamp for the use of a credit card. As a result, the number of stamps on the stamp card 605 remains at 2. Note that the stamp card 605 corresponds to any of the stores where the user U4 purchased products in FIGS.

[0162] The rules for selecting a store corresponding to the stamp card may be determined in advance. For example, the store corresponding to the stamp card may be a store that can use the selected payment means indicated by the selected payment related means information. When there are two or more selected payment means and there is only one store corresponding to the stamp card, the store may be a store where all the selected payment means are available. When there are two or more selected payment means and there are multiple stores corresponding to the stamp card, each of the multiple stores may be a store where at least one of the selected payment means is available. However, in order to grant a stamp to a user regardless of which of the two or more payment means is used, it may be determined that each affiliated store of the two or more payment means must be included in the multiple stores corresponding to the stamp card.

[0163] The stamp card screen information transmitting unit 1105 may transmit stamp card screen information to the user terminal 8 so that the stamp card screen includes supported payment related means information indicating at least one selected payment means selected for the stamp card to which the stamp card screen corresponds. The supported payment related means information 450 may include the name of the selected payment means, or may include a symbol, image, or the like indicating the selected payment means. For example, the stamp card screen information transmitting unit 1105 may cause the user terminal 8 to display the supported payment related means information by transmitting stamp card screen information including the supported payment related means information.

[0164] FIG. 23 is a diagram showing an example of a stamp card screen. In FIG. 23, the same elements as those in FIG. 10 are given the same reference numerals. As shown in FIG. 23, the stamp card screen 400 may include supported payment related means information 450 in addition to a stamp card name 410, a stamp card image 420, and a stamp acquisition history display menu item 440. The supported payment related means information 450 indicates a payment related means that a user of the stamp card indicated by the stamp card name 410 can use to acquire stamps. In the example shown in FIG. 23, it is shown that a user can acquire stamps by using any of a predetermined code payment, a predetermined point card, a predetermined credit card, and a predetermined ID payment.

[0165] FIG. 24 is a sequence diagram showing an example of the operation of the communication system S according to this embodiment. In FIG. 24, the same processes as those in FIG. 13 are denoted by the same reference numerals. As shown in FIG. 24, steps S1 and S2 are executed as needed or periodically. When the timing for acquiring the payment-related information arrives, the payment-related information acquisition unit 1101 of the stamp card management server 1 selects one stamp card from among the created stamp cards based on the stamp card DB 14d (step S21). The payment-related information acquisition unit 1101 acquires stamp card information of the selected stamp card from the stamp card DB 14d. The payment-related information acquisition unit 1101 specifies the payment-related means ID of the selected payment-related means corresponding to the selected stamp card based on the selected payment-related means information included in the stamp card information (step S22). Next, the payment-related information acquisition unit 1101 transmits a payment-related information request to the member information management server 2 (step S23). At this time, the payment-related information acquisition unit 1101 may include the specified payment-related means ID in the payment-related information request. The payment-related information transmission unit 2102 of the member information management server 2 that has received the payment-related information request transmits, for example, one or more pieces of payment-related information newly stored in the payment-related information DB 24b between the time of receiving the previous payment-related information request and the time of receiving the current payment-related information request to the stamp card management server 1 (step S24). At this time, the payment-related information transmission unit 2102 may transmit only the payment-related information including the payment-related means ID for each payment-related means ID included in the payment-related information request. The payment-related information acquisition unit 1101 of the stamp card management server 1 that has received the payment-related information stores the received payment-related information in the payment-related information DB 14g (step S6). Here, when the payment-related information acquisition unit 1101 receives from the member information management server 2 the same payment-related information as the payment-related information already stored in the payment-related information DB 14g, it is not necessary to store the payment-related information in the payment-related information DB 14g again. Next, the payment-related information acquisition unit 1101 selects one piece of payment-related information from the payment-related information received from the member information management server 2 (step S6). Next, the adding unit 1103 executes stamp control processing for the selected payment-related information (step S7).Here, the giving unit 1103 executes the stamp control process by limiting the stamp cards to which the stamp may be given to the user to the stamp cards selected in step S21. In other respects, the stamp control process may be the same as the process shown in FIG. 14. Next, the payment-related information acquisition unit 1101 judges whether there is any payment-related information that has not yet been selected among the payment-related information received from the member information management server 2 (step S8). If there is any payment-related information that has not yet been selected (step S8: YES), the process proceeds to step S6. If all the payment-related information has been selected (step S8: NO), the payment-related information acquisition unit 1101 judges whether there is any stamp card that has not yet been selected among the stamp cards that have been created (step S25). If there is any stamp card that has not yet been selected (step S25: YES). The process proceeds to step S21. In step S21, the payment-related information acquisition unit 1101 selects one stamp card from the stamp cards that have not yet been selected. If all the stamp cards have been selected (step S25: NO), the process shown in FIG. 24 ends.

[0166] FIG. 25 is a flowchart showing an example of stamp screen information transmission processing executed by the system control unit 11 of the stamp card management server 1 according to this embodiment. In FIG. 25, the same processes as those in FIG. 17 are assigned the same reference numerals. As shown in FIG. 25, steps S401 to S403 are executed first. Next, the stamp card screen information transmission unit 1105 specifies the payment related means ID of the selected payment means corresponding to the stamp card selected by the user based on the selected payment related means information included in the searched stamp card information (step S421). Next, the stamp card screen information transmission unit 1105 acquires the payment related means name associated with each identified payment related means ID from the stamp card DB 14d. The stamp card screen information transmission unit 1105 adds the acquired payment related means name to the HTML document of the stamp card screen (step S422). Thereafter, steps S404 to S411 are executed in the same manner as in FIG. 17.

[0167] As described above, according to this embodiment, the stamp card management server 1 may acquire selected payment related means information. Also, the stamp card management server 1 may acquire payment information indicating that a payment has been made using any one of at least one selected payment means indicated by the selected payment related means information. Also, the stamp card management server 1 may grant a stamp to a user based on the payment information and user information indicating a user of a specific stamp card. At this time, the stamp card management server 1 may grant a stamp on the condition that at least one of the selected payment means has been used. In this case, at least one of the payment means is selected as a selected payment means to which a stamp is to be granted to a specific stamp card. When any one of the selected at least one payment means is used, the stamp is granted to the user of the stamp card, who is the user of the payment means used. Therefore, the payment means to which a stamp is to be granted can be selected depending on the stamp card to be created.

[0168] At least one of the selected payment methods may include code payment and ID payment. In this case, a stamp card user can earn stamps by using either code payment or ID payment. This can encourage the use of code payment and ID payment.

[0169] In addition, at least one selected payment method may include two code payments. In this case, a stamp card user can obtain stamps by using either of the two code payment methods. This can encourage the use of the two code payment methods.

[0170] At least one selected payment means may include a first payment means and a second payment means that are different from each other. The stamp card management server 1 may provide a stamp when the first payment means is used with a specific offline store as the payment destination. The stamp card management server 1 may provide a stamp when the second payment means is used with an online store operated by at least one of the same business operator as the business operator operating the offline store and the business operator's associates as the payment destination. In this case, the user of the stamp card can earn stamps regardless of whether the user uses an offline store or an online store operated by the same business operator. Here, even if the user uses different payment means at the offline store and the online store, the user can earn stamps for each use.

[0171] The stamp card management server 1 may also transmit stamp card screen display information to the user terminal 8 of the stamp card user. At this time, the stamp card management server 1 may vary the display mode of the stamp on the stamp card screen according to the payment means used among at least one selected payment means, based on the stamp acquisition log associated with the user information of the stamp card user. In this case, the stamp included in the stamp card on the stamp card screen is displayed in a mode according to the means used. Therefore, the user can recognize through the stamp card screen which means was used as the reason for acquiring the stamp.

[0172] The stamp card management server 1 may also include information indicating at least one selected payment means indicated by the selected payment related means information as a payment means to which a stamp is to be given on the stamp card screen. In this case, the stamp card screen displays information indicating at least one payment means selected as a selected payment means to which a stamp is to be given. Therefore, the stamp card screen allows the user to recognize which of the multiple payment means can be used to obtain a stamp.

[0173] The stamp card management server 1 may also transmit history screen information for displaying a stamp acquisition history screen on the user terminal 8. At this time, the stamp card management server 1 may display information indicating the payment means used among at least one selected payment means, together with the history, on the stamp acquisition history screen, based on the stamp acquisition log associated with the user information of the stamp card user. In this case, the stamp acquisition history screen displays information indicating the means used along with the stamp acquisition history. Therefore, the user can recognize which means was used as the reason for acquiring a stamp through the stamp acquisition history screen.

[0174] The stamp card management server 1 may also grant a stamp when at least one of at least one selected payment means indicated by the selected payment related means information is used with at least one of the at least one store corresponding to the stamp card as the payment destination. In this case, at least one store corresponding to the stamp card is specified. When the user uses at least one of the at least one store, the user can earn a stamp. Therefore, it is possible to provide a stamp card that allows the user to earn a stamp when using a selected payment means and allows the user to select in advance the store at which the user can earn a stamp.

[0175] [3. Third embodiment] Next, the third embodiment will be described with reference to Figures 26 to 29. Except for the points described below, the third embodiment may be the same as the second embodiment. In this embodiment, a payment method available at a store selected by the creator of the stamp card is selected as the selected payment method from a plurality of predetermined payment methods automatically or by the creator.

[0176] Fig. 26 is a diagram showing an example of functional blocks of the system control unit 11 of the stamp card management server 1 according to this embodiment. In Fig. 26, the same elements as those in Fig. 21 are given the same reference numerals. As shown in Fig. 26, the system control unit 11 may function as an available payment related means information acquisition unit 1108 and a selected payment related means information generation unit 1109 in addition to a payment related information acquisition unit 1101, an available store information acquisition unit 1102, an assignment unit 1103, a stamp information storage control unit 1104, a stamp card screen information transmission unit 1105, a history screen information transmission unit 1106, and a selected payment related means information acquisition unit 1107.

