Service providing apparatus, service providing method, and program

Abstract

To improve convenience of a user.SOLUTION: An acquisition unit configured to acquire a request for an electronic payment using an electronic payment service including identification information of a user, identification information of a shop, and a settlement amount from an electronic payment application or a terminal device of the shop; voucher information stored in a storage unit, in which the identification information of the user, a plurality of types of electronic vouchers usable in the set shop of the electronic payment service, and a usage amount of each voucher are associated with each other; and using shop information indicating identification information of the shop in which the voucher is usable, the using shop information indicating identification information of the shop in which the voucher is usable, the using shop information indicating identification information of the shop in which the voucher is usable, the using shop information indicating identification information of the shop in which the voucher is usable, and, A payment processing unit configured to execute, when a usage amount of a first type voucher usable in the store is less than the payment amount, electronic payment related to the request by using a second type voucher usable in the store different from the first type voucher in addition to the first type voucher usable in the store.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a service providing device, a service providing method, and a program. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, a management device is known that accepts attribute information indicating the attributes of users who are eligible to acquire coupons that are automatically applied in conjunction with payment processing using a specified payment method, and provides coupons that can only be acquired by users with the attributes indicated by the accepted attribute information (see, for example, Patent Document 1). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Patent No. 6978569 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, the above-mentioned devices may not be convenient for users.

[0005] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above circumstances, and one of its objects is to provide a service providing device, a service providing method, and a program that can further improve user convenience. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] One aspect of the present invention is a service providing device that includes an acquisition unit that acquires a request for electronic payment using an electronic payment service from an electronic payment app or a store terminal device, the request including user identification information, store identification information, and a payment amount; and a payment processing unit that references voucher information stored in a memory unit, which associates the user's identification information with multiple types of electronic vouchers that can be used at a set of stores that use the electronic payment service and the amount to be used for each voucher, and usage store information that indicates the identification information of stores where the vouchers of each type can be used, and if the amount to be used of a first type of voucher that can be used at the store is less than the payment amount, executes the electronic payment related to the request using a second type of voucher that is different from the first type and that can be used at the store. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to one aspect of the present invention, it is possible to provide a service providing device, a service providing method, and a program that can improve user convenience. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a configuration for realizing an electronic payment service. [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 voucher information 173. [Figure 7] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of the contents of affiliated store / store information 176. [Figure 8] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of the contents of reference information 178. [Figure 9] 10 is a flowchart showing an example of the flow of processing executed by the payment server 100. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a diagram for explaining a voucher to be used. [Figure 11] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an integration process. [Figure 12] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an interface screen IF3. [Figure 13] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an interface screen IF3. [Figure 14] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an interface screen IF4. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] Hereinafter, with reference to the drawings, embodiments of a service providing device, a service providing method, and a program of the present invention will be described. Various devices, such as the "server" mentioned below, that provide services to users and perform internal analysis may be realized by a group of distributed devices, and each device may be operated by a different business. Furthermore, the hardware owner (the cloud server provider) and the business that actually operates the device may also be different. An application program and a 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. Virtual stores may also include stores operated by entities other than the operator of the electronic payment service. In such cases, when making a payment for a purchase at a virtual store, the user is controlled to transition to the interface screen of the electronic payment service. In an electronic payment service, a store is treated as belonging to, for example, a member store (brand), and when a purchase is made at a store, processing such as payment is primarily conducted between the user and the member store. Alternatively, processing such as payment may be conducted between the user and the store.

[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 10, one or more first store terminal devices 50, one or more second store terminal devices 70, the payment server 100, and a service server 200 (in the figure, 200-1 to 200-3, etc.). These devices communicate via, for example, a network NW. The network NW includes, for example, the Internet, a LAN (Local Area Network), wireless base stations, provider devices, and networks of payment systems such as credit cards.

[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 the payment server 100 may be included in another device.

[0012] [User terminal device] The user terminal device 10 is, for example, a portable terminal device such as a smartphone or tablet terminal. The user terminal device 10 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 the user terminal device 10, a processor such as a CPU executes a payment app 20, which operates in cooperation with the payment server 100 to provide electronic payment services to users. The payment app 20 is installed on the user terminal device 10 from, for example, an application store, and controls the camera, communication device, touch panel, etc.

