Payment systems, payment programs, and payment methods

Abstract

The goal is to allow users to enjoy the benefits of the hometown tax donation system within the scope of their everyday purchasing activities. [Solution] The payment system 1 comprises at least one payment processing terminal Pr1, Pr2 and servers 200, 400. At least one payment processing terminal Pr1, Pr2 performs processing to exchange goods Bv1, Cn2 specified by user Us for exchange vouchers presented by user Us as return gifts for hometown tax donations. Servers 200, 400 deliver the exchange vouchers to user Us. Through each of the at least one payment processing terminal Pr1, Pr2, goods produced in a region corresponding to a different municipality than the municipality in which the payment processing terminal is located can be exchanged as return gifts for hometown tax donations to a different municipality.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a payment system, a payment program, and a payment method that can act on behalf of hometown tax payment.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, a payment system that can act on behalf of hometown tax payment is known. For example, Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2024-121763 (Patent Document 1) discloses an electronic payment system that provides an electronic voucher corresponding to hometown tax payment to a user. In this electronic system, a service server provides services related to hometown tax payment. When a user makes a hometown tax payment using this service, an electronic payment server that cooperates with the service server gives an electronic voucher that can be used at a preset designated store among stores where the electronic payment service is available to the user's electronic payment application.

[0003] In the above electronic payment system, a notification prompting the use or purchase of the voucher is sent to the user based on the identification information of the designated store obtained by the electronic payment application reading the code image of the designated store and the information of the voucher available at the designated store. According to this electronic payment system, since the user can actively use the voucher that enables hometown tax payment, the convenience of the user can be improved.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] Receiving gifts in return for hometown tax donations is usually not included in the purchasing behavior that users repeatedly engage in in their daily lives (daily purchasing behavior). Patent Document 1 also envisions an unusual need where a user wants to use a hometown tax donation voucher that can be used in a region different from their surrounding area when visiting a region different from their home for sightseeing or returning to their hometown. In Patent Document 1, since receiving gifts in return for hometown tax donations is not incorporated into daily purchasing behavior, it is difficult to allow users to enjoy the benefits of hometown tax donations within the scope of their daily purchasing behavior.

[0006] This disclosure was made to solve the aforementioned problems, and its purpose is to allow users to enjoy the benefits of the hometown tax donation system within the scope of their daily purchasing behavior. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] A payment system relating to one aspect of this disclosure comprises at least one payment processing terminal and a server. The at least one payment processing terminal processes the exchange of a voucher presented by the user for a product specified by the user as a return gift for a hometown tax donation. The server delivers the voucher to the user. Through each of the at least one payment processing terminal, products produced in a region corresponding to a different municipality than the municipality in which the payment processing terminal is located can be exchanged as a return gift for a hometown tax donation to a different municipality.

[0008] A settlement program relating to another aspect of this disclosure, when executed by at least one processor, causes at least one processor to perform settlement processing. The settlement processing includes processing to exchange a voucher presented by the user for a product specified by the user as a return gift for a hometown tax donation, and delivering the voucher to the user. Through each of the at least one settlement processing terminals performing such processing, products produced in a region corresponding to a different municipality than the municipality in which the settlement processing terminal is located can be exchanged as a return gift for a hometown tax donation to a different municipality.

[0009] A payment method relating to other aspects of this disclosure is performed by at least one processor. The payment method includes the steps of processing a product specified by a user to exchange for a voucher presented by the user as a return gift for a hometown tax donation, and delivering the voucher to the user. Through each of the at least one payment processing terminals that performs such processing, a product produced in a region corresponding to a different municipality than the municipality in which the payment processing terminal is located can be exchanged as a return gift for a hometown tax donation to a different municipality. [Effects of the Invention]

