Information processing apparatus and information processing method

Abstract

To provide an information processor and a method for return capable of promoting the use of a hometown tax payment to a customer who uses the facility, shop, etc., of a specific enterprise SOLUTION: The processing part 41 is provided with an information reception part 41CD for performing the reception processing of the information of a self-governing body, the information of a contribution amount, the information of a return agent and the individual information of a contributor, a contribution procedure support part 41E for transmitting necessary information to a settlement agent server and supporting the contribution of the contributor to one self-governing body on-line, a return point issuing part 41F for issuing prescribed return points corresponding to the contribution amount and a point settlement processing part 41H having a point settlement processing function. The reward points can be used for services and products within the scope of the work of the reward company in the local government.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a return gift information processing device and a return gift information processing method used in hometown tax donations. [Background technology]

[0002] It is known that if you make a donation (hometown tax) to a local government of your choice from among local governments across the country, your income tax and local resident tax will be deducted according to the amount of your donation, and you will receive a gift from the local government to which you donated via a gift provider.

[0003] Under this system, many local governments are soliciting donations by offering a variety of return gifts, and it is thought that many donors often compare and consider the return gifts offered by each local government before deciding which local government to donate to. For this reason, hometown tax donation portal sites are popular, which collect information on local governments offering return gifts and allow donors to narrow down their list of candidate local governments by searching for the conditions for the return gift they desire. Prior art related to information processing devices and information processing methods for providing such hometown tax donation portal sites can be found in Technical Document 1. On the other hand, various information processing devices and methods for supporting hometown tax donations, which were developed with the primary objective of revitalizing local areas, have been proposed. For example, the technology shown in Patent Document 2 exists. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Patent No. 6843959 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2020-181579 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] However, for those who frequently visit specific facilities and stores in municipalities other than their home town, there may be a potential desire to make hometown tax donations to those local municipalities through familiar facilities and stores, or to receive gifts from familiar people who work at those facilities and stores. For those with such desires, hometown tax donation portal sites, such as those described in Patent Document 1, which allow users to find and donate gifts that suit their preferences from a wide selection of gifts, require the user to spend time searching for the specific facility or store they are interested in, which can be inconvenient. Furthermore, even with hometown tax donations for regional development that are implemented away from the specific facilities and stores, such as those described in Patent Document 2, no matter how excellent the hometown tax donation system, it is possible that hometown tax donations that are far removed from the specific facilities and stores they are familiar with will not be of interest to those who have moved away from the specific facilities and stores they are familiar with.

[0006] Furthermore, for businesses that operate targeted facilities and stores, if they can provide better services to their customers by using a more user-friendly hometown tax donation service that meets the demands of their regular customers, they will be able to increase customer satisfaction, increase the rate of repeat customers, and contribute to local governments through increased sales.

[0007] Furthermore, even if a customer is visiting a facility or store of a business for the first time, if there is an easy-to-use hometown tax payment service that can be used at the facility or store, it is expected that the customer will return for the purpose of using the service. In addition, if the above-mentioned facilities or stores accept reservations for services and products and have an official website that includes a reservation page or website on the network, customers looking to visit the facility or store, whether they are repeat customers or first-time visitors, are likely to first visit the reservation page or website directly. Furthermore, if the reservation page or website for services and products eligible for hometown tax return gifts has a system that allows customers to make hometown tax donations at the reservation stage, allowing them to consider making hometown tax donations during the relatively relaxed reservation stage, making it easier to encourage the use of hometown tax donations. However, until now, there has been no technology that encourages hometown tax donations at the time of booking on a gift business's reservation page or website.

[0008] As can be understood from the above, the various information processing devices and methods that have been available to date for promoting the use of hometown tax donations do not necessarily adequately meet these demands, and there is room for improvement in this regard.

[0009] [Object of the Invention] The object of the present invention has been made in consideration of the above-mentioned inconveniences, and is to provide a return gift information processing device and information processing method that can encourage customers who use the facilities and stores of a specific business to use hometown tax donations. [Means for solving the problem]

[0010] The return gift information processing device according to the present invention is a return gift information processing device for sending a return gift to a donor from a return gift provider selected by the donor in connection with hometown tax donations by the donor to a local government selected by the donor, a storage unit, a processing unit, and a communication unit for connecting to a communication network; The processing unit an information receiving unit that receives information on the one local government, information on the donation amount, information on the one return service provider, and personal information of the donor from the donor terminal of the donor; a donation procedure support unit that transmits information about the one local government, information about the donation amount, personal information about the donor, and credit card information entered by the donor to a payment processing business server and supports the donor in making an online donation to the one local government; a reward point issuing unit that, when the donation to the one local government via the payment agent server is completed, issues reward points corresponding to the donation amount, with the one local government as the donation recipient, the donor as the reward point owner, and the one reward business operator as the reward provider; a point payment processing unit having a point payment processing function; Equipped with The reward points can be used for services and products within the scope of the reward business operator's business within the one local government.

[0011] In addition, in the return gift information processing device according to the present invention, when issuing the return points, the return point issuing unit queries the currently held return points stored in the memory unit in association with the one local government as the donation recipient, the donor as the return point owner, and the one return gift business operator as the return gift provider, calculates new held return points by adding the newly issued return points to the currently held return points (however, if there are no currently held return points, the held return points are set to 0), and updates the currently held return points stored in the memory unit with the new held return points. The point settlement processing unit issues the held return points from the logged-in donor terminal. When a request to use a gift certificate is received, the system may obtain from the donor terminal the amount of return points used, the donor ID of the donor, the municipality identification information of the one municipality, and the return provider identification information of the one return provider, and based on the donor ID, the municipality identification information, and the return provider identification information, query the currently held return points stored in association with the one municipality as the donation recipient, the donor as the return point owner, and the one return provider as the return provider, subtract the amount of return points used from the currently held return points so queried, and update the currently held return points stored in the memory unit with the subtracted held return points.

[0012] Furthermore, in the return gift information processing device of the present invention, the communication network may be connected to a return gift provider server equipped with a reservation page providing unit that generates and distributes display information for a reservation page that accepts reservations for the provision of services and products by the one return gift provider, and a reservation processing unit that performs reservation processing using the reservation page, and the reservation page may be provided with a link for hometown tax payment, and when the donor performs a specific operation on the hometown tax payment link displayed on the donor terminal, the information receiving unit may start the reception processing.

[0013] Furthermore, in the gift information processing device according to the present invention, the reservation processing unit may have a function for calculating the provision fee for the service and / or product related to the reservation and a payment function for settling the provision fee, the reservation page may have a payment button for starting processing using the payment function, and the hometown tax payment link may be located near the payment button on the reservation page.

[0014] Furthermore, the return gift information processing device according to the present invention can also be configured to have a function of calculating the provision fee for the service and / or product related to the reservation, and a function of generating display information for a page including a fee advance notice display to notify the reservation holder of the provision fee and sending it to the donor terminal, and the reservation page on which the hometown tax payment link is provided is a page including the fee advance notice display.

[0015] In addition, in the return gift information processing device according to the present invention, the hometown tax payment link may be a unique link that differs for each return gift provider, and the information receiving unit may identify the local government to which the donation is made and the return gift provider based on the unique identifiability of the hometown tax payment link used by the donor terminal.

[0016] Furthermore, the return gift information processing device according to the present invention may be configured such that content including an explanation about hometown tax donations is displayed on the reservation page on which the hometown tax donation payment link is provided.

[0017] Furthermore, the return gift information processing device according to the present invention may be configured to include an ID / password issuing unit that issues a donor ID and password to the donor in response to a request for issuance of a donor ID from the donor terminal, on the condition that the donor's personal information is input from the donor terminal, and associates the password and the donor personal information with the donor ID and stores them in the memory unit, and a login processing unit that performs login processing based on the donor ID and password input from the donor terminal in response to a request from the donor terminal, and during the reception processing by the information reception unit, the information reception unit reads out the donor personal information stored in the memory unit in association with the donor ID in response to a request from the donor terminal that is currently logged in.

[0018] Furthermore, in the return gift information processing device according to the present invention, the information receiving unit may be configured to include a donation amount receiving unit that generates display information for generating a donation information input screen having a donation amount input field for inputting the donation amount and a return point input field for inputting the desired return point value, and transmits the display information to the donor terminal, and the donation amount receiving unit has the function of, when a value is input from the donor terminal into either the donation amount input field or the return point input field, automatically calculating the other value based on the return rate adopted by the local government and displaying it in the corresponding one of the donation amount input field and the return point input field.

[0019] Furthermore, in the return gift information processing device according to the present invention, the processing unit may be configured to perform processing in cooperation with the reservation processing unit, and if the reservation processing unit acquires contact information from the reservation page user when accepting a reservation, the information accepting unit may acquire the contact information of the reservation page user from the reservation processing unit during the acceptance processing, and adopt the contact information as the donor's personal information.

[0020] Furthermore, in the return gift information processing device of the present invention, the processing unit may perform processing in cooperation with the reservation processing unit, the information receiving unit may obtain the provision fee calculated by the reservation processing unit, and the information receiving unit may adopt the amount obtained by dividing the provision fee by the return gift rate adopted in the information of the one local government as the donation amount information.

[0021] Furthermore, in the return gift information processing device of the present invention, the processing unit may perform processing in cooperation with the reservation processing unit, and when the return point issuing unit issues new return points, the point payment processing unit may use the processing in cooperation to cause the reservation processing unit to re-display the amount obtained by subtracting the return points from the provision fee as the new provision fee.

[0022] The return gift information processing method according to the present invention is a return gift information processing method performed using a return gift information processing device for sending a return gift to a donor from a return gift provider selected by the donor in connection with hometown tax donations by the donor to a local government selected by the donor, The return gift information processing device includes a storage unit, a processing unit, and a communication unit for connecting to a communication network; The processing unit includes an information receiving unit, a donation procedure support unit, a return point issuing unit, and a point settlement processing unit. The information receiving unit performs a receiving process of the information of the one local government, the information of the donation amount, the information of the one return service provider, and the donor's personal information from the donor terminal of the donor; The donation procedure support unit transmits information about the one local government, information about the donation amount, personal information about the donor, and credit card information entered by the donor to a payment processing business server, and supports the donor in making an online donation to the one local government; When the donation to the one local government via the payment agent server is completed, the reward point issuing unit issues reward points according to the donation amount, which are associated with the one local government as a donation recipient, the donor as a reward point owner, and the one reward business operator as a reward provider; the point payment processing unit executes a point payment processing function; Including, The reward points can be used for services and products within the scope of the reward business operator's business within the one local government.

[0023] Furthermore, in the return information processing method according to the present invention, when issuing the return points, the return point issuing unit queries the memory unit for currently held return points that are stored in association with the one local government as a donation recipient, the donor as a return point owner, and the one return business operator as a return gift provider; the return point issuing unit calculates new held return points by adding the newly issued return points to the currently held return points (however, if there are no currently held return points, the held return points are set to 0); the return point issuing unit updates the currently held return points stored in the memory unit with the new held return points; and the point settlement processing unit issues the held return points from the logged-in donor terminal. The system may also include a step of, upon receiving a request to use the reward points, acquiring the amount of reward points used from the donor terminal, the donor ID of the donor, the municipality identification information of the one municipality, and the reward provider identification information of the one reward provider; a step in which the point payment processing unit queries the currently held reward points stored in association with the one municipality as the donation recipient, the donor as the reward point owner, and the one reward provider as the reward provider based on the donor ID, the municipality identification information, and the reward provider identification information; and a step in which the point payment processing unit subtracts the amount of reward points used from the currently held reward points so queried, and updates the currently held reward points stored in the memory unit with the subtracted held reward points.

