Information processing device, information processing method, and program

Abstract

To improve convenience for affiliated stores that create coupons. [Solution] An information processing device comprising: a processing unit that, when a coupon provided to a user is used for electronic payment of an electronic payment service during the usage period, performs electronic payment using the coupon; sets an interval period during which use of the coupon is stopped after the usage period has expired; and after the interval period has expired, repeats the process of resuming use of the coupon in accordance with information regarding the content and information indicating the usage period based on repetitive setting information without obtaining information regarding the content, information indicating the usage period, and instruction information.

Description

[Technical Field]

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

[0002] Conventionally, an information processing device that provides coupons to users has been disclosed (see, for example, Patent Document 1). This information processing device receives distribution timing such as date and time or day of the week, and distributes the coupon at the received distribution timing. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2024-052520 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] Conventional technology does not sufficiently consider the convenience of affiliated stores that create coupons.

[0005] The present invention has been made in consideration of these circumstances, and one of its objects is to provide an information processing device, an information processing method, and a program that can improve the convenience of affiliated stores in creating coupons. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] One aspect of the present invention is an information processing device that includes: an acquisition unit that acquires information regarding the content of a coupon created by an affiliated store to be used in an electronic payment service, information indicating the usage period of the coupon, instruction information instructing the provision of the coupon, and recurrence setting information that accepts settings to repeatedly provide the coupon to a user of the electronic payment service at predetermined intervals so that the coupon can be used; and a processing unit that, in accordance with the instruction information, performs the electronic payment using the coupon when the coupon provided to the user is used in an electronic payment of the electronic payment service during the usage period, sets an interval period during which the use of the coupon is stopped after the usage period has expired, and repeats the process of resuming the use of the coupon according to the information regarding the content and the information indicating the usage period based on the recurrence setting information after the interval period has expired, without obtaining information regarding the content, information indicating the usage period, and the instruction information. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to one aspect of the present invention, it is possible to provide an information processing device, an information processing method, and a program that can improve convenience for affiliated stores that create coupons. [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 the contents of affiliated store / store information 176. [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 an interface screen IM1 for determining a title and description provided by the interface 72 for affiliated stores. [Figure 9] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of an interface screen IM2 for determining the usage period provided by the interface 72 for member stores. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of an interface screen IM3 for determining a publication period, provided by the interface for member stores 72. [Figure 11] 10 is a sequence diagram showing an example of the flow of processing executed by the member store interface 72 and the payment server 100. FIG. [Figure 12] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of a mode of providing a repeat coupon. [Figure 13] 10 is a flowchart (2) showing an example of the flow of a process executed by the payment server 100 to correct the contents of a coupon. [Figure 14] 1 is a flowchart (1) showing an example of the flow of processing executed by the payment server 100. [Figure 15] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of an interface screen IM4 displayed by the member store interface 72. [Figure 16] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of an interface screen displayed by an interface 72 for affiliated stores. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] Hereinafter, with reference to the drawings, embodiments of an information processing device, an information processing method, and a program according to the present invention will be described. Various devices, such as the "server" mentioned below, that provide services to users or perform internal analysis may be realized by a group of distributed devices, and each device may be operated by a different business. Furthermore, the owner of the device hardware (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-world store) that exists in real space, but may also include a virtual store for e-commerce. A virtual store may also include a store provided by an entity different from the operator of the electronic payment service. In such a case, when paying for purchases at the 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, an affiliated store (brand), and when a purchase is made at a store, processing such as payment is primarily conducted between the user and the affiliated 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, and the payment server 100. These devices communicate, for example, via 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] [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.

[0016] 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.

[0017] 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.

[0018] 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).

[0019] 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.

[0020] [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 management unit 140, an information processing unit (processing 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.

[0021] 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, content information 174, affiliated store / shop information 176, and coupon information 178. Some of this information may be stored in the storage unit of the user terminal device 10.

[0022] The communication unit 110 is a communication interface for connecting to the network NW, and is, for example, a network interface card.

[0023] 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.