[0010] According to the payment system, payment program, and payment method disclosed herein, by issuing users exchange vouchers redeemable at the payment terminal for products produced in a region corresponding to a different municipality than the one where the payment processing terminal is located, users can enjoy the benefits of hometown tax donations within the scope of their everyday purchasing behavior. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0011] [Figure 1] This figure shows an example of the configuration of an electronic payment system according to an embodiment. [Figure 2] This figure shows an example of the home screen of an electronic payment application displayed on the touch panel of the user terminal shown in Figure 1. [Figure 3] This figure shows an example of the service screen that appears when the service button in Figure 2 is tapped. [Figure 4] This figure shows an example of the home screen of the Furusato Nozei (hometown tax donation) website that appears after the Furusato Nozei button in Figure 3 is tapped and single sign-on to the Furusato Nozei website is successful. [Figure 5] This sequence diagram shows an example of the processing flow from when the service screen in Figure 3 is displayed until when the home screen in Figure 4 is displayed. [Figure 6] It is a diagram showing an example of a search result screen displayed when the beverage button in FIG. 4 is tapped. [Figure 7] It is a diagram showing an example of a detailed screen displayed when the beverage in FIG. 6 is tapped. [Figure 8] It is a diagram showing an example of a cart screen displayed when the donation button in FIG. 7 is tapped. [Figure 9] It is a diagram showing an example of a purchaser information input screen displayed when the purchaser information input button in FIG. 8 is tapped. [Figure 10] It is a diagram showing an example of a donation information input screen displayed when the donation information input button in FIG. 9 is tapped. [Figure 11] It is a diagram showing an example of a confirmation screen displayed when the content confirmation button in FIG. 10 is tapped. [Figure 12] It is a diagram showing an example of a completion screen displayed when the confirmation button in FIG. 11 is tapped. [Figure 13] It is a diagram showing an example of a coupon screen displayed when the coupon use button in FIG. 12 is tapped. [Figure 14] It is a sequence diagram showing an example of the processing flow when the confirmation button in FIG. 11 is tapped. [Figure 15] It is a diagram showing an example of a payment screen displayed when the set button in FIG. 13 is tapped. [Figure 16] It is a sequence diagram showing an example of the processing flow when the user receives a return gift at the store. [Figure 17] It is a diagram showing an example of the hardware configuration of the user terminal, electronic payment server, POS terminal, and hometown tax payment server in FIG. 1.

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0012] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In the drawings, the same or corresponding parts are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof will not be repeated in principle.

[0013] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the configuration of an electronic payment system 1 which is an example of a payment system according to an embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, the electronic payment system 1 includes a user terminal 100, a point-of-sale (POS) terminal Pr (payment processing terminal) disposed in a store 300, an electronic payment server 200, a hometown tax payment server 400, and a local government server 500. These can communicate with each other via a network including the Internet or the like (for example, the Internet, a local area network (LAN), or a wide area network (WAN)). Each of the electronic payment server 200, the hometown tax payment server 400, and the local government server 500 is configured as, for example, a cloud system. Note that the electronic payment server 200 and the hometown tax payment server 400 may be configured as one server. Further, the payment processing terminal is not limited to a POS terminal, and may be, for example, a cashless payment processing terminal or a tablet terminal. Note that the payment processing terminal may simply be referred to as a payment terminal.

[0014] In FIG. 1, smartphones 100_1, 100_2, and 100_3 are shown as user terminals 100, stores 300_1 and 300_2 are shown as stores 300, and local government servers 500_1 and 500_2 are shown as local government servers 500. Also, POS terminals Pr1 and Pr2 respectively disposed in stores 300_1 and 300_2 are shown as POS terminals Pr. The number of stores 300 may be 1 or 3 or more. The number of POS terminals disposed in one store 300 may be 2 or more. The number of local government servers 500 may be 1 or 3 or more. The user terminal 100 is not limited to a smartphone, and may be, for example, a smartwatch.

[0015] The municipality (local government) corresponding to the area where store 300_1 is located may be the same as or different from the municipality corresponding to the area where store 300_2 is located. Stores 300_1 and 300_2 are, for example, multiple convenience stores deployed by a specific company (franchisor) under a Franchise Chain (FC) in areas corresponding to multiple municipalities. Each of stores 300_1 and 300_2 has a store computer (or store controller). POS terminals Pr1 and Pr2 are located in stores 300_1 and 300_2, respectively, and are connected to the store computers of stores 300_1 and 300_2, respectively. Each of the POS terminals Pr1 and Pr2 and the store computer may be configured as a single integrated computer. The store computers of stores 300_1 and 300_2 process the sales information entered from POS terminals Pr1 and Pr2, respectively, and also process the sales information to share it with the system of the headquarters (franchisor) of stores 300_1 and 300_2.