[0024] In addition, a return gift information processing device according to another aspect of the present invention is a return gift information processing device for sending a return gift to a donor from a return gift business operator selected by the donor in connection with hometown tax donations by the donor to a local government selected by the donor, a storage unit, a processing unit, and a communication unit for connecting to a communication network; A reservation page for accepting reservations for the provision of services and products of the one return gift business operator exists on the communication network, and a link for hometown tax payment is provided on the reservation page; The processing unit an information receiving unit that, when the donor opens the hometown tax payment link displayed on the donor terminal, acquires information on the one local government, information on the donation amount, and the donor's personal information from the donor terminal of the donor; a donation procedure support unit that transmits information about the one local government, information about the donation amount, personal information about the donor, and credit card information entered by the donor to a payment processing business server and supports the donor in making an online donation to the one local government; a reward point issuing unit that issues reward points that are associated with at least the one local government as a donation recipient and the donor as a reward point owner according to the amount of the donation when the donation to the one local government via the payment agent server is completed; a point payment processing unit having a point payment processing function for the donor to use the return points in response to a request from the donor; Equipped with The reward points can be used for services and products within a range predetermined by the local government. [Effects of the Invention]

[0025] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a return gift information processing device and information processing method that can encourage customers who use facilities and stores of a specific business to use hometown tax donations. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0026] [Figure 1] 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating the overall configuration of a return point system including a return information processing device according to a first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] 10A and 10B are diagrams showing various storage tables stored in a storage unit of a return gift information processing device in the first embodiment. [Figure 3] 10(A) and 10(B) are diagrams showing various other storage tables stored in the storage unit of the return gift information processing device in the first embodiment. [Figure 4] This is a diagram explaining the overall processing flow for supporting donors' hometown tax payments using the return point system of Figure 1 in the first embodiment and issuing return points according to the tax payment content. [Figure 5A] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating the transition of the screen of the donor terminal from making a facility reservation to receiving return points in the first embodiment. [Figure 5B] FIG. 6B is a diagram illustrating the transition of the screen of the donor terminal, which is a continuation of FIG. 6A. [Figure 6] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating the process flow of one method for using return points at a target facility in the first embodiment. [Figure 7] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating the transition of the screen on the donor terminal when return points are used in the first embodiment. [Figure 8] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating the process flow for another method for using return points at a target facility in the first embodiment. [Figure 9] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating another transition of the screen of the donor terminal when using return points in the first embodiment. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram illustrating the overall configuration of a return point system according to a second embodiment of the present invention, including a return information processing device capable of processing in conjunction with a reservation page. [Figure 11] This is a diagram explaining the processing flow for obtaining donor information, etc., and paying the service fee presented at the time of reservation using issued reward points through collaboration processing with the reservation system in the second embodiment. [Figure 12A] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a screen of a donor terminal in the second embodiment. [Figure 12B] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a screen of a donor terminal in the second embodiment. [Figure 12C] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a screen of a donor terminal in the second embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0027] Hereinafter, a return gift information processing device and a return gift information processing method using the same according to embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Note that each embodiment is illustrative, and the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described and illustrated in this specification. First, with reference to FIG. 1, the overall configuration of a return point system 1 including a return information processing device 40 according to a first embodiment of the present invention will be described.

[0028] The return point system 1 includes a donor terminal 10 owned by a donor who makes a donation to a selected local government under the hometown tax payment system, a return gift provider server 20 that processes the business of a return gift provider (hereinafter also referred to as the "return gift provider") that has a contract with the local government regarding the provision of return gifts for hometown tax payments, a return gift provider terminal 30 installed in facilities and stores operated by the return gift provider, a return gift information processing device 40 of a return point management provider that operates a return point management system for making returns using return points, a payment agency server 50 that provides donors with an online payment method for donations to the local government, a back-end provider server 62 of a back-end provider that manages information regarding hometown tax payments on behalf of the local government, a local government terminal 64 of the local government, and an information and communications network 80 such as the Internet that connects these devices electronically.

[0029] In this specification, a "reward business operator" refers to a corporation, organization, sole proprietor, individual, etc. that operates the above-mentioned facilities, stores, etc. within a single municipality and has been designated by that municipality as a return gift provider. Here, the above-mentioned single municipality refers to one of the municipalities designated by the Minister of Internal Affairs and Communications.

[0030] In this embodiment, the donor terminal 10 may be a smartphone, tablet, desktop computer, laptop computer, wearable computer, information appliance (for example, a television that can connect to the Internet), or the like, owned by the donor.

[0031] This donor terminal 10 may generally include a processing unit 11, a memory unit 12, a display unit 13, an input unit 14, a communication unit 15, and a built-in camera 16.

[0032] Of these, memory unit 12 stores software such as a browser capable of displaying various homepages available on the Internet. Processing unit 11 can read software such as a browser from memory unit 12 as needed and display it on display unit 13, and when user (donor) terminal 10 is connected to the Internet 80 via communication unit 15, various homepages can be displayed on display unit 13 based on display screen information received from various servers that manage homepages. A user viewing this homepage can perform various operations such as clicking or touching links on the displayed homepage via input unit 14.

[0033] The display unit 13 may be a typical display device known in the art (such as a liquid crystal display device). The display unit 13 can display a barcode or two-dimensional code (hereinafter also referred to as a "barcode, etc.") through display processing by the processing unit 11. The input unit 14 may be a typical keyboard, mouse, etc. known in the art. An LCD touch panel may serve as both the display unit 13 and the input unit 14. The communication unit 15 may be configured with a typical communication interface, etc. known in the art. The built-in camera 16 may be, for example, a CCD camera, and the processing unit 11 can process the camera's operation.

[0034] The return gift business server 20 is used to process information for various operations at facilities and stores operated by return gift business operators that provide services and products that are the subject of hometown tax donations (return gifts). The return gift business server 20 may be, for example, a physical server owned by the return gift business operator, but is not limited to this, and may also be, for example, a virtual server owned by the return gift business operator, or a physical or virtual server used under a contract with a third party.

[0035] The return gift provider server 20 may include at least a processing unit 21, a storage unit 22, and a communication unit 25. Of these, the processing unit 21 controls the overall operation and processing of the return gift provider server 20.

[0036] Of these, the control unit 21 includes an official homepage providing unit 21A, a reservation page providing unit 21B, and a reservation processing unit 21C. The official website provider 21A manages an official website (a website operated by the gift business operator itself) that explains to web visitors information about the gift business operator's business and the services and products provided at its facilities and stores. The official website provider 21A has the function of generating display information for the official website and distributing the display information for the official website to the communication network 80 via the communication unit 25. The reservation page providing unit 21B can provide a reservation page that includes a means for providing information about the various services and products that can be reserved that are provided by the return business operator at facilities, stores, etc., and a reservation acceptance means for accepting reservations (e.g., reservations for use and reservations for purchase) for these services and products that can be reserved (it can have the function of generating display information for such a reservation page and distributing the generated display information for the reservation page to the communication network 80 via the communication unit 25).

[0037] The reservation processing unit 21C has the following functions: a reservation information acquisition function that acquires information necessary for a reservation (also referred to as "reservation information") from a user who visits the reservation page using a terminal such as a PC or smartphone via a reservation reception means, such as the reservation details desired by the user (for example, if making a reservation at an accommodation facility, the type of room to be reserved, the number of occupants, etc.), the date and time of use, and the reservation holder's contact information (for example, name, address, telephone number, email address, etc.); a fee notification function that calculates the provision fee of the service and / or product related to the accepted reservation based on the information necessary for the reservation and notifies the reservation holder (user) of the calculated provision fee (for example, a function that generates a fee notification screen and sends the display information to the donor terminal 10); a payment method acquisition function that acquires the payment method from the user when notifying the provision fee; a function that executes procedures according to the selected payment method, if necessary; a function that executes reservation processing based on the information necessary for the reservation; a function that stores and processes the reservation results in the memory unit 22; and a function that notifies the reservation holder (user) of the reservation results.

[0038] Among these, payment methods include cash payment on site, credit card payment, electronic money payment, bank transfer payment, etc., but in this embodiment, in addition to these, payment by hometown tax donation can also be selected. The reservation processing unit 21C can place a hyperlink (which may also be referred to as a link, a link button, or the like in this specification) (see FIG. 5A(A)) on the fee notice screen to guide the person making the reservation (later the donor) to a points management system managed by the return gift information processing device 40, which will be described later. The reservation processing unit 21C can also display content including an explanation of the hometown tax payment system on the reservation page (page of the fee notice screen) on which the hometown tax payment link is provided, more preferably near the hometown tax payment link on that reservation page.

[0039] It is preferable that this link be issued as a different link for each local government and each return gift provider by the return gift information processing device 40 (specifically, the link issuing processing unit 41J) described below. This makes it possible to identify which return gift provider's reservation page a user guided via a link is accessing, and enables the return gift information processing device 40 to identify the local government to which the donation is made and the return gift provider when receiving the return gift.

[0040] The memory unit 22 has an area for storing display information (URL) necessary to display the link provided by the return information processing device 40, and an area for storing reservation information including various information regarding the accepted reservation (user contact information, usage fee, etc.). The communication unit 25 includes a network connection interface for communicating with external information processing devices, servers, and terminal devices via a communication network 80 such as the Internet.

[0041] In this embodiment, the reward provider server 20 is not limited to the one described above. For example, some of these components may be distributed to other physical or virtual servers. For example, the official website may be directly operated by the reward provider, while the reservation page may run on a server operated by a third party.

[0042] The gift business operator terminal 30 may be a general-purpose desktop computer, laptop computer, tablet, or dedicated POS computer installed in facilities and stores operated by the gift business operator. This gift business operator terminal 30 generally includes a processing unit 31, a memory unit 32, a display unit 33, an input unit 34, and a communication unit 35, and may also include a peripheral device interface (peripheral device IF) 36 for connecting an external reading device such as a barcode reader, if necessary.

[0043] Basically, the return gift provider terminal 30 is connected to the return gift provider server 20 via the Internet 80. The return gift provider terminal 30 is used, for example, when processing the payment of the above-mentioned provision fee using return points. For example, as will be described in detail later, when a donor (a facility user, etc.) who has selected hometown tax payment requests payment processing using return points on-site, the return gift provider terminal 30 has the following functions: reads the barcode or two-dimensional code (which encodes reservation information, donor personal information, and / or donation information) displayed on the donor terminal 10 with an external reading device connected to the return gift provider terminal 30; transmits the obtained reservation information, etc. to the return gift information processing device 40 via the communication network 80 to request point processing from the return gift information processing device 40; and receives a notification of the point processing result from the return gift information processing device 40.

[0044] Next, the configuration of the return gift information processing device 40 according to this embodiment will be described. The return gift information processing device 40 in this embodiment is an information processing device for sending a return gift from a return gift provider selected by a donor in connection with the hometown tax payment made by the donor to a local government selected by the donor. The return gift information processing device 40 includes a processing unit 41, a memory unit 42, a display unit 43, an input unit 44, and a communication unit 45 for connecting to a communication network 80.

[0045] The processing unit 41 includes a login processing unit 41A, an information registration / ID issuing unit 41B, a donation amount receiving unit 41C, a donor personal information receiving unit 41D (41C and 41D are collectively referred to as the "information receiving unit 41CD"), a donation procedure support unit 41E, a return point issuing unit 41F, a point payment receiving unit 41G, a point payment processing unit 41H, a my page management unit 41I, a link issuing processing unit 41J, and a first linking unit 41K.

[0046] The login processing unit 41A has the functions of outputting display screen information for displaying a login screen for inputting an ID and password on the display unit 13 of the donor terminal 10 in response to a login request from a donor, receiving the ID and password from the donor's donor terminal 10 via this login screen and comparing and matching them with the ID and password included in the user information stored in the memory unit 42 (see Figure 3 (A)), approving the login depending on the success or failure of the matching, and outputting the approval result.

[0047] The information registration / ID issuance unit 41B has the following functions: when a request for issuance of a new ID and password is received from the donor's donor terminal 10, output display screen information via the communication unit 45 to display on the display unit 13 of the donor terminal 10 a personal information input screen that prompts the donor to enter personal information such as name, address, telephone number, and email address; issue an ID and password when personal information is received from the donor terminal 10 via this personal information input screen; output ID and password notification information via the communication unit 45 to notify the donor terminal 10 of the issued ID and password; and store the received personal information together with the issued ID and password in the user information table of the memory unit 42.

[0048] Next, the information receiving unit 41CD will be described. The information receiving unit 41CD is provided to acquire various information necessary for hometown tax donations from the donor terminal 10 of a donor who wishes to make a hometown tax donation and accesses the return gift information processing device 40 from an externally installed link. In this embodiment, the information receiving unit 41CD includes a donation amount receiving unit 41C and a donor personal information receiving unit 41D.

