Settlement support program, settlement support system, and settlement support method

Abstract

To improve flexibility of means for use in settlement, thereby improving the convenience for users.SOLUTION: A settlement support program causes a computer to implement: a means registration unit which registers settlement means which is presented by a user at the time of settlement in association with payment means which is different from the settlement means, and used by the user at the time of payment for the settlement; a payment means specifying unit which specifies payment means corresponding to the settlement means according to a settlement in which the settlement means is presented; a payment data generation unit which generates payment data for making payment for a settlement result, on the basis of the content of the settlement result performed by using the settlement means; and a payment data output unit which outputs payment data to a payment means management system which manages the specified payment means.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a payment support program, a payment support system, and a payment support method. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, techniques for improving user convenience in payment have been known.

[0003] For example, the method described in Patent Document 1 is a method of performing payment processing using one of a plurality of payment methods, and includes an amount acquisition step of acquiring the payment amount, a payment method determination step of determining the payment method corresponding to the acquired payment amount by referring to payment method determination information that represents the correspondence between the payment amount and each payment method, and a payment processing step of performing payment processing of the acquired payment amount using the determined payment method. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-259152 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] However, the method described in Patent Document 1 is premised on the transmission of information regarding the payment amount to a user's mobile terminal that stores the payment information necessary for the payment process. In this case, the POS device that is the payment destination must be designed to be able to communicate with the user's mobile terminal. Therefore, if the POS device is not designed to be able to communicate with the user's mobile terminal, the user cannot receive payment processing based on the method described in Patent Document 1, and the convenience for the user is limited.

[0006] In addition, in the method described in Patent Document 1, a payment request signal including the designation of the payment method is sent from the user's mobile terminal to the POS device during payment processing. Therefore, it is assumed that information about the specified payment method will be provided to the payment recipient, which limits the convenience for users who want to keep information about the specified payment method secret.

[0007] Furthermore, in the method described in Patent Document 1, the means to be used for payment is identified based only on the payment amount, so the flexibility of the process for identifying the means to be used for payment is limited.

[0008] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to increase the flexibility of means used for payment and improve convenience for users. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] A payment support program according to one embodiment of the present invention has a computer that includes a payment method registration unit that registers a payment method presented by a user at the time of payment in association with a settlement method different from the payment method that the user uses when settling the payment; a settlement method identification unit that identifies a settlement method corresponding to the payment method in accordance with the payment for which the payment method is presented; a settlement data generation unit that generates settlement data for settling the payment result based on the content of the payment result made using the payment method; and a settlement data output unit that outputs the settlement data to a settlement method management system that manages the identified settlement method.

[0010] In this invention, a "unit" does not simply mean a physical means, but also includes cases where the functions of the "unit" are realized by software. Furthermore, the functions of one "unit" or device may be realized by two or more physical means, devices, or software modules, and the functions of two or more "units" or devices may be realized by one physical means, device, or software module. [Effects of the Invention]

[0011] According to the present invention, it is possible to increase the flexibility of means used for payment and improve convenience for users. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0012] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an overview of processing in a payment support system 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] 1 is a diagram showing the configuration of a payment support system 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 3] 10 is a diagram showing an example of registration means data stored in a storage unit 110. FIG. [Figure 4] 10 is a diagram showing an example of distribution setting data stored in a storage unit 110. FIG. [Figure 5] 1 is a sequence chart showing an example of processing in payment processing system 100. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0013] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a diagram showing an overview of processing in a payment support system 100 according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0014] Payment support system 100 is an information processing system realized by a payment support program. Payment support system 100 registers a payment method presented by a user at the time of payment in association with a settlement method different from the payment method used by the user at the time of settlement of the payment, and performs settlement processing using the settlement method corresponding to the payment method presented by the user at the time of settlement.

[0015] First, the user presents a payment method and makes a payment with the payment recipient (S101). The payment recipient system 300 outputs payment schedule data regarding the details of the payment that is to be made by presenting the payment method to the payment support system 100 (S102).

[0016] Next, the payment processing system 100 identifies a settlement method corresponding to the payment method (S103). The payment processing system 100 outputs determination instruction data to the settlement method management system 400 to instruct the settlement method management system 400 to execute a determination process to determine whether or not the settlement process for the planned payment can be executed using the identified settlement method (S104). The payment processing system 100 acquires the result of the determination process in the settlement method management system 400 (S105) and notifies the payment destination system 300 (S106).

