Settlement processing apparatus, settlement processing system, settlement processing method, and program

Abstract

To provide a settlement processor, a settlement processing system, a settlement processing method, and a program for improving convenience when using a prepaid card.SOLUTION: A settlement processing apparatus comprising: an information management unit that manages prepaid card information, which is information on a prepaid card of a user, and an electronic money balance of the user in association with each other; and a settlement processing unit that performs settlement processing using the electronic money balance of the user when settlement using the prepaid card of the user is performed in a store of a member store in which the prepaid card can be used.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

[Technical Field]

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

[0002] Conventionally, there is known an electronic payment service in which code information is displayed on a user terminal device owned by a user and the code information is read by a store terminal device installed in a store to execute electronic payment. Patent Document 1 also proposes an electronic payment system in which credit cards that can be used in the electronic payment service are registered in a payment server. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Patent No. 7311726 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, in the electronic payment system described in Patent Document 1, the electronic money balance charged by the user could only be used to make payments at businesses that had entered into an affiliated store agreement with an electronic payment service provider that offered payments using electronic money, which could cause inconvenience to users when making payments at businesses with which they had not entered into an affiliated store agreement.

[0005] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above circumstances, and one of its objectives is to provide a payment processing device, a payment processing system, a payment processing method, and a program that enable users to use the electronic money balance they have charged to make payments with international brand prepaid cards, thereby improving user convenience. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] One aspect of the present invention is a payment processing device that includes an information management unit that links and manages prepaid card information, which is information about a user's prepaid card, with the user's electronic money balance, and a payment processing unit that performs payment processing using the user's electronic money balance when making a payment using the user's prepaid card at an affiliated store where the prepaid card can be used. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to one aspect of the present invention, it is possible to provide a payment processing device, a payment processing system, a payment processing method, and a program that can improve convenience when using a prepaid card. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of an electronic payment system in which an electronic payment service is realized. [Figure 2] This is a sequence diagram (part 1) illustrating the general flow of electronic payment. [Figure 3] This is a sequence diagram (part 2) illustrating the general flow of electronic payment. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of a payment server 100. [Figure 5] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of the contents of user information 172. [Figure 6] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of the contents of affiliated store / store information 176. [Figure 7] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating the configuration of a user terminal device 200. [Figure 8] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a first example of an outline of prepaid card payment. [Figure 9] FIG. 10 is a sequence diagram illustrating an example of a process for purchasing a product using a prepaid card. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of authorization information 178. [Figure 11] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a home screen of the payment application 20. [Figure 12]FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a payment screen of payment application 20. [Figure 13] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a payment completion screen of payment application 20. [Figure 14] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a second example of an outline of prepaid card payment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] Below, with reference to the drawings, embodiments of a payment processing device, a payment processing system, a payment processing method, and a program of the present invention are described. The various devices and servers described below, which provide services to users and perform internal analysis, may be realized by a distributed device group, and each device may be operated by a different business. Furthermore, the hardware owner (cloud server provider) and the business that actually operates the device may also be different. The application program and the payment server work together to provide an electronic payment service. In the following description, the application program is referred to as a payment app. An electronic payment service is a service that supports payments for the purchase of goods and services at a store. A store is, for example, a physical store (real store) existing in real space, but may also include a virtual store for e-commerce transactions. Virtual stores may also include those operated by an entity other than the operator of the electronic payment service. In such cases, the user may be controlled to transition to an interface screen for the electronic payment service when making a payment for a purchase at the virtual store. In an electronic payment service, a store is treated as belonging to, for example, an affiliated store (brand), and processing such as payment when a purchase is made at the store is primarily conducted between the user and the affiliated store. Alternatively, processing such as payment may be performed between the user and the store. Furthermore, the card company server and the payment server cooperate to provide payment services using prepaid cards. A prepaid card is a prepaid card that can be charged with electronic money in advance and used at affiliated stores. When using a prepaid card at a store, payment can be made by holding or inserting the prepaid card into a store terminal device for cards. When using a prepaid card, the user may be required to enter a PIN. Furthermore, when using a prepaid card for online transactions (such as internet shopping), the user may be required to enter card information (such as the prepaid card number and expiration date) of the prepaid card on the payment screen of a website.

[0010] [Electronic payment service] FIG. 1 shows an example of the configuration of an electronic payment system in which an electronic payment service is realized. The electronic payment service is realized mainly by a payment server 100. The electronic payment system that realizes the electronic payment service includes, for example, one or more user terminal devices 200, one or more first store terminal devices 50, one or more second store terminal devices 70, the payment server 100, a card store terminal device 300, and a card company server 400. These devices communicate, for example, via a network NW. The network NW includes, for example, the Internet, a LAN (Local Area Network), a wireless base station, a provider device, etc.

[0011] Some or all of the functional components included in the electronic payment system may be distributed across multiple devices in any form, or may be integrated into any device. For example, some or all of the functional components of card company server 400 may be included in the configuration of payment server 100, and some or all of the functional components of payment server 100 may be included in the functional configuration of card company server 400.

