Payment systems and payment methods

Abstract

This allows users to purchase products that require age verification or other authentication without compromising usability. [Solution] When a user using a payment service purchases one or more items, including items requiring authentication at the time of purchase, the user terminal sends a payment code request signal to the payment server requesting a payment code containing the user's authentication information. The payment server, upon receiving the signal, retrieves the user's authentication information from a database where each user's authentication information is registered, generates a payment code containing that information, and sends it to the user terminal. The user terminal, upon receiving the signal, displays the payment code. The store terminal reads the payment code displayed on the user terminal, retrieves the user's authentication information contained in the payment code, performs authentication based on that authentication information, and determines the payment amount for the aforementioned one or more items based on the result of the authentication, or notifies the user that the purchase of items requiring authentication is not possible.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a settlement system and a settlement method.

Background Art

[0002] In recent years, stores such as convenience stores have been promoting the introduction of self-checkout from the perspective of reducing labor costs. On the other hand, with self-checkout, the purchase of products that require age verification, such as alcohol and tobacco, is not possible, or the purchase can be made by a store employee performing age verification. Depending on the store, the handling is different, leading to difficulties in using self-checkout.

[0003] In response to such problems, the Japan Franchise Chain Association, a general incorporated association, has formulated the "Guidelines for Age Verification of Alcohol and Tobacco Using Digital Technology." As a result, in the future, by performing authentication (identification of the person) using a My Number card or the like, it will be possible to purchase alcohol and tobacco at self-checkout in convenience stores and other places, and related businesses are proceeding with the following measures. (1) Introduction of a dedicated terminal that can perform age verification with a My Number card. (2) Provision of an age verification service for self-checkout using a dedicated application.

[0004] As a system that can be used for purchasing products that require age verification, for example, the electronic payment support system described in Patent Document 1 and the payment system described in Patent Document 2 are known.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0005]

Patent Document 1

Patent Document 2

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0006] The above measures (1) and (2) present the following challenges from a usability perspective.

[0007] The above solution (1) would require the introduction of new dedicated terminals in addition to self-checkout registers, and would also require space for their installation. Furthermore, users would need to authenticate using their My Number Card in addition to the usual purchase procedures when buying products, which would be inconvenient for them.

[0008] In the case of the above (2), if the user also uses a payment application provided by the payment service provider when purchasing goods, they will need to use two applications (the dedicated application mentioned above and the payment application), which is also cumbersome.

[0009] In view of the above circumstances, the present invention aims to provide a payment system and payment method that enable the purchase of products requiring authentication such as age verification without compromising usability. [Means for solving the problem]

[0010] One aspect of the system is a payment system including a user terminal which is a terminal for a user using a payment service, a payment server, and a store terminal, wherein the user terminal includes a transmitting unit which sends a payment code request signal to the payment server requesting a payment code including the user's authentication information when the user purchases one or more products including products requiring authentication at the time of purchase, a receiving unit which receives the payment code from the payment server, and a display unit which displays the payment code received by the receiving unit, and the payment server includes a database in which the authentication information of each user is registered, a receiving unit which receives the payment code request signal from the user terminal, and the receiving unit which displays the payment code request The store terminal comprises an acquisition unit that acquires user authentication information from the database in response to a signal, a generation unit that generates a payment code including the user authentication information acquired by the acquisition unit, and a transmission unit that transmits the payment code generated by the generation unit to the user terminal, and the store terminal comprises a reading unit that reads the payment code displayed on the user terminal, an acquisition unit that acquires user authentication information contained in the payment code read by the reading unit, and an authentication processing unit that performs authentication based on the user authentication information acquired by the acquisition unit, and determines the payment amount for one or more products or notifies that the purchase of the product requiring authentication is not possible based on the result of the authentication.