[0013] [First store terminal device] 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] [Second store terminal device] 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 10 by executing the app for affiliated stores.

[0015] [Service Server] The service server 200 provides a user with a service other than an electronic payment service. The service is, for example, a service that provides a user with a voucher that can be used in the electronic payment service. The service server 200, for example, cooperates with the payment server 100 to execute a process for granting a user a voucher that can be used in the electronic payment service. For example, when a user performs an operation to purchase a voucher on an interface screen provided by the service server 200, the service server 200 provides the payment server 100 with information such as the shared user identification information and the details of the purchased voucher (number, usable amount, expiration date, voucher type, voucher identification information). Based on the information provided by the service server 200, the payment server 100 associates the voucher information with the user identification information managed by the electronic payment service and manages it. This allows the user to use the voucher in electronic payments using the electronic payment service.

[0016] For example, the vouchers provided by each service server 200 are of different types. The different types of vouchers include different types of vouchers themselves, different issuers of the vouchers, and different regions in which the vouchers can be used. The issuer may be a local government or a business. Examples of vouchers with different regions in which they can be used include vouchers that can be used at designated affiliated stores in XX city and vouchers that can be used at designated affiliated stores in △△ city.

[0017] Note that a part or all of the functional configuration of the service server 200 may be included in the payment server 100, and a part or all of the functional configuration of the payment server 100 may be included in the service server 200.

[0018] [Payment server] The payment server 100 realizes electronic payment based on payment information received from the user terminal device 10 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.

[0019] 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.

[0020] In the case of pattern 1 (hereinafter referred to as user scan) shown in FIG. 2, the user terminal device 10, with the payment application 20 running, decodes the store code image 60 using its optical reading function (S1). The 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 the payment server 100 (described below). The payment application 20 sends first payment information including the store URL and account ID to the payment server 100 (S2). The payment server 100 searches for store information (described below) using the affiliated store ID and store ID corresponding to the store URL, acquires the affiliated store name and store name information (S3), and sends this to the payment application 20 (S4). The user enters the payment amount into the user terminal device 10 on the screen displaying the affiliated store name and store name (S5). Then, the user terminal device 10 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.

[0021] 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 10 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).

[0022] 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.

[0023] [Payment server functional configuration] 4 is a configuration diagram of the payment server 100. The payment server 100 includes, for example, a communication unit 110, a content providing unit 120, a payment processing unit 130, an information processing unit (processing unit) 140, 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.

[0024] The storage unit 170 is a 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 including voucher information 173, content information 174, affiliated store / shop information 176, etc. Some of this information may be stored in the storage unit of the user terminal device 10.

[0025] The communication unit 110 is a communication interface for connecting to the network NW, and is, for example, a network interface card.

[0026] The 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 10. The content providing unit 120 reads out necessary content from the content information 174 as appropriate and provides it to the user terminal device 10. The user terminal device 10 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 content providing unit 120 provides the payment application 20 with information necessary for generating the content.

[0027] The payment processing unit 130 performs payment processing based on the payment information transmitted by the user terminal device 10 or the first store terminal device 50. The payment processing unit 130 performs payment processing while referring to the user information 172.

[0028] [User information] 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 associated information such as email address, user ID, name, address, date of birth, registration date, charge 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, and payment history information. The user URL is used for remittance processing between users. Registration of a telephone 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). Similarly, the email address, name, address, and date of birth 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.

[0029] 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.).

[0030] The user information 172 includes voucher information 173. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of the voucher information 173. The voucher information 173 is, for example, information indicating vouchers that the user can use and information (not shown) about vouchers that the user has used. FIG. 6 shows voucher information 173 for a specific user. The voucher information 173 is, for example, information in which a voucher ID, the number of vouchers, the usable amount, and the expiration date are associated with each other. Information indicating the date and time when the voucher was issued may be associated with the voucher ID.