[0177] The available payment related means information acquisition unit 1108 may acquire available payment means information indicating at least one payment means available at at least one store indicated by the stamp card compatible store information acquired by the compatible store information acquisition unit 1102 for the stamp card to be created, from among a plurality of predetermined payment means. The available payment means information may be, for example, payment related service membership status information stored in the store DB 14c. For example, the available payment related means information acquisition unit 1108 may search the store DB 14c for store information including the same store ID as the store ID included in each acquired stamp card compatible store information. The available payment related means information acquisition unit 1108 may acquire payment related service membership status information from the searched store information.

[0178] The selected payment related means information generating unit 1109 may generate selected payment means information indicating at least one selected payment means as a payment means for which a stamp will be added to the stamp card to be created, among the at least one selected payment means indicated by the available payment means information acquired by the available payment related means information acquiring unit 1108. The selected payment related means information generating unit 1109 may store the generated selected payment means information in the stamp card DB 14d in association with the stamp card ID of the stamp card to be created.

[0179] The selected payment related means information generating unit 1109 may automatically determine the selected payment means and generate the selected payment means information. For example, the selected payment related means information generating unit 1109 may determine all payment means available at the store indicated by the stamp card compatible store information as the selected payment means. If there are multiple stores indicated by the stamp card compatible store information, the selected payment means may determine the selected payment means such that the selected payment means include all payment means available at each of the multiple stores. Alternatively, the selected payment related means information generating unit 1109 may determine one or more payment means available in common to all of the multiple stores as the selected payment means.

[0180] Alternatively, the selected payment related means information generating unit 1109 may enable the creator of the stamp card to select a selected payment means from among the payment means available at the store indicated by the stamp card compatible store information. For example, the selection of the payment means may be possible on the stamp card creation screen. The rules for selecting the store may be determined in advance. For example, the selected payment related means information generating unit 1109 may generate an HTML document for the stamp card creation screen so that only a payment means available at at least one of the stores selected by the creator on the stamp card creation screen is selectable. When multiple stores are selected by the creator, the HTML document for the stamp card creation screen may be generated so that an operation for registering information input on the stamp card creation screen is prohibited until a payment means is selected so that the user can obtain stamps at all of the stores. For example, the user terminal 8 may control permission and prohibition of the information registration operation according to a script included in the HTML document. Alternatively, the stamp card management server 1 may control permission and prohibition of the information registration operation based on the information input on the stamp card creation screen.

[0181] FIG. 27(a) is a diagram showing an example of store selection. The multiple predetermined payment-related means include a predetermined code payment, a predetermined point card, a predetermined IC-type electronic money, a predetermined credit card, and a predetermined ID payment. As shown in FIG. 27(a), the creator of a stamp card 801 selects a store 701. Of the multiple payment-related means, only code payment is available at the store 701. FIG. 27(b) is a diagram showing an example of setting selected payment-related means information. As shown in FIG. 27(b), the stamp card management server 1 may automatically select code payment for the stamp card 801.

[0182] FIG. 28(a) is a diagram showing an example of store selection. As shown in FIG. 28(a), the creator of the stamp card 820 has selected the store 720. Point cards and credit cards can be used at the store 720. FIGS. 28(b) and (c) are diagrams showing an example of setting selected payment related means information. As shown in FIG. 28(b), the stamp card management server 1 may automatically select a point card and a credit card for the stamp card 820. When the creator selects a payment related means, at least one payment related means can be selected from a point card and a credit card. For example, as shown in FIG. 28(c), a point card is selected for the stamp card 820.

[0183] FIG. 29(a) is a diagram showing an example of store selection. As shown in FIG. 29(a), the creator of the stamp card 830 selected stores 731, 732, and 733. Point cards and credit cards are available at the store 731. Credit cards and ID payments are available at the store 732. Code payments and credit cards are available at the store 733. FIGS. 29(b) to 29(c) are diagrams showing examples of setting selected payment related means information. For example, as shown in FIG. 28(b), the stamp card management server 1 may automatically select code payment, point card, credit card, and ID payment for the stamp card 830. When the creator selects a payment related means, at least one payment related means can be selected from code payment, point card, credit card, and ID payment. For example, as shown in FIG. 28(c), code payment, point card, and ID payment are selected for the stamp card 830. For example, the selection of only code payment may be prohibited. If stamps are only given by using code payment, the user cannot obtain stamps at the stores 731 and 732. In this case, the creator may need to add other payment related means or delete stores 731 and 732. For example, as shown in FIG. 29(d), only a credit card may be selected for a stamp card 830. In this case, the user can earn stamps at each of stores 731, 732, and 733. The selection of the credit card may be made by the creator, or may be automatically selected by the stamp card management server 1.

[0184] The selected payment related means information acquisition unit 1107 may acquire the selected payment related means information generated by the selected payment related means information generation unit 1109. For example, the selected payment related means information acquisition unit 1107 may acquire the selected payment related means information from the stamp card DB 14d.

[0185] As described above, according to this embodiment, the payment means to which the stamp is given are determined so that the payment means available at each of at least one store corresponding to the stamp card include at least one of the payment means to which the stamp is given. Therefore, it is possible to create a stamp card with a payment means selected so that a stamp can be obtained at the store corresponding to the stamp card.

[0186] [4. Fourth embodiment] Next, a fourth embodiment will be described with reference to Figs. 30 to 32. Except for the points described below, the fourth embodiment may be the same as at least one of the first to third embodiments. In this embodiment, a stamp rally card (or a stamp rally sheet) can be created as a stamp card. The stamp rally may be an event in which a user is given a benefit by using all of a plurality of stores selected by the creator of the stamp rally card. The plurality of stores may include at least either offline stores or online stores.

[0187] FIG. 30 is a diagram showing an example of contents stored in the stamp card DB 14d and the stamp card compatible store DB 14e of the stamp card management server 1. As shown in FIG. 30, in the stamp card DB 14d, in addition to the stamp card ID, stamp card name, creator ID, description, benefit setting information, and granting conditions, the stamp card type may be stored in association with the stamp card ID, etc. As in FIG. 19, the stamp card DB 14d may further store selected payment related means information. The stamp card type indicates whether the stamp card indicated by the stamp card ID is a stamp rally card or not. For example, the operator of the stamp card service who receives a request from the creator of the stamp card may set the stamp card type. Alternatively, an operation of selecting the stamp card type may be possible on the stamp card creation screen.

[0188] As shown in FIG. 30, in addition to the stamp card ID and the store ID, the stamp column number may be stored in association with the stamp card ID, etc., in the stamp card compatible store DB 14e as stamp card compatible store information. The stamp column number may be valid when the stamp card indicated by the stamp card ID is a stamp rally card. The stamp column number indicates a stamp column associated with the store indicated by the store ID among the stamp columns included in the stamp rally card. When the user uses a payment-related means at the store, a stamp is pressed in the stamp column associated with the store. For example, the multiple stamp columns included in the stamp card may correspond to different stores. The stamp card management server 1 may automatically determine which store is associated with which stamp column. Alternatively, the creator of the stamp card may determine. For example, on the stamp card creation screen, an operation to select a store may be selectable for each stamp column. The multiple stores corresponding to the stamp rally card may be different stores. Some of the multiple stores may be the same store. In this case, the store may be associated with two or more stamp columns. The creator of the stamp rally card can select multiple stores corresponding to the card. Here, the number of stamp columns on the stamp rally cards may be predetermined and common to all cards. In this case, the creator may be required to select a number of stores corresponding to the number of stamp columns. Alternatively, the creator may be able to select the number of stores corresponding to the stamp rally card. In this case, the stamp rally card may include a number of stamp columns corresponding to the number of selected stores. The basic rules for selecting stores may be the same as the rules described in the first, second or third embodiment.

[0189] The granting unit 1103 may grant a stamp to a user of a stamp rally card when the user uses a payment-related means at any one of a plurality of stores indicated by the stamp card compatible store information. As in the first embodiment, the granting unit 1103 may grant a stamp on the condition that any one of two or more predetermined payment-related means is used. As in the second or third embodiment, the granting unit 1103 may grant a stamp on the condition that any one of at least one selected payment means is used.

[0190] Here, the granting unit 1103 may suppress granting of a stamp when the payment-related means is used at the same store that has already granted a stamp to the user of the stamp rally card. That is, the granting unit 1103 may limit granting of a stamp to one time for each of a plurality of stores. This restriction may be valid only within one issued card. With this restriction, the user can acquire a benefit by using the payment means at all of a plurality of stores for each issued card.

[0191] FIG. 31 is a flowchart showing an example of stamp control processing executed by the system control unit 11 of the stamp card management server 1 according to this embodiment. In FIG. 31, the same processes as those in FIG. 14 are denoted by the same reference numerals. As shown in FIG. 31, steps S101 to S105 are executed in the same manner as in FIG. 14. If the granting condition is satisfied (step S105: YES), the granting unit 1103 judges whether the stamp card type included in the stamp card information of the stamp card determined to satisfy the granting condition in step S105 indicates a stamp rally card (step S121). If the stamp card type does not indicate a stamp rally card (step S121: NO), the process proceeds to step S106. Then, steps S106 to S112 are executed in the same manner as in FIG. 14. If the stamp card type indicates a stamp rally card (step S121: YES), the granting unit 1103 searches the stamp acquisition log for the same store as the store where the payment-related means was used from the stamp acquisition history DB 14h (step S122). For example, the granting unit 1103 may select issued card information including the stamp card ID of the stamp card determined to satisfy the granting condition from among the issued card information searched in step S101. The granting unit 1103 may search for a stamp acquisition log including a combination of the issued card number and issued number included in the selected issued card information and the store ID included in the selected payment-related information. As a result of the search, the granting unit 1103 determines whether or not there is a corresponding stamp acquisition log (step S123). If there is no corresponding stamp acquisition log (step S123: NO), the process proceeds to step S106. If there is a corresponding stamp acquisition log (step S123: YES), the stamp control process ends.