[0012] User terminal device 200 is, for example, a portable terminal device such as a smartphone or tablet terminal. User terminal device 200 is a computer device having at least an optical reading function, a communication function, a display function, an input acceptance function, and a program execution function. In the following description, components for realizing these functions are referred to as a camera, a communication device, a touch panel, a CPU (Central Processing Unit), etc. In user terminal device 200, a processor such as a CPU executes payment app 20, which operates in cooperation with payment server 100 to provide electronic payment services to users. Payment app 20 is installed on user terminal device 200 from, for example, an application store, and controls the camera, communication device, touch panel, etc.

[0013] The first store terminal device 50 is installed, for example, in a store. The first store terminal device 50 is a computer device having at least a product price acquisition function, an optical reading function, a program execution function, and a communication function. The first store terminal device 50 includes a so-called POS (Point of Sale) device, and the product price acquisition function and the optical reading function may be realized by the POS device. The store code image 60 is placed in the store and is a code image such as a QR code (registered trademark) printed on a paper or plastic medium. The store code image 60 may be displayed on a display placed in the store (which may be the display of a terminal device such as a smartphone).

[0014] The second store terminal device 70 is used by the operator of the affiliated store. The second store terminal device 70 is a smartphone, tablet terminal, personal computer, etc. An interface for affiliated stores 72 runs on the second store terminal device 70. The interface for affiliated stores 72 may be an app for affiliated stores or a browser. The interface for affiliated stores 72 accepts coupon settings and the like from the operator of the affiliated store and transmits them to the payment server 100. The second store terminal device 70, which is a smartphone, has the function of displaying a code image corresponding to a store code image and reading the code image displayed by the user terminal device 200 by executing the app for affiliated stores.

[0015] The payment server 100 realizes electronic payment based on payment information received from the user terminal device 200 or the first store terminal device 50. The first store terminal device 50 may include a POS device and an affiliated store server, in which case payment information is sent from the POS device via the affiliated store server to the payment server 100. In the following explanation, this distinction will not be made and it is assumed that payment information is sent from the first store terminal device 50.

[0016] The card store terminal 300 is a terminal used at prepaid card member stores. The card store terminal 300 acquires information on the prepaid card presented by the user and transmits the acquired information to the card company server 400.

[0017] The card company server 400 is a server device of a prepaid card issuing company related to the electronic payment service. The card company server 400 is operated by, for example, a group company of the payment server 100.

[0018] 2 and 3 are sequence diagrams illustrating the general flow of electronic payment. There may be two patterns for electronic payment: Pattern 1 and Pattern 2.

[0019] In the case of pattern 1 (hereinafter referred to as user scan) shown in FIG. 2, user terminal device 200, with payment application 20 running, decodes store code image 60 using its optical reading function (S1). Store code image 60 includes store URL (Uniform Resource Locator) information. This store URL is the domain of the electronic payment service to which store identification information has been added, and is associated with an affiliated store ID, store ID, etc. in payment server 100 (described below). Payment application 20 sends first payment information including the store URL and account ID to payment server 100 (S2). Payment server 100 searches for store information (described below) using the affiliated store ID and store ID corresponding to the store URL, acquires information on the affiliated store name and store name (S3), and sends this information to payment application 20 (S4). The user enters the payment amount into user terminal device 200 on the screen displaying the affiliated store name and store name (S5). Then, the user terminal device 200 generates second payment information including at least the payment amount and sends it to the payment server 100 (S6). The payment server 100 makes the electronic payment based on the received second payment information (S7). The payment server 100 then sends a payment completion notice (information for displaying a payment completion screen) to the payment app 20 (S8), and the payment app 20 displays the payment completion screen (S9). Note that when the store code image 60 is displayed on a display installed in the store, the store code image 60 may include information on the payment amount in addition to the store URL. In this case, the step of the user inputting the payment amount is omitted, and the payment amount information is included in the first payment information and sent to the payment server 100. Information on the affiliated store name and store name may be included and displayed on the payment completion screen.

[0020] In the case of pattern 2 (hereinafter referred to as store scan) shown in FIG. 3, the payment app 20 sends a request to issue a one-time code to the payment server 100 when the payment app 20 is launched, when a payment operation is performed in the payment app 20, at the automatic update timing (e.g., every minute), and at other timings (S11). The payment server 100 generates a one-time code (S12) and sends it to the payment app 20 (S13). The payment app 20 displays a code image, such as a QR code or barcode, generated based on the one-time code (S14). The user holds (presents) the display surface of the user terminal device 200 over the first in-store terminal device 50, and the first in-store terminal device 50 decodes the code image using its optical reading function and obtains the one-time code, etc. (S15). The first in-store terminal device 50 then generates payment information including the one-time code, payment amount, affiliated store ID, store ID, etc., and sends it to the payment server 100 (S16). The payment amount information is acquired in advance by reading a barcode, manually entering it, etc. Based on the received information, the payment server 100 identifies the user corresponding to the one-time code and performs electronic payment (S17). Then, the payment server 100 sends a payment completion notice to the payment application 20 (S18), and the payment application 20 displays a payment completion screen (S19).

[0021] Note that electronic payment may be performed using only one of the above patterns. Furthermore, the "account ID" described in FIG. 2 may be other information (e.g., a phone number) that can be used as user identification information. Furthermore, issuing a one-time code may be omitted in store scanning, and the payment application 20 may display a code image generated based on the user's account ID. In this case, the payment server 100 identifies the user corresponding to the account ID instead of identifying the user corresponding to the one-time code.