[0017] Then, the payment support system 100 generates settlement data for settling the payment result based on the details of the payment result made using the payment means (S107), and outputs the data to the payment means management system 400 (S108). The payment means management system 400 bills the user based on the settlement data (S109).

[0018] Figure 2 is a diagram showing the configuration of payment support system 100, an embodiment of the present invention. Payment support system 100 is communicably connected to user device 200, payment destination system 300, and settlement means management system 400 via a network such as the Internet. Details of payment support system 100 will be described later.

[0019] The user device 200 is an information processing device used by a user, such as a computer, a smartphone, a tablet terminal, or a personal computer.

[0020] A user accesses payment support system 100 using user device 200 and registers, for example, a payment method, a settlement method, and a distribution setting (described later).

[0021] The payment destination system 300 is an information processing system of the payment destination where the user presents a payment method to make a payment. Here, the payment destination is, for example, a store or a business operator that operates a store.

[0022] The payment destination system 300 performs payment processing in response to a payment application received from a user. For example, the payment destination system 300 outputs information to the payment support system 100 to inquire whether or not payment is possible using the payment method presented by the user. In response to the notification that payment is possible using the payment method presented by the user, the payment destination system 300 performs payment with the user.

[0023] The settlement means management system 400 is an information processing system that manages the settlement means used by users when settling payments.

[0024] The settlement means management system 400 performs a determination process (so-called authorization determination process) as to whether or not the settlement process for the scheduled payment details using the settlement means can be executed, based on the scheduled payment data related to the scheduled payment details acquired from the payment support system 100. Furthermore, the settlement means management system 400 performs the settlement process in the settlement means based on the settlement data acquired from the payment support system 100, and, for example, bills the user for the settlement amount.

[0025] 2, one each of the user device 200, payment destination system 300, and settlement means management system 400 is shown, however, there may be multiple user devices 200, payment destination systems 300, and settlement means management systems 400. The payment destination system 300 may be, for example, a payment destination system 300 for each payment destination (e.g., a store or business) used by the user. Furthermore, the settlement means management system 400 may be a settlement means management system 400 for each settlement means registered by the user in the payment support system 100.

[0026] Next, details of payment support system 100 will be described. Payment support system 100 includes a storage unit 110, a means registration unit 120, a distribution setting unit 130, a payment schedule data acquisition unit 140, a settlement means specification unit 150, a determination instruction unit 160, a notification unit 170, a settlement data generation unit 180, and a settlement data output unit 190. Each unit shown in Figure 2 can be realized, for example, by using a memory area or by a processor executing a program stored in the memory area.

[0027] Storage unit 110 stores information processed in payment support system 100. Storage unit 110 can store, for example, registration method data, allocation setting data, payment schedule data, judgment instruction data, and settlement data, which will be described later.

[0028] The means registration unit 120 registers the payment means presented by the user at the time of payment in association with the settlement means, different from the payment means, used by the user at the time of settling the payment, and stores the registered registered means data in the memory unit 110.

[0029] Here, the payment method is not particularly limited, but may be, for example, a credit card, a debit card, or an electronic money account. That is, a user applies for payment by presenting a credit card, a debit card, or an electronic money account to a payment recipient. A user may present a payment method, for example, by presenting a card to a payment recipient, or may present a payment method by using a terminal device used by the user to present information (e.g., a two-dimensional code) that can identify the payment method (e.g., displaying it on the screen of the terminal device or touching the terminal device to a specified device).

[0030] A payment method may also be a method that can be used as a settlement method. That is, if a settlement method corresponding to a payment method is not registered or if a settlement method corresponding to the payment method cannot be identified based on the distribution setting information described below, the payment may be settled using the payment method presented by the user. Note that a payment method may be any method (payment interface) that can be presented to a payment destination to apply for payment, and may not be a method that cannot be used as a settlement method on its own. If a payment method cannot be used as a settlement method, payment can be made by registering the payment method in association with a settlement method (settlement account) that can execute the settlement process.

[0031] The payment method is not particularly limited, but may be, for example, a credit card, a debit card, or an electronic money account.

[0032] The settlement means may be a means that can be presented as a payment means (for example, a credit card, a debit card, or an electronic money account). In other words, in this case, the user can present the settlement means and make a payment using that settlement means, or can present the payment means and make a payment using a settlement means corresponding to that payment means.