[0024] 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.

[0025] [User information] FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of the contents of the user information 172. The user information 172 includes, for example, a user URL, account ID, telephone number, and password, as well as other information such 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, and payment history information. The user URL is used for remittance processing between users. Registration of a phone number and password is required when registering for an 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 also be set by the user (or do not have to be set). The registration date is the date the user registered for the electronic payment service (the date the account was created). Hereinafter, a user instance (electronic payment account) to which this information is associated is referred to as an account.

[0026] 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 service provider (bank) 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. The payment method setting indicates whether the user will make electronic payments using the charge balance or by credit payment at that time. The bank account and credit card number are information (account number and card number) on bank accounts or credit cards that can be used to deposit funds into the electronic payment service. Charge history information is a record of the user's previous transfers to the electronic payment service to increase the charge balance. Payment history information is information that shows the details of the user's payments (date and time, store ID of the store where the purchase was made, payment amount, payment method, etc.) for each payment.

[0027] The user information 172 includes user coupon information (not shown). The user coupon information is, for example, information about coupons that can be used by the user. The user coupon information is, for example, information that associates a coupon ID, a usable amount, a usage period, and an available affiliated store.

[0028] [Affiliated store / store information] 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's location, and payment patterns.

[0029] [Coupon Information] FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of the contents of coupon information 178. Coupon information 178 is information showing a list of coupons generated by a member store or a store administrator (manager). Coupon information 178 is information in which, for example, a coupon number is associated with a usage start date, usage end date, end conditions, posting period (or announcement date, announcement period, posting date), and information indicating whether or not the coupon is a repeat coupon. Coupon information 178 includes information set by the administrator, such as a coupon cover image, title, and description. In addition to the above, coupon information 178 may also associate information such as a budget and target user with a coupon number.

[0030] A repeat coupon is one that is repeatedly provided according to the coupon's conditions of publication period and usage period once set. For example, a repeat coupon captures the initially set publication period and usage period in days, automatically sets an interval period according to the usage period, and provides the coupon again based on the publication period and usage period. If no publication period is set, the publication period is omitted. With a repeat coupon, once the coupon is reviewed by the administrator when it is first set, subsequent reviews are omitted. An interval period is a period between usage periods during which the coupon is not permitted to be used.

[0031] The interval period is a period set so as not to cause any disadvantage to the user. For example, if the coupon usage period is within a first period, the interval period is set to the first period. For example, if the coupon usage period is longer than the first period but shorter than a second period, the interval period is set to the coupon usage period. For example, if the coupon usage period is longer than the second period, the interval period is set to the second period.

[0032] [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.

[0033] 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.

[0034] The information management unit 140 acquires information provided by other server devices and terminal devices. The information management 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 management unit 140 adds new records to, edits, deletes, etc., the user information 172 and affiliated store / store information 176.

[0035] [Create Coupon] A member store or store administrator (creator) can generate a coupon for an electronic payment service via the member store interface 72. The creator operates the member store interface 72 to display an interface screen for coupon creation on the display unit of the second store terminal device 70. The creator can create a coupon by entering information for coupon creation into the interface screen displayed on the display unit. At this time, the creator uses the interface screen to determine a cover image, which is the background image of the coupon, and to enter coupon information such as the title, text, usage start date, usage end date, end conditions, posting period (or announcement date, announcement period, posting date), budget, and target users. Below, we will explain how to determine the title, description, period, and budget as an example.

[0036] [Deciding on title and description] The interface for member stores 72 displays on the display unit an image of the coupon in which the title and description entered by the creator through operations performed on the interface screen are reflected in the image in real time.

[0037] 8 is a diagram showing an example of an interface screen IM1 for determining the title and description provided by the affiliated store interface 72. The interface screen IM1 is a screen that is displayed after the creator sets the cover image via the interface screen.