[0031] [Partner / Store Information] 7 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 affiliated store IDs and store IDs are associated with store URLs, a second table 176B in which affiliated store IDs are associated with affiliated store names and sales amounts (described above), a third table 176C in which store IDs are associated with store names, and affiliated store voucher information 176D. In addition to this information, the affiliated store / store information 176 may also include information such as the category of affiliated store or store, the store's location, and payment patterns.

[0032] The affiliated store voucher information 176D is information in which a voucher ID is associated with a store ID. The affiliated store voucher information 176D is information that specifies the type of voucher that can be used at a store. In the affiliated store voucher information 176D, an affiliated store ID may be used instead of the store ID.

[0033] The information processing unit 140 acquires information provided by other server devices and terminal devices. The information processing unit 140 manages user information 172 and affiliated store / store information 176 based on information acquired from the user terminal device 10 and the second store terminal device 70. The information processing unit 140 adds new records to, edits, deletes, etc., the user information 172 and affiliated store / store information 176.

[0034] [Electronic Payment] When payment information is acquired from the user terminal device 10 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.

[0035] 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.

[0036] The information processing unit 140 acquires information provided by other server devices and terminal devices. The information processing unit 140 manages user information 172 and affiliated store / store information 176 based on information acquired from the user terminal device 10 and the second store terminal device 70. The information processing unit 140 adds new records to, edits, deletes, etc., the user information 172 and affiliated store / store information 176.

[0037] [overview] The payment server 100 receives a request for electronic payment using an electronic payment service from the payment app 20 or the first store terminal device 50, which request includes the user's identification information, the store's identification information, and the payment amount. The payment server 100 references voucher information 173 stored in the storage unit 170, which associates the user's identification information with multiple types of electronic vouchers that can be used at stores that are set up using the electronic payment service, and the amount to be used for each voucher, and affiliated store voucher information 176D, which indicates the identification information of stores where each type of voucher can be used. If the amount used of a first type of voucher that can be used at the store is less than the payment amount, the payment server 100 executes the electronic payment related to the request using a second type of voucher that is different from the first type and that can be used at the store, in addition to the first type of voucher that can be used at the store.

[0038] When a user has multiple types of vouchers, the payment server 100 determines which voucher to use preferentially based on the reference information 178. FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of the content of the reference information 178. The reference information 178 is information in which, for example, priorities are associated with priority details. For example, the first priority is given to vouchers with the shortest expiration date, the second priority is given to vouchers with the largest available balance, and the third priority is given to vouchers with the oldest creation date. The creation date is identified based on information (timestamp) indicating the date and time when the voucher was issued in the user information 172.

[0039] The payment server 100 refers to the criteria information 178 and determines the first type of voucher and the second type of voucher based on the first criterion, and then determines the type of voucher to be used preferentially based on the second criterion after the first criterion. The first criterion is to use vouchers with a shorter expiration date preferentially. The second criterion is to use vouchers with a larger available amount. The third criterion is to use vouchers in order of oldest creation date.

[0040] [flowchart] 9 is a flowchart showing an example of the flow of processing executed by the payment server 100. This processing is executed when the payment server 100 acquires a request for electronic payment (second payment information, payment information).

[0041] First, the payment server 100 identifies a voucher that can be used at the store where the electronic payment is made (S100). For example, the payment server 100 refers to the affiliated store voucher information 176D to identify a voucher that can be used at the store, and further refers to the voucher information 173 to identify whether the user has a voucher that can be used at the store.

[0042] Next, the payment server 100 determines the voucher to be used based on the criteria information 178 (S102). For example, the payment server 100 automatically uses a voucher with priority over other payment methods. For example, the payment server 100 uses one or more vouchers to cover the payment amount. For example, the payment server 100 determines the voucher to be used according to the priority of the criteria information 178.

[0043] Next, the payment server 100 determines whether electronic payment is possible using only the voucher (S104). If electronic payment is possible using only the voucher, the payment server 100 executes the electronic payment using only the voucher (S106). If electronic payment is not possible using only the voucher, the payment server 100 executes the electronic payment using the voucher and another payment method (S108). For example, another payment method is used to cover the remaining amount. This completes one routine of this flowchart.