[0016] Each of the POS terminals Pr1 and Pr2 accepts electronic payments using a dedicated electronic payment application (specific application) and transmits payment information based on said electronic payment to the electronic payment server 200. This payment information includes ID-POS (sales information associated with the ID of the user who purchased the product). Each of the POS terminals Pr1 and Pr2 may also support a multi-service gateway. That is, each of the POS terminals Pr1 and Pr2 may also support payments by means other than the dedicated electronic payment application (for example, electronic payments using other applications, credit card payments, point payments, or cash payments). Furthermore, the above-mentioned electronic payment application is, for example, an application developed by the company operating stores 300_1 and 300_2 and is specific to that company.

[0017] In store 300_1, employee Sc1 is shown standing next to POS terminal Pr1, holding a barcode reader Br1 connected to POS terminal Pr1, and processing payment for beverage Bv1 (product) specified by user Us. Employee Sc1 reads the barcode on beverage Bv1 and the barcode displayed on user Us's smartphone 100 using the barcode reader Br1 and sells beverage Bv1 to user Us. The place of production of beverage Bv1 may be in a different municipality than the one corresponding to the area where store 300_1 is located. In store 300_2, employee Sc2 is shown standing next to POS terminal Pr2, holding a barcode reader Br2 connected to POS terminal Pr2, and processing payment for cup noodles Cn2 (product) specified by user Us. Employee Sc2 also sells cup noodles Cn2 to user Us in the same way as employee Sc1. The place of production of cup noodles Cn2 may be in a different municipality than the one corresponding to the area where store 300_2 is located. Furthermore, the products that can be processed for sale using POS terminals Pr1 and Pr2 are not limited to goods (tangible products), but may also include services (intangible products).

[0018] Smartphones 100_1, 100_2, and 100_3 are operated by users Us1, Us2, and Us3, respectively. Each of the smartphones 100_1, 100_2, and 100_3 has a dedicated electronic payment application installed for using the electronic payment services at stores 300_1 and 300_2, respectively. Users Us1, Us2, and Us3 can log in to the electronic payment application when smartphones 100_1, 100_2, and 100_3 are connected to the electronic payment server 200. The home screen of the dedicated electronic payment application is displayed on the touch panels 110_1, 110_2, and 110_3 of smartphones 100_1, 100_2, and 100_3. Note that the number of users using the electronic payment system 1 is not limited to three; it may be two or fewer, or four or more.

[0019] The electronic payment server 200 provides an electronic payment service available at stores 300_1 and 300_2 via a dedicated electronic payment application. The electronic payment server 200 includes a front system 210 and an accounting system 220. The front system 210 and the accounting system 220 are configured to communicate with each other. The front system 210 provides a GUI (Graphical User Interface) to the user terminal 100 for using the dedicated electronic payment application and receives input from the user via the GUI. The accounting system 220 manages user IDs and each user's electronic payment balance, etc.

[0020] The Furusato Tax Donation Server 400 provides services related to Furusato Tax Donations to User Us via a dedicated electronic payment application. These services include, for example, receiving donations from User Us, issuing donation certificates to User Us, exchanging return gifts, transferring donations to local governments, and expense settlement and data linkage with local governments. The Furusato Tax Donation Server 400 provides a GUI (Furusato Tax Donation Site) for using Furusato Tax Donation services to User Terminal 100 via the electronic payment server 200, and also receives input from the Furusato Tax Donation Site via the electronic payment server 200. The Furusato Tax Donation Server 400 transmits information about the return gifts selected by the user, information about the donor, and the donation amount to the local government server 500. The Furusato Tax Donation Server 400 is configured, for example, as a web server.

[0021] The local government server 500 processes matters related to hometown tax donations, including expense settlements, based on information from the hometown tax donation server 400. The local government server 500 is configured, for example, as a CMS (Content Management System) server that generates pages in response to requests from the hometown tax donation server 400.

[0022] Figure 2 shows an example of the home screen (screen immediately after login) of an electronic payment application displayed on the touch panel 110 of the user terminal 100 shown in Figure 1, Ep1. As shown in Figure 2, the home screen Ep1 displays multiple buttons, including the application code Ba, electronic payment balance, a charge button, and a service button Bt1. The application code Ba is a barcode used to transmit information about the electronic payment application's identification information and information about electronic money and electronic vouchers (e.g., coupons) that can be used at the payment processing terminal to the payment processing terminal. In Figure 2, the application code Ba is shown as a barcode, but is not limited to a barcode. The application code Ba may be any symbol from which information about the application can be obtained, for example, a QR (Quick Response) code (registered trademark).