[0038] Area AR1 in interface screen IM1 is an area for inputting a title and description. For example, the creator can determine the title and body by inputting a title (C1) and description (C2). Area AR2 is an area where an image of the coupon reflecting the title and body input in area AR1 is displayed in real time. For example, the title (C1) and description (C2) are reflected in area AR3 of area AR2. When button B1 is operated, the next interface screen (e.g., interface screen IM2 in FIG. 9) is displayed.

[0039] [Determining information about the period] FIG. 9 shows an example of an interface screen IM2 for determining the usage period provided by the member store interface 72. For example, the creator can determine the usage period by specifying the usage period. In area AR2, an image of the coupon reflecting the usage period (C3) entered in area AR1 is displayed in real time. For example, the usage period (C4) is reflected in area AR4 of area AR2.

[0040] The interface screen IM2 includes, for example, a setting button B# for setting whether to repeatedly provide a coupon. When this setting button B# is operated, the coupon is repeatedly provided to the user. "Providing" means that the coupon can be posted or used, as will be described later. Details will be described later.

[0041] When button B2 is operated, the following interface screen (for example, interface screen IM3 in FIG. 10) is displayed. In addition to the above, an interface screen for setting the posting period is also provided, allowing the creator to set the posting period of the coupon.

[0042] [Determining budget information] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of an interface screen IM3 for determining the posting period provided by the interface 72 for affiliated stores. Area AR1 on interface screen IM3 is an area for inputting a budget. The budget includes the point award rate, the point amount, and the budget limit. For example, the creator can determine the budget by inputting the budget. In area AR2, an image of the coupon reflecting the budget input in area AR1 is displayed in real time. For example, scrolling the bar in area AR5 of area AR2 scrolls the image, displaying the point award rate and the point amount. In this way, the budget is reflected in the image in real time. When button B3 is operated, the next interface screen (a confirmation interface screen not shown) is displayed.

[0043] As described above, the member store interface 72 generates an image that reflects the determined budget in real time and displays the interface screen including the generated image on the display unit. This allows the creator to recognize the coupon image, improving convenience.

[0044] [Sequence diagram] 11 is a sequence diagram showing an example of the flow of processing executed by the affiliated store interface 72 and the payment server 100. First, when the creator operates the second store terminal device 70 to activate the affiliated store interface 72 (S50), a request corresponding to the activation is sent to the payment server 100 (S52). In response to the request, the payment server 100 cooperates with the affiliated store interface 72 to display a login screen on the display unit of the second store terminal device 70 (S54). The affiliated store interface 72 sends the login ID and password entered by the creator to the payment server 100 (S56).

[0045] If the payment server 100 determines that the login ID and password are a combination of a preset login ID and password, it sends information for displaying an interface screen and various information to the affiliated store interface 72 (S58).

[0046] The information for displaying the interface screen is information that the affiliated store interface 72 uses to generate the interface screen to be displayed on the display unit (for example, information for displaying the interface screen for inputting coupon information).

[0047] Next, the affiliated store interface 72 displays an interface screen for determining the cover screen of the coupon on the display unit, and determines the cover screen in accordance with the creator's operations on the interface screen (S60). Next, the affiliated store interface 72 displays an interface screen for determining the title and description of the coupon on the display unit, and determines the title and description in accordance with the creator's operations on the interface screen (S62).

[0048] Next, the affiliated store interface 72 displays an interface screen for determining coupon period information (such as usage period and posting period) on the display unit, and determines the period information in accordance with the creator's operations on the interface screen (S64). Next, the affiliated store interface 72 displays an interface screen for determining the coupon budget on the display unit, and determines the budget in accordance with the creator's operations on the interface screen (S66).

[0049] Next, the affiliated store interface 72 transmits the information determined in the above processing to the payment server 100 (S68). Next, the payment server 100 executes various processes based on the transmitted information (S70) and transmits a completion notice to the affiliated store interface 72 (S72). The above various processes include, for example, a process for determining whether or not the information determined in each of the above processings matches a preset condition, and a process for making a determination not performed in the above determination process.