[0022] [Payment server] 4 is a configuration diagram of the payment server 100. The payment server 100 includes, for example, a communication unit 110, a payment content providing unit 120, a payment processing unit 130, an information management unit 140, an acquisition unit 150, and a storage unit 170. The components other than the communication unit 110 and the storage unit 170 are realized by, for example, a hardware processor such as a CPU executing a program (software). Some or all of these components may be realized by hardware (including circuitry) such as an LSI (Large Scale Integration), an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit), an FPGA (Field-Programmable Gate Array), a GPU (Graphics Processing Unit), or an SOC (System On Chip), or may be realized by a combination of software and hardware. The program may be stored in advance in a storage device such as an HDD (Hard Disk Drive) or flash memory (a storage device with a non-transitory storage medium), or may be stored in a removable storage medium (a non-transitory storage medium) such as a DVD or CD-ROM, and installed in the storage device by inserting the storage medium into a drive device.

[0023] The storage unit 170 is a hard disk drive (HDD), flash memory, RAM (Random Access Memory), etc. The storage unit 170 may be a NAS (Network Attached Storage) device that the payment server 100 can access via a network. The storage unit 170 stores information such as user information 172, payment content information 174, affiliated store / shop information 176, and authorization information 178. Some of this information may be stored in the storage unit of the user terminal device 200.

[0024] The communication unit 110 is a communication interface for connecting to the network NW, and is, for example, a network interface card.

[0025] The payment content providing unit 120 has, for example, a web server function, and provides information (content) for displaying various screens of the electronic payment service to the user terminal device 200. The payment content providing unit 120 reads out necessary content from payment content information 174 as appropriate and provides it to the user terminal device 200. The user terminal device 200 accepts various inputs from the user while content is being played by the payment application 20, and transmits the above-mentioned payment information and the like to the payment server 100. The above content may be generated by the payment application 20. In this case, the payment content providing unit 120 provides the payment application 20 with information necessary for generating the content.

[0026] The payment processing unit 130 performs payment processing based on the payment information transmitted by the user terminal device 200 or the first store terminal device 50. The payment processing unit 130 performs payment processing while referring to the user information 172.

[0027] FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of the contents of user information 172. User information 172 is an example of user registration information. User information 172 includes, for example, a user URL, account ID, telephone number, and password, as well as an email address, user ID, name, address, date of birth, registration date, remaining balance, credit card payment settings, credit card limit, credit card payment amount, available credit card payment amount, payment method settings, bank account, credit card number, charge history information, payment history information, prepaid card information, and overdraft amount. The user URL is used for remittance processing between users. Registration of a phone number and password is required when registering for the electronic payment service. The account ID is issued to the user by the payment server 100, and the user ID can be set by the user (or does not have to be set). The email address, name, address, and date of birth are also information that can be set by the user (or do not have to be set). The registration date is the date on which the user registered for the electronic payment service (the date on which the account was created). Hereinafter, the user's instance (electronic payment account) to which this information is associated will be referred to as an account.

[0028] The charge balance indicates the balance of electronic money set by the user by transferring funds to the account in advance. Transfer methods include transfers from a designated bank's ATM (Automatic Teller Machine) or from a registered bank account. The credit payment setting indicates whether the settings for electronic credit payment have been completed and is set to either "Completed" or "Not Completed." The credit payment limit is the monthly credit payment limit. The credit payment amount is the amount of credit payment already used in the current month. The available credit payment amount is the amount of credit payment available in the current month, calculated by subtracting the credit payment amount from the credit payment limit. While the figure shows only one credit payment limit, in reality, there may also be daily limits, and the lower of these may be set as the credit payment limit. Further details on credit payments will be discussed later. The payment method setting indicates whether the user will currently make electronic payments using the charge balance or by credit payment. The bank account and credit card number are information on the bank account or credit card number (account number, card number) that can be used to deposit funds into the electronic payment service. The charge history information is a history of the user's previous transfers to the electronic payment service to increase the charge balance. The payment history information is information that shows the breakdown of payments made by the user for each payment (date and time, store ID of the store where the purchase was made, payment amount, payment method, etc.).

[0029] Prepaid card information is information about the prepaid card, such as the prepaid card number, expiration date, etc. The excess amount, which will be described in detail later, is the amount that occurs when, due to the payment mechanism, the payment amount for a payment using a prepaid card is confirmed and the confirmed payment amount is unintentionally larger than the user's electronic money balance.

[0030] FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of the contents of affiliated store / store information 176. The affiliated store / store information 176 includes, for example, a first table 176A in which an affiliated store ID and a store ID are associated with a store URL, a second table 176B in which an affiliated store ID is associated with an affiliated store name and sales amount (described above), and a third table 176C in which a store ID is associated with a store name. In addition to this information, the affiliated store / store information 176 may also include information such as the category of the affiliated store or store, the store location, and payment patterns. The above-mentioned affiliated store name may be, for example, information registered by the affiliated store or by an administrator of the electronic payment service. The above-mentioned affiliated store name and store name may be managed together. The above-mentioned affiliated store name may be, for example, a combination of the affiliated store name and the store name. It is preferable that the above-mentioned affiliated store name be an official name or a detailed name. In the affiliated store / store information 176, an affiliated store icon or other detailed information about the affiliated store may be associated with the affiliated store ID or store ID.