[0023] Figure 3 shows an example of the service screen Ep2 that appears when the service button Bt1 in Figure 2 is tapped. Figure 4 shows an example of the home screen Ht1 of the Furusato Nozei (hometown tax donation) website that appears after the Furusato Nozei button Bt2 in Figure 3 is tapped and single sign-on to the Furusato Nozei website is successful. As shown in Figure 4, the home screen Ht1 includes several buttons indicating the categories of return gifts (for example, beverages).

[0024] Figure 5 is a sequence diagram showing an example of the processing flow from when the service screen Ep2 in Figure 3 is displayed until when the home screen Ht1 in Figure 4 is displayed. Hereafter, steps will simply be referred to as S. As shown in Figure 5, user Us taps the Furusato Nozei button Bt2 in S101. The user terminal 100 receives the tap of the Furusato Nozei button Bt2 on the touch panel 110 and sends a single sign-on request to the Furusato Nozei website to the Furusato Nozei server 400 in S102. The Furusato Nozei server 400 receives the single sign-on request and sends an authentication request to the electronic payment server 200 in S103. The electronic payment server 200 receives the authentication request, performs the authentication process, and sends the authentication result to the Furusato Nozei server 400 in S104. If the authentication result is successful, the Furusato Nozei server 400 sends the Furusato Nozei website's home screen Ht1 to the user terminal 100 in S105. User terminal 100 displays the home screen Ht1 to user Us via Webview on S106.

[0025] Figure 6 shows an example of the search results screen Ht2 that appears when the beverage button Bt4 in Figure 4 is tapped. As shown in Figure 6, the search results screen Ht2 displays summary information about multiple beverages (for example, product name or product image). Figure 6 shows a screen for specifying the category of the return gift, but this screen can be switched to a screen for specifying the municipality (production area) where the return gift was produced.

[0026] Figure 7 shows an example of the details screen Ht3 displayed when beverage Bv1 in Figure 6 is tapped. As shown in Figure 7, the details screen Ht3 displays the name of the municipality where the return gift was produced, the product name, product details, quantity, and donation amount. The return gift is issued as a digital (electronic) coupon (electronic exchange voucher) that can be exchanged 10 times for one unit (1 bottle) of beverage. The number of exchanges for the coupon can be just one. Even if the price of one unit of the product that can be purchased in stores is relatively small, by structuring the return gift as a coupon that can be exchanged multiple times for one unit of the product, the value of the return gift can be increased to an amount that can be issued even after considering the costs associated with the hometown tax donation. However, if one unit of the product is relatively expensive and it is possible to issue one unit of the product as a return gift even after considering the costs associated with the hometown tax donation, it is not necessary to structure the electronic exchange voucher for the return gift as a coupon that can be exchanged multiple times. Electronic vouchers include, for example, vouchers, coupons, and electronic gift certificates and vouchers. Hereafter, electronic vouchers will also be referred to as coupons. Digital information includes digitized information that can be processed by a computer such as a smartphone or server.

[0027] Figure 8 shows an example of the shopping cart screen Ht4 displayed when the donation button Bt5 in Figure 7 is tapped. Figure 9 shows an example of the purchaser information input screen Ht5 displayed when the purchaser information input button Bt6 in Figure 8 is tapped. Figure 10 shows an example of the donation information input screen Ht6 displayed when the donation information input button Bt7 in Figure 9 is tapped. Figure 11 shows an example of the confirmation screen Ht7 ​​displayed when the content confirmation button Bt8 in Figure 10 is tapped. Figure 12 shows an example of the completion screen Ht8 displayed when the confirmation button Bt9 in Figure 11 is tapped.

[0028] Figure 13 shows an example of the coupon screen Ep3 that appears when the coupon use button Bt10 in Figure 12 is tapped. As shown in Figure 13, the coupon screen Ep3 lists the purchased electronic exchange vouchers Ec1. Since the electronic exchange vouchers Ec1 are multi-use tickets, the number of tickets to be used at the time of payment can be set using the combo box Cb1. Note that the coupon screen Ep3 can also be displayed by tapping the respective coupon buttons Bt3 on the home screen Ep1 in Figure 2 and the service screen Ep2 in Figure 3.

