Information processing apparatus, system, method, and program

Abstract

To provide an electronic settlement support apparatus, system, method and program for implementing electronic settlement using biometric authentication in consideration of payment for commodities that require age verification, at a low cost while utilizing an existing electronic settlement mechanism.SOLUTION: An electronic settlement support apparatus 1 includes: means for receiving identification information of a terminal owned by a user who has been successfully authenticated, and age information of the user; a registration unit which registers the identification information and the age information in association with each other; and an execution unit which executes, when a settlement target for which age condition is set is included in settlement target information for which a user is to settle payment, predetermined processing on the settlement target information, based on the age information associated with the identification information of the terminal.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to an electronic payment support device, system, method, and program. [Background technology]

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a technology for performing electronic payments using biometric authentication. The user terminal disclosed in Patent Document 1 compares pre-registered personal identification information with facial features captured by a camera, and once the user's identity is authenticated, displays a two-dimensional code for payment (hereinafter referred to as a "payment code"). The payment code disclosed in Patent Document 1 includes age information and personal identification information in addition to payment method identification information. Therefore, the order terminal disclosed in Patent Document 1 photographs the code displayed on the user terminal with a camera, reads the payment method identification information and the like from the code, and performs payment processing. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] International Publication No. 2022 / 085469 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] Some products or services eligible for electronic payment require age verification. If the technology disclosed in Patent Document 1 above were used to perform electronic payment using biometric authentication for products requiring age verification, age information would be uniquely included in the payment code. This would require significant changes to existing electronic payment systems, and the cost of introducing biometric authentication-based electronic payment methods has been an issue.

[0005] In view of the above-mentioned problems, the purpose of the present disclosure is to provide an electronic payment support device, system, method, and program that enables electronic payments using biometric authentication, taking into account payments for products that require age verification, at low cost while utilizing existing electronic payment mechanisms. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The electronic payment support device according to the present disclosure comprises: a code issuing means for issuing a payment code when a payment code issuance request including age information of a user who has been successfully biometrically authenticated at the user terminal is received, and transmitting the payment code to the user terminal; a registration means for registering the issued payment code and the age information included in the payment code issuance request in association with each other; a determination means for determining whether or not a payment object to which an age condition is imposed is included in the payment object information when a payment request including the payment code and the user's payment object information is received from the payment terminal that has acquired the payment code from the user terminal; an execution means for executing a predetermined process for the payment object information based on the age information associated with the payment code included in the payment request when the payment object information includes a payment object with an age condition; Equipped with.

[0007] The electronic payment support system according to the present disclosure comprises: A system including a user terminal, an electronic payment support device, and a payment terminal, the user terminal transmits a payment code issuance request including age information of the user who has successfully passed biometric authentication to the electronic payment support apparatus; The electronic payment support device When a payment code issuance request is received from the user terminal, a payment code is issued; registering the issued payment code and the age information included in the payment code issuance request in association with each other; Sending the issued payment code to the user terminal; The user terminal displays the payment code received from the electronic payment support device, the payment terminal reads the payment code displayed on the user terminal at the time of payment by the user, and transmits a payment request including the payment code and the user's payment target information to the electronic payment support apparatus; The electronic payment support device determining whether the payment object information included in the payment request received from the payment terminal includes a payment object with an age condition; If the payment object information includes a payment object with an age condition, a predetermined process is performed on the payment object information based on the age information associated with the payment code included in the payment request.

[0008] The electronic payment support method according to the present disclosure comprises: The computer When a payment code issuance request including age information of a user who has successfully passed biometric authentication on the user terminal is received, a payment code is issued; registering the issued payment code and the age information included in the payment code issuance request in association with each other; Sending the issued payment code to the user terminal; When a payment request including the payment code and the user's payment object information is received from the payment terminal that has acquired the payment code from the user terminal, determining whether the payment object information includes a payment object to which an age condition is imposed; If the payment object information includes a payment object with an age condition, a predetermined process is performed on the payment object information based on the age information associated with the payment code included in the payment request.

[0009] The electronic payment support program disclosed herein is a process of issuing a payment code when a payment code issuance request including age information of a user who has successfully passed biometric authentication at the user terminal is received; a process of registering the issued payment code and the age information included in the payment code issuance request in association with each other; a process of transmitting the issued payment code to the user terminal; a process of determining whether or not a payment object with an age condition is included in the payment object information when a payment request including the payment code and the user's payment object information is received from the payment terminal that has acquired the payment code from the user terminal; If the payment object information includes a payment object with an age condition, a process of executing a predetermined process for the payment object information based on the age information associated with the payment code included in the payment request; to be executed by the computer. [Effects of the Invention]

[0010] The present disclosure makes it possible to provide an electronic payment support device, system, method, and program that enables electronic payments using biometric authentication, taking into account payments for products that require age verification, at low cost while utilizing existing electronic payment mechanisms. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0011] [Figure 1] 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an electronic payment support device according to a first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] 1 is a flowchart showing the flow of an electronic payment support method according to the first embodiment. [Figure 3] FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an electronic payment support system according to a second embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a user terminal according to the second embodiment. [Figure 5] FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an electronic payment support device according to a second embodiment. [Figure 6] 10 is a flowchart showing the flow of personal information registration processing in a user terminal according to the second embodiment. [Figure 7]FIG. 10 is a sequence diagram showing the flow of the registration process of electronic payment method information according to the second embodiment. [Figure 8] FIG. 10 is a sequence diagram showing the overall flow of a payment code issuing process according to the second embodiment. [Figure 9] 10 is a flowchart showing the flow of a payment code issuing process in the electronic payment support apparatus according to the second embodiment. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a payment code display screen according to the second embodiment. [Figure 11] FIG. 10 is a sequence diagram showing the overall flow of payment processing according to the second embodiment. [Figure 12] 10 is a flowchart showing the flow of payment processing in the electronic payment support device according to the second embodiment. [Figure 13] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a display of a payment result according to the second embodiment. [Figure 14] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a display of a payment result according to the second embodiment. [Figure 15] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a display of a payment result according to the second embodiment. [Figure 16] FIG. 11 is a sequence diagram showing the overall flow of payment processing according to the third embodiment. [Figure 17] 10 is a flowchart showing the flow of payment processing in the electronic payment support device according to the third embodiment. [Figure 18] FIG. 10 is a sequence diagram showing the overall flow of payment processing according to the fourth embodiment. [Figure 19] FIG. 13 is a diagram conceptually illustrating the flow of payment code issuing processing and payment processing according to the fifth embodiment. [Figure 20] FIG. 13 is a sequence diagram showing the overall flow of a payment code update process according to Example 6-1 of the sixth embodiment. [Figure 21] 13 is a flowchart showing the flow of a payment code update process in the electronic payment support device according to Example 6-1 of the sixth embodiment. [Figure 22]FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of a payment code display screen including a code extension button according to Example 6-1 of the sixth embodiment. [Figure 23] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a payment code display screen after the expiration date has been extended according to Example 6-1 of the sixth embodiment. [Figure 24] FIG. 13 is a sequence diagram showing the overall flow of a payment code update process according to Example 6-2 of the sixth embodiment. [Figure 25] 13 is a flowchart showing the flow of a payment code update process in the electronic payment support apparatus according to Example 6-2 of the sixth embodiment. [Figure 26] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of a payment code display screen including a code reissue button according to Example 6-2 of the present embodiment 6. [Figure 27] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a payment code display screen after reissue according to Example 6-2 of the present embodiment 6. [Figure 28] 13 is a flowchart showing the flow of a payment code update process in a user terminal according to Example 6-3 of the sixth embodiment. [Figure 29] 13 is a flowchart showing the flow of a payment code update process in the electronic payment support apparatus according to Example 6-3 of the sixth embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0012] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In each drawing, the same or corresponding elements are designated by the same reference numerals, and for clarity of explanation, duplicate explanations will be omitted as necessary.

[0013] <Embodiment 1> 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an electronic payment support apparatus 1 according to the first embodiment. The electronic payment support apparatus 1 is an information processing device that supports a user carrying a user terminal (not shown) in making electronic payments. Here, it is assumed that a user who wishes to use electronic payment has already registered electronic payment method information, such as credit card information, on the electronic payment support apparatus 1 side in advance.

[0014] Electronic payment support device 1 includes a code issuing unit 11, a registration unit 12, a determination unit 13, and an execution unit 14. When code issuing unit 11 receives a payment code issuance request from a user terminal, it issues a payment code and transmits the issued payment code to the user terminal. Here, the payment code issuance request includes age information of a user who has successfully passed biometric authentication at the user terminal. In other words, when a user passes biometric authentication, the user terminal transmits a payment code issuance request including the user's age information to electronic payment support device 1.

[0015] Furthermore, "age information" is information indicating the user's current age or generation, that is, information indicating the user's age at the time when biometric authentication was successful.

[0016] "Biometric authentication" refers to information processing that verifies the authenticity of an individual by comparing pre-registered master biometric information with query biometric information acquired or input from the individual during authentication and determining whether the degree of match is equal to or exceeds a threshold. Here, "biometric information" refers to data representing a collection of features, such as multiple feature points extracted from an image capturing at least a portion of the user's body and the distances between the feature points. "Master biometric information" refers to biometric information that is to be compared with query biometric information in biometric authentication of the user. "Query biometric information" refers to biometric information acquired from the user for biometric authentication and is data that is to be compared with master biometric information.

[0017] Registration unit 12 associates the issued payment code with the age information included in the payment code issuance request and registers them. Specifically, registration unit 12 associates at least the payment code with the age information and stores them in a storage device (not shown). The storage device may be either one built into electronic payment support device 1 or one connected to electronic payment support device 1.

[0018] When the determination unit 13 receives a payment request including a payment code and the user's payment object information from a payment terminal (not shown), it determines whether the payment object information includes a payment object subject to an age condition. Here, the payment terminal transmits a payment request to the electronic payment support device 1 when it acquires the payment code from the user terminal. The payment terminal may be an attended or unattended cash register installed in a store or the like, or a vending machine. A "payment object subject to an age condition" refers to a product that requires age verification upon purchase, such as alcoholic beverages or tobacco. The "payment object" is not limited to a product, but may also be a service. The payment object information may include one or more payment objects. For example, the determination unit 13 may refer to a product database or the like to determine whether each payment object in the payment object information is subject to an age condition. Alternatively, the determination unit 13 may determine whether the payment request includes information indicating a payment object subject to an age condition.

[0019] When the payment object information includes a payment object with an age condition, the execution unit 14 executes a predetermined process for the payment object information based on the age information associated with the payment code included in the payment request. The "predetermined process" includes, for example, electronic payment processing for the payment object information, output of a determination result as to whether or not electronic payment can be made for a payment object with an age condition, output of a payment result, electronic payment processing excluding payment objects with an age condition from the payment object information, etc. However, the "predetermined process" is not limited to these.

[0020] 2 is a flowchart showing the flow of the electronic payment support method according to the first embodiment. First, the code issuing unit 11 receives a payment code issuance request including age information of a user who has successfully passed biometric authentication at the user terminal (S11). Next, when the code issuing unit 11 receives the payment code issuance request, it issues a payment code (S12). Then, the registration unit 12 associates the issued payment code with the age information included in the payment code issuance request and registers it (S13). Then, the code issuing unit 11 transmits the issued payment code to the user terminal (S14). Therefore, the user terminal can display the received payment code and use it for electronic payment.

[0021] Next, when the user purchases a product or the like at a store or the like, the user displays a payment code on the user terminal and has the payment terminal read the payment code. The payment terminal acquires the payment code from the user terminal and transmits a payment request including the payment code and payment object information indicating product information or the like to be paid for to electronic payment support apparatus 1. In response, determination unit 13 receives a payment request including the payment code and the user's payment object information from the payment terminal (which acquired the payment code from the user terminal) (S15). Then, when the determination unit 13 receives the payment request, it determines whether the payment object information includes a payment object to which an age condition is imposed (S16).