[0031] The information management unit 140 acquires information provided by other server devices and terminal devices. The information management unit 140 manages user information 172, affiliated store / store information 176, and authorization information 178 based on information acquired from the user terminal device 200 and the second store terminal device 70. The information management unit 140 adds new records, edits, deletes, etc. for the user information 172, affiliated store / store information 176, and authorization information 178.

[0032] The acquisition unit 150, as will be described in detail later, acquires first payment information for payments using a prepaid card, including the payment amount (first payment amount) at the time of authorization (hereinafter referred to as "authorization"), and also acquires second payment information, including the payment amount (second payment amount) at the time of sale at the affiliated store.

[0033] [Electronic Payment] When payment information is acquired from the user terminal device 200 or the first store terminal device 50, the payment processing unit 130 references the user information 172 to acquire the "payment method setting" of the user. For users whose "payment method setting" is set to "charge balance," the payment processing unit 130 performs electronic payment as follows: For example, the payment processing unit 130 performs electronic payment by decreasing the charge balance managed in association with the user ID and increasing the item value of the affiliated store's sales proceeds. The item value of the affiliated store's sales proceeds is not itself used as electronic money, for example, but rather the amount corresponding to the item value of the sales proceeds is transferred to a bank account in a cycle according to an agreement between the affiliated store and the electronic payment service.

[0034] The payment processing unit 130 performs electronic payments for users whose "setting information" is set to "credit card payment" as follows. Credit card payment is a payment method in cooperation with a credit card company, which is a separate entity from the operator of the electronic payment service. The operator of the electronic payment service acts as the creditor, allowing electronic payments within the credit card payment limit and independent of the remaining balance. To receive the credit card payment service, a user may be required to obtain a credit card provided by the operator of the electronic payment service. The amount used for credit card payment is settled in full on the following month's payment date, for example, by debit from a bank account. In this case, the payment processing unit 130 makes a provisional payment by adding the payment amount to the credit card payment amount and subtracting the same amount from the available credit card balance. On the closing date, the payment processing unit 130 performs the process described above to debit the current month's payment on the following month's payment date, or requests the credit card company operator to perform this process. If the payment amount exceeds the available credit card balance at the time of provisional payment, an error notification is returned to the payment app 20.

[0035] [User terminal device] 7 is a configuration diagram of user terminal device 200. User terminal device 200 includes, for example, a communication unit 210, a display unit 220, an input unit 230, a control unit 240, and a storage unit 250. Communication unit 210 is a communication interface for communicating via network NW. Display unit 220 and input unit 230 are realized, for example, by a touch panel display.

[0036] The control unit 240 is realized, for example, by a hardware processor such as a CPU executing a program (software). Some or all of these components may be realized by hardware (including circuit units) such as an LSI, ASIC, FPGA, or GPU, or may be realized by a combination of software and hardware. The program may be stored in advance in a storage device such as an HDD or flash memory (a storage device having a non-transitory storage medium), or may be stored in a removable storage medium (non-transitory storage medium) such as a DVD or CD-ROM, and installed in the storage device by inserting the storage medium into a drive device.

[0037] Storage unit 250 is a HDD, flash memory, RAM, or the like. Storage unit 250 may be a NAS device that user terminal device 200 can access via a network. Storage unit 250 stores user information 252, payment application 20, and the like. User information 252 is some or all of the information in the record corresponding to the user who owns user terminal device 200, among user information 172 shown in FIG. 5. Payment application 20 is read and executed by a hardware processor (such as a CPU) in user terminal device 200.

[0038] By launching the payment application 20 on the user terminal device 200, the user can use the electronic payment service provided by the payment server 100. That is, when the user operates the payment application 20 screen, electronic payment is performed by user scanning (FIG. 2) or store scanning (FIG. 3). While this electronic payment process is the same as conventional methods, this embodiment also makes it possible to make prepaid card payments using the charged electronic money balance. This point will be explained below.

[0039] [Prepaid card payment overview (example 1)] Figure 8 is a diagram showing a first example of an overview of prepaid card payments. The example shown in Figure 8 shows the processing flow when an on-us transaction is conducted. An on-us transaction is a transaction in which the issuer (issuer) of the prepaid card and the affiliated store contracting company (acquirer) are the same company. For this reason, in Figure 8, there is no affiliated store contracting company (acquirer) between the affiliated store and the card company.

[0040] In this embodiment, prepaid card payment is made from the charge balance of electronic money used in the electronic payment service. Therefore, before actually making a prepaid card payment, the user charges electronic money from the screen of the payment application 20 (S101). As a result, the payment server 100 adds the specified amount of electronic money to the electronic money balance linked to the user's account.

[0041] Next, the user applies for purchasing a product at an affiliated store (S102). At this time, the user has the prepaid card read by the card store terminal device 300. This allows the card store terminal device 300 to obtain card information (prepaid card number, expiration date, etc.) of the user's prepaid card. Note that although an application for purchasing a product is used here, it may also be an application for using a service.

[0042] Next, the card store terminal device 300 transmits payment information, including the settlement amount of the product to be purchased, to the card company server 400 (S103). There are two types of payment information: first payment information including the first payment amount, which is the payment amount at the time of authorization, and second payment information including the second payment amount, which is the payment amount at the time of sale at the affiliated store. However, for ease of explanation, they are simply referred to as "payment information" here. Details of the first payment information and the second payment information will be described later.