[0029] Figure 14 is a sequence diagram showing an example of the processing flow when the confirmation button Bt9 in Figure 11 is tapped. As shown in Figure 14, user Us taps the confirmation button Bt9 in S111. Upon receiving the tap of the confirmation button Bt9, the Furusato Tax Server 400 executes the payment for the return gift in S112 and delivers the electronic exchange voucher for the return gift to the electronic payment server 200. The electronic payment server 200 delivers the electronic exchange voucher to the user terminal 100 in S113. The user terminal 100 sends the result of the electronic exchange voucher reception process to the electronic payment server 200 in S114. The electronic payment server 200 sends the result of the electronic exchange voucher reception process to the Furusato Tax Server 400. The Furusato Tax Server 400 displays a completion screen Ht8, including the donation execution result, to the user in S116. Furthermore, the electronic payment server 200 or the hometown tax donation server 400 may send the exchange voucher for the return gift to the user Us as paper rather than as digital information.

[0030] Figure 15 shows an example of the home screen Ep1 displayed when the set button Bt11 in Figure 13 is tapped. As shown in Figure 15, the home screen Ep1 displays the electronic voucher Ec2 and the application code Ba corresponding to the settings in Figure 13. The application code Ba includes a barcode for transmitting information about the electronic voucher Ec2 to the payment processing terminal. User Us can redeem the product and quantity corresponding to the electronic voucher Ec2 by presenting the application code Ba to store clerks Sc1 and Sc2 at stores 300_1 and 300_2, respectively. The application code Ba allows the electronic voucher Ec2 to be used at store 300 even if the municipality corresponding to the production area of ​​the product corresponding to the electronic voucher Ec2 is different from the municipality corresponding to the area where store 300 is located. After payment is completed, the number of uses of the electronic voucher Ec2 is reduced by the number of times it has been used. Alternatively, a dedicated coupon code corresponding to the electronic voucher Ec2 may be displayed on the home screen Ep1 instead of (or in addition to) the application code Ba.

[0031] Figure 16 is a sequence diagram showing an example of the process flow when user Us receives a reward item at a store. As shown in Figure 16, in S121, user Us taps the coupon button Bt3 on either the home screen Ep1 or the service screen Ep2. In S122, user terminal 100 displays the coupon screen Ep3 on the touch panel 110. In S123, user Us taps the set button Bt11. In S124, user terminal 100 displays the home screen Ep1.

[0032] In S125, user Us presents the product as a gift to store clerk Sc. In S126, store clerk Sc scans the product's barcode with barcode reader Br to obtain product information. In S127, user Us presents the application code Ba to POS terminal Pr (store clerk Sc). In S128, store clerk Sc scans the application code Ba with barcode reader Br to obtain information about the electronic payment application and the set coupon. Note that steps S127 and S128 may be performed before steps S125 and S126.

[0033] In S129, the POS terminal Pr notifies the electronic payment server 200 of the coupon's use. In S130, the electronic payment server 200 executes the electronic payment process and notifies the POS terminal Pr of the execution result. In S131, the POS terminal Pr receives the execution result of the electronic payment process, and the store clerk Sc confirms that the electronic payment process was successful before providing the reward to the user Us.

[0034] If user Us regularly purchases beverage Bv1, they can receive the return gift as part of their daily shopping activities by using a voucher redeemable for beverage Bv1 in the electronic payment system 1. User Us can automatically enjoy the benefits of hometown tax donation within the scope of their daily shopping activities. Furthermore, since beverage Bv1 can be received as a return gift at store 300, it promotes user Us to purchase beverage Bv1 at store 300 and to make hometown tax donations. In addition, since products that can be purchased on a daily basis at store 300 can be received as a return gift at store 300, no special operations or logistics associated with hometown tax donations are required. Since there is no need to change the operations of store staff or the logistics schedule associated with product procurement at store 300, costs associated with hometown tax donations can be reduced. Moreover, since the exchange voucher can be displayed on a user terminal such as a smartphone that user Us carries with them daily, the hassle of printing and carrying the exchange voucher is eliminated, allowing users to efficiently receive return gifts as part of their daily lives.

[0035] Figure 17 shows an example of the hardware configuration of the user terminal 100, electronic payment server 200, POS terminal Pr, and hometown tax donation server 400 shown in Figure 1. As shown in Figure 17, the user terminal 100 includes a processor 101, RAM (Random Access Memory) 102, storage 103, communication unit 104, and input / output unit 105.

[0036] The processor 101 loads various programs from the storage 103 into the RAM 102 to implement various functions of the electronic payment server 200. The processor 101 includes, for example, a CPU (Central Processing Unit) or a GPU (Graphics Processing Unit).

[0037] RAM102 includes volatile memory. RAM102 is used, for example, as a work area (temporary data storage area) for processor 101.