[0022] If it is determined in step S16 that the payment object information includes a payment object with an age condition, the execution unit 14 executes a predetermined process for the payment object information based on the age information associated with the payment code included in the payment request (S17).Then, the electronic payment support apparatus 1 ends the process of the electronic payment support method.Note that if it is determined in step S16 that the payment object information does not include a payment object with an age condition, the electronic payment support apparatus 1 may execute another process for the payment object information.

[0023] In this way, the electronic payment support device 1 issues a payment code, provided that biometric authentication performed on the user terminal before the electronic payment is successful. The device associates the issued payment code with age information, registers the associated payment code in a database, and provides the payment code to the user terminal. Because the payment code does not include age information, there is no need to modify the existing code specifications. The electronic payment support device 1 then uses the age information associated with the payment code included in the payment request to determine whether the user making the payment satisfies the age requirement. Therefore, based on the determination result, the electronic payment support device 1 can execute processing such as electronic payment for payment object information, including payment objects subject to age requirements. As described above, this embodiment enables electronic payments using biometric authentication, which take into account payments for products requiring age verification, to be realized at low cost while utilizing existing electronic payment mechanisms.

[0024] The electronic payment support device 1 includes a processor, memory, and storage device (not shown). The storage device stores a computer program that implements the processing of the electronic payment support method according to this embodiment. The processor then loads the computer program from the storage device into the memory and executes the computer program. This allows the processor to implement the functions of a code issuing unit 11, a registration unit 12, a determination unit 13, and an execution unit 14.

[0025] Alternatively, each component of the electronic payment support device 1 may be realized by dedicated hardware. Furthermore, some or all of the components of each device may be realized by general-purpose or dedicated circuits, processors, etc., or a combination of these. These may be configured by a single chip, or by multiple chips connected via a bus. Some or all of the components of each device may be realized by a combination of the above-mentioned circuits, etc., and a program. Furthermore, a CPU (Central Processing Unit), GPU (Graphics Processing Unit), FPGA (Field-Programmable Gate Array), quantum processor (quantum computer control chip), etc., may be used as the processor.

[0026] Furthermore, when some or all of the components of electronic payment support apparatus 1 are realized by multiple information processing devices, circuits, etc., the multiple information processing devices, circuits, etc. may be centrally or decentralized. For example, the information processing devices, circuits, etc. may be realized as a client-server system, cloud computing system, etc., in which each device is connected via a communication network. Furthermore, the functions of electronic payment support apparatus 1 may be provided in a SaaS (Software as a Service) format.

[0027] <Embodiment 2> The second embodiment is a specific example of the first embodiment described above. FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an electronic payment support system 1000 according to the second embodiment. The electronic payment support system 1000 is an information system for supporting users in making electronic payments when purchasing products at stores or receiving paid services. In particular, the electronic payment support system 1000 supports appropriate electronic payments for payment targets that have age conditions. The electronic payment support system 1000 includes user terminals 100-1 and 100-2, a payment terminal 200, and an electronic payment support apparatus 300. The user terminals 100-1 and 100-2, the payment terminal 200, and the electronic payment support apparatus 300 are each connected to each other via a network N so as to be able to communicate with each other. Here, the network N is a wired or wireless communication line.

[0028] In the following description, biometric authentication is referred to as face authentication and biometric information is referred to as facial feature information, but other technologies that use captured images can be applied to biometric authentication and biometric information. For example, biometric information may use data (features) calculated from physical characteristics unique to an individual, such as fingerprints, voiceprints, veins, retina, and iris patterns. In the following description, user terminals 100-1 and 100-2 may be simply referred to as "user terminals 100." In the following description, users U1 and U2 may be simply referred to as "user U."

[0029] To make an electronic payment, user U registers his or her payment method identification information with electronic payment support apparatus 300 in advance. Then, using his or her user terminal 100, he or she presents a payment code issued upon successful biometric authentication to payment terminal 200 to make the electronic payment. Here, "electronic payment" is also called cashless payment, and in this embodiment, it refers to consumer-presented mode (CPM) code payment. Code payment involves having a payment terminal 200 at the store read a payment code, such as a barcode or two-dimensional barcode, and making a payment using the payment method identification information associated with the payment code. Here, "payment method identification information" is information for identifying the electronic payment method used by user U. "Electronic payment methods" include, for example, payments by credit card, debit card, prepaid card, electronic money, points, electronic cash, virtual currency, wallet, other electronic vouchers, and withdrawals from a bank account. Therefore, "payment method identification information" can be, for example, card information such as credit card, debit card, and prepaid card. Alternatively, the "payment method specification information" may include, but is not limited to, identification information of user U such as electronic money, points, electronic cash, virtual currency, wallet, or other electronic vouchers, or bank account information.

[0030] User U1 is a person who possesses a personal identification card 41, a credit card 42, and a user terminal 100-1. The personal identification card 41 is a digital identification card such as a driver's license, passport, health insurance card, student ID, or My Number card. The personal identification card 41 is a contactless IC (Integrated Circuit) card capable of short-range wireless communication using a predetermined method. Examples of short-range wireless communication include, but are not limited to, NFC (Near Field Communication) and BLE (Bluetooth Low Energy). Personal information 411 is stored in an IC chip (storage medium) built into the personal identification card 41.

[0031] The personal information 411 includes a facial image 412 and age certification information 413 of the user U1. The facial image 412 is an example of biometric information and may be facial feature information extracted from the facial image 412. The facial feature information is a feature vector indicating a set of feature amounts, such as the distance between feature points corresponding to the positions of the eyes, nose, mouth, etc. extracted from the facial image. The age certification information 413 is information for certifying the age information of the payer. The age certification information is, for example, information indicating date of birth, age, etc., but is not limited to these.

[0032] Credit card 42 is an example of an electronic payment method, and here it is assumed that a built-in IC chip stores card information 421. Card information 421 is information about the credit card, such as the credit card number, name, etc., that can identify the credit card.

[0033] The user terminal 100-1 has a built-in storage medium and is capable of communicating via one or more types of short-range wireless communication and other wireless communication. The storage medium stores a user ID 1121, a facial image 1122, and age certification information 1123 in association with each other.

[0034] 4 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a user terminal 100 according to embodiment 2. The user terminal 100 is a mobile information processing device such as a tablet terminal or a smartphone. The user terminal 100 includes a storage unit 110, a memory 120, a communication unit 130, a control unit 140, a display unit 150, and a camera 160.

[0035] The storage unit 110 is an example of a storage device such as a flash memory. The storage unit 110 stores a program 111, user information 112, terminal information 113, application information 114, a payment code 115, and an expiration date 116. The program 111 is a computer program that implements a code payment application that realizes personal information registration processing, electronic payment method information registration processing, and payment code issuance processing according to the second embodiment. The user information 112 is stored in the storage unit 110 by the personal information registration processing described below. The payment code 115 and expiration date 116 are stored in the storage unit 110 by the payment code issuance processing described below.

[0036] The user information 112 is information that associates a user ID 1121, a facial image 1122, and age certification information 1123. The user ID 1121 is identification information of a user U who carries the user terminal 100, and may be, for example, a store membership ID. The facial image 1122 is a facial image 412 acquired from the user U's personal identification card 41, or a facial image of the user U taken during the personal information registration process. The facial image 1122 is an example of master biometric information, and may be the facial feature information described above. The age certification information 1123 is information that certifies information related to the user U's age, such as the user U's date of birth, age, and decade. The age certification information 1123 is the age certification information 413 acquired from the user U's personal identification card 41.

[0037] The terminal information 113 is identification information of the user terminal 100. The application information 114 is, for example, identification information of the code payment application according to this embodiment. Note that the application information 114 may also be identification information of the program 111 described above.

[0038] The payment code 115 is code information issued by the electronic payment support apparatus 300 in the payment code issuance process, and is electronic data that can be used for code payment within the expiration date 116. The payment code 115 is issued when the electronic payment support apparatus 300 confirms the current age of the user U, but the code does not contain age information. In other words, the payment code 115 is information based on existing code payment specifications. The payment code 115 is displayed on the display unit 150 as a barcode, two-dimensional barcode, or the like. The expiration date 116 is information indicating the period during which the payment code 115 can be used for code payment, and is associated with the payment code 115.

[0039] The memory 120 is a volatile storage device such as a RAM (Random Access Memory), and is a storage area for temporarily storing information when the control unit 140 is operating. The communication unit 130 is a wireless communication interface with the network N. The communication unit 130 may be connected to the Internet via a wireless communication network or a mobile phone network. The communication unit 130 is capable of wireless communication using one or more short-range wireless communication methods. Specifically, the communication unit 130 includes a short-range wireless communication IF (Interface) 131. The short-range wireless communication IF 131 establishes a connection and communicates with an IF of another device using the same method within a predetermined range using a predetermined short-range wireless communication method. The predetermined method may be compatible with a standard or method such as Bluetooth (registered trademark) or BLE (Bluetooth Low Energy), but is not limited to these.

[0040] The display unit 150 is a screen such as a liquid crystal display or an organic electroluminescence (EL) display. The display unit 150 displays information instructed by the control unit 140. The display unit 150 may also be a touch panel. That is, the display unit 150 performs input and output with the user U. The camera 160 is one or more imaging devices that capture images of the face of the user U or the like in response to operations by the user U or instructions from the control unit 140, outputs the captured images to the control unit 140, and displays the images on the display unit 150.

[0041] The control unit 140 is a processor, i.e., a control device, that controls each component of the user terminal 100. The control unit 140 loads the program 111 from the storage unit 110 into the memory 120 and executes the program 111. In this way, the control unit 140 realizes the functions of the acquisition unit 141, the registration unit 142, the authentication unit 143, and the code processing unit 144.

[0042] The acquisition unit 141 acquires personal information 411 from the personal identification card 41 with which a short-range wireless communication connection has been established. Specifically, the acquisition unit 141 reads a face image 412 and age identification information 413 from the personal identification card 41. The acquisition unit 141 also acquires information input by the user U via a touch panel or the like. The acquisition unit 141 also acquires an image captured by the camera 160.

[0043] When face authentication in the personal information registration process is successful, registration unit 142 determines a user ID, associates the user ID with the face image and age proof information, and registers them in storage unit 110 as user information 112. Registration unit 142 also transmits a registration request including the input card information 421, user ID 1121, terminal information 113, and application information 114 to electronic payment support apparatus 300.

[0044] The authentication unit 143 performs face authentication by comparing the face image 412 acquired from the personal identification card 41 with the face image captured by the camera 160. For example, the authentication unit 143 extracts facial feature information from each face image, compares the extracted facial feature information with each other, calculates the degree of match, and determines that face authentication has been successful if the degree of match is equal to or greater than a threshold value.

[0045] Code processing unit 144 performs processing on the user terminal 100 side of the payment code issuance process. Specifically, when face authentication in the payment code issuance process is successful, code processing unit 144 generates age information based on age certification information 1123. Here, age information is information used for KYC (Know Your Customer) that identifies age. Therefore, the age information does not have to be age certification information 1123 itself. Code processing unit 144 also transmits a payment code issuance request including user ID 1121 and age information to electronic payment support apparatus 300. Then, code processing unit 144 receives payment code 115 and expiration date 116 issued by electronic payment support apparatus 300 and displays them on display unit 150.

[0046] Returning to FIG. 3, the explanation will continue. User U2 is a person who carries user terminal 100-2 and goes shopping at a store or the like. User terminal 100-2 acquires payment code 115 issued by the payment code issuance process described below and displays it on the screen. User U2 also places product 431 that he or she wishes to purchase at a store or the like in shopping cart 43 and makes electronic payment in front of payment terminal 200. Product 431 may have product code 4310 displayed on it.

[0047] Payment terminal 200 is an information terminal installed in a specific physical store and capable of performing code payments. Payment terminal 200 may be a so-called self-checkout terminal or a cash register terminal operated by a store clerk. A reading device (not shown) for reading product codes and payment codes is connected to or built into payment terminal 200. The reading device may be, for example, a barcode reader or a camera. Payment terminal 200 adds product information corresponding to product code 4310 read by the reading device to the payment target information. The reading device also reads payment code 115 displayed on user terminal 100-2 presented by user U2. Payment terminal 200 transmits a payment request including the payment target information and payment code 115 to electronic payment support apparatus 300. Payment terminal 200 then receives information such as the payment result from electronic payment support apparatus 300 and displays the received information on its screen.