[0192] FIG. 32 is a flowchart showing an example of a stamp giving process executed by the system control unit 11 of the stamp card management server 1 according to this embodiment. In FIG. 32, the same processes as those in FIG. 15 are assigned the same reference numerals. As shown in FIG. 32, steps S201 and S202 are executed in the same manner as in FIG. 15. Next, the giving unit 1103 judges whether the stamp card type included in the stamp card information of the stamp card determined to satisfy the giving condition indicates a stamp rally card (step S221). If the stamp card type does not indicate a stamp rally card (step S221: NO), the stamp information storage control unit 1104 stores a stamp acquisition log including a stamp column number that matches the current stamp number after the update in step S202 in the stamp acquisition history DB 14h (step S222). Step S222 may be the same as step S203 shown in FIG. 15. If the stamp card type indicates a stamp rally card (step S221: NO), the stamp information storage control unit 1104 acquires the stamp column number from the stamp card compatible store information including the stamp card ID of the stamp card determined to satisfy the awarding condition among the stamp card compatible store information acquired in step S103 of the stamp control process (step S223). Next, the awarding unit 1103 stores the stamp acquisition log including the stamp column number acquired from the stamp card compatible store information in the stamp acquisition history DB 14h (step S224). Step S224 may be the same as step S222, except that the method of determining the stamp column number is different. After step S222 or step S224, steps S204 to S209 are executed as in FIG. 15.

[0193] As described above, according to this embodiment, the stamp card management server 1 may grant a stamp when any of a plurality of stores is used as the payment destination and any of two or more predetermined payment methods is used. In this case, a stamp rally can be held in which a user can obtain a stamp regardless of the use of any of the two or more payment methods, and the user can select in advance from a plurality of stores where the user can obtain a stamp.

[0194] The stamp card management server 1 may also grant a stamp when a payment method or a point card is used to pay for a purchase at one of a plurality of stores. In this case, a stamp rally can be held in which a user can obtain a stamp by using either a payment method or a point card, and the user can select in advance from a plurality of stores at which the user can obtain a stamp.

[0195] In addition, the stamp card management server 1 may grant a stamp when at least one selected payment method indicated by the selected payment related method information is used with one of a plurality of stores as the payment destination. In this case, a stamp rally can be held in which a user can obtain a stamp when using the selected payment method and a plurality of stores at which the user can obtain a stamp can be selected in advance.

[0196] [5. Fifth Embodiment] Next, the fifth embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 33 to Fig. 36. Except for the points described below, the fifth embodiment may be the same as at least one of the first to fourth embodiments. In this embodiment, the value of another benefit given to the user of the stamp card when a stamp is given may differ depending on the payment-related means.

[0197] Fig. 33 is a block diagram showing an example of a schematic configuration of the stamp card management server 1 according to the present embodiment. In Fig. 33, the same elements as those in Fig. 2 are given the same reference numerals. As shown in Fig. 33, the memory unit 14 may store a payment-related means DB14a, a business operator DB14b, a store DB14c, a stamp card DB14d, a stamp card-compatible store DB14e, an issued card DB14f, a payment-related information DB14g, a stamp acquisition history DB14h, and a benefit DB14i, as well as a stamp card-compatible payment-related means DB14j.

[0198] FIG. 34 is a diagram showing an example of contents stored in the stamp card-compatible payment related means DB14j of the stamp card management server 1. In the stamp card-compatible payment related means DB14j, stamp card-compatible payment related means information related to the payment related means associated with the stamp card may be stored for each combination of the stamp card and the payment related means corresponding to the stamp card. For example, as described in the case of the first embodiment, when a stamp is given on the condition that any one of two or more predetermined payment means is used, a stamp card-compatible payment related means may be stored for each of the two or more predetermined payment means for each stamp card. Also, for example, as described in the second embodiment, when a stamp is given on the condition that any one of at least one selected payment means selected by the creator of the stamp card is used, a stamp card-compatible payment related means may be stored for each of the selected payment means for each stamp card. In the stamp card-compatible payment related means DB14j, for example, a stamp card ID, a payment related means ID, and the number of points given may be stored in association with each other as stamp card-compatible payment related means information. The stamp card ID indicates the stamp card to which the payment related means corresponds. The payment-related means ID indicates the payment-related means. The number of points granted indicates the number of points granted to the user of the stamp card when the user uses the payment-related means. The number of points granted may be specified, for example, by the creator of the stamp card. For example, an operator of a stamp card service who receives a request from the creator may register stamp card-compatible payment-related means information in the stamp card-compatible payment-related means DB14j. Alternatively, the number of points granted may be input for each payment-related means on the stamp card creation screen. The stamp card management server 1 may generate stamp card-compatible payment-related means information including the input number of points granted.

[0199] As described in the first embodiment, when a stamp is given on the condition that any one of two or more predetermined payment means is used, the two or more payment means include a first payment means and a second payment means different from the first payment means. The first payment means and the second payment means may be combined in any combination. As already described, when the giving unit 1103 gives a stamp to a user of a stamp card, the giving unit 1103 may give a benefit different from the stamp to the user. In this case, the giving unit 1103 may make the value of the benefit given different between the first payment means and the second payment means. For example, when the benefit is points, the points given may be different between the first payment means and the second payment means. When the benefit is a coupon, the discount amount or discount rate of the coupon given may be different between the first payment means and the second payment means.

[0200] As described in the second embodiment, the granting unit 1103 may grant a stamp on the condition that at least one selected payment means selected by the creator of the stamp card is used. Here, two or more selected payment means may be selected. In this case, the selected payment means include a first payment means and a second payment means. The granting unit 1103 may differentiate the value of the privilege granted when the first payment means is used from that when the second payment means is used.

[0201] The granting unit 1103 may also grant different values ​​of benefits depending on whether a payment method is used or a point card is used.

[0202] The value of the privilege granted for the use of each payment-related means may be determined by the creator of the stamp card. Alternatively, the value of the privilege granted for the use of each payment-related means may be predetermined for all stamp cards. For example, the number of points to be granted is stored in the stamp card compatible payment-related means DB14j as shown in FIG. 34 so that the creator of the stamp card can determine the number of points to be granted. When the number of points to be granted is determined for all stamp cards, the number of points to be granted may be stored in the payment-related means DB14a, for example.

[0203] Figure 35 shows an example of setting the number of points to be awarded. As shown in Figure 35, if code payment is used, 20 points are awarded. If a point card is used, 5 points are awarded. If IC-type electronic money is used, 10 points are awarded. If a credit card is used, 10 points are awarded. If ID payment is used, 10 points are awarded.

[0204] FIG. 36 is a flowchart showing an example of a point granting process executed by the system control unit 11 of the stamp card management server 1 according to the present embodiment. In FIG. 36, the same processes as those in FIG. 16 are denoted by the same reference numerals. As shown in FIG. 36, the granting unit 1103 acquires the number of granted points from the stamp card-compatible payment related means information of the payment related means used by the user (step S321). For example, the granting unit 1103 may search the stamp card-compatible payment related means DB 14j for information including a combination of the stamp card ID of the stamp card determined to satisfy the granting condition in step S105 of the stamp control process and the payment related means ID included in the selected payment related information. The granting unit 1103 may acquire the number of granted points from the searched stamp card-compatible payment related means information. Next, the granting unit 1103 generates a point addition request including the acquired number of granted points (step S322). Next, the granting unit 1103 transmits the generated point addition request to the point program system 3, and the point granting process ends. The point program system 3 adds the number of granted points included in the point addition request to the number of available points.

[0205] As described above, according to this embodiment, the stamp card management server 1 may set different values ​​of the rewards to be given depending on whether the payment method used is the first payment method or the second payment method. In this case, the value of the reward that the user who acquires the stamp acquires may differ depending on the payment method used. Therefore, it is possible to particularly encourage the use of a specific payment method.

[0206] In addition, the stamp card management server 1 may provide different values ​​of benefits when a payment method is used and when a point card is used. In this case, it is possible to further encourage the use of a specific method among the payment method and the point card.

[0207] [6. Sixth Embodiment] Next, a sixth embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 37 to Fig. 39. Except for the points described below, the sixth embodiment may be the same as at least one of the first to fifth embodiments. In this embodiment, the number of stamps given may differ depending on the payment-related means used.

[0208] The memory unit 14 of the stamp card management server 1 according to this embodiment may store a stamp card compatible payment related means DB14j as shown in FIG. 33. FIG. 37 is a diagram showing an example of the contents stored in the stamp card compatible payment related means DB14j of the stamp card management server 1. As shown in FIG. 37, the stamp card compatible payment related means DB14j may store, as stamp card compatible payment related means information, for example, a stamp card ID, a payment related means ID, and the number of stamps given, in association with each other. The stamp card ID indicates the stamp card that the payment related means corresponds to. The payment related means ID indicates the payment related means. The number of stamps given indicates the number of stamps given to the user of the stamp card by using the payment related means.

[0209] As described in the first embodiment, the granting unit 1103 may grant a stamp on the condition that any one of two or more predetermined payment means is used. As described above, the two or more payment means include a first payment means and a second payment means. The granting unit 1103 may grant different numbers of stamps depending on whether the first payment means is used or the second payment means is used among the two or more payment means.

[0210] As described in the second embodiment, the granting unit 1103 may grant a stamp on the condition that at least one of the selected payment means selected by the creator of the stamp card is used. Here, two or more selected payment means may be selected. In this case, the two or more payment means include a first payment means and a second payment means. As in the fifth embodiment, the granting unit 1103 may grant different numbers of stamps when the first payment means is used and when the second payment means is used among the two or more selected payment means.

[0211] The granting unit 1103 may grant different numbers of stamps depending on whether a payment method is used or a point card is used.

[0212] As in the fifth embodiment, the number of stamps given for the use of each payment-related means may be determined by the creator of the stamp card, or may be predetermined commonly for all stamp cards.

[0213] Figure 38 shows an example of setting the number of stamps to be awarded. As shown in Figure 38, if code payment is used, one stamp is awarded. If a point card is used, two stamps are awarded. If IC-type electronic money is used, three stamps are awarded. If a credit card is used, one stamp is awarded. If ID payment is used, one stamp is awarded.