[0038] Storage 103 includes non-volatile memory such as flash ROM (Read Only Memory) or SSD (Solid State Drive). Storage 103 stores computer programs and data referenced during their execution. Storage 103 also stores an OS (Operating System) program (not shown) and a client program Pec for implementing client functions (electronic payment applications) in an electronic payment service.

[0039] The communication unit 104 communicates with the electronic payment server 200 via the network. The communication unit 104 and the network are typically connected by wireless communication (e.g., Wi-Fi®).

[0040] The input / output unit 105 receives input from the user Us and displays the processing results of the processor 101. The input / output unit 105 includes a touch panel 110. The input / output unit 105 may further include, for example, a display, buttons, a speaker, and a lamp.

[0041] The electronic payment server 200 includes a processor 201, RAM 202, storage 203, a communication unit 204, and an input / output unit 205.

[0042] The processor 201 loads various programs into the RAM 202 to implement various functions of the electronic payment server 200. The processor 201 includes, for example, a CPU (Central Processing Unit) or a GPU (Graphics Processing Unit).

[0043] RAM202 includes volatile memory. RAM202 is used, for example, as the work area (temporary data storage area) of processor 201.

[0044] Storage 203 includes non-volatile memory such as flash ROM (Read Only Memory) or SSD (Solid State Drive). Storage 203 stores computer programs and data referenced during their execution. It also stores an OS (Operating System) program (not shown), a database (not shown) for managing this data, and a server program Pes for implementing server functions in the electronic payment service. This database contains, for example, user information, authentication information, payment information, product information, and store information.

[0045] The communication unit 204 communicates with the user terminal 100, the POS terminal Pr, and the hometown tax donation server 400 via the network. The communication unit 204 and the network may be connected by wired communication (e.g., Ethernet®) or by wireless communication (e.g., Wi-Fi®).

[0046] The input / output unit 205 receives input and displays the processing results of the processor 201. The input / output unit 205 includes, for example, a display, a touch panel, a keyboard, a speaker, a lamp, and a mouse.

[0047] The POS terminal Pr includes a processor 301, RAM 302, storage 303, communication unit 304, and input / output unit 305. Since the processor 301, RAM 302, and communication unit 304 have functions substantially similar to those of the processor 201, RAM 202, and communication unit 304 of the electronic payment server 200, a repeating explanation of these components of the POS terminal Pr will not be provided.

[0048] Storage 303 includes non-volatile memory such as flash ROM (Read Only Memory) or SSD (Solid State Drive). Storage 303 stores computer programs and data referenced during their execution. Storage 303 also stores an OS (Operating System) program (not shown) and a sales processing program Ps for performing the necessary processing for selling merchandise.

[0049] The input / output unit 305 receives input from the store clerk Sco and the user Us, and displays the processing results of the processor 301. The input / output unit 305 includes a barcode reader Br. The input / output unit 305 further includes, for example, a display, a touch panel, a keyboard, a speaker, a lamp, and a mouse.

[0050] The hometown tax donation server 400 includes a processor 401, RAM 402, storage 403, a communication unit 404, and an input / output unit 405. Since the processor 401, RAM 402, communication unit 404, and input / output unit 405 have functions that are substantially the same as those of the processor 201, RAM 202, communication unit 204, and input / output unit 205 of the electronic payment server 200, a description of these components of the hometown tax donation server 400 will not be repeated.

[0051] Storage 403 includes non-volatile memory such as flash ROM (Read Only Memory) or SSD (Solid State Drive). Storage 403 stores computer programs and data referenced during their execution. Storage 403 also stores the OS program (not shown), a database (not shown) for managing this data, and the Furusato Nozei (hometown tax donation) server program Pht for implementing the Furusato Nozei function. The database contains, for example, information on return gifts, donation information, and local government information.

[0052] As described above, the payment system, payment program, and payment method according to the embodiment allow users to enjoy the benefits of hometown tax donations within the scope of their daily purchasing activities.

[0053] In this embodiment, we have described a configuration in which the voucher for the hometown tax return gift is delivered to the user Us as an electronic voucher via an electronic payment application. The electronic voucher may also be delivered to the user Us via an application other than an electronic payment application (for example, SNS (Social Networking Service), email, or SMS (Short Message Service)). Furthermore, the voucher for the return gift does not have to be an electronic voucher; it may also be delivered to the user Us as a paper voucher.