[0050] For example, it is determined whether the posting period satisfies the condition in relation to the usage period. For example, it is determined whether the usage period of the target coupon satisfies the condition in relation to the usage periods of other coupons. This determination may be made in the second store terminal device of the affiliated store interface 72. For example, if the interval period between the usage periods of two coupons is appropriate, it is determined that the condition is met.

[0051] As described above, the interface for member stores 72 and the payment server 100 cooperate to support the creation of coupons.

[0052] [About repeat coupons] Once a member store creates and sets up a coupon, it can automatically issue the coupon repeatedly at a predetermined interval and provide it to users for use. This process is explained below.

[0053] The information processing unit 150 of the payment server 100 acquires information about the content of the coupon created by the affiliated store to be used in the electronic payment service (e.g., cover image, title, description, budget, target users, etc.), information indicating the coupon usage period (e.g., usage period), instruction information instructing the provision of the coupon (e.g., information corresponding to the operation to complete the creation of the coupon in FIG. 11), and recurrence setting information (e.g., information that button B# has been operated) that accepts settings to repeatedly provide the coupon to users of the electronic payment service at predetermined intervals so that they can be used. The above information is information entered or set by the creator on each of the interface screens described above.

[0054] In response to the instruction information, if a coupon provided to a user is used for electronic payment of an electronic payment service within the usage period, the information processing unit 150 executes electronic payment using the coupon. The information processing unit 150 sets an interval period during which coupon use will be suspended after the usage period has expired. After the interval period has elapsed, the information processing unit 150 repeats the process of resuming use of the coupon according to the information about the content and the information indicating the usage period based on the repetition setting information, without obtaining information about the content, information indicating the usage period, and instruction information.

[0055] After the restart, the payment server 100 sets the same period as the usage period as the usage period of the coupon according to the information on the content and the information indicating the usage period, thereby repeatedly providing the coupon to the user.

[0056] [Examples of repeat coupons] 12 is a diagram illustrating an example of a mode of providing a repeat coupon. For example, it is assumed that a creator has created the following coupon. Usage period: April 1st to April 30th Publication period: 1st period before the start of the usage period

[0057] When a coupon like the one described above is created and a repeat coupon is set, the payment server 100 automatically sets an interval period according to the usage period after the expiration of the usage period. After the interval period ends, the payment server 100 sets the same usage period as the previous time and makes the coupon available for use. In this case, the payment server 100 sets a posting period that is one period before the start of the usage period and posts the coupon on the electronic payment service. That is, the payment server 100 posts the coupon on the electronic payment service a predetermined time before the start of the usage period, and during the interval period, repeats the process of posting the coupon on the electronic payment service from a predetermined time before the start of the next usage period of the coupon corresponding to the information about the content and the information indicating the usage period (a predetermined period before the start of the resumption of usage). The payment server 100 repeatedly sets the posting period, usage period, and interval period of the coupon as described above and provides the coupon to the user. If the posting period is not set, setting the posting period is omitted.

[0058] If a setting is made to issue coupons repeatedly, the payment server 100 may restrict the issuance of other coupons based on requests from affiliated stores.

[0059] In addition, when a repeat coupon is set using a coupon currently provided to the user or a coupon created in the past, the user specifies the target coupon and performs the operation to set the repeat coupon, and the payment server 100 sets the target coupon as a repeat coupon and provides the coupon to the user.

[0060] In the above example, the coupon is repeatedly provided based on a predetermined usage period. However, instead of (or in addition to) this, the coupon may be repeatedly provided based on a timing (day of the week, time period, etc.) specified by the affiliated store. For example, the affiliated store can specify a day of the week, such as Monday through Friday, or a time period, such as from 5:00 PM to 10:00 PM on weekdays. In this case, the payment server 100 repeatedly provides the coupon with the specified timing as the usage period. In the above example, the payment server 100 also sets an appropriate interval period according to the usage period, and repeatedly provides the coupon after the interval period.