[0044] [Example 1] FIG. 10 is a diagram explaining vouchers to be used. Assume that a user has one each of Voucher 1, Voucher 2, and Voucher 3 that can be used at affiliated store A. Voucher 1 has the earliest expiration date, while Voucher 2 and Voucher 3 have the same expiration date. Assume that the balance of Voucher 2 is greater than the balance of Voucher 3. Voucher 1, Voucher 2, and Voucher 3 are different types of vouchers. For example, the balance of Voucher 1 is 500 yen, the balance of Voucher 2 is 600 yen, and the balance of Voucher 3 is 500 yen.

[0045] (Pattern A) When an electronic payment of 1,000 yen is made at merchant A, voucher 1 and voucher 2 are used (as shown in the figure, 500 yen each are used). Voucher 1, which has the closest expiration date, is used first, followed by voucher 2, which has the largest available amount and the same expiration date. If a user has two or more vouchers 1 (for example, if they have vouchers worth 1,000 yen), voucher 1 is used to make the electronic payment.

[0046] (Pattern B) When an electronic payment of 1,500 yen is made at merchant A, voucher 1, voucher 2, and voucher 3 are used (as shown in the figure, 500 yen, 600 yen, and 400 yen vouchers are used, respectively). If the user has multiple vouchers 1, voucher 1 is used first, and if the user has multiple vouchers 2, voucher 2 is used first.

[0047] (Pattern C) When an electronic payment of 2,000 yen is made at merchant A, Voucher 1, Voucher 2, and Voucher 3 are used, and any remaining balance is made up using other payment methods (as shown in the figure, 500 yen, 600 yen, 500 yen, and 400 yen are used, respectively). If a user has multiple Voucher 1s, Voucher 1 is used first, if a user has multiple Voucher 2s, Voucher 2 is used first, and if a user has multiple Voucher 3s, Voucher 3 is used first.

[0048] As described above, when a user holds multiple types of vouchers, the payment server 100 can improve user convenience by using the vouchers based on the priority.

[0049] [Refund process in Example 1] When a refund request is received after the payment server 100 has executed the electronic payment related to the request using the first type voucher and the second type voucher, the payment server 100 executes the refund process by prioritizing the voucher with the longer expiration date between the first type voucher and the second type voucher. The same applies to the refund process of specific example 2 described later.

[0050] When a refund process occurs, the payment server 100 performs the refund process according to the opposite priority to the priority of usage. In the case of pattern A, when a refund process of 500 yen occurs, the refund process is performed for voucher 2. For example, the refund process of the voucher with the longest expiration date is performed first. In the case of pattern B, when a refund process of 500 yen occurs, the refund process is performed for voucher 2. In the case of pattern B, when a refund process of 1000 yen occurs, the refund process is performed for voucher 2, and then the refund process is performed for voucher 3. In the case of pattern C, when a refund process of 1000 yen occurs, the refund process is performed for another payment method, and then the refund process is performed for voucher 2. For example, the refund order is (1), (2). (1) The expiration date is in the future (the expiration date is farther away), (2) if the expiration date is the same, the order is the order of usage (order of usage priority). As mentioned above, if Voucher 2 and Voucher 3 have the same expiration date, the refund for Voucher 2, which was used in order (largest balance), will take priority over the refund for Voucher 3.

[0051] As described above, the payment server 100 can improve convenience for users by performing the refund process so that users can more easily use the voucher.

[0052] [Example 2] The multiple types of vouchers are issued by the same entity, but include vouchers that can be used at a first type of store and vouchers that can be used at a second type of store. The first type of store and the second type of store may partially overlap. The first type of store and the second type of store are, for example, arbitrarily set by the issuer. The multiple types of vouchers include, for example, vouchers that can be used at affiliated stores and vouchers that can be used at limited affiliated stores. Affiliated stores are stores designated by an issuer such as a local government. These affiliated stores include, for example, department stores, large corporate chain stores, small and medium-sized enterprises, independently owned stores, and local affiliated stores. Vouchers that can be used at affiliated stores may be referred to as "common vouchers" below. Limited affiliated stores are stores that are limited from the affiliated stores designated by an issuer such as a local government. These affiliated stores are some or all of the small and medium-sized enterprises, independently owned stores, and local affiliated stores (for example, stores other than department stores and large corporate chain stores). Vouchers that can be used at limited participating stores may be referred to as "exclusive vouchers" hereinafter. For example, the above-mentioned participating stores include large-scale retail stores (stores with floor space exceeding a standard such as 1,000 square meters) (e.g., affiliated stores within large-scale retail stores) and other participating stores, and the exclusive participating stores may be affiliated stores different from the large-scale retail stores. The above-mentioned participating stores include stores with capital of a predetermined amount or more, and the exclusive participating stores may be classified so as not to include stores with capital of a predetermined amount or more. The exclusive participating stores may also be affiliated stores that belong to a local chamber of commerce. Exclusive vouchers are used preferentially over general vouchers.