[0043] Next, the card company server 400 transmits the payment information to the payment server 100 (S104). The payment server 100 deducts the payment amount from the charge balance of the user based on the payment information received from the card company server 400 (S105). Specifically, the payment server 100 subtracts the payment amount from the charge balance of the user in the user information 172.

[0044] Meanwhile, the card company server 400 pays the payment amount to the affiliated store (S106). For example, the card company server 400 may transfer the payment amount to the affiliated store's bank account. This allows the affiliated store to receive the payment amount corresponding to the user's purchase of a product (or use of a service).

[0045] However, when the payment in S106 is completed, it is assumed that the card company has paid the settlement amount in advance. Therefore, the card company server 400 sends an advance payment request to the payment server 100 (S107). The payment server 100 pays the advance payment based on the advance payment request received from the card company server 400 (S108). Through the above process, when a user uses a prepaid card to purchase a product (or use a service), the payment can be made from the charge balance of the user's electronic money.

[0046] Next, we will explain the difference between credit card payment and prepaid card payment. In credit card payment, the payment server 100 refers to the user information 172 to check the user's available credit card payment amount and determines whether to approve the credit card payment. When a user purchases a product with credit card payment, the user is billed for the credit card payment amount at the end of the month. For this reason, when a user purchases a product with credit card payment, payment is not made immediately.

[0047] On the other hand, in the case of prepaid card payment, the payment server 100 checks the user's electronic money balance (charge balance) by referring to the user information 172, and determines whether to approve the prepaid card payment. When a user purchases a product by prepaid card payment, the payment server 100 immediately deducts the payment amount from the user's charge balance. Therefore, with prepaid cards, payment is made immediately, unlike credit card payment.

[0048] When paying with a prepaid card, the payment amount may differ between the time of authorization and the time of sale at the affiliated store. For example, when a user fills up at a gas station, the amount of gas actually filled is unknown at the time of authorization, so authorization processing is performed with a payment amount of 1 yen. However, when the sale at the affiliated store (gas station) is made, the payment amount may be based on the amount of gas actually filled (for example, 5,000 yen). As another example, when a user makes a reservation at a hotel through a travel agency, authorization processing is performed with the accommodation fee as the payment amount at the time of authorization, and when the sale at the affiliated store (accommodation) is made, the payment amount may be added with the fee for the services actually used at the hotel (room service, etc.). In this way, the payment amount may differ between the time of authorization and the time of sale at the affiliated store. Based on this, the details of the processing when paying with a prepaid card will be explained below.

[0049] [Sequence diagram] Fig. 9 is a sequence diagram showing an example of a process related to purchasing a product using a prepaid card. The process shown in the sequence diagram of Fig. 9 is executed when a user applies to purchase a product at a member store. Note that although an application to purchase a product is used here, it may also be an application to use a service.

[0050] First, the card store terminal device 300 acquires card information (such as the prepaid card number and expiration date) of the user's prepaid card (S201). For example, the card store terminal device 300 may read the card information directly from the prepaid card presented by the user, or may have the user input the card information.

[0051] Next, the card store terminal device 300 transmits first payment information to the card company server 400 (S202). The first payment information is payment information at the time of authorization, which will be described later. For example, the first payment information includes a transaction ID, a prepaid card number, a terminal identification number, an affiliated store ID, and a first payment amount. The transaction ID is identification information for identifying the transaction. The prepaid card number is the number of the user's prepaid card, which is included in the card information acquired in S201. The terminal identification number is identification information for identifying the card store terminal device 300. The affiliated store ID is identification information for identifying the affiliated store to which the store where the user intends to purchase a product belongs, and is the same information as the affiliated store ID shown in FIG. 6. The first payment amount is the payment amount at the time of authorization.

[0052] Next, the card company server 400 receives the first payment information from the card store terminal device 300 and transmits the received first payment information to the payment server 100 (S203). In this embodiment, the first payment information is transmitted to the payment server 100 because the payment process for the prepaid card is performed by the payment server 100.

[0053] Next, the acquisition unit 150 of the payment server 100 acquires the first payment information transmitted from the card company server 400. The payment processing unit 130 performs authorization processing based on the first payment information acquired by the acquisition unit 150 (S204). The authorization processing is processing for determining whether or not to approve a payment using a prepaid card based on the first payment information. Specifically, in the authorization processing, the payment processing unit 130 acquires the user's electronic money balance (charge balance) from the user information 172. Furthermore, if the first payment amount included in the first payment information is less than or equal to the user's electronic money balance, the payment processing unit 130 determines to approve the payment using the prepaid card and subtracts the first payment amount from the user's electronic money balance. On the other hand, if the first payment amount included in the first payment information is greater than the user's electronic money balance, the payment processing unit 130 determines not to approve the payment using the prepaid card.

[0054] Next, the information management unit 140 updates the authorization information 178 stored in the storage unit 170 (S205). Figure 10 is a diagram showing an example of the authorization information 178. As shown in Figure 10, the authorization information 178 includes a transaction ID, a prepaid card number, a terminal identification number, an affiliated store ID, a first payment amount, and a determination result.