[0061] [Flowchart (1)] FIG. 13 is a flowchart (1) showing an example of the flow of processing executed by the payment server 100. The payment server 100 sets various periods (posting period, usage period) specified by the creator (S200). Next, the payment server 100 determines whether the start or end of each period has arrived (S202). If the start or end of each period has arrived, the payment server 100 starts or ends each period (S204). The payment server 100 repeats these processes until an instruction to stop this process is received from the affiliated store related to the coupon.

[0062] By using the above process, member stores can provide coupons to users at the appropriate time simply by creating the coupons once and setting various periods. For example, it would be time-consuming for users to create coupons every time, but in this embodiment, coupons can be easily created and provided as described above.

[0063] [Flowchart (2)] 14 is a flowchart (2) showing an example of the processing flow for modifying coupon contents executed by the payment server 100. The payment server 100 accepts requests to change the content or usage period of a coupon or to cancel the provision of the coupon before providing the coupon (before posting the coupon and before resuming use of the coupon), but does not accept requests to change or cancel the provision of the coupon after providing the coupon (after posting or resuming use). In other words, the payment server 100 accepts requests to change the content or usage period of a coupon before posting the coupon, but does not accept such changes after posting the coupon.

[0064] 12, for example, modification (or cancellation) of a coupon that will start being used on April 1 after March 20 is not permitted, but modification (or cancellation) of a coupon that will be posted or used on or after May 1 is permitted. For example, when a coupon is modified, the payment server 100 may provide subsequent coupons to the user with the modified content, or may provide subsequent coupons to the user with the content of the coupon that was initially set.

[0065] The payment server 100 determines whether a request to modify the coupon content or to cancel the provision of the coupon has been received (S300). The member store can modify the coupon content or cancel the provision of the coupon by operating the member store interface 72.

[0066] When a request to modify the coupon content or to cancel the coupon provision is received, the payment server 100 determines whether the coupon provision has not yet started (S302). Provision has started means that posting or use has begun (meaning that the coupon is in a state where it can be recognized by the user). If the coupon provision has not yet started, the payment server 100 permits the modification of the coupon content or the cancellation of the coupon provision (S304). If the coupon provision has not yet started (if the coupon provision has already started), the payment server 100 provides the affiliated store via the affiliated store interface 72 with information that the coupon content cannot be modified or the coupon provision cannot be canceled (S306). This ends the processing of one routine of this flowchart.

[0067] As described above, the payment server 100 can prevent discrepancies between the coupon being offered and the coupon after amendment, and can prevent the coupon being offered to the user from being cancelled, by determining whether to allow the modification or cancellation at the appropriate time.

[0068] [Affiliate store interface screen] The payment server 100 causes the display unit of the second store terminal device 70 to display information about coupons provided by affiliated stores to users. The information about the coupon includes information indicating whether the coupon is a coupon that is repeatedly provided at predetermined intervals, information indicating whether the coupon is publicly available, information indicating whether one or both of the coupon content (award rate and / or award conditions) and / or usage period can be changed, information indicating whether the provision of the coupon can be stopped, information about the usage period after the interval period has elapsed, or information about the posting period for which the coupon is posted on the electronic payment service. An example will be described below.

[0069] [Affiliate store interface screen (1)] FIG. 15 is a diagram showing an example of an interface screen IM4 displayed by the affiliated store interface 72. The payment server 100 cooperates with the affiliated store interface 72 to provide the affiliated store with information about coupons created by the affiliated store. The interface screen IM4 is information about coupons that have begun to be used. The interface screen IM4 includes, for example, a cover image of the coupon, information indicating whether the coupon has been made public, coupon details (such as the coupon award rate and award conditions), remaining budget information, remaining number of days (remaining number of days for use), and posting period information. Furthermore, the interface screen IM4 includes information indicating whether the coupon is a recurring coupon, a button for confirming details, and the like. When the button for confirming details is operated, the payment server 100 provides the affiliated store with information indicating a schedule such as the posting period, usage period, and interval period (for example, information as shown in FIG. 12).