[0011] One aspect of the method is a payment method characterized in that, when a user terminal, which is the terminal of a user using a payment service, purchases one or more products including products requiring authentication at the time of purchase, the user terminal sends a payment code request signal to the payment server requesting a payment code containing the user's authentication information; the payment server, upon receiving the payment code request signal, retrieves the user's authentication information from a database where each user's authentication information is registered, generates a payment code containing the user's authentication information, and sends it to the user terminal; the user terminal, upon receiving the payment code, displays the payment code; the store terminal reads the payment code displayed on the user terminal, retrieves the user's authentication information contained in the payment code, performs authentication based on the authentication information, and determines the payment amount for the one or more products, or notifies the store that the purchase of the products requiring authentication is not possible, based on the result of the authentication. [Effects of the Invention]

[0012] According to the present invention, it becomes possible to purchase products that require authentication such as age verification without compromising usability. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0013] [Figure 1] This is a diagram illustrating the configuration of a payment system. [Figure 2] This diagram illustrates the functional configuration of a payment system. [Figure 3] This diagram illustrates the hardware configuration of a user terminal. [Figure 4] This diagram illustrates the hardware configuration of a store terminal. [Figure 5] This diagram illustrates the hardware configuration of a payment server. [Figure 6] This is a sequence diagram illustrating the processes performed in a payment system. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0014] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0015] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating the configuration of a payment system.

[0016] The payment system 1 illustrated in FIG. 1 includes a user terminal 2, a payment server 3, and a store terminal 4, which are connected to a communication network 5 by wire or wirelessly. Thereby, for example, the user terminal 2 and the payment server 3, and the payment server 3 and the store terminal 4 can communicate via the communication network 5.

[0017] The user terminal 2 is a terminal of a user who uses a payment service provided by a payment operator, and is a terminal used at the time of payment when the user purchases goods. The user terminal 2 is, for example, a mobile terminal such as a smartphone. The store terminal 4 is installed in a store such as a convenience store, and is a terminal used at the time of checkout when the user purchases goods. The store terminal 4 is, for example, a self-checkout type POS (Point of Sale) terminal. The payment server 3 is a server managed by a payment operator. The payment server 3 includes a DB (database) 31. Note that the DB 31 may be built in the payment server 3 or externally attached. The communication network 5 includes a wired and / or wireless communication network. The communication network 5 includes, for example, the Internet.

[0018] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating the functional configuration of the payment system. Note that the functional configuration illustrated in FIG. 2 shows only the main functional configurations related to payment.

[0019] In the payment system 1 illustrated in FIG. 2, the user terminal 2 includes a transmission unit 21, a reception unit 22, and a display unit 23. When the user purchases one or more goods including goods that require authentication at the time of purchase, the transmission unit 21 transmits a payment code request signal for requesting a payment code including the user's authentication information to the payment server 3. The reception unit 22 receives the payment code from the payment server 3. The display unit 23 displays the payment code received by the reception unit 22.

[0020] The settlement server 3 includes a DB 31, a transmission unit 32, a reception unit 33, an acquisition unit 34, and a generation unit 35. The DB 31 is a DB in which the user information of each user is registered. The user information includes information such as the authentication information of the user, contract information (the name, contact information, etc. of the user) linked with the settlement business operator, a user ID, and the electronic money balance. The authentication information includes information regarding one or more of the age, gender, and place of residence of the user. Thus, the DB 31 is also a DB in which the authentication information of each user is registered. The reception unit 33 receives a settlement code request signal from the user terminal 2. The acquisition unit 34 acquires the authentication information of the user from the DB 31 according to the settlement code request signal received by the reception unit 33. The generation unit 35 generates a settlement code including the authentication information of the user acquired by the acquisition unit 34. The transmission unit 32 transmits the settlement code generated by the generation unit 35 to the user terminal 2.

[0021] The store terminal 4 includes a reading unit 41, an acquisition unit 42, and an authentication processing unit 43. The reading unit 41 reads the settlement code displayed on the user terminal 2. The acquisition unit 42 acquires the authentication information of the user included in the settlement code read by the reading unit 41. The authentication processing unit 43 performs authentication based on the authentication information of the user acquired by the acquisition unit 42, and determines the settlement amount of the goods (one or more goods including goods that require authentication) purchased by the user based on the result of the authentication, or notifies the user that the purchase of goods that require authentication is not possible.