[0049] The donation amount receiving unit 41C has a function of acquiring the amount of the donation made by the donor to a local government selected by the donor. Therefore, the donation amount receiving unit 41C can send display information to the donor terminal 10 to display a web page including a donation amount input form for inputting the donation amount on the donor terminal 10. The donation amount receiving unit 41C can also be provided with a means for presenting options for the donation amount for inputting the donation amount.

[0050] The donor personal information receiving unit 41D is for acquiring, from the donor terminal 10, information required for the donor to make a donation to a local government selected by the donor, such as information on the local government to which the donation is to be made, information on the return gift business operator, and the donor's personal information (contact information). For this purpose, the donor personal information receiving unit 41D can generate display information required for this display and send it to the donor terminal 10, in order to display on the donor terminal 10 an input form for inputting the name of the local government to which the hometown tax donation is to be made, the name of the return gift business operator, the donation amount, the donor's name, address, etc.

[0051] The donor personal information receiving unit 41D also has a function of searching the user information stored in the storage unit 42 using the donor ID to extract the donor's personal information such as name and address stored in association with the corresponding donor ID, and automatically inputting the information into the input form. Furthermore, the input form is configured so that the donor's personal information can be freely edited, allowing the donor's personal information to be corrected after automatic input.

[0052] Furthermore, based on the use of different links for each return provider, the system is also equipped with a function to identify which return provider the donor terminal 10 has accessed from, and based on this, to identify the return provider and the local government to which the donation is to be made.

[0053] The donation procedure support unit 41E has a function to display a hometown tax payment screen using a credit card, as shown in Fig. 5B(G), on the donor terminal 10. This tax payment screen displays, for example, the name of the local government to which the donation is made, the name of the return business operator, the donation amount, and return points (referred to as "facility points" in Fig. 5B(G)), as well as fields for inputting the credit card number, its expiration date, and security code. In addition, the donation procedure support unit 41E transmits information about the local government, information about the donation amount, the donor's personal information, and the donor's credit card information to the payment agency server 50, and supports the donor in making an online donation to the local government. In this embodiment, the donor is assumed to input credit card information (credit card number, expiration date, and security code), but this is not limiting. For example, instead of using a credit card, payment may be made using various methods used in the industry, such as electronic money (for example, various electronic payment methods). Furthermore, the donation procedure support unit 41E has a function of issuing a serial number (not shown) for each payment case and sending this serial number to the donor together with the above information included in the hometown tax payment screen.

[0054] The return point issuing unit 41F has the function of issuing return points associated (corresponding) with the local government as the donation recipient, the donor as the return point owner, and the return business operator as the return provider, depending on the donation amount, when a donation to a local government via the payment agency server 50 is completed.

[0055] In addition, the return point issuing unit 41F has a function of querying the currently held return points stored in the memory unit 42, corresponding to a local government selected by the donor as the donation destination, the donor as the return point owner, and a return business operator selected by the donor as the return gift provider, and if currently held return points exist, calculating new held return points by adding the newly issued return points to the currently held return points and updating the currently held return points stored in the memory unit 42 with the new held return points, and a memory processing function of treating the currently held return points as 0, and if currently held return points do not exist, treating the newly issued return points as new held return points and storing them in the memory unit 42.

[0056] In this embodiment, the reward points issued by the reward point issuing unit 41F are defined as points that can be used for services and products within the scope of the reward business operator's business. For example, at an accommodation facility, reward points can be used to pay for services and products within the scope of the accommodation facility's business, such as paying for accommodation fees at the accommodation facility. At a golf course, reward points can be used to pay for services and products within the scope of the accommodation facility's business, such as paying for golf play fees. Furthermore, reward points can be used to pay for meals at restaurants operated by the accommodation facility or golf course itself. Furthermore, reward points can be used to pay for massage services provided by the accommodation facility. In addition, reward points can be used to purchase products sold at stores within the facility operated by the reward business operator or at online e-commerce shops within the scope of products recognized by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications as gifts for hometown tax donations. Furthermore, the reward points can be used at various other facilities or stores, for example, theaters, amusement facilities, event halls, concert halls, etc.

[0057] In this embodiment, reward points that can be used within a facility are referred to as "facility points" in the drawings, but the nature of reward points should not be limited simply by the name of the points. "Facility points" can be interpreted as meaning, for example, "points that can be used within a facility."

[0058] The point payment acceptance unit 41G basically has the function of generating display information to display a point usage input screen on the donor terminal 10 of a donor who wishes to use points, and sending this display information to the donor terminal 10 via the communication network 80. The point usage input screen can have a field for inputting the amount of points the donor wishes to use. The point usage input screen can also display the name of the local government receiving the donation and the reward provider based on the reward provider's identification information. Furthermore, the point usage input screen can have an input confirmation button that displays, for example, "Confirm points used," which can be used to transfer processing to the next point payment processing unit 41H.

[0059] The point settlement processing unit 41H has a point settlement processing function for the donor to use the return points in response to a request from the donor. When the point payment processing unit 41H receives a request to use the retained return points from the logged-in donor terminal 10, it obtains from the donor terminal 10 the amount of return points used (also referred to as the ``amount of used points''), the donor ID, the municipality identification information of the one municipality, and the return business operator identification information of the one return business operator, and based on the donor ID, the municipality identification information, and the return business operator identification information, it queries the currently retained return points stored in correspondence with the one municipality as the donation recipient, the donor as the return point owner, and the one return business operator as the return provider, subtracts the amount of return points used from the currently retained return points so queried, and updates the currently retained return points stored in the memory unit 42 with the subtracted retained return points.

[0060] For example, when the point payment processing unit 41H receives a point usage request accompanied by the amount of points used from the processing unit 11 of the donor terminal 10, it acquires the donor's donor ID, the reward business operator's reward business identification information, and the municipality identification information of the municipality where the reward business operator is located, and, if all of these match, it queries the table of retained reward points stored in the memory unit 42 (see FIG. 3(B)) and reads the currently retained reward points stored in the corresponding information (record). It also has the functions of calculating new retained reward points by subtracting the amount of points requested by the donor from the currently retained reward points, and updating the currently retained reward points stored in the memory unit 42 with the new retained reward points. Furthermore, the point payment processing unit 41H also has the role of notifying the donor terminal 10, reward business operator terminal 30, etc., after the point payment processing. For example, it can notify the donor of the successful payment by adding information about the latest retained reward points to the donor terminal 10.

[0061] The My Page management unit 41I has the function of sending display information for the My Page screen to the donor terminal 10 so that when the donor terminal 10 logs in to the point management system, the donor terminal 10 displays a My Page including various menus.

[0062] My Page includes a points list button for displaying a list of reward points currently owned by the donor who is the owner of the logged-in ID. When the donor appropriately operates the points list button by clicking, touching, or the like, the My Page management unit 41I has the function of sending display information for the reward points list screen owned by the donor to the donor terminal 10 so that a list of reward points owned by the donor is displayed on the display unit 13 of the donor terminal 10.

[0063] The reward points list screen displays the system name and the login user name (donor name), as well as a list of reward points for each reward business owned by the user (donor) and the name of the reward business. The My Page management unit 41I can set up a link so that when the reward business name and / or reward points displayed in the list are clicked or tapped, the display screen of the donor terminal 10 transitions to a screen for inputting the amount of points to be used to use the donation points.

[0064] The link issuing processor 41J has a function to issue a link to be placed on the reservation page. It is preferable that this link be issued as a different link for each municipality and each reward provider. It may also have a function to issue a barcode to the reward provider when the donor uses the camera 16 of the donor terminal 10 to read a barcode or the like that the reward provider has installed in a facility or the like during point payment. These links and barcodes may be obtained by the reward provider by accessing the reward information processing device 40. The issued link and barcode can be stored in the memory unit 42.

[0065] In this embodiment, the memory unit 42 is a physical storage device for storing various information used by the return gift information processing device 40, as well as programs and data necessary to operate the return gift information processing device 42, but is not limited to this. The memory unit 42 may be configured as a virtual memory storage located on the communication network 80. The memory unit 42 may also be divided into multiple memory units.

[0066] 2 and 3 show examples of information stored in the memory unit 42 of the return gift information processing device 40 and used by the return gift information processing device 40 in table format. FIG. 2(A) shows an example of user information for the point management system. This user information table includes, but is not limited to, fields for user ID, name, address, telephone number, email address, and password. It is preferable to remind users when registering for a new ID to use their official address as listed on their resident card or other document, considering that their name and address will be used in tax payment procedures. FIG. 2(B) shows an example of return point issuance and usage history information in the return gift information processing device 40. The return point issuance and usage history information includes, but is not limited to, fields for user ID, name, address, name of the local government to which the donation was made, name of the return gift provider, donation amount, earned return points (note that in this embodiment, 1 point = 1 yen), and processing date and time. FIG. 3(A) shows an example of return point acquisition and usage history information for each donor. This includes, but is not limited to, fields for user ID, processing date and time, municipality name, reward provider name, earned / consumed points, and owned points. Figure 3(B) is an example showing the latest owned reward point information for each donor. This includes, but is not limited to, fields for user ID, processing date and time, municipality name, reward provider name, and owned points. Note that, instead of or in addition to the municipality name and reward provider name, the municipality ID and reward provider ID may be stored.

[0067] The memory unit 42 may also store a list of return gift business registration information (not shown). The return gift business registration information includes the return gift business name (and / or business ID), the municipality where the return gift business is located, and the municipality where the tax is paid. If a return gift business operates across multiple municipalities and is designated as a return gift business by multiple municipalities, a business ID is generated for each municipality. In addition, the memory unit 42 may store a serial number (not shown) for each payment case generated by the donation procedure support unit 41E, the donor's identification information (e.g., donor ID, donor's name and address, etc.) of the payment application information associated therewith, local government identification information of the local government to which the donation is made (e.g., local government name, local government number, etc.), and return gift provider identification information of the return gift provider (return gift provider's name, return gift provider's business number, etc.).

[0068] The display unit 43 may be a typical display device known in the art (such as a liquid crystal display device). The input unit 44 may be a typical keyboard, mouse, or the like known in the art. An LCD touch panel may serve as both the display unit 43 and the input unit 44. The communication unit 45 may be configured with a typical communication interface known in the art.

[0069] The payment agent server 50 is located between the return gift information processing device 40 and the local government system 60 described below, and is a server that handles payment processing to the local government system 60 regarding the donation that the donor wishes to make.

[0070] The payment agent server 50 comprises a processing unit 51, a storage unit 52, and a communication unit 55. Of these, the processing unit 51 controls the overall operation and processing of the payment agent server 50. The processing unit 51 also comprises a linking unit 51A for linking with the first linking unit 41K of the return gift information processing device 40.

[0071] The payment agent server 50 may be a physical server owned by the payment agent, but is not limited to this, and may be, for example, a virtual server owned by the payment agent, or a physical or virtual server used under contract with a third party.

[0072] The payment agent server 50 can receive the name of the local government receiving the donation (an example of local government information), the donation amount, the donor's personal information, and credit card information required for payment from the hometown tax payment screen displayed by the donor on the donor terminal 10 (provided by the return gift information processing device 40), and perform payment processing.

[0073] The local government system 60 includes a backyard business server 62 and a local government terminal 64 . The backyard business operator server 62 is a server managed by a backyard business operator that has been entrusted with hometown tax payment operations by a local government. This server may be a physical server owned by the backyard business operator, but is not limited to this, and may be, for example, a virtual server owned by the backyard business operator, or a physical or virtual server used under a contract with a third party.

[0074] The local government terminal 64 may be a desktop computer, a laptop computer, a computer dedicated to local government business, or the like installed in a local government office. Local government employees can log in to this backyard contractor server 62 from the local government terminal 64 via the communication network 80 as needed and perform the necessary work. Note that the local government system may be one in which the local government owns and directly manages the local government server without using a backyard contractor, or one in which the backyard contractor accesses the local government server owned by the local government from the backyard contractor terminal.

[0075] In this specification, everything referred to as a processing unit includes at least a processor and a memory. This processor is a CPU, MPU, or the like, and can execute an OS stored in the storage unit 42 and run various application programs on this OS. Examples of applications include a browser that allows browsing of homepages published on the Internet 80, and a barcode reading application used to read barcodes or two-dimensional codes via a camera. The memory includes RAM, which is a volatile memory, and ROM, which is a non-volatile memory. For example, RAM may be used to temporarily store various types of information.