[0053] FIG. 11 is a diagram explaining the vouchers to be used. Assume that a user has one dedicated voucher, one common voucher, and one voucher 2 that can be used at affiliated store A worth 500 yen. The dedicated voucher and common voucher have the same expiration date, with Voucher 2 having the latest expiration date. The dedicated voucher and common voucher are vouchers issued by the same local government or business.

[0054] Dedicated vouchers and general vouchers have a shorter expiration date than other vouchers, so they are given priority for use. As mentioned above, dedicated vouchers and general vouchers have the same expiration date, but the expiration date for computer processing (the expiration date for information used in computer processing) is set earlier for dedicated vouchers than for general vouchers. For example, the expiration date for dedicated vouchers is set to minus X seconds from the expiration date for general vouchers. This allows dedicated vouchers to be used with priority.

[0055] (Pattern D) When an electronic payment of 500 yen is made at merchant A, a dedicated voucher is used. In other words, a dedicated voucher with less flexibility in use is used first, rather than a general voucher with more flexibility in use. In other words, if a customer has multiple vouchers with the same expiration date, the voucher to be used is determined based on flexibility in use before the priority of the balance.

[0056] (Pattern E) When an electronic payment of 1,500 yen is made at merchant A, the dedicated voucher, common voucher, and voucher 2 are used (500 yen vouchers are used respectively as shown in the figure). If the user has multiple dedicated vouchers, the dedicated vouchers are used first, and if the user has multiple common vouchers, the common vouchers are used first. In other words, the voucher with the shortest expiration date is given priority among the "dedicated voucher (type A voucher), common voucher (type A voucher)" and "voucher 2 (type B voucher)." Dedicated vouchers (type A1 vouchers) are given priority over common vouchers (type A2 vouchers).

[0057] (Pattern F) When an electronic payment of 2,000 yen is made at affiliated store A, the dedicated voucher, common voucher, and voucher 2 are used (500 yen each is used as shown in the figure), and any remaining balance is paid using another payment method. If a user has multiple dedicated vouchers, the dedicated vouchers are used first, if a user has multiple common vouchers, the common vouchers are used first, and if a user has multiple vouchers 2, voucher 2 is used first.

[0058] As described above, when a user holds multiple types of vouchers, the payment server 100 can improve user convenience by using the vouchers based on the priority.

[0059] [Refund process in Example 2] When a refund process occurs, the payment server 100 performs the refund process according to the opposite priority to the usage priority. In the case of pattern D, when a refund process of 500 yen occurs, the refund process is performed on the dedicated voucher. In the case of pattern E, when a refund process of 500 yen occurs, the refund process is performed on voucher 2. For example, the refund process of the voucher with the longest expiration date is performed first. In the case of pattern F, when a refund process of 1500 yen occurs, the refund process is performed on another payment method, then on voucher 2, and then on the common voucher.

[0060] As described above, the payment server 100 can improve convenience for users by performing the refund process so that users can more easily use the voucher.

[0061] [Voucher integration process] When multiple users hold vouchers of the same type, the payment server 100 may combine the multiple vouchers. When a user holds multiple vouchers of the same type, the payment server 100 combines the multiple vouchers and displays information on the display unit of the user terminal device 10 including the total amount of the combined usage amounts, as if the user held a single voucher. When a user holds multiple vouchers of the same type, the payment server 100 combines the multiple vouchers and displays information on the display unit of the user terminal device 10 including the matching expiration dates of the combined vouchers, as if the user held a single voucher. The above processing improves the convenience of using vouchers for users.