[0048] The electronic payment support apparatus 300 is an information processing device that performs the registration process of electronic payment method information, the issuance process of a payment code, and the payment process, which will be described later. FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the electronic payment support apparatus 300 according to the second embodiment. The electronic payment support apparatus 300 includes a storage unit 310, a memory 320, a communication unit 330, and a control unit 340. The storage unit 310 is an example of a storage device such as a hard disk or flash memory. The storage unit 310 stores a payment user DB (DataBase) 311, a product DB 312, and a program 313. Note that either or both of the payment user DB 311 and the product DB 312 may be stored in an external storage device connected to the electronic payment support apparatus 300. The program 313 is a computer program that implements the registration process of electronic payment method information, the issuance process of a payment code, and the payment process according to the second embodiment.

[0049] The payment user DB 311 is a database that manages user information, electronic payment method information, etc., for making appropriate electronic payments for payment object information, including payment objects with age conditions. In other words, the payment user DB 311 is a database that manages information about a user U who has successfully passed biometric authentication at the user terminal 100. The payment user DB 311 stores a user ID 3111, terminal information 3112, application information 3113, card information 3114, age information 3115, payment code 3116, and expiration date 3117 in association with each other. The user ID 3111, terminal information 3112, application information 3113, and card information 3114 are information that correspond to the above-mentioned user ID 1121, terminal information 113, application information 114, and card information 421, respectively.

[0050] The age information 3115 is the age information included in the payment code issuance request received from the user terminal 100. As described above, the age information 3115 is information indicating the age and generation of the user U at the time of successful biometric authentication. The age information 3115 may be, for example, the year of birth, month and year of birth, date of birth, generation (teens, twenties, etc.), age type flag (adult flag, minor flag, elderly flag), etc. The age information 3115 may also be the age certification information 1123.

[0051] The payment code 3116 is code information issued when the user U has successfully passed biometric authentication on the user terminal 100. The payment code 3116 is also information for identifying the age information 3115 and card information 3114 of the user U who is the payer when the user U performs code payment. The expiration date 3117 is information indicating the period during which the payment code 3116 can be used for code payment.

[0052] Product DB 312 is a database of products that are subject to payment processing by electronic payment support apparatus 300. Product DB 312 manages product IDs 3121, product information 3122, and age conditions 3123 in association with each other. Product IDs 3121 are product identification information. Product information 3122 is information such as the product name and price. Age conditions 3123 are information that defines the age conditions for allowing payment for products that require age verification. Age conditions 3123 include, for example, a threshold age or generation, a conditional expression indicating whether the age is above or below the threshold, and the presence or absence of an age type flag. Note that the configuration of product DB 312 is not limited to this. In addition to product DB 312, storage unit 310 may also include a database that manages services that are subject to payment processing.

[0053] The memory 320 is a volatile storage device such as a RAM (Random Access Memory), and is a storage area for temporarily storing information during operation of the control unit 340. The communication unit 330 is a communication interface with the network N.

[0054] Control unit 340 is a processor, or control device, that controls each component of electronic payment support apparatus 300. Control unit 340 loads program 313 from storage unit 310 into memory 320 and executes program 313. In this way, control unit 340 realizes the functions of registration unit 341, code issuing unit 342, identification unit 343, determination unit 344, and execution unit 345.

[0055] The registration unit 341 is an example of the registration unit 12 described above. The registration unit 341 performs registration processing for electronic payment method information and registration processing in the payment code issuance processing. Specifically, when the registration unit 341 receives a registration request including user U's electronic payment method information and user ID, it associates the electronic payment method information included in the registration request with the user ID and registers them in the payment user DB 311. Furthermore, when the registration unit 341 receives a payment code issuance request, it registers the payment code 3116 and age information 3115 included in the payment code issuance request in the payment user DB 311, associating them with the user ID 3111 included in the payment code issuance request. However, when the received payment code issuance request does not include age information, the registration unit 341 may associate the issued payment code with a message indicating that the user's age has not been confirmed and register it.

[0056] The code issuing unit 342 is an example of the above-mentioned code issuing unit 11. In response to successful biometric authentication by matching query biometric information extracted from an image captured of the user U by the user terminal 100 with the master biometric information, the code issuing unit 342 receives a payment code issuance request including age information from the user terminal 100. When the code issuing unit 342 receives the payment code issuance request, it issues a temporarily valid payment code 3116 and transmits the issued payment code 3116 to the user terminal 100 that has made the request. For example, the code issuing unit 342 may generate the payment code 3116 based on at least some of the issuance time, the user ID 3111, the terminal information 3112, the application information 3113, etc.

[0057] When a payment request including a payment code and a user's payment object information is received, the identification unit 343 identifies card information 3114 associated with the payment code 3116 included in the payment request from the payment user DB 311. In particular, when the payment object information includes a payment object with an age condition imposed, the identification unit 343 identifies age information 3115 and card information 3114 associated with the payment code 3116 included in the payment request from the payment user DB 311.

[0058] The determination unit 344 is an example of the determination unit 13 described above. The determination unit 344 determines whether age information is included in the received payment code issuance request. When the payment terminal 200 acquires the payment code 115 displayed on the user terminal 100 at the time of user U's payment, the determination unit 344 receives a payment request from the payment terminal 200, the payment request including the payment code and the user's payment object information. The determination unit 344 determines whether the payment object information included in the received payment request includes a payment object to which an age condition is imposed. Specifically, the determination unit 344 refers to the product DB 312 and determines whether an age condition 3123 is associated with each payment object (e.g., product ID 3121) in the payment object information. When the payment object information includes a payment object to which an age condition is imposed, the determination unit 344 determines whether the age information associated with the payment code included in the payment request satisfies the age condition. For example, if the age condition is that the user is of adult age or above, the determination unit 344 determines whether the age indicated by the age information 3115 of the user U is of adult age or above. If the age information 3115 indicates that the user is of adult age or above, the determination unit 344 determines that the age information 3115 satisfies the age condition.

[0059] The execution unit 345 is an example of the execution unit 14 described above. If the age information 3115 of the user U satisfies the age condition 3123, the execution unit 345 performs electronic payment processing for the payment object information and returns the payment result to the payment terminal 200. At this time, the execution unit 345 performs electronic payment processing for the payment object information using the card information 3114 identified by the identification unit 343. Note that if the payment code included in the payment request is associated with an indication that the age has not been confirmed, the execution unit 345 may execute a predetermined process by excluding at least the payment object to which the age condition is imposed from the electronic payment processing. Furthermore, if the age information 3115 does not satisfy the age condition 3123, the execution unit 345 returns to the payment terminal 200 an indication that electronic payment processing for the payment object is not possible.

[0060] (Pre-registration) Next, we will explain the pre-registration required to use code payment according to this embodiment. As a premise, we will assume that user information 112, payment code 115, and expiration date 116 are not registered in user terminal 100, and information about user U1 is not registered in payment user DB 311 of electronic payment support apparatus 300. First, user U1 registers his / her own user information 112 in user terminal 100-1 (personal information registration).

[0061] FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the flow of personal information registration processing in a user terminal according to the second embodiment. User U1 launches a code payment application on the user terminal 100-1, selects the personal information registration function, and opens the personal information registration screen. User U1 then brings his / her personal identification card 41 close to the user terminal 100-1 and inputs the verification number on the personal identification card 41 into the personal information registration screen. In response, the user terminal 100-1 authenticates the approached personal identification card 41 using the input verification number (S101). For example, the user terminal 100-1 establishes a short-range wireless communication connection with a personal identification card 41 present within the range of a method supported by the short-range wireless communication IF 131, and verifies the verification number recorded on the personal identification card 41 with the input verification number. In other words, the user terminal 100-1 performs authentication to read the personal information 411 from the personal identification card 41 using the verification number. For convenience of explanation, it is assumed here that authentication is successful.

[0062] Next, in response to a successful authentication, the user terminal 100-1 reads the personal information 411 from the personal certification card 41 (S102). That is, the user terminal 100-1 acquires the personal information 411 from the personal certification card 41 via the short-range wireless communication IF 131. It is assumed that the user terminal 100-1 reads at least the facial image 412 and age certification information 413 of the personal information 411 from the personal certification card 41.

[0063] The user terminal 100-1 then captures an image of the face of the user U (S103). The user terminal 100-1 then compares the read face image 412 with the captured face image to perform face authentication (S104). For example, the user terminal 100-1 detects a face area from the face image 412 and extracts facial feature information A (master biometric information) from the face area. The user terminal 100-1 also detects a face area from the captured face image and extracts facial feature information B (query biometric information) from the face area. The user terminal 100-1 then compares the facial feature information A with the facial feature information B to calculate a degree of match.

[0064] The user terminal 100-1 then determines whether or not the facial authentication has been successful (S105). Specifically, the user terminal 100-1 determines whether or not the calculated degree of match is equal to or greater than a threshold. If the facial authentication has been successful, that is, if the degree of match is equal to or greater than a threshold, the user terminal 100-1 determines a user ID 1121 (S106). For example, the user terminal 100-1 may generate the user ID 1121 using at least a portion of the personal information 411, facial feature information A, terminal information 113, etc. The user terminal 100-1 then associates the user ID 1121 determined in step S106 with the facial image 1122 and age certification information 1123 read in step S102 and stores them (S107). The user terminal 100-1 then displays a message on the screen indicating that registration has been completed (S108). On the other hand, if face authentication fails in step S105, user terminal 100-1 displays on the screen a message that registration is not possible (S109).

[0065] Next, user U1 registers his / her card information 421, user terminal 100-1 (terminal information 113), and code payment application (application information 114) in association with electronic payment support apparatus 300 (registering electronic payment method information). Electronic payment support apparatus 300 only needs to register at least user U1 and the electronic payment method information in association with each other. For example, user terminal 100-1 may send a registration request containing at least one of user ID 1121, terminal information 113, and application information 114, along with card information 421. Electronic payment support apparatus 300 only needs to register at least one of user ID 3111, terminal information 3112, and application information 3113 in association with card information 3114.

[0066] FIG. 7 is a sequence diagram showing the flow of the registration process for electronic payment method information according to the second embodiment. First, in the code payment application of the user terminal 100-1, the user U1 selects the credit card registration function to be used for code payment and opens the credit card registration screen. Then, the user U1 inputs information corresponding to the card information 421 of the credit card 42 into the credit card registration screen of the user terminal 100-1. In response, the user terminal 100-1 accepts the input of the card information 421 (S111). Next, the user terminal 100-1 acquires the user ID 1121, the terminal information 113, and the application information 114 from the storage unit 110 (S112). Then, the user terminal 100-1 transmits a registration request including the user ID 1121, the terminal information 113, the application information 114, and the card information 421 to the electronic payment support apparatus 300 via the network N (S113). In response, the electronic payment support apparatus 300 receives the registration request from the user terminal 100-1. Electronic payment support apparatus 300 then associates user ID 3111, terminal information 3112, application information 3113, and card information 3114 contained in the received registration request and registers them in payment user DB 311 (S114).

[0067] Note that user U1 may have previously registered membership information for the store that uses the code payment according to this embodiment in a store server (store server (not shown)). For example, the store server may have previously issued a member ID to user U1. Then, user terminal 100-1 may register the member ID acquired from the store server in storage unit 110. Additionally, the store server may register user U1's name, etc., as member information in association with the user ID. In this case, in step S106 of FIG. 6, user terminal 100-1 may determine the previously issued member ID as user ID 1121. Then, in step S114 of FIG. 7, electronic payment support apparatus 300 associates user ID 3111 (member ID) included in the registration request with terminal information 3112, application information 3113, and card information 3114, and registers them in payment user DB 311. Furthermore, electronic payment support apparatus 300 may verify whether the member ID is valid by referencing the member information on the store server at the time of registration. Similarly, electronic payment support apparatus 300 may verify whether card information 3114 (electronic payment method information) is valid by inquiring with a credit card company's server or the like at the time of registration. In this way, member information (member ID) and card information, etc. are associated and registered in advance. Electronic payment support apparatus 300 may also function as a store server.