[0076] [Procedure for issuing reward points] Next, the procedure for issuing reward points will be explained.

[0077] In this specification, for the sake of brevity, the return gift information processing device 40 or the server 20 or 50 may use expressions such as "display a page" and "display a link" on a terminal. This means, for example, that the return gift information processing device 40 and the servers 20 and 50 send display information via their respective communication units 45, 25, and 55 to display a homepage and a website on the display units 13 and 33 of the destination terminals 10 and 30, respectively, and that each terminal 10 and 30 uses a browser or the like to display the homepage and link on its corresponding display unit 13 and 33 based on the received display information, or other display methods known in the art. Expressions used in relation to other similar display and other processes carried out via a communication network may also be similarly expressed succinctly.

[0078] First, referring to FIGS. 4, 5A, and 5B, the procedure by which the gift return information processing apparatus 40 according to the present embodiment issues gift return points will be described. Each step is indicated by an arrow and a processing block in FIG. 4. FIGS. 5A and 5B show the screen transitions on the donor terminal 10.

[0079] <A: Stage of displaying a link to hometown tax payment on the reservation page> In step S1, a person (later the donor) who intends to receive the services or products of the gift return business makes a reservation for the services and products provided by the gift return business on the reservation page (or reservation site) set up on the official homepage of the gift return business. More specifically, for example, a person (later the donor) who intends to receive the services or products of the gift return business opens a browser on the donor terminal 10 and opens the reservation page provided by the reservation page providing section 21B of the gift return business server 20 on the communication network 80, and makes a reservation for the use of the facilities of the gift return business (for example, a reservation for accommodation at an accommodation facility, a reservation for using a course at a golf course, a reservation for using a hall at an event hall, etc.), a purchase reservation for product offerings (for example, a reservation for a product sold by the gift return business at the aforementioned facility and recognized in accordance with the rules indicated by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications).

[0080] At the time of reservation, the person making the reservation (later the donor) provides information such as the reservation details and contact information to the gift return business. Specifically, the donor can use the donor terminal to transmit reservation information (or reservation person information) necessary for the reservation, such as the desired reservation details (for example, if it is a reservation at an accommodation facility, the type of room to be reserved, the number of users, etc.), the usage date and time, and the contact information of the person making the reservation (for example, name, address, telephone number, email address, etc.), to the gift return business server 20 via the reservation page.

[0081] In step S2, the gift return business server 20 receives the reservation information, and based on this, calculates the fee (sometimes referred to as the "provision fee") for providing the services and products related to the reservation being accepted, and can display this on a fee preview screen, which is an example of the settlement screen on the reservation page. An example of the reservation page is shown in FIG. 5A(A). As in this example, on the page displaying the offering fee, buttons for selecting a payment method for settlement may be displayed. One of them is the "Pay with hometown tax payment" button, and a hyperlink (simply referred to as a "link" in this specification) for guiding to the hometown tax payment support / reward point issuance system provided by the reward information processing apparatus 40 according to the present embodiment is installed on this button.

[0082] Although not shown in the drawings, on the reservation page provided with the link for hometown tax payment, the reservation processing unit 21C can also display content including an explanation regarding the hometown tax payment system (for example, an explanation of the merits of hometown tax payment, the way of procedures, etc.).

[0083] In step S3, the person making the reservation (the later donor) can open this link by an operation such as clicking or touching the above-described link in the browser displayed on the display unit 13 of the donor terminal 10.

[0084] <Step of identifying the municipality of the tax payment destination and the reward business operator for receiving the reward> In step S4, when there is an access from the donor terminal 10 using the above link as a clue, the information reception unit 41CD of the reward information processing apparatus 40 responds. In the present embodiment, the link for hometown tax payment is issued by the link issuance processing unit 41J of the reward information processing apparatus 40 and is a unique link different for each reward business operator. Therefore, based on the link-specific identifiability provided for each link, the municipality of the donation destination and the reward business operator stored in the storage unit 42 can be identified. As a result, in the subsequent tax payment procedures, the donor can save the trouble of checking or inputting the name of the municipality to which the donor intends to donate or the reward business operator for receiving the reward, and the trouble of the hometown tax payment procedures can be reduced.

[0085] <Step of obtaining the donation amount> In step S5, the donation amount reception unit 41C of the information reception unit 41CD acquires the donation amount of the donation made by the donor to one local government selected by the donor. For example, in this specification, the gift return information processing device 40 has received in advance information provision of a donation plan (a set of donation amounts and gift return points at several levels) from a specific gift return business operator located in the local government specified above. The donation amount reception unit 41C refers to the information of the donation plan related to the specific gift return business operator stored in the storage unit 42, and can display on the donor terminal 10 a screen showing a selectable set (donation plan) of donation amounts and gift return points as shown in FIGS. 5A(B). Note that the name of the local government of the donation destination and the name of the gift return business operator are clearly shown on this screen.

[0086] In step S6, the donor selects by clicking or touching the donation plan or the like. The processing unit 11 of the donor terminal 10 transmits a signal including the plan selection information to the donation amount reception unit 41C. In step S7, the donation amount reception unit 41C displays on the donor terminal 10 a screen showing the selected payment amount and gift return points as shown in FIGS. 5A(C). In this embodiment, it is also possible to select a plurality of plans together by the cart means on the illustrated screen. Further, as shown, an explanation about the gift may be described on the screen showing the payment amount and the gift return points. In step S8, the donor can proceed to the next step by an operation such as clicking or touching the "Donation Confirmation Screen" button. In step S9, the donation amount reception unit 41C displays on the donor terminal 10 a screen for confirming the total donation amount. In step S10, the donor can determine the donation amount and proceed to the next stage by clicking or touching the "Donor Information Input" button or the like.

[0087] <D: Login stage> In step S11, the donation amount reception unit 41C can display a login screen (not shown). The login screen includes input fields for ID and password. In step S12, the donor can input an ID or password. The received login processing unit 41A performs an approval determination process for login using the user information (see FIG. 3(A)) stored in the storage unit 42. Note that those without an ID can enter the new ID and password issuance procedure by the ID / password issuance unit 41B by clicking or touching the button for new ID issuance, etc., and then log in through this process. When newly inputting the name and address, it is preferable to call attention to the fact that the name and address should be entered in the official name described in the resident register, etc.

[0088] Note that in this embodiment, the login process is performed after the donation amount is determined, but it is not limited to this. Login may be performed in advance, including before reserving the homepage of the gift-giving business operator, or may be performed after the reservation and before the donation amount input. If already logged in, the steps of the login process can be omitted.

[0089] <E: Stage of obtaining donor personal information> If the login is successful, in step S13, as shown in FIG. 5B(E), the donor personal information reception unit 41D displays an input form for inputting the name of the local government of the hometown tax payment destination, the name of the gift-giving business operator, the donation amount, the name and address of the donor, etc., the purpose of the donation, the presence or absence of one-stop application, and the availability of public disclosure of donation information.

[0090] In step S14, when clicking or touching "Automatic Input" on this screen, in step S15, the donor personal information reception unit 41D searches the user information (see FIG. 3A) stored in the storage unit 42, extracts the name, address, etc. from the record including the same donor ID, and can fill in the input in the corresponding column. Thereby, the labor of inputting the donor personal information required for hometown tax payment can be reduced.

[0091] In step S16, click or touch "To Input Confirmation Screen" or the like to proceed to the input confirmation screen. In step S17, the donor personal information reception unit 41D displays the confirmation screen shown in FIG. 5B(F). When the donor has completed the confirmation, in step S18, click or touch "To Payment Screen" or the like to proceed to the next step.

[0092] <F: Stage of performing payment processing using the payment agency business operator server> In step S19, the donation procedure support unit 41E that has taken over the process from the donor personal information reception unit 41D displays a hometown tax payment settlement screen using a credit card as shown in FIG. 5B(G) on the donor terminal 10. On the hometown tax payment settlement screen, for example, there are displays of the name of the local government of the donation destination, the name of the gift-giving business operator, the donation amount, and the gift points. There are also input fields for the credit card number, its expiration date, and the security code (these are also referred to as "credit card information").

[0093] Also, in step S19, for subsequent processing, the donation procedure support unit 41E assigns a sorting number (not shown) for each payment case and sends this sorting number together with the above information included in the hometown tax payment settlement screen to the donor (subsequently, the sorting number is sent to the payment agency business operator server 50 together with the information necessary for payment). Also, perform a storage process to store the payment application information in the storage unit 42 as the above information included in the hometown tax payment settlement screen together with the sorting number.

[0094] Note that the gift information processing device 40 and the payment agency business operator server 50 have previously performed cooperative processing regarding hometown tax payment settlement (this is shown by the broken line connecting the first cooperation unit 41K and the cooperation unit 51A in FIG. 4). As a result, it becomes possible to use the payment function provided by the payment agency business operator server 50 on the hometown tax payment settlement screen, and regarding the credit card information, it will be directly sent to the payment agency business operator server 50 without being stored in the gift information processing device 40.

[0095] In step S20, when the donor inputs credit card information and clicks or touches the confirmation button, etc., the credit card information input on the donor terminal 10 is transmitted to the processing unit 51 of the settlement agency server 50 together with the information of the local government of the recipient, the personal information of the donor, the donation amount, and the sorting number information.

[0096] In step S21, when the processing unit 51 receives the information of the local government of the recipient, the donation amount information, the personal information of the donor, the sorting number, and the credit card information, it executes the settlement process for hometown tax payment. As a result, the remittance of the donation amount to the designated local government via the credit card company is completed.

[0097] Also, in step S22, a report of settlement completion arrives from the processing unit 51 of the settlement agency server 50 at the processing unit 41 of the gift - point issuing information device 40 and is sent to the gift - point issuing unit 41F for issuing gift points.

[0098] <G: Stage of issuing gift points and updating the held gift points>

[0099] In step S23, when the gift - point issuing unit 41F receives a report of settlement completion from the processing unit 51 of the settlement agency server 50, it refers to the sorting number (this sorting number was given by the donation procedure support unit 41E in step S19) added to the above - mentioned report of the settlement result, and reads out the identification information of the donor (for example, donor ID, name and address of the donor, etc.), the identification information of the local government of the recipient (for example, name of the local government, local government number, etc.), and the identification information of the gift - giving business operator (name of the gift - giving business operator, business operator number of the gift - giving business operator, etc.) of the donation application information stored in the storage unit 42 in association with this sorting number. Furthermore, the return point issuing unit 41F queries the table of retained return points stored in the memory unit 42 (see Figure 3(B)) using the query condition that the read identification information of the donor (e.g., donor ID), identification information of the local government receiving the donation (e.g., local government name), and identification information of the return provider (e.g., name of the return provider) all match, and reads out the current (i.e., latest at this point) retained return points stored in the relevant information (record).

[0100] In step S24, the reward point issuing unit 41F issues reward points corresponding to the donation amount stated in the payment result report, with the local government stated in the payment application information as the donation recipient, the donor as the reward point owner, and the reward business entity stated in the payment application information as the reward provider. The reward point issuing unit 41F can also store the issued reward points in the memory unit 42 as reward point issuance and usage history information (see FIG. 2(A)), together with, for example, the donation amount, information on the associated donation recipient (i.e., the above-mentioned local government), information on the reward point owner (i.e., the above-mentioned donor), and information on the reward business entity (i.e., one reward business entity).

[0101] In step S25, when issuing return points (i.e., before or after issuing return points), the return point issuing unit 41F queries the memory unit 42 for the currently held return points stored in association with the local government described in the payment application information as the donation recipient, the donor as the return point owner, and the return business operator described in the payment application information as the return provider, and if currently held return points exist, it calculates new held return points by adding the newly issued return points to the currently held return points, and if currently held return points do not exist, it considers the currently held return points to be 0 and takes the newly issued return points as the new held return points.

[0102] In step S26, the reward point issuing unit 41F updates the retained reward points by overwriting the current retained reward points stored in the memory unit 42 with the new retained reward points. Specifically, the retained reward points included in the latest retained reward point information of each donor in Figure 3(B) are updated with the new retained reward points.