[0055] Specifically, the information management unit 140 links the transaction ID, prepaid card number, terminal identification number, affiliated store ID, first payment amount, and determination result and adds them to the authorization information 178. Note that the transaction ID, prepaid card number, terminal identification number, affiliated store ID, and first payment amount are information contained in the first payment information received in S203. The determination result is the result of the authorization process in S204. If the authorization process determines that the payment using the prepaid card is approved, the determination result is OK. On the other hand, if the authorization process determines that the payment using the prepaid card is not approved, the determination result is NG.

[0056] Next, the payment server 100 transmits the authorization result to the card company server 400 (S206). The authorization result is information including the transaction ID and the determination result (OK or NG). The card company server 400 transmits the authorization result to the card store terminal device 300 (S207), and the card store terminal device 300 transmits the authorization result to the user terminal device 200 (S208). The user terminal device 200 may display whether or not the payment using the prepaid card has been approved based on the authorization result received from the card store terminal device 300. This allows the user to understand the authorization result.

[0057] Next, the card store terminal device 300 transmits second payment information to the card company server 400 (S209). The second payment information is payment information at the time of sale at the affiliated store. For example, the second payment information includes a transaction ID, a prepaid card number, a terminal identification number, an affiliated store ID, and a second payment amount. The second payment amount is the payment amount at the time of sale at the affiliated store.

[0058] Next, the card company server 400 receives the second payment information from the card store terminal device 300 and transmits the received second payment information to the payment server 100 (S210). In this embodiment, the second payment information is transmitted to the payment server 100 to perform electronic payment using the user's electronic money balance with the prepaid card.

[0059] Next, the acquisition unit 150 of the payment server 100 acquires the second payment information transmitted from the card company server 400. The payment processing unit 130 performs payment processing based on the second payment information acquired by the acquisition unit 150 (S211). Specifically, the payment processing unit 130 acquires the first payment amount linked to the transaction ID included in the second payment information from the authorization information 178. Furthermore, if the second payment amount included in the second payment information matches the first payment amount, the payment processing unit 130 completes the payment processing. On the other hand, if the second payment amount included in the second payment information does not match the first payment amount, the payment processing unit 130 calculates an additional amount to be collected by subtracting the first payment amount from the second payment amount. Thereafter, the payment processing unit 130 subtracts the calculated additional amount to be collected from the user's electronic money balance and completes the payment processing. This allows appropriate payment processing even if the second payment amount at the time of sale at the affiliated store is higher than the first payment amount at the time of authorization.

[0060] Next, the information management unit 140 updates the user information 172 stored in the storage unit 170 (S212). Specifically, the information management unit 140 updates the charge balance in the user information 172 based on the user's electronic money balance after deducting the additional collection amount.

[0061] Next, the payment server 100 sends a payment completion notice to the card company server 400 (S213). The payment completion notice includes the transaction ID and information indicating that the payment has been completed. The card company server 400 sends the payment completion notice to the card store terminal 300 (S214), and the card store terminal 300 sends a payment completion notice to the user terminal 200 (S215). Based on the payment completion notice received from the card store terminal 300, the user terminal 200 may display that the payment using the prepaid card has been completed. This allows the user to understand that the payment process has been completed.

[0062] In the above description, the prepaid card is a physical card, but this is not limiting. For example, the prepaid card of this embodiment may be a virtual prepaid card, which does not have a physical card. In the case of a virtual prepaid card, the user may use the user terminal device 200 to apply for an online purchase of a product by entering the prepaid card number, etc., on the affiliated store's website. The card information of the user's prepaid card (prepaid card number, expiration date, etc.) can be confirmed on the screen of the payment application 20. The details of the screen of the payment application 20 will be described later.

[0063] 9, it is also possible that the second payment amount at the time of sale at the affiliated store is lower than the first payment amount at the time of authorization. In such cases, the payment processing unit 130 calculates the refund amount by subtracting the second payment amount from the first payment amount and adds the refund amount to the user's electronic money balance. This allows appropriate payment processing even if the second payment amount at the time of sale at the affiliated store is lower than the first payment amount at the time of authorization.

[0064] Furthermore, in S211 of FIG. 9, if the user's electronic money balance is insufficient, the user may be unable to pay the additional amount to be collected. In this case, the payment processing unit 130 will additionally charge the user the shortfall amount. Specifically, if the additional amount to be collected is greater than the user's electronic money balance, the payment processing unit 130 charges the user the excess amount obtained by subtracting the electronic money balance from the additional amount to be collected, and resets the user's electronic money balance to zero. The information management unit 140 records the excess amount calculated by the payment processing unit 130 in the user information 172, linking it to the user's prepaid card information. This point will be explained below using a specific example.

[0065] For example, consider a case where the first payment amount at the time of authorization is 8,000 yen, the second payment amount at the time of sale at the affiliated store is 10,000 yen, and the user's electronic money balance is 9,000 yen. During authorization processing, the payment processing unit 130 determines that the prepaid card payment is approved because the first payment amount (8,000 yen) is less than the user's electronic money balance (9,000 yen), and subtracts the first payment amount (8,000 yen) from the user's electronic money balance (9,000 yen). As a result, the user's electronic money balance becomes 1,000 yen at the end of authorization processing.