[0033] The payment by presenting a payment means may be a payment made by the user in person with the payment recipient, or may be a payment made online with the payment recipient in which the user presents the payment means to the payment recipient via a network such as the Internet. When making a payment by the user presenting the payment means to the payment recipient via a network such as the Internet, the user presents, for example, information identifying the payment means (for example, a card number or account number) to the payment recipient.

[0034] The payment method registration unit 120 may also register one payment method in association with multiple settlement methods.The payment method registration unit 120 may also register multiple payment methods in association with one settlement method.

[0035] FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of registration method data stored in memory unit 110. The registration method data stored in memory unit 110 includes, for example, a registration ID, payment method data, and settlement method data. The registration ID is data that identifies the registration method data. The payment method data is data that identifies the payment method. The settlement method data is data that identifies the settlement method (for example, a card number, account number, or account number).

[0036] The distribution setting unit 130 receives settings of the correspondence between the contents of the scheduled payment and the settlement means that settles the payment of the contents of the scheduled payment, and stores the distribution setting data relating to the settings in the storage unit 110.

[0037] The distribution setting data includes distribution condition data related to distribution conditions for specifying a settlement method corresponding to the payment method (i.e., distributing payments to the settlement method desired by the user). The distribution condition data is, for example, a condition based on the content of the scheduled payment.

[0038] The details of the payment schedule include, for example, information about the attributes of the payment recipient (country, region, industry, business type (e.g., individual store or chain store)), and information about payment details (payment date and time, day of the week, payment method (e.g., lump sum or installment), payment amount). In other words, by setting the allocation setting information, the user can customize the settlement method to be specified according to the attributes of the payment recipient and the payment situation.

[0039] Specifically, consider a case where a user wishes to use payment method A for payment at a grocery store, and payment method B for payment for an airline ticket. Here, payment methods A and B may be payment methods that award points (e.g., points with a high return rate) according to payments at the grocery store and the airline, respectively. The user can register allocation setting information in the payment method specification unit 150, described below, so that payment method A is specified for payment at the grocery store, and payment method B is specified for payment for the airline ticket. This allows the user to set allocation settings so that a payment method that offers the greatest economic benefit is specified.

[0040] Additionally, a user may register distribution setting data so that, for example, for small payments at a convenience store, payment method C is specified, and for large payments, payment method D is specified. This allows a user to register a payment method that is appropriate for the attributes and details of the payment, for example, to make payment management easier.

[0041] The distribution setting data may specify one settlement method for settling a portion of the payment schedule data and another settlement method for settling another portion of the payment schedule data based on predetermined distribution condition data, allowing the user to register settlement methods more flexibly.

[0042] 4 is a diagram showing an example of distribution setting data stored in the storage unit 110. The distribution setting data stored in the storage unit 110 includes, for example, a distribution setting ID and distribution condition data. The distribution setting ID is data for identifying the distribution setting data.

[0043] The payment schedule data acquisition unit 140 acquires payment schedule data relating to the details of the payment schedule, which is the details of the payment that is scheduled to be made by presenting the payment means, from the payment destination system of the payment destination, and stores the acquired payment schedule data in the memory unit 110.

[0044] The payment schedule data includes, for example, payment amount information indicating the payment amount. The payment schedule data may further include, for example, payment recipient data indicating the payment recipient, data regarding the attributes of the payment recipient, and data regarding the details of the payment.

[0045] The settlement method specifying unit 150 specifies the settlement method corresponding to the payment method in response to the payment for which the payment method is presented. The settlement method specifying unit 150 can specify the settlement method corresponding to the payment method, for example, based on registered method data.

[0046] Furthermore, when one payment method and multiple payment methods are registered in association with each other, the settlement method specification unit 150 can specify one of the multiple payment methods based on the correspondence (i.e., the distribution setting information) and the payment schedule data. In other words, the settlement method specification unit 150 specifies the settlement method corresponding to the payment schedule data by referring to the distribution conditions indicated by the distribution setting information.

[0047] Specifically, for example, if the allocation setting data includes allocation condition data that specifies payment method A when the payment destination is a predetermined first payment destination (for example, a predetermined store or a predetermined industry) and that specifies payment method B when the payment destination is a predetermined second payment destination, the settlement method identification unit 150 will refer to the allocation setting data and identify, for example, either payment method A or B based on the payment destination indicated by the payment schedule data. Also, for example, if the allocation setting data includes allocation condition data that specifies payment method C when the payment amount is less than a predetermined amount and that specifies payment method D when the payment amount is more than the predetermined amount, the settlement method identification unit 150 will refer to the allocation setting data and identify, for example, either payment method C or D based on the payment amount indicated by the payment schedule data.