[0103] In step S27, the return point issuance unit 41F notifies the donor terminal 10 (processing unit 11) (step S28), notifies the return business operator terminal 30 (processing unit 31) (step S29), and notifies the local government system 60 (step S30) regarding the issuance of return points. Of these, the notification to the donor terminal 10 in step S28 is performed by making a display such as that shown in Fig. 5B(H) viewable on the browser of the donor terminal 10. This display may display, for example, the name of the local government, the name of the return business (e.g., the name of the facility), the local government's donation thank-you message, the donation amount, the points issued (added), and the current facility points. Similar notification content may also be sent to the local government system 60.

[0104] [Step 1 to use reward points: Scan the barcode on the donor's terminal] Next, of the two procedures for the donor to use the owned reward points notified in step S28, the first procedure, "reading the reward business operator's barcode with the donor terminal and using the reward points," will be explained with reference to Figures 6 and 7. Note that the explanation of the content already explained in other steps will be simplified.

[0105] In step S41, when a donor receives a service or product at a facility of a gift giver, the donor uses the donor terminal 10 to read barcode B, which is installed at the front desk, cash register, or other location of the facility and has been prepared by the gift giver. This reading can be performed by the processing unit 40, which receives instructions from the donor via barcode reading software and controls the operation of the camera 16. Furthermore, barcode B is a barcode B previously generated by the link issuing processing unit 41J of the gift giver information processing device 40. This barcode B includes link information for requesting login to the gift giver information processing device 40 (its point management system) and identification information for the gift giver to be installed. The gift giver receives this barcode B and installs it at the facility of the gift giver. Barcode B includes identification information for the gift giver and the local government in which the gift giver is located. While described as a barcode B, barcode B may also be a two-dimensional code or the like.

[0106] In step S42, the photograph of the barcode contains information about a link for accessing the return gift information processing device 40, and when the donor clicks or touches this link displayed on the display unit 13 via barcode reading software, the donor terminal 10 can send an access request to the return gift information processing device 40 based on the link information contained in the barcode. At this time, the donor terminal 10 can also send the return gift business operator's return gift business operator identification information (e.g., the return gift business operator name, return gift business operator address, return gift business operator ID, etc.) and the municipality identification information of the municipality in which the return gift business operator is located to the return gift information processing device 40 along with the access request signal.

[0107] Next, in step S43, the point payment acceptance unit 41G of the return gift information processing device 40 can display a login screen such as that shown in Fig. 7(A). In step S44, the donor can input an ID or password. Upon receiving this ID and password, the point payment acceptance unit 41G causes the login processing unit 41A to perform an approval determination process for the login using the user information (see Fig. 3(A)) stored in the memory unit 42, and approves the login if the result of the determination is approval.

[0108] In step S45, the point payment acceptance unit 41G displays the point usage input screen shown in Figure 7(B) on the donor terminal 10. This point usage input screen has a field for inputting the amount of points the donor wishes to use. The point usage input screen also displays the name of the local government to which the donation is made and the name of the return service provider based on the identification information of the return service provider sent in step S42. In step S46, the donor shows the screen on which the points to be used have been entered to an employee of the facility of the return business operator for confirmation. In the next step S47, when the donor clicks or touches the "Confirm points to be used" button on the point to be used input screen, the processing unit 11 of the donor terminal 10 requests the return gift information processing device 40 to use the amount of return gift points held up to the entered amount of points to be used.

[0109] In step S48, when the point payment processing unit 41H receives a request to use points along with the amount of points to be used from the processing unit 11, it queries the table of held return points (see Figure 3(B)) stored in the memory unit 42, using the query condition that the donor's donor ID obtained by the donor terminal 10 at login, as well as the identification information of the return provider and the identification information of the local government in which the return provider is located received in step S42, all match, and reads out the current held return points stored in the relevant information (record).

[0110] In the next step S49, the point settlement processing unit 41H calculates new retained return points by subtracting the amount of points used requested by the donor from the currently retained return points read out in step S48.

[0111] In step S50, the point settlement processing unit 41H updates the currently held reward points stored in the storage unit 42 by overwriting the currently held reward points with the new held reward points.

[0112] In step S51, the point settlement processing unit 41H notifies the donor terminal 10 (its processing unit 11) about the use of the return points (step S53) and notifies the return business operator terminal 30 (its processing unit 31) about the use of the return points (step S52). Of these, the notification to the donor terminal 10 in step S53 is made by, for example, making a display such as that shown in FIG. 7(C) viewable on the browser of the donor terminal 10.

[0113] [Step 2 for using reward points: Displaying a barcode on the donor's terminal] Next, the second step for using the owned reward points, "Displaying a barcode or the like on the donor's terminal, reading it with the reward business's information reading device, and using the reward points," will be explained with reference to Figures 8 and 9. Note that the explanation of the content that has already been explained in other steps will be simplified.

[0114] In step S61, the donor terminal 10 requests that a donor who wishes to use his or her owned return points log in to the return point management system of the return information processing device 40 using a browser bookmark or the like. In step S62, the login processing unit 41A displays a login screen on the donor terminal 10 (see FIG. 9(A)), and in step S63, the donor enters and transmits his or her ID and password.

[0115] In step S64, when the login processing unit 41A approves the login, the My Page management unit 41I, which takes over processing from the login processing unit 41A, displays the My Page screen (also simply referred to as "My Page") on the donor terminal 10 (see Figure 9(B)). This My Page has buttons for "Customer Information," "History," and "Point List." By opening "Customer Information," it is possible to edit the donor's personal information. By opening "History," it is possible to open the donor's reward point acquisition and usage history information, which is extracted based on the reward point acquisition and usage history information of each donor stored in the memory unit 42 (Figure 3(A)) and only includes information from the person who logged in.

[0116] In step S65, the donor can open the "Points List" on his / her personal page by clicking or touching it, and request that the information on the reward points he / she has be displayed.

[0117] When an operation is performed on the points list, in step S66, the My Page management unit 41I searches the latest owned return point information of each donor stored in the memory unit 42 (see Figure 3(B)), using the search condition that it matches the donor ID of the donor who is logged in to the My Page, and in step S67, the My Page management unit 41I generates a list of owned return point information shown in Figure 9(C) based on the search results, and in step S68, this list can be displayed on the display unit 13 of the donor terminal 10.

[0118] Note that each display element in the list of held reward point information shown in FIG. 9(C) shows the name of the reward business operator and the currently held reward points (held reward points), but the displayed items are not limited to this. For example, the local government where the reward business operator is located may also be displayed. The list is made up of one or more of these individual display elements arranged vertically on the screen. In addition, each display area has a link to the point usage input screen for the reward business operator shown in that display area. The My Page management unit 41I can include this link in the display information for displaying each display element and send it to the donor terminal 10.

[0119] In step S69, the donor selects the reward provider from which they wish to receive a reward on the donor terminal 10 by clicking or touching, etc. In response to this, in step S70, the My Page management unit 41I can cause the donor terminal 10 to display a point usage input screen for the selected reward provider. This point usage input screen for the selected reward provider is shown in Figure 9(D). The point usage input screen displays the current number of reward points held along with the name of the reward provider of the reward giver, and provides an input field for the reward points desired to be used for this reward provider.

[0120] In step S71, the donor inputs the amount of points he or she wishes to use in the input field for return points, and transmits the input from the donor terminal 10 to the My Page management unit 41I of the return information processing device 40. In step S72, the My Page management unit 41I, which has received the amount of points used, can generate a barcode or two-dimensional code (not shown) containing predetermined information. Here, the barcode or two-dimensional code (also referred to as "barcode, etc." in this specification) may include the received amount of points used, the donor ID of the donor who is logged in to My Page, identification information of the reward business operator selected in the point list on My Page (for example, the reward business operator ID of the selected reward business operator included in the reward business operator registration information stored in the memory unit 42), and identification information of the local government to which the tax payment is made that corresponds to this reward business operator (for example, the local government ID of the local government in which the reward business operator is located).

[0121] In step S73, the My Page management unit 41I sends the generated barcode, etc. to the donor terminal 10, and the donor terminal 10 that has a browser running can display the received barcode, etc. on the screen of the browser.

[0122] In step S74, the donor presents the donor terminal 10 (see FIG. 9(E)) displaying the barcode or the like at the front desk, cash register, or the like of the facility of the return gift business. An employee of the facility of the return gift business who has received the barcode or the like can read the barcode or the like using the return gift business terminal 30, which has previously logged into the return gift business management page of the return gift information processing device 40 (e.g., a management page available to each return gift business registered in the return gift information processing device 40), and an information reading device S, such as a barcode reader, connected to the return gift business terminal 30 via a peripheral device IF. In step S75, the read code information of the barcode or the like is sent from the information reading device S to the processing unit 31 of the return gift business terminal. Next, in step S76, the processing unit 31 of the return gift business terminal 30 sends the code information, which also serves as a request for payment processing of the return points (a request for point use), from the processing unit 31 of the return gift business terminal 30 to the point payment processing unit 41H of the processing unit 41 of the return gift information processing device 40.

[0123] In step S77, the point payment processing unit 41H decodes the code information and receives a request for payment processing of reward points (request to use points) including the amount of points used, the donor ID, the reward business operator's identification information, and the local government's identification information.In step S78, the point payment processing unit 41H queries the table of retained reward points stored in the memory unit 42 (see Figure 3(B)) using the query condition that the received donor ID, reward business operator's identification information, and local government's identification information all match, and reads out the current retained reward points stored in the relevant information (record).

[0124] In the next step S79, the point settlement processing unit 41H calculates new retained return points by subtracting the amount of points used requested by the donor from the currently retained return points read in step S76.

[0125] In step S80, the point settlement processing unit 41H updates the currently held reward points stored in the storage unit 42 by overwriting the currently held reward points with the new held reward points.

[0126] In step S81, the point settlement processing unit 41H notifies the donor terminal 10 (its processing unit 11) about the use of the return points (step S82) and notifies the return business operator terminal 30 (its processing unit 31) about the use of the return points (step S83). Of these, the notification to the donor terminal 10 in step S82 is carried out by, for example, making a display such as that shown in Figure 9(F) viewable on the browser of the donor terminal 10.

[0127] (Effects of the embodiment) (1) In the present embodiment, the gift information processing device and the gift information processing method are configured so that gift points can be used for services and products within the scope of the business of the gift business operator in the recipient municipality, making hometown tax donations easy to use for people who want to make hometown tax donations to a local municipality through a specific gift business operator with whom they have a good relationship. Also, as long as the services and products are within the scope of the gift business operator's business, points can be freely selected and used, making the actual points easy to use and promoting hometown tax donations.

[0128] (2) The present embodiment of the return gift information processing device and return gift information processing method is configured to store retained return points for each donor, each local government, and each business, and when new points are generated, they are added to the retained return points, and when they are used, the retained return points are subtracted. Therefore, even if the return points cannot be used at once, they can be saved for the next use, making it easy for users to use. Furthermore, having remaining use points, and points that can only be used at the business's facilities, etc., can be an opportunity to visit again to use the remaining points.

[0129] (3) A link to make hometown tax payments can be provided on the reservation page for making reservations for the services and products of the gift-giving business. This allows users to consider making hometown tax payments at the time of reservation, when they have more time than when they are actually visiting the area, making it easier to encourage people to use hometown tax payments.

[0130] (4) Furthermore, the reservation page can be configured to display the service fee, which creates an opportunity for users to consider using hometown tax donations while viewing the specific amount, thereby promoting their use. Furthermore, the fact that a link is provided near the payment button also promotes the use of hometown tax donations.

[0131] (5) A different link is provided for each return gift provider, so that by following the link, the provider with which the reservation has been made can be identified. This eliminates the need to manually input the information on the return gift provider required for hometown tax payment, making the hometown tax payment procedure easier and more user-friendly.

[0132] (6) The reservation page is designed to display content including an explanation about hometown tax donations, which can increase the likelihood of resolving any questions about hometown tax donations and encourage people to make hometown tax donations.

[0133] (7) The system is designed so that the personal information of donors stored in association with the donor ID used for login can be used for tax payment acceptance processing, thereby eliminating the need for donors to manually enter their personal information and encouraging hometown tax donations.