[0068] (Payment code issuance process) 8 is a sequence diagram showing the overall flow of the payment code issuance process according to the second embodiment. First, user U1 starts a code payment application on the user terminal 100-1 and selects the payment code issuance function. In response to this, the user terminal 100-1 captures a picture of the face of user U (S201). Next, the user terminal 100-1 compares the captured face image with the face image 1122 registered in the user information 112, and performs face authentication in the same manner as in step S104 described above (S202). For the sake of convenience, it is assumed here that face authentication is successful.

[0069] If face authentication is successful, the user terminal 100-1 acquires the user ID 1121 and age certification information 1123 registered in the user information 112 (S203). Then, the user terminal 100-1 generates age information based on the age certification information 1123 (S204). For example, the user terminal 100-1 calculates a numerical value indicating the current age of the user U1 from the age certification information 1123. For example, if the user U1 is 30 years old, the user terminal 100-1 calculates the age information "30". The user terminal 100-1 then transmits a payment code issuance request including the acquired user ID 1121 and the generated age information to the electronic payment support apparatus 300 via the network N (S205). In response to this, the electronic payment support apparatus 300 executes a payment code issuance process (S206).

[0070] FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing the flow of the payment code issuance process in electronic payment support apparatus 300 according to the second embodiment. First, electronic payment support apparatus 300 receives a payment code issuance request from user terminal 100-1 via network N (S211). Next, electronic payment support apparatus 300 issues a payment code (S212). Electronic payment support apparatus 300 also determines the expiration date of the issued payment code to be a predetermined period from the current time. Next, electronic payment support apparatus 300 determines whether age information is included in the received payment code issuance request (S213).

[0071] If the payment code issuance request includes age information, electronic payment support apparatus 300 associates the payment code, expiration date, and age information included in the payment code issuance request with the user ID included in the payment code issuance request and registers them in payment user DB 311 (S214). Specifically, electronic payment support apparatus 300 associates issued payment code 3116, determined expiration date 3117, and age information 3115 included in the payment code issuance request with user ID 3111 included in the payment code issuance request.

[0072] On the other hand, if age information is not included in the payment code issuance request in step S213, electronic payment support apparatus 300 associates the issued payment code, expiration date, and the fact that the age has not been confirmed with the user ID and registers them in payment user DB 311 (S216). Specifically, electronic payment support apparatus 300 associates issued payment code 3116, determined expiration date 3117, and the fact that the age has not been confirmed with user ID 3111 included in the payment code issuance request.

[0073] After step S214 or S216, electronic payment support apparatus 300 transmits issued payment code 3116 and expiration date 3117 to user terminal 100-1 (S215).

[0074] Returning to Figure 8, the explanation will continue. User terminal 100-1 receives the payment code and expiration date from electronic payment support apparatus 300 via network N (S207), and stores the received payment code 115 and expiration date 116 in association with each other in storage unit 110. User terminal 100-1 then displays payment code 115 and expiration date 116 on the screen (S208).

[0075] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a payment code display screen 51 according to the second embodiment. The payment code display screen 51 shows an example displayed on the user terminal 100-1. The payment code display screen 51 includes payment codes 511 and 512 and an expiration date 513. The payment code 511 is an example of a one-dimensional code (barcode), and the payment code 512 is an example of a two-dimensional code. The expiration date 513 indicates the remaining time during which code payment can be made using the payment codes 511 and 512. The payment code may be one or more. The display content of the payment code display screen 51 is not limited to this.

[0076] (Payment processing) 11 is a sequence diagram showing the overall flow of payment processing according to the second embodiment. Here, it is assumed that the payment code 115 issued by the payment code issuance process described above has been saved in the user terminal 100-2 carried by user U2. Furthermore, it is assumed that the expiration date 3117 has been registered in the payment user DB 311 of the electronic payment support apparatus 300, based on the user ID 3111 of user U2. It is also assumed that user U2 has placed a product 431 to be purchased in a certain store in the shopping cart 43 and arrived in front of the payment terminal 200 to make a code payment.

[0077] Therefore, user U2 displays the payment code 115 (and expiration date 116) on the user terminal 100-2 and holds the payment code 115 over a reading device connected to the payment terminal 200. As a result, the payment terminal 200 acquires the payment code 115 read by the reading device (S301). Next, user U2 scans the product code 4310 of the product 431 using the reading device connected to the payment terminal 200. As a result, the payment terminal 200 accepts the payment target information for the product 431 (S302). Note that the payment terminal 200 may accept payment target information for two or more products. Then, the payment terminal 200 displays the payment target information (S303). For example, the payment terminal 200 may refer to a product database of a POS (Point Of Sale) system or the like to acquire product information corresponding to the scanned product code 4310. The payment terminal 200 then displays the product information (product name, price information, etc.) of the acquired product on the screen as payment target information. At this time, the payment terminal 200 may display a payment button together with the payment target information. The payment button is a button for accepting a request (indication of intention) from user U2 to pay for the payment target information.

[0078] The payment terminal 200 then transmits a payment request including the read payment code and the accepted payment target information to the electronic payment support apparatus 300 via the network N (S304). For example, the payment terminal 200 may transmit the payment request when it receives a payment button press from the user U2. In response, the electronic payment support apparatus 300 executes the payment process (S305).

[0079] FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing the flow of payment processing in the electronic payment support apparatus 300 according to the second embodiment. First, the electronic payment support apparatus 300 receives a payment request from the payment terminal 200 via the network N (S311). Next, the electronic payment support apparatus 300 identifies, from the payment user DB 311, the card information 3114 associated with the payment code 3116 included in the received payment request (S312). The electronic payment support apparatus 300 then determines whether the payment target information included in the received payment request includes any products with an age condition (S313). Specifically, the electronic payment support apparatus 300 references the product DB 312 and determines whether the product ID 3121 of each product in the payment target information is associated with an age condition 3123. If, in step S313, there is no product with an age condition included in the payment target information, the electronic payment support apparatus 300 proceeds to step S317.

[0080] On the other hand, if the payment target information includes a product with an age condition in step S313, electronic payment support apparatus 300 determines whether age information 3115 is associated with payment code 3116 registered in payment user DB 311 (S314). That is, electronic payment support apparatus 300 determines whether age information 3115 is associated with payment code 3116 included in the received payment request. If age information 3115 is associated, electronic payment support apparatus 300 identifies age information 3115 (S315). Then, electronic payment support apparatus 300 determines whether the identified age information 3115 satisfies age condition 3123 (S316).

[0081] If age information 3115 satisfies age condition 3123, electronic payment support apparatus 300 executes electronic payment processing for the payment target information using specified card information 3114 (S317). Then, electronic payment support apparatus 300 returns the payment result to payment terminal 200 via network N (S318).

[0082] If age information 3115 is not associated in step S314, or if age information 3115 does not satisfy age condition 3123 in step S316, electronic payment support apparatus 300 performs step S319. In other words, in this case, electronic payment support apparatus 300 replies to payment terminal 200 via network N to the effect that electronic payment processing is not possible for the product to which the age condition is imposed (S319).

[0083] Returning to Figure 11, the explanation continues: Payment terminal 200 receives the payment result from electronic payment support apparatus 300 via network N (S306). Payment terminal 200 then displays the received payment result (S307).

[0084] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of a payment result display according to the second embodiment. The payment result display screen 52a shows an example displayed on the payment terminal 200. The payment result display screen 52a includes items 521 and 522 to be paid for, a total amount 523, and an adult verification result 524a. The item 521 to be paid for is an alcoholic beverage called "Canned Beer A." Therefore, the item 521 to be paid for is an example of a payment target for which an age condition is imposed upon payment. Here, the age condition imposed on the item 521 to be paid for is the age of majority or above. Furthermore, the age information 3115 of user U2 is the age of majority or above. Therefore, the adult verification result 524a indicates that the age information 3115 of user U2 is the age of majority or above imposed on the item 521 to be paid for, and that the adult verification is "OK." The item 522 to be paid for is "Snack Food B," which is an example of a payment target for which an age condition is not imposed. The total amount 523 is the sum of the prices of the products 521 and 522 to be paid for.

[0085] FIG. 14 is a diagram showing an example of a payment result display according to the second embodiment. The payment result display screen 52b shows an example displayed on the payment terminal 200. The payment result display screen 52b includes the product 521 to be paid for, an adult confirmation result 524b, and a message 525. In this example, the age information 3115 of user U2 is below the age of majority. Therefore, the adult confirmation result 524b indicates that the age information 3115 of user U2 is below the age of majority imposed on the product 521 to be paid for, and that adult confirmation is "NG." The message 525 is an example of an indication that electronic payment processing is not possible for a product to which an age condition is imposed.

[0086] If the age information does not satisfy the age condition, for example, if the age information indicates a person under the age of majority, the electronic payment support apparatus 300 may execute a predetermined process, excluding at least the payment objects subject to the age condition from the electronic payment process. Specifically, if the age information 3115 of user U2 does not satisfy the age condition 3123 in step S316, the electronic payment support apparatus 300 may perform electronic payment processing on the payment object information excluding the payment objects subject to the age condition. For example, the electronic payment support apparatus 300 may exclude the payment object product 521 that requires adult verification from the payment object information and perform electronic payment processing on the payment object product 522 that does not require adult verification. FIG. 15 shows an example of a payment result display in such a case. A payment result display screen 52c is shown as an example displayed on the payment terminal 200. The payment result display screen 52c includes the payment excluded product 521c, the payment object product 522, the total amount 523c, and the adult verification result 524c. In this example, adult verification result 524c indicates that user U2's age information 3115 is below the age of majority imposed on product 521, and adult verification is "NG." Therefore, product excluded from payment 521c indicates that an alcoholic beverage called "Canned Beer A" has been excluded from the payment. Total amount 523c indicates that the price of product 522 has been included in the total amount.

[0087] As described above, this embodiment achieves the same effects as the above-described embodiment 1. Furthermore, in this embodiment, when one-to-one biometric authentication between the internally stored master biometric information and the query biometric information extracted from an image captured by the user terminal 100 is successful, the user terminal 100 transmits a payment code issuance request including the user's age information at that time. Therefore, the electronic payment support apparatus 300 can issue a payment code on the condition that highly accurate biometric authentication is successful, thereby increasing the reliability of the payment code.

[0088] Furthermore, electronic payment support apparatus 300 determines whether age information is included in the received payment code issuance request, and if age information is not included, stores the payment code in association with a message indicating that the age has not been confirmed. Therefore, even if the payment object information includes a payment object with an age condition, if the age has not been confirmed, electronic payment support apparatus 300 can prevent a user who does not meet the age condition from making a payment for a product with an age condition. Furthermore, because electronic payment support apparatus 300 determines whether age verification is required during payment processing, it can reduce the need for excessive age verification when purchasing a product that does not require age verification. Furthermore, the payment terminal does not require a camera for facial recognition; an existing reading device can be used.

[0089] These features make it possible to realize electronic payments using biometric authentication that take into account payments for products that require age verification, without requiring major changes to existing electronic payment (code payment) systems and equipment. This means that it can be realized at low cost while utilizing existing electronic payment systems and equipment.

[0090] If the age requirement indicates that the user is an adult, the electronic payment support apparatus 300 may be called an adult authentication payment center.

[0091] The age requirement may be different for each payment object. In this case, the product DB 312 may associate a different age requirement 3123 with each product ID 3121. For example, the age requirement for one product may be 18 years or older, while the age requirement for another product may be 65 years or older.

[0092] <Embodiment 3> The third embodiment is a modification of the second embodiment described above. In the second embodiment described above, the determination of whether the payment object information includes payment objects with age conditions was performed by the electronic payment support apparatus 300. In the third embodiment, however, this determination is performed by the payment terminal. To achieve this, the payment terminal determines whether the product has an age condition based on the scanned product code, and if so, includes age verification information in the payment request. This eliminates the need for a product DB 312 on the electronic payment support apparatus 300 side, and also reduces the load on the electronic payment support apparatus 300 of determining whether the payment object includes an age condition.