[0062] FIG. 12 is a diagram for explaining the integration process. In an example (another example) different from this embodiment, when a user acquires a first type voucher and then further acquires a first type voucher, interface screen IF1 is displayed. Interface screen IF1 is a screen on which each of the first type vouchers is displayed. In this case, in another example, the voucher information is managed as vouchers with different expiration dates in two records, for example.

[0063] In contrast, the payment server 100 of this embodiment displays interface screen IF2 when a user acquires a first-type voucher and then acquires another first-type voucher (when acquiring a voucher of the same type). Interface screen IF2 is a screen that displays an integrated display of the first-type voucher and the first-type voucher acquired later. Interface screen IF2 is a screen that displays, for example, the total of the available amount of the first-type voucher acquired first (10,000 yen) and the available amount of the first-type voucher acquired next (5,000 yen), and further displays the same expiration date for both vouchers. The expiration date is, for example, the latest expiration date of the two vouchers.

[0064] The payment server 100 may, for example, manage the records of the integrated vouchers as a single record. In this case, the available amount and expiration date are set to the integrated amount and the later expiration date, and managed accordingly. Even when the vouchers are integrated, the payment server 100 may manage each voucher as its own record. In this case, a process is performed to rewrite the expiration date to the expiration date after integration.

[0065] As described above, the payment server 100 improves convenience for users by integrating vouchers of the same type. For example, even if a user acquires vouchers of the same type at different times, the user can use the vouchers of the same type as a single voucher.

[0066] [Payment interface screen] The payment server 100 may include information about the vouchers held by the user in the interface screen IF3 displayed on the display unit when the user makes an electronic payment. FIG. 13 is a diagram showing the interface screen IF3. The interface screen IF3 is a screen that displays, for example, a code image generated based on a one-time code. Below the code image, the interface screen IF3 displays information such as the type of voucher held by the user, the available amount for each voucher, and the expiration date. For example, the order in which the vouchers are arranged may be determined based on the priority described above. For example, in the area AR1, vouchers with higher priority may be arranged from top to bottom. This allows the user to recognize the vouchers they hold and their contents, and further allows them to intuitively and easily recognize the vouchers that should be used first.

[0067] The information in area AR1 may be included in an interface screen for reading the store code image. In this case, too, the user can recognize the vouchers they hold and their contents when making an electronic payment, and can intuitively and easily recognize the vouchers that should be used first.

[0068] [Interface screen after payment] The payment server 100 may include information about the vouchers used in the electronic payment on an interface screen IF4 displayed on the display unit after the user has made the electronic payment. FIG. 14 illustrates the interface screen IF4. The interface screen IF4 is, for example, a completion screen displayed after the electronic payment is completed. The interface screen IF4 displays information indicating the date and time of the payment, the payment amount, the points to be awarded, and details of the used vouchers. The information indicating the details of the used vouchers includes, for example, information indicating the type of the used voucher and the amount used for each voucher. This allows the user to recognize the type of the used voucher, the amount of each voucher, and so on. The order in which the vouchers are arranged in the area AR2 may be determined based on the priority described above. For example, in the area AR2, the most used vouchers with the highest priority are arranged from the top. This allows the user to recognize which vouchers were used first.

[0069] According to the embodiment described above, the payment server 100 refers to the voucher information stored in the memory unit, which associates the user's identification information with multiple types of electronic vouchers that can be used at selected stores of the electronic payment service and the amount to be used for each voucher, and the store information indicating the identification information of the store where each type of voucher can be used, and if the amount to be used for a first type of voucher that can be used at the store is less than the payment amount, the payment server 100 can improve the convenience of the user by executing the electronic payment related to the request using a second type of voucher that is different from the first type and that can be used at the store, in addition to the first type of voucher that can be used at the store.