[0134] Second Embodiment The second embodiment is shown in Figures 10 to 12. Components that are basically common to the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals as those in the first embodiment. Components denoted by new reference numerals may include characteristic portions in the second embodiment.

[0135] In addition, the return gift information processing device and method in the second embodiment may not only implement all of the components described as the second embodiment, but may also be implemented by adding, modifying, or replacing some of the components of the second embodiment with the components of the first embodiment, as long as the gist of the invention is not changed.

[0136] First, the overall configuration of the return point system 100 including the return information processing device 140 according to the second embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 10. Here, regarding the symbols used in the description of the second embodiment, basically, the same symbols as those used in the first embodiment are used to describe components that are generally the same as those in the first embodiment. Furthermore, the description of components that are generally the same as those in the first embodiment will be omitted as appropriate.

[0137] The return point system 100 includes a donor terminal 10 owned by a donor who makes a donation to a selected local government, a return gift business server 120 that processes the business operations of the return gift business, a return gift business terminal 30 installed in facilities and stores operated by the return gift business, a return gift information processing device 140 of a return point management business that operates a return point management system for making returns using return points, a payment agency server 50 that provides donors with an online payment method for donations to the local government, a back-end business server 62 of a back-end business that manages information regarding hometown tax donations on behalf of the local government, a local government terminal 64 of the local government (collectively referred to as the local government side system 60), and an information and communications network 80 such as the Internet that electrically connects these components.

[0138] Of these, the donor terminal 10, return gift provider terminal 30, payment agent server 50, back-office provider server 62, local government terminal 64, and information and communication network 80 are basically the same as those in the first embodiment, so explanations will be omitted.

[0139] The return gift business server 120 may include a processing unit 121, a storage unit 122, and a communication unit 125. Among these, the control unit 121 further includes an official website providing unit 121A, a reservation page providing unit 121B, a reservation processing unit 121C, and a linking unit 121D. Of these, the official website provider 121A, reservation page provider 121B, and reservation processor 121C of the control unit 121 are the same as the official website provider 21A, reservation page provider 21B, and reservation processor 21C in the first embodiment, respectively, and the memory unit 122 and communication unit 125 are also basically the same as the memory unit 22 and communication unit 25 in the first embodiment, respectively, so explanations of these will be omitted.

[0140] The linking unit 121D is for linking with a second linking unit 141L of the return gift information processing device 140, which will be described later. For example, the linking unit 121D can be linked with the second linking unit 141L through API linking that enables the return gift business server 120 and the return gift information processing device 140 to share information about the person who made the reservation (for example, name, address, telephone number, email address, etc.) and information about the reservation details (reservation date and time, cost required for the reservation, etc.).

[0141] The return gift information processing device 140 includes a processing unit 141, a storage unit 142, a display unit 143, an input unit 144, and a communication unit 145 for connecting to the communication network 80. Of these, the display unit 143, the input unit 144, and the communication unit 145 are the same as the display unit 43, the input unit 44, and the communication unit 45 in the first embodiment, respectively. The storage unit 142 can store programs and parameters necessary for the linkage process, and is otherwise the same as the storage unit 42. Furthermore, the units 141A, 141B, 141E to 141K included in the processing unit 141 are the same as the units 41A, 41B, 41E to 41K included in the processing unit 40 in the first embodiment, respectively. The information receiving unit 141CD (donation amount receiving unit 141C and donor personal information receiving unit 141D) have new functions described below in addition to the functions of the information receiving unit 41CD in the first embodiment. Furthermore, the processing unit 141 includes a second link unit 141L, which will be described next.

[0142] The second linking unit 141L can be linked with the linking unit 121D of the return gift provider server 120 by the above-mentioned API linking. The linking method is performed by the API linking method.

[0143] By configuring this API linkage, the processing unit 141 (specifically, the donation amount receiving unit 141C and the donor personal information receiving unit 141D of the information receiving unit 141CD) has the function of obtaining, based on and within the scope of the predetermined linkage settings, information from the return gift provider server 120, such as information about the reservation holder (e.g., name, address, telephone number, email address, etc.) on the return gift provider's reservation page provided and managed by the return gift provider server 120, information about the reservation details (reservation date and time, reservation fee, etc.), and can perform various processes using this data. The processing unit 141 can also directly obtain the business's business identification information and municipality identification information, such as the name of the municipality in which the business is located, from the return gift provider server 120. This eliminates the need for the donor to input some of the information required to make a donation into the return gift information processing device 140.

[0144] The donation amount receiving unit 141C of the processing unit 141 can transmit display information to the donor terminal 10 to display a web page including a donation amount input form for inputting the donation amount on the donor terminal 10. Furthermore, when the donation amount receiving unit 141C receives information regarding the cost (or provision fee) required for a reservation from the return gift provider server 120, it can treat the return points equivalent to the cost (or provision fee) required for the reservation as the desired return points, and can automatically display the amount calculated by dividing the desired return points (i.e., the cost (or provision fee) required for the reservation) by the return gift rate adopted by the local government to which the donation is made on the donation amount input form. This eliminates the need for donors to input the donation amount and desired return points from scratch, reducing the effort required and promoting the use of hometown tax donations. Furthermore, as already explained, the input values ​​can be modified on the input form, allowing donors to change the donation amount and return points as needed.

[0145] Furthermore, by setting up API integration, when the return gift information processing device 140 receives an instruction from a donor (reservation maker) to immediately use donation points, the processing unit 141 can notify the processing unit 121 of the return gift provider server 120 of the return gift points used by the donor and request the processing unit 121 to subtract the return gift points used from the provision fee calculated at the time of reservation and held by the return gift provider server 120. This makes it possible to immediately settle the costs (provision fee) incurred when completing a reservation on the return gift provider's reservation page using the return points. This improves the convenience of paying by hometown tax for donors and can lead to increased use of hometown tax. In addition, if consent has been obtained from the return gift provider, instead of the above-mentioned request, the processing unit 141 of the return gift information processing device 140 may use the above-mentioned collaboration processing to access the information on the provision fee held by the return gift provider server 120, and the processing unit 141 may calculate the net provision fee by subtracting the return gift points used from the provision fee calculated at the time of reservation, and use this to perform an update process on the provision fee information held by the return gift provider server 120.

[0146] Next, referring to Figures 11, 12A, 12B, and 12C, we will explain the procedure by which the return information processing device 140 in the second embodiment issues return points and the procedure that can follow to pay part or all of the costs required for a reservation using the return points. Note that the explanation of the same procedures as those explained in the first embodiment will be simplified.

[0147] <Step to set up the linkage process> First, as a preparation step, the second cooperation unit 141L of the gift - giving information processing device 140 performs a cooperation - processing setting for performing cooperation processing with the cooperation unit 121D of the gift - giving business operator server 120 regarding information about the reserving person (e.g., name, address, telephone number, email address, etc.) and information about the reservation details (reservation date and time, fee amount corresponding to the reservation details, etc.). This cooperation - processing setting can be implemented, for example, when an administrator of a gift - giving point management business operator who operates a gift - giving point management system operates an administrator screen (not shown) of the gift - giving information processing device 140.

[0148] <A: Stage of displaying a link to hometown tax payment on the reservation page> In step S101, a reservation is made by a reserving person (subsequent donor) on the reservation page publicly available on the Internet by the reservation - page providing unit 121B. At this time, the reservation processing unit 121C can acquire information necessary for the reservation, such as information about the reserving person (e.g., name, address, telephone number, email address, etc.) and information about the reservation details (reservation date and time, fee amount required for the reservation, etc.). Also, in step S102, based on the information necessary for the above - mentioned reservation, the reservation processing unit 121C calculates the service and / or product provision fees related to the received reservation, and as shown in Fig. 12A(A), can notify the reserving person (user) on the reservation page of the calculated provision fees. At this time, the reservation processing unit 121C can display a "Pay with hometown tax" button. A link issued from the gift - giving information processing device 140 for each local government and for each gift - giving business operator is attached to this "Pay with hometown tax" button. These are the same as those described in the first embodiment.

[0149] In step S103, the reserving person (subsequent donor) clicks or touches the above - mentioned "Pay with hometown tax" button displayed on the browser on the donor terminal 10 to open the link.

[0150] <B: Stage of identifying the local government as the tax payment destination and the gift - giving business operator to receive the gift> In step S104, when there is an access from the donor terminal 10 to the gift - giving information processing device 140 using the above - mentioned link as a clue, based on the fact that the above - mentioned link has a unique identifier different for each gift - giving business operator, the information reception unit 141CD can identify the name of the local government that the donor intends to donate to and the gift - giving business operator that will receive the gift.

[0151] <C: Stage of obtaining the donation amount> In step S105, the donation amount reception unit 141C causes the donor terminal 10 to display an input form for receiving at least one of the donation amount and the desired facility points (desired gift - giving points) shown in FIGS. 12A(B). Also, the name of the local government and the name of the gift - giving business operator (for example, the name of the facility) specified in step S104 are also displayed on this screen. Further, together with the input form, the donation amount reception unit 141C also displays a "reservation information cooperation" button for taking in the amount of cost corresponding to the reservation content by cooperation processing from the gift - giving business operator server 120.

[0152] The input form for receiving at least one of the donation amount and the desired facility points (desired gift - giving points) includes, as shown in the figure, an input field for the donation amount to the local government and an input field for the desired facility points. Each input field is, in the initial state, in a state waiting for input from the donor. When there is a numerical input to one of the input fields manually by the donor, based on the gift - giving rate adopted by the local government of the recipient, the numerical value of the other input field is calculated and the other input field can be configured to be automatically filled.

[0153] In step S106, when the donor clicks or touches the "Reservation Information Linkage" button shown in FIGS. 12A(B), in step S107, the donation amount reception unit 141C can capture the fee amount corresponding to the reservation content from the gift return business operator server 120 based on the above-described linkage process setting. As shown in FIG. 12A(C), the facility points desired to be acquired (also referred to as "desired facility points") equivalent to the fee amount corresponding to the reservation content are displayed in the input field for the desired facility points, and based on the calculation using this desired facility points and the above gift return rate, the donation amount can also be displayed in the input field for the other donation amount. Thereby, the donor can easily proceed with the donation procedure without having to manually input numerical values in any of the input fields. Note that the numerical values of the donation amount and the desired facility points displayed in the input fields can be manually changed by the donor.

[0154] In step S108, when the donor clicks or touches the "Confirm" button on the screen of FIG. 12A(C), in step S109, the donation amount reception unit 141C causes the donor terminal 10 to display a screen for confirming the total donation amount (see FIG. 12A(D)). In step S110, the donor can click or touch the "Donor Information Input" button or the like to confirm the donation amount and proceed to the next step S111.

[0155] <D: Stage of Donor Information Input and Login> In step S111, the donation amount reception unit 141C can display a login screen as shown in FIG. 12B(E). This login screen includes a login ID input field, a password input field, and displays a "Login" button, a "Proceed Using Reservation Information" button, and a "For First-Time Users, Click Here" button.

[0156] In step S112, the donor selects and clicks or touches any one of the "Login" button, the "Proceed Using Reservation Information" button, and the "For First-Time Users, Click Here" button. Thereby, the procedure branches and proceeds as follows (i) to (iii).

[0157] (i) When the donor enters his / her login ID and password and clicks or touches the "Login" button, in step S113, the donor personal information receiving unit 141D displays an input form for inputting the name of the local government to which the hometown tax payment is to be made, the name of the return business operator, the donation amount, the donor's name, address, etc., the purpose of the donation, whether or not a one-stop application is made, and whether or not the donation information should be made public, as shown in Figure 5B(F) (at this point, each input field is blank, waiting for input). In addition, the donation amount calculated through the previous linking process and the desired facility points (i.e., the desired return points) are displayed at the top of the screen.

[0158] In the next step S114, the donor can click or touch the "Auto Input" button to display personal information (name, address, etc.) linked to the login ID in the input form based on the user information stored in the memory unit 142. The personal information displayed in the input form can be manually edited. The donor can also enter information into blank input fields such as the purpose of the donation, whether or not to apply for one-stop donations, and whether or not to make the donation information public. If there are no corrections to be made, the donor can click or touch the "Go to input confirmation screen" button to proceed to step S115.