[0214] FIG. 39 is a flowchart showing an example of a stamp giving process executed by the system control unit 11 of the stamp card management server 1 according to this embodiment. In FIG. 39, the same processes as those in FIG. 15 are denoted by the same reference numerals. As shown in FIG. 39, first, the giving unit 1103 searches for issued card information (step S201). Next, the giving unit 1103 acquires the number of given stamps from the stamp card-compatible payment related means information of the payment related means used by the user (step S241). For example, the giving unit 1103 may search the stamp card-compatible payment related means DB 14j for stamp card-compatible payment related means information including a combination of the stamp card ID of the stamp card determined to satisfy the giving condition in step S105 of the stamp control process and the payment related means ID included in the selected payment related information. The giving unit 1103 may acquire the number of given stamps from the searched stamp card-compatible payment related means information. Next, the granting unit 1103 adds the acquired number of granted stamps to the current number of stamps included in the searched issued card information to update the current number of stamps (step S242). Next, the stamp information storage control unit 1104 stores the stamp acquisition log in the stamp acquisition history DB 14h (step S243). At this time, the stamp information storage control unit 1104 may store a number of stamp acquisition logs equivalent to the number of stamps. Alternatively, the stamp information storage control unit 1104 may store one stamp acquisition log including the number of granted stamps. In other respects, step S243 may be the same as step S203 shown in FIG. 15.

[0215] Next, the granting unit 1103 acquires the privilege setting information stored in the stamp card DB 14d in association with the stamp card ID included in the searched issued card information. The granting unit 1103 judges whether the number of stamps before the update is less than any of the privilege stamp numbers included in the privilege setting information (step S244). If the number of stamps before the update is less than any of the privilege stamp numbers (step S244: YES), the granting unit 1103 judges whether the number of stamps after the update is equal to or greater than the privilege stamp number (step S245). If the number of stamps after the update is equal to or greater than the privilege stamp number (step S245: YES), the granting unit 1103 changes the privilege status of the privilege corresponding to the privilege stamp number to "available" (step S205).

[0216] After step S205, if the number of stamps before the update is equal to or greater than the number of all the bonus stamps (step S244: NO), or if the number of stamps after the update is less than the number of bonus stamps (step S245: NO), the granting unit 1103 judges whether the current number of stamps after the update is equal to or greater than the number of stamp columns (step S246). If the current number of stamps is less than the number of stamp columns (step S246: NO), the stamp processing ends. If the current number of stamps is equal to or greater than the number of stamp columns (step S246: YES), the granting unit 1103 adds 1 to the number of issued cards (step S207). Next, the granting unit 1103 subtracts the number of stamp columns from the current number of stamps after the update to update the current number of stamps included in the searched issued card information (step S247). Next, the granting unit 1103 stores the new bonus information in the bonus DB 14i (step S209), and the stamp processing ends.

[0217] As described above, according to this embodiment, the stamp card management server 1 may give different numbers of stamps depending on whether the payment method used is the first payment method or the second payment method. In this case, the number of stamps acquired by the stamp card user may differ depending on the payment method used. This can further encourage the use of a specific payment method.

[0218] In addition, the stamp card management server 1 may give different numbers of stamps when a payment method is used and when a point card is used. In this case, it is possible to particularly encourage the use of a specific method among the payment method and the point card.

[0219] [7. Seventh embodiment] Next, the seventh embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 40 to Fig. 42. Except for the points described below, the seventh embodiment may be the same as at least one of the first to sixth embodiments. In this embodiment, the conditions for providing points may differ depending on the payment-related means used.

[0220] The memory unit 14 of the stamp card management server 1 according to this embodiment may store a stamp card compatible payment related means DB14j as shown in FIG. 33. FIG. 40 is a diagram showing an example of contents stored in the stamp card DB14d and the stamp card compatible payment related means DB14j of the stamp card management server 1. As shown in FIG. 40, the stamp card DB14d may not store the granting condition information. The stamp card compatible payment related means DB14j may store, as stamp card compatible payment related means information, for example, a stamp card ID, a payment related means ID, and granting condition information in association with each other. The stamp card ID indicates the stamp card to which the payment related means corresponds. The payment related means ID indicates the payment related means. The granting condition information may indicate additional conditions for granting a stamp to a user of the stamp card when the user uses the payment related means.

[0221] As described in the first embodiment, the granting unit 1103 may grant a stamp on the condition that any one of two or more predetermined payment means is used. As described above, the two or more payment means include a first payment means and a second payment means. A first condition is defined as a granting condition for the first payment means. Therefore, the granting unit 1103 may grant a stamp when the first payment means is used and the usage mode of the first payment means satisfies the first condition. The granting unit 1103 may grant a stamp when the second payment means is used and the usage mode of the second payment means satisfies the second condition. Here, the first condition and the second condition may be different from each other.

[0222] In the granting conditions, for example, the conditions of the transaction object purchased by the user may be different. The conditions of the payment amount may be different. For example, the conditions of the date or period when the user uses the payment-related means may be different. For example, the conditions of the time or time period when the user uses the payment-related means may be different. For example, the conditions of the number of points that the user acquires by using the payment-related means may be different. In addition, when stamps are granted according to the accumulated value of the payment amount, the amount of stamps granted for each yen may be different. The types of granting conditions may differ depending on the payment means. For example, the conditions of the transaction object may be determined for the first payment means, and the conditions of the payment amount may be determined for the second payment means.

[0223] As described in the second embodiment, the granting unit 1103 may grant a stamp on the condition that at least one of the selected payment means selected by the creator of the stamp card is used. In this case, the two or more payment means include a first payment means and a second payment means. A first condition is set as a granting condition for the first payment means. A second condition is set as a granting condition for the second payment means. In this case, the first condition and the second condition may be different from each other.

[0224] In addition, the granting unit 1103 may set the granting conditions determined for the payment method to be different from the granting conditions determined for the point card.

[0225] Figure 41 shows an example of setting the conditions for granting. For example, suppose the conditions for granting are determined by the payment amount. As shown in Figure 41, when code payment is used, stamps are granted regardless of the payment amount. When a point card is used, stamps are granted when a payment of 1,000 yen or more is made. When IC-type electronic money is used, stamps are granted when a payment of 2,000 yen or more is made. When a credit card is used, stamps are granted when a payment of 2,000 yen or more is made. When ID payment is used, stamps are granted when a payment of 500 yen or more is made.

[0226] FIG. 42 is a flowchart showing an example of stamp control processing executed by the system control unit 11 of the stamp card management server 1 according to this embodiment. In FIG. 42, the same processes as those in FIG. 14 are denoted by the same reference numerals. As shown in FIG. 42, steps S101 to S104 are executed as in FIG. 14. If the store where the payment-related means was used is a store corresponding to any stamp card (step S104: YES), the granting unit 1103 acquires granting condition information from the stamp card-compatible payment-related means information of the payment-related means used by the user (step S141). For example, the granting unit 1103 may acquire a stamp card ID from the stamp card information of the stamp card where the payment-related means was used at the corresponding store, among the stamp card information acquired in step S102. The granting unit 1103 may acquire stamp card-compatible payment-related means information including a combination of the acquired stamp card ID and the payment-related means ID included in the selected payment-related information, from the stamp card-compatible payment-related means DB 14j. The granting unit 1103 may acquire the granting conditions from the acquired stamp card compatible payment related means information. Next, the granting unit 1103 determines whether the granting conditions are met based on the selected payment related information and the acquired granting condition information (step S142). If the granting conditions are not met (step S142: NO), the stamp control process ends. If the granting conditions are met (step S142: YES), steps S107 to S112 are executed as in FIG. 14.

[0227] As described above, according to this embodiment, the conditions for providing a stamp may be different between the first payment means and the second payment means. In this case, the conditions for providing a stamp that the user must meet differ depending on the payment means. Therefore, it is possible to provide a stamp under different conditions depending on the payment means.

[0228] The conditions for providing stamps may be different depending on the payment method and the point card. In this case, stamps can be provided under different conditions depending on the payment method and the point card.

[0229] [8. Eighth embodiment] Next, an eighth embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 43 to Fig. 44. Except for the points described below, the eighth embodiment may be the same as at least one of the first to seventh embodiments. In this embodiment, the method of preventing double stamping when a payment method and a point card are used in combination is different from the method described in the first embodiment.

[0230] The granting unit 1103 may grant a stamp only once per predetermined period. The predetermined period may be a period that appears repeatedly in succession. Examples of the length of the predetermined period include one hour, three hours, six hours, twelve hours, and one day. Here, the granting of a stamp by the granting unit 1103 due to the use of either the payment means or the point card may be included in the granting of a stamp for a predetermined period including the time when either the payment means or the point card was used. When a payment means and a point card are used in combination, the date and time of use of the payment means and the date and time of use of the point card match, or the difference between the date and time of use of the payment means and the date and time of use of the point card is relatively short. Therefore, the date and time of use of the payment means and the date and time of use of the point card are likely to be included in the same period. By granting a stamp only once per period, it is possible to prevent double granting of stamps. The time of use of the payment means and the time of use of the point card may be indicated, for example, by the date and time of use included in the payment-related information. Also, for example, the time of use of the payment means and the time of use of the point card may be indicated by the date and time of stamp acquisition included in the stamp acquisition log. When a stamp is given, the date and time of use included in the payment-related information is included in the stamp acquisition log as the date and time of stamp acquisition. The assigning unit 1103 may not give a stamp when any other payment-related means is used within a period in which a stamp was given once for the use of a payment means or a point card. Alternatively, the assigning unit 1103 may not give a stamp for the use of a point card within a period in which a stamp was given once for the use of a payment means, but may give a stamp when a payment means other than the point card is used. Also, the assigning unit 1103 may not give a stamp for the use of a payment means other than the point card within a period in which a stamp was given once for the use of a point card, but may give a stamp when the point card is used.

[0231] FIG. 43 is a diagram showing an example of stamp assignment. For example, the length of the predetermined cycle is one day. Each cycle may start at midnight and end at midnight the next day. A user of a stamp card used both code payment and a point card at 10:00 on October 1st. As a result, payment-related information indicating that code payment was used and payment-related information indicating that a point card was used are stored in the payment-related information DB24b. For example, the assigning unit 1103 assigns a stamp to the use of code payment based on the payment-related information of the code payment. Therefore, from the use date and time included in the payment-related information of the code payment, a stamp has been assigned once for October 1st. The use date and time included in the payment-related information of the point card is included in October 1st, and a stamp has already been assigned for October 1st, so the assigning unit 1103 does not assign a stamp to the use of the point card. After that, the user used the point card at 18:00 on October 1st. In this case, the assigning unit 1103 does not assign a stamp either. After that, the user uses the point card at 7:00 on October 2. Since the cycle has changed, the granting unit 1103 grants a stamp for the use of the point card.