[0022] The authentication performed by the authentication processing unit 43 includes one or more of the following: age authentication, gender authentication, and place of residence authentication. For example, if the authentication performed by the authentication processing unit 43 is age authentication, the authentication processing unit 43 will notify the user that they cannot purchase the authentication-required product if their age is below a threshold (e.g., under 20 years old). In this case, the authentication-required product is, for example, alcohol or tobacco. Also, if the authentication performed by the authentication processing unit 43 is gender authentication, the authentication processing unit 43 will determine the total payment amount for one or more products including the authentication-required product, using a discounted price for the authentication-required product, if the user's gender is a specific gender (e.g., female), and will determine the total payment amount for one or more products including the authentication-required product, using the regular price for the authentication-required product, if the user's gender is not a specific gender. In this case, the authentication-required product is a product that is discounted only for people of a specific gender. Furthermore, if the authentication performed by the authentication processing unit 43 is residence authentication, the authentication processing unit 43 determines the total payment amount for one or more items, including the item requiring authentication, by setting the price of the item requiring authentication to a discounted price if the user's place of residence is a specific place of residence (for example, XX Ward, Tokyo), and determines the total payment amount for one or more items, including the item requiring authentication, by setting the price of the item requiring authentication to a regular price if the user's place of residence is not a specific place of residence. In this case, the item requiring authentication is an item that is discounted only for people in a specific place of residence.

[0023] The store terminal 4 further includes a transmitting unit 44 and a receiving unit 45. The transmitting unit 44 sends a payment processing request signal to the payment server 3, which includes information about the payment amount determined by the authentication processing unit 43. In this case, the payment server 3 receives the payment processing request signal from the store terminal 4 with its receiving unit 33, performs payment processing according to the payment processing request signal, and sends the processing result (payment successful or payment failed) to the user terminal 2 and the store terminal 4. The user terminal 2 receives the payment processing result from the payment server 3 with its receiving unit 22, and the store terminal 4 receives it with its receiving unit 45. At this time, the user terminal 2 may display the payment processing result on its display unit 23, and the store terminal 4 may also display the payment processing result.

[0024] Figure 3 is a diagram illustrating the hardware configuration of a user terminal.

[0025] The user terminal 2 illustrated in Figure 3 includes a processor 201, memory 202, storage 203, communication device 204, display device 205, input device 206, and authentication device 207, which are interconnected by a bus 208.

[0026] The processor 201 may be a single processor, a multi-processor, or a multi-core processor. The processor 201 performs various processes (for example, the processes performed by the user terminal 2 as illustrated in Figure 6 below) by executing various programs such as the OS (Operating System) and applications (for example, payment applications provided by payment service providers).

[0027] Memory 202 includes RAM (Random Access Memory) and ROM (Read Only Memory). RAM is used as a working memory area for processor 201, etc. ROM stores programs executed by processor 201 and data necessary for program execution.

[0028] Storage 203 may be, for example, flash memory. Storage 203 may store programs executed by processor 201 and data necessary for program execution.

[0029] The communication device 204 is connected to a communication network (e.g., communication network 5) by wire or wireless connection and communicates with an external device (e.g., payment server 3) via the communication network. The communication device 204 provides, for example, the functions of the transmitting unit 21 and receiving unit 22 described above.

[0030] The display device 205 is, for example, an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display). The display device 205 provides, for example, the functions of the display unit 23 described above. The input device 206 includes, for example, a touch panel and buttons. The authentication device 207 is a biometric authentication device that performs authentication using, for example, the user's fingerprint or facial information.

[0031] Figure 4 is a diagram illustrating the hardware configuration of a store terminal.

[0032] The store terminal 4 illustrated in Figure 4 includes a processor 401, memory 402, storage 403, communication device 404, display device 405, input device 406, and cash handling device 407, which are interconnected by a bus 408.

[0033] The processor 401 may be a single processor, a multi-processor, or a multi-core processor. The processor 401 performs various processes (for example, the processes performed by the store terminal 4 as illustrated in Figure 6 below) by executing various programs such as the OS and applications. The processor 401 provides, for example, the functions of the acquisition unit 42 and the authentication processing unit 43 described above.

[0034] Memory 402 includes RAM and ROM. RAM is used as a working memory area for the processor 401. ROM stores programs executed by the processor 401 and data necessary for program execution.

[0035] Storage 403 may be, for example, an HDD (Hard Disk Drive) or an SSD (Solid State Drive). Storage 403 may store programs executed by the processor 401 or data necessary for program execution.