[0066] Next, at the time of sales at the affiliated store, the payment processing unit 130 calculates the additional amount to be collected (2,000 yen) by subtracting the first payment amount (8,000 yen) from the second payment amount (10,000 yen). At this time, since the additional amount to be collected (2,000 yen) is more than the user's electronic money balance (1,000 yen), the payment processing unit 130 calculates the excess amount (1,000 yen) by subtracting the user's electronic money balance (1,000 yen) from the additional amount to be collected (2,000 yen). The payment processing unit 130 also bills the user for the excess amount (1,000 yen) and sets the user's electronic money balance (charge balance) to 0. This makes it possible to prevent missed billings even if the user's electronic money balance is insufficient.

[0067] The excess amount caused by the shortage of the electronic money balance can be resolved by the user by charging electronic money. Therefore, if the additional collected amount is greater than the electronic money balance (if an excess amount has occurred), the payment processing unit 130 notifies the user to charge electronic money for the excess amount. This point will be specifically explained using the screen of the payment application 20.

[0068] [Payment app screen] Fig. 11 is a diagram showing an example of the home screen of payment application 20. As shown in Fig. 11, the home screen of payment application 20 includes area A1, area A2, area A3, icon IC1, and button B1.

[0069] Area A1 displays card information (such as the prepaid card number and expiration date) of the prepaid card used for prepaid card payments. Users can understand the card information of the prepaid card by checking area A1 on the home screen.

[0070] Furthermore, if the user swipes area A1 left or right, the payment method of the electronic payment service can be switched to another payment method. For example, if the user swipes area A1 right, the payment app 20 switches to a payment method based on the electronic money balance. If the user swipes area A1 left, the payment app 20 switches to a payment method based on credit card payment. This allows the user to easily switch the payment method of the electronic payment service.

[0071] Area A2 displays icons for instructing the main operations in smartphone payments, such as scanning, remittance, points, usage history, and credit cards.

[0072] Area A3 displays various icons for launching various mini-apps that can be executed by payment app 20. Specifically, area A3 displays 12 icons. Of these icons, icon IC1 is an icon for launching a prepaid card mini-app. When the user selects (tap) icon IC1, payment app 20 launches the prepaid card mini-app. This makes it possible to display, for example, a card details screen showing details about the prepaid card, a payment history screen for prepaid card payments, etc. on display unit 220 of user terminal device 200.

[0073] Button B1 is a button for instructing the display of a payment screen. When the user selects (tap) button B1, the payment screen is displayed. The payment screen displays code information such as a barcode or QR code (registered trademark) used for smartphone payments. However, in S211 of FIG. 9 described above, if the additional amount to be collected is greater than the user's electronic money balance (i.e., if an excess amount has occurred), payment application 20 displays the payment screen shown in FIG. 12 on display unit 220 of user terminal device 200.

[0074] Fig. 12 is a diagram showing an example of a payment screen of payment application 20. For example, when the additional amount to be collected is greater than the electronic money balance and the user selects (tap) button B1 in Fig. 11, the payment screen shown in Fig. 12 is displayed on display unit 220 of user terminal device 200.

[0075] The payment screen displays code information such as a barcode or QR code (registered trademark) that is normally used for smartphone payments. However, if an excess amount has occurred, the user terminal device 200 does not display this code information on the payment screen, but instead displays the electronic money balance (0 yen) and the excess amount (1,000 yen). This prevents smartphone payments using code information from being made even if the user has an excess amount.

[0076] The payment screen also displays the message "Overage has occurred. Please charge the excess amount to resolve it. Once it is resolved, you will be able to use the remaining balance." along with button B2. When the user selects (tap) button B2, the electronic money charge screen is displayed. The user can charge electronic money from the charge screen.

[0077] When an excess amount occurs, the user is in a state where they have borrowed funds from the electronic payment service provider to make a transaction (a so-called overdraft). Therefore, when electronic money is charged to the user's electronic money balance, the payment processing unit 130 uses the charged electronic money preferentially to resolve the excess amount. By resolving the excess amount, code information such as a barcode or QR code (registered trademark) is displayed on the payment screen, and the user can make a smartphone payment using the code information.

[0078] Fig. 13 is a diagram showing an example of a payment completion screen of payment application 20. For example, when a prepaid card payment is made when the additional collected amount is greater than the electronic money balance, the payment completion screen shown in Fig. 13 is displayed on display unit 220 of user terminal device 200.

[0079] The payment completion screen normally displays the name of the store where the electronic payment was made, the payment amount, a message indicating that the payment has been completed, etc. However, if an overpayment has occurred, the user terminal device 200 will display the electronic money balance and the overpayment amount in addition to this information on the payment completion screen.

[0080] The payment completion screen also displays a message saying, "Your prepaid card has been overdrawn. You must top up your electronic money balance to pay the overdraft." along with button B3. When the user selects (tap) button B3, the electronic money top-up screen is displayed. The user can top up electronic money from the top-up screen.

[0081] In this way, when an excess amount has occurred, the user terminal device 200 displays a payment completion screen indicating the excess amount on the display unit 220. This allows the user to easily understand that an excess amount has occurred.

[0082] [Prepaid card payment overview (Example 2)] FIG. 14 is a diagram showing a second example of a prepaid card payment overview. In the example shown in FIG. 8 above, an on-us transaction is performed in which the prepaid card issuer (issuer) and the affiliated store contract company (acquirer) are the same company. On the other hand, in the example shown in FIG. 14, an on-us transaction is not performed. For example, FIG. 14 shows an example in which a card company operating card company server 400 enters into a contract with an international brand credit card company, thereby enabling prepaid card payments at stores affiliated with the international brand credit card company. In FIG. 14, the prepaid card issuer (issuer) and the affiliated store contract company (acquirer) are different, so there is an affiliated store contract company (acquirer) between the affiliated store and the card company.