[0093] The pre-registration process and payment code issuance process according to the third embodiment are the same as those according to the second embodiment. However, in the third embodiment, the payment terminal will be designated by the reference numeral 200b, and the electronic payment support device will be designated by the reference numeral 300b. It is also assumed that a product DB 312 is managed on a server connected to the payment terminal 200b. Product DB 312 may be managed by a POS system. The rest of the configuration of the electronic payment support system is the same as that described above, and therefore, redundant illustrations and descriptions will be omitted below as appropriate.

[0094] (Payment processing) FIG. 16 is a sequence diagram showing the overall flow of payment processing according to the third embodiment. Steps S301 and S302 are the same as those in FIG. 11 of the second embodiment. After step S302, the payment terminal 200b refers to the product DB 312 and acquires product information (payment target information) corresponding to the scanned product code 4310. Then, the payment terminal 200b determines whether or not the acquired payment target information includes a product with an age condition (S303-1). That is, the payment terminal 200b identifies a product with an age condition from the payment target information. For example, the payment terminal 200b refers to the product DB 312 and determines whether or not the product ID 3121 of each product in the payment target information is associated with the age condition 3123. If there is no product with an age condition in the payment target information, the payment terminal 200b displays the payment target information, as in step S303 described above. Here, the description will continue assuming that there is a product with an age condition in the payment target information.

[0095] If the payment target information includes a product with an age requirement, the payment terminal 200b displays age verification information and the payment target information to confirm that the age requirement is met (S303-2). For example, if the payment target information includes alcoholic beverages as a product with an age requirement, the payment terminal 200b may display the following as the "age verification information": "We cannot sell alcoholic beverages unless we can confirm that you are 20 years of age or older. Are you 20 years of age or older?" The payment terminal 200b may also display an age verification button indicating consent to age verification in the "age verification information." The age verification button may be combined with the payment button. In other words, the payment button may be unnecessary and the age verification button may be used instead. The payment terminal 200b then accepts pressing of the age verification button by user U2. The payment terminal 200b then accepts consent to age verification (age verification: OK) and a request for payment of the payment target information from user U2 (S303-3). In response, payment terminal 200b sets age verification information for products with age conditions imposed in the payment object information. The age verification information may be, for example, flag information or age conditions. Payment terminal 200b may then associate the product code with the age verification information and store it in memory or the like. Payment terminal 200b then references memory or the like and transmits a payment request including the read payment code, the accepted payment object information, and the age verification information to electronic payment support apparatus 300b via network N (S304b). In response, electronic payment support apparatus 300b executes payment processing (S305b).

[0096] Fig. 17 is a flowchart showing the flow of payment processing in an electronic payment support apparatus 300b according to embodiment 3. Compared to Fig. 12 of embodiment 2, the payment processing in Fig. 17 is similar to that in Fig. 12 of embodiment 2, except that step S313 is replaced with S313b.

[0097] After step S312, electronic payment support apparatus 300b determines whether the received payment request includes age verification information (S313b). That is, if the received payment request contains age verification information associated with a product code, electronic payment support apparatus 300b determines that the payment request includes age verification information. Electronic payment support apparatus 300b then identifies the age requirement based on the age verification information. For example, if the age verification information is flag information, electronic payment support apparatus 300b may refer to external product DB 312 and identify age requirement 3123 associated with the product code associated with the age verification information.

[0098] Then, electronic payment support apparatus 300b executes step S314 and subsequent steps described above. That is, if age verification information is included in the received payment request (YES in S313b) and YES in S314, electronic payment support apparatus 300b determines whether the age information satisfies the age condition (S316).

[0099] Furthermore, if age verification information is not included in step S313b, the process proceeds to step S317 and beyond. That is, if age verification information is not included in the received payment request, the electronic payment support apparatus 300b performs electronic payment processing for the payment target information (S317) and returns the payment result to the payment terminal 200b (S318). This prevents excessive age verification processing when paying for products that do not have age requirements, improving processing efficiency. Furthermore, it is possible to continue supporting existing payment request specifications (in which age verification information is not set). Furthermore, the electronic payment support apparatus 300b can continue to perform payment processing in the same way for payment requests from payment terminals that do not have the function to set age verification information.

[0100] As described above, the third embodiment is a slight extension to the existing payment request message specification, which includes age verification information in the payment request, and therefore requires minimal modifications to the existing payment terminal. This achieves the same effects as the first embodiment. Therefore, it can be realized at low cost while utilizing existing electronic payment mechanisms and equipment.

[0101] <Embodiment 4> The fourth embodiment is a modification of the second embodiment. In the second embodiment, the user U requests the issuance of a payment code before making a payment. However, in the fourth embodiment, the payment code is issued and presented after the product code is scanned at the payment terminal. In other words, the payment code can be issued either before or after the product code is scanned.

[0102] The pre-registration process according to this embodiment 4 is the same as that of the above-described embodiment 2. Otherwise, the configuration of the electronic payment support system is the same as that described above, so duplicate illustrations and descriptions will be omitted below as appropriate.

[0103] (Payment code issuance process, payment process) 18 is a sequence diagram showing the overall flow of the payment process according to the fourth embodiment. Here, it is assumed that the user terminal 100-2 carried by the user U2 does not store the payment code 115. It is also assumed that the user U2 places the product 431 to be purchased in a certain store in the shopping cart 43 and arrives in front of the payment terminal 200 to make a code payment.

[0104] First, as described above, the payment terminal 200 accepts payment target information for the product 431 (S302). Then, the payment terminal 200 displays the payment target information (S303). For example, the payment terminal 200 displays the product information (product name, price information, etc.) of the product 431 read by the reading device on the screen as the payment target information. At this time, the payment terminal 200 may display, together with the payment target information, that the product includes products with age restrictions.

[0105] Here, in response to the operation of user U2, user terminal 100-2 starts the payment code issuing process using the payment code issuing function of the code payment application. That is, user terminal 100-2 and electronic payment support apparatus 300 execute the payment code issuing process of steps S201 to S208 in Fig. 8 (S308). As a result, payment code 115 is stored in user terminal 100-2, and expiration date 3117 based on user ID 3111 of user U2 is registered in payment user DB 311 of electronic payment support apparatus 300.

[0106] Then, user U2 displays payment code 115 (and expiration date 116) on user terminal 100-2 and holds payment code 115 over a reading device connected to payment terminal 200. As a result, payment terminal 200 acquires payment code 115 read by the reading device (S309). Thereafter, payment terminal 200 performs the processes from step S304 onwards described above, and electronic payment support apparatus 300 executes payment processing (S305).

[0107] In this way, the present embodiment 4 can also achieve the same effects as those of the above-mentioned embodiments 1 and 2. Note that the present embodiment 4 may be applied to the above-mentioned embodiment 3. In this case, the same effects as those of the above-mentioned embodiment 3 can be achieved.

[0108] <Embodiment 5> This fifth embodiment is a variation of the fourth embodiment described above. In this fifth embodiment, the payment terminal is a vending machine. The pre-registration process according to this fifth embodiment is the same as that of the second embodiment described above. Otherwise, the configuration of the electronic payment support system is the same as that described above, so duplicate illustrations and explanations will be omitted below as appropriate.

[0109] FIG. 19 is a diagram conceptually illustrating the flow of the payment code issuance process and payment process according to the fifth embodiment. Note that FIG. 19 can be considered a use case in which step S308 is removed from FIG. 18 described above, and the payment code issuance process (FIGS. 8 and 9) is performed beforehand. The vending machine 200c is a device that sells beverages, including alcoholic beverages, that have an age requirement for purchase. Note that the vending machine 200c may be a device that sells multiple types of products, including both products that have an age requirement for purchase and products that do not have an age requirement.

[0110] As described above, the user terminal 100 performs a payment code issuing process for the user U. For example, the user terminal 100 photographs the face of the user U in response to the user U's operation (S201) and performs facial authentication of the user U (S202). For ease of explanation, it is assumed here that the facial authentication is successful. Next, after steps S203 and S204, the user terminal 100 transmits a payment code issuance request to the electronic payment support apparatus 300 (S205). The electronic payment support apparatus 300 performs the payment code issuing process (FIG. 9) described above and returns the payment code, etc. to the user terminal 100 (S207). The user terminal 100 displays the payment code 512 indicating that the user is an adult (S208).

[0111] Subsequently, the user U arrives in front of the vending machine 200c and selects the product button for the alcoholic beverage 201 (S302a). That is, the vending machine 200c accepts the payment target information. Here, the vending machine 200c determines that the selected alcoholic beverage 201 is a product that has an age requirement. For example, the vending machine 200c may pre-set whether or not an age requirement is imposed for each product button. The vending machine 200c may also display product information for the alcoholic beverage 201 (product name, price, etc.) and age verification information. The user U then holds the payment code 512 displayed on the user terminal 100 over the reading device 202 of the vending machine 200c (S309). As a result, the vending machine 200c acquires the payment code 512 read by the reading device 202 and transmits a payment request including the payment code 512 and product information related to the alcoholic beverage to the electronic payment support apparatus 300 (S304). The electronic payment support apparatus 300 performs the payment process described above (FIG. 12) and returns the payment result to the vending machine 200c (S306). The vending machine 200c outputs the alcoholic beverage 203 in accordance with the received payment result. The vending machine 200c may also display the payment result.

[0112] In this way, this embodiment can also achieve the same effects as those of the above-mentioned embodiments 1 and 2. Furthermore, this embodiment can minimize the modification of existing vending machines, and can achieve the same effects as those of the above-mentioned embodiments 3 and 4.

[0113] 19, the order of steps S302a and S309 may be reversed. That is, the user U may first hold the payment code 512 displayed on the user terminal 100 over the reader 202 of the vending machine 200c (S309), and then select the product button for the alcoholic beverage 201 (S302a). In this case, the vending machine 200c may make the product button with the age requirement selectable (activated) after the payment code 512 has been read.

[0114] Alternatively, in FIG. 19 described above, user U may arrive in front of vending machine 200c without having been issued a payment code. In this case, user U first selects the product button for alcoholic beverage 201 (S302a). At this time, vending machine 200c may display age verification information or the like because the selected product button is for an alcoholic beverage. User U then issues a payment code using user terminal 100 (S201-S208). User U then holds payment code 512 displayed on user terminal 100 over reader 202 of vending machine 200c (S309).

[0115] Furthermore, the vending machine 200c may be a device that sells one or more types of cigarettes, which are an example of a product that has an age requirement for purchase. Since the vending machine 200c is often a cigarette-only vending machine, there is no need to determine whether the product selected by the user U (any type of cigarette) has an age requirement. If the vending machine is a cigarette-only vending machine, the vending machine 200c may first read the payment code 512 and then make the product button selectable (activated).

[0116] <Embodiment 6> This sixth embodiment is a variation of the second embodiment described above. This sixth embodiment describes update processes such as extending the expiration date or reissuing a payment code according to the expiration date. The pre-registration process, payment code issuance process, and settlement process according to this sixth embodiment are the same as those of the second embodiment described above. In addition, in this sixth embodiment, the electronic payment support device will be described using the reference numeral 300c. The configuration of the electronic payment support system is the same as that described above, so duplicate illustrations and descriptions will be omitted below as appropriate.

[0117] The registration unit 341 of the electronic payment support apparatus 300c according to the sixth embodiment registers the issued first payment code in association with a first expiration date. The registration unit 341 then receives a code extension request including the first payment code from the user terminal 100. If the time at which the code extension request is received is within the first expiration date associated with the first payment code, the registration unit 341 extends the first expiration date to a second expiration date. The registration unit 341 then returns the second expiration date to the user terminal 100. This allows the expiration date to be appropriately extended and the user U to be notified of the extended expiration date.

[0118] (Example 6-1: Extending the expiration date of a payment code) In Example 6-1, the user terminal carried by user U1 is denoted by 100c-1. In addition, as a result of the above-described pre-registration process and payment code issuance process, the user terminal 100c-1 has already been issued a first payment code by the electronic payment support apparatus 300c, and has stored the first payment code in association with the first expiration date.