[0070] [Affiliate store interface screen (2)] FIG. 16 is a diagram showing an example of an interface screen displayed by the affiliated store interface 72. The interface screen IM5 contains information about a coupon before it is used. The interface screen IM5 includes, for example, a cover image of the coupon, information indicating whether it has been made public, the coupon details (such as the coupon's reward rate and reward conditions), the next coupon usage period, and the next posting period. Furthermore, the interface screen IM5 includes information indicating whether the coupon is a repeat coupon, a button for checking details, and the like.

[0071] Furthermore, interface screen IM5 includes buttons for instructing modification or cancellation. These buttons are displayed on the interface screen for coupons waiting to be published (before being provided). When these buttons are operated, payment server 100 provides the affiliated store with a modification screen for modifying the coupon content (award rate, grant conditions, next usage period, next posting period, etc.). The button for instructing modification is an example of "information indicating whether or not one or both of the coupon content and usage period can be changed (indicating that changes are possible)." The button for instructing cancellation is an example of "information indicating whether or not the provision of the coupon can be canceled (indicating that cancellation is possible)."

[0072] In the flowchart of FIG. 14, processing is executed to accept modification or cancellation before provision has started and not accept modification or cancellation after provision has started. However, as described above, the payment server 100 may display a button for accepting modification or cancellation before provision has started and not display the button for accepting modification or cancellation after provision has started. In other words, the payment server 100 accepts changes to the content or usage period of a coupon or cancellation of the provision of a coupon before providing the coupon (before coupon use is resumed), but does not accept changes or cancellation of the provision of a coupon after the coupon has been provided (after use is resumed). The payment server 100 accepts changes to the content or usage period of a coupon before posting the coupon, but does not accept changes after the coupon has been posted.

[0073] The payment server 100 may accept a change to the coupon content or usage period, provide the user with a coupon for the accepted content or usage period, and after an interval period has elapsed, provide the user with a coupon for the content and usage period before or after the change was accepted. For example, if the content of a coupon is modified, after the coupon with the modified content is provided to the user, the next coupon may be provided with the modified coupon content or the coupon content set to be provided repeatedly the first time. For example, after a coupon with a changed usage period is provided once, the next coupon may be provided with the preset usage period or the modified usage period. The same applies to other coupon content.

[0074] As described above, the payment server 100 provides the member store with information about the coupons that the member store has created, allowing the member store to easily check the information and status of the coupons that the member store has created. Furthermore, the member store can refer to the information and cancel the coupons by modifying the content of the coupons.

[0075] Furthermore, the payment server 100 may, in response to a request from the affiliated store, make the content of the coupons from the N1th to the N2th times different from the content of the coupon after the N2th time. For example, the affiliated store may specify the content of the coupons to be provided during a specified period and the content of the coupons to be provided during a different period. The payment server 100 may automatically provide the coupons corresponding to this specification to the user.

[0076] Furthermore, the payment server 100 may receive from the affiliated store either or both of the number of times to provide the coupon and the coupon budget. For example, the payment server 100 may repeatedly provide the coupon the number of times it has received, based on the coupon for the set usage period, the interval period according to the usage period, and the number of times it has received the coupon. When the payment server 100 receives a budget in addition to the number of times, it may automatically divide the budget by the number of times to set a budget for each number of times and provide the coupon. As described above, the payment server 100 can reduce the effort required for the affiliated store to set coupons.

[0077] According to the embodiment described above, when a coupon provided to a user is used for electronic payment of an electronic payment service during the usage period, the payment server 100 executes the electronic payment using the coupon, sets an interval period for suspending the use of the coupon after the usage period has expired, and repeats the process of resuming the use of the coupon according to the information about the content and the information about the usage period based on the repetitive setting information after the interval period has expired, without obtaining information about the content, information indicating the usage period, and instruction information, thereby improving the convenience of the affiliated store that creates the coupon.