[0159] (ii) When the donor enters his / her login ID and password and clicks or touches the "Proceed using reservation information" button, in step S113, the donor personal information receiving unit 141D displays an input form for inputting the name of the local government to which the hometown tax payment is to be made, the name of the return business operator, the donation amount, the donor's name, address, etc., the purpose of the donation, whether or not a one-stop application is made, and whether or not the donation information will be made public, as shown in FIG. 5B(F), similar to step S113 in (i). At this time, the donor's name, address, etc. may be automatically entered based on the information required for the reservation. Other aspects of step S113 and the following step S114 are the same as in (i).

[0160] (iii) If the donor clicks or touches the "Proceed Using Reservation Information" button without entering the login ID and password, or clicks or touches the "For First-Time Users" button, etc., on the donor terminal 10, an individual information input screen displayed by the information registration / ID issuance unit 141B is shown. The donor can newly input personal information such as name and address and receive the issuance of a new ID and password. Also, the information registration / ID issuance unit 141B can send an ID issuance email to the donor's email address simultaneously with the issuance of the new ID and password. In addition, when the "Proceed Using Reservation Information" button is clicked or touched as described above, the information registration / ID issuance unit 141B can extract personal information such as name and address from the information necessary for the above reservation and automatically display them in an input form (not shown), thereby reducing the effort of the donor for new ID registration. After the issuance of the new ID and password, the information registration / ID issuance unit 141B causes the browser screen on the display unit 13 of the donor terminal 10 to transition to the input screen shown in FIG. 12B(F). At this time, each input field of the input form shown in FIG. 12B(F) can be configured to automatically display the name, address, etc. entered for registration. Thereafter, it is the same as steps S113 and S114 in (i).

[0161] The above (i) to (iii) return to the flow of one procedure. In step S115, the donor personal information reception unit 14lD causes the donor terminal 10 to display an input confirmation screen shown in FIG. 12B(G). In step S116, when the donor clicks or touches "To Payment Screen", etc., it proceeds to the subsequent step S117.

[0162] <F: Stage of Performing Payment Processing Using the Payment Agent Server> In step S117, the donation procedure support unit 141E that has taken over the process from the donor personal information reception unit 141D causes the donor terminal 10 to display a hometown tax payment settlement screen as shown in FIG. 12B(H). In step S117, for later processing, the donation procedure support unit 141E issues a serial number (not shown) for each payment case and sends this serial number to the donor together with the above information included in the hometown tax payment screen (this processing flow is not shown in FIG. 4) (the serial number is then sent to the payment agent server 50 together with information necessary for payment). In addition, storage processing is performed so that the serial number is stored in the storage unit 142 together with the above information included in the hometown tax payment screen as payment application information. As in the first embodiment, the return gift information processing device 140 and the payment agent server 50 have previously performed a linking process for hometown tax payment (this is shown by the dashed line connecting the first linking unit 141K and the linking unit 51A in FIG. 11). This allows the payment function provided by the payment agent server 50 to be used on the hometown tax payment screen, and credit card information is sent directly to the payment agent server 50 without being stored in the return gift information processing device 140.

[0163] In step S118, when the donor enters credit card information and clicks or touches the confirmation button, in step S119, the credit card information entered at the donor terminal 10 is sent to the processing unit 51 of the payment agency server 50, along with information on the local government to which the donation is made, information on the donation amount, the donor's personal information, and the serial number, based on collaborative processing with the processing unit 51 of the payment agency server 50.

[0164] In step S120, the processing unit 51 of the payment agent server 50 receives information on the recipient municipality, information on the donation amount, the donor's personal information, the reference number, and credit card information, and then executes the hometown tax payment process in step S. This completes the transfer of the donation to the designated municipality via the credit card company. Once the hometown tax payment process is complete, the processing unit 51 of the payment agent server 50 reports the completion of payment to the processing unit 141 of the return gift information processing device 140.

[0165] <Stage of issuing return points and updating the held return points> In the subsequent steps S122 to S128, the return point issuing unit 141F of the processing unit 141 that has received the report of completion of settlement reads out the held return points from the storage unit 142 by an inquiry process (step S122), issues return points (for example, facility points) (step S123), calculates new held return points by adding the newly issued return points to the current held return points (step S124), updates the held return points by overwriting the current held return points stored in the storage unit 142 with the new held return points (step S125), and performs notification processes such as notification to the donor terminal 10 (step S127) and notification to the return business operator terminal 30 (step S128) (step S126). Since these processes are the same as those described in steps S23 to S29 according to the first embodiment, the description thereof is omitted.

[0166] <H: Stage of immediately using return points> In the notification from the return point issuing unit 141F to the donor terminal 10 in step S127, the return point issuing unit 141F causes, for example, a processing result screen as shown in FIG. 12C(I) to be displayed on the browser of the donor terminal 10. On this processing result screen, for example, the name of the local government, the name of the return business operator (for example, the name of the facility), the thank-you message from the local government for the donation, the amount of donation, the issued (added) points, and the current facility points are displayed. In addition, together with these, a button for returning to the my page and a button for "going to the point usage screen" are also displayed.

[0167] If the donor wishes to immediately use the issued points following the reservation procedure, the donor can click or touch the "Go to points use screen" button in step S128. Next, in step S129, the processing unit 141 displays a use points input screen having a use points input field as shown in Fig. 12C(J) on the browser of the donor terminal 10, and in step S130 the donor inputs the amount of points to be used in the use points input field displayed on the browser of the donor terminal 10 and performs an operation such as clicking or touching the confirm button, and the process proceeds to the point update processing of steps S131 to S134.

[0168] The processing of steps S131 to S133 is executed by the point payment processing unit 141H, and is similar to the processing of steps S48 to S51 shown in Figure 6 according to the first embodiment (however, the processing is not initiated by receiving a request to use points along with the amount of points to be used from the processing unit 11, but by receiving a request to use points along with the amount of points to be used from the donor terminal 10 in step S130). Specifically, the point settlement processing unit 141H reads the currently held reward points through an inquiry (step S131), calculates new held reward points by subtracting the requested amount of points to be used from the currently held reward points (step S132), updates the held reward points by overwriting the currently held reward points stored in the memory unit 142 with the new held reward points (step S133), and performs notification processing (step S134) such as notifying the reward provider terminal 30 (step S135) and notifying the reward provider server 120 (step S136). These processes are the same as those described in steps S48 to S51 in the first embodiment, so further description will be omitted.

[0169] In step S136 above, when the processing unit 121 of the return service provider server 120 receives from the point settlement processing unit 141H a notification about the facility points (return points) used by the donor, along with the donor's identification information and / or personal information, the processing unit 121 reads out the fee (provision fee) corresponding to the reservation currently being made by the donor stored in the memory unit 122, subtracts the facility points (return points) used by the donor from the fee (provision fee) corresponding to this reservation, calculates a new provision fee, and stores this in the memory unit 122 (not shown in Figure 11).

[0170] In step S135, the point settlement processing unit 141H displays the screen shown in Fig. 12C(K) on the donor terminal 10 as a result of the processing. This screen displays a button that reads "Go to official website," and this button may have a link to the official website.

[0171] Also, in step S138, the donor can click or touch a button labeled "Go to official website" displayed on the display unit 13 (screen) of the donor terminal 10. When this operation is performed, in step S139, a screen such as that shown in FIG. 12C(L) is provided on the donor terminal 10 from the official website of the facility or facility to be used. In this example, this screen displays the accommodation's "room charge" (i.e., the charge), the points used, and the "total amount" (i.e., the remaining amount to be paid directly to the facility or facility) obtained by deducting the points used from the room charge. This allows the donor to confirm the results of the payment. This step is optional and may or may not be included.

[0172] The new configurations and functions according to the second embodiment described above may be adopted in their entirety in the return gift information processing measures and methods according to other embodiments, or some or a combination of some of them may be adopted.

[0173] [Effects of the second embodiment] The second embodiment has the same configuration as the first embodiment, and can obtain the same effects as the first embodiment. Furthermore, the configuration unique to the second embodiment can obtain, for example, the following effects.

[0174] (1) The second linking unit 141L of the processing unit 141 of the return gift information processing device 140 and the linking unit 121D of the processing unit 121 of the return gift provider server 120 are configured to enable the return gift information processing device 140 and the return gift provider server 120 to link with each other. Therefore, the processing unit 141 can acquire information about the person making the reservation (e.g., name, address, telephone number, email address, etc.) and information about the reservation (e.g., reservation date and time, cost required for the reservation, etc.) from the return gift provider server 120, and use this data to perform various processes. The processing unit 141 can also directly acquire the business's identification information and the name of the local government to which the business belongs from the return gift provider server 120. This eliminates the need for the donor to input some of the information necessary to make a donation into the return gift information processing device 140.

[0175] (2) Furthermore, because the system is configured with the above-mentioned linking processing function, the donation amount receiving unit 141C can receive information regarding the cost of making a reservation (or the provision fee) from the return gift provider server 120, and regards the cost of making a reservation included in this information as the desired return points (desired return points). The desired return points are then divided by the return gift rate adopted by the local government receiving the donation to calculate the required donation amount, which can be automatically displayed on the donation amount input form. This eliminates the need for donors to input the donation amount and desired return points from scratch, reducing the amount of work required and promoting the use of hometown tax donations. Furthermore, as already explained, the input values ​​can be modified on the input form, so donors can change the donation amount and return points as needed.

[0176] (3) Furthermore, when the processing unit 141 of the return gift information processing device 140 receives an instruction from the donor (reservation person) to immediately use return gift points, the processing unit 120 of the return gift information processing device 140 notifies the processing unit 121 of the return gift provider server 120 of the return gift points used by the donor. When the processing unit 121 receives this notification, the return gift provider server 120 can subtract the return gift points used by the donor from the provision fee calculated at the time of reservation. This makes it possible to immediately settle the expenses incurred at the time of reservation completion (provision fee) using return gift points, improving the convenience of payment by hometown tax donations for donors and promoting the use of hometown tax donations.

[0177] [An example of the second embodiment] In one example of the second embodiment, the donation amount receiving unit 141C may have a function to generate display information for generating a donation information input screen having a donation amount input field for inputting the donation amount and a return point input field for inputting the desired return point number, and transmit the display information to the donor terminal 10. Furthermore, when a value is input from the donor terminal 10 into either the donation amount input field or the return point input field, the donation amount receiving unit 141C may have a function to automatically calculate the other value based on the return rate (i.e., the rate for converting the donation amount to return points in the hometown tax payment) adopted by the local government to which the payment is made, and display the calculated value in the corresponding one of the donation amount input field and the return point input field. This eliminates the need for donors to perform calculations for converting the donation amount and return points themselves, reducing the effort required and promoting the use of hometown tax payment.

[0178] In addition, in an example of the second embodiment, the processing unit 141 may include a first linking unit 141K for performing a linking process with a counterpart linking unit included in the reservation processing unit 121C of the processing unit 121 of the return gift business server 120 via the first linking unit 141K, If the reservation processing unit 121C acquires contact information from the reservation page user when accepting a reservation, the information accepting unit 141CD may be configured to acquire the contact information of the reservation page user from the reservation processing unit 121C during the acceptance process and use the contact information as the donor's personal information. This saves the donor the trouble of having to re-enter their personal information, reducing their workload and promoting the use of hometown tax donations.

[0179] In addition, in an example of the second embodiment, the processing unit 141 performs a cooperative process with the reservation processing unit 121C of the processing unit 121 of the return gift business server 120 via the first cooperation unit 141K, The information receiving unit 141CD acquires the provision fee calculated by the reservation processing unit, The information receiving unit 141CD may use the amount obtained by dividing the provision fee by the return rate adopted by the information of the local government of the donation recipient as the donation amount information. This eliminates the need for the donor to input the donation amount and desired return points from scratch, reducing the effort required and promoting the use of hometown tax donations.

[0180] In addition, in one example of the second embodiment, the processing unit 141 performs a cooperative process with the reservation processing unit 121C via a first cooperative unit 141K, The point settlement processing unit 141H may be configured to use a linkage process to cause the reservation processing unit 121C to redisplay the amount obtained by subtracting the return points from the donation fee as the new donation fee when the donation point issuing unit 141F issues new reward points. This improves the convenience of hometown tax payment for donors and can lead to increased use of hometown tax payment.