[0119] 20 is a sequence diagram showing the overall flow of the payment code update process according to Example 6-1 of Embodiment 6. First, the user terminal 100c-1 displays the first payment code and the first expiration date in response to an operation by the user U1 (S401).

[0120] 22 is a diagram showing an example of a payment code display screen 51c-1 including a code extension button according to Example 6-1 of the present embodiment 6. The payment code display screen 51c-1 includes payment codes 511 and 512, an expiration date 513c-1, and a code extension button 514c. The expiration date 513c-1 indicates that the first payment codes 511 and 512 will become invalid in 27 seconds. The code extension button 514c is a button for sending a code extension request.

[0121] Returning to FIG. 20, we will continue the explanation. User U1 presses code extension button 514c on payment code display screen 51c-1. This causes user terminal 100c-1 to accept the code extension operation (S402). User terminal 100c-1 then transmits a code extension request including the first payment code to electronic payment support apparatus 300c via network N (S403). In response, electronic payment support apparatus 300c executes payment code update processing (S404).

[0122] 21 is a flowchart showing the flow of payment code update processing in the electronic payment support apparatus 300c according to Example 6-1 of Embodiment 6. First, the electronic payment support apparatus 300c receives a code extension request from the user terminal 100c-1 via the network N (S411).

[0123] Next, electronic payment support apparatus 300c identifies the first expiration date associated with the first payment code included in the code extension request from payment user DB 311 (S412). Electronic payment support apparatus 300c then determines whether the time the code extension request was received was within the identified first expiration date (S413). If the time is within the first expiration date, electronic payment support apparatus 300c updates payment user DB 311 with a second expiration date that is an extension of the first expiration date (S414). Electronic payment support apparatus 300c then returns the extended second expiration date to user terminal 100c-1 (S415).

[0124] Returning to Figure 20, the explanation continues. User terminal 100c-1 receives the extended second expiration date from electronic payment support apparatus 300c via network N (S405). User terminal 100c-1 then displays the first payment code and the extended second expiration date (S406). At this time, user terminal 100c-1 updates expiration date 116 registered in storage unit 110 to the extended second expiration date.

[0125] Fig. 23 is a diagram showing an example of a payment code display screen 51c-2 after the expiration date has been extended according to Example 6-1 of the sixth embodiment. The payment code display screen 51c-2 includes payment codes 511 and 512, an expiration date 513c-2, and a code extension button 514c. The payment codes 511 and 512 have not changed since the payment code display screen 51c-1 of Fig. 22 described above, and continue to be the same codes. The expiration date 513c-2 indicates that the expiration date has been extended from 27 seconds remaining to 5 minutes remaining.

[0126] Returning to FIG. 21, the explanation will be continued. If the first expiration date has passed at the time of receiving the code extension request in step S413, the electronic payment support apparatus 300c transmits a request to resend the age information to the user terminal 100c-1 (S416). In response to this, the user terminal 100c-1 receives the request to resend the age information. In response to the resend request, the user terminal 100c-1 then acquires the user ID 1121 and age certification information 1123 from the storage unit 110 and generates current age information for user U1 based on the age certification information 1123. The user terminal 100c-1 then transmits a payment code issuance request including the acquired user ID 1121 and the generated age information to the electronic payment support apparatus 300c via the network N. In response to the resend request, the user terminal 100c-1 may perform face authentication on user U1, and transmit the payment code issuance request if the face authentication is successful.

[0127] The electronic payment support apparatus 300c then receives a payment code issuance request, including the age information, from the user terminal 100c-1 via the network N (S417). The electronic payment support apparatus 300c then executes the payment code issuance process (S418), similar to step S206 described above. This allows the user terminal 100c-1 to receive the newly issued payment code and expiration date, and display them on the screen. At this time, the user terminal 100c-1 updates the payment code 115 and expiration date 116 stored in the storage unit 110 to reflect the newly issued payment code and expiration date.

[0128] In other words, if the code extension request is received after the first expiration date, the code issuing unit 342 issues a second payment code and returns the second payment code and the second expiration date to the user terminal.Then, the registration unit 341 associates and registers the age information associated with the first payment code with the second payment code and the second expiration date.The registration unit 341 then cancels the association between the first payment code and the first expiration date and the age information.

[0129] When the user terminal 100c-1 receives the code extension request in step S402, it may perform facial authentication of user U1 and, if the facial authentication is successful, transmit a code extension request. In other words, the registration unit 341 of the electronic payment support apparatus 300c may receive a code extension request from the user terminal 100c-1 if, after the issuance of the first payment code, user U1 again passes biometric authentication at the user terminal 100c-1.

[0130] (Example 6-2: Reissuing payment code) In Example 6-2, the user terminal carried by user U1 is denoted by 100d-1. Furthermore, as a result of the above-described pre-registration process and payment code issuance process, the user terminal 100d-1 has already been issued a first payment code by the electronic payment support apparatus 300c, and the first payment code and the first expiration date have been associated and stored.

[0131] 24 is a sequence diagram showing the overall flow of the payment code update process according to Example 6-2 of Embodiment 6. First, the user terminal 100d-1 displays the first payment code and the first expiration date in response to an operation by the user U1 (S401).

[0132] 26 is a diagram showing an example of a payment code display screen 51d-1 including a code reissue button according to Example 6-2 of the present embodiment 6. The payment code display screen 51d-1 includes payment codes 511 and 512, an expiration date 513d-1, and a code update button 514d. The expiration date 513d-1 indicates that the first payment codes 511 and 512 will become invalid in 16 seconds. The code update button 514d is a button for sending a code reissue request.

[0133] Returning to FIG. 24, the explanation will be continued. The user U1 presses the code update button 514d on the payment code display screen 51d-1. As a result, the user terminal 100d-1 accepts the code reissue operation (S402d). Then, the user terminal 100d-1 takes a picture of the face of the user U (S407). Next, the user terminal 100d-1 updates the user information 1 The captured face image is compared with the face image 1122 registered in 12, and face authentication is performed in the same manner as in step S104 (S408). For the sake of convenience, it is assumed here that face authentication is successful.

[0134] If face authentication is successful, user terminal 100d-1 transmits a code reissue request including the first payment code to electronic payment support apparatus 300c via network N (S403d). In response, electronic payment support apparatus 300c executes payment code update processing (S404d).

[0135] 25 is a flowchart showing the flow of payment code update processing in the electronic payment support apparatus according to Example 6-2 of Embodiment 6. First, the electronic payment support apparatus 300c receives a code reissue request from the user terminal 100d-1 via the network N (S421). In other words, if the user U again succeeds in biometric authentication at the user terminal 100d-1 after the issuance of the first payment code, the code issuing unit 342 receives the payment code reissue request including the first payment code from the user terminal 100d-1.

[0136] Next, electronic payment support apparatus 300c identifies the first expiration date associated with the first payment code included in the code reissue request from payment user DB 311 (S422). Electronic payment support apparatus 300c then determines whether the time the code reissue request was received was within the identified first expiration date (S423). If the time is within the first expiration date, electronic payment support apparatus 300c issues a second payment code and sets a second expiration date (S424).

[0137] Then, electronic payment support apparatus 300c identifies user ID 3111 and age information 3115 associated with the first payment code from payment user DB 311 (S425). Electronic payment support apparatus 300c associates the identified user ID 3111 and age information 3115 with the second payment code and second expiration date, and registers them in payment user DB 311 (S426).

[0138] That is, if the time when the payment code reissue request is received is within the first expiration date, the code issuing unit 342 issues a second payment code. Then, the registration unit 341 extends the first expiration date to the second expiration date, and registers the age information associated with the first payment code in association with the second payment code and the second expiration date.

[0139] Electronic payment support apparatus 300c then cancels the association between the first payment code and first expiration date and the identified user ID 3111 and age information 3115 (S427). Electronic payment support apparatus 300c then returns the second payment code and second expiration date to user terminal 100d-1 (S428).

[0140] Returning to Figure 24, the explanation continues. The user terminal 100d-1 receives the reissued second payment code and second expiration date from the electronic payment support apparatus 300c via the network N (S405d). The user terminal 100d-1 then displays the reissued second payment code and second expiration date (S406d). At this time, the user terminal 100d-1 updates the payment code 115 and expiration date 116 registered in the storage unit 110 to the reissued second payment code and second expiration date.

[0141] Fig. 27 is a diagram showing an example of a payment code display screen 51d-2 after reissue according to Example 6-2 of the present embodiment 6. The payment code display screen 51d-2 includes payment codes 511d and 512d, an expiration date 513d-2, and a code update button 514d. The payment codes 511d and 512d indicate that they have been updated to different codes from those on the payment code display screen 51d-1 of Fig. 26 described above. The expiration date 513d-2 indicates that the expiration date has been extended from 16 seconds remaining to 5 minutes remaining.

[0142] (Example 6-3: Extending the expiration date and reissuing the payment code) In Example 6-3, the user terminal carried by user U1 is denoted by 100e-1. Furthermore, as a result of the above-described pre-registration process and payment code issuance process, the user terminal 100e-1 has already been issued a first payment code by the electronic payment support apparatus 300c, and the first payment code and the first expiration date have been associated and stored.

[0143] 28 is a flowchart showing the flow of the payment code update process in the user terminal 100e-1 according to Example 6-3 of the sixth embodiment. The user terminal 100e-1 displays the first payment code and the first expiration date in response to an operation by the user U1 (S431). The user terminal 100e-1 accepts the code update operation (S432). For example, it is assumed that the user U1 presses the code update button 514d described above.

[0144] The user terminal 100e-1 then acquires the expiration date 116 from the storage unit 110 as the first expiration date and determines whether the first expiration date is still valid (S433). If the first expiration date is still valid, the user terminal 100e-1 transmits a code extension request including the first payment code to the electronic payment support apparatus 300c via the network N (S434).

[0145] On the other hand, if the first expiration date has passed in step S433, the user terminal 100e-1 performs facial authentication of user U1 (S441) and determines whether facial authentication is successful (S442). If facial authentication is successful, the user terminal 100e-1 transmits a code reissue request including the first payment code to the electronic payment support apparatus 300c via network N (S443). If facial authentication is unsuccessful, the user terminal 100e-1 displays a message indicating that the code cannot be updated (S444).

[0146] FIG. 29 is a flowchart showing the flow of payment code update processing in the electronic payment support apparatus 300c according to Example 6-3 of the sixth embodiment. First, the electronic payment support apparatus 300c receives a request from the user terminal 100e-1 (S451). Then, the electronic payment support apparatus 300c determines whether the received request is a code extension request (S452). If the received request is a code extension request, the user terminal 100e-1 executes steps S412, S414, and S415 of FIG. 21 described above (S453). Therefore, the electronic payment support apparatus 300c returns the extended second expiration date to the user terminal 100e-1.

[0147] On the other hand, if the request received in step S452 is not a code extension request, the user terminal 100e-1 determines whether the received request is a payment code reissue request (S454). If the received request is a payment code reissue request, the user terminal 100e-1 executes steps S422 and S424 to S428 in Figure 25 (S455). Therefore, the electronic payment support apparatus 300c returns the second payment code and the second expiration date to the user terminal 100d-1.

[0148] If the request received in step S454 is not a payment code reissue request, the user terminal 100e-1 executes the payment code issuing process in the same manner as in step S206 described above (S456).

[0149] Returning to Figure 28, the description continues. After step S434 or S443, the user terminal 100e-1 receives a response from the electronic payment support apparatus 300c (S435). That is, the user terminal 100e-1 receives the response from the electronic payment support apparatus 300c in step S415, S428, or S215.

[0150] If the response indicates an extension result, that is, the second expiration date after extension, the user terminal 100e-1 displays the first payment code and the second expiration date after extension (S437). At this time, the user terminal 100e-1 updates the expiration date 116 registered in the storage unit 110 to the second expiration date after extension.