[0083] Therefore, the card store terminal device 300 does not send the payment information directly to the card company server 400, but instead sends the payment information to the card company server 400 via the acquirer server 500 operated by the acquirer (S303, S304).

[0084] Furthermore, the card company server 400 does not pay the payment amount directly to the affiliated store, but instead pays the payment amount via the acquirer (S307, S308). For example, the card company server 400 may transfer the payment amount to the acquirer's bank account. Alternatively, the acquirer server 500 may transfer the payment amount to the affiliated store's bank account. This allows the affiliated store to receive the payment amount corresponding to the user's purchase of a product (or use of a service).

[0085] Note that S301 to S302 in Fig. 14 are the same as S101 to S102 in Fig. 8, S305 to S306 in Fig. 14 are the same as S104 to S105 in Fig. 8, and S309 to S310 in Fig. 14 are the same as S107 to S108 in Fig. 8. Therefore, detailed explanation of these processes will be omitted.

[0086] According to the embodiment described above, the payment server 100 includes an information management unit 140 and a payment processing unit 130. The information management unit 140 manages prepaid card information, which is information about a user's prepaid card, in association with the user's electronic money balance. When making a payment using the user's prepaid card at an affiliated store that accepts prepaid cards, the payment processing unit 130 performs payment processing using the user's electronic money balance. This improves convenience when using a prepaid card.

[0087] In the above description, the payment server 100 is described as an example of a payment processing device, and the payment server 100 and the card company server 400 are separate servers, but this is not limiting. For example, if the electronic payment service provider and the card company are the same company or a group of companies, a single server that integrates the payment server 100 and the card company server 400 may be provided as the payment processing device.

[0088] The above describes the form for carrying out the present invention using an embodiment, but the present invention is not limited to such an embodiment, and various modifications and substitutions can be made within the scope that does not deviate from the gist of the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0089] 20. Payment App 50 First store terminal device 100 Payment Server 110 Communications Department 120 Payment Contents Department 130 Payment processing unit 140 Information Management Department 150 Acquisition Department 170 Storage section 172 User information 178 Authorization Information 200 User terminal device 210 Communications Department 220 Display section 230 Input section 240 Control Unit 250 Storage section 300 Card store terminal device 400 Card company server 500 Acquirer Server

Claims

1. an information management unit that manages prepaid card information, which is information about a user's prepaid card, in association with the user's electronic money balance; a payment processing unit that performs payment processing using the electronic money balance of the user when making a payment using the prepaid card of the user at a member store where the prepaid card can be used; A payment processing device comprising:

2. an acquisition unit that acquires first payment information including a first payment amount, which is a payment amount at the time of authorization, for a payment using the prepaid card; the payment processing unit determines whether to approve the payment using the prepaid card based on the first payment information; The payment processing device according to claim 1.

3. The payment processing unit If the first payment amount is equal to or less than the electronic money balance of the user, determining that payment using the prepaid card is approved, and subtracting the first payment amount from the electronic money balance; If the first payment amount is greater than the electronic money balance of the user, it is determined that the payment using the prepaid card is not approved. The payment processing device according to claim 2.

4. the acquisition unit acquires second payment information for a payment using the prepaid card, the second payment information including a second payment amount that is a payment amount at the time of sale at the affiliated store; The payment processing unit If the second payment amount matches the first payment amount, the payment process is completed; If the second payment amount does not match the first payment amount, subtract the additional amount obtained by subtracting the first payment amount from the second payment amount from the electronic money balance, and complete the payment process. The payment processing device according to claim 3.

5. When the additional collected amount is greater than the electronic money balance, the settlement processing unit bills the user for the excess amount obtained by subtracting the electronic money balance from the additional collected amount, and sets the electronic money balance of the user to zero. The payment processing device according to claim 4.

6. If the additional collected amount is greater than the electronic money balance, the payment processing unit notifies the user to charge electronic money for the excess amount. The payment processing device according to claim 5.

7. when electronic money is charged to the electronic money balance of the user, the payment processing unit preferentially uses the charged electronic money to cancel the excess amount; The payment processing device according to claim 5.

8. The payment processing device according to any one of claims 5 to 7; an application program installed on a user terminal device operated by the user for using an electronic payment service that performs electronic payment using code information; A payment processing system comprising: The application program is installed in the user terminal device. If the excess amount has occurred, a payment completion screen showing the excess amount is displayed. Payment processing system.

9. The application program is installed in the user terminal device. If the excess amount has occurred, the code information is not displayed on the payment screen of the electronic payment service, and the excess amount is displayed. The payment processing system according to claim 8.

10. The payment processing device The prepaid card information, which is information relating to the user's prepaid card, is linked to the user's electronic money balance and managed; When making a payment using the prepaid card of the user at a member store where the prepaid card can be used, the payment process is performed using the electronic money balance of the user. Payment processing methods.

11. The payment processor The prepaid card information, which is information relating to the user's prepaid card, is linked to the user's electronic money balance and managed; When making a payment using the prepaid card of the user at a member store where the prepaid card can be used, the payment process is performed using the electronic money balance of the user. program.

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