[0048] The settlement method specification unit 150 may specify one settlement method for payment of a portion of the payment schedule data, and specify another settlement method for payment of another portion of the payment schedule data. This allows the user to register settlement methods more flexibly.

[0049] The determination instruction unit 160 outputs determination instruction data to the settlement means management system 400 to instruct the execution of a determination process as to whether or not the settlement process for the contents of the scheduled payment using the specified settlement means is executable.

[0050] The determination instruction unit 160 instructs the settlement means management system 400 to perform a so-called authorization determination regarding a payment using a settlement means. The determination instruction unit 160 can output, for example, determination instruction data including payment amount data included in the payment schedule data to the settlement means management system 400.

[0051] The settlement method management system 400 performs a so-called authorization determination process, for example, in response to the determination instruction data. The settlement method management system 400 can determine, for example, whether the payment amount indicated by the payment amount information included in the payment schedule data is within the limit set for the specified settlement method. The determination of whether the settlement process for the scheduled payment content using the specified settlement method can be executed may be made based on the payment amount, or may be made based on other data indicated by the payment schedule data.

[0052] The notification unit 170 notifies the settlement destination system 300 of the result of the determination process based on the result of the determination process.

[0053] The notification unit 170 may, for example, provide notification based on determination processing result data regarding the result of the determination processing obtained from the settlement method management system 400. That is, the notification unit 170 can, for example, output notification data to the settlement destination system 300 indicating that the settlement processing for the contents of the scheduled payment using the specified settlement method is executable, and can also output notification data to the settlement destination system 300 indicating that the settlement processing for the contents of the scheduled payment using the specified settlement method is not executable.

[0054] The payment destination system 300 performs payment processing with the user, for example, based on the notification that the payment processing for the scheduled payment content using the specified payment means is executable. The payment destination system 300 outputs payment processing result data regarding the result of the payment processing to the payment support system 100.

[0055] The settlement data generation unit 180 generates settlement data for settling the settlement result based on the details of the settlement result made using the payment means, and stores the generated settlement data in the storage unit 110.

[0056] The settlement data generation unit 180 can generate settlement data, for example, based on payment processing result data acquired from the payment destination system 300. The settlement data generation unit 180 can generate settlement data for billing the user for the payment amount, for example, based on the payment amount indicated by the payment processing result data.

[0057] The settlement data generation unit 180 may generate settlement data for each piece of payment processing result data, or may generate one piece of settlement data based on multiple pieces of payment processing result data.

[0058] The settlement data output unit 190 outputs the settlement data to the settlement means management system 400 that manages the identified settlement means.

[0059] The settlement means management system 400 performs settlement processing (for example, billing processing) for the user based on the settlement data.

[0060] In this way, the payment support system 100 registers payment methods in association with settlement methods, allowing users to present a specified payment method and make payment using the settlement method corresponding to that specified payment method.

[0061] In the past, if a user wanted to use transportation electronic money to pay for train fares, contactless payment at convenience stores, and two-dimensional code payment at low-value stores, the user had to present different payment methods for each situation.By using payment support system 100, the user can present the same payment method for each situation without having to use different payment methods, and perform payment processing using the settlement method appropriate for each situation (for example, specified based on distribution setting information).

[0062] FIG. 5 is a sequence chart showing an example of processing in payment processing system 100.

[0063] First, the user registers payment method data and settlement method data and also registers distribution settings (S501), for example, using the user device 200. The method registration unit 120 registers the payment method data and settlement method data to generate method registration information, and the distribution setting unit 130 accepts and registers the distribution settings (S502).

[0064] The user applies for payment by presenting the payment method (S503). The payment destination system 300 outputs the payment schedule data to the payment support system 100, and the payment schedule data acquisition unit 140 acquires the payment schedule data (S504). The settlement method identification unit 150 identifies the settlement method corresponding to the payment method (S505).

[0065] The determination instruction unit 160 outputs determination instruction data to the settlement means management system 400 (S506). The settlement means management system 400 performs determination processing based on the determination instruction data (S507). The settlement means management system 400 outputs determination processing result data to the payment support system 100 (S508). The notification unit 170 outputs notification data notifying the result of the determination processing to the payment destination system 300 (S509).