[0232] FIG. 44 is a flowchart showing an example of stamp control processing executed by the system control unit 11 of the stamp card management server 1 according to this embodiment. In FIG. 44, the same processes as those in FIG. 14 are denoted by the same reference numerals. As shown in FIG. 44, first, steps S101 to S105 are executed in the same manner as in FIG. 14. If the granting condition is satisfied (step S105: YES), the granting unit 1103 identifies the start date and time and the end date and time of the period including the use date and time based on the use date and time included in the selected payment-related information and the length of the predetermined period (step S161). Next, the granting unit 1103 searches the stamp acquisition history DB 14h for a stamp acquisition log including the stamp acquisition date and time within the same period as the identified period (step S162). At this time, the granting unit 1103 may search for a stamp acquisition log including the stamp card ID of the stamp card determined to satisfy the granting condition in step S105 and the user ID included in the selected payment-related information. As a result of the search, the granting unit 1103 determines whether or not there is a corresponding stamp acquisition log (step S163). If there is a corresponding stamp acquisition log (step S163: YES), the stamp control process ends. If there is no corresponding stamp acquisition log (step S163: NO), steps S111 and S112 are executed.

[0233] As described above, according to this embodiment, a stamp is awarded at most once for each predetermined period. The period to which the stamp is awarded is determined according to the time when the payment means or the point card is used. When a payment means and a point card are used in combination, there is a high probability that the time when the payment means is used and the time when the point card is used fall within the same period. Therefore, it is possible to prevent duplicate awarding of stamps for a single transaction due to the combined use of a payment means and a point card.

[0234] [9. Ninth embodiment] Next, the ninth embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 45 to Fig. 46. Except for the points described below, the ninth embodiment may be the same as at least one of the first to eighth embodiments. In this embodiment, the method of preventing double stamping when a payment method and a point card are used in combination is different from both the method described in the first embodiment and the method described in the eighth embodiment.

[0235] When the granting unit 1103 grants a stamp for the use of either one of the payment means and the stamp card, the granting unit 1103 may suppress the granting of a stamp for the use of the other of the payment means and the stamp card within a predetermined period starting from the time of use of the payment means. Examples of the length of the predetermined period include one hour, three hours, six hours, twelve hours, one day, etc. As described above, when a payment means and a point card are used in combination, the date and time of use of the payment means and the date and time of use of the point card match, or the difference between the date and time of use of the payment means and the date and time of use of the point card is relatively short. Therefore, the period starting from the date and time of use of either one of the payment means and the point card is highly likely to include the date and time of use of the other of the payment means and the point card. By suppressing the granting of a stamp within that period, it is possible to prevent the stamp from being granted twice. The granting unit 1103 may not grant a stamp within a period in which a stamp has been granted once by the use of a payment means or a point card, even if any other payment-related means is used separately. Alternatively, the granting unit 1103 may not grant a stamp for use of a point card during a period in which a stamp was granted once for use of a payment method, but may grant a stamp when a payment method other than the point card is used. Also, the granting unit 1103 may not grant a stamp for use of a payment method other than the point card during a period in which a stamp was granted once for use of a point card, but may grant a stamp when the point card is used.

[0236] FIG. 45 is a diagram showing an example of stamp assignment. For example, assume that the length of the predetermined period is six hours. As shown in FIG. 45, a user of a stamp card used a credit card and a point card together at 10:00 on October 1. For example, the assigning unit 1103 assigns a stamp to the use of the point card based on the payment-related information of the point card. Therefore, the assignment of stamps is suppressed from 10:00 to 16:00 on October 1, which is the usage date and time included in the payment-related information of the point card. The usage date and time included in the payment-related information of the credit card is included in October 1, and this usage date and time is included in the period in which the assignment of stamps is suppressed, so the assigning unit 1103 does not assign a stamp to the use of the credit card. After that, the user used the credit card at 15:00 on October 1. In this case, the assigning unit 1103 does not assign a stamp. After that, the user used the credit card at 18:00 on October 1. Since the period in which the assignment of stamps is suppressed has ended, the assigning unit 1103 assigns a stamp to the use of the credit card.

[0237] FIG. 46 is a flowchart showing an example of stamp control processing executed by the system control unit 11 of the stamp card management server 1 according to this embodiment. In FIG. 46, the same processes as those in FIG. 14 are denoted by the same reference numerals. As shown in FIG. 46, steps S101 to S105 are executed as in FIG. 14. If the granting condition is satisfied (step S105: YES), the granting unit 1103 subtracts a predetermined time determined as the length of the period during which the granting of the stamp is inhibited from the use date and time included in the selected payment-related information to calculate the start date and time of the period. The granting unit 1103 specifies the period from the calculated start date and time to the use date and time (step S181). Next, the granting unit 1103 searches the stamp acquisition history DB 14h for a stamp acquisition log including a stamp acquisition date and time within the same period as the specified period (step S182). At this time, the granting unit 1103 may search for a stamp acquisition log including the stamp card ID of the stamp card determined to satisfy the granting condition in step S105 and the user ID included in the selected payment-related information. As a result of the search, the adding unit 1103 judges whether or not there is a corresponding stamp acquisition log (step S183). If there is a corresponding stamp acquisition log (step S183: YES), the stamp control process ends. If there is no corresponding stamp acquisition log (step S183: NO), steps S111 and S112 are executed.

[0238] As described above, according to this embodiment, when a stamp is given for the use of either a payment means or a point card, no stamp is given even if the other means is used within a specified period starting from the time when the first means was used. When a payment means and a point card are used in combination, it is highly likely that the time when the other means was used is included in that period. Therefore, it is possible to prevent double stamping for a single transaction due to the combined use of a payment means and a point card.

[0239] (Appendix 1-1) A stamp card management system characterized by comprising: a payment information acquisition means for acquiring, for each of two or more predetermined payment means that can be used to settle a price in a transaction, payment information indicating that a payment was made using the payment means, the payment information including payment means user information indicating the user who used the payment means; and an assignment means for assigning a stamp based on the acquired payment information and user information indicating the user of an electronic stamp card, regardless of which of the two or more payment means was used.

[0240] (Appendix 1-2) The stamp card management system according to appendix 1-1, wherein the granting means, when granting the stamp, grants a benefit different from the stamp to the user of the stamp card.

[0241] (Appendix 1-3) The two or more payment means include a first payment means and a second payment means that are different from each other, and the granting means differs in value of the reward granted when the payment means used is the first payment means and when the payment means used is the second payment means. This is the stamp card management system described in Appendix 1-2.

[0242] (Appendix 1-4) A stamp card management system described in any one of Appendices 1-1 to 1-3, characterized in that the two or more payment means include a first payment means and a second payment means that are different from each other, and the granting means grants different numbers of stamps when the payment means used for payment is the first payment means and when the payment means used for payment is the second payment means.

[0243] (Appendix 1-5) A stamp card management system as described in any one of Appendices 1-1 to 1-4, characterized in that the two or more payment means include a first payment means and a second payment means which are different from each other, the granting means grants the stamp when the manner in which any of the two or more payment means is used satisfies a predetermined granting condition, and the granting condition differs when the payment means used is the first payment means and when the payment means used is the second payment means.

[0244] (Appendix 1-6) A stamp card management system as described in any one of Appendices 1-1 to 1-5, further comprising a profit acquisition means usage information acquisition means for acquiring profit acquisition means usage information indicating that a profit acquisition means has been used, the profit acquisition means being capable of being used in conjunction with at least one of the two or more payment means, and enabling at least one of the following: a user of the profit acquisition means to acquire a profit; and a user of the profit acquisition means to use previously acquired profits to pay for the purchase; wherein the acquired profit acquisition means usage information includes profit acquisition means usage user information indicating the user who used the profit acquisition means; and the granting means grants the stamp based on the acquired profit acquisition means usage information and the user information, on the condition that the profit acquisition means has been used.

[0245] (Appendix 1-7) The stamp card management system described in Appendix 1-6 is characterized in that, with respect to the acquired payment information, the granting means grants the stamp only for either the use of the payment means or the use of the profit-earning means when the payment means and the profit-earning means are used together in the same transaction.

[0246] (Appendix 1-8) The stamp card management system described in Appendix 1-7, characterized in that the acquired payment information includes payment means usage transaction information regarding the transaction in which the payment means was used, the acquired profit earning means usage information includes profit earning means usage transaction information regarding the transaction in which the profit earning means was used, and the granting means determines whether the payment means and the profit earning means were used in combination based on the payment means usage transaction information and the profit earning means usage transaction information.

[0247] (Appendix 1-9) A stamp card management system as described in Appendix 1-8, characterized in that the payment means usage transaction information indicates the time when the payment means was used, the profit earning means usage transaction information indicates the time when the profit earning means was used, the granting means grants the stamp up to once per specified period, and the granting of the stamp in response to the use of either the payment means or the profit earning means is included in the granting of the stamp for the specified period that includes the time when either was used.

[0248] (Appendix 1-10) A stamp card management system as described in Appendix 1-8 or 1-9, characterized in that the payment means usage transaction information indicates the time when the payment means was used, the profit earning means usage transaction information indicates the time when the profit earning means was used, and when the stamp is granted for the use of either the payment means or the profit earning means, the granting means suppresses the granting of the stamp for the use of the other of the payment means and the profit earning means within a specified period starting from the time when the one of the means was used.

[0249] (Appendix 1-11) A stamp card management system described in any one of Appendices 1-10, characterized in that the two or more payment means include a code payment means that enables payment in response to an electronic device optically reading code information indicating either the payer or the recipient of the price in a transaction, and an online transaction payment means that can be used in transactions in an electronic commerce service and enables payment in response to providing the electronic commerce service with account identification information that identifies a user's account in a payment service other than the electronic commerce service.

[0250] (Appendix 1-12) A stamp card management system described in any one of Appendices 1-1 to 1-11, characterized in that the two or more payment means include a first code payment means and a second code payment means that are different from each other and can make payments in response to an electronic device optically reading code information indicating either the payer or the recipient of the price in a transaction.

[0251] (Appendix 1-13) A stamp card management system described in any one of Appendices 1-1 to 1-12, characterized in that the two or more payment means include a first payment means and a second payment means that are different from each other, the acquired payment information includes payment destination store information indicating the store to which the payment is made, and the granting means grants the stamp when the first payment means is used to make a specified offline store the payment destination, and grants the stamp when the second payment means is used to make an online store operated by at least one of the business operator operating the offline store and an affiliate of the business operator the payment destination.