[0054] [Note] The embodiments relating to this disclosure described above include the following configuration.

[0055] [Configuration 1] A payment processing terminal that performs processing to exchange a voucher presented by the user for a product specified by the user as a return gift for hometown tax donations, The system includes a server that issues the aforementioned exchange voucher to the user, A payment system in which, via each of the at least one payment processing terminals, goods produced in a region corresponding to a different municipality than the one in which the payment processing terminal is located can be exchanged as a return gift for the hometown tax donation to the different municipality.

[0056] [Configuration 2] The server issues the voucher as an electronic voucher. The payment system according to configuration 1, further comprising a user terminal having a function for displaying information related to the electronic voucher.

[0057] [Configuration 3] The aforementioned at least one payment processing terminal is located in multiple regions, The aforementioned multiple regions correspond to multiple local governments, respectively, and are payment systems as described in Configuration 1 or 2.

[0058] [Structure 4] The payment system according to any one of configurations 1 to 3, wherein the server issues the exchange voucher as a ticket that can be exchanged for one unit of the product at least once.

[0059] The embodiments disclosed herein should be considered in all respects to be illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of this disclosure is indicated by the claims rather than the foregoing description, and all modifications within the meaning and scope equivalent to the claims are intended. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0060] 1 Electronic payment system, 100 User terminals, 100_1~100_3 Smartphones, 101,201,401 Processors, 102,202,402 RAM, 103,203,403 Storage, 104,204,404 Communication unit, 110 Touch panel, 200 Electronic payment server, 205,405 Input / output unit, 210 Front system, 220 Accounting system, 300,300_1,300_2 Stores, 400 Hometown tax donation server, 500,500_1,500_2 Local government server, Ba Application code, Bc Coupon code, Br1,Br2 Barcode reader, Bt1 Service button, Bt2 Hometown tax donation button, Bt3 Coupon button, Bt4 Beverage button, Bt5 Donation button, Bt6 Purchaser information input button, Bt7 Donation information input button, Bt8 Confirmation button, Bt9 Confirm button, Bt10 Use coupon button, Bt11 Set button, Bv1 Beverage, Cb1 Combo box, Cn2 Cup noodles, Ec1, Ec2 Electronic exchange voucher, Ep1 Home screen, Ep1, Ht1 Home screen, Ep2 Service screen, Ep3 Coupon screen, Ht2 Search results screen, Ht3 Details screen, Ht8 Completion screen, Us, Us1~Us3 User, Pec Client program, Pes Server program, Pht Furusato tax donation server program, Pr, Pr1, Pr2 Terminal, Sc1, Sc2 Shop staff.

Claims

1. A payment processing terminal that performs processing to exchange a voucher presented by the user for a product specified by the user as a return gift for hometown tax donations, The system includes a server that issues the aforementioned exchange voucher to the user, A payment system in which, via each of the at least one payment processing terminals, goods produced in a region corresponding to a different municipality than the one in which the payment processing terminal is located can be exchanged as a return gift for the hometown tax donation to the different municipality.

2. The server issues the voucher as an electronic voucher. The payment system according to claim 1, further comprising a user terminal having a function for displaying information related to the electronic voucher.

3. The aforementioned at least one payment processing terminal is located in multiple regions, The payment system according to claim 1, wherein the aforementioned multiple regions correspond to multiple local governments.

4. The payment system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the server issues the voucher as a coupon that can be exchanged for one unit of the product at least once.

5. A settlement program, which is executed by at least one processor, causes the at least one processor to perform settlement processing, wherein the settlement processing is The process involves exchanging a voucher presented by a user for a product specified by the user as a return gift for a hometown tax donation. This includes issuing the aforementioned exchange voucher to the aforementioned user, A payment program in which, via each of the at least one payment processing terminals performing the aforementioned processing, goods produced in a region corresponding to a different municipality than the municipality in which the payment processing terminal is located can be exchanged as a return gift for the aforementioned hometown tax donation to the different municipality.

6. A payment method that is executed by at least one processor, The process involves performing a procedure to exchange a voucher presented by the user for a product specified by the user as a return gift for hometown tax donations. The step includes issuing the aforementioned exchange voucher to the user, A payment method in which, via each of the at least one payment processing terminals performing the aforementioned processing, goods produced in a region corresponding to a different municipality than the municipality in which the payment processing terminal is located can be exchanged as a return gift for the aforementioned hometown tax donation to the different municipality.

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