[0036] The communication device 404 is connected to a communication network (e.g., communication network 5) by wire or wireless connection and communicates with an external device (e.g., payment server 3) via the communication network. The communication device 404 provides, for example, the functions of the transmitting unit 44 and receiving unit 45 described above.

[0037] The display device 405 is, for example, an LCD. The input device 406 includes, for example, a scanning device that scans (reads) product codes attached to products or payment codes used during payment, and a touch panel. The scanning device may be a handheld type (a so-called handheld scanner) or a type that is fixed to the store terminal 4 and has a predetermined scanning range. The product code or payment code may be, for example, a barcode or a QR code (registered trademark). The input device 406 provides, for example, the functions of the reading unit 41 described above.

[0038] The cash handling device 407 handles the deposit, withdrawal, and storage of banknotes and / or coins.

[0039] Figure 5 is a diagram illustrating the hardware configuration of a payment server.

[0040] The payment server 3 illustrated in Figure 5 includes a processor 301, memory 302, storage 303, communication device 304, display device 305, and input device 306, which are interconnected by a bus 307.

[0041] The processor 301 may be a single processor, a multi-processor, or a multi-core processor. The processor 301 performs various processes (for example, the processes performed by the payment server 3 as illustrated in Figure 6 below) by executing various programs such as the OS and applications. The processor 301 provides, for example, the functions of the acquisition unit 34 and the generation unit 35 described above.

[0042] Memory 302 includes RAM and ROM. RAM is used as a working memory area for the processor 301, etc. ROM stores programs executed by the processor 301 and data necessary for program execution, etc.

[0043] The storage 303 is, for example, an HDD or an SSD. The storage 303 provides, for example, the functions of DB31 described above. The storage 303 may store programs executed by the processor 301 and data necessary for program execution.

[0044] The communication device 304 is connected to a communication network (e.g., communication network 5) by wire or wireless connection and communicates with external devices (e.g., user terminal 2 or store terminal 4) via the communication network. The communication device 304 provides, for example, the functions of the transmitting unit 32 and receiving unit 33 described above.

[0045] The display device 305 is, for example, an LCD. The input device 306 includes, for example, a keyboard, a mouse, or a touch panel.

[0046] The user terminal 2, store terminal 4, and payment server 3 are not limited to the hardware configurations illustrated in Figures 3, 4, and 5. For example, store terminal 4 may further include an audio output device for outputting sound. Furthermore, user terminal 2, store terminal 4, and payment server 3 may further include a portable storage medium drive device for driving a portable storage medium and accessing its contents. Examples of portable storage mediums include memory devices, flexible disks, optical disks, magneto-optical disks, etc. Additionally, user terminal 2, store terminal 4, and payment server 3 may be configured to include hardware such as microprocessors, digital signal processors (DSPs), application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs), programmable logic devices (PLDs), and field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs).

[0047] Next, we will explain the process performed by payment system 1 when a user purchases one or more items, including items requiring authentication, at a store.

[0048] Figure 6 is a sequence diagram illustrating the processes performed in the payment system. Note that in the processes illustrated in Figure 6, the processes performed by the user terminal 2 are also processes performed by the processor 201 executing the payment application provided by the payment service provider.

[0049] In the process illustrated in Figure 6, first, as a preliminary step, the user terminal 2 registers the user's authentication information (including information on one or more of age, gender, and place of residence) with the payment server 3 (S1). More specifically, the user terminal 2 sends a registration request signal containing the authentication information entered by the user to the payment server 3, and upon receiving it, the payment server 3 stores the authentication information contained in the registration request signal in DB31 as part of the user's user information. It is assumed that information other than the authentication information has already been registered in the user's user information. The registration request signal also includes the user's user ID, and the payment server 3 can identify the user by that user ID. This registration of authentication information in S1 may be performed using the user's My Number Card.

[0050] Furthermore, as a preparatory step, the store terminal 4 registers authentication-required product information (S2), which is information about authentication-required products (products that require authentication at the time of purchase). More specifically, the store terminal 4 stores the authentication-required product information entered in response to the store clerk's operation in storage 403 or in external storage via the communication network. The authentication-required product information includes, for example, the product code for each authentication-required product and information indicating which of the following authentications—age, gender, or place of residence—is required at the time of purchase. This allows the store terminal 4 to determine whether a product is an authentication-required product, and if so, which of the following authentications—age, gender, or place of residence—is required—by scanning the product code attached to the product with the input device (scanning device) 406.