[0252] (Appendix 1-14) A stamp card management system as described in any one of Appendices 1-1 to 1-13, further comprising: a stamp information storage control means for storing, in a stamp information storage means, stamp information indicating that the stamp has been granted, in association with user information indicating a user of the stamp card, and capable of identifying the payment means used among the two or more payment means, when the stamp is granted by the granting means; and a stamp card screen information sending means for sending, to a terminal device of the user of the stamp card, stamp card screen display information for displaying on the terminal device a screen of the stamp card including the granted stamp, and which changes the display mode of the stamp on the stamp card screen depending on the payment means used, based on the stamp information associated with the user information of the user of the stamp card.

[0253] (Appendix 1-15) A stamp card management system as described in any one of Appendices 1-1 to 1-14, further comprising: a stamp information storage control means for storing, in a stamp information storage means, stamp information indicating that the stamp has been granted, in association with user information indicating the user of the stamp card, and capable of identifying the payment means used among the two or more payment means, when the stamp is granted by the granting means; and a history screen information sending means for sending to a terminal device of the user of the stamp card history screen information for displaying on the terminal device a screen of the history of stamp acquisition, and for displaying, on the history screen, payment means used information indicating the payment means used for the payment together with the history, based on the stamp information associated with the user information of the user of the stamp card.

[0254] (Appendix 1-16) A stamp card management system as described in any one of Appendices 1-1 to 1-15, further comprising a corresponding store information acquisition means for acquiring corresponding store information indicating at least one store corresponding to the stamp card, each of the at least one store being a store where at least one of the two or more payment means can be used, the at least one store including, for each of the two or more payment means, a store where the payment means can be used, the acquired payment information including payment destination store information indicating the store to which the payment is made, and the granting means for granting the stamp when any of the two or more payment means is used to pay the payment to any of the at least one store corresponding to the stamp card.

[0255] (Appendix 1-17) The stamp card is a stamp rally card that grants the user a stamp for each of a plurality of stores on the condition that the user pays the fee at the store, and grants the user a benefit different from the stamp on the condition that the user acquires the stamp at the plurality of stores, the at least one store being one of the plurality of stores corresponding to the stamp rally card, and the granting means is characterized in that the stamp is granted when any of the two or more payment means is used to pay the fee to any of the plurality of stores.

[0256] (Appendix 1-18) A stamp card management method executed by a computer, comprising: a payment information acquisition step of acquiring, for each of two or more predetermined payment means that can be used to settle a price for a transaction, payment information indicating that a payment was made using the payment means, the payment information including payment means user information indicating the user who used the payment means; and an assignment step of assigning a stamp based on the acquired payment information and user information indicating the user of the electronic stamp card, regardless of whether the payment means used is any of the two or more payment means.

[0257] (Appendix 1-19) A stamp card management program characterized by causing a computer to function as: a payment information acquisition means for acquiring payment information indicating that a payment was made using each of two or more predetermined payment means that can be used to settle the price of a transaction, the payment information including payment means user information indicating the user who used the payment means; and an assignment means for assigning a stamp based on the acquired payment information and user information indicating the user of an electronic stamp card, regardless of which of the two or more payment means was used.

[0258] (Appendix 2-1) A stamp card management system comprising: a payment information acquisition means for acquiring payment information indicating that a payment has been made using a payment means that can be used to settle the price of a transaction, the payment information including payment means user information indicating a user who used the payment means; a profit acquisition means usage information acquisition means for acquiring profit acquisition means usage information indicating that a profit acquisition means that can be used in conjunction with the payment means has been used, the profit acquisition means enabling at least one of the user of the profit acquisition means to earn a profit and the user of the profit acquisition means to use previously earned profits to settle the price, and including profit acquisition means user information indicating a user who used the profit acquisition means; and an assignment means for assigning a stamp based on the acquired payment information, the acquired profit acquisition means usage information, and user information indicating a user of an electronic stamp card, regardless of whether the payment means or the profit acquisition means has been used.

[0259] (Appendix 2-2) The stamp card management system according to appendix 2-1, wherein the granting means, when granting the stamp, grants a benefit different from the stamp to the user of the stamp card.

[0260] (Appendix 2-3) The stamp card management system described in Appendix 2-2, characterized in that the granting means differs in value of the benefit granted when the payment means is used from when the profit acquisition means is used.

[0261] (Appendix 2-4) A stamp card management system described in any one of Appendices 2-1 to 2-3, characterized in that the granting means changes the number of stamps granted when the payment means is used and when the profit acquisition means is used.

[0262] (Appendix 2-5) A stamp card management system as described in any one of Appendices 2-1 to 2-4, characterized in that the granting means grants the stamp when the manner in which either the payment means or the profit earning means is used satisfies a specified granting condition, and the granting condition differs between when the payment means is used and when the profit earning means is used.

[0263] (Appendix 2-6) A stamp card management system described in any one of Appendices 2-1 to 2-5, characterized in that the payment means is provided by a specified first business operator, and the profit-earning means is provided by a specified second business operator different from the first business operator.

[0264] (Appendix 2-7) A stamp card management system described in any one of Appendices 2-1 to 2-6, characterized in that the granting means grants the stamp only for either the use of the payment means or the use of the profit earning means when the payment means and the profit earning means are used together in the same transaction.

[0265] (Appendix 2-8) A stamp card management system as described in Appendix 2-7, characterized in that the acquired payment information includes payment means usage transaction information regarding the transaction in which the payment means was used, the acquired profit earning means usage information includes profit earning means usage transaction information regarding the transaction in which the profit earning means was used, and the granting means determines whether the payment means and the profit earning means were used in combination based on the payment means usage transaction information and the profit earning means usage transaction information.

[0266] (Appendix 2-9) A stamp card management system as described in Appendix 2-7 or 2-8, characterized in that the payment means usage transaction information indicates the time when the payment means was used, the profit earning means usage transaction information indicates the time when the profit earning means was used, the granting means grants the stamp up to once per specified period, and the granting of the stamp in response to the use of either the payment means or the profit earning means is included in the granting of the stamp for the specified period that includes the time when either was used.

[0267] (Appendix 2-10) A stamp card management system as described in any one of Appendices 2-7 to 2-9, characterized in that the payment means usage transaction information indicates the time when the payment means was used, the profit earning means usage transaction information indicates the time when the profit earning means was used, and the granting means, when granting the stamp for use of either the payment means or the profit earning means, suppresses the granting of the stamp for use of the other of the payment means and the profit earning means within a specified period starting from the time when the one means was used.

[0268] (Appendix 2-11) A stamp card management system as described in any one of Appendices 2-1 to 2-10, further comprising: a stamp information storage control means for storing, in a stamp information storage means, stamp information indicating that the stamp has been granted, associated with user information indicating the user of the stamp card, and capable of identifying the means used among the payment means and the profit acquisition means, when the stamp is granted by the granting means; and a stamp card screen information sending means for sending, to a terminal device of the user of the stamp card, stamp card screen display information for displaying on the terminal device a screen of the stamp card including the granted stamp, and which changes the display mode of the stamp on the stamp card screen depending on the means used, based on the stamp information associated with the user information of the user of the stamp card.

[0269] (Appendix 2-12) A stamp card management system as described in any one of Appendices 2-1 to 2-11, further comprising: a stamp information storage control means for storing, in a stamp information storage means, stamp information indicating that the stamp has been granted, in association with user information indicating the user of the stamp card, and capable of identifying the means used among the payment means and the profit acquisition means, when the stamp is granted by the granting means; and a history screen information sending means for sending to a terminal device of the user of the stamp card history screen information for displaying on the terminal device a screen of the history of stamp acquisition, and which displays, on the history screen, utilization means information indicating the means used together with the history, based on the stamp information associated with the user information of the user of the stamp card.

[0270] (Appendix 2-13) A stamp card management system as described in any one of Appendices 2-1 to 2-12, further comprising a corresponding store information acquisition means for acquiring corresponding store information indicating at least one store corresponding to the stamp card, each of the at least one store being a store where at least one of the payment means and the profit earning means can be used, the at least one store including stores where the payment means can be used and stores where the profit earning means can be used, the acquired payment information including payment destination store information indicating the store to which the payment is made, and the granting means for granting the stamp when any of the payment means and the profit earning means are used with any of the at least one store corresponding to the stamp card as the payment destination of the payment.

[0271] (Appendix 2-14) The stamp card is a stamp rally card that grants the user a stamp for each of a plurality of stores on the condition that the user pays the fee at the store, and grants the user a benefit different from the stamp on the condition that the user acquires the stamp at the plurality of stores, the at least one store being one of the plurality of stores corresponding to the stamp rally card, and the granting means is characterized in that the stamp is granted when one of the payment means and the profit acquisition means is used to pay the fee to one of the plurality of stores.

[0272] (Appendix 2-15) A stamp card management method executed by a computer, comprising: a payment information acquisition step for acquiring payment information indicating that a payment has been made using a payment means that can be used to settle a price in a transaction, the payment information including payment means user information indicating a user who used the payment means; a profit acquisition means usage information acquisition step for acquiring profit acquisition means usage information indicating that a profit acquisition means has been used, the profit acquisition means being usable when settling a transaction and that can be used in conjunction with the payment means, the profit acquisition means enabling the user of the profit acquisition means to earn profits and to use profits previously earned by the user of the profit acquisition means to settle the price, and including profit acquisition means user information indicating the user who used the profit acquisition means; and an assignment step for assigning a stamp based on the acquired payment information, the acquired profit acquisition means usage information, and user information indicating a user of an electronic stamp card, regardless of whether the payment means or the profit acquisition means has been used.