[0070] 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]

[0071] 10 User terminal device 20. Payment App 100 Payment Server 120 Contents Provider 130 Payment processing unit 140 Information Processing Department

Claims

1. an acquisition unit that acquires a request for electronic payment using an electronic payment service, the request including user identification information, store identification information, and payment amount, from the electronic payment app or a store terminal device; By referring to voucher information stored in a storage unit, which associates the user's identification information with a plurality of types of electronic vouchers that can be used at a set of stores that use the electronic payment service, and the amount to be used for each of the vouchers, and store information indicating the identification information of the store where each of the types of vouchers can be used, a payment processing unit that, when the amount of a first type of voucher that can be used at the store is less than the payment amount, executes the electronic payment related to the request by using a second type of voucher that is different from the first type and that can be used at the store in addition to the first type of voucher that can be used at the store; A service providing device comprising:

2. The plurality of types refers to different types of vouchers themselves, different issuers of the vouchers, or different regions in which the vouchers can be used. The service providing device according to claim 1 .

3. the payment processing unit determines the first type of voucher and the second type of voucher based on a first criterion, and determines the type of voucher to be used with priority based on a second criterion after the first criterion; The first criterion is to give priority to the use of vouchers with a short expiration date. The second criterion is that the available amount is large. The service providing device according to claim 1 or 2.

4. The plurality of types of vouchers are issued by the same issuer, but include a first voucher that can be used at affiliated stores designated by the issuer, and a second voucher that can be used at a limited number of affiliated stores. The service providing device according to claim 1 .

5. the payment processing unit uses the second voucher with priority over the first voucher; The service providing device according to claim 4 .

6. The plurality of types of vouchers are: Including Type A vouchers and Type B vouchers, Type A vouchers include Type A1 vouchers and Type A2 vouchers with the same expiration date. Type A2 vouchers can be used at affiliated stores designated by the issuer, and Type A1 vouchers can be used at a limited number of affiliated stores. the payment processing unit gives priority to the voucher with a shorter expiration date between the type A voucher and the type B voucher, and executes the electronic payment by giving priority to the type A1 voucher over the type A2 voucher; The service providing device according to claim 1 .

7. the payment processing unit, when a refund request is acquired after executing the electronic payment related to the request using the first type voucher and the second type voucher, executes the refund process by giving priority to the voucher with the longer expiration date set between the first type voucher and the second type voucher; The service providing device according to claim 1 .

8. a providing unit that provides information about the voucher to a terminal device of the user; When the user has a plurality of vouchers of the same type, the providing unit integrates the plurality of vouchers and causes the display unit of the terminal device to display information including a total amount of the integrated usage amounts as if the user had a single voucher. The service providing device according to claim 1 .

9. a providing unit that provides information about the voucher to a terminal device of the user; When the user has a plurality of vouchers of the same type, the providing unit integrates the plurality of vouchers and causes the display unit of the terminal device to display information including the expiration dates of the integrated vouchers in a manner that makes it appear as if the user has a single voucher. The service providing device according to claim 1 .

10. a providing unit that displays the type of the voucher on a screen that is displayed when the electronic payment is used, based on the priority of use of the voucher; The service providing device according to claim 1 or 2.

11. The computer Acquire a request for electronic payment using an electronic payment service, including user identification information, store identification information, and payment amount, from the electronic payment app or a terminal device of the store; By referring to voucher information stored in a storage unit, which associates the user's identification information with a plurality of types of electronic vouchers that can be used at a set of stores that use the electronic payment service, and the amount to be used for each of the vouchers, and store information indicating the identification information of the store where each of the types of vouchers can be used, If the amount of a first type of voucher that can be used at the store is less than the payment amount, the electronic payment related to the request is executed by using a second type of voucher that can be used at the store and is different from the first type of voucher. Service delivery methods.

12. On the computer, acquires a request for electronic payment using an electronic payment service, including user identification information, store identification information, and payment amount, from the electronic payment app or a store terminal device; By referring to voucher information stored in a storage unit, which associates the user's identification information with multiple types of electronic vouchers that can be used at stores that are set up among stores that use the electronic payment service, and the amount to be used for each of the vouchers, and usage store information that indicates the identification information of stores where the vouchers can be used for each type of voucher, If the amount of a first type of voucher that can be used at the store is less than the payment amount, the electronic payment related to the request is executed by using a second type of voucher that can be used at the store and is different from the first type of voucher. program.

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