[0181] Other Embodiments Although the present invention has been described above with reference to the above-described embodiments, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments. Various modifications that can be understood by those skilled in the art can be made to the configuration and details of the present invention. The present invention also includes appropriate combinations of some or all of the configurations of the above-described embodiments.

[0182] For example, in another embodiment, in connection with a hometown tax donation by a donor to a local government selected by the donor, a return gift information processing device (not shown) is provided for providing a return gift to the donor from a return gift provider selected by the donor, the return gift information processing device comprising a memory unit (not shown) of the return gift information processing device, a processing unit (not shown) of the return gift information processing device, and a communication unit (not shown) of the return gift information processing device for connecting to an information and communication network 80, and a reservation page exists on the communication network 80 for accepting reservations for the provision of services and products by the return gift provider, and a link for hometown tax donation payment may be provided on the reservation page. Among these, the processing unit of the return gift information processing device is: When the donor opens the hometown tax payment link displayed on the donor terminal 10, an information receiving unit (not shown) acquires information on the one local government, information on the donation amount, and the donor's personal information from the donor terminal 10 of the donor; a donation procedure support unit (not shown) that transmits information about the one local government, information about the donation amount, personal information about the donor, and credit card information entered by the donor to a payment processing business server and supports the donor in making an online donation to the one local government; a reward point issuing unit (not shown) that issues reward points corresponding to at least the one local government as a donation recipient and the donor as a reward point owner in accordance with the donation amount when the donation to the one local government via the payment agent server is completed; a point payment processing unit (not shown) having a point payment processing function for the donor to use the return points in response to a request from the donor; It can be equipped with: In the above example, the reward points may be usable for services and products within a range predetermined by the local government.

[0183] As in the other embodiments described above, by providing a link for hometown tax payment on the reservation page operated by the return gift provider, users (later donors) who use the return gift provider's reservation page can consider making a hometown tax donation when they have more time at the reservation stage, thereby promoting hometown tax donations. The "services and products within the scope predetermined by the local government" include, but are not limited to, services and products within the scope of the business of the gift business. In addition to services and products within the scope of the gift business, the gift points may also be used for services and products within the scope of the business of other gift businesses within the local government.

[0184] For example, in yet another embodiment, the information on the local government receiving the donation (identification information of the local government) and the information on the return business that will be the return business provider (identification information of the return business provider) required when issuing and renewing return points can be consolidated by generating return business information on a local government basis, in other words, by generating return business information issued on a local government basis, thereby further simplifying information processing.

[0185] In still further embodiments, the "single return gift provider" in the first, second, other, and further other embodiments may not necessarily be a single business, but may be a group of multiple businesses, individuals, and / or organizations. For example, it may include a shopping district association, a group of affiliated businesses, etc. [Explanation of symbols]

[0186] 1. Reward points system 10 Donor terminal 11 Processing section 13 Display section 20 Reward business server 21 Processing section 21A Official Website Provider 21B Reservation Page Provider 21C Reservation Processing Unit 30 Return business terminal 31 Processing section 40 Return gift information processing device 41 Processing section 41CD Information Reception Department 41C Donation Reception 41D Donor Personal Information Reception Department 41E Donation Procedure Support Department 41F Reward Points Issuance Department 41G Point Payment Reception Department 41H Point payment processing section 41K First Collaboration Department 42 Storage section 50 Payment processing company server 51 Processing section 51A Collaboration Department 60 Local government system 62 Backyard Business Server 64 Municipal terminals 80 Communication networks (e.g., the Internet) 100 Reward Points System 120 Reward Business Server 121 Gift business server processing unit 121A Collaboration Department 140 Return gift information processing device 141 Processing section 141CD Information Reception Department 141F Reward Points Issuance Department 141H Point payment processing unit 141K First Collaboration Department 141L Second Collaboration Section 142 Storage section

Claims

1. A return gift information processing device for sending a return gift to a donor from a return gift business operator selected by the donor in connection with a hometown tax donation by the donor to a local government selected by the donor, a storage unit, a processing unit, and a communication unit for connecting to a communication network; The processing unit an information receiving unit that receives information on the one local government, information on the donation amount, information on the one return service provider, and personal information of the donor from the donor terminal of the donor; a donation procedure support unit that transmits information about the one local government, information about the donation amount, personal information about the donor, and credit card information entered by the donor to a payment processing business server and supports the donor in making an online donation to the one local government; a reward point issuing unit that, when the donation to the one local government via the payment agent server is completed, issues reward points corresponding to the donation amount, with the one local government as the donation recipient, the donor as the reward point owner, and the one reward business operator as the reward provider; a point payment processing unit having a point payment processing function; Equipped with A return information processing device in which the return points can be used for services and products within the scope of the return business operator's business within the one local government.

2. When issuing the return points, the return point issuing unit inquires about the currently held return points stored in the memory unit in association with the one local government as the donation recipient, the donor as the return point owner, and the one return business operator as the return provider, calculates new held return points by adding the newly issued return points to the currently held return points (however, if there are no such points, the held return points are set to 0), and updates the currently held return points stored in the memory unit with the new held return points; The return information processing device of claim 1, wherein when the point payment processing unit receives a request to use the retained return points from the logged-in donor terminal, it acquires from the donor terminal the amount of return points used, the donor ID of the donor, the municipality identification information of the one municipality, and the return provider identification information of the one return provider, and queries the currently retained return points stored based on the donor ID, the municipality identification information, and the return provider identification information, correlating the one municipality as the donation recipient, the donor as the return point owner, and the one return provider as the return provider, subtracts the amount of return points used from the currently retained return points so queried, and updates the currently retained return points stored in the memory unit with the subtracted retained return points.

3. A reward business operator server is connected to the communication network, the server comprising a reservation page provider that generates and distributes display information for a reservation page that accepts reservations for the provision of services and products of the reward business operator, and a reservation processor that performs reservation processing using the reservation page; The reservation page will have a link to make hometown tax payments. The return gift information processing device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the information receiving unit starts the receiving process when the donor performs a specific operation on the hometown tax payment link displayed on the donor terminal.

4. the reservation processing unit has a function of calculating a provision fee for the service and / or product related to the reservation and a payment function for making a payment for the provision fee; the reservation page includes a payment button for starting processing using the payment function; The return gift information processing device according to claim 3 , wherein the hometown tax payment link is provided near a payment button on the reservation page.

5. The reservation processing unit has a function of calculating a provision fee for the service and / or product related to the reservation, and a function of generating display information for a page including a fee notice display for notifying the reservationr of the provision fee, and transmitting the display information to the donor terminal; The gift information processing device according to claim 3, wherein the reservation page on which the hometown tax payment link is provided is a page including the fee notice display.

6. The hometown tax payment link is a unique link that differs for each return business. The return gift information processing device according to claim 3 , wherein the information receiving unit identifies the local government to which the donation is made and the return gift provider based on the unique identifiability of the hometown tax payment link used by the donor terminal.

7. The return gift information processing device according to claim 3, wherein the reservation page on which the hometown tax payment link is provided displays content including an explanation regarding hometown tax donations.

8. an ID and password issuing unit that issues a donor ID and a password to the donor in response to a request for issuance of a donor ID from the donor terminal, on the condition that the donor's personal information is input from the donor terminal, and stores the donor ID in the storage unit in association with the password and the donor's personal information; a login processing unit that performs login processing based on the donor ID and the password input from the donor terminal in response to a request from the donor terminal; Equipped with A return gift information processing device as described in claim 1 or 2, wherein during the reception process by the information reception unit, the information reception unit reads out the donor personal information stored in the memory unit in correspondence with the donor ID in response to a request from the donor terminal that is logged in.

9. The information receiving unit includes a donation amount receiving unit that generates display information for generating a donation information input screen having a donation amount input field for inputting a numerical value of the donation amount and a return point input field for inputting a numerical value of the desired return point, and transmits the display information to the donor terminal; The donation amount receiving unit of the return information processing device described in claim 1 or 2 has the function of, when a numerical value is entered into either the donation amount input field or the return point input field from the donor terminal, automatically calculating the other numerical value based on the return rate adopted by the local government and displaying it in the corresponding one of the donation amount input field and the return point input field.

10. the processing unit performs processing in cooperation with the reservation processing unit, The return gift information processing device of claim 3, wherein if the reservation processing unit acquires contact information from the reservation page user when accepting a reservation, the information acceptance unit acquires the contact information of the reservation page user from the reservation processing unit during the acceptance process and adopts the contact information as the donor's personal information.

11. the processing unit performs processing in cooperation with the reservation processing unit, the information receiving unit acquires the provision fee calculated by the reservation processing unit, The return gift information processing device according to claim 4 , wherein the information receiving unit uses, as the donation amount information, an amount obtained by dividing the provision fee by a return gift rate adopted in the information of the one local government.

12. the processing unit performs processing in cooperation with the reservation processing unit, The reward information processing device of claim 4, wherein when the reward point issuing unit issues new reward points, the point payment processing unit uses the coordination processing to cause the reservation processing unit to re-display the amount obtained by subtracting the reward points from the provision fee as the new provision fee.

13. A return gift information processing method using a return gift information processing device for sending a return gift to a donor from a return gift business operator selected by the donor in connection with a hometown tax donation by the donor to a local government selected by the donor, The return gift information processing device includes a storage unit, a processing unit, and a communication unit for connecting to a communication network; The processing unit includes an information receiving unit, a donation procedure support unit, a return point issuing unit, and a point settlement processing unit. The information receiving unit performs a receiving process of the information of the one local government, the information of the donation amount, the information of the one return service provider, and the donor's personal information from the donor terminal of the donor; The donation procedure support unit transmits information about the one local government, information about the donation amount, personal information about the donor, and credit card information entered by the donor to a payment processing business server, and supports the donor in making an online donation to the one local government; When the donation to the one local government via the payment agent server is completed, the reward point issuing unit issues reward points according to the donation amount, which are associated with the one local government as a donation recipient, the donor as a reward point owner, and the one reward business operator as a reward provider; the point payment processing unit executes a point payment processing function; Including, A reward information processing method in which the reward points can be used for services and products within the scope of the reward business operator's business within the one local government.

14. When issuing the reward points, the reward point issuing unit queries the currently held reward points stored in the memory unit in association with the one local government as the donation recipient, the donor as the reward point owner, and the one reward business operator as the reward provider; The reward point issuing unit calculates new retained reward points by adding the newly issued reward points to the currently retained reward points (however, if there are no reward points, the retained reward points are set to 0); The reward point issuing unit updates the currently held reward points stored in the memory unit with the new held reward points; When the point settlement processing unit receives a request to use the held reward points from the logged-in donor terminal, the point settlement processing unit acquires the reward point usage amount from the donor terminal, the donor ID of the donor, the local government identification information of the one local government, and the reward business identification information of the one reward business; The point settlement processing unit queries the currently held return points stored in association with the one local government as a donation recipient, the donor as a return point owner, and the one return business operator as a return provider based on the donor ID, the local government identification information, and the return business operator identification information; the point payment processing unit subtracting the amount of the used reward points from the currently held reward points that have been checked, and updating the currently held reward points stored in the storage unit with the subtracted amount of the held reward points; The return gift information processing method according to claim 13, comprising:

15. A return gift information processing device for sending a return gift to a donor from a return gift business operator selected by the donor in connection with a hometown tax donation by the donor to a local government selected by the donor, a storage unit, a processing unit, and a communication unit for connecting to a communication network; A reservation page for accepting reservations for the provision of services and products of the one return gift business operator exists on the communication network, and a link for hometown tax payment is provided on the reservation page; The processing unit an information receiving unit that, when the donor opens the hometown tax payment link displayed on the donor terminal, acquires information on the one local government, information on the donation amount, and the donor's personal information from the donor terminal of the donor; a donation procedure support unit that transmits information about the one local government, information about the donation amount, personal information about the donor, and credit card information entered by the donor to a payment processing business server and supports the donor in making an online donation to the one local government; a reward point issuing unit that issues reward points that are associated with at least the one local government as a donation recipient and the donor as a reward point owner according to the amount of the donation when the donation to the one local government via the payment agent server is completed; a point payment processing unit having a point payment processing function for the donor to use the return points in response to a request from the donor; Equipped with The return points can be used for services and products within a range predetermined by the local government.

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