[0051] After these preparatory processes are completed, when a user purchases one or more items that include items requiring authentication at a store, the purchase process will proceed from S3 onwards. Here, it is assumed that the items purchased include one item requiring authentication, or multiple items requiring authentication that have the same authentication requirement (for example, multiple items requiring age verification).

[0052] First, when a user sequentially holds the product code attached to each product over the scan range of the input device (scanning device) 406 of the store terminal 4 (hereinafter referred to as "product scanning operation"), the store terminal 4 sequentially scans the product code attached to each product with the input device (scanning device) 406 (S3). Then, when the user finishes the product scanning operation and inputs a checkout start instruction to the store terminal 4, the store terminal 4 starts the checkout process (S4).

[0053] When the store terminal 4 starts the accounting process, it first displays a payment method selection screen on the display device 405 showing the payment methods available to the user (cash payment, credit card payment, QR code payment, etc.), and accepts the user's selection of the payment method to be used (S5). Here, let's assume that the selection of QR code payment has been accepted. Having accepted the selection of QR code payment, the store terminal 4 displays a message on the display device 405 prompting the user to hold the payment code, which includes the user's authentication information, over the scan range of the input device (scanning device) 406.

[0054] Then, when a user who has seen the message inputs a command to display a payment code containing their authentication information into user terminal 2, user terminal 2 accepts this (S6) and requests a payment code containing the user's authentication information from payment server 3 (S7). More specifically, user terminal 2 sends a payment code request signal to payment server 3 requesting a payment code containing the user's authentication information. The payment code request signal at this time also includes the user's user ID.

[0055] Upon receiving a payment code request signal, the payment server 3 determines, based on the user ID included in the payment code request signal, whether or not the user's authentication information corresponding to that user ID is registered in DB31 (S8). If the result of the determination in S8 is YES, the payment server 3 generates a payment code containing the user's authentication information obtained from DB31 and sends it to the user terminal 2, which receives it (S9). On the other hand, if the result of the determination in S8 is NO, the payment server 3 generates a payment code that does not contain the user's authentication information and sends it to the user terminal 2, which receives it (S10).

[0056] When the user terminal 2 receives a payment code containing the user's authentication information or a payment code that does not contain the user's authentication information, it displays the received payment code on the display device 205 (S11).

[0057] Then, when the user holds the payment code displayed on the display device 205 of the user terminal 2 within the scanning range of the input device (scanning device) 406 of the store terminal 4, the store terminal 4 scans the payment code with the input device (scanning device) 406 (S12).

[0058] Next, if the payment code scanned in S12 contains the user's authentication information, the store terminal 4 retrieves the authentication information, performs authentication for the product whose product code was scanned in S4 based on the authentication information, and determines whether the authentication is successful or not (S13).

[0059] For example, if the product requiring authentication is an item that requires age verification (such as alcohol or tobacco), age verification is performed to determine whether the user's age is above a threshold (e.g., 20 years or older) based on the age information included in the authentication information. If the user's age is above the threshold, authentication is successful (S13 result is YES), and if the user's age is below the threshold, authentication is unsuccessful (S13 result is NO). Similarly, if the product requiring authentication is a product that is discounted only for people of a specific gender (e.g., women), gender verification is performed to determine whether the user's gender is that specific gender based on the gender information included in the authentication information. If the user is that specific gender, authentication is successful (S13 result is YES), and if the user is not that specific gender, authentication is unsuccessful (S13 result is NO). Furthermore, if the product requiring authentication is a product that is discounted only for people of a specific place of residence (e.g., XX ward, Tokyo), residence verification is performed to determine whether the user's place of residence is that specific place of residence based on the residence information included in the authentication information. If the user is that specific place of residence, authentication is successful (S13 result is YES), and if the user is not that specific place of residence, authentication is unsuccessful (S13 result is NO).

[0060] If the payment code scanned in S12 does not contain the user's authentication information, the result of the determination in S13 will be NO and the process will proceed.