[0273] (Appendix 2-16) A stamp card management program that causes a computer to function as: a payment information acquisition means for acquiring payment information indicating that a payment has been made using a payment means that can be used to settle the price of a transaction, the payment information including payment means user information indicating the user who used the payment means; a profit acquisition means usage information acquisition means for acquiring profit acquisition means usage information indicating that a profit acquisition means has been used, the profit acquisition means being a profit acquisition means that can be used when settling a transaction and that can be used in conjunction with the payment means, the profit acquisition means enabling the user of the profit acquisition means to earn profits and to use profits previously earned by the user of the profit acquisition means to settle the price, and including profit acquisition means user information indicating the user who used the profit acquisition means; and an assignment means for assigning a stamp regardless of whether the payment means or the profit acquisition means is used, based on the acquired payment information, the acquired profit acquisition means usage information, and user information indicating the user of an electronic stamp card.

[0274] (Appendix 3-1) A stamp card management system comprising: a selected payment means information acquisition means for acquiring selected payment means information indicating at least one selected payment means selected as a payment means to be assigned to a specified stamp card to be created from among a plurality of payment means that can be used to pay for a transaction; a payment information acquisition means for acquiring payment information indicating that a payment was made using one of the at least one selected payment means indicated by the acquired selected payment means information, the payment information including payment means user information indicating a user who used the selected payment means; and an assignment means for assigning a stamp on the condition that one of the at least one selected payment means among the plurality of payment means was used, based on the acquired payment information and user information indicating a user of the specified stamp card.

[0275] (Appendix 3-2) The stamp card management system described in Appendix 3-1, characterized in that when granting the stamp, the granting means grants a benefit different from the stamp on the specified stamp card to the user of the specified stamp card.

[0276] (Appendix 3-3) The stamp card management system described in Appendix 3-2, characterized in that the at least one selected payment means includes a first payment means and a second payment means that are different from each other, and the granting means differs in value of the granted benefit when the payment means used is the first payment means and when the payment means used is the second payment means.

[0277] (Appendix 3-4) A stamp card management system described in any one of Appendices 3-1 to 3-3, characterized in that the at least one selected payment means includes a first payment means and a second payment means which are different from each other, and the granting means differs the number of stamps granted when the payment means used for payment is the first payment means and when the payment means used for payment is the second payment means.

[0278] (Appendix 3-5) A stamp card management system as described in any one of Appendices 3-1 to 3-4, characterized in that the at least one selected payment means includes a first payment means and a second payment means which are different from each other, the granting means grants the stamp when the manner in which any of the at least one selected payment means is used satisfies a predetermined granting condition, and the granting condition differs when the payment means used is the first payment means and when the payment means used is the second payment means.

[0279] (Appendix 3-6) A stamp card management system as described in any one of Appendices 3-1 to 3-5, further comprising a profit acquisition means usage information acquisition means for acquiring profit acquisition means usage information indicating that a profit acquisition means has been used, the profit acquisition means being usable when making a payment in a transaction and capable of being used in combination with at least one of the at least one selected payment means, and enabling a user of the profit acquisition means to earn a profit and to use previously earned profits to pay for the price, wherein the acquired profit acquisition means usage information includes profit acquisition means usage user information indicating the user who used the profit acquisition means, and the granting means grants the stamp based on the acquired profit acquisition means usage information and the user information, on the condition that the profit acquisition means has been used.

[0280] (Appendix 3-7) A stamp card management system as described in Appendix 3-6, characterized in that the granting means grants the stamp only for either the use of the selected payment means or the use of the profit earning means when the selected payment means and the profit earning means are used together in the same transaction.

[0281] (Appendix 3-8) A stamp card management system as described in Appendix 3-7, characterized in that the acquired payment information includes payment means usage transaction information regarding the transaction in which the payment means was used, the acquired profit earning means usage information includes profit earning means usage transaction information regarding the transaction in which the profit earning means was used, and the granting means determines whether the selected payment means and the profit earning means were used in combination based on the payment means usage transaction information included in the acquired payment information and the profit earning means usage transaction information included in the acquired profit earning information.

[0282] (Appendix 3-9) A stamp card management system as described in Appendix 3-8, characterized in that the payment means usage transaction information indicates the time when the selected payment means was used, the profit earning means usage transaction information indicates the time when the profit earning means was used, the awarding means awards the stamp up to once per specified period, and the awarding of the stamp for the use of either the selected payment means or the profit earning means is included in the awarding of the stamp for the specified period that includes the time when either was used.

[0283] (Appendix 3-10) A stamp card management system as described in Appendix 3-8 or 3-9, characterized in that the payment method usage transaction information indicates the time when the selected payment method was used, the profit earning method usage transaction information indicates the time when the profit earning method was used, and the granting means, when granting the stamp for use of either the selected payment method or the profit earning means, suppresses the granting of the stamp for use of the other of the selected payment method and the profit earning means within a specified period starting from the time when the one method was used.

[0284] (Appendix 3-11) A stamp card management system described in any one of Appendices 3-1 to 3-10, characterized in that the at least one selected payment means includes a code payment means that enables payment in response to an electronic device optically reading code information indicating either the payer or the recipient of the price in a transaction, and an online transaction payment means that can be used in transactions in an electronic commerce service and enables payment in response to providing the electronic commerce service with account identification information that identifies a user's account in a payment service other than the electronic commerce service.

[0285] (Appendix 3-12) A stamp card management system described in any one of Appendices 3-1 to 3-11, characterized in that the at least one selected payment means includes a first code payment means and a second code payment means that are different from each other and can make payments in response to an electronic device optically reading code information indicating either the payer or the recipient of the price in a transaction.

[0286] (Appendix 3-13) A stamp card management system described in any one of Appendices 3-1 to 3-12, characterized in that the at least one selected payment means includes a first payment means and a second payment means which are different from each other, the acquired payment information includes payment destination store information indicating the store to which the payment is made, and the granting means grants the stamp when the first payment means is used to make a specified offline store the payment destination, and grants the stamp when the second payment means is used to make an online store operated by at least one of the business operator operating the offline store and an affiliate of the business operator the payment destination.

[0287] (Appendix 3-14) A stamp card management system as described in any one of Appendices 3-1 to 3-13, further comprising: a stamp information storage control means for storing, in a stamp information storage means, stamp information indicating that the stamp has been granted, associated with user information indicating the user of the stamp card, and capable of identifying the selected payment means used among the at least one selected payment means, when the stamp is granted by the granting means; and a stamp card screen information sending means for sending, to a terminal device of the user of the stamp card, stamp card screen display information for displaying on the terminal device a screen of the stamp card including the granted stamp, and which changes the display mode of the stamp on the stamp card screen depending on the selected payment means used, based on the stamp information associated with the user information of the user of the stamp card.

[0288] (Appendix 3-15) A stamp card management system as described in any one of Appendices 3-1 to 3-14, characterized in that it further comprises a stamp card screen information sending means for sending stamp card screen display information to a terminal device of a user of the stamp card, causing the terminal device to display a screen of the stamp card including the applied stamp, and a stamp card screen information sending means for including, on the stamp card screen, stamp target payment means information indicating the at least one selected payment means indicated by the acquired selected payment means information as the payment means to which the stamp is applied.

[0289] (Appendix 3-16) A stamp card management system as described in any one of Appendices 3-1 to 3-15, further comprising: a stamp information storage control means for storing, in a stamp information storage means, stamp information indicating that the stamp has been granted, associated with user information indicating the user of the stamp card, and capable of identifying the selected payment means used among the at least one selected payment means, when the stamp is granted by the granting means; and a history screen information sending means for sending to a terminal device of the user of the stamp card history screen information for displaying on the terminal device a screen of the history of stamp acquisition, and a history screen information sending means for displaying, on the history screen, used payment means information indicating the selected payment means used for the payment together with the history, based on the stamp information associated with the user information of the user of the stamp card.

[0290] (Appendix 3-17) A stamp card management system as described in Appendix 3-1, further comprising a corresponding store information acquisition means for acquiring corresponding store information indicating at least one store corresponding to the stamp card, each of the at least one store being a store where at least one of the at least one selected payment means can be used, the at least one store including a store where the selected payment means can be used for each of the at least one selected payment means, the acquired payment information including payment destination store information indicating the store to which the payment is made, and the granting means for granting the stamp when any of the at least one selected payment means indicated by the acquired selected payment method information is used with any of the at least one store corresponding to the stamp card as the payment destination of the payment.

[0291] (Appendix 3-18) A stamp card management system as described in Appendix 3-17, further comprising an available payment means information acquisition means for acquiring available payment means information indicating payment means available at each of the at least one store indicated by the acquired compatible store information among the plurality of payment means, and a selected payment means information generation means for generating selected payment means information indicating at least one payment means as the selected payment means among the payment means indicated by the acquired available payment means information, wherein the granting means acquires the generated selected payment means information.

[0292] (Appendix 3-19) The stamp card management system described in Appendix 3-17 or 18, characterized in that the specified stamp card is a stamp rally card that grants the user a stamp for each of a plurality of stores on the condition that the user pays the fee at the store, and grants the user a benefit different from the stamp on the condition that the user acquires the stamp at the plurality of stores, the at least one store being the plurality of stores corresponding to the stamp rally card, and the granting means grants the stamp when any of the at least one selected payment means indicated by the acquired selected payment means information is used with any of the plurality of stores corresponding to the stamp rally card as the payment destination for the fee.

[0293] (Appendix 3-20) A stamp card management method executed by a computer, comprising: a selected payment method information acquisition step of acquiring selected payment method information indicating at least one selected payment method selected as the payment method to be assigned to a specified stamp card to be created from among a plurality of payment methods that can be used to pay for a transaction; a payment information acquisition step of acquiring payment information indicating that a payment was made using one of the at least one selected payment methods indicated by the acquired selected payment method information, the payment information including payment method user information indicating the user who used the selected payment method; and an assignment step of assigning a stamp on the condition that one of the at least one selected payment method among the plurality of payment methods was used based on the acquired payment information and user information indicating the user of the specified stamp card.