[0078] 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]

[0079] 10 User terminal device 20. Payment App 100 Payment Server 120 Contents Provider 130 Payment processing unit 140 Information Management Department 150 Information Processing Department

Claims

1. an acquisition unit that acquires information about the content of a coupon created by a member store to be used in an electronic payment service, information indicating the coupon's usage period, instruction information instructing the user to provide the coupon, and recurrence setting information that accepts settings to repeatedly provide the coupon to users of the electronic payment service at predetermined intervals so that the coupon can be used; In response to the instruction information, if a coupon provided to the user is used for electronic payment of the electronic payment service during the usage period, the coupon is used to execute the electronic payment; After the expiration of the usage period, an interval period is set during which the use of the coupon is suspended; a processing unit that repeats a process of resuming use of the coupon corresponding to the information about the content and the information about the usage period based on the repetition setting information, without obtaining the information about the content, the information about the usage period, and the instruction information after the interval period has elapsed; and An information processing device comprising:

2. the processing unit automatically sets an interval period according to the usage period; The information processing device according to claim 1 .

3. the processing unit sets, after the resumption, the same period as the usage period as a usage period of a coupon according to the information about the content and the information indicating the usage period. The information processing device according to claim 1 .

4. the processing unit accepts a request to change the content of the coupon or the usage period or to stop providing the coupon before resuming use of the coupon, and does not accept the request to change or stop providing the coupon after resuming use of the coupon; The information processing device according to claim 1 .

5. The processing unit Posting the coupon on the electronic payment service a predetermined period before the start of the usage period; during the interval period, repeating a process of posting the coupon on the electronic payment service from the predetermined period before the start of resumption of use of the coupon corresponding to the information about the content and the information indicating the usage period; The information processing device according to claim 1 .

6. the processing unit accepts changes to the content or the usage period of the coupon before the coupon is posted, and does not accept the changes after the coupon is posted; The information processing device according to claim 5 .

7. the processing unit accepts a change to the content of the coupon or the usage period, provides the user with a coupon for the accepted content or content for the usage period, and, after the interval period has elapsed, provides the user with a coupon for the content and usage period before or after accepting the change; 7. The information processing device according to claim 4 or 6.

8. a provision unit that displays information about coupons that the member store provides to the user on a display unit of the member store's terminal device; The information about the coupon is Information indicating whether the coupon is a coupon that is repeatedly provided every predetermined period; Information indicating whether the coupon is publicly available; Information indicating whether the content and / or the usage period of the coupon can be changed; Information indicating whether the provision of the coupon can be canceled; information about the usage period after the interval period has elapsed; or information on the posting period during which the coupon will be posted on the electronic payment service; The information processing device according to claim 1 .

9. The computer acquire information regarding the content of a coupon created by a member store to be used in an electronic payment service, information indicating the coupon's usage period, instruction information instructing the user to provide the coupon, and recurrence setting information for accepting a setting to repeatedly provide the coupon to a user of the electronic payment service at predetermined intervals so that the coupon can be used; In response to the instruction information, if a coupon provided to the user is used for electronic payment of the electronic payment service during the usage period, the coupon is used to execute the electronic payment; After the expiration of the usage period, an interval period is set during which the use of the coupon is suspended; after the interval period has elapsed, repeating the process of resuming the use of the coupon according to the information on the content and the information indicating the usage period based on the repetition setting information without obtaining the information on the content, the information indicating the usage period, and the instruction information; Information processing methods.

10. On the computer, A process of acquiring information regarding the content of a coupon created by a member store to be used in an electronic payment service, information indicating the coupon's usage period, instruction information instructing the user to provide the coupon, and recurrence setting information for accepting settings to repeatedly provide the coupon to users of the electronic payment service at predetermined intervals so that the coupon can be used; a process of executing the electronic payment using the coupon when the coupon provided to the user is used for electronic payment of the electronic payment service during the usage period in accordance with the instruction information; a process of setting an interval period during which the coupon usage will be suspended after the usage period has expired; after the interval period has elapsed, repeating a process of resuming the use of the coupon according to the information about the content and the information indicating the usage period based on the repetition setting information without obtaining the information about the content, the information indicating the usage period, and the instruction information; A program that executes the following.

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