[0061] If the result of the S13 determination is YES, the store terminal 4 determines the payment amount for all products whose product codes were scanned in S3 (one or more products including products requiring authentication) and displays it on the display device 405 (S14). The payment amount for products requiring authentication is determined, for example, as follows: If the product requiring authentication is a product that requires age verification (such as alcohol or tobacco), the payment amount is determined as usual. If the product requiring authentication is a product that requires gender verification or residence verification (a product that is discounted only for people of a specific gender or residence), the payment amount is determined using the discounted price for the product requiring authentication.

[0062] On the other hand, if the result of S13 is NO, the store terminal 4 determines whether all of the products whose product codes were scanned in S3 are eligible for payment (S15). In this determination, if the products include products that require authentication to be purchased, such as alcohol or tobacco, the result of S15 will be NO, and if no such products requiring authentication are included, the result of S15 will be YES.

[0063] If the result of S15 is NO, the store terminal 4 notifies the user that the purchase of the product requiring authentication is not possible and interrupts the payment process as an error. This notification may be given, for example, by display or audio output.

[0064] On the other hand, if the result of the S15 determination is YES, the store terminal 4 determines the payment amount for all products whose product codes were scanned in S3 (one or more products, including products requiring authentication) and displays it on the display device 405 (S16). In this case, the payment amount is determined assuming that the product requiring authentication is at its regular price.

[0065] Once the payment amount is determined and displayed in S14 or S16, the store terminal 4 then requests the payment server 3 to process the payment for the determined payment amount (S17). More specifically, the store terminal 4 sends a payment processing request signal to the payment server 3 that includes information about the determined payment amount.

[0066] Upon receiving the payment processing request signal, the payment server 3 performs the payment processing in accordance with the payment processing request signal (S18) and transmits the processing result (payment successful or payment failed) to the store terminal 4 and the user terminal 2 (S19, S20). In this example, payment successful (payment OK) is transmitted as the processing result of the payment processing. The store terminal 4 and the user terminal 2, upon receiving the processing result of the payment processing, may, for example, display the processing result on the display devices 405 and 205, respectively. Once the processing in S19 and S20 is completed, the accounting processing started in S4 is completed.

[0067] In the process illustrated in Figure 6, the explanation was based on the case where the user purchases one product requiring authentication, or multiple products requiring authentication that have the same authentication requirement. However, if there are multiple products requiring authentication that have different authentication requirements (for example, a product requiring gender authentication and a product requiring residence authentication), the corresponding authentication is performed for each product to determine whether it will be discounted or sold at the regular price, and the total payment amount for all products purchased by the user is determined. However, if multiple products requiring authentication include a product requiring age authentication (a product that cannot be purchased if authentication fails), and the authentication result for that product fails, the user will be notified that the purchase of that product is not possible, and the payment process will be interrupted as an error.

[0068] Furthermore, in step S6 of the process illustrated in Figure 6, when the user terminal 2 receives an instruction to display a payment code containing the user's authentication information, the authentication device 207 may perform biometric authentication of the user. Only if the authentication is successful, the process may proceed to step S7 to request a payment code containing the user's authentication information. This can prevent fraud such as impersonation.

[0069] As described above, according to this embodiment, when a user purchases one or more items, including items requiring authentication, at a store, authentication using a My Number Card is not required. Therefore, stores do not need to introduce new dedicated terminals or secure space for them. For users, the purchase procedure is basically the same as before, so it does not take any more effort than before. Furthermore, since there is no need to use a new dedicated application to purchase items requiring authentication, when purchasing items requiring authentication using code payment, there is no need to use a dedicated application in addition to the payment application, making it less troublesome than before. Accordingly, according to this embodiment, it is possible to purchase items requiring authentication without compromising usability.

[0070] Although embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, and various improvements and modifications are possible without departing from the spirit of the invention.