[0294] (Appendix 3-21) A stamp card management program characterized by causing a computer to function as: a selected payment means information acquisition means for acquiring selected payment means information indicating at least one selected payment means selected as a payment means to be assigned to a specified stamp card to be created, among a plurality of payment means that can be used to settle the price of a transaction; a payment information acquisition means for acquiring payment information indicating that a payment was made using one of the at least one selected payment means indicated by the acquired selected payment means information, the payment information including payment means user information indicating the user who used the selected payment means; and an assignment means for assigning a stamp on the condition that one of the at least one selected payment means among the plurality of payment means was used, based on the acquired payment information and user information indicating the user of the specified stamp card. [Explanation of symbols]

[0295] 1. Stamp card management server 2. Membership information management server 3 Points Program System 4. Payment System 5. Store terminal 6 E-commerce servers 7 Creator Terminal 8 User terminal 11 System control section 12 System Bus 13 Input / Output Interface 14 Storage section 14a Payment related methods DB 14b Business DB 14c Store DB 14d Stamp Card DB 14e Stamp card compatible store DB 14f Issued Card DB 14g Payment related information DB 14h Stamp acquisition history DB 14i Bonus DB 14j Stamp card compatible payment method DB 15 Communications Department 21 System control section 22 System Bus 23 Input / Output Interface 24 Memory section 24a Member DB 24b Payment related information DB 25 Communications Department 1101 Payment-related information acquisition department 1102 Compatible store information acquisition unit 1103 Granting Department 1104 Stamp information storage control unit 1105 Stamp card screen information transmission unit 1106 History screen information transmission unit 1107 Selected payment related means information acquisition unit 1108 Available payment method information acquisition unit 1109 Selected payment related means information generation unit 2101 Payment-related Information Acquisition Department 2102 Payment-related information transmission department NW Network S Communication System

Claims

1. Selection settlement means information acquisition means for acquiring selection settlement means information indicating at least one selected settlement means selected as a settlement means to which a stamp is to be affixed to a predetermined stamp card among a plurality of settlement means that can be used for settlement in a transaction; Settlement information acquisition means for acquiring settlement information indicating that settlement has been made using any one of the at least one selected settlement means indicated by the acquired selection settlement means information, the settlement information including settlement means using user information indicating a user who has used the selected settlement means; Granting means for granting a stamp on the condition that any one of the at least one selected settlement means among the plurality of settlement means has been used, based on the acquired settlement information and user information indicating a user of the predetermined stamp card; A stamp card management system characterized by comprising the above.

2. The stamp card management system according to claim 1, wherein when the granting means grants the stamp, the granting means grants a privilege different from the stamp of the predetermined stamp card to the user of the predetermined stamp card.

3. The at least one selected settlement means includes a first settlement means and a second settlement means that are different from each other, The stamp card management system according to claim 2, wherein the granting means varies the value of the granted privilege depending on whether the used settlement means is the first settlement means or the second settlement means.

4. The at least one selected settlement means includes a first settlement means and a second settlement means that are different from each other, The stamp card management system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the granting means varies the number of stamps to be granted depending on whether the settlement means used for settlement is the first settlement means or the second settlement means.

5. The at least one selected settlement means includes a first settlement means and a second settlement means that are different from each other, The granting means grants the stamp when a mode in which any one of the at least one selected settlement means is used satisfies a predetermined granting condition, The stamp card management system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the granting conditions are different depending on whether the settlement means to be used is the first settlement means or the second settlement means.

6. A profit acquisition means that can be used in combination with at least one of the at least one selected payment means, which enables at least one of the following: allowing the user of the profit acquisition means to acquire a profit and allowing the user of the profit acquisition means to use the profit acquired in the past for settlement of the price. The profit acquisition means utilization information acquisition means further includes acquiring profit acquisition means utilization information indicating that the profit acquisition means has been used. The acquired profit acquisition means utilization information includes profit acquisition means utilization user information indicating the user who used the profit acquisition means. The stamp card management system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the granting means grants the stamp on the condition that the profit acquisition means has been used, based on the acquired profit acquisition means utilization information and the user information.

7. The stamp card management system according to claim 6, wherein the granting means grants the stamp only for either the use of the selected payment means or the use of the profit acquisition means when the selected payment means and the profit acquisition means are used in combination in the same transaction.

8. The acquired settlement information includes settlement means utilization transaction information regarding the transaction in which the settlement means was used. The acquired profit acquisition means utilization information includes profit acquisition means utilization transaction information regarding the transaction in which the profit acquisition means was used. The stamp card management system according to claim 7, wherein the granting means determines whether the selected payment means and the profit acquisition means were used in combination based on the settlement means utilization transaction information and the profit acquisition means utilization transaction information.

9. The settlement means utilization transaction information indicates the time when the selected payment means was used. The profit acquisition means utilization transaction information indicates the time when the profit acquisition means was used. The granting means grants the stamp once per predetermined period at most. The stamp card management system according to claim 8, wherein the granting of the stamp for the use of either the selected payment means or the profit acquisition means is included in the granting of the stamp for the predetermined period including the time when either was used.

10. The settlement means utilization transaction information indicates the time when the selected payment means was used. The profit acquisition means utilization transaction information indicates the time when the profit acquisition means was used. When the giving means gives the stamp for the use of either one of the selection settlement means and the profit acquisition means, the giving of the stamp for the use of the other one of the selection settlement means and the profit acquisition means within a predetermined period starting from the use time of the one means is suppressed. The stamp card management system according to claim 8, characterized in that.

11. The at least one selection settlement means includes a code settlement means that enables settlement in response to an electronic device optically reading code information indicating either the payer or the payee in a transaction, and an online transaction settlement means that is available for transactions in an e-commerce service and enables settlement in response to providing account identification information for identifying a user's account in a settlement service different from the e-commerce service to the e-commerce service. The stamp card management system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that.

12. The at least one selection settlement means includes a first code settlement means and a second code settlement means that are different from each other and enable settlement respectively in response to an electronic device optically reading code information indicating either the payer or the payee in a transaction. The stamp card management system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that.

13. The at least one selection settlement means includes a first settlement means and a second settlement means that are different from each other, The acquired settlement information includes payee store information indicating the store where the payment is made for the price, When the first settlement means is used with a predetermined offline store as the payee for the price, the giving means gives the stamp, and when the second settlement means is used with an online store operated by at least one of the operator of the offline store and the related parties of the operator as the payee for the price, the giving means gives the stamp. The stamp card management system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that.

14. When the stamp is given by the giving means, stamp information storage control means for storing in the stamp information storage means stamp information indicating that the stamp has been given, which is associated with user information indicating the user of the stamp card and can identify the selection settlement means used among the at least one selection settlement means. Stamp card screen information transmitting means for transmitting, to a terminal device of a user of the stamp card, stamp card screen display information for causing the terminal device to display a screen of the stamp card including the applied stamp, the stamp card screen information transmitting means varying a display mode of the stamp on the screen of the stamp card according to the used selected payment means based on the stamp information associated with the user information of the user of the stamp card. The stamp card management system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising the above.

15. Stamp card screen information transmitting means for transmitting, to a terminal device of a user of the stamp card, stamp card screen display information for causing the terminal device to display a screen of the stamp card including the applied stamp, the stamp card screen information transmitting means further comprising stamp target payment means information indicating the at least one selected payment means indicated by the acquired selected payment means information as a payment means for applying the stamp, and including the stamp target payment means information on the screen of the stamp card. The stamp card management system according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

16. Stamp information storage control means for storing, in stamp information storage means, stamp information indicating that the stamp has been applied, in association with user information indicating a user of the stamp card, the stamp information being capable of specifying the used selected payment means among the at least one selected payment means, when the stamp is applied by the applying means. History screen information transmitting means for transmitting, to a terminal device of a user of the stamp card, history screen information for causing the terminal device to display a screen of a history of stamp acquisition, the history screen information transmitting means displaying, on the history screen, utilization payment means information indicating the selected payment means used for the payment, together with the history, based on the stamp information associated with the user information of the user of the stamp card. The stamp card management system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising the above.

17. The stamp card management system further comprises corresponding store information acquisition means for acquiring corresponding store information indicating at least one store corresponding to the stamp card. Each of the at least one store is a store that can use at least one of the at least one alternative payment means, and the at least one store includes, for each of the at least one alternative payment means, a store that can use the alternative payment means. The acquired payment information includes payment destination store information indicating the store that is the payment destination of the price. The stamp card management system according to claim 1, wherein when any one of the at least one alternative payment means indicated by the acquired alternative payment means information is used with any one of the at least one store corresponding to the stamp card as the payment destination of the price, the stamp is given.

18. Available payment means information acquisition means for acquiring available payment means information indicating the payment means available at each of the at least one store indicated by the acquired corresponding store information among the plurality of payment means; Alternative payment means information generation means for generating alternative payment means information indicating at least one payment means as the alternative payment means among the payment means indicated by the acquired available payment means information; further comprising: The stamp card management system according to claim 17, wherein the giving means acquires the generated alternative payment means information.

19. The predetermined stamp card is a stamp rally card that gives a stamp to the user on the condition that the user settles the price at the store for each of the plurality of stores, and gives a privilege different from the stamp to the user on the condition that the user acquires the stamp at the plurality of stores. The at least one store is the plurality of stores corresponding to the stamp rally card. The stamp card management system according to claim 17 or 18, wherein when any one of the at least one alternative payment means indicated by the acquired alternative payment means information is used with any one of the plurality of stores corresponding to the stamp rally card as the payment destination of the price, the stamp is given.

20. In a stamp card management method executed by a computer, A selected payment means information acquisition step of acquiring selected payment means information indicating at least one selected payment means selected as a payment means to which a stamp is to be affixed to a predetermined stamp card among a plurality of payment means that can be used for payment in a transaction; A payment information acquisition step of acquiring payment information indicating that payment has been made using any one of the at least one selected payment means indicated by the acquired selected payment means information, the payment information including payment means using user information indicating a user who has used the selected payment means; An awarding step of awarding a stamp on the condition that any one of the at least one selected payment means among the plurality of payment means has been used, based on the acquired payment information and user information indicating a user of the predetermined stamp card; A stamp card management method characterized by including the above.

21. A computer, A selected payment means information acquisition means for acquiring selected payment means information indicating at least one selected payment means selected as a payment means to which a stamp is to be affixed to a predetermined stamp card among a plurality of payment means that can be used for payment in a transaction; A payment information acquisition means for acquiring payment information indicating that payment has been made using any one of the at least one selected payment means indicated by the acquired selected payment means information, the payment information including payment means using user information indicating a user who has used the selected payment means; An awarding means for awarding a stamp on the condition that any one of the at least one selected payment means among the plurality of payment means has been used, based on the acquired payment information and user information indicating a user of the predetermined stamp card; A stamp card management program characterized by causing the computer to function as the above.

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