[0151] On the other hand, if the response is not an extension result, that is, if the response includes a reissued or newly issued second payment code and second expiration date, the user terminal 100e-1 displays the second payment code and second expiration date included in the response (S438). At this time, the user terminal 100e-1 updates the payment code 115 and expiration date 116 registered in the storage unit 110 to the second payment code and second expiration date.

[0152] In this way, the present embodiment 6 can also achieve the same effects as the above-mentioned embodiments 1 and 2. Furthermore, the present embodiment 6 can realize update processing such as extending the expiration date of the payment code or reissuing it, thereby ensuring the reliability and security of the payment code.

[0153] <Other embodiments> The above-described electronic payment support system 1000 may include a payment agency center that acts as an intermediary between the payment terminal 200 and the electronic payment support apparatus 300. The payment agency center may forward a payment request from the payment terminal 200 to the electronic payment support apparatus 300 and forward a response from the electronic payment support apparatus 300 to the payment terminal 200. Alternatively, the payment agency center may perform the "determination of whether the payment object information includes a payment object with an age condition imposed" described in the third embodiment. That is, the payment terminal 200 may, as in the second embodiment, leave the existing payment request as is, but add age verification information to the payment request at the payment agency center and transmit the payment request to the electronic payment support apparatus 300. For example, the payment agency center may refer to the external product database 312 for each payment object included in the payment object information included in the payment request received from the payment terminal 200 and determine whether the payment object includes a payment object with an age condition imposed. The payment agency center then associates the age verification information with the product code corresponding to the payment object with the age condition and adds the information to the payment request. The payment agency center then sends the payment request with the added age verification information to the electronic payment support apparatus 300.

[0154] In addition, the payment processing of the electronic payment support apparatus 300 may be performed by excluding payment objects that have age conditions if the expiration date of the payment code has passed. That is, if the time of receiving the payment request is after the first expiration date associated with the payment code included in the payment request, the execution unit 345 may execute a predetermined process by excluding at least payment objects that have age conditions from the electronic payment processing. In other words, if the expiration date of the payment code has passed, age-restricted products may not be purchased, but regular products may be paid for.

[0155] In addition, if the payment object information includes a payment object with an age condition, the execution unit 345 may provide the age information associated with the payment code included in the payment request to the payment terminal to determine whether electronic payment is possible for the payment object information.

[0156] Note that multiple expiration dates may be set for the payment code. For example, one expiration date may be the expiration date of the biometric authentication performed when the payment code was issued, and the second expiration date may be the expiration date of the payment code itself. For example, the expiration date of the biometric authentication may be one hour, and the expiration date of the payment code itself may be five minutes. In this case, the user terminal may transmit a payment code reissue request every five minutes after issuing the displayed payment code. In other words, reissuance every five minutes may not require re-face authentication. Furthermore, the user terminal may require re-face authentication if more than one hour has passed since the displayed payment code was issued. In other words, if more than one hour has passed since the payment code was issued, the user terminal and electronic payment support apparatus may perform the payment code issuance process shown in FIG. 8 described above.

[0157] Note that the above-described embodiments are not limited to electronic payments and can also be applied to cash payments. For example, user U2 reads an age-verified payment code according to this embodiment into a payment terminal. The electronic payment support device 1 performs the processing of the determination unit 13 and execution unit 14 described above in response to a payment request from the payment terminal in the same manner as described above. At this time, if the payment object information includes a payment object with an age condition, the execution unit 14 may transmit to the payment terminal a message indicating that cash payment is possible for the payment object information based on the age information associated with the payment code included in the payment request. User U2 then makes a cash payment to a store clerk or the payment terminal.

[0158] The above-described payment process includes the following use cases. For example, the payment process of FIG. 16 may be performed as follows. For example, the payment terminal 200b reads a payment code (S301), then reads a product code (S302), and displays a payment button. When user U2 presses the payment button, the payment terminal 200b accepts age verification and a payment request (S303-3) and performs the processes from step S304b onward. As a result, the user first holds the payment code over the payment terminal 200b and then presses the payment button displayed on the payment terminal 200b according to the read product code. Therefore, the user purchases a payment item subject to an age condition after knowing that they will be submitting their own identification information (age verification information), age information, information related to the payment method (credit card information, etc.). Furthermore, if membership information is associated with the payment code, the user will purchase a payment item subject to an age condition by presenting the payment code, knowing that they will be submitting membership information including their own personal information, etc. This can enhance the deterrent effect against fraudulent purchases, such as falsifying one's age or using another person's user terminal.

[0159] 18 may be performed before the product code is read by the payment terminal 200. In this case, the payment terminal 200 reads the product code (S302) and displays a request to read the payment code on the screen in step S303. The payment terminal 200 reads the payment code (S309) and displays a payment button. When the payment button is pressed by user U2, the payment terminal 200 accepts age verification and a payment request, and performs the processes from step S304 onwards.

[0160] As described above, the payment code corresponds to the member ID of user U2, and the age of user U2 has been confirmed by the electronic payment support apparatus 300. The age confirmation button described above may be used instead of the payment button. In other words, user U2 can make a payment and confirm his or her age by pressing either the payment button or the age confirmation button.

[0161] The payment code according to this embodiment can also be applied to the following use cases. It is assumed that the user terminal is already installed with software that implements a shopping support function that reads a product code with a camera, generates payment information, and stores it internally, as well as the payment code issuance request function described above. The user terminal is also capable of short-range wireless communication using a predetermined method.

[0162] In this use case, the user terminal first performs the payment code issuance process described above when the shopper (user) starts using the shopping assistance function. That is, the user terminal photographs the user's face and performs facial authentication. This authenticates the identity of the user of the shopping assistance function and prevents subsequent fraudulent use of the shopping assistance function and age verification. After successful facial authentication, the user terminal then sends a payment code issuance request to the electronic payment support device, receives the issued payment code, and displays and internally stores the payment code.

[0163] Next, the shopper (user) picks up the product they wish to purchase in the sales area, reads the product code with the camera on their user terminal, and adds the product to their shopping cart. At this time, the user terminal references the product information DB, obtains the product information corresponding to the read product code as payment target information, and displays it on the screen. While shopping, the user repeatedly reads the product code with the camera on their user terminal every time they add an item to their shopping cart. This causes the user terminal to update the payment target information.

[0164] The user then arrives at the payment terminal and makes the payment. The payment terminal displays the accounting code on its screen, or posts or prints it on a nearby bulletin board. The "accounting code" includes connection information for establishing a short-range wireless communication connection with the corresponding payment terminal as the connection destination, and a control command for causing the user terminal to transmit the payment information to the payment terminal.

[0165] The user then photographs the transaction code using the camera on the user terminal used with the shopping support function. In response, the user terminal analyzes the transaction code from the photographed image and obtains connection information and control commands. In response to the control commands, the user terminal uses the connection information to attempt to establish a short-range wireless communication connection with the payment terminal. That is, the payment terminal establishes a short-range wireless communication connection with the user terminal and receives payment target information from the user terminal.

[0166] The payment terminal then references the product information DB and identifies products with age requirements from the received payment target information. If the payment target information includes products with age requirements, the payment terminal displays age verification display information to confirm that the age requirements are met and the payment target information. Alternatively, if the payment target information does not include products with age requirements, the payment terminal displays the payment target information. In either case, the payment terminal may display a message requesting presentation of a payment code, etc.

[0167] In response, the user displays the payment code on the user terminal and holds it over a reader connected to the payment terminal. The payment terminal then acquires the payment code read by the reader. Thereafter, the payment process is carried out in the same manner as described above.

[0168] The method of transferring payment information from the user terminal to the payment terminal is not necessarily limited to short-distance wireless communication in response to reading the accounting code described above.

[0169] In the above-described embodiment, personal authentication (authentication of identity confirmation, identity authentication, identity identification processing, etc.) has been described as face authentication. However, other biometric authentication methods using biometric information may also be used. Other technologies using captured images of a person may be applied to biometric authentication and biometric information. For example, biometric information may be data (features) calculated from physical characteristics unique to an individual, such as fingerprints, voiceprints, veins, retinas, irises, and palm patterns. Furthermore, biometric authentication may involve extracting feature information indicating a person's physical characteristics from a captured image of a portion of the user's body, comparing the extracted feature information with pre-registered feature information, and determining that authentication is successful if the degree of match is equal to or greater than a threshold. For example, biometric authentication may be authentication based on a person's external shape (gait authentication). In this case, the feature information may be information about a person's external shape, such as information indicating characteristics such as body shape, height, and clothing.

[0170] In the above examples, the program includes instructions (or software code) that, when loaded into a computer, cause the computer to perform one or more functions described in the embodiments. The program may be stored on a non-transitory computer-readable medium or a tangible storage medium. By way of example and not limitation, computer-readable medium or tangible storage medium includes random-access memory (RAM), read-only memory (ROM), flash memory, solid-state drive (SSD) or other memory technology, CD-ROM, digital versatile disc (DVD), Blu-ray® disc or other optical disk storage, magnetic cassette, magnetic tape, magnetic disk storage or other magnetic storage device. The program may also be transmitted on a transitory computer-readable medium or communication medium. By way of example and not limitation, transitory computer-readable medium or communication medium includes electrical, optical, acoustic, or other forms of propagated signals.

[0171] The present disclosure is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and may be modified as appropriate without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure. In addition, the present disclosure may be implemented by appropriately combining the respective embodiments.