[0071] For example, in this embodiment, the product requiring authentication is not limited to a product requiring one authentication, but may also be a product requiring multiple authentications. In this case, the product requiring authentication may be, for example, a product requiring two authentications, such as age authentication and gender authentication; a product requiring two authentications, such as age authentication and place of residence authentication; a product requiring two authentications, such as gender authentication and place of residence authentication; or a product requiring three authentications, such as age authentication, gender authentication, and place of residence authentication. In this case, the product may be offered at a discounted price if all of the authentications are successful, and at the regular price otherwise. However, in the case of a product that cannot be purchased if one or more authentications fail, the product may be made unavailable for purchase if one or more of those authentications fail. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0072] 1. Payment System 2. User terminals 3. Payment Server 4 Store terminals 5. Communication Network 21 Transmitter 22 Receiving section 23 Display section 31 DB 32 Transmitter 33 Receiving unit 34 Acquisition Department 35 Generation part 41 Reading section 42 Acquisition Department 43 Authentication Processing Unit 44 Transmitter 45 Receiving section 201 Processor 202 memory 203 Storage 204 Communication equipment 205 Display device 206 Input device 207 Authentication device Bus 208 301 Processor 302 memory 303 Storage 304 Communication equipment 305 Display device 306 Input device 307 Bus 401 Processor 402 memory 403 Storage 404 Communication equipment 405 Display device 406 Input device 407 Cash handling device 408 Bus

Claims

1. A payment system including a user terminal which is a terminal used by a user of a payment service, a payment server, and a store terminal, The aforementioned user terminal is When the user purchases one or more products, including products requiring authentication at the time of purchase, the transmission unit sends a payment code request signal to the payment server requesting a payment code containing the user's authentication information. The receiving unit receives the payment code from the aforementioned payment server, The receiving unit has a display unit that displays the payment code received by the receiving unit. Equipped with, The premium payment server is A database where each user's authentication information is registered, A receiving unit that receives the payment code request signal from the user terminal, An acquisition unit obtains user authentication information from the database in response to the payment code request signal received by the receiving unit, A generation unit generates a payment code that includes the user authentication information acquired by the acquisition unit, A transmission unit that transmits the payment code generated by the generation unit to the user terminal. Equipped with, The aforementioned store terminal is A reader unit that reads the payment code displayed on the user terminal, An acquisition unit that acquires the user authentication information contained in the payment code read by the reading unit, An authentication processing unit performs authentication based on the user's authentication information acquired by the acquisition unit, and determines the payment amount for one or more of the products based on the result of the authentication, or notifies the user that the purchase of the product requiring authentication is not possible. Equipped with A payment system characterized by the following features.

2. The user's authentication information includes information about one or more of the user's age, gender, and place of residence. The payment system described in item 1, characterized in that it is as follows.

3. The authentication performed by the aforementioned authentication processing unit includes one or more of the following: age authentication, gender authentication, and place of residence authentication. The payment system described in item 2, characterized in that it is as follows.

4. If the authentication performed by the authentication processing unit is age authentication, the authentication processing unit will notify the user that the purchase of the product requiring authentication is not possible if the user's age is below the threshold. The payment system described in 3, as described above.

5. If the authentication performed by the authentication processing unit is gender authentication, the authentication processing unit determines the total payment amount for one or more of the authenticated products at a discounted price if the user's gender is a specific gender, and determines the total payment amount for one or more of the authenticated products at their regular price if the user's gender is not a specific gender. The payment system described in 3, as described above.

6. If the authentication performed by the authentication processing unit is residence authentication, the authentication processing unit determines the settlement amount for one or more of the items by setting the price of the item requiring authentication as a discounted price if the user's place of residence is a specific place of residence, and determines the settlement amount for one or more of the items by setting the price of the item requiring authentication as the regular price if the user's place of residence is not a specific place of residence. The payment system described in 3, as described above.

7. When a user terminal, which is the terminal of a user using a payment service, purchases one or more items, including items requiring authentication at the time of purchase, the user terminal sends a payment code request signal to the payment server requesting a payment code containing the user's authentication information. Upon receiving the payment code request signal, the payment server retrieves the user's authentication information from a database where each user's authentication information is registered, generates a payment code containing the user's authentication information, and transmits it to the user terminal. The user terminal that received the payment code displays the payment code, The store terminal reads the payment code displayed on the user terminal, obtains the user's authentication information contained in the payment code, performs authentication based on the authentication information, and determines the payment amount for one or more of the items based on the result of the authentication, or notifies the user that the purchase of the items requiring authentication is not possible. A payment method characterized by the following features.

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