[0066] The payment destination system 300 performs payment processing related to the payment with the user (S510) and outputs payment processing result data to the payment support system 100 (S511). The settlement data generation unit 180 generates settlement data (S512) and outputs it to the settlement means management system 400 (S513).

[0067] The above describes one embodiment of the present invention. Payment support system 100 associates and registers a payment method presented by a user at the time of payment with a different payment method used by the user at the time of settlement of the payment, identifies a payment method corresponding to the payment method according to the payment for which the payment method is presented, generates settlement data for settling the payment result based on the content of the payment result, and outputs the settlement data to payment method management system 400, which manages the identified payment method. This allows payment support system 100 to increase the flexibility of payment methods used and improve user convenience.

[0068] Furthermore, the payment facilitating system 100 acquires payment schedule data from the payment destination system 300, outputs determination instruction data to the payment method management system 400 to instruct it to execute a determination process to determine whether the payment process for the scheduled payment details using the specified payment method is executable, and notifies the payment destination system 300 of the result of the determination process based on the result of the determination process. This allows the payment facilitating system 100 to perform a so-called authorization determination process for the specified payment method and perform the payment facilitating process using the specified payment method. This allows the payment facilitating system 100 to identify a payment method that is capable of executing the payment process for the scheduled payment details using the specified payment method.

[0069] Furthermore, payment support system 100 can accept settings for the correspondence between the details of the scheduled payment and the payment method that will settle the payment for the scheduled payment, and can identify one of multiple payment methods based on the correspondence and the payment schedule data. This allows users to flexibly customize the identified payment method depending on the details of the scheduled payment.

[0070] It should be noted that the present embodiment is provided to facilitate understanding of the present invention and is not intended to limit the present invention. The present invention may be modified or improved without departing from the spirit thereof, and equivalents thereof are also included in the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0071] 100 Payment support system, 110 Storage unit, 120 Method registration unit, 130 Allocation setting unit, 140 Payment schedule data acquisition unit, 150 Settlement method specification unit, 160 Determination instruction unit, 170 Notification unit, 180 Settlement data generation unit, 190 Settlement data output unit, 200 User device, 300 Settlement destination system, 400 Settlement method management system

Claims

1. On the computer, a means registration unit that registers a payment means presented by a user at the time of payment and a settlement means, different from the payment means, that the user uses at the time of settling the payment in association with each other; a settlement means identification unit that identifies the settlement means corresponding to the payment means in response to the payment presented by the payment means; a settlement data generation unit that generates settlement data for settling the settlement result based on the content of the settlement result made using the settlement means; a settlement data output unit that outputs the settlement data to a settlement means management system that manages the specified settlement means; A payment support program to make this a reality.

2. a payment schedule data acquisition unit that acquires payment schedule data relating to the content of the payment schedule to be made by presenting the payment means from a payment destination system of the payment destination; a determination instruction unit that outputs determination instruction data to the settlement means management system to instruct the settlement means management system to execute a determination process as to whether or not the settlement process for the content of the scheduled settlement using the specified settlement means is executable; a notification unit that notifies the settlement destination system of the result of the determination process based on the result of the determination process; The payment support program according to claim 1 , comprising:

3. The system further includes a distribution setting unit that accepts settings of a correspondence relationship between the content of the scheduled payment and a settlement means that settles the payment of the content of the scheduled payment, The means registration unit registers one payment means and a plurality of settlement means in association with each other, the settlement means specification unit specifies one settlement means from among the plurality of settlement means based on the correspondence relationship and the payment schedule data; The payment support program according to claim 2 .

4. a means registration unit that registers a payment means presented by a user at the time of payment and a settlement means, different from the payment means, that the user uses at the time of settling the payment in association with each other; a settlement means identification unit that identifies the settlement means corresponding to the payment means in response to the payment presented by the payment means; a settlement data generation unit that generates settlement data for settling the settlement result based on the content of the settlement result made using the settlement means; a settlement data output unit that outputs the settlement data to a settlement means management system that manages the specified settlement means; A payment support system equipped with:

5. The computer A payment method presented by a user at the time of payment is registered in association with a payment method different from the payment method used by the user at the time of settlement of the payment; Identifying the settlement means corresponding to the payment means in response to the payment presented by the payment means; generating settlement data for settling the settlement result based on the details of the settlement result made using the settlement means; outputting the settlement data to a settlement means management system that manages the specified settlement means; Payment support methods.

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