[0172] Some or all of the above embodiments can be described as, but are not limited to, the following supplementary notes. (Appendix A1) a code issuing means for issuing a payment code when a payment code issuance request including age information of a user who has been successfully biometrically authenticated at the user terminal is received, and transmitting the payment code to the user terminal; a registration means for registering the issued payment code and the age information included in the payment code issuance request in association with each other; a determination means for determining whether or not a payment object to which an age condition is imposed is included in the payment object information when a payment request including the payment code and the user's payment object information is received from the payment terminal that has acquired the payment code from the user terminal; an execution means for executing a predetermined process for the payment object information based on the age information associated with the payment code included in the payment request when the payment object information includes a payment object with an age condition; An electronic payment support device comprising: (Appendix A2) The determination means If the payment object information includes a payment object with an age condition, determining whether the age information associated with the payment code included in the payment request satisfies the age condition; The execution means If the age information satisfies the age condition, an electronic payment process is performed for the payment target information, and a payment result is returned to the payment terminal. 1. An electronic payment support device as described in Appendix A1. (Appendix A3) The execution means If the age information does not satisfy the age condition, the electronic payment process is performed on the payment object information excluding the payment object to which the age condition is imposed. 1. An electronic payment support device as described in Appendix A2. (Appendix A4) The execution means If the age information does not satisfy the age condition, a message is returned to the payment terminal indicating that electronic payment processing for the payment object is not possible. 1. An electronic payment support device as described in Appendix A2. (Appendix A5) The determination means determining whether the received payment request includes age verification information indicating that the payment object information includes a payment object to which the age condition is imposed; If the age verification information is included in the received payment request, it is determined whether the age information satisfies the age requirement. An electronic payment support device according to any one of appendices A2 to A4. (Appendix A6) The execution means If the age verification information is not included in the received payment request, an electronic payment process is performed for the payment target information, and a payment result is returned to the payment terminal. An electronic payment support device as described in Appendix A5. (Appendix A7) the determination means determines that the age information satisfies the age condition when the age information associated with the payment code included in the payment request indicates an age of adulthood or above; When the age information indicates that the user is under the age of majority, the execution means executes the predetermined process by excluding at least the payment object to which the age condition is imposed from the electronic payment process. An electronic payment support device according to any one of appendices A1 to A6. (Appendix A8) When the received payment code issuance request does not include the age information, the registration means registers the issued payment code in association with a message indicating that the age has not been confirmed, When the payment code included in the payment request is associated with the fact that the age has not been confirmed, the execution means executes the predetermined process, excluding at least the payment object to which the age condition is imposed from the electronic payment process. An electronic payment support device as described in Appendix A7. (Appendix A9) The registration means registering a first expiration date in association with the issued first payment code; receiving a code extension request including the first payment code from the user terminal, and if the time of receiving the code extension request is within the first expiration date associated with the first payment code, extending the first expiration date to a second expiration date; The second expiration date is returned to the user terminal. An electronic payment support device according to any one of appendices A1 to A8. (Appendix A10) The registration means After the first payment code is issued, if the user again succeeds in biometric authentication at the user terminal, the code extension request is received from the user terminal. 10. An electronic payment support device as described in Appendix A9. (Appendix A11) The code issuing means If the time when the code extension request is received is after the first expiration date, a second payment code is issued, and the second payment code and the second expiration date are returned to the user terminal; The registration means registering the age information associated with the first payment code, the second payment code, and the second expiration date in association with each other; canceling the association between the first payment code and the first expiration date and the age information; An electronic payment support device according to appendix A9 or A10. (Appendix A12) The code issuing means receiving a payment code reissue request including the first payment code from the user terminal when the user again succeeds in biometric authentication at the user terminal after the issuance of the first payment code; If the time when the payment code reissue request is received is within the first expiration date, a second payment code is issued; The registration means Extending the first expiration date to a second expiration date; registering the age information associated with the first payment code, the second payment code, and the second expiration date in association with each other; canceling the association between the first payment code and the first expiration date and the age information; The code issuing means The second payment code and the second expiration date are returned to the user terminal. An electronic payment support device according to any one of appendices A9 to A11. (Appendix A13) The code issuing means receives the payment code issuance request including the age information transmitted from the user terminal in response to successful biometric authentication by matching query biometric information extracted from an image captured by the user with the master biometric information, the query biometric information being extracted from an image captured by the user and age certification information verifying the age information, in the user terminal where the master biometric information of the user and the age certification information are stored in association with each other. An electronic payment support device according to any one of appendices A1 to A12. (Appendix A14) The registration means When a registration request including the user's electronic payment means information and user ID is received, the electronic payment means information included in the registration request is associated with the user ID and registered in a storage device; When the payment code issuance request including the user ID and the age information is received in response to the success of the biometric authentication, the issued payment code and the age information included in the payment code issuance request are registered in the storage device in association with the user ID included in the payment code issuance request; The electronic payment support device further includes a specifying means for specifying, from the storage device, the age information and the electronic payment means information associated with the payment code included in the payment request when the payment object information includes a payment object with an age condition, When the specified age information satisfies the age condition, the execution means performs electronic payment processing for the payment target information using the specified electronic payment means information. 1. An electronic payment support device as described in Appendix A13. (Appendix B1) A system including a user terminal, an electronic payment support device, and a payment terminal, the user terminal transmits a payment code issuance request including age information of the user who has successfully passed biometric authentication to the electronic payment support apparatus; The electronic payment support device When a payment code issuance request is received from the user terminal, a payment code is issued; registering the issued payment code and the age information included in the payment code issuance request in association with each other; Sending the issued payment code to the user terminal; The user terminal displays the payment code received from the electronic payment support device, the payment terminal reads the payment code displayed on the user terminal at the time of payment by the user, and transmits a payment request including the payment code and the user's payment target information to the electronic payment support apparatus; The electronic payment support device determining whether the payment object information included in the payment request received from the payment terminal includes a payment object with an age condition; If the payment object information includes a payment object with an age condition, a predetermined process is performed on the payment object information based on the age information associated with the payment code included in the payment request. Electronic payment support system. (Appendix B2) The electronic payment support device If the payment object information includes a payment object with an age condition, determining whether the age information associated with the payment code included in the payment request satisfies the age condition; If the age information satisfies the age condition, an electronic payment process is performed for the payment target information, and a payment result is returned to the payment terminal. An electronic payment support system as described in Appendix B1. (Appendix B3) The user terminal storing the user's master biometric information and age certification information that certifies the age information in association with each other; performing biometric authentication by matching query biometric information extracted from a captured image of the user with the master biometric information; In response to success of the biometric authentication, the payment code issuance request including the age information is transmitted to the electronic payment support device. An electronic payment support system as described in Appendix B1 or B2. (Appendix B4) The electronic payment support device When a registration request including the user's electronic payment means information and user ID is received, the electronic payment means information included in the registration request is associated with the user ID and the age information and registered in a storage device; The user terminal transmitting the payment code issuance request, including the user ID and the age information, to the electronic payment support device in response to success of the biometric authentication; The electronic payment support device registering the issued payment code and the age information included in the payment code issuance request in the storage device in association with the user ID included in the payment code issuance request; If the payment object information includes a payment object with an age condition, the age information and the electronic payment means information associated with the payment code included in the payment request are identified from the storage device; If the specified age information satisfies the age condition, the specified electronic payment means information is used to perform electronic payment processing for the payment target information. An electronic payment support system according to any one of Appendix B1 to Appendix B3. (Appendix B5) the electronic payment support apparatus further associates a first expiration date with the issued payment code and registers the same; the user terminal transmits a code extension request including the payment code to the electronic payment support apparatus in response to an operation by the user; The electronic payment support device receiving the code extension request from the user terminal; If the time when the code extension request is received is within a first expiration date associated with the payment code included in the code extension request, the first expiration date is extended to a second expiration date; Returning the second expiration date to the user terminal; The user terminal displays the second expiration date received from the electronic payment support apparatus together with the payment code. An electronic payment support system according to any one of Appendix B1 to Appendix B4. (Appendix B6) If the user succeeds in the biometric authentication again within the first expiration date, the user terminal transmits the code extension request to the electronic payment support apparatus. An electronic payment support system as described in Appendix B5. (Appendix B7) When the user again succeeds in the biometric authentication after the first payment code is displayed, the user terminal transmits a payment code reissue request including the first payment code to the electronic payment support apparatus; The electronic payment support device receiving a payment code reissue request from the user terminal; If the time when the payment code reissue request is received is within a first expiration date associated with the first payment code, a second payment code is issued and the second payment code is transmitted to the user terminal; Extending the first expiration date to a second expiration date; registering the age information associated with the first payment code, the second payment code, and the second expiration date in association with each other; Cancelling the association between the first payment code and the first expiration date and the age information. An electronic payment support system according to any one of Appendix B1 to Appendix B6. (Appendix C1) The computer When a payment code issuance request including age information of a user who has successfully passed biometric authentication on the user terminal is received, a payment code is issued; registering the issued payment code and the age information included in the payment code issuance request in association with each other; Sending the issued payment code to the user terminal; When a payment request including the payment code and the user's payment object information is received from the payment terminal that has acquired the payment code from the user terminal, determining whether the payment object information includes a payment object to which an age condition is imposed; If the payment object information includes a payment object with an age condition, a predetermined process is performed on the payment object information based on the age information associated with the payment code included in the payment request. Electronic payment support methods. (Appendix D1) a process of issuing a payment code when a payment code issuance request including age information of a user who has successfully passed biometric authentication at the user terminal is received; a process of registering the issued payment code and the age information included in the payment code issuance request in association with each other; a process of transmitting the issued payment code to the user terminal; a process of determining whether or not a payment object with an age condition is included in the payment object information when a payment request including the payment code and the user's payment object information is received from the payment terminal that has acquired the payment code from the user terminal; If the payment object information includes a payment object with an age condition, a process of executing a predetermined process for the payment object information based on the age information associated with the payment code included in the payment request; A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing an electronic payment support program that causes a computer to execute the above.

[0173] Although the present invention has been described above with reference to the embodiments (and examples), the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments (and examples). Various modifications that can be understood by those skilled in the art can be made to the configuration and details of the present invention within the scope of the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0174] 1. Electronic payment support device 11 Code Issuance Department 12 Registration Department 13 Judgment section 14 Executive Department 1000 Electronic Payment Support System U User U1 User U2 users N Network 100 user terminals 100-1 User terminal 100-2 User terminal 110 Storage section 111 Program 112 User Information 1121 User ID 1122 facial images 1123 Age Verification Information 113 Device Information 114 Application Information 115 Payment Code 116 Expiration Date 120 memory 130 Communications Department 131 Near field communication IF 140 Control Unit 141 Acquisition Department 142 Registration Department 143 Authentication Department 144 Code Processing Section 150 Display section 160 Camera 41 Personal Identification Card 411 Personal Information 412 facial images 413 Age Verification Information 42 Credit Card 421 Card Information 43 Shopping Cart 431 items 4310 Product Code 200 payment terminals 300 Electronic payment support device 310 Storage section 311 Payment User DB 3111 User ID 3112 Terminal Information 3113 Application Information 3114 Card Information 3115 Age Information 3116 Payment code 3117 Expiration Date 312 Product DB 3121 Product ID 3122 Product information 3123 Age Requirements 313 Program 320 memory 330 Communications Department 340 Control Unit 341 Registration Department 342 Code Issuance Department 343 Specific part 344 Judgment section 345 Executive Department 51 Payment code display screen 511 payment code 512 Payment Code 513 Expiration Date 52a Payment result display screen 52b Payment result display screen 52c Payment result display screen 521 Items eligible for payment 521c Payment excluded items 522 Items eligible for payment 523 Total Amount 523c total amount 524a Adult confirmation result 524b Adult confirmation result 524c Adult confirmation result 525 Messages 200b payment terminal 300b Electronic payment support device 200c vending machine 201 Alcoholic beverages 202 Reading device 203 Alcoholic beverages 300c Electronic Payment Support Device 100c-1 User terminal 51c-1 Payment code display screen 513c-1 Expiration Date 514c Cord extension button 51c-2 Payment code display screen 513c-2 Expiration Date 100d-1 User terminal 51d-1 Payment code display screen 513d-1 Expiration Date 514d Code update button 51d-2 Payment code display screen 511d payment code 512d payment code 513d-2 Expiration Date 100e-1 user terminal

Claims

1. means for receiving identification information of a terminal owned by a user who has been successfully biometrically authenticated and age information of the user; a registration means for registering the identification information and the age information in association with each other; an execution means for executing a predetermined process for the payment object information based on the age information associated with the identification information of the terminal when the payment object information for which the user desires to make payment includes a payment object with an age condition imposed; An information processing device comprising:

2. The execution means If the payment object information includes a payment object with an age condition, it is determined whether the age information associated with the payment code included in the payment request satisfies the age condition; If the age information satisfies the age condition, an electronic payment process is performed for the payment target information, and the payment result is returned to the payment terminal. The information processing device according to claim 1 .

3. The execution means If the age information does not satisfy the age condition, the electronic payment process is performed on the payment object information excluding the payment object to which the age condition is imposed. The information processing device according to claim 2 .

4. The execution means If the age information does not satisfy the age condition, a message is returned to the payment terminal indicating that electronic payment processing for the payment object is not possible. The information processing device according to claim 2 .

5. The execution means determining whether the received payment request includes age verification information indicating that the payment object information includes a payment object to which the age condition is imposed; If the age verification information is included in the received payment request, an action is taken depending on the result of determining whether the age information satisfies the age condition. The information processing device according to any one of claims 2 to 4.

6. The execution means If the age verification information is not included in the received payment request, an electronic payment process is performed for the payment target information, and a payment result is returned to the payment terminal. The information processing device according to claim 5 .

7. means for receiving identification information of a terminal owned by a user who has been successfully biometrically authenticated and age information of the user; a registration means for registering the identification information and the age information in association with each other; an execution means for executing a predetermined process for the payment object information based on the age information associated with the identification information of the terminal when the payment object information for which the user desires to make payment includes a payment object with an age condition imposed; An information processing system comprising:

8. The computer receiving identification information of a terminal owned by a user who has successfully passed biometric authentication and age information of the user; registering the identification information and the age information in association with each other; If the payment object information for which the user desires to make payment includes a payment object with an age condition, a predetermined process is executed for the payment object information based on the age information associated with the identification information of the terminal. Information processing methods.

9. A process of receiving identification information of a terminal owned by a user who has successfully passed biometric authentication and age information of the user; a process of registering the identification information and the age information in association with each other; If the payment object information for which the user desires to make payment includes a payment object with an age condition, a process of executing a predetermined process for the payment object information based on the age information associated with the identification information of the terminal; An information processing program that causes a computer to execute the above.

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